Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Gu Shenhan felt the slight tremor under his fingertips and his heart already ached for him. He knew Rong Yuan didn't actually have a specific person in mind—he was just more conservative. He knew he probably just wanted a bit more security. But the moment he thought about his young husband having plans to marry someone else, he couldn't control his anger.

Did he really want to marry someone else that badly?

Gu Shenhan carefully removed the gauze. When he saw the wound underneath, he instantly wanted to slap himself.

A clean, unblemished back now scarred so badly. Though it had stopped bleeding, it still looked nasty. If it weren't for him, Rong Yuan would never have encountered this. And he had the nerve to yell at him like that.

"An An, I'm sorry," Gu Shenhan said. "I didn't mean to shout at you earlier."

"It's fine." Rong Yuan shook his head. He wasn't crying, but his voice was a little unsteady.

"...Hasn't anyone from your family contacted you this whole time?"

"No."

"What about classmates? Not a single one?"

"There was one, but I don't remember them, so I didn't say much."

Gu Shenhan found the first aid kit, disinfected the wound, and re-applied fresh gauze before helping Rong Yuan put his clothes back on. "Just now... Anyway, it was my fault. But I really can't understand why you think an identity is more important than your own true feelings? If I casually promise you now that I'll be with you forever, what if I can't keep it later? Shouldn't it be getting to like someone first, then making it official? If there's only a promise but no way to keep it, isn't that just empty words?"

"But it's different for me."

"What's different?" Gu Shenhan sat down beside Rong Yuan.

"I..." Rong Yuan thought about his parents' command and the matchmaker's words, and finally shook his head. "Nothing. Han Ge, you're right."

There was none of that here; even matchmakers seemed to have disappeared. If he kept thinking about these things here, he would truly be out of step.

Moreover, getting to know someone first, confirming feelings before discussing marriage, and then deciding whether to spend a lifetime together—this avoided forcing two people together until they grew to resent each other. There was nothing wrong with it. He was being stubborn, always thinking he needed a formal status before he could talk about anything else.

Or rather, it wasn't about a title—he wanted someone's genuine commitment to him.

Like in the marquis's mansion, he had a title, but what good did it do? That person still went behind his back with someone else, didn't he?

And his "relatives" here—his second uncle and aunt were genuinely his relatives; at least in their hearts, he should be their own nephew, right? But so what? After he left, they never even asked about him. Was it because there was no commitment, so they didn't feel responsible for him?

In the end, he was too naive, and this world wasn't like that.

He should have learned to adapt to local customs long ago.

Gu Shenhan said, "What do you mean I'm right? You'd better not misunderstand."

Rong Yuan said, "Just what you said—like first, then confirm the relationship. If there's only a promise but no way to keep it, it's just empty words. You're right."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yes."

Gu Shenhan let out a sigh of relief. "That's good. From now on, don't keep thinking about divorce. If we get along well, it's not impossible that we stay married. I only said that before because I thought we wouldn't get along, but we're getting along pretty well now, aren't we? Alright, stop overthinking. Let me teach you how to shop online. When you have nothing to do, you can buy yourself things you like."

Rong Yuan also felt there was no need to continue the conversation, so he listened as Gu Shenhan taught him how to shop online and link a bank card.

He occasionally got distracted until Gu Shenhan snapped him out of it, then he focused again.

In the end, he learned. He could place orders on several platforms and even knew how to find customer service to ask questions. While teaching him, Gu Shenhan bought him a plush toy, snacks, a water bottle, and other items. But after Gu Shenhan left, he returned all the items and bought only a map of Haicheng City.

That evening, Aunt Lu wasn't around, so it was inconvenient to get help with cleaning up. He only did a simple clean-up and lay down.

The wound still hurt, so he couldn't lie flat and had to sleep on his side.

At that moment, a strange question crossed his mind—who was he now?

He was no longer the eldest young master of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion in the Great Xuan dynasty, nor the principal husband of the Anguo Marquis's mansion. He wasn't even the real Rong Yuan of this world.

He was Gu Shenhan's wife, but only in name.

It turned out he still wanted a real identity—one that belonged only to him, one that would never change.

Rong Yuan slowly sat up, picked up his phone, and searched for Little Dolphin...

