Over the next few days, Gu Nian'an stayed in the hospital, with Fu Xiuyuan at his side most of the time. When he returned home a week later, he had essentially recovered, aside from some slight difficulty moving around.
Leaning in the man's arms, Gu Nian'an felt his ears grow warm.
These past few days, whether he went downstairs to sunbathe or went for an examination, the man had carried him. Even...
Even when he needed to relieve himself, the man carried him. At the thought, Gu Nian'an lowered his eyes slightly, his face growing redder, his voice as faint as a mosquito's hum. "S-sir, I can walk by myself now. You don't-you don't need to keep carrying me..."
He had almost fully recovered now, yet the man still insisted on carrying him. Every time he tried to refuse, however, the man interrupted him with one excuse or another.
Fu Xiuyuan glanced down at the person in his arms, a flicker of amusement passing through his eyes. He did not answer, merely holding him a little tighter.
A blush colored Gu Nian'an's cheeks. He clutched the man's sleeve awkwardly, not daring to look up at him at all.
Fu Xiuyuan carried the young man into the garden and set him on a chair, then sat beside him. Neither spoke; they simply sat in silence.
Gu Nian'an stole a glance at the man, suddenly recalling the moment Fu Xiuyuan had broken down the door after Fu Shirui drugged him that day. He had a vague impression of what had happened afterward.
Remembering how he had kept rubbing against the man then, and how they had later been in the bathtub...
His entire face reddened at a visible speed, and his heart began pounding strangely.
Just then, a series of mews suddenly came from behind them. Both turned to look, only to find that the kitten had followed them over at some point.
While they had both been at the hospital, the kitten had been left in the care of the hourly housekeeper. Seeing them suddenly return, the kitten had come looking for them too.
Fu Xiuyuan leaned back slightly and picked up the kitten, stroking its head. He glanced at the person beside him and asked, seemingly casually, "Have you given the kitten a name?"
He remembered this cat. From the moment it appeared, Gu Nian'an had reacted strongly toward him. At first, he had thought the young man disliked him.
Only later, when he watched the livestream, had he discovered that was not the case. The young man was very introverted and shy and rarely asked him for anything, yet he had still brought the kitten home.
When he was away from home, he often saw through the surveillance cameras that Gu Nian'an would stare silently at the kitten in a daze, frequently sitting beside it for an entire day.
It was clear that this cat held a significant place in his heart.
But for some reason...
Had he actually not given it a name?
At the question, Gu Nian'an suddenly froze, a trace of unease showing in his eyes. For a long time, he said nothing.
"You haven't named it yet?" When the young man remained silent, Fu Xiuyuan turned his gaze toward him.
Gu Nian'an rubbed his fingers together, his gaze wandering as he murmured, "I haven't... thought of a suitable one yet."
The young man seemed to be hiding something. Recalling the comments he had seen that day, Fu Xiuyuan frowned slightly, a probing look flashing through his eyes, but ultimately said nothing more.
Gazing at the distant sunset, Gu Nian'an fell into a daze. Everything that had happened these past few days had almost made him forget that he did not belong to this world.
Nothing here belonged to him either...
Over the next few days, the two continued living as usual.
When he returned home that evening, Gu Nian'an greeted the man before hurrying upstairs.
Watching the young man's retreating figure, Fu Xiuyuan's eyes darkened slightly, and he fiddled irritably with the thumb ring on his hand.
He kept feeling that the young man had inexplicably become somewhat distant lately, yet he seemed just as he always had.
Lying on his bed, Gu Nian'an rolled back and forth before finally burying himself under the covers, rubbing his hair in agitation.
These past few days, waves of inexplicable emotion kept rising within him, leaving him deeply anxious.
This couldn't go on.
He got out of bed and slowly leaned by the window. Feeling the warm, deep-pile carpet beneath his feet, he fell into another daze.
Fu Xiuyuan had had it custom-made because he was afraid Gu Nian'an would catch a chill walking on the floor. It had been laid everywhere he spent time.
The night breeze suddenly blew in through the window, bringing a hint of cold. Stars glittered across the pitch-black sky, and the clouds shrouding the moon gradually dispersed.
The young man slowly raised his hand and looked at the ring on his finger in the moonlight. The gemstone upon it looked especially beautiful beneath its glow.
Remembering the scene when Fu Xiuyuan had put the ring on him that day, a trace of affection rose in his eyes. Then he suddenly lowered his gaze again and gently touched his chest.
He understood that he had begun harboring unrealistic feelings for Fu Xiuyuan. But theirs was only a contract. No matter what, he would have to leave after three years.
