Chapter 96
Gu Tang asked the question, but faintly felt something was off.
He hadn’t yet managed to awaken Gu Qinian from the fragmented plot memories. The Gu before him was essentially “Young Master Gu” in an amnesiac state.
They were the same person—but this version had no memory of the twenty years they had spent together.
He didn’t even know he was already married.
So being suddenly invited to sleep together did seem strange.
No wonder he showed a surprised expression.
Gu Tang didn’t want to be seen as a pervert. He shook his head. “I was joking. If you’re not willing, forget it.”
A faint sense of disappointment lingered in his heart.
No cuddling with Niannian tonight. In this unfamiliar environment, he could only sleep alone.
Gu Qinian noticed that after the young man turned away, his head lowered slightly—even the two little angel wings on the back of his clothes seemed to droop.
The man cleared his throat and said somewhat awkwardly, “…I didn’t say I wasn’t willing.”
In fact, he really wanted to.
When the young man invited him, his heart had nearly leapt out of his chest.
He just hesitated for a moment, afraid that being too eager would make him seem like some kind of shameless pervert only after the other’s body.
Who would have thought the young man would turn and leave right away?
“If you want to sleep together… it’s not impossible,” Gu Qinian added, pretending to be calm.
Gu Tang froze for a moment.
Then he turned back in delight.
He saw Gu Qinian tilt his head away, presenting a stubborn, slightly tsundere jawline. His lips were pressed tight, but the tips of his ears were red.
As expected of the same person.
Even the way he got shy was exactly the same!
Gu Tang overlapped the image of the man in front of him with that of the “Young Master Gu” in his mind and couldn’t help but laugh.
He walked over, grabbed the man’s tie, stood on tiptoe, and lightly kissed that perfectly shaped jawline.
“Qinian, you’re really good.”
“!” Gu Qinian snapped his head back, staring at him.
He had seen all kinds of storms in his life, yet a single soft sentence from the young man made his heart skip a beat.
After a brief pause, it began pounding wildly again.
He lowered his head, intending to kiss this teasing little troublemaker—
But the other had already stepped back.
President Gu remained frozen mid-motion, his neck stretched halfway forward, looking a little foolish.
Gu Tang didn’t notice at all.
After that fleeting, dragonfly-like kiss on the man’s jaw, he turned and walked away, the small wings on his back swaying with each step.
“Where’s your room?” Gu Tang asked.
The villa had three floors. Although only Gu Qinian lived there, there were many rooms.
Since it was Gu Tang’s first time visiting, it would be hard to find the master bedroom without guidance.
But after taking just two steps, he was pulled back.
Gu Qinian grabbed his wrist and dragged him into his arms. “Say that again.”
Gu Tang: “?”
Gu Qinian’s tone grew urgent, his dark eyes fixed on him. “What you said just now—say it again.”
Gu Tang thought for a moment.
He definitely didn’t mean “Where’s your room?”
Then it must be what he said earlier…
Young Master Gu also loved hearing things like “Niannian is the best.”
In this fragment of the storyline, Gu Qinian had been abandoned in a cruel orphanage as a child, suffering bullying. Even after rising to the top, no one dared approach him casually, let alone praise him.
He had always lived alone—lonely and desolate.
The more Gu Tang thought about it, the more his heart ached.
He hooked his arms around the man’s neck and said earnestly, “You’re the best. The best in the whole world.”
The young man’s amber eyes were clear and bright, filled with sincerity. His rosy lips spoke words that made one’s heart soften.
Not only that—after saying it, he kissed both sides of the man’s cheeks.
Like a reward after praise.
For the first time in his life, Gu Qinian experienced what it felt like to be cherished. His heart trembled as he wrapped his arms around the young man’s waist.
Afraid he might turn and leave again.
After kissing his cheeks, Gu Tang noticed the man still staring expectantly at his lips, even unconsciously pursing his own slightly.
The hint was so obvious—yet he still wouldn’t take the initiative.
Compared to Young Master Gu, this Gu Qinian was even more tsundere.
What else could Gu Tang do?
Of course, indulge him.
