After Lawyer Chen left, Gu Yuanting thought over the things he had done in the past few days. His heart felt a bit relieved, yet deeply sorrowful and lost.

He had basically settled his affairs and arranged everything for Yiran. Most of the controllable assets had been transferred to Yiran’s name. These assets were safe and would fully guarantee Yiran’s future life.

The investigation into Gu Mingfeng was also progressing; results would come soon.

Leaning heavily back in his chair, Gu Yuanting massaged his forehead and pressed on his constantly throbbing temples.

He had almost finished handling his affairs, but a feeling of emptiness and desolation grew in his heart.

He was… dying soon.

“Ting-ge, what’s wrong? Headache?” Su Yiran entered carrying a fruit plate. Seeing Gu Yuanting’s condition, he immediately approached with concern, setting down the plate and touching his forehead.

Gu Yuanting took Yiran’s hand and kissed the pale back of it. “It’s nothing, just a bit tired.”

Su Yiran checked his forehead—temperature was normal—but worried about the fever’s relapse, he quickly fetched a thermometer and took his temperature again. It was fine, so he relaxed. “Still got a headache?”

He then stood behind Gu Yuanting and gently massaged his temples. “You really shouldn’t work these days; I’m worried about you.”

“Okay.” Gu Yuanting smiled faintly at Yiran, letting him massage for a while before gently withdrawing his hand. “I’m not in pain, just a little tired.”

He picked up the fruit plate and looked at Yiran eagerly. “Want you to feed me.”

Su Yiran sat beside him and used a small fork to feed him piece by piece.

Gu Yuanting ate all the fruit Yiran had cut for him.

Su Yiran hesitated, then stroked Gu Yuanting’s hair and patiently persuaded him again, “Ting-ge, we should go to the hospital soon. Only a doctor can really treat your illness, okay?”

Gu Yuanting looked at Yiran and was silent for a long time. Finally, he hugged Yiran, kissed him, and slowly nodded, “Okay.”

Su Yiran had expected another refusal but was pleasantly surprised, eyes brightening. “Then we’ll go tomorrow morning.”

Gu Yuanting looked into Yiran’s shining eyes with sadness. He had seen Yiran’s pain and worry these days, and now that his affairs were nearly settled, he had no reason to delay any longer.

He held Yiran close, slowly stroking his hair, and kissed the top of his head. “…Okay.”

The next morning, they went to the hospital.

After several days, Dr. Sun finally saw Gu Yuanting again. Carefully observing his emotional state, his heart sank. He began the usual psychological inquiry and communication.

Gu Yuanting remained passive and silent during the questioning, occasionally answering with brief words. Dr. Sun noted that since returning from his hometown after the New Year, Gu Yuanting’s attitude had become extremely negative, as if he had lost hope in life.

A few days ago, Dr. Sun had learned from Su Yiran that Gu Yuanting had been secretly studying several books. When Su Yiran discovered this, Gu Yuanting’s mood had suddenly turned wildly agitated.

Su Yiran hadn’t mentioned anything about chains or imprisonment, only noting Gu Yuanting’s abnormal emotional state.

Dr. Sun had not been idle. He reviewed those books and combed through extensive medical literature, comparing Gu Yuanting’s records and past psychological treatments. After analysis and synthesis, he narrowed down three possible hypotheses.

Today, using those books, Dr. Sun tested Gu Yuanting, analyzing subtle reactions. He was gradually shocked to find Gu Yuanting’s condition might be the most absurd of the three guesses.

However, some strange details didn’t quite add up. After much contemplation, Dr. Sun spoke separately with Gu Yuanting and Su Yiran, then told them to have lunch and come back for further follow-up in the afternoon.

Opposite the hospital was a popular restaurant. Every time they came for follow-ups, Su Yiran and Gu Yuanting would eat there. This time was no exception. Holding hands, they walked out of the hospital and crossed the footbridge toward the restaurant.

“Sir, want your fortune told?” As they passed several street stalls near the footbridge, one stall owner called out to them.

