At 8:30 PM, Gu Yuanting finally returned to the original owner’s home.

He entered his fingerprint, and the door lock clicked open with a “ding.” As he pushed the door open and stepped inside, he saw Su Yiran pattering out from the room in slippers. Upon seeing him, Su Yiran’s eyes lit up, and his face was filled with a surprised smile: “You’re back!”

Su Yiran pounced into Gu Yuanting’s arms, wrapping his hands around his waist. Smelling Ting Ge’s familiar scent, he was overjoyed: “You’re back so early today.”

Ting Ge had been coming back around eleven or twelve at night these past few days, so it was rare for him to return so early.

Gu Yuanting stood still, here it came again, that strange feeling.

He looked down at Su Yiran in his arms, his thoughts drifting.

This world’s Su Yiran was completely different from the “Su Yiran” he encountered in his previous life; one could say they were complete opposites.

Of course, he was also the complete opposite of his current self.

According to his investigation, the original owner’s early experiences were identical to his own. The turning point began when he met Su Yiran.

This world’s Su Yiran had not betrayed the original owner, nor had he framed him, nor had he done any of those other messy things.

It seemed quite natural for the original owner to fall in love with him and marry him.

Gu Yuanting remained motionless, embraced by Su Yiran. He calmly scrutinized Su Yiran, the person who had the greatest influence on the original owner.

He believed that the various abnormal reactions he experienced whenever he faced Su Yiran since waking up were all explained.

Clearly, these were all the lingering consciousness of the original owner at play.

As for where the original owner had gone, or why he had been reborn into this world after his death, it didn’t matter.

Since he was already here, he would let everything return to the trajectory of his original world.

Su Yiran had no idea what Gu Yuanting had been thinking in that short span of time. He hugged him for a little while, then let go, letting Ting Ge come in. While getting him slippers in the entryway, he asked, “By the way, did you have dinner out?”

Gu Yuanting replied, “Yes, I did.”

After saying that, he ignored Su Yiran, changed into his slippers, and walked straight into the study, brushing past Su Yiran.

Su Yiran noticed that Gu Yuanting seemed to be in a bad mood. He guessed it might be because work didn’t go smoothly today.

He walked around the living room, then went into the kitchen to take out the mango pancakes he had brought back from the shop today. Ting Ge liked mangoes; he would use this to cheer him up.

Eating something sweet could make one feel better; there was scientific basis for that.

He brought the mango pancakes into the study and saw Gu Yuanting facing the computer again, his distinctively jointed fingers occasionally tapping on the keyboard, expressionless, lost in thought.

He was indeed in a bad mood.

Su Yiran brought the mango pancakes to Gu Yuanting, shaking them slightly: “Ting Ge, want some mango dessert? I just made it at the shop today; it’s very sweet and delicious.”

Gu Yuanting glanced at them, saw they were mango pancakes. It seemed the original owner had the same taste as him.

He averted his gaze, refusing coldly: “No need.”

Su Yiran was stunned: “No appetite?”

Ting Ge seemed truly upset. Seeing him like this, Su Yiran’s mood involuntarily darkened.

He stroked Gu Yuanting’s hair, softening his voice as he asked, “What’s wrong? Did something happen today when you went out? Is work not going smoothly?”

He had always thought that Gu Yuanting had been working at the financial company where he was a named consultant these past few days.

Gu Yuanting felt the gentle touch on his head, and that vague, strange feeling appeared in his heart again. He knew this was the lingering consciousness of the original owner influencing him.

He brushed Su Yiran’s hand away, his voice very cold: “I’m fine, you can go out.”

Su Yiran’s hand paused in mid-air. He froze for a moment, then picked up the mango pancakes he had placed on the table, lowered his head, and left.

He looked pitiful.

Gu Yuanting stared at the laptop for a while, then turned to look at the empty doorway, his fingers twitching slightly.

Soon, he turned back to the laptop again.

The mouse slid back and forth as he looked at the current page, not making any moves for a moment.

Just then, Su Yiran re-entered. Gu Yuanting looked at him unexpectedly, less than two minutes after he had left.

Su Yiran saw Gu Yuanting frowning and quietly asked him, “I’ll put the mango pancakes in the fridge to chill. Do you want to eat them?” Previously, he had just left them on the kitchen counter, not in the fridge.

He added, trying to entice Gu Yuanting: “They’re even better when chilled than at room temperature.”

Gu Yuanting looked at his almond-shaped eyes, filled with anticipation.

The fair, small face looked soft, giving off a feeling of being too easy to bully.

Gu Yuanting: “…Don’t chill them, bring them over.”

Su Yiran’s eyes lit up: “Do you have an appetite now?”

Gu Yuanting: “…Mm.”

Su Yiran quickly brought over the mango pancakes he had just put in the fridge, his big eyes looking at him expectantly.

Gu Yuanting picked one up and took a bite. It was soft and sweet, with a strong mango flavor, truly delicious.

Su Yiran asked expectantly: “Is it good?”