He looped his arms around the man’s neck and planted a firm kiss on those thin lips.
Blushing, Gu Tang turned away. “Alright, take me around first.”
This time, he took the initiative to hold Gu Qinian’s hand.
Gu Qinian hadn’t had enough. His dark eyes followed the young man’s faintly pink neck like a beast eyeing its prey.
But when his hand was held, it was as if he’d been soothed—his gaze instantly softened.
Their fingers intertwined.
Gu Qinian felt an unprecedented sense of happiness.
He had never known that coming home could feel this good.
Happily, he led the young man to tour the house.
The first floor of the cold-toned villa was functional space—the kitchen and dining room spotless, as if never used.
Gu Tang ran a finger lightly over the counter. Not a speck of dust.
Clearly unused.
The master bedroom was on the second floor, still in black, white, and gray tones. As soon as the door opened, a chill greeted them—completely devoid of human warmth.
The third floor was a fitness area.
Here, at least, there were signs of life.
Looking at the room full of equipment—enough to open a gym—Gu Tang thought to himself: No wonder this Gu Qinian is even stronger than Young Master Gu.
He could lift him with one hand…
It must be from working out every day at home!
“Work out before sleeping.”
Standing by the equipment, Gu Qinian invited the “angel.”
Gu Tang immediately turned and ran.
Only to be caught and dragged back.
As if to remind him, the man slipped a hand under his shirt and pinched his waist. “Didn’t you say you’ve gained weight? Want to exercise with me?”
Gu Tang yelped and kicked his legs. “I’m not ready yet!”
Who brings someone home and immediately forces them to exercise?!
And not even that kind of “exercise”…
This Gu Qinian really had no sense of romance!
“What’s there to prepare?”
Completely unromantic, President Gu pressed the slender young man onto the equipment. “Like this. Pull down.”
Gu Tang tugged with both arms.
The machine didn’t budge.
His face flushed red as he looked helplessly at the man.
“Tsk.”
Gu Qinian clicked his tongue in disdain.
Gu Tang instantly got annoyed. “Try ‘tsk’ing again!”
He even waved a fist at him.
But the moment he raised it, it was caught in the man’s palm.
“This equipment doesn’t suit you.”
Gu Qinian lifted his fist and kissed it. “Try exercise without equipment.”
Gu Tang: “?”
Before he could think in the wrong direction, he was placed onto a yoga mat.
Gu Qinian pressed his legs down seriously. “Come. I’ll help you do sit-ups.”
Gu Tang: “……”
What is wrong with this guy?
He brought him home… just to act like a PE teacher?!
This never-been-in-love old man is ridiculous!
Gu Tang kicked, but couldn’t break free. Reluctantly, he held his head and did one sit-up.
He refused to do a second.
Using the chance of sitting up, he pecked the man’s lips.
Trying to “cute his way out.”
Turns out—it worked very well.
For the next half hour, he was pinned to the mat, kissed repeatedly by the newly love-struck Gu Qinian.
Just when Gu Tang thought things would finally escalate—
Gu Qinian suddenly stopped.
“You’re sweating,” he said, reaching into the young man’s clothes.
Gu Tang: “???”
After such intense kissing, wasn’t sweating normal?
“Go shower. You’ll catch a cold,” the man said seriously, like lecturing a child.
Gu Tang: “……”
Ah! This old man is so troublesome!!!
This villa didn’t have a swimming pool.
In the original story, because of his unfortunate childhood experiences, Gu Qinian had always hated water.
Gu Tang only found out later that Young Master Gu’s excellent swimming skills weren’t because he liked swimming—but because he was afraid Gu Tang might drown, so he forced himself to learn desperately.
He had been deeply moved because of that.
…Until he was tricked into the pool several times by Young Master Gu.
And in this fragment of the plot, Gu Qinian—who had grown up alone—still hated water.
So in such a large house, there wasn’t even a bathtub installed—only a shower.
The idea of taking a bath together? Impossible.
Gu Tang had never imagined that after being kissed until his face was flushed, the two of them would still end up showering separately on different floors.
