Chapter Forty-Three: Unusual

So, what exactly is going on here?

When Gu Yan returned home, he was still gripping that piece of paper tightly. The words on it were printed, leaving no trace of handwriting. The sender's phone number on the document envelope was his mother's—just as he suspected, there was definitely something suspicious about his parents’ deaths all those years ago. But why did this person choose now to approach him, and for what reason?

Could it be that the deaths of Yu Sheng back then and his own parents were caused by the same person? If so, what was that person's goal? Why would they do such a thing? If it was simply revenge against him, then for what? In his previous life, he hadn’t offended anyone.

Now, using his parents’ names to send him this, was the person declaring war on him?

Gu Yan sat alone on the sofa, the lights off, his brow deeply furrowed, the veins in his hand standing out from how tightly he clenched the paper. After thinking for a while, he decided to call his parents. Since this person knew his mother's name and number, it meant they could have been someone close to his parents or at least knew them.

He didn’t pay attention to the time when he dialed, and worried whether his parents would pick up. Luckily, after a moment, his mother answered.

“Hello, Yan, is there something wrong so early?” Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Gu Yan thought his mother sounded tired.

“Mom, have you been busy lately? How are you and Dad doing physically?”

“We’re doing alright. Your father and I are both well. But what about you? Have you recovered?”

“Yes, I’m fine now. Mom, did you send me anything recently?” Gu Yan swallowed nervously.

There was a brief silence. He heard someone on the other end call out to her.

“I didn’t send you anything, Yan. I have something to take care of right now—can we talk later?”

“Okay, Mom, you go ahead—” Before Gu Yan could finish, he heard the call abruptly end with a series of beeps.

His mother was a psychiatrist at a hospital abroad, so she was probably working overtime. Gu Yan didn’t blame her. His father worked at a research institute and was busy too.

But what was that “game” the sender referred to? Gu Yan lay back on the sofa, his brow still furrowed, his expression betraying a maturity beyond his years.

In a few days, it would be time for the math competition. Lately, after school, whenever she had time, Yu Sheng would come over to Gu Yan’s house for tutoring in her weaker subjects.

On Friday afternoon, as Yu Sheng was about to head downstairs, she was stopped by her father, Yu Dong, who had the day off.

“Yu Sheng, you’ve been going to see Gu Yan a lot lately, haven’t you?” Yu Dong, holding a cup of tea, sat at the dining table and watched Yu Sheng put on her shoes, his expression probing.

Yu Sheng paused. “Ah… He’s tutoring me. Last time in the hospital, after he helped me, my grades improved a lot. Dad, is something wrong?”

“Cough, well… Tutoring is good, but you two—boy and girl—should be careful when you’re together.” Yu Dong spoke awkwardly.

He didn’t want to meddle in his daughter’s affairs, but since she was still a student, he hoped she’d focus on her studies. Besides, Gu Yan was indeed helpful to her, which made it even harder for Yu Dong to object.

“Dad, we’re just studying. We won’t do anything else.” Yu Sheng gave an embarrassed smile. She always felt awkward when these topics came up.

Yu Dong nodded and tried to change the subject. Spotting Yu Chen cross-legged on the sofa playing games, he called out, “Yu Chen! You should learn from your sister. All you do is play games all day—what’s so great about that King of Glory game?”

Yu Chen pulled a face, regretting not having gone to his room to play earlier.

“It’s not fun unless you have fun people to play with,” he muttered, shuffling off in his slippers.

Yu Sheng stifled a laugh. “Dad, I’ll head down now, okay?”

“Alright, be safe. If you need anything, call for me—loud enough so I can hear.”

Yu Sheng: “…”

Dad, I’m just downstairs—whose safety are you worried about?

Speaking of safety, ever since last time, Gu Yan had been behaving himself. He no longer acted ambiguous around her; when he tutored Yu Sheng, he really just tutored, no more brushing her hand or teasing her as before. Although those gestures were innocent, Gu Yan’s recent behavior seemed strange to Yu Sheng.

For instance, right now, while Gu Yan was explaining a problem, he actually spaced out—a first for Yu Sheng.

“Gu Yan? Gu Yan?” Yu Sheng waved her hand in front of his eyes.

“Huh?”

“You stopped here—what next?” Yu Sheng looked at him with concern. “Are you alright? Maybe we should stop for today?”

“No need, let me finish explaining.” Gu Yan forced a smile.

What on earth was wrong?

Yu Sheng put her pen down. “Gu Yan, are you tired lately?”

Tired? Gu Yan thought about it. He was just being toyed with by an unseen adversary.

“I’m fine, don’t worry.” He ruffled the fringe over Yu Sheng’s forehead, messing up her hair.

“Gu Yan, if you ever have anything on your mind, you must tell me. I might not be able to do as much for you as you’ve done for me, but I can listen. Sometimes, talking things out makes them easier to bear. Of course, if you want me to do something for you, I can.” Yu Sheng blushed as she spoke.