Besides, he was not the owner of this body. Perhaps one day its owner would return. He was merely a remnant soul occupying this body for unknown reasons...
A trace of struggle flashed through his eyes before he quickly concealed it. He sighed softly and quietly gazed at the bright moon outside.
A meow suddenly sounded behind him. Gu Nian'an turned toward it and saw that the kitten had come down from the third floor at some point. It stood by the door, watching him with a hint of worry.
Gu Nian'an gave a soft laugh and reached out to it. The kitten nimbly slipped into his arms, and the two nestled together, silently watching the moonlight outside.
Looking at the kitten in his arms, he felt as though its figure had once again overlapped with that figure in his distant memories.
"Meow?"
The kitten rubbed against him worriedly, seeming somewhat anxious.
Gu Nian'an suddenly came back to himself. Feeling the dampness at the corners of his eyes, he gently wiped it away.
Then he lifted his gaze slightly and continued looking at the bright moon in the sky, as though doing so would keep his tears from falling.
Every movement the young man made was transmitted through the miniature surveillance cameras into Fu Xiuyuan's deep eyes.
Aside from several large surveillance cameras, many miniature ones had also been installed in the house.
Including in the young man's bedroom.
With his eyes lowered, the man tapped the desk again and again, recalling the young man's unusual behavior over the past few days. Suddenly, he lifted his eyes to look at the cat on the third-floor surveillance feed.
It had started that day when he asked about the cat's name.
He pulled up the recordings of that season of the variety show, along with the comments on the episodes involving the cat, and began looking through them again.
After a long while, the man stopped what he was doing. He still had not found any useful information, and various emotions churned endlessly in his eyes.
Early the next morning, the sky was barely light.
Gu Nian'an, still asleep, was woken by his phone suddenly ringing. He picked it up groggily and saw that it was Lin Shuxue.
Gu Nian'an rubbed his eyes and answered, asking with some confusion, "Shuxue, what's the matter so early?"
Usually, they only exchanged greetings and discussed work in the afternoon. Why was she calling him so early today?
"Nian'an, Leisurely Little House 2 is about to start filming. The production team has invited you. Are you going?"
Because he had generated a great deal of discussion during the previous season, and Fu Xiuyuan had invested ten million in the show, the director was more than happy to invite him back.
Hearing the voice on the other end, Gu Nian'an froze for a moment. He lowered his eyes, a trace of conflict flashing through them.
After a long while, he slowly said, "Yes. I'll go."
"All right. They're filming in the mountains this time, and the living conditions won't be very good, so be prepared."
After hearing his agreement, Lin Shuxue hung up.
Putting down his phone, Gu Nian'an flopped onto the bed, endlessly kneading the quilt in his hands. He felt deeply anxious. On the one hand, he did not want to take part in the show, but when he thought of the original owner's wish...
A moment later, he sighed softly and slowly closed his eyes.
Forget it. Since I've occupied someone else's body, I should help him fulfill his wish.
"No appetite?"
Seeing that Gu Nian'an had only eaten a small half bowl of rice after so long, Fu Xiuyuan could not help worrying, remembering that he had just left the hospital.
Gu Nian'an looked up at his voice. Seeing the expression in the man's eyes, he looked away in a slight panic.
He only said quietly, "No. I was thinking about the show."
Understanding flashed through Fu Xiuyuan's eyes. He had heard the call from the young man's manager through the surveillance feed that morning and had also checked with the production team.
But for some reason, although Gu Nian'an had clearly entered the entertainment industry of his own accord, he now seemed reluctant to get involved. It was not as though Baiyu had not offered him opportunities; he had simply politely turned down almost all of them.
Because of Fu Xiuyuan, Baiyu had not made things difficult for him and had simply let him do as he pleased.
A while ago, he had thought Gu Nian'an had had his fill of playing around in the industry, but now that did not seem entirely true. If he did not want to participate, he could simply decline. With Fu Xiuyuan around, no one would dare make things difficult for him.
A searching gaze fell on the young man. Thinking of the many mysteries surrounding him, Fu Xiuyuan silently fiddled with his thumb ring. That meant there was something he needed to accomplish by entering the entertainment industry.
Remembering that the next season would be filmed in the mountains, and that Ji Yaozhi would also be there, he could not help frowning.
After a long while, he said as though nothing were wrong, "I'm an investor in the show, so I'll visit when I have time, though I might not be staying with you. If anything happens while you're there, just call me directly."
Gu Nian'an paused in surprise, then quietly agreed a moment later.
After the meal, as they sat by the sofa, their eyes suddenly met. Both seemed to have something to say, yet each waited for the other to speak first.
