Chapter 75

The next morning, after breakfast and meds, Wen Ran was taken to 195 Institute to meet a few professors on the medical team who'd rushed back to the country.

After one night, his eyes were a little better—something like severe myopia. He could vaguely make out shapes and colors. No longer completely blind.

"Around a week before and after the Fenqi Period, the Gland and Pheromone are in a fluctuating state, which isn't good for surgery. And the Fenqi Period itself is an absolutely dangerous period for the patient—has to be avoided. Based on the info provided, the last Fenqi Period was about fifteen days ago, so it's better to do the surgery as soon as possible. Recover for a while, then go through Fenqi again, and the danger will be much lower."

Fenqi Period equals dangerous period—that was the conclusion the doctors hadn't mentioned to Gu Yunchi yesterday.

Seven years. Countless Fenqi Periods. Wen Ran had brushed past death again and again without ever knowing it.

The professors were still discussing the diagnosis and treatment plan. Gu Yunchi looked at Wen Ran, but Wen Ran was just sitting in his chair with his head down, staring blankly at the floor, looking dazed.

The consultation ended. Wen Ran quietly stood up and followed Gu Yunchi out.

Walking out of the office, Gu Yunchi was still trying to figure out how to start comforting him when Wen Ran suddenly tugged his sleeve and said quietly, "You know what, just now in the office, I saw two really big frogs on the floor."

Gu Yunchi: "?"

"I was super shocked, but I couldn't really see them, so I just kept looking and looking. Then when they stood up and walked away, I realized those two frogs were slippers one of the professors was wearing."

Gu Yunchi: "..."

He'd thought Wen Ran was sitting there feeling sad. Turns out the kid was studying giant frogs.

"You've got surgery coming up, how do you have the mood to look at frogs," Gu Yunchi said. "Not scared?"

"A little. But I thought about it. With so many amazing professors and experts, it's already the best conditions no matter what. Way safer and more reliable than when I had the Gland Implant Surgery. Once I think about that, I'm not that scared."

And Gu Yunchi was here. Even less reason to be afraid.

Besides, giant frogs showing up in the hospital room—wasn't that worth being shocked and curious about?

Walking out of the Hospital Main Building and getting in the car, Wen Ran asked, "You're not going to work? Is the League Army's attendance policy this lax?"

"Medical leave hasn't ended yet."

Just then remembered Gu Yunchi had been injured not long ago. S-Class recovery was unreal—Wen Ran had almost forgotten about it.

"But there are a few meetings I can't miss," Gu Yunchi continued. "Going to the Military District this afternoon."

"It's fine, go ahead, don't worry," Wen Ran said. "Susu and Song Shuangang will come keep me company."

Wen Ran's Mobile Phone was already connected to BDH-339—any calls or messages would be auto-reported. At breakfast, Tao Susu had called to plan dinner, only to learn Wen Ran was sick and couldn't see. She'd immediately started crying hysterically on the other end. BDH-339, who'd been helping take the call, couldn't help begging, 'Xiaoshu, can I mute for a second? I feel like my speaker's about to blow.'

Emotional Tao Susu had insisted on coming with Song Shuangang right away. Considering the morning hospital visit, Wen Ran had soothed her and asked her to come in the afternoon instead.

Not long after getting home, Wen Ran was sleepy again. Remembering the professor saying brain issues would cause drowsiness, he felt totally justified sleeping. He changed into pajamas, crawled under the covers, and lay down. Gu Yunchi closed the curtains, grabbed some Military Headquarters documents, sat propped against the headboard, and turned on the reading light.

From Wen Ran's angle, all he could see was yellow light and a faint silhouette. He stared at Gu Yunchi for a while, then asked, "What are you doing?"

"Are you writing a self-criticism report?"

"No." Gu Yunchi didn't ask how he knew about the self-criticism. Knee-jerk knew Wei Xing had spilled it.

"If it's not urgent, you can wait until my eyes are better. I'll help you write it. My writing skills aren't amazing, but they're passable."

"Your handwriting is even more legendary," Gu Yunchi said.

