GRMFBS CH303

Zhan Yan had never seen Gu Jiancheng’s waist look so stiff before. Oh, what to do? He didn’t really want to dance anymore; he wanted to take this chance to record Xiao Gu dancing in the public square. Gu Jiancheng was currently watching him and learning the moves, his expression as serious as if he were practicing martial arts, his eyes shining under the streetlights, looking almost aggrieved. Ah… he felt a little guilty, but it only made him want to bully him more.

After finishing one routine, during the break, the enthusiastic aunties and uncles surrounded the newly-arrived Gu Jiancheng.

“Did you come here with Xiao Yan?”

“What a handsome young man!”

“How old are you? Are you still in school?”

“Do you live around here, or are you just visiting?”

Gu Jiancheng hadn’t experienced this kind of thing in a long time, and he actually felt somewhat at a loss. In the past, those who knew him never dared to act presumptuously in front of him, and those who didn’t would shrink back because of his cold, dangerous aura. But today, he was meeting these aunts and uncles alongside Zhan Yan, so everyone just saw a handsome, smiling, and incredibly sunny and lovable young man.

While Gu Jiancheng managed his replies, he turned his head, trying to find Zhan Yan. Zhan Yan had already retreated to the edge of the crowd. He found a familiar auntie to help him out, asking her to hold his phone and record a video when they danced the next routine in a bit. They were far apart, and Zhan Yan kept his voice very small and low, making it utterly inconspicuous amidst the noisy crowd in the square.

Gu Jiancheng: … Wasn’t Yan Yan underestimating his hearing a bit too much?

Zhan Yan caught the pleading gaze Gu Jiancheng shot his way, gave him a bright smile flashing his little white teeth, and gave him a thumbs up.

Gu Jiancheng: … Alright, understood. Yan Yan was definitely doing this on purpose!

After a short break, everyone got ready for the next square dance. The dancers came and went; some wanted to rest a little longer and stepped aside, while newcomers joined in. The enthusiastic uncles and aunties pushed Zhan Yan to the front to lead the dance, and made Gu Jiancheng follow behind to learn. Zhan Yan danced with an open and natural grace, turning back to blink and laugh at Gu Jiancheng. Kids wearing flashing roller skates laughed loudly as they glided by, dog walkers were dragged forward by their excited pups, shuttlecocks flew back and forth under the streetlights, and the square dance music was cheerful and rhythmic…

Gu Jiancheng wasn’t used to this kind of liveliness, but when Zhan Yan looked back at him, he felt a dazed sense of familiarity. A moth fluttered through the night and landed lightly on a streetlight, spreading its wings as it leisurely groomed its curling antennae with its front legs. A long, long time ago, he had seemingly been exactly as these people assumed—someone who loved to laugh, was always full of energy, and wildly uninhibited in his youth.

Back then, he seemed to have engaged in activities similar to square dancing too. His world was both similar and different to this one; in populated areas, empty public spaces were always in high demand. The teenagers liked to play ball, while the elderly preferred slow dancing. Once, when a conflict broke out, he was the one who went over to mediate, establishing a set schedule for playing ball and dancing. Later, he gradually forgot all about these things. Yet today, for some reason, those sedimented memories suddenly surged back up.

It didn’t feel too bad.

When Zhan Yan finished dancing and went to grab his phone, he turned around and saw Gu Jiancheng smiling at him. He openly and honestly shoved the phone with the recorded video into his pocket, acting as if nothing had happened as he said to Gu Jiancheng, “Let’s go, time to head back?”

Flagrantly up to no good. What else could Gu Jiancheng say? He could only pretend he didn’t know the video existed.

After returning, Zhan Yan fed Gu Jiancheng with the stock from the fridge, and then made cat food for Xingxing. Gu Jiancheng stubbornly squeezed into the kitchen to act as Zhan Yan’s assistant. Xingxing circled around their feet, meowing continuously. The lights from the courtyard filtered through the glass windows and sheer curtains, forming a warm pool of yellow.

