Chapter 6: Alarm Clock Tweedle-Tweedle-Tweedle—

After setting up the electricity, He Guan got the contact details for water, heating, and natural gas services from the electrician and reached out to them sequentially.

The heating and natural gas will be available tonight.

The water will have to be rationed for a day.

Thinking he was done, He Guan returned to his room, but remembered he hadn’t given Lou Dongzang medical tape. He went back to fetch it.

He climbed to the second floor, ready to repeat his initial inquiry, when he noticed Lou Dongzang sitting in the middle of the hallway.

The rolled-up bedsheet was, astonishingly, his regular seat cushion.

He Guan: "..."

He Guan asked with a hint of amusement, "Contemplating life?"

With eyes closed and a pallid face, Lou Dongzang replied, "Headache."

He Guan: "Read too much?"

Lou Dongzang: "Mm-hmm."

He Guan: "I'll be on my way then."

Lou Dongzang: "If you're here to take care of me, then don't overstep."

He had grown weary of people constantly coming and going.

He Guan, wearing sneakers, walked unsteadily—his legs seemed to tremble.

The house is too big, and he's been doing heavy lifting all day, leading to muscle pain in his legs.

As he said this, He Guan was already squatting in front of Lou Dongzang, reaching for his wrist.

Lou Dongzang instinctively pulled away.

He Guan leaned in even closer and said, "Unnecessary? Then why are you gripping the bandage and iodine so tightly? Hand them to me, will you?"

Lou Dongzang released his grip.

In front of him, He Guan cut a small strip of gauze, and without warning, wrapped it swiftly around Lou Dongzang's finger. He then used the medical tape he'd been biting to secure it, finally tearing off the end that was moist from his mouth.

The entire process took less than fifteen seconds, executed seamlessly.

Lou Dongzang: "..."

Looking pleased with his work, He Guan remarked, "Isn’t it better now? If you don't care about your finger, I do. What has it ever done to you to deserve being injured?"

Lou Dongzang, eyes closed, murmured, "Cut it off, and I won’t have to care about it."

As if not catching the severity of the remark, He Guan countered playfully, "What nonsense! To cut it, I’d have to fetch a knife. My legs hurt, so no."

Lou Dongzang was lean, his hands included. The slender connection between hand and wrist was evident. It was as if his skin barely covered his bones, pushing against it to break free.

He Guan’s touch was the only warmth he felt.

Despite what Lou Dongzang said, he made no move.

It was the warmest sensation he'd felt in many days.

A normal person would be anxious when unwell. Having been blind for two months, Lou Dongzang's pride was just amplified, understandable really.

He Guan realized his probing could end there.

As for the blindness?

That wasn't a question someone who’d just arrived a day ago could ask.

As He Guan spoke, the warm breath from his words touched Lou Dongzang’s hand. After ensuring the bandage was secure, he quickly released him.

Admiring his handiwork, He Guan asked, "Looks good, right? Want to give it a try?"

A tight-lipped Lou Dongzang remained still.

He Guan joked, "Can't you humor me, my dear?"

Lou Dongzang frowned noticeably, "Dear? Have you lost your mind?"

He Guan responded, "I was addressing you."

With an edge in his voice, Lou Dongzang shot back, "Who's your 'dear'?"

Even without seeing, He Guan smugly wagged a finger, "If you're married to me, aren't you my dear? Right, darling? I’m certainly not your nanny, don't get it twisted."

Lou Dongzang: "..."

Continuing, He Guan said, "I don’t intend to be nice to you expecting something in return. I’m doing this for my own comfort. Assuming no unforeseen changes, we'll be living together for a while. I just want a more comfortable living situation and a better environment for myself."

Scratching his ear, he added, "Of course, if you ever suspect any ill intent towards your safety from me, that's understandable. I promise not to loom around if you’re uncomfortable with it."

He Guan sighed, "Calling you 'my dear' is merely an emphasis. Legally, since we're married, it indicates that I am, just like you, a person. You wouldn't marry a dog, would you?"

"I understand you can't see. I will make sure to inform you about everything in the house—anything new, changed, essentially everything. After all, this home is yours. I assure you any action I take regarding you comes from genuine concern, inherent in cohabitation."

"If you aren't comfortable with..."