Wen Ran: "I'm sleeping first."

He slept fitfully. In his dreams he kept hearing the rustle of paper. When he drifted awake, his communicator was vibrating, and he was in Gu Yunchi's arms. Even though he couldn't see, he could tell Gu Yunchi was awake.

"You've got something on your mind?" Wen Ran patted his arm with half-closed eyes. "It's fine. Take your time with the self-criticism."

His pajama hem had bunched up at his waist while sleeping, exposing a strip of skin. Gu Yunchi's right hand was resting on Wen Ran's waist. He didn't say anything, just casually rubbed twice. Wen Ran's back tingled with a shiver, and he woke up a little more.

"Heading to the meeting," Gu Yunchi said, lightly patting his waist, then got out of bed. "The cook's making food. Eat more at lunch."

Wen Ran pulled his pajama hem down under the blanket, sat there for a moment, then answered a beat late: "Oh. Got it."

After lunch, Wen Ran went to wander around the Rear Garden. Passing the Small Living Room, he stopped and asked BDH-339 to take him over. Back in high school, when he'd come to Gu Yunchi's Residence, most of his time had been spent in this Small Living Room, piecing together a plane model.

He walked down a short corridor, turned a corner, and suddenly a patch of blue-white appeared in his vision.

He couldn't make out details, only color. In his heavily blurred vision, Wen Ran stared at that blue-white, his chest starting to rise and fall rapidly. He asked BDH-339, "What's that on the carpet?"

"It's a Helicopter Model," BDH-339 said. "It's been here for seven years. Cleaning staff comes regularly to dust it."

Wen Ran murmured, "So long."

He still remembered the last time he'd seen this model—an evening after he'd finished assembling it. Then the precious family photo had fallen to the ground, Gu Yunchi had grabbed him by the Neck Ring, he'd cried a lot, and in his panicked flight he'd never properly looked at the model again.

After that he never set foot in the Small Living Room again, so he had no way of knowing the model had stayed right where it was.

Wen Ran slowly walked over, crouched down in front of the model, reached out to touch the wing, and told BDH-339, "When my eyes are better, I want to take it apart again."

"What do you mean 'again'? Have you taken it apart before? How is that possible!" BDH-339 was shocked. "The Young Master values this model highly. He warned me that if I dared touch it, he'd sell me to the junkyard."

"Taken apart. Wen Ran took it apart." Wen Ran ran his hand from the wing to the tail, a small smile on his face. He finally stood up and said, "Li Shu hasn't yet."

Golden leaves carpeted the Garden. Wen Ran's hair had been blown into a bird's nest by the wind, and he seemed to wander aimlessly in a circle. BDH-339 worried, "Fourteen degrees, a bit cold. Two more minutes max, or you'll catch a cold and I'll be sent to the junkyard."

"You forgot," Wen Ran said to himself. "You used to take me around the house just like this."

Not wanting BDH-339 to worry, Wen Ran headed back. Beside the flower rack was a huge tree, fallen leaves piled thick in a circle underneath it, dead leaves still falling from the branches. Wen Ran suddenly realized he'd never noticed what species this tree was. He was about to ask BDH-339 when, looking down, he vaguely saw a dark stone beside the trunk.

"Is that the tree's info plaque?" Wen Ran pointed at the stone, guessing it was like the stone plaques in parks, carved with information about the tree.

"No," BDH-339 said. "It's a Headstone."

Wen Ran froze on the spot. After a long moment, he asked very softly, "Whose Headstone?"

"I don't know. There are no words on it. But the Young Master comes back every year to see it. He sits in front of the Headstone for a long time and smokes." Seeing Wen Ran walking dazed toward the tree, BDH-339 hurried after him and continued, "The Young Master only comes back once a year, and leaves quickly. Sometimes even the Chairman doesn't know he's back in Capital City."

Wind and the rustle of dead leaves filled his ears. Wen Ran stepped through layer after layer of fallen leaves to the Headstone, sat down, reached out to touch it, and felt the cold, slightly rough texture. There were indeed no words on it.

No words, because seven years ago the owner of the Headstone didn't have his real name.

