TVIRAD – Chapter 17

Arc 1
My World Consists Only of You (End)

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Ye Chen slept all night. 

After midnight, her fever subsided. Gu Jianan finally could rest at ease and went to sleep directly by her bed.

Which was why, as soon as Ye Chen opened her eyes the next day, she saw the young man lying beside her bed. The sun fell on his face. His sleeping appearance was quiet and peaceful, making the whole picture particularly gentle.

Ye Chen stared at him quietly. The young man slowly opened his eyes, his eyes subconsciously searching for her. His delicate and beautiful eyebrows and eyes were full of her.

“Congratulations. Host,” the system prompted, “Now Gu Jianan’s Favorability has reached 90~ Blackening  Value 30. Please continue to work hard!”

It’s already so high.

Ye Chen was dazed. Yet, she didn’t even feel an ounce of happiness when she heard it. The person in front of her reached out to her, checking the temperature on her forehead. She silently watched him. His tiredness was obvious but his priority was her well-being,  “Do you still feel uncomfortable?”

Ye Chen didn’t answer. For the first time, she realized that she thought of him as a real person and couldn’t simply treat him as a task objective.

“Gu Jianan,” Ye Chen called out, “If one day… If, and only if, you heard. If one day, I disappeared from this world, what would you do?”

Gu Jianan was surprised by her question. He pondered, then shook his head, “I don’t know, I can’t think of it.”

“Still, what if?”

“I really can’t think of it.” Gu Jianan laughed, “I’ll cook porridge for you. Rest.”

Ye Chen fell back to bed after Gu Jianan left. She closed her eyes and whispered, “System, do I have to leave this world?”

“You have,” the system said seriously, “So, Host, don’t invest too much emotion in this world.”

“How long is it until I have to leave this world?”

“When we are sure that the Female Lead will not end up with Zhou Yucheng and hold 0 Favorability for him. While we wait, we can brush  Gu Jianan’s Favorability Value to 100 and lower his Blackening Value reached 0.”

“Can I not brush Gu Jianan’s Favorability?” Ye Chen collapsed, “I can’t! I don’t want to brush his favorability anymore!”

The system sighed, “That’s also alright… It is positive that Gu Jianan won’t fall for the Female Lead now. In fact, your task has been completed. But, to reach the perfect S rating, you still need to brush those values. If you really don’t want to brush it, at least complete Zhou Yucheng’s task so you can go to the next world.”

“That’s fine.” Ye Chen nodded, “I won’t brush it.”

“Host…” The system hesitated, “If you don’t brush it, the rating will only be D.”

“Then let it be D.” Ye Chen was decisive.

Gu Jianan came back from the kitchen with the porridge. He wanted to help her eat, but Ye Chen shook her head. She propped herself up and carefully sipped the porridge.

She looked like a kitten and Gu Jianan felt content over that. He thought for a moment and said, “I’ll give you all my living expenses in the future. I’ll just take 500 yuan^[1]. If you don’t have a place to live, you can come to Yan-jia. I’ll talk to my father about it. If you think it’s too inconvenient to live in Yan-jia, I’ll rent you a house alone…”

“Is Yan Liang good to you?” Ye Chen interrupted. Gu Jianan was taken aback but laughed afterward “Very good. He is a good person. He always hopes I can inherit his career.”

“That’s good,” Ye Chen said gently, “Jianan. The world, it’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Gu Jianan didn’t answer. He only gazed at her quietly.

He wanted to say一

‘Yes. The world, it’s beautiful. Because you are there.’

In a world without Ye Chen, Gu Jianan’s world was filled with malice. Ye Chen pulled him out of the darkness. Only if Ye Chen was around that the world became a really beautiful place.

But he didn’t have the courage to say it. Ye Chen was good to him. That was true, but he wasn’t sure whether it was because she thought of him as a good friend or because she has a feeling for him.

Ye Chen was very carefree with her feelings. He was not. Unlike Ye Chen, he would blush, get nervous, and get jealous because of the person he liked. He was afraid that someday he would lose her completely.

So he only said the first half, “Yes. The world, it’s beautiful.”

Ye Chen hummed and continued to sip the porridge.

After she finished the porridge, Gu Jianan went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. 

Ye Chen got a call from Ye Min. She seemed to hide in the toilet to call her, “Jie, are you okay?”

“Mn“

“Jie, I’m sorry. Father and Mother don’t like it when I do this kind of thing. I told them yesterday that I did it out of my own will and they don’t believe it. Now, they are angry at me. I’ll visit you later.”

“No need to visit. Is the movie still being made?”

“Yeah.” Ye Min hurriedly said, “We will do it quietly this time”

“Not afraid of being scolded by Father and Mother?”

“Even if it kills me, I will finish this movie,” Ye Min said decisively, and then said, “Jie. Father and Mother are just like that. Don’t be angry at them. I’ll give you some money in the afternoon. Wait until they calm down after a while. Don’t do anything stupid like not eating. Stay in the apartment and wait for me.”

“Okay.” Ye Chen answered.

She’s not stupid. She had been poor for so many years. For the first time she could experience living with a golden spoon in her mouth, how would she be willing to leave this apartment!

Gu Jianan was still washing dishes in the kitchen. After a while, the doorbell rang and Gu Jianan went to open the door. 

Zhou Yucheng’s voice came from outside, “Why are you here?”

Gu Jianan looked at Zhou Yucheng coldly and asked, “Why are you here?”

“Obviously, I’m here to visit Ye Chen.”

“Zhou Yucheng.” Ye Chen heard Zhou Yucheng’s voice and came out of the bedroom, “Not coming inside?”

Zhou Yucheng turned to the voice and looked at Ye Chen.

She was wearing pajamas, her hair was messy, and her pure face was filled with joy. She looked at Zhou Yucheng and said, “Why are you here?”

Gu Jianan’s face blackened when he saw her. He went to block Zhou Yucheng’s sight and dragged her into the bedroom, “Go wash. Change your clothes and lie in bed. You’re still ill.”

Ye Chen was dragged in by Gu Jianan. She winked at Zhou Yucheng and signaled him to wait.

Zhou Yucheng coldly looked at their interaction.

Zhou Yucheng didn’t like Ye Chen in the past. In the past, she jumped up and down like a monkey. Every time she saw Ye Chen at Ye-jia, she was either quarreling with her parents or quarreling with Ye Min. But he didn’t know when she seemed to have changed. Her eyes were clear and she always looked very happy. She rarely quarreled with others, didn’t fight, and occasionally teased him. The way she reacted slowly and raised her head blankly with a confused “Ai?” made him soft all over for her.

At first, he just thought this person was interesting. Later, they played games together and found out they share the same hobbies. When she was slapped by Ye Huai, Zhou Yucheng realized what kind of strange emotions had been lurking in his heart.

He loves her.

His annoyance toward her turned into distress at that moment.

For so many years, turned out it not that she had been unreasonable. Turned out she had always accepted so many injustices. But everyone, including him, only saw her teeth and claws. Everyone hated her and excluded her.

When Gu Jianan left with Ye Chen in his harm, they were like small animals depending on each other. Not daring to depend on others. He was sad when he saw it.

She liked him.

A long time ago, when he despised her.

He stayed up late last night, thinking about Ye Chen’s past over and over again. They had known each other since childhood. Since kindergarten, she has been pestering him and has been following him. There had never been anyone around him that stayed for so long except her. He hated her and didn’t want to care about her. Therefore, even if he found out that she started hanging out with Gu Jianan, he didn’t feel anything.

But, now, it’s different. He cares. He felt uneasy. He urgently wanted to confirm the relationship between Gu Jianan and Ye Chen. He was pained when he thought about them, thinking that perhaps they had ended up together. The reason why he visited Ye Chen this early in the morning was to personally confirm it with her. 

Yet, as soon as the door opened, he saw Gu Jianan.

He resisted the impulse to beat Gu Jianan and waited in the living room.

Not long after, Gu Jianan came out of the bedroom and said coldly, “She let you in, but she has been ill since last night. You should talk less and let her rest.”

“How caring” Zhou Yucheng sneered, “I should talk less to let her rest?”

Gu Jianan ignored him. Zhou Yucheng was upset and went straight in.

Ye Chen changed her clothes and lay on the bed as Gu Jianan instructed. When Zhou Yucheng came in, she smiled and said, “Why did you visit me this early? Did Ye Min ask you to?”

“It’s not because of her” Zhou Yucheng sat down by the bed, inspecting Ye Chen’s complexion. Gently, he said, “I heard you’re ill?”

“Mn.” Ye Chen smiled, “I’m already fine, though.”

“Then, that’s good.” Zhou Yucheng took an apple and peeled it for her. Ye Chen took a peek outside the door and didn’t see any Gu Jianan in her sight. She quickly grabbed her mobile phone and said excitedly, “Come on, come on, come on! Let’s take advantage of Gu Jianan’s absence.”

Zhou Yucheng stayed still. Ye Chen was confused, “What’s the matter?”

“Why does Gu Jianan care about you so much?”

“Ah?” Ye Chen didn’t understand, “Isn’t he usually like that?”

