He went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. When he looked up, he froze. Why did "Gu Nian'an" look exactly like him? He raised a hand to touch the red mole at the corner of his eye. Even this red mole was identical.
During his time in the hospital, Gu Nian'an had read novels online every day out of boredom, and he had paid particular attention to this one because a supporting character shared his name.
There were always comments saying that if a character shared your name, you should memorize the entire novel-it might come in handy if you transmigrated into it.
He had only treated it as a joke before. He had never expected it to happen to him, and he did not know whether he could ever go back.
Still, he supposed he had only come here because he had already died. But he could not stop worrying about his mother. Would she be able to live well on her own?
After a long while, Gu Nian'an sighed. All that love, hatred, and resentment had ultimately faded away with his "death," hadn't they?
Since he had come to a new world and gained a reasonably healthy body, he would live on in "Gu Nian'an's" place.
Early the next morning, when Gu Nian'an came downstairs, the housekeeper had already laid breakfast out on the table: steamed soup dumplings, eggs, and soy milk.
Gu Nian'an greeted the housekeeper, then sat down and began eating.
Before long, Fu Xiuyuan came downstairs too. When he saw the person sitting at the dining table eating breakfast,
he paused despite himself. "You're all right now?" Only after speaking did he feel there had been no need to ask, but it was already too late to take it back.
Gu Nian'an swallowed the soy milk in his mouth and nodded slightly. "Yes, I'm fine now. Thank you for your help this time, Mr. Fu." With that, he gave the man a small smile, then lowered his head and resumed eating breakfast.
Seeing the young man smile at him, a smile untainted by any selfish desire, Fu Xiuyuan froze for an instant. But the other had quickly lowered his head again, as though what had just happened had been nothing more than an illusion.
Gu Nian'an soon finished breakfast. In his previous life, he had not eaten a proper meal since being hospitalized.
This was his first meal since being reborn. At the thought, Gu Nian'an could not help smiling in satisfaction.
This counted as a good thing, at least.
Fu Xiuyuan watched Gu Nian'an without letting it show. Seeing him smile in satisfaction over a simple meal, he wondered whether he had not been given enough to eat before.
"Come to the study in a bit. We need to talk," the man said in a cold, hard tone that sounded like an order.
Gu Nian'an looked at the man, thought for a moment, then said softly, "All right. I'll take a shower first and come over. I didn't wash when I got back yesterday, so I'm filthy." Without waiting for the man's response, he stood and headed upstairs.
"Suit yourself." Fu Xiuyuan waved a hand dismissively.
In his bedroom, Gu Nian'an dried his hair while considering how he should face Fu Xiuyuan later. His personality was very different from the original owner's, and he did not know whether the male lead would notice anything amiss.
Though transmigrating into a book was far too unbelievable, if it was the male lead... Gu Nian'an did not dare dwell on it any further. He hastily threw on a jacket and headed for the study.
"Mr. Fu, I'm here." Gu Nian'an gently pushed the door open and peered inside.
The man seemed to be handling work. He glanced casually at Gu Nian'an and said flatly, "Come in. Sit."
Gu Nian'an sat on the sofa, fidgeting helplessly with the teacup in his hands as he looked at the man in the office chair. He had to say, the man certainly lived up to being the male lead.
His well-tailored suit outlined his broad shoulders and waist, and a silver tie pin was fastened to his tie. He had sharply defined features and deep but icy eyes.
Ah, that face, that body-so handsome. No wonder he's the male lead, Gu Nian'an could not help marveling inwardly.
Before long, Fu Xiuyuan put down the documents, walked over to sit opposite Gu Nian'an, and picked up his teacup for a sip.
"So you've grown bold enough to drug me, have you?" he asked softly. His tone was gentle, yet his words sent a chill down one's spine.
Gu Nian'an jolted. He had nearly forgotten about this. Although the original owner had resorted to a few tricks in his later attempts to seduce Fu Xiuyuan,
he truly had not been responsible for the drugging. The male lead's eldest uncle had wanted to humiliate him, but the attempt to drug him had failed, and the original owner had taken the blame.
Gu Nian'an looked straight into Fu Xiuyuan's eyes and said firmly, "I didn't do this. I wouldn't do something like that."
Fu Xiuyuan looked at him, a trace of scrutiny in his eyes. Unfortunately, Gu Nian'an's expression was exceptionally resolute, as though he really had not done it.
The two looked at each other. Seeing that Fu Xiuyuan seemed unwilling to believe him, Gu Nian'an could not help growing a little panicked. This incident was also why the original owner had met such a miserable end.
But he had no evidence proving that the male lead's eldest uncle was behind it, so Gu Nian'an could only continue explaining. "Whatever the case, I really didn't do this. All my behavior before was my fault, but I really didn't do this." Whether from agitation or something else, he suddenly began coughing violently.
He picked up the water and gulped some down, hoping to suppress the cough, only to choke on the water as well and cough even harder.
Fu Xiuyuan's brows knitted tightly at the sight. He stepped forward to pat and rub Gu Nian'an's back, bringing the cup to the young man's lips. "I'll investigate this again. Take small sips."
Watching Gu Nian'an hold his hand and drink in tiny sips, Fu Xiuyuan could not help having a thought. He's just like a kitten.
At last, the coughing subsided. Gu Nian'an looked up at the man with slightly reddened eyes and said quietly, "Thank you. I won't trouble you again. I'll behave."
Fu Xiuyuan set down the water glass. "If this has nothing to do with you, I won't do anything to you. It's best if you can behave. Three years from now, we'll each go our own way and live well."
Gu Nian'an hurriedly nodded in agreement. He could hardly wait for those three years to pass so he could take the money and go far away, away from the plot and away from the male lead.
Lying in bed, Gu Nian'an went over everything that had happened recently, his mind in turmoil. It was all far too incredible.
He should have died, yet he had been reborn inside a book and had even come face-to-face with the male lead so many times.
If anyone discovered I wasn't the original owner, would I be locked up? No, surely no one would believe it. But what if someone found out?
If the male lead discovered I wasn't the original owner, what would he do to me? This was the protagonist who would later kill his own father with his own hands.
Gu Nian'an tossed and turned in bed, unable to tell anyone about the stifling distress inside him. A trace of melancholy lingered between his brows.
That night, the evening breeze gently stirred the curtains beside the bed, and moonlight fell across the side of the young man's face.
With a creak, the door opened. Fu Xiuyuan approached slowly and sat down gently at the bedside, watching the sleeping young man. Even with him so close, the young man showed no reaction at all.
His brows merely remained tightly furrowed, his eyes trembling constantly, as though something in his dreams was troubling him.
Gu Nian'an had changed so much that Fu Xiuyuan felt he had become a different person. But no one had the ability to replace someone right under his nose.
The moonlight revealed the young man's youthful features. As Fu Xiuyuan watched him, he suddenly leaned down and touched the corner of the young man's eye, his gaze gradually darkening.
The original Gu Nian'an had not had this mole.
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