GRMFBS CH317

 “This household of yours…” Lingzhou Wendi marveled. “Both you and Chongming actually agreed?”

Ji Yueming: “Mm.”

Even setting aside the fated connection between the two, Gu Jiancheng had willingly substituted his own life for Yan Yan’s, leaving them with no reason to object. Gu Jiancheng’s devotion ran so profoundly deep, and judging by how frantic Yan Yan had been over him, who knew just how hopelessly smitten their boy was in return?

The two arrived outside the treatment room. Just as Ji Yueming reached for the door, Ning Xi suddenly sent a message through.

“The surveillance feed in the treatment room went dark just now,” Ning Xi reported, his tone notably free of alarm. “Perhaps you might want to wait a moment before going in?”

Ji Yueming: …

There were only Yan Yan and Deep Shadow inside the room. What on earth were those two up to?!

Inside the treatment room, Gu Jiancheng sat on the medical bed, his body covered in monitoring patches from various medical apparatuses.

Zhan Yan stood beside him, one hand held firmly in Gu Jiancheng’s grip while the other held the miniature balance.

After his sister had shrunk the Supreme Balance, it had flown right toward him of its own accord. Though Zhan Yan had rejected the rule of “judgment,” the Supreme Balance still retained other functions, which he planned to study at his leisure.

The rest of the family was absent. The demise of the will of Infinite had left behind a massive mess to clean up, and with everyone busy handling the fallout, only Zhan Yan and Gu Jiancheng remained in the room.

Holding Gu Jiancheng’s hand, Zhan Yan kept his eyes glued to the data display monitor, adamantly refusing to look at him.

Gu Jiancheng leaned in close to Zhan Yan, mumbling in a low murmur: “I suspect they’re using this opportunity to collect my physiological data.”

His breath tickled Zhan Yan’s ear, making him tilt his head away with a soft huff through his nose: “If you hadn’t pulled that life-substituting technique nonsense, you wouldn’t have to worry about them collecting your physiological data.”

Gu Jiancheng leaned in again: “I didn’t want them collecting your physiological data either. If you were the one lying here, it would break my heart to death.”

His words made Zhan Yan’s heart turn both aching and soft, glaring at him without a shred of real menace: “You left that kind of technique on me—if something actually… happened to you, what was I supposed to do?”

Scalded by the sheer intensity of affection in his gaze, Gu Jiancheng instinctively looked away, his lips moving slightly without uttering a sound.

Yet Zhan Yan understood in an instant.

If Gu Jiancheng were gone, Zhan Yan still had his family—his father, mother, elder brother, and elder sister. With so many people holding him dear, he would eventually move on and walk out of the grief one day.

Whereas Gu Jiancheng… had virtually no attachments in this world, save for Zhan Yan. If Zhan Yan were gone, he would see no meaning left in continuing on either.

Zhan Yan had never opened his eyes so wide, breath trapped in his chest until his face flushed entirely red.

Sneaking a peek at him, Gu Jiancheng panicked the moment he saw water swiftly welling up in his eyes.

He cupped Zhan Yan’s face, the monitoring patches and wires still taped to the back of his hands.

“Don’t cry, please—I was wrong, I was wrong.”

This is bad, this is bad. In all the time he had been dating Yan Yan, he had never once seen him cry.

Zhan Yan glared through his tears, refusing to utter a single syllable.

Watching tears spill uncontrollably down his cheeks with soft patters, Gu Jiancheng panicked out of his wits.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry, Yan Yan… I’m sorry, I was wrong.”

“Admitting you’re wrong without ever intending to change.”

Gu Jiancheng was struck dumb, looking back at him with pure, pitiful remorse.

Zhan Yan blinked hard, sniffing as he reached for the tissues on the cabinet to wipe his face.

Head lowered, he pondered: How could he anchor Xiao Gu with more ties to this world? How could he make him unwilling to weigh and gamble away his own life so easily?

Gu Jiancheng reached out gingerly to take his hand.

Zhan Yan didn’t pull away, only to feel a warm, resilient firmness settle beneath his palm. He looked up with wide eyes.

Gu Jiancheng had guided his hand right over the firm pectoral muscles of his chest.

Are you seriously resorting to seduction now?

Seeing his eyes widen again, Gu Jiancheng stated with deadpan earnestness: “It’s itchy right here. Help me check if they placed the patch wrong.”

To accommodate the medical monitoring devices, he was only wearing a loose, unbuttoned shirt over his upper body.

Zhan Yan’s lips twitched before he hissed in an incredulous whisper: “There’s surveillance in this room!”

Are you acting like a hooligan so openly in broad daylight?

Free from the lurking crisis of Infinite, and backed by the tacit consent of Yan Yan’s parents, the great boss Deep Shadow had completely abandoned all restraint, proving exceptionally adept at pushing his luck at every opportunity.

He flashed Zhan Yan a cunning grin: “I blocked it all with shadows.”

