Chapter 74

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'Aftereffects... cerebral blood vessels...'

'Cerebral hemorrhage... blood clot location... further examination... form a treatment team...'

...

Distant, blurry, chaotic sounds gradually grew clearer, turning into broken dialogue he could just barely make out. Wen Ran's hand was about to move when someone caught it.

The voices stopped at once. Wen Ran struggled to open his eyes.

It was very dark, with a faint grayish-white glow. He couldn't see his surroundings, but he could smell the Hospital's distinctive disinfectant and medicine. Then footsteps approached, people gathered around speaking in low voices, but Wen Ran couldn't make out any figures.

A strange feeling rose in his chest. Wen Ran gripped the hand holding his, tilted his head slightly, trying to see the other person, but still only saw gray-black.

He asked, 'Why aren't the lights on? What time is it?'

The room went silent again.

After a moment, he heard Gu Yunchi's voice—very low, a little hoarse: 'Afternoon.'

Wen Ran nodded, paused, and said, 'I think I can't see.'

He felt Gu Yunchi lean close, fingertips brushing very lightly at the corner of his eye. 'Let the doctor take a look.'

'Okay.'

The doctor stepped forward, held Wen Ran's eyelid open and shone a flashlight at his pupil, tested how he responded to light, then asked how the rest of his body felt. Wen Ran lay quietly on the hospital bed, answering each question in turn.

'When the optic nerve is compressed, blurred vision or vision loss can occur. We'll need to run specific tests to check.'

Without asking anything, Wen Ran only said, 'Okay, thank you.'

Footsteps receded. The ward door opened and closed. Silence fell. Wen Ran could only confirm Gu Yunchi was still there from the hand holding his and the Pheromone. He looked toward where Gu Yunchi should be by instinct and asked, 'Have I been out since this morning?'

'Mm.'

Someone else came in. Wen Ran smelled food, then the head of the bed was raised. He sat up and said, 'I want to wash my face.'

He slid his hand out of Gu Yunchi's palm, slowly moved himself off the bed, and tapped his toes against the carpet a few times before finding his slippers.

After putting on his slippers, Wen Ran sat still. He couldn't see anything, couldn't figure out the ward's layout, didn't know which way to go. He let out a very soft sigh—not grief-stricken, not unable to accept it, just calm and a little deflated: 'So inconvenient.'

'I'll lead you.' Gu Yunchi said.

Wen Ran raised his hand, found Gu Yunchi's fingertips, gripped them and stood up, and was led toward the bathroom.

The meal didn't seem much different from usual. Wen Ran ate a lot, cleaned the bowl completely. But Gu Yunchi knew his appetite today wasn't actually that good.

Along with the nurse who brought the food was Wen Rui. He didn't speak the entire time, just watched Wen Ran wash his face and eat, then left in silence.

After eating and resting a while, Wen Ran went for more detailed tests with Gu Yunchi. When they examined the Gland, he hung his head motionless, letting the probe slowly slide back and forth across his gel-slicked nape.

Back in the ward again, after taking his medicine, Wen Ran lay down and pulled the covers up. He said to Gu Yunchi, 'I want to sleep.'

He wasn't completely indifferent. After more than twenty years of normal life, plunging into total darkness in an instant—even with the strongest mental fortitude, he couldn't just accept it and get used to it right away.

So he wanted to sleep. Only sleep felt normal. Close his eyes, and everything naturally turned black. Then he wouldn't be so afraid.

He also wanted to escape—to escape the thing Chen Shuhui had mentioned right before he passed out.

'Sleep.' Gu Yunchi tucked the covers in around him.

Wen Ran closed his eyes, then opened them again less than two seconds later — though by now it made no difference whether they were open or shut. He asked Gu Yunchi, 'So when can I leave? You said yesterday that after today's checkup, you'd take me to see BDH-339.'

'The doctor will have a detailed report out later. If things look okay, I'll take you back tonight.'

'Really?' Wen Ran smiled a little, surprised and pleased. 'I thought I'd have to stay in the Hospital forever again.'

