Part 2
“Xiao Shen, Mr. Lu, you’re up so early. I’ve been busy since I woke up and didn’t even see you.” Guo Yi set down the last dish. “I was just about to go call you.”
“Thank you for the doctor you called, Xiao Shen. Niu Niu’s fever broke after her injection last night. She’s still sleeping now.” She peeked out toward the dining room. “Come sit and eat. I’ll go wake Mr. Gu for breakfast.”
Lu Xunye took off his jacket, which was damp from the post-rain mist, and threw it over his arm to hide the medicine bag. He half-supported Shen Yunqian, fearing he would feel dizzy.
Seeing his actions, Guo Yi wiped her hands on her apron and rushed over with concern. “Is Xiao Shen feeling unwell?”
“No, we went for a morning run. He’s just tired.” Lu Xunye answered for Shen Yunqian.
Shen Yunqian looked at him in surprise but went along with it, giving a small “mm.”
“Morning runs are good!” Guo Yi was beyond pleased. “Xiao Shen never liked exercising before. Mr. Lu should stay a bit longer and go for runs with Xiao Shen.”
Lu Xunye blurted out, “Sure—”
Shen Yunqian interrupted: “No need. We’re going back to Haishi tonight.”
Lu Xunye: “Huh?”
“Is… is it because I haven’t done enough? Why go back all of a sudden?” Guo Yi twisted her hands uneasily, looking at Shen Yunqian in a panic. “Is it because we’ve become a burden to you?”
“No.” Shen Yunqian endured his headache and explained gently, “I have some things to handle back there. I’ve already bought back the Shen family’s old residence. I’ll come get you later.”
Seeing how uncomfortable he truly was, Lu Xunye told a lie: “We’ll go up and take a hot shower first.”
“Oh, alright.” Guo Yi stepped forward to take the jacket from his hand. “Shall I wash this?”
“No, no.” Lu Xunye dodged her and quickly pulled Shen Yunqian upstairs.
In the study.
Lu Xunye only felt relieved once he saw the other take his medicine. “Can’t you stay for a couple more days?”
Shen Yunqian talked about something else: “You asked me before if being an artist is very profitable. Actually, it’s alright. When I was fifteen, my brother registered a studio in my name. I paint a bit when I’m free, but most of my income comes from a company I started with a friend.”
“I don’t go there often. He’s the one who’s busy, and he’s always complaining.”
Lu Xunye had actually guessed as much. Last time, the other said someone had given the Shen family residence back to him; that person was likely the friend he mentioned. But this villa… When the Shen family went bankrupt, it was so abrupt. He had to wonder if the Shen family had kept some hidden cards.
But why was Shen Yunqian suddenly revealing all this? Before, they hadn’t been close enough to share everything. After the other lost his memory, he had forgotten everything, so Lu Xunye had no way of knowing.
Shen Yunqian suddenly asked, “Is the manhua Shuang Ling good?”
Lu Xunye had almost forgotten. He had seen it on the other’s bookshelf and even flipped through it in front of him out of boredom. Being asked this as the “author” of Shuang Ling was a bit awkward now.
Shen Yunqian reached out a hand to him. “Master Wenzhou, let’s get reacquainted. I was the lead artist for the manhua adaptation of that same name when I was seventeen.”
“?!” Lu Xunye felt like the System was setting off firecrackers in his brain. It felt like a series of thunderbolts crashing through his entire body. His fingertips went numb, his eyes widened, and he struggled for words. “You…”
However, Shen Yunqian was still thinking about Su Zhuo’s “meeting of muffled gourds.” He dropped one heavy bombshell after another, striking Lu Xunye’s brain. “The Lu family acknowledging you might not be for your own good. Although I’m not considered incredibly wealthy, I have enough to support you.”
“You don’t need to trouble yourself with the Lu family’s affairs.” Shen Yunqian’s hand, which was frozen in mid-air, waved in front of the dazed Lu Xunye. “Are you interested in being kept by me, boyfriend?”
He called it “being kept” (包养/baoyang), but the deeper meaning in his words was understood by both.
“I…” Lu Xunye looked down at the young man offering his hand from the chair. His heart fluttered, and his hand lifted slightly.
The System urged him anxiously: [Quick, say yes!]