Silly girl, how could I possibly tell you that someone wants to hurt you, and that I’ve already died once?

Though Gu Yan thought this, seeing her eager, caring expression warmed his heart. Perhaps it was this warmth that made him fall for her in his past life—Yu Sheng’s kindness was the opposite of her carefree appearance.

“If you really want to do something for me,” Gu Yan considered for a moment, “then win an award in this math competition. That way, I won’t have tutored you for nothing.”

“Huh? That’s it?” Yu Sheng was incredulous. She’d even steeled herself to respond to some outrageous request.

Gu Yan raised an eyebrow. “Yes, that’s it. Or did you want me to ask for something else?”

He suddenly shifted to a more playful tone, his hand inching toward hers.

Yu Sheng immediately withdrew her hand. “No, that’s enough. Just watch—I’ll get a good result. Maybe not first or second, but I can fight for third.”

“I believe in you. Who knows, you might even get first or second.”

Yu Sheng didn’t look up, burying herself back in her studies, “I’m not that overconfident.”

The day of the math competition was a Saturday. Gu Yan didn’t register this time, saying he wanted to give his hardworking classmates a shot at getting into a top university. Yu Sheng just rolled her eyes hard at that, Chen Ke’an gripped his pen as if about to stab someone, and only Lin Ning looked at Gu Yan with admiration.

Still, Gu Yan accompanied Yu Sheng to the venue.

“Don’t worry, with me cheering for you outside, you’ll do great,” he said, patting her shoulder.

Yu Sheng: “…”

It’d be even better if you could lend me your brain.

Just then, Chen Ke’an was passing by and heard Gu Yan’s words. He tried to walk by expressionlessly, but Gu Yan stopped him.

“Desk-mate! You give it your all, too!” Gu Yan gave him a hearty slap on the back.

“Cough, cough, cough!” Gu Yan hit too hard, causing Chen Ke’an to choke.

Are you sure you’re cheering for me?

Yu Sheng and Chen Ke’an were in the same exam room. When Chen Ke’an arrived, Yu Sheng went in with him, while Gu Yan was left outside, not sure whether to sit or stand in the chilly air.

Sigh, if only I’d registered—I could at least enjoy the free heating.

Gu Yan rubbed his hands to warm them and ducked into a nearby snack shop. Since the competition was held at a high school, there were plenty of snack shops across the street. Gu Yan ordered fries and a hot oolong tea and sat down. There were a few other customers, mostly students. Some young boys were even smoking, telling crude jokes, and flirting with the girls at their table—probably the type who hung around local gangsters, Gu Yan guessed.

He found an inconspicuous corner, keeping as far away from them as possible in case trouble started and he got caught up in it. All he wanted was a warm place to nap.

He’d just sipped his tea and laid his head down to rest when he heard voices behind a curtain in the shop—not that he was eavesdropping, but their conversation carried clearly. Mostly, it was the usual bravado about fights and girls—he tried to treat it as white noise to lull himself to sleep.

But then, a familiar name caught his attention.

“Hey, did you manage to hook up with that girl last time? Your old classmate—what was her name, Li…”

“Li Bingxia. Your memory’s terrible.”

“Yeah, her. She’s pretty cute—did you get anywhere?”

At this, Gu Yan’s interest was piqued and he opened his eyes.

“After what happened last time, she said she didn’t want to see me,” another boy answered.

“Tsk, you’re too slow. You already went that far—shouldn’t you make a move?”

“We were just drunk. Besides, she’s smart, why would she be interested in me? Even after what happened, I tried to take responsibility, but she wouldn’t let me.”

“Come on, stop pretending. It wasn’t just once, was it? Next time, just sweet-talk her—maybe she’ll agree.”

“Exactly, otherwise that’s not cool.”

“I don’t know. The last few times, she came to me herself and never asked me to take responsibility. Maybe she just wants some fun.” The boy laughed at himself.

“No way. She looks so innocent but turns out she’s wild!”

“You’re just jealous, Dongzi.”

Gu Yan frowned. The girl they mentioned, Li Bingxia, surely wasn’t the one he knew? No, it must be someone else.

“Keep it down, guys. If people hear and her reputation gets ruined, she might stop coming to see me.”

“Oh, look who can’t get enough! Tell us what it’s like, man. When was the last time?”

“Go try it yourself if you’re so curious. Enough already,” the boy replied impatiently.

“Come on, don’t be stingy. Tell us—when was your last time? Heh.”

“Oh, just a few weeks ago.”

Damn, could they be any louder? Were they hoping the whole shop would hear?

Gu Yan, unable to sleep with their racket, coughed loudly several times to shut them up.

The one called Dongzi seemed to notice, hushed his friends, and soon there was the sound of a curtain moving and someone calling for the bill.

Gu Yan never once looked up, lying on his arms as if asleep. The conversation drifted past him like a breeze, gone from his mind as soon as it had arrived.