“What I mean is,” Zhou Yucheng enunciated each word, “What’s your relationship with him? Why does he care about you so much?!”

Ye Chen was speechless, “Because he is… my good friend?”

“A good friend act like this?” Zhou Yucheng sneered, “He lives in your house, goes back and forth to school with you every day, cooks for you, and helps you out. This is the relationship of a good friend?”

“How dare he!” the system said fiercely in Ye Chen’s mind, “Passerby just stay as a passerby. The host is performing tasks, a passerby dares to intervene?! Get rid of him!”

“No,” Ye Chen refused in an instant, “I can forgive everything that good-looking people say or do, how could I get rid of him!”

The system,“……” Die, you yandog.

Ye Chen has a good attitude and obediently stayed silent amidst Zhou Yucheng’s questioning. Zhou Yucheng frowned, “What are you looking at?”

Ye Chen answered honestly, “Your face.”

Gu Jianan was in the middle of opening the door, holding fruits in his hand. When he heard this, he paused.

Zhou Yucheng was startled by Ye Chen’s words. He always knew that Ye Chen was a yandog. He knew it just by playing games with her. However, he never thought that her yandog was already at another level!

He was speechless. Ye Chen chuckled, “I’m very tolerant of good-looking people. Whatever you do, I’m fine with it! Because you look good!”

“Jianan has no friends,” Ye Chen said slowly. “I’m his only good friend. He and I are like good friends. Isn’t it normal to care about each other?”

Gu Jianan stood at the door, his eyes obscured.

Good friend.

Pardon him, but, who the fuck is ‘a good friend; with her?!

A good friend would make you want to monopolize the other? A good friend would make you want to kiss the other? A good friend would make you want to marry the other and stay together for a lifetime??

Ye Chen’s thoughts were obviously different from his. She didn’t have that kind of idea. She probably just liked him because he looked good.

Zhou Yucheng processed her words for a moment. He was delighted, “You aren’t together with him?”

Ye Chen laughed, “What? How can Jianan and I be lovers? We are only in High School.”

Ye Chen painstakingly taught Zhou Yucheng, “High school students should focus on their studies, study hard, and make progress. They can’t fall in love casually. Don’t you know that?”

“You didn’t plan to fall in love in high school?” Zhou Yucheng seemed a little surprised. Ye Chen thought about his words. Zhou Yucheng asked her that question, did he plan to fall in love in High School? No! It’s not allowed! Ye Min has a high favorability for him now. So, no! Absolutely not allowed!

Ye Chen hurriedly said, “Don’t, Zhou Yucheng, don’t you dare. It will affect your study. Think about it later when you get to University!”

Zhou Yucheng couldn’t help but laugh when he heard her, “Okay, I won’t talk about it now. I’ll wait for you.”

Gu Jianan listened to Zhou Yucheng’s words. He went in and put the fruit in the room. As soon as Zhou Yucheng saw Gu Jianan, he lost his smile, “Anyway, both of you are not children anymore. If Gu Jianan always comes to take care of you, it will be bad for both of your reputations.”

“Is it your business?” Gu Jianan glared coldly at Zhou Yucheng, “Ye Chen and I don’t care about it. Why do you care?”

“Of course I care.” Zhou Yucheng spoke coldly. Gu Jianan understood his meaning. but he didn’t back down.

Ye Chen was a little tired. She waved her hand, “Both of you, talk outside. I’m going to sleep.”

Ye Chen went to sleep after Zhou Yucheng and Gu Jianan went out. Zhou Yucheng didn’t leave immediately. He went to the living room and sat carelessly on the sofa. When he turned on the TV, Gu Jianan frowned, “Why haven’t you left?”

“If you don’t leave, why should I leave?” Zhou Yucheng smiled. “Is this house yours?”

Gu Jianan choked on Zhou Yucheng’s words. He ignored him and went to the kitchen.

From that day on, Zhou Yucheng came to Ye Chen’s house every day at the same time as Gu Jianan. Two days later, Ye Min also came. She also fell out with her family. She simply decided to live there with Ye Chen. 

The moment Ye Min tasted Gu Jianan’s cooking, she instantly wanted to worship him. 

At night, she shared the same bed with Ye Chen. Quietly, she whispered,  “Jie, are you and Gu Jianan a thing?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Ye Chen hid in her quilt. 

“It’s obvious you like each other!”

“A child won’t understand this kind of thing. Stop speaking nonsense,” Ye Chen spoke against her conscience, “Also, the person I like is Zhou Yucheng. Not Gu Jianan.”

“Ding,” A prompt from the system, “Ye Min’s Favorability to Zhou Yucheng decreases by 10.”

Ye Chen opened her eyes wide. What happened? She said she liked Zhou Yucheng and Ye Min’s Favorability toward him decreased?

While she was lost in thought, Ye Min carefully probed, “Jie, you like Zhou Yucheng?”

“That’s right,” Ye Chen lied brazenly. She focused on capturing Ye Min’s expression, “How about you? The person you like, it’s Zhou Yu, right?”

Ye Min bit her lips. It was a long time before she opened it again, “No, I hate him.”

“Obviously you like him, yet your mouth says you hate him.” Ye Chen glanced. 

Ye Min panicked, “I’m saying the truth!”

“I’m not blind,” Ye Chen locked her gaze with Ye Min. “Xiao Min, when you look at Zhou Yu, everyone can see with naked eyes that you like him. However, he did something that made you sad, didn’t he?”

Ye Min stayed silent. Ye Chen checked back the plot that the system gave her.

There were reasons why Zhou Yu and Ye Min didn’t get together in the original story. It had something to do with Zhou Yu’s past criminal records. Another was because a person claimed he was her fiancée and kept making trouble for Ye Min. Ye Min lost her feeling for Zhou Yu and defected to Zhou Yucheng.

In fact, Zhou Yu was so devoted to Ye Min. Since he knew her, he never thought of anyone else.

Ye Chen continued to give her wisdom, “Xiao Min, people need to look forward. The past does not represent the present, let alone the future. Even if Zhou Yu had done something bad before, it doesn’t mean he will do it again now.”

“But, someone claimed to be his fiancée.” Ye Min refused to budge.

Ye Chen smiled, “Then, tell him that you don’t want to be with someone that has an ambiguous relationship with others. He is serious about you, he will definitely take care of those things.”

“However,” Ye Chen suddenly remembered and said seriously, “Don’t fall in love so early in High School, focus on studying hard!”

“Dare you to say it when you like Zhou Yucheng!” Ye Min rebuked. 

Ye Chen grinned, “What about it? Should I be afraid you will rob him from me?”

Ye Min was taken aback and faltered, “How… How can I rob my brother-in-law…”

Ye Chen stared at her reaction. She raised her hand and stroked Ye Min’s face. She was devastated.

“How did I become such a vicious woman!” She cried to the system, “I don’t want to play this kind of plot!”

“Calm down, Host,” A melon was handed to her, “How about eating a melon?”

The two sisters chatted until late. When they woke up the next day, Ye Chen was surprised to find that Ye Min’s Favorability for Zhou Yucheng was only 60, and for Zhou Yu, it was 80. The Plot Progression also raised to 70%

She decided to continue her persistent efforts. Every time, she would tell Ye Min how much she liked Zhou Yucheng and brainwashed her to like Zhou Yu.

As a result, Ye Min began to gradually accept Zhou Yu. Coincidentally, the short movie shooting was coming to an end.

In the end, Zhou Yucheng was hacked to death with knives. Ye Chen was pregnant and under the protection of Gu Jianan.

The end was that Gu Jianan stood behind Ye Chen, watching Ye Chen holding the baby in front of Zhou Yucheng’s grave. Ye Chen solemnly said, “For the rest of my life, there’ll be only you.”

Gu Jianan’s feeling was already deeply involved with the play. He looked at Ye Chen holding the baby as if he had foreseen a day like this would come.

His heart was sour. Right now, he was the only person willing to support her. He couldn’t let her go. So he also said, “For the rest of my life, there’ll be only you.”

It was supposed to be the end of the play. But, Gu Jianan added an extra sentence while staring at Ye Chen. “If you live, I will live; If you die, I will die.”

That sentence was so solemn that it exaggerated the feelings of this tragic Supporting Male to the extreme.

Ye Min couldn’t help clapping and shouting, “Perfect!”

She saw the solemnity in Gu Jianan’s eyes and uneasiness rose in her heart, “Do you really mean it?”

Gu Jianan smiled. He hid his feelings, “It is only for the play.”

The short movie was filmed and the first semester of the Second Year of High School started. Ye Chen and Gu Jianan sat together, while Zhou Yucheng sat in Gu Jianan’s position last semester.

Ye Chen didn’t want to brush Gu Jianan’s Favorability Value. She began to alienate him, trying her best to make it not so obvious. If it was obvious, she was worried that Gu Jianan’s Blackening Value would soar. Most importantly, she couldn’t see him sad.

She hoped that even if she left, he could live well. This was a transition period for him to get accustomed to living without her. She didn’t want Gu Jianan to think he was abandoned once again.

She started by stopping asking him questions. Instead, she asked Zhou Yucheng in front of her. Gu Jianan noticed it because his gaze always followed Ye Chen. So, as soon as she frowned, he would take the initiative to explain it to her.

