Night falls at Jiang City People’s Hospital.

Ruan Xinyuan opened his bleary eyes, his vision gradually clearing.

“Oh my god, Yuan bro, you’re finally awake!” Jiang Qifeng, seeing the person on the hospital bed open his eyes, jumped up from his chair, suddenly full of energy.

Yan Kangliang also breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, “I’ll go call the doctor.”

Ruan Xinyuan’s mind was blank, still not fully aware. The smell of disinfectant stung his nerves, bringing him a bit more clarity. He slightly lifted his chest, slowly recalling the piercing pain.

He had that nightmare again. This time, not only couldn’t he wake up, but his heart ached so much that he fainted, and then he called for help…

“Yuan bro, how are you feeling now?” Jiang Qifeng poured a cup of warm water and raised the bed.

Ruan Xinyuan took the cup, sipped slowly to moisten his dry lips, and replied hoarsely, “I’m fine now.”

Yan Kangliang returned with a female doctor and a nurse. Jiang Qifeng stepped aside.

The doctor checked the machine’s indicators and asked, “Is there anything else uncomfortable?”

Ruan Xinyuan shook his head, “No.”

The feeling of his heart being torn apart had vanished. Thinking back, he wondered if it was just his imagination.

The nurse removed the machine from Ruan Xinyuan. The doctor frowned slightly, speaking gravely, “From the time the patient was unconscious until now, all data is within normal ranges. Blood tests and CT scans show no heart issues. You were just asleep for three hours.”

“Then what’s the cause?” Jiang Qifeng scratched his head, “He was pale and sweating, clutching his chest. We thought it was an emergency.”

“Excluding physiological reasons, it might be psychological stress affecting the nerves. Remember to rest well, don’t stay up late, eat regularly, and keep a good mood. If it happens again, seek medical attention promptly,” the doctor wrote on a clipboard, “You can discharge from the emergency center soon.”

“Okay.” Yan Kangliang nodded.

As the doctor and nurse left, Fang Youzhi entered with a big bag of takeout, filling the room with aroma.

Seeing Ruan Xinyuan awake, he quickly put down the food and asked eagerly, “Xinyuan, you’re awake. Are you still uncomfortable? Did the doctor check you? What did they say?”

Yan Kangliang repeated the doctor’s words. Fang Youzhi frowned, “But Xinyuan, aren’t you the most regular among us four? You even play badminton. Are you stressed? You can talk to us.”

Ruan Xinyuan, feeling back to normal after drinking water, sincerely said, “No, I’m in a good mood.”

Fang Youzhi seemed to think of something, pushed his glasses, and whispered in Ruan Xinyuan’s ear, “Is it your parents pressuring you to get married?”

Ruan Xinyuan almost spat out his water, “No, no, I’m not…”

A face flashed in his mind, unforgettable at first glance, and his voice trailed off.

Jiang Qifeng, clueless about their whispers, was puzzled, “What? I want to hear too.”

Fang Youzhi stuck out his tongue, “Nothing, nothing.”

“As long as the hospital results are fine, it’s better than finding something serious. We can relax now.” Yan Kangliang opened the food box and handed it to Ruan Xinyuan, “Yuan bro, you must be hungry. Let’s eat before heading back.”

“Gosh, Xinyuan, when you fainted, it was urgent. Qifeng carried you down, and I ran with him,” Fang Youzhi handed over chopsticks, “Never ran so fast in my life.”

“Thank you, guys.” Ruan Xinyuan took the chopsticks, genuinely grateful.

After all, the four of them hadn’t known each other long.

“No problem,” Jiang Qifeng waved it off, eating alongside, “Oh right, Yuan bro, our counselor came to check on you. He covered the costs first since the doctor said you were just asleep. He didn’t notify your parents, leaving it to you.”

“Okay, I’ll transfer the money to him.” Ruan Xinyuan nodded obediently.

An hour later, the four took a taxi back to school.

After all the fuss, they had no mood for the missed gathering, just relieved Ruan Xinyuan was okay. They went to bed early that night.

But Ruan Xinyuan lay awake, unusually sleepless.

He stared at the ceiling, unfocused, unable to sleep.

Partly fearing the nightmare, but mostly dreading the heart pain returning.

More importantly… despite fainting from pain, the hospital found nothing wrong. It was too strange…

Could it be the so-called “Xuanzi Fate” his grandma mentioned?

Ruan Xinyuan was caught in memories and confusion.

At sixteen, he was told he had a “Xuanzi Fate,” nearly dying at three, saved only by his grandma’s deity invocation over seven days. He had to marry a suitable man before eighteen to truly live.

Fifteen years ago, same-sex marriage wasn’t even legal. If not for his grandma saving him, his parents might’ve thought she was crazy.

But the facts were there, and as an only child, his parents wouldn’t risk defying fate. They’d been searching for a suitable man, to no avail.

Yet Ruan Xinyuan found it unbelievable. As a staunch materialist, he didn’t believe it.

Who would believe a healthy person would die at eighteen without marrying a specific person?

No fortune-telling records such a fate!

Plus, the three conditions weren’t hard separately, but together, it was nearly impossible.

Not to mention, it had to be a man.

Ruan Xinyuan had never liked anyone, unsure if he preferred men or women. Marrying someone he didn’t love was daunting.

But to avoid worrying his parents and grandma, he figured he’d just pass eighteen. Once safe, no need to marry.

That was his plan, mainly because he had no memory of the illness at three. But now the pain was real, the nightmares frequent, and the destined person had appeared.

He was glad it was a false alarm today, fearing his parents and grandma would rush to Jiang City to dig up the earth for someone.

Ruan Xinyuan lay with his hand on his heart, feeling its steady beat.

