JOH CH124.2: Extra

(3)

Counting the time, Su Yiran had already been divorced from Gu Yuanting for three months.

At first, feeling sad and heartbroken was inevitable. Su Yiran went through a low period; every day when he opened his eyes, he saw the empty other half of the bed. During meals, looking at the empty seat opposite him at the table, and being alone in the house made him uncomfortable for quite a while.

But gradually, the adaptation period after the new store opened passed. Business at the shop started to pick up, and on top of that, he resumed his dessert livestreams, which attracted more and more viewers. Su Yiran became busier and busier, leaving him no time to think about the divorce.

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed. Every day of Su Yiran’s life was fulfilling. When life was filled with work, occasionally looking back at the past, he suddenly realized that he didn’t know exactly when he had unknowingly walked out of the failed relationship and marriage.

Three months passed quickly, yet somehow slowly. Su Yiran gradually found that maybe forgetting someone, letting go of a relationship, only took three months.

His current life was basically no different from his previous life’s state: independent, fulfilling, and positive.

In his previous life, he had been very independent, always relying on himself to fight through everything. He never depended on anyone. He was willing to help friends, but was not used to seeking help from others.

Similarly, he had gotten used to doing everything on his own and thus always maintained a certain distance from others.

He always showed goodwill to the outside world, treating people with warmth and sincerity, easily earning their favor. So he had many ordinary friends and some close friends, but almost no intimate ones.

In fact, he was very guarded and hard to move emotionally. Few people could truly reach deep into his heart.

This time around, he met Gu Yuanting, and things changed. He was moved by Gu Yuanting and gradually opened up to him. He also started learning to rely on, even depend on, Gu Yuanting.

However, he and Gu Yuanting were already over. The opened heart naturally closed tightly again, and his inner state returned to what it had been.

Recently, Su Yiran wanted to raise a cat.

He had already looked at several catteries online and also visited two local ones, wanting to get a Ragdoll cat.

In his previous life, he had raised a Ragdoll cat named Mumu. After Su Yiran transmigrated here, he had thought of Mumu more than once. Luckily, after he left, Mumu would probably be adopted by his friends, so there was no need to worry too much.

But now he was too busy. The shop had only been open for three months and was still growing rapidly. The shop was short-staffed, and he still had to squeeze time for livestreaming. He probably didn’t have the energy to take care of a cat.

In the end, Su Yiran decided to wait until the shop stabilized and he had more free time each day before getting a cat.

The plan was good, but a small problem arose these past few days.

Su Yiran felt his body might have some problem; he often felt soreness in his waist and frequently felt sleepy. He had gone to clinics and community hospitals for checkups. The doctors said nothing was wrong, just that he was too tired and needed more rest.

At first, Su Yiran didn’t pay much attention. He used a medicated patch once but felt it didn’t help the soreness, so he stopped using it. He also didn’t bother going to the hospital again. He thought the doctor was right — he was just too tired and rest would solve it.

He did feel very sleepy every day, so this week he didn’t rush to work in the shop. He only went in the mornings and went home at noon to rest, then returned to the shop after his nap.

However, his naps became somewhat long, and he slept more and more at night. This morning he even overslept…

Su Yiran just thought he was really too tired and didn’t pay much attention.

That night at nine, after the shop closed and the employees had tidied up and left with smiles and greetings, Su Yiran quickly tidied the shop, turned off the lights, locked the door, and was about to leave when he suddenly froze.

Gu Yuanting, dressed in a black trench coat, tall and lean, looked weary, as if he had hurried from somewhere, standing not far ahead with a deep gaze fixed on him.

Su Yiran thought the three months had let him forget, but seeing Gu Yuanting appear right in front of him, a thousand mixed emotions uncontrollably surged up, mingling together in a way he couldn’t describe.

In this lifetime, he and Gu Yuanting had grown up together from childhood, walked from school into society, from dating into marriage. So many gentle, doting, and sweet memories were not fake. Completely letting go wasn’t that easy.

But they were already divorced, and that wasn’t fake either.

He couldn’t let go, but he couldn’t go back.

He would just treat the other as someone he once loved.

After a long while, Su Yiran finally reacted and smiled at Gu Yuanting: “Long time no see.”