Halfway through helping out, Gu Jiancheng couldn’t help but wrap his arms around Zhan Yan’s waist from behind. Resting his chin on Zhan Yan’s shoulder, he took a deep breath, his entire body relaxing. Zhan Yan tapped the back of his hand: “What are you doing? Hurry up and peel the carrots.”

“Mm.” Gu Jiancheng hummed through his nose, sounding incredibly clingy. Ever since finding out that Zhan Yan had been attacked by Monster Doctor, it felt like it wasn’t until this very moment that he finally felt completely grounded.

Xingxing was already so anxious that he started pawing at Gu Jiancheng’s leg. What are you doing? Don’t interrupt my mealtime!

Gu Jiancheng went back to peeling the carrots. He couldn’t help but hope that no one else would come home tonight; that way, he could have Yan Yan all to himself. It should be possible, right? With such a major incident happening, his shadow avatars were all incredibly busy outside, so the others should be too.

…

Meanwhile, in the black market, the Broker was currently blocking Zhan Suiru’s door.

Zhan Suiru: “I really have an urgent matter tonight; come back tomorrow.”

The Broker rubbed his hands together, his tone more than twice as soft as before, falling into his habitual nervous chatter: “You go busy yourself, I’m not trying to stop you. It’s just, I’ve told you all the information you wanted. Could you have the Artisan upgrade a defense for me? My requests aren’t high, it definitely won’t tire anyone out.”

Before, he had thought the “Artisan” only had a manufacturing ability; only recently did he figure out that the “Artisan” was actually Rong Sui, the terrifying boss who had once slaughtered her way to a 0% survival rate inside Infinite.

Zhan Suiru: … When did the Broker find out? Well, it wasn’t surprising that he had guessed it. This guy was incredibly well-informed. She had acted under Rong Sui’s identity a few times, so it was perfectly normal for the Broker to see through it.

Yang Ran poked her head out from behind the door: “Sister Suisui, you should head back. I’ll handle things here.”

The Broker kept yapping non-stop: “Alright, alright, alright, I’ve prepared all the materials. If there are any other needs, you can just bring them up. As long as I can get my hands on it, it won’t be a problem. We’ve known each other for so long, surely…”

Zhan Suiru: I never realized the Broker was such a chatterbox before. Whatever, it wasn’t important; Deep Shadow was at home tonight, so she definitely had to return home.

…

Wan Yao Alliance.

Zhan Yunkai checked his watch and spread his wings, preparing to fly away. All nine of Xiangliu’s heads were glaring at him.

Head 1: “You called everyone up to work.”

Head 2: “And now the work isn’t even finished.”

Head 3: “Yet you want to leave early yourself?”

Zhan Yunkai casually met the gaze of one of the heads: “It’s too late today, I’ll come back tomorrow.”

Head 5: “What are you looking at me for? I wasn’t the one who said it.”

Howling Moon Wolf King: “Aren’t your nine heads all one entity?”

Head 5: “That’s still different, we even argue with each other.”

Head 4: “Don’t change the subject.”

Head 6: “Why do you get to clock out early?!”

Zhan Yunkai chuckled coldly: “Where were you when I was busy before?” He was the biggest workaholic in the entire Wan Yao Alliance, okay? “If you keep making a fuss, I’ll call Da Wule over to beat you up with me!”

Zhan Yunkai spread his wings and flew off. Deep Shadow had abducted his youngest son, and was even openly staying in his house; he had to go back and keep an eye on things tonight!

…

Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau.

Ji Yueming was just preparing to head home after speaking with Ning Xi, but she was blocked in front of the portal by Da Wule. Da Wule’s wine-red silk shirt was all wrinkled, and his hair was somewhat messy; he looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

Ji Yueming was startled by him: “How did you end up like this?”

Lingzhou Wendi: “It’s nothing, I was just rushing a job.”

Monster Doctor had died cleanly, and all the Candle Dragon’s power he had previously found was extracted out. However, this Candle Dragon’s power had all been corrupted by Monster Doctor, and needed to be purified before it could be returned to the Candle Dragon. Da Wule’s ability was perfectly suited for this. This job wasn’t exactly easy, but Ning Xi had no intention of working him to death; he merely indicated that it would be fine as long as Da Wule resolved it within a week.