The next day, when Gu Shenhan woke up, he asked the butler, "Is An An awake?"

The butler said, "He's awake, but Young Master Rong went out early this morning."

"Went out? Where to?"

"He said he wanted to buy soy milk. I told him we could make it at home, but Young Master Rong said he just wanted to go out and buy a cup to try. So I had Lian Dong go with him."

Lian Dong was one of the chefs at home. He was trustworthy, but Gu Shenhan was still a bit worried, so for the first time, he used his phone to check the location on the smartwatch.

They really were buying soy milk—at a breakfast shop.

Gu Shenhan just thought Rong Yuan had gone out to learn how to pay with his card himself and didn't think much of it.

Not long after, Rong Yuan and Lian Dong returned. He had already eaten breakfast outside. He was thoughtful enough not to waste food and had told the kitchen in advance that he wouldn't be eating breakfast at home.

Seeing that he was in good spirits, Gu Shenhan asked, "Want to come to the company with me today?"

Rong Yuan said, "No, Han Ge. I need to wait for a delivery at home today."

The things he bought yesterday did have next-day delivery, so Gu Shenhan agreed and left for the company after breakfast.

After he left, Rong Yuan asked the butler, "Butler, where does Han Ge usually get his hair cut?"

The butler said, "Sir has a regular barbershop, and sometimes he has a barber come to the house. Are you thinking about a new hairstyle?"

Rong Yuan said, "Yes. Could you ask if someone can come here to cut it?"

Gu Shenhan had instructed the butler to let Rong Yuan do as he pleased as long as he didn't go out alone and as long as safety was ensured. Without hesitation, he arranged for a stylist.

The stylist arrived quickly, at 9:30. When he heard Rong Yuan's idea, he couldn't help but feel regret: "It would be such a pity to cut this hair. Maybe think it over?"

Rong Yuan was reluctant too. "Our bodies, hair, and skin are given by our parents and shouldn't be damaged." But if he didn't do something, he felt like he could never fully integrate into this new environment.

So he asked the stylist to show him some popular current hairstyles, then picked one and asked if it would suit him.

The stylist thought it was fine and suggested adding a slight wave—subtle waves to make it look more playful and natural. Rong Yuan agreed.

He spent the morning at home getting his new hair done.

He had originally planned to keep the cut hair, but the stylist asked if he would sell it. He asked, "How much can I get for it?"

The stylist said, "Normally, a bundle like this can sell for 1,200 yuan. But hair this long and so well-maintained is very rare. I genuinely want to collect it. How about this? The cut and perm would normally cost 2,600 yuan after the discount. If you're willing to part with it, I'll waive the charge and take the hair with me."

Rong Yuan hesitated a moment, then nodded.

During this time, Butler Zhang asked him, "Young Master Rong, what would you like to eat for lunch?"

Rong Yuan said, "Just make me a bowl of noodles, any kind will do."

The butler then went to instruct the kitchen. Later, after Rong Yuan finished his noodles, the courier delivered the map. Rong Yuan studied the map for a while and then decided to go out for a walk and look around.

The butler still arranged for Lian Dong to accompany him, because Rong Yuan refused to take the car, saying he wanted to walk.

During the outing, the butler, worried, kept texting Lian Dong. He heard that Rong Yuan went to a bookstore, then to a vegetable market, and also a supermarket. In the end, he only bought two bottles of water at the supermarket and nothing else, leaving the butler completely baffled.

Rong Yuan walked over twenty thousand steps that entire afternoon. If Lian Dong hadn't reminded him that too much fatigue would hinder his recovery, he might have walked even further.

When Gu Shenhan came home from work, he saw someone on the road but didn't recognize him and drove straight past.

When he got home and didn't see Rong Yuan, he asked the butler, "Where is An An?"

The butler said, "Didn't you run into him? Young Master Rong should be home soon."

Gu Shenhan found this strange. He looked outside and immediately frowned. He strode out and caught hold of Rong Yuan: "What happened to your hair?"

Rong Yuan said, "I cut it off and had the hairstylist take it."

"Lao Zhang, what's going on?" Gu Shenhan asked the butler.

"Young Master Rong said he wanted a new hairstyle, so I had Li Ruiqiu come by to do it. He traded his hair for a haircut and perm."