He didn't like staying in the Hospital. After all, nearly a fifth of his life had been spent there.

Wen Ran fell asleep like that, full of quiet hope, holding Gu Yunchi's hand.

When he woke, a nurse was at the bedside, telling him the test report was out and Gu Yunchi was still at the doctor's office.

About half an hour later, Gu Yunchi came back. Wen Ran was sitting on the bed, holding a small radio, telling him happily, 'The nurse brought me this. I can listen to news and radio stations.'

He felt for a button and pressed it. The sound in the radio cut off. Wen Ran tilted his head up, as if looking at Gu Yunchi: 'That's how you turn it off. Pretty handy.'

Gu Yunchi sat down in the chair by the bed and told him, 'The old man in the next ward is using one too.'

'Alright then.' Wen Ran said, 'Consider it prep for old age.'

The communicator beeped several times during their conversation. Wen Ran leaned back a little. 'You reply first. I'll wait till you're done.'

'Mm.'

Night fell. Only the bedside lamp was on in the ward, casting a dim yellow glow. Wen Ran leaned against the pillow, his fair skin showing a warm, soft texture. His dark eyes stared emptily ahead, unable to focus, looking vaguely lost.

He didn't know that Gu Yunchi had only muted the communicator and wasn't replying to messages at all—he'd been watching him the whole time.

Like watching the surveillance clips of teenage Wen Ran from the research institute and hospital, handed over along with all the files seven years ago.

It was corridor surveillance. A thin, small Beta, locked in a single-person ward with no outings allowed. His only daily activity was standing at the ward door, like a small animal crawling out of a deep burrow, dazed, not knowing what he was looking at. When a nurse or doctor passed, he'd shrink back into the room and carefully close the door.

This lonely, specimen-like life, Wen Ran lived for four whole years—to be modified into an Omega with high compatibility with an Alpha he'd never met.

He was like a piece of duckweed, drifting from a run-down Orphanage into a lightless ward, drifting into the Wen Family's small second bedroom, then drifting from the sea to another city. No roots, never truly held anywhere.

Across thousands of days and nights and millions of miles, this duckweed had finally drifted back into his palm. Before he could coax even a little new green from it, he flipped it over and found it riddled with holes.

Gu Yunchi thought he'd investigated thoroughly enough, in enough detail. He thought shattering that bottle of Inhibitor had shattered the last hardship Wen Ran had to bear. But reaching this point, he realized what Wen Ran had endured was far more than what was visible.

'Are you done replying?' A few minutes later, Wen Ran curled up on the bed, a little bored, couldn't help asking.

Looking at that thin, slender hand resting on the covers, Gu Yunchi gave a low 'mm.'

'Good.' Wen Ran paused, looking slightly hesitant and uneasy. 'How are the results?'

He heard Gu Yunchi move, then felt weight settle on his lower belly—Gu Yunchi had laid his head down on him.

Wen Ran froze instantly, eyes wide and blank. Several seconds passed before Gu Yunchi spoke: 'It's a side effect of the Gland Implant Surgery. It can cause brain hemorrhage.'

'There's already a blood clot in your brain. That's why you had the nosebleed, fainted, and your vision blurred. The doctor will decide on a surgical plan based on how you're doing over the next few days.'

That's right. How could there be a permanent fix with no side effects? The time just hadn't come yet. It wasn't luck.

Besides accepting it, there seemed to be no other way. Complaining and sadness were useless now. Everything had to be left to the doctor. Wen Ran reached out to touch Gu Yunchi's face, felt his slowly closing lashes, and asked, 'So can I still go see 339 today, or do I have to stay in the Hospital?'

Gu Yunchi's face pressed against Wen Ran's lower belly. After a long silence, he told him: '339 had its memory wiped.'

Compared to the test results, this was the thing that truly left Wen Ran at a loss. Mouth slightly open, stunned, eyes not knowing where to look, gaze going blank. Only gradually did he understand why Gu Yunchi hadn't taken him to Yueting yesterday.

