GRMFBS CH289

The iron railing at the head of the bed was chilly, while Xiao Gu’s hand was burning warm.

Zhan Yan had wanted to meet Gu Jiancheng at the earliest, earliest time, but between them lay such an immense span of years.

After the first layer of that multi-layered dungeon shattered, he had followed Gu Jiancheng—who broke through it—into the second layer; he had watched how Gu Jiancheng shattered the second layer and acquired his skill from the third.

When Gu Jiancheng obtained the skill, his mind had been affected, and he saw illusions once again. Firelight flared in the kitchen, and the unreachable hometown seemed like an illusion within the flames. Young Xiao Gu felt as though he were merely a moth.

The reason Zhan Yan had turned into a moth in the dream was that he had remained attached to young Xiao Gu’s subconscious perspective all along.

He wanted to meet Xiao Gu from the earliest, earliest beginning, and wanted to walk through those times alongside him. Yet it was only a dream.

Zhan Yan’s breathing grew rapid involuntarily. The hand grasping his tightened slightly, steady and reliable, attempting to soothe him.

Zhan Yan felt even more like crying. He widened his eyes and slowed his breathing, slowly forcing the tears back.

Xiao Gu hadn’t even cried, so what was he crying for?

He ought to be furious.

He was going to tear Infinite to shreds!

Holding Zhan Yan’s hand, Gu Jiancheng’s dream slowly began to fade.

He recalled that dungeon once more, and began to look back upon the past that he hadn’t revisited in ages due to being implicated by that trial.

Those Monster Doctors embedded within his memory had vanished. Like wrong answers on an exam paper scrubbed clean by an eraser.

Reaching through the iron railing, Zhan Yan’s hand rested right beside his ear, tightly intertwined with his own.

For a fleeting moment, Gu Jiancheng felt as though he truly had raised a moth. The powdery scales from its wings had drifted down gently, erasing all the gloom in his memories, traversing the cage of Infinite to settle softly beside his ear.

Gu Jiancheng’s slender index and middle fingers rested lightly against Zhan Yan’s wrist, feeling the pulse thumping beat after beat.

It was a bit fast, but full of vigor. As if he were angry, pulling his own heartbeat into becoming faster and stronger along with it.

What did Yan Yan dream about?

Unable to guess, Gu Jiancheng could only stroke that small patch of skin gently with his fingertips, stroke after stroke.

The pulse beneath his fingertips gradually slowed.

Has Yan Yan recovered somewhat from the emotions of that dream? Gu Jiancheng surmised.

Yet it still felt a bit too tense. As if he were turning things over in his mind. Thinking before bed easily led to insomnia, and besides… it seemed to be unhappy matters.

Gu Jiancheng withdrew his fingers, squeezed Zhan Yan’s hand, and scratched his palm twice playfully.

After a while, Gu Jiancheng heard Zhan Yan’s breathing and heartbeat both ease into a steady rhythm. Staring up at the pitch-black ceiling, he smiled soundlessly.

Turning his head, Gu Jiancheng pressed a soft kiss to the back of Zhan Yan’s hand. Closing his eyes, he drifted peacefully to sleep.

After waking from the dream, Zhan Yan only became clearer and clearer headed.

He needed more and more clues and information. This trip had originally been intended to investigate Monster Doctor too. Where did Monster Doctor go? Could it be that his dream hadn’t finished yet, and Monster Doctor was scheduled to appear even later?

However, his Candle Dragon blessing had already been completely consumed. The tiny candle stub had burned out, leaving him only a small pool of wax tears.

He needed to message Dad to ask if he could get another blessing from the Candle Dragon. But it was too late right now; he couldn’t message his dad, or his dad would assume he was staying up late…

Zhan Yan shifted his gaze back to that small pool of wax tears on his information plate.

If he gathered this pool of wax tears and found a new wick for it, could it still be used for a while?

While turning these wild thoughts over, Zhan Yan suddenly felt his hand gently squeezed again. As if urging him to sleep. A finger lay across his palm, tracing two light circles, whether on purpose or purely out of subconscious habit.

