Extra Chapter One: If back then, Gu Yuanting had spoken the word “divorce”…

(1)

“In a few days, I will leave.”

“Not coming back.” Gu Yuanting said calmly.

Su Yiran was stunned. Last night, Ting-ge suddenly ran alone to the study to sleep, and this morning he insisted on sleeping in a separate room. They had a quarrel, and Su Yiran left angrily, going straight to his shop.

He was busy all day at the shop. Later, he calmed down and felt that couples need more communication and tolerance to maintain a marriage. He was no longer angry and planned to have a proper talk with Gu Yuanting that evening.

He thought that after a day of cooling off, Gu Yuanting would realize his mistake, but unexpectedly, things seemed to head in a direction he could hardly understand.

Not only did Gu Yuanting insist on sleeping separately, his attitude toward him became very cold, and on top of that, he said… in a few days he would leave.

Even more…

“What do you mean by ‘not coming back’?” Su Yiran asked with difficulty. His brain seemed to have stopped working.

Gu Yuanting was silent for a moment.

Neither of them spoke; the air was eerily still.

Su Yiran vaguely sensed something and suddenly felt afraid.

Finally, Gu Yuanting spoke: “In a few days… we… divorce.”

The moment the word “divorce” was spoken, an inexplicable chill ran through Gu Yuanting’s heart, followed by a violent trembling fear that made him restless.

It was as if… he had just said something he would regret for life and could never take back.

Su Yiran’s mind went blank with a thunderous noise. His eyes slowly widened in disbelief as if he could not believe what he had just heard.

“…Divorce?” Su Yiran looked at Gu Yuanting, his voice low and soft.

Hearing the trembling in Su Yiran’s voice, Gu Yuanting nervously rubbed his fingers, overwhelmed by a strong impulse to rush over, hold Su Yiran, apologize madly, comfort him, and immediately take back his words.

He frowned and suppressed the emotions inside.

Again, this annoying influence from the original owner.

He nodded: “Yes.”

Su Yiran forced a faint smile but failed: “You’re joking, right?”

Looking at Su Yiran, Gu Yuanting felt a stab in his heart. He rubbed his temples irritably, trying to dispel that feeling: “No. In two days, we’ll go to the civil affairs bureau.” He didn’t look at Su Yiran again, but the heartache clung to him like a shadow, growing heavier, making him more and more restless. He decided to leave as soon as possible.

This uncontrollable feeling made him disgusted.

He lowered his head, pinching his temples, continuing to talk about the divorce arrangements: “The house and car will be yours. I’ll give you a compensation sum enough for your future livelihood. Tomorrow I’ll arrange for a lawyer to meet you…”

Listening to Gu Yuanting, Su Yiran gradually realized he was serious.

His lips trembled for a long time but could not say anything. The vision before his eyes seemed to blur.

After Gu Yuanting finished speaking and felt he had arranged everything, he looked up at Su Yiran: “Then…” The rest of the sentence caught in his throat.

He saw tears welling up but not falling in Su Yiran’s big eyes. They shimmered as if on the verge of sorrowful crying.

Gu Yuanting’s heart suddenly ached like a knife twist. He even forgot to breathe, suddenly stood up, and took a few quick steps to Su Yiran. His mind went blank, only knowing to hurriedly wipe away his tears, calling out a name instinctively: “Ranran…”

Su Yiran was startled awake by Gu Yuanting’s movement, realizing he had been crying unknowingly. He stepped back, sharply waved away Gu Yuanting’s hand that tried to wipe his tears, and quickly wiped them himself.

Gu Yuanting’s hand froze midair. He stared blankly at the hand he had been pushed away, suddenly feeling emptiness and extreme discomfort.

It was as if something extremely precious was lost just like that.

Su Yiran wiped his tears quickly, took a deep breath to calm down, then looked at Gu Yuanting. His voice was hoarse: “You still want to divorce?”

