GRMFBS CH214

Zhan Yan discovered a tiny candle had appeared on his information panel interface. It was short, like the stub of a pencil.

Super surprise! The Candle Dragon was just too good, ahhh! Truly too good!

Zhan Yan looked at that tiny, short candle and felt incredibly happy. Tonight, when he got back, he would light the candle to farm all of Yang Ran’s information, and then he could use the Little Encyclopedia Search to find out how to save Yang Ran!

Returning to the rental after work, a happy Zhan Yan saw Gu Jiancheng on the sofa coaxing Xingxing.

“What’s wrong?”

Xingxing meowed at him, telling him everything was fine, no problem.

Zhan Yan suspiciously searched using the Gossip System.

[Gu Jiancheng zoned out while grooming Xingxing and brushed for too long. Gu Jiancheng apologized to Xingxing with dried meat. Xingxing accepted Gu Jiancheng’s apology.]

[Xingxing believes that after accepting an apology, he shouldn’t tell you that Gu Jiancheng made a mistake.]

Quite loyal, actually.

Zhan Yan rubbed Xingxing’s little head, then looked at the dejected Gu Jiancheng.

His dark eyes had lost their shine, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.

Was Xiao Gu feeling this down because they would have to separate after the internship ended tomorrow?

Zhan Yan leaned in close. “We’re going on a date together tomorrow.”

Gu Jiancheng’s eyes instantly lit up. But he still looked worried.

Zhan Yan couldn’t resist touching the corner of his eye. “What are you thinking about?”

Gu Jiancheng: “Yanyan, what does your sister like?”

Oh, so he was still worried about this.

Zhan Yan joked, “My sister likes me.”

Sister also likes Yang Ran, likes beauty sleep, likes watching TV dramas with Mom, likes roasting melodramatic TV dramas, likes eating melon with him, likes curling her legs on the sofa… But none of these are useful for Xiao Gu—it’s not like he can ask him to watch melodramatic dramas and roast them with Sister, right?

Zhan Yan imagined Gu Jiancheng watching melodramatic dramas.

No way, the chunibyo teenager would act out of character!

“Don’t worry. Look at you, you’re good-looking,” Zhan Yan pinched his face, “have a good figure,” Zhan Yan patted his chest, “smart brain,” Zhan Yan rubbed his red earlobe, “and good character. They’ll definitely like you.”

Zhan Yan teased his boyfriend all over, feeling that such a pure and kind Xiao Gu shouldn’t reveal his dangerous side in front of his family. Look at how red he turned; who would believe that when he first joined the class, people were too scared to talk to him?

If push came to shove, he’d just tease Xiao Gu once before meeting the parents.

Zhan Yan watched the little flames burning brightly in Gu Jiancheng’s eyes and stepped back contentedly. “I’m going to sleep early tonight.”

He had to investigate the condition of Yang Ran’s soul tonight.

Xingxing meowed and rubbed against Zhan Yan. Zhan Yan put on an apron and made him some cat food.

Xingxing habitually circled around Zhan Yan’s feet, then discovered another pair of obstructing feet.

Xingxing looked up at Gu Jiancheng, unhappy: “Meow!”

Why did you follow us? It’s not your food!

Zhan Yan sent the cumbersome Gu Jiancheng away to wash vegetables.

Gu Jiancheng washed vegetables with a sense of rhythm.

He also felt that he was pretty good in every aspect.

Where would Rong Sui find someone more outstanding than him to match her brother!

After making the cat food, Zhan Yan washed up and went to sleep.

Lying in bed, he opened the information panel of the Gossip System and switched it to Xingxingry Sky Mode. The little candle stub floated to the right of his vision, staying there no matter how he adjusted his view, like a little interface sprite.

Zhan Yan found Yang Ran’s dusty little star and poked it.

A small flame popped up on the little candle stub with a whoosh, beginning to burn slowly and steadily.

Candlelight broke through the dust of time as Zhan Yan proceeded with the lantern.

As if knowing what he wanted, this dream was different from his sister’s. Zhan Yan didn’t see Yang Ran’s repeated reincarnations and experiences; he only saw a soul. From the very beginning, pristine and unblemished, to the scars carved by his first death. Cycle after cycle, layer upon layer of scars accumulated. Some scars scabbed over into thick welts; others remained, cracks mottling his soul like leaf veins.

He saw the birth of every scar, saw how they stacked into an intricate mess, saw the traces of every pollution, and saw how it seeped in along the scars during the reincarnations.

Finally, he saw that curse. When Yang Ran gouged out his own ability, countless snowflake-like cracks suddenly appeared in his ability core.

Pollution seeped in. The Infinite’s curse climbed and grew along the cracks, penetrating every one of his wounds.