She wanted Gu Jianan to make more friends so she took him to various parties, but every time it was only her that had a good time. Gu Jianan was only watching from the side, like a bystander. When the party was over, he would stand up silently and take her home.

On the way back, she reprimanded him, “Jianan, you have to make more friends. You are always alone. That won’t do.”

“Don’t I have you?” Gu Jianan spoke calmly, “I have you. That’s enough.”

Ye Chen was dumbfounded. She was ready to refute him, but Gu Jianan interrupted her before she could start, “I don’t need many friends. One is enough.”

This blocked all of Ye Chen’s words. She bowed her head and said nothing more.

She searched up and down for a reasonable reason to create some distance from Gu Jianan.

When people distanced themselves from each other, their feelings would fade. However, Gu Jianan seemed to be aware of her thoughts. He was even stickier to her than before. Every time Ye Chen tried to reason with him, he would always have a perfect answer to shoot down her reasoning.

Not long after, the editing process for Ye Min’s short movie was done. It was uploaded on the Internet. Although it didn’t win a prize, it became very popular under the hands of Zhou Yu and Ye Min. The actors instantly had fans all over the place. Especially Ye Chen, her face caused a sensation in the entertainment industry.

It only took a while before an agent came to them. Yan Liang could not let Gu Jianan become an actor. He had an expectation for Gu Jianan to study abroad and shine academically. It was impossible for Zhou Yucheng to be an actor considering his background. In the end, only Ye Chen was left. She became the object of competition among major companies.

Ye Chen felt like it was a heaven-sent gift for her to create a distance from Gu Jianan. Without hesitation, she decisively signed up with a brokerage company.

On the night of her signing, Gu Jianan accompanied her home.

“You’ll be an actress in the future,” Gu Jianan said slowly. “Will you meet a lot of good-looking people?”

“That’s right.” Ye Chen smiled, “I am a big fan of several actors. I never thought that I would be an actress and have a chance to meet them in person. Aren’t you happy for me, Gu Jianan?”

“Will you come back often?” Gu Jianan’s voice was a little hoarse. 

Ye Chen softly said, “Maybe. But, Jianan, when people grow up, don’t they all always go their own way and separate? We also have to learn to say goodbye.”

They arrived at the door. Ye Chen turned to look at him and give him a gentle smile, “Come on. From today on, let us learn to say goodbye.”

Gu Jianan didn’t answer her. Ye Chen waved her hand and softly said, “Goodbye.”

With that, Ye Chen turned to close the door. Gu Jianan stretched out his hand and hugged her. His face was buried in her neck and his voice was a little dumb, “Ye Chen, I’ll wait for you to come back.”

“No matter where you go; No matter where you are in this world, in any corner of this universe; No matter how far you go, I will be here, waiting for you to come back.”

“You must come back,” he said hoarsely. “Understand?”

Ye Chen’s breath hitched and the system prompt sounded.

“Warning, the Emotional Value increases to 20. The host is recommended to leave this world as soon as possible.”

Ye Chen closed her eyes and tried to push him away. Gu Jianan was pushed and staggered by her. She turned coldly and said, “I’m leaving.”

This time, Ye Chen closed the door resolutely.

The next day, she went to the company for training. The company retained her student status and the school gave her a long holiday.

She has been training in the company for half a year. During this half a year, Gu Jianan never missed a day to send her a message or call her. She seldom replied to his message, but Gu Jianan insisted on reporting everything about him whether she replied or not. She seldom answered his call. When she answered the call, it was just to tell him that she was busy.

She has been in touch with Zhou Yucheng and Ye Min but she asked them not to tell Gu Jianan. Ye Min thought she heard wrong and was confused, “But why, Jie?”

“There are some feelings,” Ye Chen said slowly. “that shouldn’t have been there.”

Ye Min nodded. Understanding what Ye Chen meant. Ye Chen likes Zhou Yucheng but Gu Jianan likes her.

The three of them sometimes hang out together. The relationship between Ye Min and Zhou Yu was becoming better. Ye Chen also noticed that as long as she was close to Zhou Yucheng, Ye Min’s Favorability Value to Zhou Yucheng would drop.

Time passed quickly. The three of them were soon in their Third Year of High School. Ye Chen also took a part in two films in a row, gaining some popularity.

Gu Jianan hasn’t seen her for nearly a year, but he was persistent in sending her messages.

At the end of the year, Ye Chen won an award for Best Female Lead with her first film. On the day she received the award, she gave a thank-you speech. She received a message from Gu Jianan.

“Ye Chen, I’m in seat 13 in the seventh row. Today, you’re very beautiful.”

Ye Chen located the seat and saw Gu Jianan. He was wearing a suit and he looked nervous. Yet, when their eyes meet, a gentle smile and uncontrollable joy appeared in his eyes. Ye Chen was quick to react and gave her most polite smile while facing the camera. She nodded at him modestly as a thank-you.

Gu Jianan was dazed. Looking at Ye Chen’s polite smile, his heart ached.

But he controlled it and comforted himself. It must be because they were in public. It was inconvenient for Ye Chen to get close to him.

Yan Liang couldn’t help but sigh when he looked at them.

“Jianan, Ye Chen is not interested in you.”

Gu Jianan hung his head low. Yan Liang continued, “Don’t waste your energy. She is a star now. She is used to seeing all kinds of people. I can see that Ye Chen loves a good face. She was nice to you just because you look good. Now she has entered the entertainment industry, she is surrounded by lots of good-looking people. With her face, if she likes the other person, won’t it be easy for her to catch them? Jianan, you’re not the same as her. Give up. Do your TOEFL exam. I’ll send you abroad. “

Gu Jianan ignored Yan Liang. He quietly watched Ye Chen. Yan Liang coughed twice and then continued to persuade him. He was trying to persuade him again when Gu Jianan said, “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

Yan Liang was taken aback. Gu Jianan quietly stared at the person who talked and laughed with others and said slowly, “From the beginning, she isn’t mine. But so what? She is the only one who saved me. She let me out of the darkness. She let me know the beauty of the world. She was there for me when I was at my most afraid, most painful, and most vulnerable moments.”

She knew so many bad things about him, but she was never afraid or disgusted by him.

In this world, there’ll never be another Ye Chen. 

He always cherished their memories. The time she left him a note on the windowsill. The time she took him running in the dark alley. The time she hold him close and comforted him when he trembled and cried after his first murder. The time she protected him and fought with Yan-jia‘s people for him.

For him, that time was his darkest but also most beautiful memory. 

At present, he has become the Son of Heaven in everyone’s eyes, like Zhou Yucheng. He didn’t get bullied anymore. But, he felt that all of those weren’t important.

Only one person was important to him. As long as she was there, the world was beautiful and there was nothing to be afraid of. 

The expression in Gu Jianan’s eyes made Yan Lian sigh. He helplessly said, “It’s up to you, then. However, if you want to stay in China, you must go to Q University.”

“Okay.” Gu Jianan agreed and his gaze returned to Ye Chen’s figure.

That day, Gu Jianan waited for Ye Chen at the entrance.

Reporters swarmed her. Ye Chen smiled helplessly at him and got into the car with the help of bodyguards.

Gu Jianan could only watch.

‘She’s busy. She doesn’t have time.’ He comforted himself.

The Third Year in High School was the most important year for high schoolers. In April, while everyone was burying themselves in the test paper, Gu Jianan was thinking about Ye Chen’s birthday.

He sent her a birthday message, but she didn’t reply. After a while, she sent birthday photos on her microblog, and the comments were full of countless people blessing her.

Gu Jianan looked at her microblog. He never liked to use social media, but for her, he created all social media accounts just to follow news about her.

The saddest thing in the world was that you could only know the news about the person you were once closest to from social media.

He opened her contact number on his phone. He was listless and kept playing with the ring box in his hand. He kept comforting himself. She’s busy. She’s busy.

However, after inspecting the photos for a long time, he noticed something was wrong.

In Ye Chen’s photo, there was a man in a blue shirt. Even if only one corner of the blue shirt was exposed, Gu Jianan clearly remembered it was what Zhou Yucheng wore that day.

His reason told him, don’t think about it, don’t ask, pretend you didn’t see anything.

Yet, he couldn’t help but enlarge the photo and inspected it one more time. The table was a black marble table with gold lines inlaid on the corners. This was enough for him to know the place. Gu Jianan decisively went to Ye Chen’s apartment.

He waited all night until two o’clock in the morning before he heard a car’s sound. Ye Chen came down from the car and Zhou Yucheng leaned out his head, “Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

Ye Chen was wearing a dress with a cloak on her shoulder. Her smile was blinding while she waved her hand to Zhou Yucheng, “See you later.”

“Ye Chen,” Zhou Yucheng called her, “I will graduate from High School in July.”

“Yeah,” Ye Chen laughed, “Do you want me to hold a graduation party for you?”

“That’s not necessary,” said Zhou Yucheng with a meaningful look in his eyes. “I just want to know if I am allowed to fall in love after graduation?”

Ye Chen blinked her eyes. Then, she remembered what she had said before. She touched her nose and said, “You want to fall in love, just fall ah? Why ask for my permission.”