Da Wule had rushed the work primarily so he could make it in time to block Tianshi—he wanted to eat up this entire melon of gossip. Lingzhou Wendi’s eyes gleamed with the light of gossip: “Ning Xi went on a business trip, so he told me to come ask you myself. How is this also related to Approaching Science? And why did Rong Sui suddenly rush over there too? Who else is involved?”

Ji Yueming: … You really gave it your all just to gossip.

They wouldn’t be able to do without Da Wule’s help later, so there was no need to hide certain things from him. “There is indeed a relationship.” Ji Yueming deliberately dragged out her words, “Approaching Science, Rong Sui, and Ghost King Lin Yuan.”

Lingzhou Wendi: “Uh-huh, uh-huh.”

Ji Yueming: “They’re all from my family.”

Lingzhou Wendi reacted for two seconds before his eyes widened: “Adopted by you and the Chongming Demon King?”

Ji Yueming nodded.

Lingzhou Wendi: “…?”

“Do you two have some kind of special child-picking-up technique?”

…

Mount Chaofu.

Ghost King Wan Yan waited left and right, but Ghost King Lin Yuan didn’t show up, leaving him to irritably flick his tail beneath the Wenyu Tree. Ghost King Minghe was also staring at him, eyes rolling along with his twitching whiskers.

Ghost King Minghe: [I wonder if they can be tied into a different kind of knot.]

Ghost King Wan Yan couldn’t help but stiffen involuntarily. He guiltily took a step back: “Um, I’ll go look for Ghost King Lin Yuan first…” The little cat slowly backed up one step, two steps, three steps, then turned around and ran.

After running out of Mount Chaofu, Ghost King Wan Yan also had no idea where he should go to find Ghost King Lin Yuan. Maybe he should go look for Ghost King Tie Lao first; he could give Ghost King Tie Lao a hand…

Ghost King Tie Lao shuddered upon seeing Ghost King Wan Yan.

Ghost King Wan Yan felt very embarrassed: “I’ve recovered now. I’m sorry for causing you trouble in the past.”

Ghost King Tie Lao didn’t quite dare to believe it, so he first sent a message to inquire with Ghost King Lin Yuan; only after receiving an affirmative answer did he heave a huge sigh of relief. “It’s all minor stuff. What did you come looking for me for?”

“I want to find Ghost King Lin Yuan.”

Ghost King Tie Lao: [Ah? Ghost King Lin Yuan just left.]

Ghost King Wan Yan: …Just missed him. He hadn’t even had the time to tell Ghost King Lin Yuan about the matters regarding his family yet. And Bai Ze…

The “just missed” Zhan Jinli was currently rushing home as fast as he could. He absolutely could not let Deep Shadow and his younger brother stay home alone!

…

After finishing feeding Xingxing, it was almost time for bed.

Zhan Yan’s route back to his bedroom passed right by the guest room where Gu Jiancheng was sleeping. Gu Jiancheng hovered at the doorway, reluctant to part.

Zhan Yan smiled at his eager, expectant look: “Goodnight, we won’t need to call each other tonight.”

Gu Jiancheng: “…Goodnight.”

Zhan Yan took a couple of steps before suddenly realizing he had forgotten something. That hooligan NPC in the Dawn World! He hadn’t had a chance to tell Xiao Gu yet.

He turned back around: “Ah, there’s one thing I almost forgot to mention.”

Gu Jiancheng’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise: “Alright, alright, let’s go into the room to talk.”

Zhan Yan: … Whatever, into the room it is; he didn’t want to stand around talking in the hallway either.

After entering Gu Jiancheng’s room, Zhan Yan recounted the incident of Wan Shitong creating an NPC in the Dawn World modeled exactly after Deep Shadow’s image.

The more Gu Jiancheng listened, the more off things sounded. He asked probing: “Are you saying that this NPC ran onto the clouds yesterday to squeeze your tail?”

Zhan Yan complained: “Yeah, yeah, he’s so annoying.”

Gu Jiancheng: “Ah…” Then… that tail, it wasn’t a dream? He couldn’t stop his eyes from brightening a notch.

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