GRMFBS CH216

On the way back, Gu Jiancheng, still completely in the dark, was wailing in his heart over his image in Yan Yan’s eyes.

Ahhh, will Yan Yan think he’s really stupid? Will he think he’s weird? Will he think he’s no longer interesting? Will he…

Zhan Yan was scrolling through his chat history with Deep Shadow.

The chat log was still paused at the message he had sent asking if Deep Shadow could help.

Zhan Yan’s train of thought was pulled back from the shock of his boyfriend dropping his vest.

Oh, right—if Deep Shadow was Gu Jiancheng, then all four conditions for his sister to save Yang Ran were met!

After returning to the rented apartment, Zhan Yan opened the chat logs with both of them.

Deep Shadow hadn’t replied. That was normal; Gu Jiancheng had been accompanying him the whole time and had no time to check the forum.

His sister hadn’t replied either. Maybe she hadn’t seen it yet, or maybe she had seen it but still needed time to think it over.

Even though he knew this was normal, Zhan Yan still couldn’t help feeling a bit anxious.

Could the identity of Approaching Science convince the two of them?

He pondered back and forth, but couldn’t find a reason why Approaching Science could move Deep Shadow and Rong Sui.

What if his sister didn’t believe him? What if Deep Shadow rejected him?

For a moment, he even wanted to throw caution to the wind and strip off his vest!

The brief, heavy shower earlier hadn’t managed to drench them much, and on the way back, they had already been dried off by the sun.

Zhan Yan noticed two large bath towels prepared in the bathroom, along with two sets of new clothes on the rack.

He instantly understood Gu Jiancheng’s plan: after acting out a melodramatic domineering CEO script in the pouring rain, they would return soaking wet to take a bath together.

Pfft. How thorough of you, Student Xiao Gu.

A notification for a new message pinged from the background of the chaofan forum. Zhan Yan felt a sudden surge of nervousness.

He clicked on it to see the flashing private message from “Artisan.”

Nervous, apprehensive, and so worried it would be suspicion and rejection.

Zhan Yan took a deep breath and opened the private message.

Artisan: [Thank you.]

Artisan: [Please help me contact Deep Shadow.]

Artisan: [What do I need to pay?]

Zhan Yan: …!

Joy! But… did she just believe him like that?

His sister wasn’t someone who trusted people so easily. For a split second, Zhan Yan suspected that his vest had fallen off.

Before Zhan Yan could reply, the private message from “I Just Saved the World!” lit up as well.

He subconsciously turned his head to glance over. Gu Jiancheng was sitting beside the bag holding Xingxing’s toys, playing with his phone, while Xingxing stood on his legs, pawing at the bag.

Hmph, if you dare refuse… please don’t let it be a refusal!

Zhan Yan pulled back his gaze, took another deep breath, and opened the chat window.

I Just Saved the World!: [Okay.]

I Just Saved the World!: [What’s the matter?]

I Just Saved the World!: [No points needed. I’ll help.]

Zhan Yan: ?

Such a great attitude?

Agreeing before even asking what it was—this wasn’t normal at all! And he didn’t even want points.

Deep Shadow wasn’t an indiscriminate good Samaritan who helped people on a whim. Did Approaching Science hold such a high status in his heart? Or did he genuinely appreciate Artisan that much?

He had worried for nothing; how were both sides resolved so easily?

Another message arrived from his sister.

Artisan: [You may bring up any demand.]

Zhan Yan switched back to the private chat with his sister.

Sis, this negotiation style of yours won’t do. Who reveals their bottom card right at the start? How did you manage to stay safe and sound with the broker for so many years like this?

He had to reply to this first, or his sister would be worried sick.

Zhan Suiru had deliberated for over half an hour before sending out those three sentences.

The “Lord” BOSS had never replied to a message so cautiously in her entire life.

So there was no such thing as being emotionally strong or weak; it was merely a matter of whether one cared or not.

Yang Ran walked out carrying freshly baked cookies. Seeing her staring unblinkingly at the screen, he sat down beside her and began quietly packing the cookies.