Zhou Yucheng just smiled at her and instructed his driver, “Let’s go.”

Ye Chen watched Zhou Yucheng go away and her smile faded.

Ye Min’s Favorability Value for Zhou Yucheng was only 30 now. She would leave when it reached 0.

Everyone had left and now she was alone, she couldn’t help but think about Gu Jianan’s “Happy Birthday”.

It was very simple. It didn’t even have any punctuation marks. But, she kept remembering it.

She walked into the elevator room in high heels and pressed the up button. While waiting, she played with her mobile phone. After waiting for a while, the elevator door opened. As soon as she went in, she pressed the close button.

A hand interrupted the door closing.

Gu Jianan stood at the door of the elevator and looked coldly at her. Ye Chen stayed still.

She subconsciously dialed Zhou Yucheng’s number. Gu Jianan came into the elevator and pressed Ye Chen’s floor without saying a word.

He exuded a cold aura that made Ye Chen tremble. The mobile phone dialing Zhou Yucheng’s number was held in her hand like a life-saving straw.

Gu Jianan stretched out his hand and said, “Hand me your mobile phone.”

The system desperately prompted in Ye Chen’s mind, “Blackening Value reaches 40…”

“Blackening Value reaches 50…”

“60……”

“80……”

“100！”

With a “ding” sound, the elevator opened.

Gu Jianan took the mobile phone directly from Ye Chen’s hand. He glanced and saw Zhou Yucheng’s name. He sneered and turned off the mobile phone directly.

“Let’s go.”

Gu Jianan took Ye Chen and went directly to her next door. Ye Chen watched him open the door next to her and said in surprise, “You…”

“I rented here.”

Gu Jianan went in, and invited Ye Chen like a friend, “Come in.”

“Gu Jianan,” His Blackening Value has reached 100. Ye Chen didn’t dare to provoke him. She trembled and tentatively said, “What do you want to do?”

“What do I want to do?” Gu Jianan chuckled and walked up to her. He dragged her in. Ye Chen dared not move. He pulled her into the house and closed the door.

They were the only ones in the room. Gu Jianan led her to sit on the sofa. He squatted down and changed her high heels to slippers.

“You’re trembling.” Gu Jianan laughed self-deprecatingly, “Why are you trembling?”

“Gu Jianan,” Ye Chen gritted her teeth, “What do you really want to do?”

“What do I really want to do?” Gu Jianan smiled, “I didn’t want anything special. Ye Chen, I just want us to be the same as before. Is it wrong?”

“Ye Chen, I want us to be the same as before. We have always been together. We go back and forth to school together, do homework together and play games together. There is no need for another person beside us, Just you and me.”

“If you like watching boys play basketball, I will learn it for you;”

“If you like playing game, I will play it for you;”

“If you want to make a short movie, I’ll make it for you;”

“If you have a problem with class, I will tutor it for you. I’ll try my best to get the first place.”

“Ye Chen,” he was so solemn, “In this world, is it so difficult for us to be alone, just you and me?”

Ye Chen stilled. Gu Jianan frightened her. He straightened up. His eyes were full of bitterness, “Ye Chen, when I killed someone, you weren’t afraid of me. Why are you afraid now?”

“Afraid I’ll kill you?”

“Gu Jianan…” Ye Chen trembled, “You’re crazy.”

“I’m crazy?” Gu Jianan snickered as if he heard a very funny thing. His eyes were full of tenderness, “Ye Chen, do you care about me?”

Ye Chen refused to answer. Gu Jianan held her neck and said softly, “Speak.”

“Care…” Ye Chen didn’t want to challenge him. Gu Jianan chuckled. He turned on her mobile phone. He connected it to WiFi and logged in to her WeChat.

“Mn, I see. Let’s see how much you care about me, shall we?”

With that, Gu Jianan also turned on his mobile phone.

He opened her WeChat and checked her chat history one by one.

She talked a lot with Zhou Yucheng and Ye Min. Yet, she seldom answered his message and told him she was busy.

She made an appointment with Zhou Yucheng and Ye Min. Yet, she rejected his invitation and told him she was busy.

She played lots of games with Zhou Yucheng using a trumpet account^[2]. Yet,she refused his invitation to play games with her and told him that she was busy.

Gu Jianan scrolled through all the information from the day they separated.

He finally saw her whole life. When he faced Ye Chen, his voice was hoarse.

He was not tormenting Ye Chen nor was he scaring Ye Chen. It was himself. He was tormenting himself and scaring himself. Constantly reminding himself of the pain.

This person didn’t care about him. This person was alienating him. This person probably hated him.

He thought something they had was special. Turns out, from beginning to end, he only played alone in this act.

All the information had been read by him. He collapsed. He sat on the ground, his back against the sofa. His eyes were full of Ye Chen’s chat history.

Ye Chen was observing the man.

 “Since when did you hate me so much?”

Gu Jianan’s voice was hoarse but Ye Chen still kept her silence. He looked through her album, looking at the photos of her and Zhou Yucheng. 

Zhou Yucheng was outside. When he received her call, he rushed back and knocked on Ye Chen’s door outside for a long time. 

“I clearly remember that you were very kind to me.” Gu Jianan closed his eyes, “I don’t even know when it started. zWhen you don’t even want to talk to me anymore. Ye Chen, do you remember when you told me that the world is beautiful and I agreed? Before that, I thought I had seen all the cruelest things the world could do to me. It was only today that I found out, Ye Chen, in fact, there are crueler things that the world can do to me.”

Ye Chen’s breath hitched. She felt pain in her lungs as if she was being pressed underwater and lacked oxygen.

Except for that time when she nodded to him from a distance at the awards ceremony, she hadn’t seen him for nearly a year. She assumed that his feelings would become shallower with time, but she never thought that when she saw him again in a year, all the suppressed feelings would burst out so fiercely.

She couldn’t bear to see him like this. The reason she brought him out of his former house was that she hoped he could lead a better life.

She was kind to him. Everything she gave to him was loaded with the hope that he could escape his fate in the original world. He should be an exceptionally good person. He should be able to face the world with a smile. He should become the world’s brightest light in the medical field. He should be written down with glory in history books because of his achievements.

Yet, right now, in front of her, his tears were falling quietly, as if everything she had done for him had become meaningless and they were back to square one.

“Gu Jianan,” she said hoarsely, “I don’t want you to have a bad life.”

Hearing this, Gu Jianan smiled mockingly, “Ye Chen, do you still think so?”

“You are good to me, but later you abandoned me. You hope I have a good life, but you are the one that made my life sad..”

Ye Chen gaped like a fish.

Gu Jianan was right. She was just like that. She was the one who started treating him well. She was also the one who stopped treating him well.

At this time, Zhou Yucheng searched for surveillance and saw Gu Jianan pulling Ye Chen into his room. Zhou Yucheng wasted no time trying to kick the door open. The voice was loud and Gu Jianan glanced at the door, “Do you like him?”

Ye Chen had no words. Gu Jianan smiled with self-depreciation, “You like him.”

Then, he went to stand at the door, and with a hoarse voice, he asked, “From the beginning, the person you like is him, right?”

“Yes.” A word finally left Ye Chen’s mouth. She closed her eyes, “Gu Jianan, I like him. He doesn’t like to see me with you, so please don’t pester me in the future.”

Gu Jianan squeezed the door handle tightly. At this time, the door was finally kicked open by Zhou Yucheng.

As soon as Zhou Yucheng rushed in, he punched Gu Jianan. Gu Jianan grabbed Zhou Yucheng’s fist and fought with the other party.

Gu Jianan’s bodyguard had been standing outside the door. Seeing the fight, the bodyguard rushed in immediately. The two sides were entangled. The whole room was in chaos. The neighbors were curious and took a curious glance, but immediately retreated back to their home.

Zhou Yucheng and Gu Jianan fought hard. They smashed what they could grab on at each other. They kicked each other hard. Each punch’s strength wasn’t diminished. It seemed that they fought with each other with all the grievances accumulated over the years.

Ye Chen stood up and smashed the bottle by her side to the ground, “Stop!”

Gu Jianan, who was pressing on Zhou Yucheng, subconsciously stopped his action. Zhou Yucheng kicked him away. They listened to her and gasped on the ground.

Zhou Yucheng was worried about Ye Chen, “Ye Chen, are you hurt?”

“No.”

Ye Chen walked to Gu Jianan. She stretched out her hand to him. Gu Jianan looked at her hand and his tears fell.

“It’s not that I don’t want to be good to you,” Ye Chen said slowly. “But, Gu Jianan. I don’t like you. I can’t let you like me.”

“Then why should you be good to me in the first place?” Gu Jianan said hoarsely, “If you already choose to alienate me in the beginning, why should you come close to me? If you just let me rot in the dark all my life and never tasted the beauty of life, won’t that be better?”

“You are the one who took me to the cloud, but you are also the one who pushed me down from the cloud, Ye Chen,” Gu Jianan’s face was full of tears, “It’s too cruel.”

“I’m sorry…” Ye Chen repeated, “I’m sorry… At first, I just wanted to repay you. I just wanted to make your life better, that’s all.”