Lu Xunye snapped awake. Bitterness filled his throat, and he lowered his arm. The System’s voice reminded him at all times that they were ultimately from two different worlds. Since there would be no result, why fixate on the process?
Lu Xunye didn’t even know when he had removed the label of “mission target” from Shen Yunqian in his heart. The emotion of ‘liking’ someone was too heavy; he couldn’t afford it.
The System had said that when a character related to the Host develops certain obsessions after the Host leaves, it might cause the world to collapse. The System Bureau would then take over the Host’s body in that world to stabilize the awakened character and ensure the world functions normally.
Lu Xunye didn’t have the arrogance to think Shen Yunqian would love him to death. He didn’t even think he could collapse the world after leaving. But if it really happened, would everything from that dream play out? He didn’t dare think about it, nor would he gamble on it.
He might as well just let the mission take its course. He’d just coast. When the countdown of less than twenty days ended, he would see if he really died or what the System was up to. Besides, he didn’t like Shen Yunqian that much… probably.
“Anyway, don’t overthink things. What’s all this about being kept? I have money too.” Lu Xunye ignored the System’s bombardment in his head and played dumb. “The most important thing for you right now is to recover. We can talk about the role-playing later.”
“By the way, the doctor said you have anemia. I’ll go buy some pig liver for you.” After saying that, he didn’t wait to see Shen Yunqian’s expression and fled the room as if he were escaping.
Shen Yunqian stared at his retreating back. He tilted his chin and narrowed his eyes, a dark glint flashing through them. He immediately pressed down on the injury on his wrist; the pain brought him back to clarity.
…
At the dinner table.
Guo Yi looked at the table of people. Before, there were six; now, there were still six. Before, it was the Shen couple and Shen Yunjie; now, it was Lu Xunye, Gu Jiang, and her little granddaughter. The number of people was the same, but things had changed.
Guo Yi was a sentimental person. Seeing Shen Yunqian eating in silence, her eyes instantly filled with tears. “If only Xiao Jie were still here. He loved fighting with you over the crab roe lion’s head meatballs I make. I wonder if he’s still alive.”
Shen Yunqian stopped his chopsticks. Gu Jiang also lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable. Only Niu Niu looked around curiously.
As the atmosphere shifted, Lu Xunye raised his voice to draw everyone’s attention. “Let’s eat, let’s eat. The food’s getting cold.” He placed a piece of pig liver in Shen Yunqian’s bowl, thought about it, and then gave a piece to Guo Yi. “Try it and see if it’s good.”
“Alright.” Guo Yi smiled through her tears. She tried a piece of the stir-fried pig liver Lu Xunye had made. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately praised him. “It’s even better than mine.”
The change in Guo Yi’s form of address came from Lu Xunye’s “apprenticeship” in the kitchen. He hadn’t cooked many organ meats before. Going from a gamey taste to something tender and fragrant had only taken a bit of guidance from Guo Yi, who grew to like him more and more.
Guo Jiang watched the harmonious scene of the “master and apprentice” complimenting each other. He rolled his eyes, poked at his rice with his chopsticks, and muttered under his breath, “Suck-up.”
He turned and met Shen Yunqian’s scrutinizing gaze. His eyelid jumped. “You’ve done the test, and you’ve seen the report. Can you let me go now?”
The doctor had visited earlier and delivered a diagnosis report, confirming that Gu Jiang and Shen Yunqian were not blood relatives.
Guo Yi was uneasy. “Don’t argue now. Let’s talk things through. Is Mr. Gu leaving?”
Shen Yunqian set down his bowl. He was speaking to Guo Yi, but he looked directly at Gu Jiang. “He’s not leaving.”
Translator’s Note:
- Pig Liver (猪肝): In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s believed that “like heals like,” so eating liver is a common way to treat anemia (lack of blood).
- Horse Stance (马步/Mǎbù): A fundamental posture in Chinese martial arts used to build leg strength and stability.
- Excessive Internal Heat (上火/Shànghuǒ): A TCM concept. Symptoms include nosebleeds, sore throats, or even red eyes.
- Crab Roe Lion’s Head Meatballs (蟹粉狮子头): A famous Huaiyang dish consisting of large pork meatballs simmered in a clear broth.
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