Zhan Yan woke with a start from the dream.

The little candle extinguished itself with a fizz. Very energy-efficient.

As soon as Zhan Yan woke up, he felt something wasn’t quite right beside him. He turned his head, and after adjusting to the darkness for a moment, he vaguely made out Gu Jiancheng sitting up, aided by a sliver of moonlight filtering through the curtains.

Zhan Yan: ? What is he doing?

[Gu Jiancheng felt that Xingxing lying between the two of you was really in the way and decided to carry him away while Xingxing was asleep.]

Zhan Yan: … Pfft.

Gu Jiancheng realized Zhan Yan had woken up. He froze while holding the cat. Um, it’s very dark right now, Yanyan shouldn’t be able to see clearly having just woken up. It’s fine, it’s fine.

He quickly placed Xingxing on the other side and lay down with extremely light movements.

Gu Jiancheng began to listen intently to Zhan Yan’s breathing and heartbeat. Yanyan only woke up for a moment; he should fall back asleep immediately… Ten seconds, half a minute, a minute… Why hasn’t Yanyan fallen asleep yet? Being awake for so long without sleeping, is Yanyan getting more and more awake?

Gu Jiancheng felt the bed begin to move. The mattress beside him depressed, and a warm body leaned over. His arm was hugged, a head rested on his shoulder, and warm breath sprayed onto his neck, raising goosebumps.

Gu Jiancheng stiffened like a rock, feeling his brain turn into paste. all sorts of messy thoughts exploded in his mind.

Ahhh, what should he do? Turn around? Cuddle? Kiss? Or…

Gu Jiancheng finally struggled free from his chaotic mind and slowly turned his head.

Zhan Yan’s breathing was steady and his heartbeat slow; he was already asleep.

Gu Jiancheng: …

Zhan Yan had finished searching Yang Ran’s situation. He originally wanted to continue using the Little Encyclopedia to search for a method to cure Yang Ran, but he accidentally fell asleep.

Waking up in the morning, he felt refreshed.

It seemed that having the Candle Dragon’s blessing wasn’t enough; the consumption of reading the Little Xingxing was still a bit high. He had to sleep or eat bread balls. The bread balls he brought back from his brother’s shop were all eaten. It would be convenient after going home; he could go to his brother’s shop often to get bread.

Zhan Yan decided to stay in bed a little longer and skip morning exercise—he had other business to attend to.

He closed his eyes, opened the Gossip System, entered the Little Encyclopedia Search interface, and inputted again: “How to solve the Infinite curse on Yang Ran?”

This time, the little watermelon icon spun while refreshing, very thoughtfully providing him with a detailed explanation.

First, he needed a device capable of preventing the Infinite curse from striking back. The little watermelon gave him several examples; the best one was that secret room developed by the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau.

Second, he needed a power capable of resolving the Infinite curse without harming Yang Ran’s soul. Big Shot Deep Shadow’s power was perfect; his power originated from the same source as the Infinite and could “dissolve” the power of the Infinite curse.

Third, he needed a “Soul Map” of Yang Ran so he could follow it to clean up every bit of the Infinite’s power and prevent anything from being missed. Zhan Yan had already obtained this during his previous dream; he just needed to organize it.

Finally, he needed a guide whom Yang Ran trusted enough to voluntarily open his soul to without triggering instinctive counterattacks. Sister could do this!

Great, the four conditions are very clear. Yang Ran can be saved!

Zhan Yan cheered inwardly, then was suddenly kicked in the back by Xingxing.

Xingxing had just woken up. He climbed up from his side, stretched his paws forward in a long stretch, then turned his head left and right, very confused.

“Me?”

He remembered he wasn’t sleeping here last night?

Zhan Yan lowered his head, pressing his forehead against Gu Jiancheng’s shoulder to hide his snicker.

Gu Jiancheng, eyes closed, felt the vibrations on his shoulder from Zhan Yan. He opened his eyes helplessly.

Zhan Yan was in a great mood. He gave him a smiling good morning kiss, then got up to wash and exercise.

Luggage was piled in the living room. The internship ended today, and they could pack up and go home.

Chu Chengcheng, Cheng Yichu, and Bao Qingshan all had morning trains. Zhan Yan’s home was close, so he wasn’t in a rush to leave.

While washing up, he recovered from his happiness and began to ponder these four conditions.

He couldn’t just focus on being happy; there were still troubles. The other three conditions were easy to discuss. Sister had already handled the Abnormal Affairs Management Bureau, and he could provide the “Curse Map” of Xiao Ran’s soul.

But how could he get Big Shot Deep Shadow to help?