'When?' He finally found a little voice.

'Seven years ago.' Gu Yunchi said. 'It said it was in pain.'

How could it not be in pain? The Wen Ran it had counted as a good friend had no bones left to bury. The Gu Yunchi it had warmly treated had also been gone from home for a long time. For 339, maybe forgetting really would be easier. It had never been purely just a small robot.

Wen Ran lifted his head and blinked. Around his eye sockets, moisture was exposed to the air and quickly evaporated, leaving a faint coolness. He said, 'It's okay. We can just get to know each other again.'

With a bag of medicine and an agreement with the doctor to come in for checkups on time tomorrow, Wen Ran was bundled up like a rice dumpling and got into the car.

He looked out the car window for a while, then turned to Gu Yunchi and said, 'I took the medicine this afternoon. My eyes seem a little better—I can make out the colors of the neon lights.'

Wen Ran felt Gu Yunchi turn sideways and lower his head to look at his face, then Dr. Gu offered the treatment plan: 'When we get back, have 339 switch the house lights to nightclub mode.'

'Oh...?'

The car pulled into Yueting, curved around a few bends, then slowly stopped. Gu Yunchi led Wen Ran out of the car and up the steps.

Just as he entered the Garden, Wen Ran heard the distinctive mechanical sound of a robot moving, coming to stand before him.

'Welcome home, young master.'

Wen Ran crouched down and patted 339's steel belly. When he raised his hand, he felt a soft fabric object at the junction of its head and body. 'What's this?'

'It's a very grand wine-red bow tie. I specially stuck it on.' 339 stole a glance at Gu Yunchi and, before he could tell it to shut up, recklessly announced at full volume, 'To welcome the first Omega young master has ever brought home!'

Slightly stunned, Wen Ran laughed.

Beep—339 extended its hand toward him: 'Young master told me you can't see right now. Please hold my hand. I'll provide you with 24-hour guidance service.'

'Thanks.' Wen Ran gripped 339's cold, hard mechanical hand and stood up.

At a very gentle pace, 339 led Wen Ran into the entryway. The overall layout of the villa hadn't changed much. With his seven-year-old memories and 339's guidance, Wen Ran smoothly made it to the big sofa and sat down.

'What would you like to drink? Milk, plain water, or juice?' 339 asked.

'Plain water, thanks.'

'I'll pour it for you. Please wait.'

339 went to the kitchen. The communicator rang. Gu Yunchi set down Wen Ran's Backpack: 'I'll take a call.'

'Mm.' Wen Ran sat on the sofa, completely at ease.

Gu Yunchi went to the Rear Garden. 339 brought the water over, tapped the cup against Wen Ran's hand: "Water's here."

He didn't even need to lift his hand—just tilted his palm slightly and caught the cup. After he took a sip, 339 took the cup back in time and set it on the coffee table.

They were quiet for a few seconds. 339 scooted a little closer, pressed against Wen Ran's leg, and asked in a small voice: "Are you Xiaoshu?"

Wen Ran blinked. "How did you know?"

"Young Master showed me your childhood photos. There's a mole under your right eye. I figured it had to be you!" 339 said brightly. "And Young Master specifically called me about it three years ago."

"Told you what?"

"Hold on, let me find the call recording for you... Found it!"

The ringtone played. After three rings, it was picked up. 339 asked cheerfully: "Young Master? You haven't called me in ages. What's up?"

"Mm."

Gu Yunchi responded but didn't say anything else. In the silence, you could hear his breathing. 339 didn't rush to press him, just waited—like how it had spent years alone in the villa, waiting for Gu Yunchi to call or come home.

After a long while, Gu Yunchi spoke again: "I found him. He didn't die."

339 asked: "Who?"

A sigh-like exhale. Gu Yunchi answered: "Xiaoshu."

339 immediately remembered: "The Xiaoshu you showed me in the photo? When did he die?"

Gu Yunchi said: "You're the one who died."