Sui Sui-jie had said her younger brother was coming home today, and these cookies were for him. Standard sweetness, because according to Sui Sui-jie, her brother only liked the sweet pastries made by his older brother, while for other foods, he still preferred a normal level of sweetness.

Mm… then normal sweetness it was. Although cookies were also a dessert, if her brother happened not to like normal sweetness, Sui Sui-jie could eat them instead.

Yang Ran only made one batch. It wasn’t that the future eldest brother-in-law wasn’t important, but he couldn’t replicate the flavors he liked. As for the parents-in-law, they hadn’t returned home yet, and cookies wouldn’t taste as good the next day, so he would make fresh ones when the time came.

Yang Ran deftly folded a gift bag, packed the cookies inside, and tied a bow with ribbon, neater than any gift box bought from a department store.

He looked at Zhan Suiru, his mechanical eyes slowly curving. Every subtle shift within those simulated pupils originated from his soul.

Yang Ran was smiling. Even though he might never be able to step out of this room or meet Sui Sui-jie’s new family, this was already wonderful enough. He was already deeply, truly content.

Zhan Suiru turned her head to look at him and smiled softly: “Before long, you’ll be able to have your freedom.”

Four conditions. The Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau and she herself were not an issue; Approaching Science had taken the initiative to approach her with the solution, so he certainly wouldn’t make things difficult for her. The only slight trouble was Deep Shadow.

Zhan Suiru had only dealt with Deep Shadow once, and that time, she had hunted him for three whole months.

She hadn’t held back at all when striking. If Deep Shadow hadn’t possessed sufficient strength, he would have died back then.

Deep Shadow once told her that if he was still around when that day came, he would definitely use every ounce of his strength to destroy Infinite.

Twenty-seven years ago, when Infinite clashed with this world, Deep Shadow had already taken the opportunity to break free, yet he charged back in to forcefully carve out a path leading straight to Infinite’s core.

He had kept his promise.

Between them, saying there was camaraderie worked, but saying there was enmity wasn’t wrong either.

She had to admit, she felt fortunate that Deep Shadow was still alive.

Zhan Suiru recalled the Deep Shadow in her memories.

That was a soul just as tormented as they were, hovering on the precipice of madness—unwilling to fall, yet staring down into the abyss day in and day out.

What would a person like that want?

“Sui Sui-jie.” Yang Ran gently took her hand. “The way things are right now is already very good.”

“If the price is too high, there’s no need.”

“Xiao Ran, I do not consider the possibility of failure.” Zhan Suiru’s voice was calm.

Yang Ran was at a loss for words. He was all too familiar with this calmness.

Back when Rong Sui made the decision to lock herself in the high tower, she was this calm. When she decided to look for the Black Nest, when she decided to fight against the time reboot, when she decided to stake her life against Infinite…

Yang Ran felt the core within his chest thumping violently, bordering on painful.

He parted his lips.

A new message suddenly popped up on the screen.

Approaching Science: [I don’t need anything.]

Approaching Science: [Let’s set a time, and I will give you the complete soul map.]

Looking at the reply from Approaching Science, Zhan Suiru frowned slightly.

Approaching Science wanted nothing. Why?

At the same time, Zhan Yan was still chatting with “I Just Saved the World!”. He first sent over a detailed explanation of Yang Ran’s situation and how to resolve it.

Approaching Science: [Is there anything you want?]

Approaching Science: [If you don’t want points, other things are fine too.]

I Just Saved the World!: [No need.]

I Just Saved the World!: [I’ve had contact with them before.]

I Just Saved the World!: [They are worthy.]

Zhan Yan was touched in an instant.

Ahhh, how can Gu Jiancheng be so good, so wonderfully good!

He quickly relayed this to his sister as well.

Approaching Science: [I just asked Deep Shadow.]

Approaching Science: [He’s willing to help.]

Approaching Science: [No price needed.]

Zhan Suiru’s brow furrowed even deeper.