Gu Jianan froze when Ye Chen brought that topic up. Ye Chen closed her eyes and said hoarsely, “I was lawless and always bullied you before. Yet, when I was beaten, you helped me. Jianan, I think you are a good person…”

“Stop talking…” Gu Jianan trembled. He eventually remembered how his beautiful dream began, all because of an absurd misunderstanding.

“I have never loved you…”

“Stop talking!” Gu Jianan roared, while Zhou Yucheng watched coldly, “Continue.”

Ye Chen didn’t stop. Gu Jianan took her hand tremblingly, “Stop talking. Please, stop.”

Don’t let Zhou Yucheng know. Don’t let anyone know. Don’t let Zhou Yucheng see it through.

His feelings; Their relationship, everything was because of a misunderstanding.

However, Zhou Yucheng realized something and pushed, “Continue, Ye Chen! Go on, tell me. Why are you so good to him?”

Ye Chen stared at Gu Jianan’s trembling hand.

The limit was reached.

She and Gu Jianan had reached the limit.

She wanted Gu Jianan to leave her completely. She wanted Gu Jianan never to make this kind of absurd action again.

But her words couldn’t leave her mouth. Zhou Yucheng already walked by Ye Chen’s side.  He was in a trance, when did Ye Chen start being good to Gu Jianan?

It was when she was beaten and he helped her. The next day, she began to be good to Gu Jianan.

He felt it was ironic. He was the one who helped Ye Chen but the one that received her gratitude was Gu Jianan?

And Gu Jianan still has the face to ask her why she should be good to him?

“Gu Jianan,” Zhou Yucheng started, “Say, don’t you think you are too despicable?”

“Don’t say it…” Gu Jianan was holding Ye Chen’s hand tightly and his face paled because of Zhou Yucheng’s words.

Don’t let Ye Chen know.

Ye Chen was not allowed to know that he wasn’t the one who saved her. Even, he wanted to take revenge on her.

He was far from being kind, let alone as kind as her.

Zhou Yucheng was stunned when he saw Gu Jianan’s appearance. Did he ever see this man like this before? Like he was putting everything in his life in the hands of Zhou Yucheng, waiting for his judgment.

Unfortunately for him, Zhou Yucheng was far from merciful.

Zhou Yucheng continued, “Gu Jianan. The one who saved her back then, it was me.”

Something shattered.

Gu Jianan heard Ye Chen’s voice in a trance.

“You saved me, so I’ll repay you.”

“Gu Jianan, I didn’t expect you to be such a good person.”

Zhou Yucheng was ruthless and resumed, “When Ye Chen was beaten, I ordered someone to save her. You just passed by accidentally, Gu Jianan, don’t you remember?”

“If Ye Chen should repay anyone, it should be me.”

“If Ye Chen should be good to anyone, it should be me.”

“You lied to her even though she treats you well. Now you have the guts to ask her why she treats you well. Gu Jianan, don’t you think you’re too disgusting?”

“What right do you have to blame her? You should be grateful to her.”

Yes, he should be grateful to her.

She was his God and his savior. She paid so much for him, for his lies. Where did he get the qualification to ask her for more?

Gu Jianan lost his strength and let go of her hand.

Ye Chen tried her best to resist the impulse to hold him, but she still couldn’t resist it. She grabbed his hand. Gu Jianan looked up blankly and saw Ye Chen looking at him quietly.

“Gu Jianan,” she said slowly, “I hope you can be well.”

Gu Jianan sneered, “Ye Chen, I’m a liar. You still hope a liar can be a good person?”

“Whether you are a liar or not,” Ye Chen was not in a hurry, “The hard work I spent on you is not fake. I hope you can live a good life, and I hope you can explore the world, go to many places and find someone you love.”

She could feel the tears in her eyes. She could also feel her brain begin to ache and nausea hit her, but she held onto herself. She held his hand tightly, “You are so smart, you will be a good doctor, save many people, and win many awards. You still have a long way to go. One day, you will stand on the world-class podium, and then I will stand below and applaud for you.”

“Only in this way,” Ye Chen added, “can you repay those things I have done for you.”

Gu Jianan didn’t speak. He hung his head and said nothing.

Ye Chen let go of his hand and stood up slowly.

Her head was in severe pain. Zhou Yucheng noticed her shaking body and hugged her. Gu Jianan sat there quietly without talking.

Zhou Yucheng helped Ye Chen out and went to the door. Gu Jianan suddenly opened his mouth.

“Goodbye.”

Everyone should have to learn to say goodbye. This time, he thought, might be their last goodbye.

Ye Chen turned her back and couldn’t restrain the tears that rolled from her eyes. Her voice was calm, “Goodbye.”

She grabbed Zhou Yucheng’s hand tightly and dragged him out. After she left, Gu Jianan returned to his home with the car that waited downstairs for him.

After getting in the car, he tried to keep a straight face, but a tear still fell. He looked outside the window. The world was blurred.

He arrived at Yan-jia and Yan Liang opened the door. He saw Gu Jianan with tears on his face, looked at him, and said hoarsely, “Pa^[3], I want to go to the United States.”

On Ye Chen’s side, she felt the earth spinning and her head hurt like it was stabbed with needles. She began to vomit. Zhou Yucheng was frightened and took her to the hospital immediately.

On the way, Ye Chen passed out. When Ye Chen woke up, she saw Zhou Yucheng sitting in front of her with red and swollen eyes.

“38, you come here.” Looking at Zhou Yucheng’s expression, Ye Chen knew there was definitely a dog blood^[4] plot happening. She calmly interrogated, “You say, what kind of terminal illness do I have? Leukemia? ALS^[5]? Or something else?”

“Brain cancer.” 38 answered lightly, “The system has detected that your task will be completed soon and prepared a reasonable reason for your departure. Moreover, the system hopes you can get at least a rating of B for the task. According to the system’s calculation, if you die of cancer, Gu Jianan has a 90% chance of becoming a top scientist just to search for the cure for cancer, making a significant contribution to mankind. Even if some values do not reach the full score, you can still reach rating B. Based on my understanding of the host, the biggest problem in your organ is definitely in your brain, so brain cancer it is.”

“System,” Ye Chen ignored the mockery of the system, “You gave me brain cancer. I’m fine with it, but at least can you give me a pain shield? It’s fucking hurt.”

“All right.” 38 smiled, “Deducted 10 points.”

“Fuck!!” Ye Chen roared, “Why did you deduct my points!?”

“Continue hurting, then.”

“Fine! Deduct it! Deduct it as you like!! Deduct it!!” Ye Chen collapsed in mental pain, “You are deliberately doing this to promote point consumption, aren’t you!?”

“Oh my. How could it be?” 38 said solemnly, “We are all professionals here. We won’t do such a thing.”

“You don’t look like a professional at all!”

While Ye Chen and 38 were fighting, Zhou Yucheng leaned over and said gently, “Would you like something to eat?”

“No.” Ye Chen shook her head. “Let’s leave the hospital. I have an announcement to make.”

“Don’t go,” said Zhou Yucheng hoarsely, “Instead, let me take you out to play.”

Ye Chen looked at Zhou Yucheng and couldn’t help laughing, “It’s okay,” Her eyes were gentle, “Don’t worry.”

Zhou Yucheng was astounded. A moment later, he reacted, “You know you have brain cancer, don’t you?”

Ye Chen didn’t know how to answer for a moment. Then she listened to Zhou Yucheng, “That’s why you rejected Gu Jianan, right?”

She didn’t want to take this kind of script at all!

However, she has learned her lesson from Gu Jianan’s case. She didn’t want Zhou Yucheng to follow Gu Jianan. She planned to break Zhou Yucheng’s heart from the beginning, so she simply nodded.

“Do you like Gu Jianan?”

“Like…”

Zhou Yucheng was stiff, and Ye Chen continued to persuade, “Zhou Yucheng, you have to take the college entrance examination well. Go back, study hard.”

“Which university do you want me to go to?”

“Why do you ask me ah?” Ye Chen laughed again,”Just take the test for whatever university you want.”

“Then if I get admitted to the university that I want. Will you be willing to accept me?” Zhou Yucheng stared at her. Ye Chen was dumbfounded. Zhou Yucheng held her hand and seriously cofnfessed, “I know you like Gu Jianan, and I know you don’t have much time, but I don’t mind.”

“For the first time, I like a person. I don’t want to give up.”

“But,” Ye Chen looked at him quietly, “I don’t want you to like me. I don’t want anyone to like me.”

If she was destined to leave, she hoped and tried her best to not hurt anyone.

Zhou Yucheng smiled and stroked her hair.

“Fool,” he said with a smile, “The feeling of liking someone, it’s honestly a satisfying feeling. You have liked me once. I hope that within this limited time, I can make you like me again.”

His smile was so gentle it stunned Ye Chen. With that kind of smile in front of her, she couldn’t say anything to refuse him.

She didn’t want anyone to know about her brain cancer. Zhou Yucheng helped her hide it. After she was stable, she left the hospital.

Within two months, the news came that Gu Jianan had gone to the United States. On the day he went to the United States, Ye Min and Zhou Yu all went to see him off. Ye Chen also quietly went to see him.