Zhan Yan pulled his hand back: “…Do you think they won’t suspect anything when the screen goes pitch black?”

Releasing his hand, Gu Jiancheng leaned close to coax him: “Then will you say it one more time, please?”

Zhan Yan: “Say what?”

Gu Jiancheng: “What you said back in the dungeon.”

Zhan Yan blinked: “I said plenty of things in the dungeon.”

Gu Jiancheng: “Just that very last sentence.”

Zhan Yan: “Which sentence?”

The door swung open abruptly.

Zhan Yan yanked his hand back in a flash.

Meow it all. Dazed by Xiao Gu’s antics, he had actually forgotten to watch his minimap!

“Mom.” Zhan Yan pretended as though nothing had happened.

Lingzhou Wendi peeked in from the side.

Oho, so this little curly-haired kid was the Approaching Science who pitted him back then? And the one on the bed is Deep Shadow? Seems he’s using his true appearance this time—completely different aura compared to their last encounter.

“Why did the monitor go black earlier? Are you two alright?” Lingzhou Wendi asked.

Zhan Yan: …Why is Da Wule so petty and grudging?

Gu Jiancheng: “Testing my abilities.”

Da Wule: …As a support, I feel threatened by the DPS.

Heh! I’m still your healer, you know!

Having just skimmed through his melon entries, Zhan Yan blinked and offered an exceptionally earnest expression: “Thank you for your hard work, Senior. If there is anything Senior ever needs help with, you’re welcome to seek me out—finding someone, for instance.”

Lingzhou Wendi clicked his tongue.

Kids who knew everything were truly unlikable.

Having arranged the ritual, Da Wule headed toward the cemetery carrying a stomach full of third-wheel dog food.

The heroes’ cemetery at the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau was perpetually maintained, swept immaculate, and adorned with fresh bouquets.

Surrounded by blossoms, Yan Huifeng’s photograph beamed back at him with dashing radiance.

Lingzhou Wendi recalled the sweet dog food he had just been fed by Zhan Yan and Deep Shadow. With Tianshi present, the two appeared prim and proper, yet the sweetness leaking through their gazes and subtle gestures couldn’t be concealed in the slightest.

His outstretched hand paused before the portrait, that lingering hesitation finally incinerated away.

Infinite had already perished; what was he still hesitating for?

Looking at Tianshi’s household: Rong Sui and Bai Ze had both suffered grievous trauma and reincarnated, yet look how grown they were now. Yan Huifeng’s soul had suffered turbulence back then, but was neither missing parts nor shattered. Barring an accidental rebirth into the animal realm, shouldn’t he be in his twenties by now too?

Maybe he could try searching?

Well… an old bull nibbling on tender grass wouldn’t be out of the question either.

That guy possessed remarkable ritual talent. Perhaps a master-and-disciple dynamic?

…

“…At first, the two of them didn’t get along, constantly trading sarcastic remarks while fine-tuning rituals; later on, they harbored mutual unrequited crushes, yet neither had the nerve to confess,” Zhan Yan whispered, sharing the gossip with Gu Jiancheng.

Gu Jiancheng declared that he would never waver like that—no matter how many times Yan Yan wanted to hear it, he would say it.

Zhan Yan promptly cut off his parrot routine.

With his mouth pressed shut, Gu Jiancheng leaned against his fingertips, wheedling softly: “Won’t Yan Yan say it for me to hear too?”

Zhan Yan gave a huff. I haven’t settled the score with you for dodging my questions earlier.

Gu Jiancheng’s eyes curved, his lips parting slightly.

Zhan Yan snapped his hand back, glaring at him.

Xiao Gu still had the cheek to look aggrieved: “I’ve said it so many times; wouldn’t it be fair for you to say it just once in return?”

Zhan Yan huffed again. Just as he was about to speak, he caught Gu Jiancheng’s gaze flicking upward.

Reaching up, he patted his head.

Two large horns had sprouted again.

Seriously, why are you being so disobedient?!

Zhan Yan reached for that strand of curls, intending to give it a tug.

Gu Jiancheng tugged at his sleeve.

Zhan Yan: “What is it?”

Gu Jiancheng: “Can I touch them?”

…Why do you want to touch everything? First the tail, now the horns.

Fine, touch away. The healer had mentioned before leaving that maintaining a pleasant mood helped soul recovery, so the patient had to be pampered.

There was no sensation within the horns themselves, but the force of touch transferred down to his scalp. Even though Gu Jiancheng’s touch was exceedingly gentle, Zhan Yan could still feel it clearly.

A few minutes later, with ears flushed crimson, Zhan Yan asked: “Hey, are you done touching them yet?”

Yan Yan’s horns were smooth and lustrous, resembling fine jade. Both contented and wanting more, Gu Jiancheng reluctantly pulled his hand back, helping him tug the curl.

The pair of large horns retracted. Every few moments, Zhan Yan couldn’t help touching the spots on his scalp where the horns had grown.