Zhan Yan thought for a long time and realized he had nothing left to trade with Deep Shadow. Last time, to exchange for the Candle Dragon’s power, he had already promised to search for information for free in the future.

Stress.

Hmm… He didn’t have anything to trade with Deep Shadow, but Sister did! The Artisan could do anything! But he had to first persuade Sister to trust his plan.

But could he persuade Sister using only the “Approaching Science” identity? The “Approaching Science” identity had chatted with Sister’s “Artisan” identity before, but their relationship wasn’t that deep. Would Sister trust him?

And even if Sister believed him and was willing to pay, was there anything Deep Shadow wanted?

The more Zhan Yan thought about it, the more worried he became.

Ask first.

First, use the “Approaching Science” identity to message the “Artisan” privately and send the method to save Yang Ran; then use the “Approaching Science” identity to message “Deep Shadow” privately…

Zhan Yan looked at his chat interface with Deep Shadow and worried.

Deep Shadow “Heh-ed” at him last time, then thanked him after “Heh-ing,” and up to now still hadn’t taken that point prize pool from the Artisan.

What exactly was Deep Shadow unhappy about?

He needed to ask for a favor. Zhan Yan decided to first figure out where he had stepped on Big Shot Deep Shadow’s toes. Compensate if possible, act cute if not…

Zhan Yan scrolled through his chat history with I Just Saved The World! while browsing Deep Shadow’s gossip feed, trying to figure out the Big Shot’s trigger.

While washing up, he scrolled through the feed a bit too intently, staring blankly into the mirror as he brushed one tooth for eight minutes.

Gu Jiancheng had already prepared the ingredients for cat food.

Chu Chengcheng and Cheng Yichu hadn’t woken up yet, and Bao Qingshan was exercising downstairs.

Gu Jiancheng waited for a while but didn’t see Zhan Yan coming, so he went to the bathroom, hugged Zhan Yan’s waist, and rested his chin on the other’s shoulder.

Zhan Yan had just found where Deep Shadow’s trigger was: It was because he casually mentioned earlier that the Artisan was number one on the points leaderboard. Big Shot Deep Shadow, who was sixth on the leaderboard, was unhappy, so now whenever he mentioned points, Deep Shadow “Heh-ed,” and whenever he mentioned the Artisan, he “Heh-he-ed.”

What kind of childish Top-Rank Cancer is this?

Alright then, knowing what’s wrong makes it easy to coax. He would go praise Big Shot Deep Shadow right now, tell him he is the best. What’s the points leaderboard anyway? If he wants to be number one, I’ll help him climb, climb to the top!

Before Zhan Yan could send the private message, he was suddenly hugged. He snapped back to reality and saw Xiao Gu winking at him in the mirror.

Zhan Yan quickly finished brushing his teeth and prepared a breakfast for Xingxing as well.

While making cat food, he took the opportunity to leave a private message for Deep Shadow to coax him.

Praise! Praise hard! What is the Artisan? Just someone with higher points. Points are empty, strength is the hard truth!

The main idea was that nothing else mattered; get the Big Shot happy first.

Gu Jiancheng helped clean the room while Zhan Yan made cat food. During the process, he received continuous private messages from Approaching Science.

Was there some urgent matter?

Gu Jiancheng opened the private messages, just in time to see a new sentence from Approaching Science:

“Although the Artisan ranks high on the points leaderboard, you are still more powerful.”

Gu Jiancheng: Pupil earthquake!

The Artisan is my future sister-in-law’s alt account, hey!

Zhan Yan had just finished making the cat food and brought it down to feed Xingxing when he saw Big Shot Deep Shadow replying to the message.

I Just Saved The World!: “Don’t say that.”

“The Artisan is a very powerful, very excellent person.”

Zhan Yan: ?

Weren’t you the one who “Heh-ed” at me before?

But Deep Shadow having a good impression of the Artisan was ultimately a good thing. Wouldn’t that increase the chances of persuading him to help Yang Ran?

Bao Qingshan returned with breakfast after his morning exercise. Zhan Yan had to close the supernatural forum first, planning to chat with Big Shot Deep Shadow in detail next time he was free.

Hearing Zhan Yan call him for breakfast, Gu Jiancheng exited the supernatural forum, ready to chat with Approaching Science in detail when he had time. Do not speak ill of the Artisan; if it gets dug up in the future, it’ll all be incriminating evidence!

The three of them were eating breakfast, Bao Qingshan habitually shielding himself from view.

Zhan Yan was eating when he suddenly thought:

Ah right, didn’t Big Shot Deep Shadow want to climb the leaderboard? The Artisan is number one on the points leaderboard! As long as I can convince Sister to trust him, she would definitely be willing to transfer all her points to Deep Shadow!

He would go ask Deep Shadow right now!

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