"What? Rong Yuan, why'd you suddenly cut your hair?!"

"No reason, I just felt like it," Rong Yuan said. "I'm tired, Han Ge. I want to rest. Butler Zhang, don't call me for dinner, and don't prepare breakfast for me tomorrow morning either."

"What? Are you going on a hunger strike?"

"No, Han Ge. Tomorrow I'm going to buy some soy milk again. And also red bean baked sesame cake and fried dough sticks. Han Ge, do you want some? I can go earlier and bring a portion back for you. I plan to eat them for seven consecutive days. No, for a week."

What's the real difference between seven days and a week? Butler Zhang secretly felt puzzled.

Gu Shenhan, however, sensed something was off. He let Rong Yuan go upstairs and signaled Lian Dong to follow him to the study: "Give me the rundown. What did An An say today and where'd he go?"

Lian Dong said, "In the morning, we just went to Tofu Flower Jiang for breakfast. Young Master Rong asked how far it was and how much the soy milk cost. Later, around noon, after getting the map, he said he wanted to go out and look around. I asked where, and he said he hadn't decided yet, just wanted to wander. Then we went to Guangping Supermarket and Lyuyang Farmers' Market. And also Huibo Bookstore."

"Where did he get the map?"

"He said he bought it online himself."

"What else did he say?"

"Not much. He asked about veggie prices at the market and browsed books at the bookstore. At the supermarket, I noticed he was on his phone a lot. It seemed like he was noting down many things. I asked, and he said he was just making notes, so I don't know the specifics. Oh, and on the way back, when I asked if he wanted a ride, he said no. I got the impression he was trying to remember the way."

Remember the way...

Gu Shenhan rubbed his temples. "Alright, you can go out now."

Lian Dong closed the door as he left.

That night, Rong Yuan actually didn't come down for dinner and went to bed pretty early. Gu Shenhan, on the other hand, couldn't sleep at all.

He got up in the middle of the night and paced around the bedroom for a long time. He thought about boxing but was afraid of making noise. In the end, he just did a bunch of push-ups, worked up a sweat, and drank a glass of red wine before he could fall asleep.

The next day, Rong Yuan went to the breakfast shop and then the supermarket, just like the day before.

He didn't go to the bookstore or the farmers' market this time, and he stayed even longer at the supermarket than before.

Gu Shenhan looked at his phone. The location from Rong Yuan's smartwatch was almost stationary. He called Rong Yuan: "Next time, have Lian Dong drive you. Get whatever you like—easier to bring back."

Rong Yuan said, "I'm not buying anything, just looking."

Gu Shenhan felt a knot in his chest but couldn't exactly force Rong Yuan to buy anything.

And so, for three consecutive days, Rong Yuan followed the same routine. Every morning he'd go to the breakfast shop and always buy soy milk, plus red bean baked cake and fried dough sticks. Then he would come home, and during the day, he would go out to stroll around the supermarket.

He'd stay there for ages, then buy two bottles of water—one for Lian Dong.

Gu Shenhan couldn't figure out what he was doing. What in a supermarket was worth taking so many notes?

That night, push-ups and red wine didn't help. He just went downstairs to check.

Rong Yuan's room was quite dark. After coming in, Gu Shenhan didn't dare turn on the lights. He shielded his phone's light with his hand and tiptoed to Rong Yuan's bedside in the dim glow.

He was probably still in pain; Rong Yuan was sleeping on his side. Gu Shenhan didn't dare move him, just picked up the phone from the bedside table.

He knew Rong Yuan's password. He wanted to see what he'd been jotting down all day.

There was nothing in WeChat. So he had to open Little Dolphin and take a look.

Scrolling up, there were indeed many questions: Dolphin, what is a plunger? What are binder clips used for? Dolphin, what is a speaker? What are sticky notes? What is a journal?

There were many questions, and each time Little Dolphin gave very brief replies, because Rong Yuan had asked for simple answers.

Gu Shenhan scrolled up and suddenly came across a question from a few nights ago.

Dolphin, if someone arrives in a strange place, remembers nothing, has no family, no classmates, no friends—like they have no roots here—what should they do?

Nobody here knows me, and nobody really wants me.

If only two million bucks could buy a family.