Lou Dongzang interrupted, "If I'm not comfortable, you'll stop?"

He Guan retorted, "What are you thinking? Even if I have to force you, you'll have to accept it. I wonder who could resist me? I can't work for nothing. I need to keep you informed about everything, at the very least, to ensure you don't harm yourself in front of me."

After speaking, He Guan remained silent, maintaining his crouched position as he observed him.

This verbal agreement wasn’t truly necessary.

After all, Lou Dongzang was the more vulnerable party.

He had already been resigned to accepting the marriage arranged by his family, acquiescing to another stranger who had entered his home.

Now, this verbal agreement seemed more like shackles for He Guan.

It mandated him to consistently care for someone without any ulterior motives.

Lou Dongzang took a while before speaking.

He inquired, "What's for dinner?"

Relieved to have made his point, He Guan responded, "Fish slice soup, specifically grouper slices. Boneless and utterly delicious."

Lou Dongzang questioned, "Grouper?"

He Guan, supporting his chin, elaborated, "The fish that's earthy yellow, round-headed and round-bodied, with stone-colored patterns. I guess that's why it's called a grouper."

"In any case, it looks rather festive. If it's alive and you put it on a chopping board, it might splash you with fishy water with its tail. It's best to get one that's freshly dead; fresh yet motionless. Perfect."

He spoke with animated liveliness, always with a hint of humor, seeming like the kind of person older folks would adore.

Lou Dongzang wasn’t sure why such a thought popped into his head, but it just did.

He Guan continued, "Well, given that someone left a poorly cut fish in the kitchen, I'm not too keen on going in there right now."

Lou Dongzang: "..."

He'd been caught.

Lou Dongzang had never participated in the cooking at home.

That was always handled by maids or professional chefs. He wasn't fussy about food; as long as he was full, he was content.

During Lou Dongzang's busiest times, even if the servants brought food to him, he'd leave it untouched, and by the time he remembered, the meal would have turned cold.

His sensitivity to food was low.

His primary focus in life had always been work. He once believed that to be the essence of life, but now, reflecting on it...

It was merely his own wishful thinking.

Observing Lou Dongzang's reactions, He Guan laughed so hard he trembled, "I was just teasing you. I’ve taken care of everything, except for your injured finger, which is sorted now. I’ll call you when the soup is ready; come taste it. I promise, my cooking skills are top-notch."

He Guan had been focusing on Lou's hand, but as he looked up, they were at such close proximity that he noticed the dark circles under Lou's eyes.

Without thinking, He Guan exclaimed, "You've got dark circles like a panda. How long since you last slept?"

With a face that looked as though he was perpetually on the verge of entering the grave, Lou Dongzang said, "Closing one’s eyes is no different from sleeping."

He Guan: "..."

Always the stubborn one, aren’t you?

Glancing around the room, He Guan noticed the absence of a clock on the wall, leaving behind only a hole from where it once hung.

He pondered for a moment.

The ticking of a mechanical clock, although inaudible to most, might be torturous to Lou Dongzang, whose senses of hearing and smell had heightened after his blindness.

He Guan remarked, "The clock in this room is an eyesore. I’ll remove it in a bit."

With a listless expression, Lou Dongzang replied, "As you wish."

However, not knowing the time posed another issue.

Lou Dongzang didn’t need the exact hourly chimes, but he still needed to know the time.

How to address this?

As He Guan pondered, he instinctively stood up, not anticipating that his overworked calves would betray him, causing a sharp pain. As they gave way, he found himself almost kneeling forward.

All he managed to get out was, "Move out of the—"

Lou Dongzang surely heard him but remained motionless.

As He Guan lurched forward, pressing against Lou's shoulders, causing Lou to fall backwards, he just managed to grasp onto He Guan's forearm.

He Guan narrowly steadied himself, realizing that in the process, he had inadvertently gripped Lou Dongzang’s hair.

Biting back pain, he opened his eyes which he had closed reflexively, "My leg cramped... I didn’t mean—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

He now wished he could keep his eyes shut.

Lou Dongzang, pinned beneath him with his hair caught, laughed coldly, "A simple nudge from you could break two of my ribs. Lean any further, and I’ll need a hospital tonight. Is this your idea of satisfaction?"

He Guan didn't retort this time.