Instead of relief, a sense of unease began creeping into her heart.

Too smooth. Too easy.

When everything seemed overly good, that was often precisely the time to step on the brakes.

The things she wanted were being handed to her so effortlessly. This wasn’t normal.

Artisan: [Why?]

Artisan: [You can name any condition.]

Sitting beside her, Yang Ran was equally worried about this temptation that carried no cost. He no longer held much value, but he was afraid of becoming a tool used by others to target Rong Sui.

Yang Ran murmured, “I can wait, Sui Sui-jie. Don’t take risks.”

Zhan Yan’s Gossip System was split into several interfaces. The screen and the gossip threads simultaneously refreshed with Artisan’s reply and the reasons behind their actions.

Zhan Yan felt an ache in his heart reading it.

Sister.

Approaching Science: [A person doesn’t necessarily have to pay a price to attain happiness.]

A person shouldn’t believe that they are unworthy of happiness just because they aren’t suffering or paying a toll.

Zhan Suiru froze.

She stared at the screen as messages continued to update.

Approaching Science: [I asked Deep Shadow what he needed, and he said no need.]

Approaching Science: [Deep Shadow said he has had contact with you two before.]

Approaching Science: [You are worthy.]

Yang Ran’s fingers involuntarily tightened. Their hands interlocked, as if gripping tightly onto something tangible.

Yang Ran: “I didn’t expect Deep Shadow to be this kind of person…”

Zhan Suiru: “Deep Shadow doesn’t seem like this kind of person…”

The moment the words left their mouths, the two of them couldn’t help exchanging a silent look.

A moment later, they let go of each other’s hands in mutual understanding.

Zhan Suiru pulled back her hand and began typing a reply.

Artisan: [Thank you.]

Artisan: [Please pass on my gratitude to Deep Shadow, and thank him for me.]

Moved was still moved; her favorable impression of Approaching Science and Deep Shadow went up and up.

Yet in her impression, Deep Shadow truly didn’t have this kind of personality. Yang Ran had only seen Deep Shadow and hadn’t interacted with him much, but she had hunted him for three full months. One’s reactions under a life-and-death crisis were enough to lay bare their truest nature. Someone who casually lent a helping hand to others would not live long in Infinite.

Could it be that after leaving Infinite, Deep Shadow had felt warmth in this world just like she had, and his personality had shifted?

Gu Jiancheng was originally sulking.

First, because he had prepared the wrong kind of surprise, and second, because Yan Yan was heading home in the afternoon.

They had previously been separated for three months due to their internship at the pig farm, and only a few days after reuniting, they were about to be separated for half the summer vacation.

Not happy!

He wanted to make things official! Once official, he could openly visit Yan Yan during holidays!

However, making things official was somewhat difficult: he had to win over Yan Yan’s older sister—the reincarnated Rong Sui.

Rong Sui was by no means an easy person to deal with. Her temperament was unyielding and fierce; back then, she had hunted him relentlessly for three whole months! He didn’t know what the previous players had done, but Rong Sui had zero trust in players. She attacked on sight without offering a second for words, and even if she heard anything, she treated it like wind past her ears.

If he hadn’t deliberately plotted to drag a Black Nest into it later to finally carve out an opening, he suspected Rong Sui would have kept hunting him even if three years had passed.

Those three months were utterly stifling for Gu Jiancheng. His goal was to find a chance to talk, not to make an enemy, so many methods couldn’t be used, nor could he let loose and fight Rong Sui with full force.

During those three months, he tried every trick in the book to force Rong Sui to stop and talk. None of them worked!

The methods he used to achieve his goal back then… certainly couldn’t have been fair and aboveboard. Thus, Gu Jiancheng held immense doubts about what kind of image he had in Rong Sui’s mind.

What a headache.

The big shot Deep Shadow never cared about how others viewed him, but Rong Sui was Yan Yan’s sister—the kind with a remarkably close bond. How on earth was he supposed to improve his image in Rong Sui’s heart?