Seeing the tear-streaked pale face of Su Yiran, the redness around his eyes and wet eyelashes, Gu Yuanting’s hands that he had just put down started moving again. He wanted to wipe away the tears, hold him, soothe him, and beg for forgiveness.

“Yes, divorce.” Gu Yuanting nodded, forcing himself to control his impulse.

At the moment he saw Su Yiran’s tears, he almost forgot who he really was.

It was terrifying.

Did he really think he was the original owner who was favored by fate and everything was perfect?

Gu Yuanting mocked himself silently, turned away, no longer looking at Su Yiran. He glanced at the half-smoked cigarette stub in the ashtray and continued talking: “If you are not satisfied with the conditions, I can…”

“Why?” Su Yiran interrupted him, now completely calm, his voice peaceful, “Before today, we were fine. I have to know the reason.”

Gu Yuanting was silent for a moment, then finally said: “There is no other reason.”

“I just… don’t love you anymore.”

There was a moment of silence.

Su Yiran’s mind felt dizzy, and all the recent details flashed through his head. He recalled Gu Yuanting’s recent coldness toward him. He originally thought it was because of going out early and coming back late every day, too busy, but now he understood.

Counting the time, they had been together for seven years. The “seven-year itch” was about right.

This was the first argument between Su Yiran and Gu Yuanting in all these years, and unexpectedly it led directly to divorce.

Su Yiran didn’t continue asking. Whether to divorce, he asked three times and Gu Yuanting gave a definite answer. No need to ask further.

He also didn’t ask for other reasons. What else could he ask?

Gu Yuanting had already given him the most irrevocable answer. That answer was enough.

“Fine, divorce.” Su Yiran nodded and said.

---

(2)

Country D, Gu Corporation.

Assistant Xiao Zhu finished reporting work to President Gu and was anxiously awaiting further instructions, but heard nothing for a long time. He started to feel nervous — had he said something wrong?

In three months, Gu Corporation had undergone a complete overhaul. The Gu family’s direct heir who returned strongly three months ago had firmly taken control of all situations. Everyone bowed to President Gu.

Xiao Zhu had worked with President Gu for some time and was amazed by his methods. Even as a trusted aide, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.

“How is he… recently?” President Gu suddenly asked.

Xiao Zhu was startled but quickly reported what he knew: “Mr. Su is as usual, busy commuting between his shop and home. No abnormalities seen. His dessert shop business is booming. His livestream fame is increasing, career going well.”

Actually, Mr. Su had encountered a small downturn recently but with President Gu’s secret help, quickly overcame it and reached a new high.

“Emotionally stable…”

“In terms of social life, no new friends recently, mostly with shop staff. After the last reunion, he hasn’t met old classmates again. Oh, Mr. Su seems to be planning to adopt a cat…”

Xiao Zhu reported every detail. He had done this many times as President Gu often asked. He was experienced.

He found it strange because he knew Mr. Su and President Gu were former partners, but had divorced before President Gu returned to the Gu family.

He originally thought it was natural: one was a super wealthy Gu family member, the other from a humble background — two parallel lines that should never intersect. President Gu returning to his original path meant cutting ties with the past.

But that assumed the love between the two had faded. Judging by President Gu’s current attitude, he clearly hadn’t let go of Mr. Su. Then why divorce?

Could it be that his guess was wrong, and it was Mr. Su who wanted the divorce?

Xiao Zhu’s imagination ran wild, picturing “President Gu tragically abandoned,” which shocked him, making him laugh at himself for the absurdity.

He continued reporting work without distraction, finally recalling: “Oh, Mr. Su visited a clinic and community hospital once each in the past week…”

Gu Yuanting had been quietly listening, his gaze fixed on some indistinct point in space, not speaking or moving.

Upon hearing this, he suddenly sat upright, looking at Xiao Zhu: “Clinic? Hospital? What happened to him?”