This was probably the last time for her to ever see Gu Jianan in this life, she thought.

She watched him walk into the security check at the airport, hiding behind the post and sobbing. Zhou Yucheng quietly accompanied her. Patting her on the back, “It’s okay, don’t cry.”

In June, Zhou Yucheng passed the college entrance examination and was admitted to Q University.

That month, Ye Chen’s first stage of surgery plan came out. Before going to the operating table, Zhou Yucheng put a ring on her fingertip and said gently, “I am waiting for you to come out, so you must come back.”

Ye Chen smiled. She looked at the value. Ye Min still had 20 Favorability for Zhou Yucheng. Of course, she must come back alive.

Gu Jianan had left. The Plot Progression could only rely on time now. 

Her condition worsened little by little, but she didn’t die. Just because Ye Min’s Favorability for Zhou Yucheng was still there.

The relationship between Ye Min and Zhou Yu has always been ambiguous. Even with 90 Favorability, Ye Min has never dared to accept Zhou Yu.

Because she was ill, Ye Chen couldn’t act anymore. Zhou Yucheng blocked all news related to her through his family connection. The media didn’t know what she was doing. They only knew that the popular student who had been highly expected by everyone suddenly disappeared.

There was no news about Ye Chen, but there was news about Gu Jianan. After arriving in the United States, he soon joined a top scientific Research Institute and issued several papers in his undergraduate course. Ye Chen always paid attention to his news on Baidu. She liked every photo and post of him on Baidu. Then, she printed it and put it in her notebook, reading it quietly.

She didn’t let Zhou Yucheng know these things. What Zhou Yucheng wanted was simple. He didn’t mind that she would leave one day. He just wanted her to belong to him alone before she leaves.

However, she couldn’t control her heart. She could only pretend to be what Zhou Yucheng wanted.

Zhou Yucheng did not seem to notice her little moves. They lived in peace. He liked to put a lot of flowers in her ward. He liked to sit by her bed, peeling apples for her and talking to her.

He said, Ye Chen, what I like the best is when you’re carefree. At that time, you looked so happy.

So Ye Chen laughed cheerfully every day. She prepared a lot of jokes and told them to Zhou Yucheng.

In the twinkling of an eye, four years later, Ye Min’s Favorability to Zhou Yu finally reached 99, and Ye Min’s Favorability to Zhou Yucheng also dropped to only 1. Ye Chen didn’t dare to check Gu Jianan’s data. She just watched him from the dark and guarded him in a silent way.

For so many years, she hasn’t changed her phone number, but the man hasn’t sent a message or called her.

When Zhou Yucheng graduated, Ye Chen’s body couldn’t stand it anymore, and had to undergo the third stage of surgery.

However, the risk of this operation was too high. Zhou Yucheng couldn’t make a decision. He watched Ye Chen suffer more and more. He began to talk nonsense because of nervousness and couldn’t bear it anymore.

He held Ye Chen’s hand and said hoarsely, “Ye Chen, shall we get married?”

Ye Chen opened her eyes in a daze. It’s hard for her to stay awake. She said gently, “Okay, let’s get married.”

On the wedding day, Ye Chen wore a wig and light makeup.

The marriage of the second son of the Zhou family was undoubtedly a hot topic all over the city. In addition, the object of the marriage was the actress who retired when she had just become popular. People were speculating about their stories.

Zhou Yucheng’s wedding was exceptionally prominent. Many news anchors rushed to the scene and began live broadcasting it. Everyone also noticed that the bride was extremely thin. Even the thick makeup could not hide her weakness.

When taking the oath, Zhou Yucheng looked at Ye Chen’s pale face and heard her say “to never abandon him from this day forward, for better. for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health.” He couldn’t bear it any longer and shed tears.

Ye Chen was too weak to stand. The tumor oppressed her nerves and blurred her vision. She heard noises around her. She felt hot tears falling on the back of her hand. She couldn’t help smiling and said, “Why are you crying?”

“It’s just… tears of joy.” Zhou Yucheng wiped away his tears and kissed her under the cheers of the crowd.

When they got married, the first ray of sunshine just fell on the head of Gu Jianan’s bed in the United States.

He didn’t open any news. He knew that today Ye Chen and Zhou Yucheng were to get married. He wanted to go back, but he couldn’t do anything. He sat on the bed and looked out at the prosperous city.

It’s been four years.

He has been here for four years. He could speak English as smoothly as his mother tongue. He devoted himself to academic research day and night. He had many suitors and many friends.

Yan Liang had died. It was discovered he had pancreatic cancer a year ago. 

Gu Jianan settled in the United States, obtained the right of permanent residence, and became a first-class scientist in the United States.

It only took him four years to complete a career that many people couldn’t even complete in their whole lifetime, yet he still couldn’t forget one person.

Long ago, Gu Jianan thought that time would erase her marks, but four years later, when the news of that person came again, he found his feeling never left. Just like wine, it only gets deeper and richer with time.

He could clearly draw her figure in his mind. Her smile. Her twinkling eyes. The way she sat behind his bike. The burning temperature of her palms.

Memory would not fade because of time, it would only become more vivid with each passing time

He didn’t dare to sleep every time because he was afraid he would think of her,

He didn’t dare to rest from work because he was afraid he would think of her,

He heard the news of their marriage from his colleagues. He thought he could pretend not to see or listen to it. Yet, he still woke up on time at the time of their marriage.

He rubbed the phone in his hand. It was the old Apple model Ye Chen bought him six years ago. Because of the system upgrade, even sending a message took a very long time. He looked through the photos secretly taken in the past and felt a sharp pain in his heart.

After a long time, he finally couldn’t help sending a message to her.

——You’re married. What should I do from now on?

This was her number many years ago. In this era, losing a WeChat contact was tantamount to never finding the other person again. The number could be changed casually. Sometimes it’s just because the data provider was not suitable, sometimes it’s because they went to another place and needed to use another number. He thought that Ye Chen must have changed her number, but soon, she replied back to him.

“Jianan, the world is big. You should go and take a look.”

Gu Jianan stared at her reply and tears fell on his mobile phone.

Turns out, he was no different from his teenage years. As long as he saw her words, his resolve would crumble.

He lay on the bed, holding his cell phone. He was curled up and bit his lower lip to keep himself from crying.

He really wanted to tell her. 

Ye Chen. The world is so big. But… My world consists only of you.

Without Ye Chen, Gu Jianan was nothing.

Yan Liang was dead, he was long gone. Only the girl named Ye Chen was the driving force that supported him to move forward.

She always let him look forward and always told him how beautiful the world is.

But he has gone to many places. His footsteps had gone through countless countries. He had met all kinds of people in the past four years. He also wanted to experience the beauty and joy that she said. But, without Ye Chen, he couldn’t see the brilliance of the world.

The world was the same as when he was young. There was no difference.

Ye Chen was Ye Chen’s Ye Chen, while Gu Jianan was Ye Chen’s Gu Jianan.

There were so many people in Ye Chen’s world, but there was only Ye Chen in Gu Jianan’s world.

Just like many years ago, Ye Chen took him out to a party. He just sat in the corner and watched her quietly.

But now, Ye Chen married another person. Ye Chen belonged to another person for a lifetime. She was all he had. She was taken away like this. Why must he have feelings for her?

He cried quietly in the bed. He held his mobile phone on his chest and called Ye Chen.

No one responded, and from now on, no one would respond.

On the other side, Ye Chen sat alone in her new house. She was so weak that she couldn’t stand any noise. After Ye Min assisted her into the new house, she held Ye Min’s hand and advised gently, “Xiao Min. Live a good life with Zhou Yu in the future, okay?”

Ye Min didn’t answer, but her eyes were red and swollen. Ye Chen looked at her like the qualified sister she was, “Xiao Min. Life has always been fragile. You can’t ever guess if the person that is laughing happily with you will be gone in the next second. So promise me to cherish the people around you and live happily, okay?”

“Okay…”

Ye Min spoke hoarsely. At that moment, the system prompted.

“Congratulations, Ye Min’s Favorability Value of Zhou Yucheng is 0, Favorability Value of Zhou Yucheng is 100.”

“Gu Jianan Favorability Value 98, Blackening Value 10, Plot Progression 99%”

“The system detects that after the Host dies, the Plot Progression will be completed automatically. Do you want to choose to leave the world now? After selection, it will take 20 minutes to leave.”

“Yes.”

Ye Chen clicked the luminous button in her mind, and then said to Ye Min, “Xiao Min, go out and help Yucheng. I want to have a rest.”

Ye Min nodded and went out. Ye Chen was the only one left in the room. She lay on the bed, took out her mobile phone. She looked at Gu Jianan’s message and replied with difficulty.

After replying, she suddenly found that she wanted to hear Gu Jianan’s voice.

She felt that her vitality was gradually losing. She raised her hand and dialed Gu Jianan.

“Beep… Beep… Beep…”

The phone rang again and again, but no one answered.

When Ye Chen thought no one would answer, the opposite person answered the phone. Ye Chen heard the other person’s hoarse voice, “Ye Chen.”