Gu Yuanting’s whole world seemed to light up instantly at Su Yiran’s smile.

He didn’t have to come personally. When Gu Yuanting boarded the plane, he knew well that even if he was worried about Su Yiran’s illness, he could have sent someone else. There was no need to come back in person.

But he couldn’t control himself. Whether it was influenced by the original owner or something else, he found a perfectly reasonable excuse to return to see Su Yiran, and he couldn’t think of anything else. He had to seize the chance.

Seeing Su Yiran that moment, Gu Yuanting seemed to understand why.

This time, without the surveillance screen in between, Su Yiran appeared alive and real before him. Every cell in his body screamed wildly: he was mine.

He had always belonged to me.

Because of a person’s every move pulling at his heart, because of a person’s smile lighting up everything — Gu Yuanting had never felt this before.

Gu Yuanting didn’t care how he was acting. He stepped forward excitedly and blurted out the nickname he had been circling in his heart for a long time: “Ranran…”

Su Yiran froze for a moment, standing still without moving. He asked, “Do you have something to do?”

Gu Yuanting noticed Su Yiran’s distant attitude and suddenly sobered up. Three months ago, they had divorced, and it was Gu Yuanting who decisively proposed the divorce.

Gu Yuanting’s steps toward Su Yiran hesitated. Looking at Su Yiran, he suddenly felt guilty and at a loss. Thinking of everything three months ago, he had never regretted more.

Su Yiran was a little confused seeing Gu Yuanting silent but didn’t want to think too much. He nodded at Gu Yuanting, “If there’s nothing, I’ll go home first.”

“I’ll see you off!” Gu Yuanting quickly said as he saw Su Yiran about to leave.

Su Yiran gave him a strange look and shook his head, “No need.” Saying that, he walked toward the parking lot.

Gu Yuanting knew what Su Yiran meant. They were divorced. Suddenly offering to see him off would be too weird.

“I… I just remembered I left something at home.” Gu Yuanting found an excuse. The priority was to take Su Yiran to a big hospital for a thorough checkup, but he couldn’t directly say he knew Su Yiran was unwell, fearing it would reveal he was surveilling him.

“What did you leave?” Su Yiran didn’t dwell on Gu Yuanting’s slip of the tongue. That house was no longer Gu Yuanting’s home.

When they divorced, Su Yiran had cleaned up the things in the house. The things he personally used were left; Gu Yuanting’s personal things were taken by him. He remembered sorting clearly back then.

As for the things they shared, Su Yiran had asked Gu Yuanting which he wanted. Gu Yuanting didn’t care and said he didn’t want any, which hurt Su Yiran inside. Later, he put those things at the bottom of a box.

He didn’t throw them away because those things carried memories, but he didn’t want to see them again anytime soon.

Gu Yuanting casually said, “Some books.”

Back then, Su Yiran had cleaned up the house. He had taken the original owner’s things only to put on a show. Gu Yuanting didn’t care about the original owner’s stuff and immediately told his subordinates to throw those things away.

Su Yiran nodded. “Then go look for them.”

Su Yiran drove Gu Yuanting back home. The car stopped at the outdoor parking lot of the community. Gu Yuanting got out and looked at the old residential area, then suddenly asked Su Yiran, “Why didn’t you move? Why not get a better place?”

He glanced back at the car with average performance. “You could change the car too.”

At divorce, Gu Yuanting had walked away empty-handed but given Su Yiran a compensation sum, which was enough for Su Yiran to live a better life in City A. But from reports from his subordinates in Country D, Gu Yuanting knew Su Yiran had only paid off the loans on the house and car, leaving the rest untouched in the account.

Su Yiran heard Gu Yuanting’s words and instinctively glanced at the black luxury car not far away that had been following them. He knew that was Gu Yuanting’s current car.

“Enough is enough,” Su Yiran replied to Gu Yuanting’s question, then said, “Let’s go upstairs.”

At divorce, Su Yiran discovered that Gu Yuanting had seriously concealed assets from him.

But Gu Yuanting saying he left empty-handed was not a lie. Besides the house and car, Gu Yuanting gave him the concealed assets too, and after divorce, even transferred a large sum as “compensation” to his account.