Su Yiran paid no attention, chatting with Ting-ge about what to order later, and took a few steps forward. Suddenly, Gu Yuanting stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Su Yiran looked at him curiously. Gu Yuanting turned and stared at one of the stalls. Following his gaze, Su Yiran saw it was a fortune-telling booth. The fortune teller looked young, about in his twenties.

Su Yiran suddenly remembered that before the New Year, they had visited this same fortune teller to read their relationship fortune and had drawn a special “king” lot right there.

Gu Yuanting looked at the stall quietly for a while, then walked over. “Fortune telling.”

Seeing Ting-ge wanted a reading, Su Yiran followed.

“What do you want to know?” The fortune teller smiled and rubbed an imaginary beard, then glanced at them and was surprised. “It’s you guys.”

He hadn’t noticed before, just casually calling out to passersby.

Su Yiran and Gu Yuanting’s remarkable appearances left a strong impression. Coupled with their previous “king” lot from the Matchmaker’s divination, the fortune teller immediately recognized them.

Su Yiran smiled and asked Gu Yuanting, “Ting-ge, what do you want to ask?”

Gu Yuanting stared at the divination tubes on the stall, dazed and absent-minded.

He remembered last time coming here, asking about their fate. He had immediately drawn the “king” lot, with the verse clearly: “A perfect match, heavenly lovers. What more could one ask for?”

He had been so happy then.

Now thinking back, the original owner had also drawn this lot. Using the original owner’s body, the original owner’s soul hadn’t disappeared but remained hidden within. Perhaps that lot wasn’t truly related to him at all.

Gu Yuanting was silent for a moment, wanting to ask again about his and Yiran’s fate but more specifically, excluding the original owner this time.

His lips trembled as he opened his mouth but finally said, “I want to ask…” He looked at Su Yiran. “…about his future. Will he be happy?”

Both Su Yiran and the fortune teller were surprised, turning to look at Gu Yuanting.

Su Yiran shook Ting-ge’s hand gently. “Why not ask about both of us? Why just me?”

Gu Yuanting looked at Yiran, briefly lost in thought. “I want to ask… Yiran. Let me ask for him.”

After I die, will you live well? Will you be happy?

Su Yiran had no objection. Not taking fortune telling too seriously, he nodded. “Alright then.”

The fortune teller asked, “How would you like it done? Divination, Eight Characters, physiognomy, character testing, or drawing lots?”

Gu Yuanting said, “Drawing lots.”

The fortune teller nodded, picking up one of the divination tubes from the stall and shaking it. “Draw a Heavenly Emperor’s spiritual lot.”

Gu Yuanting remembered the procedure from last time. This time, he scanned the QR code and paid directly. The fortune teller handed the divination tube to Su Yiran. “Please.”

Su Yiran reached in, hesitated briefly above the lot sticks, then casually pulled out a long lot. Turning it over, he was momentarily stunned.

Gu Yuanting nervously pursed his lips and asked Yiran, “What does it say?”

“Look,” Su Yiran handed the lot to Ting-ge, who took it and immediately froze as he read the inscription.

The lot read:
“Lot 0. King’s Lot (in red). The King’s lot brings good fortune in all matters; everything will go as wished, with wealth, honor, blessings, and long life.”

No fortune teller explanation was needed. Anyone could tell this King’s lot meant the drawer would have everything go well, living a life full of wealth, blessings, and longevity.

Yiran’s future would be very, very good.

Gu Yuanting held the slender wooden lot stick, his hand trembling. Without warning, tears suddenly streamed down his face. His lips quivered twice, and he stared at the lot while nodding repeatedly, choking out, “Good… good…”

Happiness… is enough.

Just happiness.

“Ting-ge, Ting-ge? What’s wrong?” Su Yiran saw Ting-ge suddenly crying and panicked. He hurriedly hugged him and wiped away the tears. “Why are you crying?”

Only then did Gu Yuanting realize he was crying. He casually wiped his eyes, tears still on his face, but looked at Yiran and smiled, “I’m happy.”

He glanced at the fortune teller and asked, “The lot is accurate, right?”

The fortune teller was also stunned by Gu Yuanting’s reaction. Hearing his question, he quickly nodded, “Of course.”