The master bedroom bathroom was given to him, while Gu Qinian used the gym’s shower for a quick rinse.
As Gu Tang lathered body wash over himself, he began to worry.
Could it be… Gu Qinian wasn’t capable?
Otherwise, why did he keep stopping at the critical moment?
He’d heard that as men get older, that aspect tends to decline…
Could it be that when Young Master Gu reached this age, he’d become all show and no substance?!
It couldn’t be that what he lost wasn’t just his memory… right?!
If it were Young Master Gu, he’d definitely shamelessly squeeze into the bathroom to shower together…
The more Gu Tang thought about it, the redder his face became—and the more worried he felt.
Was Gu Qinian being a bit too proper?
That’s not normal…
After finishing his shower, Gu Tang walked out with a flushed face.
Just in time to see Gu Qinian entering the bedroom, wiping his hair, holding a hairdryer.
The man sat firmly on the edge of the bed and beckoned to him. “Come here.”
Gu Tang glanced uneasily toward the man’s lower body. With the loose bathrobe, he couldn’t see anything, so he slowly walked over.
In the next second, he was pulled into the man’s arms.
“What are you looking at?” The man’s breath brushed against his ear as he spoke.
Gu Tang’s back tingled.
Ah—he’d been caught.
A low chuckle sounded by his ear. “Want to look?”
Gu Tang’s face turned red. He swallowed instinctively.
A soft gulp escaped.
“Dry your hair first,” the man said, his tone tinged with amusement. His well-defined fingers moved through the young man’s damp hair, helping him blow-dry it.
The motion was exactly the same as Young Master Gu’s usual habit.
Gu Tang closed his eyes, leaning comfortably against the man’s chest.
Gu Qinian lowered his gaze, watching the young man in his arms without blinking.
They used the same body wash, yet on Gu Tang, the scent transformed—fresh yet sweet, irresistibly alluring.
From his angle, he could see the young man’s fair neck, beautifully shaped collarbones, and the patch of skin revealed by the slightly open robe.
At first, he had only wanted to keep him by his side.
He didn’t even care about the young man’s mysterious background—just keeping him was enough.
But in less than a day, he had grown greedy.
He wanted more.
He wanted to take, to claim—
To make this person belong only to him.
Gu Qinian’s throat bobbed. He lowered his head and kissed that swan-like neck.
Gu Tang was almost dozing off when the sudden ticklish sensation made him tremble.
He shifted slightly, letting out a soft, sticky hum. “The hairdryer is still—”
Before he could finish, he caught a glimpse of the hairdryer tossed far away.
Gu Tang: “……”
He seemed to have misunderstood something.
The idea that the male lead was “incapable”? Absolutely impossible.
He didn’t need to worry about thirty-year-old Gu Qinian at all—he should be worrying about whether he himself could handle it…
The robe collar was pulled open as the man’s hand slipped inside.
Gu Tang felt a little shy.
But thinking they were legally together anyway, he didn’t resist, obediently resting in the crook of the man’s arm.
The touch beneath his fingertips was soft and smooth. The person in his arms was incredibly compliant.
Suddenly, Gu Qinian froze.
This scene…
Why did it feel so familiar?
Fragments of unfamiliar yet strangely familiar images flashed through his mind.
He saw Gu Tang tilting his head back, biting his finger as he sobbed, opening up like a blooming flower—clearly crying, yet still whining softly, legs wrapped around him…
Gu Qinian shook his head.
The images were too vivid.
As if they had really happened—yet they hadn’t.
If this was his imagination, then his desires were far too concrete… too excessive.
The young man was still so young—he didn’t even know if he was twenty yet.
And no matter what he did, Gu Tang never resisted.
He could even say—he was overly compliant.
Why?
Gu Qinian was full of questions, yet unable to resist the temptation. He pressed the young man down onto the bed.
The robe fell open like petals.
The young man’s skin flushed pink with embarrassment, yet he still didn’t dodge.
“Why are you willing?” Gu Qinian asked in a low voice, gripping his chin. “Gu Tang, what are you thinking?”
“……”
Gu Tang couldn’t explain the complicated situation.