He nearly scared himself to death and cursed silently.

Damn.

Just a centimeter away, maybe even less, were Lou Dongzang's lips. Their creases were rather pronounced, suggesting dehydration, and their hue was slightly dark.

What kind of romance drama scenario is this?

He Guan quickly rolled over, and sheepishly said, “I got a cramp in my calf and accidentally knelt down, didn't expect to knock you over. I'm sorry.”

Lou Dongzang sat up without hesitation, “Hmm, you just told me you’d take good care of me, and now you almost broke two of my ribs.”

He Guan: “You really are…”

He never allows himself to be at a disadvantage.

He sat on the ground, massaging his calf, and rolled his eyes at the comment.

The awkwardness completely disappeared.

Once his calf relaxed, He Guan cautiously got up, ensuring he wouldn't bump into anyone, and then headed downstairs.

He Guan only regained his composure when he reached the kitchen counter and began making fish soup.

In his past life, after hearing the news of his parents' deaths, he tormented himself for a year. He cared about everything except his own well-being, until he finally wore himself out.

Now, having come back to life, he's somewhat rusty at cooking.

He Guan stood at the kitchen counter, pondering for a while before remembering the procedure. Humming a tune, he took out the grouper he'd bought today from the fridge to thaw, then took out a new pot and prepared it with some oil.

While cooking, He Guan opened the kitchen window. Sparrows would occasionally land on the sill, chirping with crisp voices.

He glanced outside during a pause in his cooking.

The late winter snow in the mountains hadn’t melted yet. With the sparrows having nothing to feed on, they circled around for a while, resting here, occasionally peeking inside at He Guan cooking.

These little guys are noisy.

He Guan muttered under his breath, his hand pausing momentarily as he held the pot.

That's it!

If I can't use an alarm, why not use them?

An idea formed in his head. As his pot was now ready, he smiled and began deboning the fish for the soup, slicing the flesh into pieces.

During a break from reading Braille, Lou Dongzang, lured by the aroma, came downstairs and leaned against the kitchen doorframe.

He Guan turned around and was almost startled by the man.

He Guan: "When did you come in? You startled me. Do you walk without making a sound? Are you wearing shoes? Oh, you are."

Lou Dongzang: "Just got here, overseeing the work, I guess?"

He Guan: "Oh, just stand there. Don't come in. I've added two new draining racks in the kitchen and a waste bin at my feet. If you bump into them, I'll have to clean up."

Lou Dongzang refrained from any sharp retorts: "Alright."

He Guan, after slicing the fish and arranging the slices on a plate, chatted with him while waiting for the soup to be ready. It was clear he was used to multitasking: "How did you find your way here? Just by feeling the walls?"

He seemed to be in a good mood, initiating the conversation.

Lou Dongzang: "Mm-hmm."

He Guan pondered for a moment: "That's inconvenient. I'll install a handrail along the wall in a few days to make it easier for you. You need to move around more or you'll become too sedentary."

Lou Dongzang: "..."

He Guan, sensing the aroma, felt the fish soup was about ready. Opening the pot, the delectable scent of fresh fish permeated the entire kitchen, with the warm steam swirling around, making it feel cozy and fragrant.

He Guan tasted the soup with a ladle and sighed contentedly, "As expected of me, it's delicious. Want a taste?"

Lou Dongzang: "...Alright."

After He Guan confirmed the soup's temperature was suitable, he approached Lou Dongzang, offering the ladle to his lips, saying, "See if it's too hot, but don't spit it back into the ladle if it is."

For a rare moment, Lou Dongzang closed his eyes and smiled, choosing not to retort.

While Lou Dongzang was tasting the soup, He Guan proposed, "Let's discuss something."

Lou Dongzang raised an eyebrow, indicating he was listening.

He Guan: "We can always ensure that you have everything you need, right? If you're hungry, thirsty, or can't find something, or if you have any issues, come to me first. Okay? I don't want to wake up one morning and find you..."

He didn’t finish the latter part of his sentence.

Lou Dongzang remained silent.

Not everyone is as understanding as He Guan.

He Guan is in the minority.

Most people are self-serving, making life difficult for themselves and others. They begrudge others' happiness and envy those who fare better.

Lou Dongzang has seen plenty of such individuals in the business world.