Gu Yuanting smiled tearfully at the lot—if the fortune teller said it was accurate, then it was accurate.

The fortune teller then asked, “What lot did you draw? I’ll interpret it for you.”

Su Yiran said, “It’s the King’s lot.”

The fortune teller was completely stunned this time, “Again the King’s lot!”

He looked between Su Yiran and Gu Yuanting a few times, then shook his head with a smile. “The King’s lot means all is auspicious. No need to explain. You can keep this lot. Take it home.”

“Thank you,” Su Yiran hurriedly thanked him.

This time, Gu Yuanting didn’t clutch the lot tightly as before but carefully handed it to Su Yiran, instructing, “Take good care of it.”

Seeing Ting-ge handle it so carefully, Su Yiran treasured it and asked Gu Yuanting, “Ting-ge, you want to draw one too?”

Gu Yuanting shook his head, stroked Yiran’s hair, and held his hand. “Let’s go.” He only hoped Yiran would never forget him for the rest of his life. He hoped that after he died, Yiran would be happy.

---

Su Yiran and Gu Yuanting had lunch in the restaurant.

Su Yiran worried about Ting-ge suddenly crying earlier and felt uneasy. After finishing and paying, he pulled Ting-ge to hurry back to the hospital.

As they stepped out of the restaurant, Su Yiran’s phone rang. Seeing it was Dr. Sun, he motioned Ting-ge to wait, stepped aside, and answered, “Dr. Sun, we’re on our way back to the hospital.”

Dr. Sun’s tone sounded urgent and eager. “Mr. Su, I suddenly remembered—you said a few times these days that Mr. Gu had headaches, right?”

Su Yiran replied, “Yes. Ting-ge had a low fever then, probably caused by illness. After he got better these two days, I saw him massaging his temples yesterday. It seemed like a headache, but he said it was just fatigue.”

Dr. Sun’s voice grew more urgent, “I want to ask—has Mr. Gu suddenly forgotten something from his past, or some event?”

Su Yiran froze. Dr. Sun’s question cleared his mind like sunlight through clouds. Scenes and details flashed quickly in his head like fleeting clouds. In a flash, he seemed to break through a thin veil, and everything connected: “Could it be…!”

Since Ting-ge was diagnosed with postpartum depression last year—no! Maybe even earlier…

Su Yiran quickly hung up and rushed to Gu Yuanting’s side, asking directly what he had concluded: “Ting-ge! Have you—”

Gu Yuanting saw Yiran’s face change after the call and anxiously walked toward him. His heart suddenly skipped a beat—what was wrong?

Just as he worried, his eyes caught a flash of a red dot on the ground. His pupils contracted sharply, face turning pale. Suddenly, he pounced and hugged Yiran, knocking them both to the ground.

—Amnesia? Before Su Yiran could finish, Gu Yuanting had tackled him. They tumbled, rolling several times amid dizziness. Su Yiran heard a loud “bang” and glimpsed stone fragments flying up—the pavement cracked from the impact.

What was happening? Su Yiran had never experienced anything like this. His mind was still dazed, but Gu Yuanting held him tightly and quickly dodged into the restaurant.

Blood seeped from the back of Gu Yuanting’s head. The sharp pain blurred his vision, making him dizzy. During the tumble, his head had struck heavily on the restaurant’s doorstep.

Gritting his teeth, Gu Yuanting held Yiran close without stopping and quickly hid behind the restaurant counter. At almost the same moment, a second loud “bang” rang out behind them, accompanied by the crashing of shattered glass—the restaurant’s glass wall was smashed instantly.

Gunfire! Su Yiran’s mind snapped back, the word flashing through his head. People nearby also reacted, screaming in fear as chaos erupted.

“Ting-ge, are you okay?” Su Yiran was hugged by Gu Yuanting as they hid under the counter. His vision was dim, unable to see Ting-ge’s condition clearly.

“I’m fine,” Gu Yuanting pressed Yiran’s head to his chest to hide his injury and comforted him, “Don’t be afraid. Our people are nearby and will arrive soon.”