So he answered vaguely, “Because I like you.”
Gu Qinian narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening. “You like me enough to sleep together after just one day?”
That did sound a bit ridiculous.
If he said they were already married, this Gu Qinian definitely wouldn’t believe it.
Gu Tang could only try to “act cute” again, blinking and biting his lip. “Only you can…”
Unfortunately, this Gu Qinian wasn’t as easy to coax as Young Master Gu.
Even at such a critical moment, he could still calmly question him.
“Who are you seeing through me?” he asked in a deep voice.
Gu Tang’s heart jolted. He shot him a panicked glance.
What if something went wrong and the awakening failed? What if Gu Qinian couldn’t merge back with Young Master Gu?
Wouldn’t that mean he’d end up with two husbands?!
Gu Tang quickly dispelled the dangerous thought. “You are you!”
“Is that so?”
Gu Qinian looked down at him from above, taking in every trace of panic on his face.
Gu Tang felt tense, an inexplicable pressure weighing on him.
The system hadn’t told him whether there was a time limit for this awakening—or what would happen if he failed.
But one thing was clear—
Gu Qinian’s emotions were becoming more unstable.
No, he had to wake Young Master Gu quickly!
Gu Tang wrapped his arms around the man’s neck. “Qinian, aren’t we going to sleep?”
He thought: Young Master Gu always liked clinging to him—maybe intimacy could trigger his awakening.
However, Gu Qinian released him.
He pulled his robe closed, turned over, and lay straight on the bed. “Sleep.”
Gu Tang: “???”
He stared blankly at the ceiling for a long while.
Then suddenly sat up and shoved the man. “What’s wrong with you?”
If you can or can’t—say something!
Gu Qinian remained unmoved. “Nothing. I’m tired.”
Gu Tang puffed his cheeks, unwilling to give up. “You’re sleeping without taking off your clothes?”
“I like sleeping like this.”
The man replied lazily, closing his eyes as if he’d already fallen asleep.
Gu Tang sat there, arms crossed.
This wasn’t what he expected at all.
Could it be that as men get older, their self-control improves too?
When he was with Young Master Gu, he was always the one being pounced on. Young Master Gu had never even experienced him taking the initiative.
Yet this Gu Qinian… didn’t even care!
Gu Tang huffed and lay down, curling up at the edge of the bed, as far away from him as possible.
So annoying!
Old men really are troublesome!!!
Fuming, he eventually drifted into sleep.
Hearing the young man’s steady breathing, Gu Qinian slowly opened his eyes again. He turned over and stared at his back for a long time.
In the end, he couldn’t resist.
He reached out, pulled the young man into his arms, and held him tightly.
“Gu Tang… you’re mine.”
He murmured softly by his ear, as if trying to brainwash the sleeping figure.
“Mine alone.”
Gu Tang unconsciously rubbed his ear.
It was strange.
Recently, he had been kept by Gu Qinian almost all the time—grabbed and kissed whenever there was nothing to do.
Sometimes they would kiss for an entire night, until his lips were swollen.
But beyond that—nothing more.
Gu Qinian had even been restrained enough to never take off his clothes in front of him.
Gu Tang slammed his sketchbook onto the ground with a pa sound. “Damn it, such strong self-control!”
The weather was gradually turning colder, and the system still hadn’t returned.
Gu Tang didn’t know whether the passage of time in this world affected reality. The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. He just wanted to complete the task as soon as possible.
Wait…
When the weather turns cold—isn’t that around Young Master Gu’s birthday?
Celebrating birthdays together was their agreement.
Gu Tang flipped through the calendar and calculated—
Maybe if he helped Gu Qinian celebrate a birthday once, it would trigger his memories?
—
One day, at exactly five o’clock, President Gu got off work on time.
Not a single minute wasted.
As Gu Qinian walked to the elevator, he ran into his assistant, Jiang Yiwen.
“President Gu, this document—”
Before he could finish, his boss said coolly, “Send it directly to me.”
Then he turned and left without even glancing at the file, leaving behind a crisp, carefree silhouette.