Zhan Yan let out a soft laugh.

He had thought his overexcited mental state wouldn’t settle so easily, yet holding Gu Jiancheng’s hand while that finger squirmed softly against his palm worked wonders.

Zhan Yan involuntarily recalled how young Xiao Gu in the dream had held his finger out before him, full of anticipation for him to hop on.

Closing his eyes, he soon drifted off to sleep.

The next morning upon waking, Zhan Yan’s arm was completely numb.

The moment he opened his eyes, he first felt as if he were missing an arm, and then as he turned his head, his cheek and ear bumped against something cold, slippery, and limp.

A few seconds later, Zhan Yan realized that was his own arm.

Dammit… poor blood circulation for way too long in this posture.

Gu Jiancheng had awakened as well. Only after waking did he realize he was still holding Zhan Yan’s hand, which was soft and freezing cold.

He was jolted wide awake in fright on the spot.

Zhan Yan was trying his hardest to pull his arm back, but it wasn’t responding well; he could only try lifting it with his other arm. It wasn’t completely devoid of sensation either; touching things brought a dull, wooden awareness, and he could already predict how impossibly agonizing and immobile the pins and needles would be once the blood rushed back QAQ.

Gu Jiancheng had already gingerly guided Zhan Yan’s arm back through the railing gaps.

Supporting Zhan Yan to sit up in bed, he let the arm hang down naturally to speed up circulation.

Right now, dawn had barely broken, with only a sliver of light filtering through the curtain gap. The air was quiet, birdsong just beginning. The dorm room was dim and hazy.

By this faint light, Zhan Yan caught sight of Gu Jiancheng’s cautious, guilt-ridden look and couldn’t help smiling, whispering in an airy voice: “I was the one who reached my hand over myself.”

As he spoke, the corner of his mouth twitched twice against his will.

The arm with returning blood flow was already regaining sensation; accidentally brushing against it brought a feeling that went… hiss.

Without a word, Gu Jiancheng pulled a small spray bottle out of the pocket hanging on the wall by the bed—

[Using the pocket as cover, Deep Shadow Gu Jiancheng retrieved the painless universal healing spray he had bought long ago from the Sea of Shadows.]

Scrolling back through the gossip strips, this was from when he had a fever; Gu Jiancheng felt he had no healing abilities, so he began purchasing all sorts of healing items through Wan Shitong. This healing spray had been bought alongside that diagnostic pen meant to poke his forehead.

Zhan Yan read the item description’s notes on the universal healing spray.

Aiya, it was just an arm falling asleep from pressure; there was really no need for an item of this caliber.

Afraid that moving would bump the arm, Gu Jiancheng leaned over in an awkward posture and sprayed a circle around Zhan Yan’s arm.

The spray felt cool, but immediately turned warm afterward, like soaking in hot water.

Gu Jiancheng lifted his hand gently; his thick, long eyelashes fluttered upward in the morning light, his eyes profound enough to pull someone straight in.

“Does it still feel uncomfortable?”

His voice was low and raspy.

Zhan Yan froze for two seconds, his face suddenly flushing crimson.

He remembered that day at the hotel.

Gu Jiancheng had already lowered his head again, pressing a light kiss to the back of his hand.

The spray had already resolved the discomfort brought by returning circulation, but sensation in the arm remained somewhat numb and ticklish for the moment.

Having the back of his hand softly touched sent a tingly itch shooting straight through his entire arm, passing his shoulder, and striking right at his heart.

It… it feels like it isn’t better yet.

In fact, it feels like it became even worse; even his chest began itching with a tingly buzz.

Bao Qingshan yawned and sat up in bed; turning his head, he caught sight of Gu Jiancheng and Zhan Yan’s awkward posture.

“What’s going on?” Having just woken up, Bao Qingshan’s brain wasn’t fully online yet.

Zhan Yan yanked his hand back with a whoosh and began glaring at Gu Jiancheng.