Ye Chen smiled. She wanted to talk but found that she had no strength anymore.

She closed her eyes and remembered many memories.

She ran into the dark alley with Gu Jianan. She comforted the crying Gu Jianan in her arms. She hugged Gu Jianan with joy while sitting on his bike. She was hugged in Gu Jianan’s arms and walked out of Ye-jia under everyone’s eyes.

In the end, it was the memory of the night when she signed with a brokerage company.

She told Gu Jianan that “When people grow up, don’t they all always go their own way and separate? We also have to learn to say goodbye.”

Under the dim light of night, Gu Jianan looked at her with a pale face.

She waved her hand and softly said, “Goodbye,” to Gu Jianan. 

Then she closed her eyes and everything around her was silent.

Gu Jianan held the mobile phone and asked carefully, “Ye Chen?”

No one responded.

He thought, maybe she dialed the wrong number. So he hung up and hid in his arms.

Before long, Zhou Yucheng returned to the room in high spirits. He brought a large number of people and said happily, “Wife!”

As soon as he entered the room, he stilled.

The girl in the wedding dress lay in the red roses and slept peacefully.

Zhou Yucheng didn’t speak. He stood at the door for a while and finally said, “Go out. I’ll stay with her for a while.”

With that, he stepped inside and hugged the woman gently in his arms.

When everyone left, the man eventually shed tears and howled.

Half a month later, at 8 a.m. in the United States, when Gu Jianan just entered his laboratory, he received a text message.

The message was sent by Zhou Yucheng without perfunctory, “Ye Chen will be buried in three days. Come back.”

Gu Jianan’s mind buzzed for a long time. With his trembling hand, he called Zhou Yuchen.

“Zhou… She… She…”

His voice was soft as a whisper and he stuttered. However, Zhou Yucheng still understood what he wanted to say. He had experienced the saddest period and told in a calm tone, 

“She’s dead.”

Gu Jianan’s mind was blank. He only listened to Zhou Yucheng’s light tone, “Brain cancer. It was diagnosed the year you went to the United States. In recent years, she had two stages of surgery, and the third stage is coming, but she couldn’t hold on.”

“The last number she dialed before she died was you. I think she must have missed you. Gu Jianan, I hate you so much, but she misses you so much. I also hope you will come and meet her for the last time.”

“You… Lied to me…” Gu Jianan was trembling, “Zhou Yucheng, you lied to me…”

Zhou Yucheng didn’t speak. A moment later, his tone was hoarse, “I hope I’m lying to you, too. But Gu Jianan, whether I’m lying to you or not, don’t you know it yourself?”

“Why do you think she rejected you when she was so kind and liked you so much?”

“Where in the world would someone go a long way just to thank a person because of an accidental rescue? Gu Jianan, ask yourself. She liked you or not, don’t you know it?”

“She liked you. She doesn’t want to make you sad or delay your life for her. During your absence, she had been browsing Baidu for your information and looking at your past photos. She made all your news into a booklet and read it secretly while I’m away. She believed that I don’t know, but I always know.”

“She had been playing games only using Diao Chan all the time. She said she is used to it. In fact, I know that she just wants you to suddenly go online one day and appear in her world again under the name of ‘Protect our Diao Chan’.”

“Gu Jianan,” said Zhou Yucheng, unable to go on, cried out, “Why don’t you understand that she likes you so much? Why do you think am I so unwilling and can’t let her go?”

Gu Jianan didn’t answer. He hung up on Zhou Yucheng and went to book the ticket with a trembling hand.

After he was back, Gu Jianan and Zhou Yucheng sent Ye Chen to her final rest. Ye Min was crying out of breath, and Ye Huai and his wife looked at him indifferently.

Gu Jianan lit a cigarette and handed it to Zhou Yucheng. Zhou Yucheng took the cigarette and said hoarsely, “When did you learn to smoke?”

“When I went to the United States, I couldn’t sleep all night,” Gu Jianan recounted. “As soon as I closed my eyes, it was all her. To forget her, I learned to smoke and drink.”

“Did you forget?” Zhou Yucheng took a smoke, and the smoke circle dispersed in the rain.

“No.” Gu Jianan smiled.

“You can forget one person, but you can forget your whole world.” His eyes fell not far away and watched the woman buried in the earth. “She is my world.”

“Do you know what I regret most?”

“The thing I regret the most is, in my life, I haven’t said ‘I like you’ even once to her. I thought she knew, so I don’t have to say it. But now I found that ‘knowing’ is different from ‘saying’ it out loud.”

“If there is a next life,” He closed his eyes, “I must say it many times to her, I like her.”

Zhou Yucheng didn’t speak.

It rained heavily.

He was more fortunate.

He had said he liked her. She married him. Maybe they didn’t really love each other, but at least she used to be his wife.

After seeing Ye Chen off, Gu Jianan returned to the United States.

Two years later, Gu Jianan created stem cells, completely broke through medicine for cancer, and became the world’s top scientist.

On the night he received the award, he called Zhou Yucheng.

“How are you?”

“It’s okay,” Zhou Yucheng said lightly. After a moment, he said slowly, “Gu Jianan, time can cure all pain.”

“Time can cure pain, but it can’t cure a terminal illness.”

Gu Jianan lay in the bathtub and felt the blood flowing out.

He closed his eyes.

“So, Zhou Yucheng, I will go to find her.”

“I want to catch her. I want to tell her.”

“Ye Chen一 I, Gu Jianan, likes you.”

[Arc 1 – My world consists only of you. End]

[Arc 2 – Flawless Sword^[6]]

Ye Chen opened her eyes and found herself floating in the air.

“I have left that world?”

“Yes,” the yellow ball floated over, with a crying expression covering his face.

Ye Chen blurted out in shock, “How did you become like this?!”

“I upgraded.”

The yellow ball blinked, and his expression changed between “smile” and “covering his face and crying”, “I have two expressions now.”

“It’s… amazing.” Ye Chen suddenly remembered, “You get upgraded. How many points did I get?”

“With a completion rating of B for this task, the host got 300 points. In fact, it’s a pity. If Gu Jianan didn’t die, you could have gotten a rating of S. In addition, Gu Jianan Favorability Value was 100, Blackening Value was 0, and he also made great contributions to mankind…”

“Gu Jianan is dead?!” Ye Chen’s eyes went wide. The system replied with some grief, “Yes, he is dead. Be careful next time. Don’t let the villains die again.”

Ye Chen choked and quickly changed the topic, “Shall we go to the next world?”

“It will be here soon. But before that, I must remind you. Did you know that your Emotional Value reached 52 near the end and you almost couldn’t leave?”

“Ah? Ah… That’s…” Ye Chen was a little embarrassed. At present, she remembered all the things from the last world, but she didn’t know why her Emotional Value deviated so much.

“Don’t think about it anymore. The system has cleaned your feelings. I genuinely warn you not to make this mistake again.”

“Ah…” Ye Chen was flustered, “Then If I make another mistake, don’t you just need to clean it up again?”

“Not all feelings can be cleaned,” the system said meaningfully. “The deeper the host’s feelings for the characters, the worse the cleaning effect. Moreover, as the cleaning frequency becomes more frequent, the host will develop resistance. And…”

“And?”

“Nah, forget it.” the system no longer explained, “The world line has been accepted, initiate transfer!”

As soon as the voice fell, countless pieces of information poured into Ye Chen’s mind.

This world was a world of cultivation. The main line of the world was the story of Dan Yan, the Female Lead who was burdened with her family’s blood debts, and Xie Wushang, the Male Lead who counterattacked fate and ascended to become a God. Dan Yan is the daughter of Dan Chenzi, the world’s best alchemist. Dan Yan had divine blood. When Dan Yan was young, Dan Chenzi was hunted down because of her blood. Dan Chenzi entrusted Dan Yan to his friend, Jun Yan, before he died, and Jun Yan accepted Dan Yan as a disciple. In the process, Jun Yan fell in love with the kind and lively Dan Yan. However, Dan Yan loved Jun Yan’s Second Disciple Xie Wushuang. Jun Yan deliberately framed Xie Wushuang because of jealousy, resulting in Xie Wushuang falling off the cliff. Dan Yan knew that Jun Yan killed her lover, so she forbore to stay dormant. Later, Xie Wushuang returned alive, he and Dan Yan exposed Jun Yan’s true face together.

Then Jun Yan fell and became a devil^[7] and officially became the first villain, fighting with the Female Lead and Male Lead.

Before meeting the Female Lead and the Male Lead, Jun Yan was like a cheat figure.^[8] He was a mortal who reached Foundation Establishment^[9] in 1 year, Golden Core in 10 years, Nascent Soul in 50 years, and Mahayana in 100 years. When he was 300 years old, he already became a top figure in the Cultivation Realm as a Sword Cultivator.

After he fell and became a devil, his growth rate was comparable to the Female Lead and the Male Lead. In the final battle, he sacrificed his life to destroy the entire world. The Female Lead and the Male Lead watched the world being destroyed. They sighed sadly and ascended hand-in-hand.

In this story, Ye Chen was a female cannon fodder who didn’t even survive ten chapters even though she was described so close to perfection.