The attackers had been sniping from a distance. They missed twice, then vanished, causing chaos. The police would arrive soon. Given strict domestic control, the attackers must withdraw.

But Gu Yuanting didn’t know how many sniper rifles were aimed at them, or if others were nearby. So they could only hide and wait.

Su Yiran knew they were being secretly protected but didn’t know how many. As he planned to call the police, he suddenly smelled blood. He froze and trembled, “Ting-ge, you’re hurt?”

“A small wound,” Gu Yuanting pressed Yiran closer, feigning calm. “It’s nothing.”

Su Yiran hurriedly wriggled free and saw Ting-ge’s face was pale and grimacing in pain. He quickly examined him. Moments later, his hand shook as he touched the back of Ting-ge’s head. It was wet and sticky. Looking at his fingers, they were stained with blood.

“Ting-ge…” Su Yiran felt dizzy, panicked, tears welling up. He held back crying and took out his phone, “I’m calling an ambulance. Don’t be afraid, Ting-ge. I’m calling now.”

The gunshots ceased. Gu Yuanting didn’t stop Yiran. The ambulance was called successfully, and the police were notified. Gu Yuanting’s people soon arrived. Though the pain in his head was severe, the situation was still unresolved. Yiran’s safety wasn’t guaranteed, so Gu Yuanting endured and ordered his men to set defenses and search.

Time passed slowly. Fortunately, no further incidents occurred. Police sirens sounded, and Su Yiran relaxed. Whenever police arrived, it brought a sense of security.

Gu Yuanting’s search progressed. It appeared there was only one attacker. Previously hiding on a distant rooftop, sniping, he had escaped. No other snipers or suspicious persons were found nearby.

Taking a deep breath and thinking of Yiran’s near-danger, Gu Yuanting’s eyes flashed with resolve: “Pursue.”

The police quickly entered the restaurant to evacuate and assist people. The ambulance was parked outside. The area was temporarily safe. Su Yiran helped Gu Yuanting up from under the counter. Gu Yuanting felt relieved, but the moment he stood, his vision darkened suddenly. He felt dizzy and heard Yiran’s frightened cry, “Ting-ge!” Then everything went black.

He finally could not hold on and lost consciousness.

---

Three days later.

The shooting incident near City A’s hospital shocked the nation. Strict domestic gun control meant such violence was rare. The incident drew widespread attention. Three were seriously injured, eight lightly injured. The perpetrator was still at large. Police were in full pursuit. Fortunately, no deaths occurred.

In the hospital’s ICU, Gu Yuanting lay quietly on the bed, eyes tightly closed, IV fluids running through his arm. He had been unconscious for three days.

After treatment and diagnosis, the doctors confirmed his brain wounds were not severe and expected him to awaken in a couple of days. His state upon waking would need further evaluation.

At that moment, Gu Yuanting’s fingers twitched. Moments later, he frowned slightly, his eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.

White… ceiling.

Still somewhat dazed from waking, he was briefly confused. Then memories flooded back instantly: the restaurant, the shooting… Yiran!

Suddenly he sat up, looking anxiously around. Yiran wasn’t in the room. Where was Yiran? How was he?

Frantically, he threw back the covers and tried to get out of bed. His movement was too abrupt, pulling on the IV line. Impatient, he yanked it out without looking.

Just as he tried to get up, a sharp, excruciating headache struck, overwhelming his body control. He collapsed back onto the bed.

The pain felt as if someone was twisting knives inside his head, pounding with a hammer, stabbing with sharp needles. Even with his endurance, he cried out in pain, clutching his head tightly, trembling. He was overwhelmed by the agony.

No one knew how much time passed.

The ward finally quieted. A breeze softly slipped through the half-open window.

The man on the bed stopped trembling. It seemed the pain had eased, yet he still held his head, unmoving, like a frozen statue.

Time dragged on.

He remained in the same position, like a petrified stone sculpture, brittle and fragile.

Finally, even the breeze seemed impatient.

The man moved.

Gu Yuanting stiffly lifted his head. His memory was fully restored. He recalled everything—the scenes, the twists and turns of these recent painful days.

His face flushed with every color imaginable.

Damn!!! What an idiot.