Gu Jiancheng turned and shot Bao Qingshan a dark, smoldering glare.

Bao Qingshan shuddered, snapping completely awake all at once.

You young couple have seriously had enough!

There were no classes this morning, but Mom dropped by, bringing Xingxing along. Mom didn’t stay long, but she left Xingxing behind.

“I have some business affairs over these next few days around Beiling City; just bring Xingxing back to me before your classes start.”

Zhan Yan blinked, sensing something was fishy here.

When has Mom ever handled company business?

He began checking the gossip strips.

Well then, not just Mom—Dad also plans to use filming a movie as an excuse to take up long-term residence in Beiling City.

Although he was the only pure support in the family with zero combat ability, there was really no need for this much protection, right?

How am I supposed to date like this—

So it’s true that young couples who excessively display affection will suffer retribution.

Zhan Yan pondered for a while and decided to find some chores for Mom and Dad.

Zhan Yan: [Dad, can you help me get another blessing from the Candle Dragon?]

Upon receiving this message, Zhan Yunkai recalled that Approaching Science had previously asked him for a Candle Dragon blessing as well. Back then, he had wondered about Approaching Science’s identity, curious yet embarrassed to ask. But now that Approaching Science was his own son, Zhan Yunkai planned to question him thoroughly.

Zhan Yunkai: [What does the Candle Dragon’s blessing do? Why do you only want her blessing?]

Zhan Yan: [It helps me investigate earlier information. I’m currently tracking Monster Doctor.]

Zhan Yunkai: [I’ll give it a try.]

Zhan Yunkai: [But the Candle Dragon has been sleeping very deeply lately, so I expect it will be hard to get a response.]

It didn’t matter; he hadn’t counted purely on the Candle Dragon’s blessing anyway, and asking Dad for help wasn’t entirely for that either.

He had prepared an alternate plan at the same time: upgrading the Gossip System.

Zhan Yan: [Mom~ Can you get a ready-made list of various large and small organizations?]

Asking was just a formality; Zhan Yan knew the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau definitely had one. With Ning Xi’s control-freak habits, if an organization he hadn’t investigated appeared on his territory, Ning Xi wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully all night from the distress.

Ji Yueming agreed readily, asking:

Ji Yueming: [What do you need this list for?]

Zhan Yan briefly explained the matter of upgrading his abilities.

Ji Yueming understood: Bai Ze’s divine ability needed unlocking and restoration. Collecting new information was such a simple task. After speaking with Ning Xi, Ji Yueming went straight to Librarian Tu Yue to fetch the experience pack.

“What do you need these for?” Tu Yue was very curious.

Tianshi rarely approached him for anything, let alone asking for information on so many organizations, and only wanting names without detailed investigation reports—what could this possibly be used for?

Ji Yueming: “For my son.”

Her expression carried a hint of bragging. Heh, my son is about to get stronger again.

Tu Yue: “Approaching Science, huh…”

Tu Yue felt a tiny bit conflicted. He had always wanted to ask Approaching Science about how Deep Shadow’s “dating cures aftereffects” thing worked.

Ji Yueming: “Are you still looking into how Deep Shadow shook off his aftereffects?”

Tu Yue nodded: “Aren’t you curious?”

Ji Yueming wasn’t curious; however, Deep Shadow resolved it had nothing to do with her anyway.

She waved her hand: “Ask him yourself.”

After pushing Dad to grind, Zhan Yan pushed Mom to grind, ensuring both parents were kept busy so they wouldn’t spend all day making up excuses to spectate his dating life; Xiao Gu’s secret identity couldn’t hold up under scrutiny. Fortunately, he had already attached the confidential little star to Gu Jiancheng; otherwise, relying solely on the fake identity forged by Wan Shitong, the inconsistencies in Xiao Gu’s background would have been dug up long ago.

Dating while keeping secret identities intact was truly tough.

If only there were an opportunity for Deep Shadow to farm favorability with Mom and Dad.