Seeing President Gu’s anxious expression, Xiao Zhu quickly replied: “Nothing serious. Please rest assured, President Gu. According to the hospital diagnosis, Mr. Su is just fatigued, causing physical discomfort.”

“Oh…” Gu Yuanting relaxed his tense back. Feeling he was overly nervous, he pinched his temples and thought of something. He asked Xiao Zhu, “Bring me the diagnosis report.”

“This…” Xiao Zhu hesitated. Mr. Su just had a routine physical, no diagnosis report.

Gu Yuanting frowned. “Give me the doctor’s phone number.” Xiao Zhu hadn’t prepared this, thinking minor ailments and occasional hospital visits are normal. Asking about the diagnosis was already considerate.

Xiao Zhu asked President Gu to wait, made a call, and soon obtained the doctor’s contact. Gu Yuanting dialed and gestured Xiao Zhu to leave, who quickly gathered files and left.

The doctor, instructed by the director, disclosed everything truthfully.

Mr. Su’s situation was simple. The doctor treated many patients daily and didn’t remember minor complaints. He checked Mr. Su’s records to answer President Gu.

According to the doctor, Mr. Su was fine but had recent lower back soreness and drowsiness. He first visited a clinic, then a community hospital a few days later for a check.

The doctor explained Mr. Su’s condition was due to recent fatigue. Symptoms were mild, so no imaging was needed. The doctor prescribed some plasters for his back pain, advised rest, and sent him home.

After hanging up, Gu Yuanting leaned back, staring at the ceiling, feeling uneasy.

He wondered how Mr. Su was now — was he still uncomfortable?

He remembered Mr. Su’s pale face, furrowed brow, and felt restless.

Why hadn’t Mr. Su gone to a large hospital for a full checkup?

Not trusting the community hospital, Gu Yuanting took out his phone and was about to call Mr. Su, but then stopped.

What was he doing?

In what capacity was he contacting Mr. Su?

Gu Yuanting put down the phone, feeling a confusing pain, like dull knife cutting flesh.

After divorcing Su Yiran, he quickly returned to country D, back to his familiar battleground and original path.

He thought after leaving Su Yiran, he would erase the original owner’s influence, return to being “normal,” and everything would be back on track.

At first, it seemed so. He was busy from morning to night, no time to think about anything else, returning to his old life.

But at night, lying alone in the dark room, he felt a huge, unfillable void. He seemed like an empty shell, not knowing why he still existed.

Almost every night he dreamed the same scene: at the civil affairs bureau, he and Su Yiran filled out forms, signed the divorce papers, submitted the agreement, took individual ID photos. The bureau took back “their” marriage certificate and issued a divorce certificate.

Neither spoke during the whole process. They had already arranged all divorce details; Su Yiran either nodded or answered “uh-huh,” “okay,” no extra words.

They each held their divorce certificate and left the bureau. Gu Yuanting clearly felt the cold wind outside hit his face, icy and piercing, making him shiver.

During the divorce, Gu Yuanting thought he was clear-headed. The cold wind brought a moment of clarity, making him feel his mind was previously confused.

Or maybe clarity and confusion were separated, with clarity dominating.

He instinctively looked at Su Yiran, who just happened to look back. Gu Yuanting held his breath, unsure what he was hoping for.

If Su Yiran begged him not to divorce, maybe he could…

Maybe, maybe he could…

He even heard his heart beating out of rhythm.

“Goodbye.” Su Yiran looked at Gu Yuanting softly, said it, then gave him one last glance, turned, and left without looking back.

Gu Yuanting held the freshly issued divorce certificate, watching Su Yiran walk straight along the path before the bureau, gradually getting farther, then turning left at the corner, disappearing from sight.

Until out of view, Su Yiran never looked back once.

…Whenever this happened, Gu Yuanting woke up with a sweat-drenched head, gasping.

The first month after divorcing Su Yiran, Gu Yuanting lived in endless emptiness.

He could only numb himself with work, getting busier and busier.

