TL: Hua

Chapter 126: Awakening

Brother Ye…

Lin Yanran’s voice trembled slightly as he called out this name.

Those lost memories poured into his mind like surging seawater.

No wonder when he first met Gu Siye, even though he clearly hadn’t seen this person in this world before, he could recognize him at a single glance.

No wonder they weren’t yet familiar when they first recorded the program, yet they shared a rapport as if they were old friends meeting again.

No wonder they liked the same singers; no wonder he always felt Gu Siye looked familiar.

Because that forgotten name…

Was Gu Siye.

His friend, his classmate, an extremely important person in his life…

The moment Lin Yanran spoke, Gu Siye noticed his abnormality.

Although the lighting in the cinema was poor, he could clearly see the other’s expression at this moment.

It was a look he had never seen on Lin Yanran’s face before.

Gu Siye quickly took Lin Yanran’s hand and found it was trembling slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

Lin Yanran couldn’t speak; memories were arriving in a rush, but he seemed to have lost his voice in an instant.

Seeing this, Gu Siye became very worried. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Lin Yanran shook his head, stood up, took Gu Siye’s hand, and started to walk out.

Gu Siye didn’t ask further, nor did he let go. He stood up, moved to Lin Yanran’s side, and walked out alongside him.

A fanboy in the row in front, while wiping his tears, accidentally caught sight of their departing backs.

He rubbed his eyes, which were red from crying.

Was he seeing things? Why did it feel like those two guys were holding hands?

As Lin Yanran and Gu Siye reached the aisle of the theater hall, the film reached its conclusion.

On the big screen behind them, Lu Yuan, played by Lin Yanran, looked at Gu Siye, who played his brother, with a smile.

The images in his memory gradually intertwined with reality, bit by bit.

Gu Siye’s figure slowly vanished, and many wrinkles appeared on Lu Yuan’s young face.

In reality, having grown old, he sat alone on a bench, the space beside him empty, with no shadow of his brother remaining.

But at this moment, a smile of pure contentment appeared on his face.

“Brother, I remember you…”

The words traveled from the surrounding speakers into Lin Yanran’s ears, making his heart tremble in sync with the sound.

Subconsciously, Lin Yanran tightened his grip on Gu Siye’s hand.

He remembered, too.

The “Brother Ye” he had forgotten.

The Gu Siye who used to sit beside him with a perpetual air of nonchalance, lazily calling out his name—”Yanran.”

Previously, that face had always been a blur in his dreams. But the moment the movie revealed the truth and Gu Siye’s face appeared on screen, everything became crystal clear.

In that instant, every memory of Brother Ye in his mind surged back to life.

The movie hadn’t ended yet when they exited, so the hallway was virtually deserted.

The light in the corridor was brighter than inside the theater. Gu Siye looked down and realized Lin Yanran was staring at him.

However, since the hat and glasses obscured Lin Yanran’s beautiful eyes, Gu Siye couldn’t read his expression.

Feeling the tight grip on his hand, Gu Siye knew something must have happened.

But just as he was about to ask, Lin Yanran spoke in a low voice: “Teacher Gu, I want to go home.”

He added, “I’m fine, let’s just go home first.”

Lin Yanran knew his reaction would worry Gu Siye, but this wasn’t the place for this conversation.

Hearing this, Gu Siye quickly reached out and brushed his cheek in a soothing gesture. “Okay.”

Lin Yanran nodded. Feeling the incredibly real warmth of the other man’s palm, his emotions gradually steadied.

They let go of each other’s hands before entering the elevator.

The cinema was only a few minutes from home. Stepping out into the night lights, a now-calm Lin Yanran began to organize his thoughts, wondering how to explain this to Gu Siye.

Because he had finally remembered something so important, his steps felt much lighter.

Gu Siye walked beside him, silently observing the change in him without interrupting. Seeing that the younger man’s mood had brightened, he felt somewhat relieved.

Seeing that the other person seemed to be in a better mood, he felt a little relieved.

Gu Siye noticed that Lin Yanran was walking somewhat absent-mindedly, so he walked to the side of the road closest to the street.

He had just subtly shielded Lin Yanran to the safe side when an out-of-control car sped toward them.

Without a moment’s thought or hesitation, Gu Siye instinctively pulled Lin Yanran into his arms and pulled him toward the inner side of the sidewalk.

The car grazed the roadside railing and screeched past them, crashing into a tree at the nearby intersection with a loud bang.

The car finally came to a stop.

Realizing what a terrifying accident they had just dodged, Lin Yanran immediately looked at Gu Siye.

Gu Siye waved him off. “I’m fine.”

The cars looked very close just now, but there had actually been some distance between them.

Though he confirmed Gu Siye was unhurt and it was just an accident, Lin Yanran’s heart continued to thud violently.

He didn’t know why he was so terrified, but he couldn’t shake the fear.

As the accident drew a crowd, people rushed over.

Fortunately, the car hadn’t hit any pedestrians, but the vehicle itself was severely damaged, and the driver was pinned inside.

People were calling the police and emergency services.

The onlookers were mostly speculating about the cause.

“Looks like he was driving under the influence.”