Su Yiran knew clearly that Gu Yuanting was definitely hiding even more and didn’t intend to tell him.

Su Yiran did not refuse the money divided in the divorce agreement, but after repaying the house and car loans, he didn’t use that money.

Unless something major happened, like a family member becoming seriously ill, he didn’t plan to touch that money.

They took the elevator upstairs. Gu Yuanting got off first and walked to the door of the unfamiliar-yet-familiar home. He remembered it was a fingerprint lock and tried pressing a finger. Unexpectedly, with a “beep,” the door opened.

Su Yiran was stunned for a moment and then remembered, “I forgot to change the lock.” He really hadn’t thought about it.

Gu Yuanting felt some joy inside. Su Yiran hadn’t changed the lock, as if telling him this home always welcomed him back.

He looked around this home where he had only lived briefly. It seemed unchanged, yet different.

The living room was still simply decorated in light tones. A bottle of baby’s breath flowers sat on the table. Some green plants were still on the balcony. The home was small but warm. It was clear the owner still enjoyed life and was doing well.

The difference was that things that used to be in pairs had become single now: slippers at the door, teacups on the table, cushions on the sofa…

“The books are in the study. Go look,” Su Yiran said seeing Gu Yuanting lingering.

Gu Yuanting was dazed but came back to his senses and agreed, entering the study to look around. He casually picked two books: “Found them.”

Su Yiran saw the title of one book on the cover and slightly frowned.

Gu Yuanting found the books but didn’t hurry to leave. He looked at Su Yiran, hesitant to speak.

Su Yiran asked, “Anything else?”

Gu Yuanting asked, “You don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?” He used the chance to ask about Su Yiran’s health.

Su Yiran was startled, shook his head, and smiled at him, “No, you must be mistaken.”

Gu Yuanting was momentarily distracted by his smile. Coming back to himself quickly, he resumed, “I’ll take you to the hospital for a checkup. Health issues are serious.”

“No need, I really’m fine.” Su Yiran refused again. But now that Gu Yuanting mentioned it, he did feel soreness in his waist — maybe from standing too long. He sat on the sofa quietly rubbing his side.

“Back pain?” Gu Yuanting saw the small movement and immediately sat beside him, reaching out to massage his waist. “Here?”

“No… not really.” Su Yiran was caught off guard by the touch and quickly pushed him away, standing up. But he stood up too quickly and knocked over a glass on the coffee table, which shattered loudly.

“Ah.” Su Yiran couldn’t stop it and was about to grab a broom to clean up. Gu Yuanting stood and supported him, telling him to sit on the sofa: “You rest, I’ll clean up.”

He quickly got a broom and dustpan and cleaned the broken glass.

Su Yiran looked at Gu Yuanting, somewhat stunned.

After cleaning the glass, Gu Yuanting continued about Su Yiran’s health: “Have you been feeling sore in your waist a lot lately?”

Su Yiran thought there was no need to hide: “A bit, but it’s nothing serious.”

“Any other symptoms?” Gu Yuanting asked.

“Very sleepy recently, sleeping long hours.” Su Yiran answered almost like talking to a doctor, noticing Gu Yuanting’s serious expression.

“Ranran,” Gu Yuanting used that nickname again. Every time he did, it felt intimate, like a term of endearment, making him savor the feeling.

He stroked Su Yiran’s head: “Health issues aren’t small matters. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the hospital for a full checkup, alright? I know the director there and can arrange a special channel so you don’t have to queue.”

Before Gu Yuanting could say more, Su Yiran pushed his hand away, annoyed. He didn’t know what Gu Yuanting wanted to do and said, “You’re right. I’ll go to the hospital myself tomorrow.”

Before Gu Yuanting could respond, Su Yiran continued, “What exactly did you come here for today? You’re not really here for the books.”

Among the two books Gu Yuanting found, one was an unimportant collection of essays. There was no way he’d come just for that.

Gu Yuanting hesitated for a moment: “I… I wanted to see how you’re doing. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to Central Hospital, alright? I know the director and can get you a full checkup through a special channel, no waiting.”

Su Yiran looked at Gu Yuanting for a while, and as Gu Yuanting grew a bit flustered under his gaze, Su Yiran nodded, “Okay.”

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