Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Where Am I Fat? I’ve Always Been Like This…

Chapter 6

"Chubby? I've always been this size..."

The day after tomorrow was Lu Zhishi's hundred-day banquet, and both the Lu and Song families were bustling with preparations.

The guest of honor, however, was perfectly at ease, clutching his milk bottle and guzzling milk with gusto, his face tilted up to gaze at the two little boys before him.

The two children, with identical faces, were peering into his crib, their eyes large and round, strikingly beautiful. Lu Zhishi, in turn, was quite curious about them.

The Song family had only Song Qinian as an heir, with no cousins. Lu Tingan was also an only child, without cousins, though he did have an older cousin living far away in S City. Both were busy with work and lived too far apart to see each other often, save for phone calls.

These twins were the children of Lu Tingan's cousin—Lu Zhiyu's younger cousins and Lu Zhishi's older cousins. They had just celebrated their fourth birthday.

"Little brother is so round and soft, just like a marshmallow," chirped the slightly chubbier of the two young boys.

"Like the white tangyuan Dad made yesterday," the quieter one beside him nodded in agreement. "So well-behaved."

Lu Zhishi's eyes curved into a smile as he beamed at them. Such adorable, identical little bundles of joy—Lu Zhishi adored them.

Watching him kick his feet in the crib, the two little ones couldn't help but smile too. They gently touched his chubby cheeks before stopping. Dad had said their little brother was just recovering from an illness and shouldn't be touched too much.

As Lu Zhishi continued to watch them, an uncle approached from behind, bent down, took his hand, and gently called him "good baby."

With a refined face and a warm smile, Lu Zhishi heard the two little boys call him "Dad."

Oh, not an uncle, but a maternal uncle.

His maternal grandmother and maternal grandfather had also come along to visit him.

The maternal uncle's family was very generous, bestowing many beautiful little gifts upon Lu Zhishi and Lu Zhiyu, explaining they were for the children.

The main gifts for the hundred-day banquet were separate.

Lu Zhishi was utterly astonished.

Was this the joy of being rich? This was simply delightful! He drooled happily.

Huo Rulan held the little bundle, looking down at him as he giggled and drooled, babbling incoherently with joy. She couldn't help but laugh herself, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth.

Lu Tingan was peeling apples for the children, asking, "Has Xiaoxi arrived yet?"

"He's busy, said he'll be here tomorrow," Huo Rulan replied, cradling the soft baby and gently shaking a rattle to amuse him. "He practically lives on set these days, always working, never coming home."

Lu Zhiyu led his two younger brothers and Chi Chen to play games on the carpet. They were having a blast, their childish voices echoing throughout the grand villa.

Hearing the hint of complaint in Huo Rulan’s tone, Lu Tingan curved his lips, set down the peeled apple, wiped his hands with a damp cloth, and said, "I'm due on set the day after tomorrow too." He then added, "Director Ye said we'll fly directly from A City to L Province, so I won't be coming home either."

The shaking rattle suddenly stilled. Lu Zhishi looked up and saw his usually gentle, smiling maternal uncle's expression gradually stiffen, slowly losing its smile.

Why did he stop smiling?

*

Lu Zhishi didn't see "Uncle Xiaoxi" until the following afternoon.

Indeed, the two older brothers bore a strong resemblance to him.

Huo Rulan had gone to the private airport in the suburbs to pick him up, and when they returned, the car's trunk was filled with gifts.

His name was Ye Xi. He had delicate features, a gentle and approachable demeanor. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a clean, pure white shirt, he looked refined and scholarly, much like Huo Rulan in temperament.

It was evident to anyone that Huo Rulan and Ye Xi shared a very close bond. Lu Zhishi had seen them conversing together, and the atmosphere was sweet and affectionate.

A couple of days prior, Lu Zhishi had overheard Lu Tingan chatting with Song Qinian.

He heard them say that this young director possessed astonishing talent and exceptional gifts. So far, he had made three films: the first launched the career of promising actor Zhao Xiaoxin, the second made rising star Angelina famous, and the third revitalized the career of once-renowned actor Shu Lin.

Last year, he won the Best Director award at the international Golden Moon Awards, and this year, he took home the Best Director and Best Screenwriter awards at the domestic Golden Lotus Awards.