Gu Jiancheng pondered as he packed Xingxing’s toys, accidentally spacing out again.

A motorized cloth mouse zipped right past his leg, preparing to make a turn.

Xingxing’s pupils dilated as he locked onto the target—takeoff, pounce!

Spacing out, Gu Jiancheng relied on the agility and instincts of the big shot Deep Shadow, snatching the cloth mouse away from beneath the cat paws at the very last second, casually flipping off the switch and dropping it into the bag.

Xingxing hadn’t even seen clearly how the cloth mouse vanished. Upon landing, he felt something was off; looking down, there was nothing beneath his paws.

Didn’t catch it? Look left, look right.

Where’s my toy?

Xingxing swiveled his head in a full circle without finding it. Looking up at Gu Jiancheng, he began guessing wildly: “Meow!”

Did you hide my toy?

Guessed right. Snapped back to reality by the cat pawing at his leg, Gu Jiancheng opened the toy bag. Xingxing didn’t even wait for him to search; he scrambled onto his lap and began pawing through the bag himself. Bags were so fun!

Snapping back to his senses, Gu Jiancheng remembered another matter: he needed to talk to Approaching Science, telling him not to badmouth Artisan or compare him with Artisan. First place on the points leaderboard was earned through the person’s own efforts, after all—she was very impressive!

Opening the private message interface, Gu Jiancheng only then saw the new private message sent by Approaching Science, asking if he could do Artisan a favor.

Ayy, oh my!

Staring at the private chat with Approaching Science, the corners of Gu Jiancheng’s mouth curved upward uncontrollably.

Talk about a pillow arriving just as he was dozing off! Just as he was fretting over how to gain the favor of his future eldest sister-in-law, Approaching Science came through with this message.

Points? What points? I’ll do it for free!

Approaching Science, sending charcoal in the snow!

Having just acted as the middleman to iron out the details of their cooperation, Zhan Yan closed the forum, let out a quiet sigh of relief, and couldn’t help breaking into a bright mood.

So great, so wonderfully great—Yang Ran’s problem would soon be resolved! Once resolved, there would be no need to worry about Infinite trying to use the curse on Yang Ran’s soul to stir up trouble, and his sister could be together with him normally.

Zhan Yan couldn’t resist looking over at Gu Jiancheng.

Student Xiao Gu was simply too good! Even without his vest being stripped, he was willing to help his sister without asking for anything in return.

He watched the corners of Gu Jiancheng’s lips curl higher and higher, until finally, his eyes and brows were brimming with laughter.

Ayy, are you really that happy to help my sister?

Zhan Yan found Student Xiao Gu utterly adorable.

After finalizing the future arrangements, the packing was essentially finished as well.

In the afternoon, Zhan Jinli came over to pick up Zhan Yan and bring him home.

Gu Jiancheng planned to leave early, choosing not to meet the future eldest brother-in-law for now. First, it was because Yan Yan said his brother was an extreme case of social anxiety who didn’t talk to others and couldn’t stand others talking to him; second, he didn’t intend to provoke Zhan Suiru any further.

He hadn’t dropped his vest in front of Zhan Suiru yet, which meant he still had a chance to work hard on boosting her favorability. If he agitated Rong Sui and caused her to start digging frantically into the identity of her younger brother’s romantic partner, unearthing the identity of “Deep Shadow,” then trying to grind favorability would jump straight to impossible difficulty.

The two said their goodbyes at the door. Gu Jiancheng was still intensely reluctant to part, hugging Zhan Yan and refusing to let go.

Zhan Yan rested his chin on Gu Jiancheng’s shoulder.

The hug lasted quite a while.

But it didn’t matter; he was happy today, extraordinarily happy!

Held in his embrace, Zhan Yan opened the Gossip System.

[Gu Jiancheng was fretting over how to win the favor of his future eldest sister-in-law, Zhan Suiru. Upon receiving the distress message sent by Approaching Science, he was overjoyed.]

??? When did his sister drop her vest in front of Gu Jiancheng?

So that was why you didn’t want anything in return!