Jiang Yiwen: “……”
A workaholic turning into a love-brain… truly terrifying.
—
Gu Qinian drove home, speeding all the way.
Yes—he had a home now.
With the young man there, the house was no longer a cold residence, but a home.
As time passed, aside from the young man’s unknown background, Gu Qinian hadn’t found anything suspicious about him.
Or rather—he no longer cared to investigate.
As long as things stayed like this, it was enough.
The little guy had always been well-behaved.
Now, he even felt at ease letting him roam freely.
That way, when he got off work… someone would be waiting at home.
But today, for some reason, Gu Qinian felt inexplicably restless.
He even regretted not dragging Gu Tang to the company with him that morning.
Just because he couldn’t bear to wake the sleeping young man, he softened for a moment—
And spent the entire day distracted.
It felt like… the little guy might fly away at any moment.
With a sharp turn, the car drifted into the villa district.
From afar, Gu Qinian noticed—
The house was dark.
His heart skipped violently.
He drove straight into the underground garage, not even bothering to close the car door before rushing inside.
With trembling fingers, he opened the door.
The house was silent.
The young man didn’t come running out like usual, didn’t greet him with a kiss and a cheerful “Welcome home.”
The vast house was dim and empty.
As if no one was there.
Gu Qinian could hear the restless pounding of his own heart.
“…Gu Tang?” he called.
No response.
The faint light in his dark eyes gradually faded into complete darkness.
His angel…
seemed to have left.
“Pa—!”
The lights suddenly turned on.
The entire house was instantly illuminated.
Gu Qinian shut his eyes briefly, unable to adjust, then forced them open again.
He looked in disbelief at the figure walking out of the kitchen—
His angel.
Gu Tang pushed out a cake, smiling brightly. “Happy birth—”
Before he could finish, he was pulled into a tight embrace.
Held firmly.
“Happy…”
Gu Tang finally managed to complete the greeting, then asked in confusion, “Wh-what’s wrong?”
The usually composed man now showed a rare vulnerability.
Gu Qinian said nothing, burying his face into the young man’s neck, breathing in his scent.
“Don’t leave.”
His deep voice trembled slightly.
As if he had just experienced something terrifying.
Gu Tang raised his hand and patted his back. “I won’t leave.”
Back at the Gu residence, Young Master Gu had always been afraid he would leave too.
As expected—the soul fragments all shared the same nature…
“I just wanted to give you a surprise.”
Gu Tang pointed at the neglected cake beside them and repeated, “Happy birthday.”
Gu Qinian froze slightly.
No one had ever celebrated his birthday before. He didn’t even have a concept of it.
If not for the young man doing all this, he wouldn’t have known today was his birthday at all.
“This is your first time celebrating a birthday?” Gu Tang asked, surprised—and deeply pained.
Young Master Gu had always had him.
But this fragment… had always been alone.
No one even remembered his birthday.
“I’ll teach you how to celebrate.”
Gu Tang took his arm and led him to the cake. “First, blow out the candles.”
In the past, Young Master Gu would always let him blow them out.
He had done it for twenty years—this time, he would let this pitiful Gu Qinian go first.
Gu Qinian followed his instructions and leaned in to blow—
But was stopped.
“Wait.”
Gu Tang covered his mouth gently. “Make a wish first.”
Gu Qinian kissed his palm without hesitation. “I wish you’ll always be mine.”
Gu Tang: “……”
Simple. Direct.
After blowing out the candles, they cut the cake together and fed each other a piece.
Gu Tang felt a little nervous. Blushing, he glanced aside. “Um… after cake, you’re supposed to receive a present.”
Gu Qinian wiped the cream from his lips. “What present—”
Before he could finish, he saw—
The young man had somehow pulled out a red ribbon and tied it into a bow around his slender neck.
Gu Qinian froze, lips slightly parted, unable to speak.
He stared at him without blinking.
Gu Tang had never done something this embarrassing in his life.
Trembling slightly, he guided the man’s hand to the ribbon, lifting his flushed face.
In a soft voice, he asked—
“Do you want to unwrap your gift?”