His fourth film would be a collaboration with the triple-award-winning actor Lu Tingan. The content was still under wraps, but Lu Tingan mentioned it wouldn't be released domestically. They planned to take a bold step and aim for next year's Golden Tree Awards abroad.

Lu Zhishi listened with admiration. What an impressive young man.

Indeed, from what Lu Zhishi had secretly gathered, everyone in their family and among their relatives was extraordinary—either business magnates or entertainment industry titans.

Lu Zhishi thought, *I hope I can someday match their achievements.*

But I digress.

The family of six resided at the Lu family's ancestral home. Song Qinian and Lu Tingan had also returned to stay there a few days earlier. Coincidentally, the Song family's ancestral home wasn't far, and Chi Chen's ancestral home was just next door to the Lu family's.

The house was especially lively that day.

The preparations for Lu Zhishi's hundred-day banquet were already complete. Finally having time to gather, the adults sat in the living room chatting over tea, while the children ran off to play somewhere, returning sweaty and excited.

Only Lu Zhishi, the youngest, unable to speak or crawl, was left at home to keep the elders company while they played chess.

Holding a black chess piece, Lu Zhishi slumped listlessly in his grandfather’s arms. His grandfather would indicate where to place the piece, and Lu Zhishi would reach out, letting Grandpa Song position it.

Lu Zhishi idly blew bubbles with his saliva. When he saw Lu Zhiyu return, his eyes immediately lit up, and he babbled, reaching out for Lu Zhiyu to hold him.

Lu Zhiyu’s heart melted. Suppressing his excitement, he lifted his heavy, well-behaved little brother and ran off, saying he would take him for a ride.

Though Song Qinian was a bit worried, seeing they were only playing in the front yard of the estate, he didn’t stop them. Still, he kept half an eye on the little ones.

Lu Zhiyu said he would take his brother for a ride, but in reality, Chi Chen ended up carrying Lu Zhishi for most of the trip.

There was no helping it—this chubby little one was too heavy, solid and plump with baby fat. Lu Zhiyu didn't exercise much, so his stamina simply couldn't match Chi Chen's.

Lu Zhishi was just a three-month-old chubby baby. It didn't matter who held him. His plump little face rested on Chi Chen’s shoulder as he looked around.

Chen An and Jing Xing also wanted to hold their little brother. Finally having a younger brother, they wanted a turn too.

With two pairs of big, round eyes pleadingly fixed on Chi Chen, he looked down at the chubby little one, who was half a head shorter, and agreed. He bent down and gently placed Lu Zhishi in their arms for each to hold briefly.

The two little ones took turns holding him, wobbling a few steps forward before handing him back to Chi Chen.

Though they adored their little brother, they couldn’t carry him for long—he was a bit too heavy.

Truth be told, Chi Chen couldn't hold him for much longer either. He was just toughing it out, refusing to admit it.

Fortunately, Lu Zhishi sensed his struggle and patted his back, babbling as if to say he wanted to go back.

After dinner, Lu Zhishi fell asleep with Lu Zhiyu. His two fathers were still with the grandparents, double-checking the arrangements for the next day’s hundred-day banquet.

It must be said, the hundred-day banquet was indeed bustling. Many unfamiliar guests arrived, and Lu Zhishi was too overwhelmed to be brought out.

He woke up early for a bath and hair wash, changed into his traditional hundred-day outfit, dabbed on fragrant baby lotion, and wrapped in a hundred-day quilt, he lay in his crib. Guests arrived one after another, coming upstairs to see him, praising him with smiles and placing gifts on his crib.

Longevity locks, ruyi plaques, jade pendants... countless precious items, and these were just the small tokens. The real hundred-day gift list was stored away in the gift room. The most precious gifts at the hundred-day banquet were probably those from his family—

His two fathers gifted him portions of their shares, a custom private rabbit-themed airplane, and a room full of children's toys;

Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu gave him real estate in A City, several private islands, and shares from their holdings;

Grandpa Song and Grandma Song presented him with several ships, properties in various countries, a private gold mine, and shares under their names;

Rong Lan and Huo Chengsong also gave generously—a jade mine worth billions, though such an amount meant little to them, merely a token of affection for the younger generation;

Huo Rulan and Ye Xi's gift was less extravagant but thoughtful: a high-end custom company dedicated solely to Lu Zhishi, providing custom clothing, jewelry, and any other bespoke items he might need from childhood onward.