After a long silence, Fu Xiuyuan spoke first. "Why have you been eating so little lately?"
These past few days, the young man always hurried away after casually taking a few bites at the table. Outside their three meals, he never saw him eat anything either.
Looking at the young man's clearly thin, frail body, a trace of disapproval crossed Fu Xiuyuan's eyes.
Gu Nian'an pressed his lips together and rubbed his fingers awkwardly, mumbling, "I don't have an appetite."
Hearing that, the man's brows drew even tighter, and his tone grew somewhat stern. "You're already in poor health, and now you're eating so little. Do you want to end up in the hospital like last time?"
Perhaps frightened by the man's suddenly stern tone, or perhaps because that tone was all too familiar, Gu Nian'an instinctively shrank back into the sofa and lowered his head in fear.
Fu Xiuyuan froze at the young man's reaction. Realizing that his tone had been a little harsh, he promptly sat beside him.
He said gently, "Sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I meant that you're not in good health, so you need to eat a little more, all right?"
For some reason, the person beside him still seemed a little frightened, and Fu Xiuyuan sighed softly.
He naturally drew him into his arms and coaxed gently, "I'm sorry. Don't be afraid. If you don't have an appetite, shall I get a few different chefs to cook for you? Whatever you'd like to eat, I'll have them take turns making it."
As he spoke, he soothingly patted the young man's back.
Gu Nian'an felt at a loss. That familiar tone had suddenly triggered his muscle memory, leaving him frightened for a moment.
But he had never expected the man to set aside his pride and coax him.
Held in his arms, Gu Nian'an felt his heartbeat suddenly quicken. He stammered, "I-I'm not afraid. I just... didn't..."
Not knowing what to say, he stammered for ages without managing a complete sentence.
Fu Xiuyuan lifted his head, intending to say something, only to see his glistening eyes and the pale pink blush spreading over his fair cheeks. His throat suddenly felt constricted.
As though drawn in, his gaze unconsciously wandered over the young man's face.
Seemingly unaware, Gu Nian'an lowered his eyes to look at him, his gaze filled with helplessness and an almost imperceptible trace of hurt.
Fu Xiuyuan's gaze flickered slightly, a nearly undetectable darkness flashing through his eyes as he watched the young man's every movement like someone watching prey.
Gu Nian'an blinked in bewilderment, feeling that the person before him had suddenly become a little frightening.
As though suddenly realizing his lapse, Fu Xiuyuan lowered his gaze and drew him closer into his arms.
"What's wrong, s-sir?" Gu Nian'an's face instantly flushed, and he clutched the hem of the man's clothes, somewhat at a loss.
Fu Xiuyuan let out a deep sigh and gently stroked the young man's soft hair, saying wearily, "Sorry. I'm a little tired."
Gu Nian'an understood. Remembering that the man seemed to have been dealing with matters involving the Fu Family and Fu Shirui these past few days, he reached out and hugged him back.
With a hint of self-reproach and comfort, he said, "I'll eat properly. Would you like to rest for a while, sir?"
Fu Xiuyuan did not speak, merely tightening his embrace. His warm breath brushed over the young man's neck, tickling him.
From this angle, he could see nothing and could only let Fu Xiuyuan hold him, feeling the warmth radiating from the man's body. The man's faint, cool woody scent filled his nose.
Gu Nian'an pressed his lips tightly together, his heartbeat quickening for a moment. He unconsciously tried to pull free, only for the man to hold him tighter. Helpless, he could only nestle obediently in his arms.
Only after a long while did Fu Xiuyuan release him, saying somewhat apologetically, "Sorry. I lost my composure a little."
Gu Nian'an hurriedly waved his hands to indicate that it was fine, then got up and went upstairs.
Watching the young man's hastily retreating figure, Fu Xiuyuan rubbed his thumb ring, his eyes dark. He lightly sniffed the faint citrus scent the young man had left on his clothes.
Upon returning to his room, Gu Nian'an immediately buried himself under the covers. His face was bright red, his earlobes looked red enough to bleed, and even his neck was visibly flushed. His gaze darted everywhere, his heart pounding.
He got up and went to the bathroom, intending to wash his face and clear his head, only to suddenly catch sight of himself in the mirror.
His eyes shimmered with moisture, as though he had been stirred by desire. A wave of embarrassment rose within him, and he immediately looked away from the mirror, covering his chest in shame.
He couldn't.
He couldn't fall for him.
He was only someone who had transmigrated here. He couldn't...
Nor did he have the right to use the original owner's body to act this way toward Fu Xiuyuan.
Before you continue