Ye Chen’s body is also called Ye Chen. She was born in Penglai to an aristocratic family that tried to cultivate to become an Immortal. Ye Chen was born with a natural Sword Spiritual Root^[10] and a beautiful appearance. She was accepted as a disciple by Jun Yan at the age of five. Jun Yan only liked her talent, but she was deeply infatuated with Jun Yan.

When she was 13 years old, Jun Yan accepted Xie Wushuang as a disciple. Ye Chen took care of Xie Wushuang, so she became Xie Wushuang’s first love.

When she was 17, Jun Yan accepted Dan Yan as a disciple. Because Jun Yan liked Dan Yan, Ye Chen had been making Dan Yan’s life difficult. Because of this, Xie Wushuang needed to save Dan Yan several times and gradually hated Ye Chen.

Finally, in the early stage of the story, she died under Jun Yan’s sword because she was trying to frame Dan Yan.

Her death foreshadowed the cruelty of Jun Yan. Later, when Xie Wushuang was hostile to Jun Yan, a part of it was because of her death.

After reading the story, Ye Chen was calm.

“Very good,” Ye Chen nodded, “I’m very satisfied with this kind of identity. Rich family, good talent, and beautiful appearance! My task objective is Xie Wushuang, right? I like to be a White Moonlight.”

“Nope,” the system said with a smile, “Your task objective is the villain Jun Yan.”

Ye Chen’s face suddenly changed.

“No!!” she yelled, “I refuse! I don’t want to capture him! This kind of person is a scum man no matter how you see it!”

Ye Chen had done so many things for him, but just because she tried to frame Dan Yan, he would stab her to death without hesitation. At any rate, she was still a disciple who had been raised by his own hand. How could he be so light-handed to her?!

However, the system did not give her a chance to continue talking. Ye Chen felt the white light scattered in front of her and as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw a young man in a white robe like snow standing in front of her.

Her body was very small. She needs to raise her head to see the man’s face.

The man had a gold and jade crown on his head, dressed in a white robe printed with silver dragon patterns covered with a cloud gauze. All of it reeked of “Immortal.”

His facial features were exquisite, like mountain ink painting, with an indescribable taste.

He put his hand on her forehead. His hand was as cold as jade. With an indifferent look, it reminded people of the snow-capped Tianshan Mountain.

Ye Chen had never seen such a beautiful person. He was not only beautiful in between eyebrows, eyes, and facial features. The temperament of the whole person also exudes beauty, just like the beauty of the people in the sky and the bright moon.

Ye Chen looked at him blankly. Her small face was reflected in his indifferent eyes. His voice was clear, “My name is Jun Yan. In the future, you will call me Shifu^[11]. Do you understand?”

Previous | ToC | Next

Footnotes

1. 500 Yuan = ~80 USD↵

2. Trumpet account; non-main account. 2nd account, etc. Usually used for anonymity from a person’s main account… or when you want to hide from someone/something from your main account… or just because you aren’t satisfied to play only with one account. But in this context, it’s because Ye Chen wanted to hide from Gu Jianan so she made another account.↵

3. 爸爸 – bàbà; Papa. Dad. Father ↵

4. 狗血 – gǒuxuè; lit. Dog Blood. nonsense or exaggerated or unthinkable plot. Drama only for the sake of drama.↵

5. 渐冻症 – jiàn dòngzhèng; lit. Progressive Frostbite. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/ALS is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. ALS is often called Lou Gehrig’s disease after the baseball player who got diagnosed with it.↵

6. 剑本无暇 – Jiànběn Wúxiá; lit. Flawless Sword. Could also be read as “Sword Who Has No Time”. 无暇 could mean no free time. It could also refer to a specific explanation of ‘no time,’ It generally means that it is too late, can’t cope with something, or has no free time to do something. Such as “No time to ask,” or “No time to take care of,” etc.The 无暇 (Flawless) used here is different from 无瑕 (also Flawless). The latter means that there is no defect. It is used as a metaphor for the absence of defects or stains. A sword cultivator is sometimes referred to as a Sword. So the arc title could also mean “(The) Sword (Cultivator) Thas Has No Time/Too Late.” In the Arc Summary, it is said “Before she left, he thought he only had a sword beside him; After she left, he really only had a sword left beside him.“↵

7. 魔 – mó; Devil. Evil spirits/creatures of remarkable power and cruelty. Different from 妖 – yāo (Demons)↵

8. 开挂 – kāi guà; lit. Open-Hook. The life of some people is smooth sailing and easily reaches the peak of life that most people can’t reach.↵

9. There aren’t any rule set in stone for Xianxia novel. More about this in Ry’s Corner below. In this novel, there are 7 Cultivation Realm. The Realm from lowest to highest in this novel are: Foundation Establishment (筑基 – zhùjī), Golden Core (金丹 – jīndān), Nascent Soul (元婴 – yuányīng), Apotheosis (化神 – huà shén), Crossing Tribulation (渡劫 – dù jié), and the last is Mahayana (大乘 – dà chéng). ↵

10. 灵根 – línggēn. Spiritual Root, the very foundation (roots) of one’s body and soul. Associated with a person’s innate talent and elemental affinities. A person with a Sword Spiritual Root will be talented in learning Sword.↵

11. 师父 – shīfù; Master↵

Ry’s Corner

OOT—
but, I was replying to some MLiS post on Weibo when I read “Memory would not fade because of time, it would only become more vivid with each passing time.” Damn true. Coincidentally, the post I was replying to was a question about “Do you think at the end of the novel the FL already forgot about the other ML?” There, the answer. She has not. Feng Lin’s “Many things will pass over with time,” is bullshit.  *points a gun at Lyre*

Another thing is the “Beep… Beep… Beep…” The phone rang again and again, but no one answered. You won’t know how much I laughed because it’s parallel to a certain scene in MLiS:))))

This chapter is focused on Memories and I laughed at how relatable things in this chapter are to the whole MLiS. She closed her eyes and remembered many memories. :)

—End of OOT

Arc 1 ends! Welcome to the current Arc, Arc 2. It’s better than Arc 1, at least. I think Arc 1 is too rushed? Both the FL and the ML still suck. They are still in the process of developing into a better person, not a good person per se. A better person. Can I just skip to Arc 4? What? I can’t? Damn.

35 pages, 13k words, and 70k characters in GDocs. I’m done with this Arc! Bye!

Because Arc 1 is done, the update will follow the regular update schedule, Saturday. My teeth are aching because even if Arc 2 only has 13 chapters, it has 82k words. Meanwhile, Arc 1 with 18 chapters only has 79k words. Ouch. My teeth.

Good for you because I’m not in the hobby of cutting a chapter into parts and bad for me because I’m not in the hobby of cutting a chapter into parts.

Continuation from the above Footnotes

As I said, Xianxia novel has their own rule. The more detailed Realm level are:

1. Qi Condensation (凝气 – níngqì);
2. Foundation Establishment (筑基 – zhùjī);
3. Core Formation (结丹 – jiēdān);
4. Golden Core (金丹 – jīndān);
5. Nascent Soul (元婴 – yuányīng);
6. Apotheosis (化神 – huà shén/分神 – fēn shén);
7. Syncretic (合体 – hé tǐ);
8. Tribulation Crossing/Catastrophe Period (渡劫 – dù jié); and
9. Mahayana (大乘 – dà chéng)/Immortal Ascension (成仙 – chéngxiān).

Usually, each realm has 9 Stages before people can break through to another big realm. Like from Zhuji to Jindan. People need to reach the Ninth Stage of Zhuji to have a chance to break through Jindan.

I forgot if this novel follows the usual 9 Stages for each realm or has its own rule. Istg, Xianxia novel is very inconsistent with its rules.

The one that I crossed doesn’t exist or is not considered a realm in this novel.

The Qi Condensation is introducing Qi to the body. It is the first step and the first Realm of cultivating. In this novel, it is only considered as an opening step to break through to a realm, but not a realm.

The Core Formation consists of training building their Sea of Knowledge (开光 – kāiguāng), training their breathing form (胎息 – tāixī), and practicing Bigu (辟谷 – pìgǔ). In this novel, the Core Formation is considered only as steps to break through to a realm, but not a realm. 

This is why I don’t like translating Xianxia. Aside from the Xianxia novel having its own rules, the Xianxia terms make sense in Mandarin but sound like nonsense in English.

Right, right, I also want to say that I often (as you may have noticed) keep a suffix as it is. Some of you may not like it and prefer translation like Uncle Yan, Yan’s Family, Big Brother, Little Sister, or something like that. Well, sucks for you because I prefer to keep it as Yan-shushu, Yan-jia, ge, mei, etc. Bear with me.

At least come here and chat with me, ya. Just say anything. Even a “your translation sucks” is welcome *muah*

Please consider checking ‘The Memory Lost in Space‘ in case you like a good read(feels)! I’m gonna always put this here because I’m obsessed with it! No thanks needed. Qian Xu is bae!

If you like what I do please consider buying me ko-fi! Who needs sleep, anyway. I don’t offer Advanced Chapters like Lyre yet, but you are free to water this thirsty cat!

Words count (excluding title, footnotes, TL’s corner): 13156

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