Six months passed quietly in the blink of an eye.
Spring had fully arrived in Jiang Cheng, and the once cold winter air was replaced by warm sunlight and gentle breezes. The Gu family villa was surrounded by blooming flowers, and the large garden outside was filled with the soft scent of fresh grass and cherry blossoms.
Inside the villa, life had become peaceful and orderly.
At the center of this calm life was Gu Wen.
At six months old, he was already different from other babies. He rarely cried, slept regularly, and reacted quickly to everything around him. His eyes were always calm and clear, quietly observing the world as if he understood far more than he should.
Even the servants had begun to notice.
"Young Master is unusually quiet," one maid whispered while preparing milk.
"Yes," another replied softly. "And he seems to understand when people talk to him."
Of course, no one truly believed a baby could understand human speech. They simply thought he was well-behaved and intelligent.
Only Gu Wen himself knew the truth.
Inside his mind, the Perfect Life System quietly recorded his daily growth. His body was becoming stronger under the system's subtle influence, and his mind remained clear and steady. Every day felt like a slow and stable step toward the future.
But today was slightly different.
Because the Liu family was visiting again.
In the spacious living room of the Gu family villa, servants carefully prepared tea and snacks while Gu Tianhao sat calmly on the sofa, waiting for his guests.
Soon, the door opened.
Liu Zhengyuan walked in with a gentle smile, followed by his wife and their daughter.
Six-month-old Liu Ruyan was now much more lively than before. Her black hair was soft and smooth, and her big bright eyes curiously looked around the unfamiliar environment. She wore a light pink baby dress, making her look like a delicate porcelain doll.
The moment she entered the room, her eyes began searching instinctively.
As if she was looking for someone.
Gu Wen was already sitting in a baby chair nearby, supported by soft cushions. His small body was steady, and his calm gaze quietly turned toward the entrance.
Their eyes met almost immediately.
In that instant, Liu Ruyan's expression changed.
Her slightly confused face suddenly became bright, and her lips slowly curved into a soft smile.
She reached out her small hands and made a happy sound.
"Ah… ah…"
Mrs. Liu was surprised.
"She's smiling already?"
Normally, Liu Ruyan would take some time to adapt to new environments, but today she looked unusually excited.
Her small body leaned forward in her mother's arms, trying to move toward Gu Wen.
Gu Tianhao noticed this and smiled faintly.
"It seems she remembers him."
Liu Zhengyuan laughed softly.
"Of course she does. Children remember people who make them feel safe."
Soon, Liu Ruyan was gently placed on a soft carpet near Gu Wen.
The moment she was set down, she immediately began crawling toward him.
Her movements were slow and unsteady, but her determination was clear. She crawled step by step across the carpet, her eyes never leaving Gu Wen's face.
Gu Wen watched quietly.
The system interface appeared again.
[Target: Liu Ruyan]
[Affection Level: 20]
[Suggestion: Respond to interaction]
Gu Wen slowly moved his hand forward.
It was a simple action, but for a six-month-old baby, even this required control.
When Liu Ruyan finally reached him, she grabbed his hand without hesitation.
Her small fingers wrapped around his, and she giggled happily.
The system voice sounded softly.
[Interaction successful.]
[Affection +5]
[Current Affection: 25]
Liu Ruyan sat beside him, holding his hand as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She leaned slightly toward him and rested her small head against his arm.
Her eyes curved into a gentle smile.
The adults watched the scene with interest.
Mrs. Liu covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"She really likes him."
Gu Tianhao nodded calmly.
"This is a good sign."
Liu Zhengyuan crossed his arms and smiled.
"It seems our decision was correct. The two children are naturally close."
While they spoke, Liu Ruyan suddenly made a small unhappy sound.
Her grip on Gu Wen's hand tightened slightly.
A servant had approached to bring her a toy, but the moment the toy came near, she turned her head away and frowned.
She ignored the toy completely.
Instead, she continued looking at Gu Wen, smiling again.
The servant was confused.
"She doesn't want the toy?"
Mrs. Liu sighed helplessly.
"She has been like this recently. She only smiles when she sees Gu Wen."
Gu Tianhao chuckled slightly.
"That means my son is more interesting than toys."
Gu Wen remained calm, but inside, he felt a slight change.
He looked at Liu Ruyan, who was still holding his hand and smiling happily.
There was no calculation in her eyes.
No intention.
Only simple trust and attachment.
The system interface appeared once more.
[Affection approaching 30]
[Relationship Status: Stable Familiarity]
[Reminder: Emotional dependence is forming]
Gu Wen quietly processed the information.
He originally believed this mission would simply be a task to complete.
But now, seeing her small hand tightly holding his and her innocent smile, he felt something slightly different.
Perhaps this was not just a system mission.
Perhaps this was something more human.
Outside the window, warm sunlight filled the garden, and cherry blossom petals slowly drifted through the air.
Inside the living room, Liu Ruyan leaned gently against Gu Wen, refusing to leave his side, as if the safest place in the world was right beside him.
And for the first time, Gu Wen did not pull his hand away.
Instead, he quietly allowed her to hold it.
The system screen slowly faded.
The childhood bond continued to grow, one peaceful moment at a time.