Gu Yuanting: “Mm.”

Upon hearing this, Su Yiran’s eyes curved into a sweet smile.

Gu Yuanting looked at Su Yiran, and suddenly, uncontrollably, his heart pounded.

---

Su Yiran waited for Gu Yuanting to finish eating, then asked him, “Do you feel a bit better?”

Gu Yuanting nodded.

Su Yiran saw that he was much more relaxed and felt relieved, asking him, “Did you encounter any trouble at work today?”

Gu Yuanting: “Nothing much.” Seeing Su Yiran clearly didn’t believe him, he added, “Just a small matter.”

Seeing that Gu Yuanting didn’t want to elaborate, Su Yiran also assumed it was a minor work issue and didn’t press further.

After all, couples should still give each other some space.

He changed the topic: “Our ‘Yi Ting’ opens tomorrow. Do you have time to go together?”

Gu Yuanting: “I’m busy, I won’t go.”

Su Yiran had initially thought Gu Yuanting would definitely go. Hearing this, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed: “Tomorrow’s Saturday, and you’ll still be busy?”

Gu Yuanting: “Mm.”

Su Yiran was disappointed for a while, then thought about it and felt relieved: “It’s fine, I can manage tomorrow by myself. There are also part-time employees to help.”

He knew Gu Yuanting took on that named consultant role to earn more money and provide a better life for their family. He expressed his understanding: “It’s all for this family.”

Gu Yuanting: “…”

Su Yiran chatted with Gu Yuanting for a while longer. Seeing that Gu Yuanting indeed still had work to do, he stopped disturbing him and left the study.

After showering, he picked up his phone and refreshed his WeChat Moments. He saw that his post about the new shop opening had gained dozens of likes and over twenty comments:

Some congratulated him: “Boss is opening a new shop! Congratulations, wish you great success! Will definitely drop by when I have time.”

Some expressed feeling hurt: “‘Yi Ting’ Desserts, you two are showing off your love again and abusing us dog singles. Enough! This dog has been critically hit [crying emoji].”

Others said they would visit tomorrow: “Our little Yiran is opening a new shop! Support, must support! I’m going shopping with my bestie tomorrow, will definitely go.”

Su Yiran noticed that the one who said they would come tomorrow was a senior from his university who had helped him a lot and taken good care of him, though her way of addressing him always made him a bit embarrassed.

He replied to a few of the comments, silently praying that it wouldn’t rain tomorrow, otherwise, it would affect customer flow, and the new shop would have difficulty getting off to a good start.

---

The next day, fate was kind; it was a rare sunny day. Su Yiran arrived at the dessert shop early in the morning. The first day of business was bound to be busy, so he had hired four university students to work part-time in advance.

Soon after he opened, the four students arrived and helped him take the pastries and sweets he had prepared yesterday out of the freezer and arrange them one by one in the display case.

He had previously bought several tall floral baskets and two long balloons from a party supply store. Besides using them for the new store’s opening these two days, they could also be used for future holidays and store events.

A few students helped him move the tall floral baskets out from the back, placing them symmetrically on either side of the shop entrance. The two long balloons were also installed on both sides of the storefront. Once inflated, the balloons swayed back and forth in the air, attracting a lot of attention.

Su Yiran played an English song in the shop, placed the electronic blackboard displaying opening promotions and signature desserts outside the door, and the shop officially opened for business.

He had two of the part-time university students hand out flyers outside, and the remaining two stayed in the shop to help.

The two who stayed were a male and a female. The female, named Xiaowen, looked delicate but was actually more efficient than the male when working, leaving a strong impression on Su Yiran.

By this time, it was almost 9 AM. With many people out shopping on Saturday, the commercial area gradually became lively.

The “Yi Ting Desserts” shop, with its floral baskets and long balloons, was very noticeable. A few young girls who often shopped in the area immediately noticed the new shop and tentatively stepped inside.

“Wow! What a handsome gege!” A girl’s eyes lit up when she saw Su Yiran, and she whispered to her companion.

Su Yiran coughed. He had actually heard it and felt a bit embarrassed.

The girls came to the counter. The girl who had been whispering to her companion asked Su Yiran, “Do you have any recommended desserts?”

Su Yiran recommended a few signature desserts. The girls placed their orders and went to the booth area to wait.

Just like that, Yi Ting Desserts successfully opened. Customers were continuously drawn in, and Su Yiran, along with the two part-time employees in the shop, were bustling nonstop, barely able to catch their breath.

---

Gu Yuanting sat in the back seat of the car, watching the streetscape rapidly recede outside the window.

He had just finished his business at the financial building and was heading to another district in City A.

The car moved quietly, swiftly passing buildings and pedestrians. Near the upcoming intersection was a commercial area. The red light glowed, and pedestrians hurried across the crosswalk, a large flow of people.

The green light turned on, and the car started moving again, quickly leaving the area. The commercial district disappeared from view.

“Stop,” Gu Yuanting suddenly said, “Turn back.”