“People these days, driving drunk or high… they’re a danger to everyone.”

A cacophony of sounds filled the air, but Gu Siye paid no heed. He stood there, gazing thoughtfully at the mangled car.

After a long while, once they had put some distance between themselves and the scene, Gu Siye stopped in a corner. He looked at Lin Yanran and asked in a husky voice, “Yanran, what did you call me earlier?”

Lin Yanran was surprised but answered, “Teacher Gu.”

Gu Siye shook his head. “No, back in the theater.”

“In the theater?”

Lin Yanran recalled the moment, and an answer flashed clearly in his mind. But when he spoke, his voice carried a hint of hesitation: “Brother Ye?”

Gu Siye answered simply and firmly, “Yes.”

Lin Yanran froze.

Watching his expression, Gu Siye had a smile on his lips, but his eyes were exceptionally serious. “I’m answering you.”

Answering me?

Answering what?

Answering to ‘Brother Ye’?

This time, Lin Yanran understood what Gu Siye meant.

He looked at the man before him with a mix of surprise and anticipation.

All the joy he had ever felt in his life couldn’t compare to this single moment.

He suddenly understood the meaning behind Gu Siye’s previous words about the whole world lighting up.

This memory was no longer a lonely vigil he kept by himself; there was now a real person who had also experienced it and could share it with him.

It made his persistence regarding that past world no longer meaningless.

In his immense joy, Lin Yanran’s eyes seemed to hold the stars.

“You remembered, too?”

Gu Siye nodded. “I remembered some of it, but not everything.”

Lin Yanran wasn’t disappointed; instead, he was thrilled. Even a part was enough. It had taken him a long time to remember Gu Siye, after all.

Seeing that expression of childlike contentment and joy on Lin Yanran’s face for the first time, Gu Siye couldn’t help but ruffle his hair again.

After returning home, Lin Yanran asked him, “Brother Ye, what did you remember just now?”

Gu Siye hadn’t remembered much, so he said, “That we were classmates before. Friends.”

Lin Yanran nodded and was about to talk about the past when he heard Gu Siye reveal a secret he had never known back then.

“I liked a certain little idiot for many years.”

Gu Siye chuckled and, as if in punishment, lightly nipped Lin Yanran’s snowy-white fingertip. “But he always thought my confessions were jokes.”

Hearing this long-overdue confession, Lin Yanran’s temples throbbed.

Suddenly, many things Gu Siye had said in the past flashed through his mind:

“If you don’t want to get married in the future, you can just live with me.”

“Why should I live with you?”

“Then the other way around—I’ll live with you. Just remember to take me in then, Classmate Lin Yanran.”

“Has Brother Ye ever liked anyone?”

“He doesn’t know I like him.”

“No way, even a handsome guy like you has someone you can’t get?”

“You never know.”

“Don’t be so sad. How about I help you find your dog, and then we raise it together?”

“Brother Ye, be honest, who do you like most?”

“Lin Yanran.”

…

Gu Siye had told him so many times, but every time, he had taken it as a joke.

Yet every “joke” had been filled with Gu Siye’s sincerity.

How did Gu Siye feel back then being treated as a brother?

Lin Yanran felt his past denseness had been far too cruel to Gu Siye.

“I’m sorry. I was so terrible back then.”

Lin Yanran reached out to hug Gu Siye’s waist, burying his head in the crook of his neck.

He wasn’t the type to cry, but his eyes felt inexplicably stingy right now.

How could he have forgotten him?

Gu Siye lowered his head to kiss his hair, saying softly, “Don’t say sorry. I’ve caught you now, so the secret crush was worth it.”

With that, he kissed Lin Yanran’s lips.

“Whether it’s transmigrating into a book or a past life, we were destined.”

—

The next day.

Working under an assumed name abroad, Xuan Yihan accidentally saw a piece of gossip news left behind by a customer.

The report about Lin Yanran’s identity as a member of a wealthy family took up a significant portion of the page.

Xuan Yihan stared at the newspaper, reading it over and over, his heart filled with waves of bitterness.

After several minutes, he threw the paper into the trash can, then, as if not satisfied, he pulled it back out to stomp violently on Lin Yanran’s photo.

“Everything good just has to happen to you…”

After living the life of a wealthy young master, Xuan Yihan couldn’t adapt to poverty and hardship.

Even though his once fair and delicate fingers were now covered in calluses, he still couldn’t accept his reality.

He still dreamed of returning home to make a comeback, but the Lin family’s blacklisting was so thorough that he had no chance of rising again.

Xuan Yihan had analyzed his life experiences countless times, but he still couldn’t find balance. Why were he and Lin Yanran from the same family, yet the other had such a good fate?

For years, Lin Yanran had been so mediocre. How did his life suddenly change trajectories the moment he became a mentor on a talent show…

Filled with envy and hatred, the mop in Xuan Yihan’s hand creaked under his grip.

Hearing the sound, he looked down, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Changed his life trajectory?

Xuan Yihan froze, a certain name suddenly popping into his head.

Immediately, he untied his apron, tossed the mop aside, and walked straight out.

A colleague working with him shouted at his retreating back, “Yi Xuan, where are you going?”

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