Gu Jiancheng: “What’s wrong? Does it hurt?”

Zhan Yan shook his head: “No, it’s just… the spots where the horns grow won’t get patchy alopecia, will they?”

Gu Jiancheng: …Pfft.

“Definitely not!”

…

Gu Jiancheng stayed at the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau for nearly half a month, with Zhan Yan accompanying him the entire time.

During this period, the movie dubbed by Zhan Yunkai was released in theaters, and the “eighteenth-tier” actor experienced another solid wave of viral fame. The Bureau had an internal cinema, but Zhan Yan and Gu Jiancheng hadn’t watched it yet, waiting to enjoy it together after returning home.

Many visitors had also stopped by, leaving behind all sorts of gifts.

Gu Jiancheng found them quite intrusive to his dating life.

Using a small knife, he peeled the fruit sent by Zhuo Shu—peeling apples, then peaches, then peeling bananas, chopping them into bite-sized pieces onto a plate.

Zhan Yan was unwrapping gifts sent by the others.

“A top-tier black market VIP card… oh, sent by the Broker.”

“A pair of grand auspicious wedding candles… ahhh, sent by Candle Dragon.”

…

“《How to Get Along with Your In-Laws》… Hahahahaha, who on earth sent this?”

Flipping through the melon log.

“Oh, Wan Shitong.”

Gu Jiancheng: “…Heh, who asked for his gifts?”

The Magician’s gift had been brought over by Wan Shitong—a flat, square little box.

“It couldn’t be another book, right?”

Zhan Yan unwrapped the packaging paper, revealing a wooden box engraved with intricate runes.

Although pulling up the Gossip System would provide a full description, spoiling a gift before opening it took all the fun out of it.

“What’s this?” Zhan Yan opened the box.

By the time Gu Jiancheng noticed the magical patterns on the box, it was already too late.

“Don’t—”

Inside the box lay a stack of blueprints. Just as Zhan Yan made out the first page—a pink heart-shaped bed?

The magical patterns on the box activated, automatically magnifying and hovering in mid-air. The blueprints shimmered with light, drifting into the center of the magical array.

After a dazzling flurry of visual effects, the simple, elegant patient room of the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau abruptly morphed into pure pink.

Soft pink walls, fuchsia floors, a rose-shaped chandelier, a giant heart-shaped bed, and even the windows were shaped like hearts.

[Item Description: A magical box capable of one-click interior redecoration.]

Sitting dead center on the plush pink heart-shaped bed, Gu Jiancheng’s latter half of the sentence arrived belatedly: “…open it.”

Well, open it he did.

Zhan Yan: “Whoa!”

Where the window appeared had originally been a solid wall; what was going on with the scenery outside this window now? A projection? Or was it real?

A heart-shaped balloon drifted slowly upward, printed with a line of elaborately stylized script.

Zhan Yan read aloud slowly: “I warned you back then not to grind so hard, do you regret it now, quack-quack-quack-quack.”

Gu Jiancheng: …

“Oho~” Zhan Yan gave him a teasing look.

Before he could say more, a knock sounded at the door.

Zhan Yan opened the door to find Ning Xi standing outside, white hair tied neatly behind his head, carrying a large box in hand with utter relaxation gracing his brow.

“Today is a holiday. Deep Shadow has mostly recovered, and I figure you two want to head back as well.” He handed the box to Zhan Yan. “These are holiday perks from the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau; Black Wolf slipped something in too. He refused to come over in person.”

Having delivered the goods, Ning Xi departed. After twenty-seven years, it was finally time for him to take a proper break; his apprentice was picking him up today to spend the holiday together.

Zhan Yan opened the box to find mooncakes inside. Black Wolf’s portion was packaged in a small separate box, pinned with a note:

Handmade by the Master Chef

“Mooncakes?” Gu Jiancheng was momentarily startled.

Zhan Yan urged him to change: “It’s Mid-Autumn Festival today. Everyone’s heading home.”

Zhan Yan packed the gifts into a massive trunk that couldn’t even close properly.

See? You think you have no attachments in this world, yet so many people keep you in their thoughts.

Gu Jiancheng remained somewhat dazed while changing clothes.

Mid-Autumn Festival… he had never once celebrated this occasion before.

Tianshi pressed a button on her robes, and the dignified vestments automatically transformed into a cozy turtleneck sweater and trousers.

The divine Chongming bird reined in his brilliance, transforming into human form on the outskirts of the city and diligently donning his sunglasses and face mask.

The “Artisan” removed the wide-brimmed hat veiling her face, taking her nervous puppet by the hand as they left the black market.

Ghost King Lin Yuan dismissed the shadowy mist enveloping him, carrying a noticeably plumper “lion cat” out from the Nether Path.

Zhan Yan held Gu Jiancheng’s hand, his starlit eyes reflecting only a single pair of the most blazing stars.

Curving his eyes into a smile, he said:

“Let’s go; I’m taking you home.”

__

For advanced chapters, visit my Patreon page.