339: "?"

Since Gu Yunchi rarely called, 339 held back the urge to bicker and asked: "Will you bring Xiaoshu back to see me?"

After a moment, Gu Yunchi answered quietly: "I will."

"Actually I recognized you as Xiaoshu the first second I saw you!" 339 turned off the recording, eyes shining. "But Young Master told me you were sick, so I figured I should hold back, not scare you. I've been alone too long. No one talks to me. I spend most of my time in sleep mode. Now that you're here, I'm really happy!"

Almost unable to speak, Wen Ran reached out and touched its head, then down to the left side of its chest, where there was a raised bump—a fridge magnet he'd given 339 seven years ago.

He could still remember how 339 had looked back then, happy and proud, saying this was its first gift ever.

A sudden sting welled up in his eyes. Wen Ran asked: "Do you remember who gave this to you?"

"Mm... I think it must be from my best friend." 339 said firmly. "It's written in my highest-level program—to wait for my best friend to come back and see me."

-Xiaoran, you said you were going out for a bit. When you come back, will you come see me again?

-If I get the chance, yes.

-I'll wait for you. I'll always wait for you.

That final farewell in the early hours of the morning—a promise Wen Ran had known he couldn't keep back then—339 had carefully recorded it all, even written it into its highest-level program, so that even after the Event 339 Memory Wipe, it couldn't be erased.

No longer remembering who it was waiting for, only knowing it was its best friend. So it waited, lonely and full of hope, for seven years.

Wen Ran leaned over and hugged the little robot with no body heat.

339 blinked. Its system began automatically identifying the drop of liquid sliding down its face.

"Water content 99%, salt 0.6%, lysozyme, trace protein... it's tears." It hugged Wen Ran back and asked softly, "Xiaoshu, why are you crying?"

"Thank you for still waiting for me." Wen Ran said. "My name is Li Shu. It's nice to meet you, 339."

"Li Shu..." 339 murmured.

At the corner where the living room met the Rear Garden, a figure stood there.

Gu Yunchi looked quietly toward the sofa, until Wen Ran wiped his eyes and stood up, then followed 339 to take the elevator.

He felt an unprecedented contradiction—Wen Ran shouldn't only be shedding this little bit of tears. Compared to the pain he'd suffered, these tears weren't enough to serve as any kind of release.

But he couldn't bear for Wen Ran to cry any more.

After fainting that morning, he'd basically been lying in a Hospital bed the whole time. Wen Ran convinced himself there was no need to shower today, so he just wiped himself down quickly, finished washing up, and walked out of the bathroom.

Right outside the door he bumped into Gu Yunchi. Wen Ran steadied himself with a hand on Gu Yunchi's arm: "Why are you eavesdropping on someone showering."

"Didn't I give you the Military Headquarters complaint hotline before?" Gu Yunchi took his hand and led him toward the bed. "Go report me."

"I'm reporting you right now." Wen Ran climbed onto the bed, picked up his Mobile Phone and unlocked it with his face. He stared at the screen for a while, then had no choice but to scoot toward Gu Yunchi and hand him the phone. "Zhou Zhuo definitely messaged me. Read them to me."

"He called while you were unconscious."

Wen Ran went "ah": "Did you answer?"

"I did. Told him your situation."

"What did he say?"

"Asked if I was the one who knocked you out." Gu Yunchi said. "He said he'd come to Capital City as soon as he could."

"Okay." Wen Ran leaned against Gu Yunchi's shoulder and urged him, "Help me check if there are other messages, especially the work group. I'm planning to ask the Company for a day off tomorrow. If they need a Hospital note, you'll have to help me submit it."

Gu Yunchi opened the work group, scrolled through a few photos, and summarized briefly: "Team building. Went to the beach. Two coworkers drowned."

"What?!"

"Fake. Someone had seafood poisoning and got sent to the Hospital."