That year, being taken by speedboat toward the open sea, when he realized there was no way back, a superstitious thought had flashed through Wen Ran's mind: dying at sea, they'd never find the body. He'd become a wandering ghost.

Maybe Gu Yunchi had thought the same. So he'd put up a small Headstone in the Rear Garden—if lucky, the wandering spirit would find its way here by some pull, find its resting place.

Wen Ran lay down on his knees, turned his head. A few meters away was the Small Living Room's half-moon floor-to-ceiling window. He could faintly see a patch of blue-white.

In that moment he felt strongly understood, felt someone got him—in Gu Yunchi's Residence Garden, turn your head and you could see the beloved model through the floor-to-ceiling window. For him, this really was a feng shui treasure-trove kind of burial spot.

Wen Ran smiled faintly, and at the same time lowered his head to rub his eyes on his sleeve. The wind blew past, more leaves drifted down, landing on his shoulder and back.

BDH-339 was closely watching the surveillance and excitedly told Wen Ran, "Xiaoshu! Your friends are here!"

"Okay." Wen Ran looked up, sniffed, got to his feet, took BDH-339's hand, and walked back to the living room. "I really, really want to call Gu Yunchi right now."

"Why!"

"I don't know." Wen Ran lied.

BDH-339 didn't have time to egg Wen Ran on to call Gu Yunchi, because Tao Susu had already rushed into the living room, red-eyed, and thrown her arms around Wen Ran. Seconds later she wailed at the ceiling, "How could this——!"

Wen Ran hugged her and patted her back, while reaching out toward Song Shuangang, whose face was a blur he couldn't make out: "Long time no see. Sorry to trouble you both to come see me."

"Don't say that," Song Shuangang shook his hand. "We already had plans to meet up."

Tao Susu, still sobbing, let go of Wen Ran. BDH-339 handed her tissues. Tao Susu wiped her tears and asked it, "Gu Yunchi hasn't sold you off yet?"

"Sorry, this house can't do without me." BDH-339 turned with a flourish and went to pour water.

The three of them sat down on the sofa. They'd barely chatted for a bit when BDH-339 came over with water and announced loudly, "Xiaoshu, the Young Master is calling."

The call auto-connected. Gu Yunchi's voice came from the top of BDH-339's head, flat tone: "Have they arrived?"

"They've arrived," Wen Ran answered. "We're chatting."

"What, Major Gu coming to check up on us?" Tao Susu said. "We're all legal citizens."

"Remember to take your medicine," Gu Yunchi reminded Wen Ran, then crisply ended the call. "Hanging up."

They looked at each other—though they couldn't really look at each other, since Wen Ran couldn't see. After a quiet moment, Song Shuangang asked, "Confirmed? When's the surgery?"

"Soon. Another two or three days," Wen Ran thought for a moment. "The Charity High School you mentioned the other day—can I donate too? Even if it's not a lot of money."

Song Shuangang was clearing his throat, about to explain in detail, but Tao Susu had already caught Wen Ran's meaning: "Shut up! The surgery will definitely succeed. No researching inheritance!"

Wen Ran smiled sheepishly: "I was just asking."

"Can't ask!" Tao Susu pointed at Song Shuangang. "You can't answer either. I won't allow it!"

"Okay." Afraid of making her cry again, Wen Ran immediately changed the subject. "I'll take my medicine first."

BDH-339 came over, opened its storage compartment, and took out a small bag of pre-sorted pills: "Five total. Don't miss any."

Wen Ran took the pills, poured them into his hand, and swallowed them with water. Tao Susu watched BDH-339 curiously: "I thought your belly was all parts. Turns out there's storage space. Very practical."

BDH-339 was proudly silent. Swish—it showed off by pushing out all three compartments on its belly, demonstrating its outstanding storage skills.

"Is Gu Yunchi's property deed in here too? Let me see." Tao Susu jokingly reached in and was surprised. "What's this thick book? Gu Yunchi's Asset Overview?"

She pulled out that thick project book a little and read out the name on the cover word by word.

"Omega Ten-Year Service Program."