This life started at a very different point from the last, plus he had the experience of rebirth, almost like precognition. In a short time, he managed to consolidate the situation, taking back everything he had in the previous life.

After taking it all back, he felt lost.

Is this what he really wanted? Is this the meaning of his rebirth?

After self-immolation in the previous life, he thought he was finally free. But opening his eyes again, he became another version of himself in a parallel world. So many differences from before softened his despair, making him explore this new world.

Now he was healthy and normal, with a better starting point and more advantages. Perhaps this time, he would live differently.

Maybe this was the meaning of rebirth.

But after getting all this, Gu Yuanting found no difference from the previous life, the world was the same, nothing colorful. Rebirth still meant a meaningless life, a cycle repeating.

No, not exactly — there was one place with color…

Even if it was because of the original owner’s lingering influence…

Once again waking from the same dream, Gu Yuanting sat silently all night.

The next day, he secretly installed surveillance at Su Yiran’s home, shop, and car, and ordered regular reports on Su Yiran’s status.

Seeing Su Yiran on the monitors, Gu Yuanting truly felt his heart beating.

At first, he only watched a little before sleep, but gradually he got addicted, spending longer watching Su Yiran get up, go to bed, cook, work making desserts, talk to people, smile…

Slowly, Su Yiran’s every move made him smile uncontrollably.

By the second month after divorce, he acted like a perverted stalker, peeping into Su Yiran’s life daily via surveillance.

Sometimes, he felt he had merged into Su Yiran’s life. He felt there should be a place for him by Su Yiran’s side — to hold him to sleep at night, to wake him up in the morning, to cook and eat together, to make desserts together…

Gu Yuanting gradually imagined more. Watching through the monitor was no longer enough. He wanted more — he wanted to truly participate, to have the person on the screen become completely his…

Realizing this thought, Gu Yuanting was shocked. Things were spiraling out of his control. Like a drug addict, he was sinking deeper and losing control.

He stopped touching the monitors.

Until now.

Gu Yuanting looked at the phone lying on the desk. He only let Su Yiran out of his sight for a while, and Su Yiran got sick.

How was he now? Still uncomfortable?

Gu Yuanting knew rationally that Su Yiran only had minor discomfort, barely an illness. But he couldn’t help worrying more and more. The image of Su Yiran’s pale face floated in his mind, making his fingers tremble.

He looked at the computer, and finally moved the mouse to open the surveillance.

Su Yiran was napping at home, his half-face buried in the quilt, eyes closed, sleeping deeply.

Seeing Su Yiran, Gu Yuanting unconsciously relaxed, as if the tense defense he had held all along finally collapsed for a good reason.

He carefully observed Su Yiran’s face and saw no paleness as he feared. His brow was relaxed in sleep, clearly sleeping well. Gu Yuanting breathed a sigh of relief, but then suddenly realized something was wrong.

He checked the time — it was past 3 p.m. local time, not a normal nap time.

Also, Su Yiran usually didn’t nap, and today was Saturday, the busiest day for the shop. Su Yiran would normally be working, not sleeping at home.

Gu Yuanting became worried and fast-forwarded through the day’s surveillance records. His expression grew darker. Su Yiran went to the shop normally in the morning but returned home early around 11 a.m., looking very tired. He ate a bowl of noodles casually and went to sleep, sleeping until now.

He checked previous days and found Su Yiran was napping every day for three to four hours, sleeping very deeply. Nighttime sleep had also lengthened from 8 hours to 9–10 hours.

This was definitely abnormal. Gu Yuanting recalled what the doctor told him: Su Yiran’s drowsiness seemed trivial, so he hadn’t paid much attention. But Su Yiran’s state now made him very worried — could it be an undiagnosed serious illness causing this?

The more Gu Yuanting thought, the more anxious he became. He could no longer sit still. He quickly shut the computer, walked out while calling to arrange a plane.

He must return home immediately.