"Good thing I didn't go." Wen Ran seemed to have already forgotten his own condition, not even sure what he was relieved about. He burrowed into the blankets, deliberately shrinking the conversational gaps between them, avoiding bringing up anything else. He asked, "Any other important messages? If not, I'm going to sleep."

Gu Yunchi didn't answer. He opened the drafts list in the chat that Wen Ran used as a memo.

The list had plenty of drafts, none assigned to a specific contact, just named by event—when a certain file was due, remember to grab two garbage bags from the Company before clocking out Friday, total overtime hours this month...

He scrolled to the bottom quickly. Gu Yunchi saw the only draft that wasn't newly created but showed an unsent message to a specific contact.

He looked at Wen Ran. Wen Ran was lying in bed, wrapped up tight, only half his face showing, unfocused dark eyes looking at him, still waiting for him to read the messages.

Gu Yunchi paused for a moment, then opened that draft box with the contact "Gu Yunchi" and started reading from the earliest message.

"Gu Yunchi, I'm still alive. Pretty impressive, right? I'm still alive [fist]"

"I dreamed about you. I can't remember exactly what, but after I woke up I really, really wanted to call you, go to Capital City to find you. But no one there needs me anymore."

"The doctor said I'm pregnant."

"Gu Yunchi, I can't sleep at night these past few days [crying]. Why is there a baby in my belly? It scares me. Even though it's only the size of a soybean."

"It's scary because I know it can't survive. You understand, right?"

"It died. I didn't dare look. I wrote it a Prayer Plaque, hoping it could go to a happy family, be born safely, grow up healthy [tree]"

"Gu Yunchi, I miss you a little."

"I washed off the mark. After the anesthesia wore off it really hurt. I don't smell like your Pheromone anymore."

"Gu Yunchi, the doctor said I can leave the Hospital. I'm getting ready to go to City S [airplane]"

...

"[image] Gu Yunchi, look at my acceptance letter. I'm a college student!"

"I found a Croissant that tastes exactly like the ones your chef made, but it's super expensive, can't afford it [pitiful] Maybe I'll find more things that make me happy."

"Actually, the reason I don't eat it often, besides the price, is that it reminds me of the days at your house. But I know I can never go back to that time."

"Today I splurged on a Croissant. Look at the close-up [image][image][image][image][image][image][image][image][image]"

"Because today is our Engagement anniversary. Though you've definitely forgotten, and the Engagement was fake anyway."

"Gu Yunchi, I barely think about you anymore. For real."

...

"Gu Yunchi, did you find me? Why aren't you saying anything?"

"You know, when I ran after you I fell down. I just wanted to say goodbye."

"Okay, Gu Yunchi, goodbye. I really, definitely won't think about you again."

...

One by one, word by word, Gu Yunchi read them all in silence.

He could imagine what tone, what expression, what gesture Wen Ran would have if he'd said these things to his face. But in those seven years when Wen Ran felt he had no standing to reach out—when he was desperate, when he was sad, when he was happy—he could only pour out unsendable confessions in the "Gu Yunchi" chat window, then quietly file them away in drafts.

"Why'd you take so long?" Wen Ran suddenly sat up, the blanket sliding off his shoulders. "Did you look at my photo album?"

He remembered sneaking a few photos of Gu Yunchi at the Military Hospital a few days ago, and immediately got nervous. He fumbled to take back his Mobile Phone, locked the screen, only then relaxing a little. He said, "You're not trustworthy. I'll ask 339 to read my messages tomorrow."

He rubbed his palms and noticed that when he'd taken the phone from Gu Yunchi's hand, it seemed to have gotten something wet on it. Wen Ran lay back down, puzzled: "Did you not dry your hands after washing? Why are they still wet?"

No answer. Wen Ran noticed Gu Yunchi had also lain down, then Gu Yunchi wrapped his arms around Wen Ran's waist, lowered his head, his face pressed against Wen Ran's chest.

A very long time. So long that Wen Ran was drifting off, about to lose consciousness. Gu Yunchi listened to his light, steady heartbeat and said very quietly: "I'm sorry."