Everyone talks about win-win situations, but it's rarely the case. Hidden rivalries emerge, and when someone gains an advantage, the fight becomes fierce, like famished piranhas.

"If we're not thriving, how dare you make money so quickly?"

Like a madman.

At that time, Lou Dongzang felt no different from them. Back then, he was incredibly indifferent, resolute in his methods, and had a heart as solid as rock. But now, he's unarmed.

Merely a blind man who speaks nonsense.

Hence, Lou Dongzang didn't relent.

He wouldn't agree.

He didn’t want to experience again someone promising to stand by his side, only to abandon him during his times of despair.

Seeing him not responding, He Guan wasn’t insistent but asked expectantly, "So, is it good?"

Lou Dongzang: "...Yes."

It was so delicious that it almost seemed his taste buds would fall off, the most delightful flavor he had tasted in recent days.

He Guan: "That's great. Move a bit; I'll serve the dishes."

As He Guan brought the fish soup to the table, Lou Dongzang finally said, "Ours is an employer-employee relationship, based on a labor contract."

He Guan smacked his lips, "We don’t have an employer-employee relationship. It's just that the labor contract I signed is with you. Since your father-in-law has paid, you don't need to pay me. Essentially, we are equals, okay?"

Lou Dongzang had more to say, but was sidetracked by He Guan. By the time he thought of continuing, He Guan had already settled at the dining table, beckoning, "Alright, let's eat."

Lou Dongzang: "...Okay."

During the meal, He Guan's phone rang several times. Only after checking did he realize the messages were from Ren Ning.

He Guan casually mentioned, "I'm going to check a message on my phone."

Even though Lou Dongzang couldn't see, He Guan could have chosen not to mention it.

Yet, he did.

Lou Dongzang lowered his head to sip the soup.

Since Lou Dongzang couldn't see, He Guan had prepared two bowls for him; one for the soup and one for the fish, making it very convenient.

[Ren Ning: There can't be any mishaps at tomorrow's press conference. Be sure to arrive early, by 7:30 at Xingyu Media. I'll send you the address, as well as the answers for the press questions.]

Finding typing a hassle, He Guan decided to use voice messaging: "Understood, ‘Bodhisattva’ Ren, got it, ‘Bodhisattva’ Ren, don’t worry, ‘Bodhisattva’ Ren.”

[Ren Ning: ? Say ‘Bodhisattva’ one more time? Trying to get back at me for this morning, huh?]

He Guan, always more relaxed while eating and prone to jesting, laughed and replied, “Alright, ‘Bodhisattva’ Ren.”

[Ren Ning: ...]

He Guan decided to wrap it up: "Be there by 7:30 in the morning; it starts at 10. Wear the custom-made outfit from GENTY, walk with your teammates, and go up fourth. Don’t bring your phone, don’t retort to the journalists, if unsure, just smile. Got it?"

[Ren Ning: That's more like it. Get some sleep early; you can't show up with dark circles tomorrow.]

He Guan: "Goodnight."

Lou Dongzang: "Who was that?"

He Guan: "Oh, my agent."

Lou Dongzang: "Aren't you about to part ways?"

Humming a tune and serving a slice of fish for Lou Dongzang, He Guan, imagining tomorrow’s scenario, felt Ren Ning might just lose it.

He replied cheerfully, “That's right, but we have to complete the remaining work.”

He Guan continued humming in a good mood, "So, tomorrow is the last appearance, just for fun."

Turning off his phone, he asked, “Lou Dongzang, do you have any jewelry? Can I borrow something, preferably a ring?"

Lou Dongzang: "There's a walk-in closet on the second floor. There's a jewelry cabinet inside. You can check there."

He Guan: "Alright."

A frown formed on Lou Dongzang’s face: "You didn’t even get a ring back then?"

He was referring to their agreement.

He Guan spread his hands: "It wasn't in the agreement, so none was provided. Was the old man stingy? Do you have one?"

He added almost instinctively, "Besides, we..."

He promptly closed his mouth.

According to the memories of his previous life, there truly was no ring.

Maybe it was due to his celebrity status, or maybe the Lou family didn’t want outsiders to know.

In any case, they never provided a ring.

Lou Dongzang clearly understood the unspoken words: "...Yes."