The Chi family, always close to them, offered substantial gifts as well: several sets of custom-made safety locks, gold bracelets, large gold chains, and several boxes of beautiful little outfits.

—Everything that Lu Zhiyu had at his hundred-day celebration, Lu Zhishi received too.

Chi Chen followed behind his two fathers, holding a plush rabbit toy just the right size for Lu Zhishi to hug while sleeping. According to Lu Zhiyu, Chi Chen made it himself.

After the guests left, his older brother placed a small smart robot he had assembled and crafted himself on Lu Zhishi's bed. Though half of it was guided by a specialized teacher, it was still a heartfelt gesture.

Lu Zhiyu whispered in his ear, "When you turn one, I'll make you an even prettier and more useful robot."

So solemn... truly...

It was the first time Lu Zhishi had experienced such a ceremony. Though these things meant little to them, his past life experiences left him with a deep sense of unworthiness.

How could they give him such precious things...

If they were small gifts he could return when he grew up, he might have accepted them happily, but these were too valuable—he might not be able to repay them later.

The little one frowned worriedly, hugging the fluffy little rabbit in a daze.

As if sensing his thoughts through their blood bond, Lu Tingan bent down to kiss his hair and told him earnestly, "Baby, love doesn't need to be repaid. We don’t expect anything in return. This is our love and heartfelt gesture for you, given willingly. No need to repay it."

"Okay?" He picked up the uneasy little one and gently soothed him, "Cheer up. After today, our little Zhishi will be a hundred-day-old Tubby."

Under Lu Tingan and Song Qinian's gentle reassurance, Lu Zhishi's initial unease faded, though he couldn’t shift his mindset all at once—it would take time.

Perhaps someday in the future, he would heal through love.

Once he understood, Lu Zhishi hugged his little rabbit and played by himself in the room, while Lu Zhiyu watched him, occasionally glancing at the small robot on the table.

Lu Zhishi accidentally met his eyes and followed his gaze, suddenly realizing.

He looked up and babbled earnestly, trying to explain.

It wasn’t that he only wanted to hold Chi Chen’s rabbit and not Lu Zhiyu’s robot; the robot was too heavy for him to lift, and he was afraid of dropping and breaking it, which is why he left it on the table.

His little baby talk was incomprehensible to Lu Zhiyu, who unconsciously pouted, feeling somewhat upset—he was jealous.

Lu Zhishi was taken aback and babbled even louder, nearly speaking out of urgency: "N... no... not!"

He shouted so loudly that Lu Zhiyu was startled, his feelings of upset instantly shaken away.

Unable to articulate clearly, he couldn’t explain. To make his brother believe him, Lu Zhishi decided to sleep with the little robot that night.

In the afternoon, at the auspicious hour, a drowsy Lu Zhishi was held by his two fathers to imprint his footprints on the calligraphy and painting prepared by Grandpa Song, which was then framed.

An elderly gentleman he didn’t know recited blessing verses over Lu Zhishi: "Disasters roll away, disasters roll away, baby be smart, healthy always..."

Finally, Mother Lu adorned him with gold and silver jewelry—safety locks, safety buckles, gold bracelets, and gold bells—dressing him up beautifully. Lu Tingan carried him downstairs to the reception hall to meet the guests.

After that, there was little for Lu Zhishi to do, as he could only drink milk and couldn’t eat any of the banquet food.

By evening, the day’s hundred-day celebration concluded, and guests gradually departed. The elders saw them off at the door, while Lu Tingan and Song Qinian went upstairs to check on the sleeping chubby baby.

That night, just after Lu Tingan finished showering, his agent called him frantically. Drying his hair, Lu Tingan answered.

"Someone leaked photos of the little one, and netizens are sharing and discussing them everywhere. Should we delete comments and control the narrative?" the agent said on the other end.

Frowning, Lu Tingan opened Weibo to check while responding, "Any negative remarks?"

Ms. Qin on the phone rubbed her temples. "...Not really, just that the little one is a bit chubby."

Lu Tingan: "..."

Having heard it on speakerphone, Lu Zhishi: "..."

The little one's cheeks puffed up in anger, indignant.

*Chubby? I've been this weight all along—where am I chubby!*