Sensing the mood getting slightly tense and considering they had almost finished eating, He Guan stood up to clear the dishes and handed the chopsticks and pot lid to Lou Dongzang.

He said, "Hold on to these and head to the kitchen. It's time to contribute to some household chores."

Lou Dongzang: "Okay."

Thus, the awkward moment was broken.

Humming a song, He Guan led the way, walking slowly, "Come on, come on, meet up in '98~ Come on, come on~"

When he reached the kitchen door, he slid out the chopsticks and commanded, "Alright, mission accomplished. You can leave now."

Having likely just been fed, Lou Dongcang was well-behaved and didn't revert to the fierceness from when they first met. He said, "Weren't we heading to the cloakroom? I'll wait for you."

He Guan replied, "You can lead the way if you like."

Lou Dongcang: "The song you were humming earlier, what was it?"

He Guan: "Song?"

After having dinner and having a relaxed chat with Lou Dongcang, he casually said, "It's called 'Meet in 1998'."

Only after speaking did He Guan realize what he had just revealed.

He wasn't sure if this world had that song. Knowing Lou Dongcang's keen hearing, he didn't dare to turn around to gauge his reaction and quickly added, "Or was it? Can't quite remember."

Lou Dongcang expressed without hesitation, "It sounds good."

He Guan let out a sigh of relief, placed the dishes into the dishwasher, and said, "I think so too."

He took out a rectangular tray and spread millet all over it. After a brief pause, he said, "Let's head upstairs."

Lou Dongcang only heard the sound of grain brushing against the tray and curiously asked, "What are you holding?"

He Guan: "An alarm clock."

Naturally, Lou Dongcang wouldn't believe it: "Huh?"

"You got it from the kitchen?"

He Guan chuckled, "You'll see in a moment."

As Lou Dongcang tried to feel for what He Guan was holding, anticipating his move, He Guan shifted the tray to one side, avoiding his touch.

Instead, Lou Dongcang's hand brushed against He Guan's neck.

He immediately pulled his hand back.

He Guan cleared his throat, "Let's go. You can check it out after I set it down. No point in talking about it now."

His hand felt much warmer.

Not bad, the nurturing was showing results.

From snake to human, quite the transformation.

Lou Dongcang: "Hmm."

After He Guan went upstairs, he quickly found the ring in the second-floor cloakroom and also took a moment to evaluate its size.

"This is way too extravagant; it's wasteful. Where's the gym? Is it as huge as this? What's the point of having so many clothes? Wearing them out?"

While He Guan criticized the ostentatious display, he simultaneously chose the largest diamond ring and slipped it onto his finger.

If Ren Ning were here, he would undoubtedly express strong disapproval.

Lou Dongcang showed no interest in the room either, responding, "Planning to tear it down?"

He Guan admired the ring on his hand, "Just a thought. Actual demolition requires contacts. I've got work tomorrow; too busy."

Having acquired the diamond ring and in high spirits, he said, "I've set your alarm clock. Time for bed; I'm leaving."

He had procured the prop for tomorrow's scene, and the alarm was set.

Perfect.

Lou Dongcang: "Hmm."

It was nightfall already.

For the first time in days, he felt time had flown by.

*

For once, Lou Dongcang had a good night's sleep. The room was warm, transitioning from winter to spring.

He was awakened by birds chirping.

"Chirp."

"Chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp—"

"Chirp-chirp!"

A cacophony of sparrows gathered by the window. Their chirps were so loud that even the soundproof glass couldn't muffle them.

It sounded like a couple of sparrows were squabbling.

Lou Dongcang got up and moved toward the noise, first touching the glass.

Noticing a human presence, a few sparrows flew away, but the bolder ones returned, continuing to peck at their food.

Lou Dongcang slid open the window and reached out towards the noisy sparrows.

A bolder sparrow pecked at his hand, while another even hopped onto the back of his hand.

He felt some grains and brought them to his nose for a sniff.

It was one of the few grains Lou Dongcang could name.

Millet.

The golden hue of the millet attracts sparrows that struggle to find food in winter.

They chatter away in flocks, squabbling over the food, and after tumbling over, they perch on Lou Dongcang's hand, preening their feathers.

Soft and delicate.

Truly nature's healthiest alarm clock.