After a while, his eyelids slowly closed, and he fell into a deep sleep.

*

“Wait, Yuan, you’re saying you fainted from pain five days ago, and now your heart randomly hurts daily with nightmares and dizziness, but a top hospital found nothing???” Qiao Siming’s voice grew louder, eyes wide like light bulbs.

“Shh—” Ruan Xinyuan glanced around the noisy hot pot restaurant, signaling Qiao Siming to lower his voice.

Qiao Siming put down his chopsticks, ruffling his styled hair, frowning, “That’s impossible… too weird… want to check at my family’s private hospital? Why didn’t you tell me! When I played badminton with you at school, you didn’t say.”

“I didn’t expect it to continue,” Ruan Xinyuan sighed, sipping iced tea, “Honestly, I even saw a psychologist. They said I’m mentally healthy, just overthinking the cause.”

Qiao Siming, not fully satisfied, now worried sick. His friend’s bizarre situation made him anxious too.

“Yeah, you’re the most mentally stable among us,” he said heavily, “So… what now?”

Ruan Xinyuan hesitated, “Actually…”

“Actually what?” Qiao Siming’s curiosity piqued.

“There might be a way…” Ruan Xinyuan finished his tea, looking at Qiao Siming with determination, as if making a decision.

Qiao Siming was stunned, heart pounding, “What way?”

*

Southern Yan Underworld, Sacrificial Heaven Hall.

“Southern Yan, my time is precious. What’s so urgent you made me rush from the north?” Song Qi strode into the hall, looking at the man gazing at a portrait.

Qi Xun gently set the portrait down, stepping off the platform, “Have a seat.”

Song Qi glanced around the empty hall, just him and Qi Xun, puzzled, “Where are East Sha and West Zai?”

Qi Xun poured two glasses of bubbling black liquid, handing one to Song Qi, “I only called you.”

“Why are you drinking cola again? Cut back, it kills sperm.” Song Qi said, but still took a sip.

Qi Xun set his cup down with a clink, coolly, “We’ve been dead for centuries, how could it affect us?”

Song Qi chuckled briefly, “So, why did you call me?”

“I finally found him. He’s a student at the school next to my workplace.” Qi Xun recalled the report Wei Xi presented, the person’s current name, Ruan Xinyuan.

Xinyuan.

A new beginning.

Centuries ago, they descended to the mortal world at the start of the new year.

Centuries later, the one he longed for was reborn on the same day.

Song Qi paused, noticing Qi Xun’s gaze wasn’t as cold as usual, but warmer with human emotion.

It reminded him of the grand event centuries ago, his demeanor changing, sighing, “So what do you need from me?”

“Looking for Hou Zhi Ling? She’s training at my place, but about soul reshaping and rebirth…”

“How to woo someone?” Qi Xun interrupted.

Song Qi: “?”

Qi Xun squinted slightly, eyes chilling again, “Aren’t you a natural at wooing in the mortal world? I heard your best record was changing partners every three days, both men and women.”

“Wow, so you called me to be your wingman?” Song Qi tapped the table, “But how do you know he’s single, or if he likes men or women?”

Qi Xun’s gaze turned colder, recalling Ruan Xinyuan’s words rejecting someone’s advances, “I had Wei Xi check, no signs of intimacy with anyone.”

Song Qi smirked, “Heh, could be online or long-distance. And how do you know his preference?”

He repeated the question.

Thinking he’d rile Qi Xun, the next moment he heard.

“How to be a third party?”

“Anyway, as a ghost, if he likes women, I can take a female form.”

Song Qi: “?”

Song Qi didn’t expect the usually icy Qi Xun to ask such shameless questions, “Wow… you’ve got no shame.”

“But since you’re shameless, I’ll help you think,” Song Qi pondered.

“First, since you don’t know his orientation, find a way to find out, then create chance encounters elsewhere to make an impression. But don’t rush it, take it slow. Once you know, try adding him on WeChat next time. Just be shameless.”

“Oh, how old is he now?” he asked casually.

Qi Xun replied smoothly, “Eighteen.”

“Wow…” Song Qi clicked his tongue, “No shame, old man.”

Qi Xun glared.

Song Qi’s leg twitched, continuing his advice, “Since he’s eighteen…”

*

“Qiao Siming, if I get beaten up, it’s your fault.”

Ruan Xinyuan looked at the vibrant bouquet of ninety-nine roses in his arms, feeling like he was holding a hot potato, his heart never so anxious.

Qiao Siming’s expression was serious, his tone earnest, “You don’t know how long you have left, don’t worry about it! Go big or go home! If he doesn’t agree, at least you made an impression. If all else fails, propose a deal. Nothing’s more important than staying alive! Pride is nothing, life is everything!”

Ruan Xinyuan sighed, resignedly nodding.

He didn’t want to die suddenly. The pain over the past days made him fear not seeing tomorrow, so he agreed to Qiao Siming’s “bad idea.”

He planned to start by adding WeChat, then gradually see if there was a chance.

Qiao Siming insisted, by then you’d be dead, just propose tomorrow.

He said Qi Xun was handsome, tall, with a nice nose, probably good in bed, so marrying wouldn’t be a loss.

A voice in Ruan Xinyuan’s chaotic mind agreed, so he bought the season’s most beautiful, vibrant roses, a full ninety-nine.

Now, looking at the flowers, he felt guilty.

Qiao Siming patted him, “Go! I’ll hold the flowers, students are leaving, Qi Xun should be out soon.”

Ruan Xinyuan’s legs felt weak, but he went against the flow to the lecture hall entrance.

The last students left, and he peeked inside, seeing the tall figure glance at his watch, grabbing his briefcase to leave.

Ruan Xinyuan looked at his white embroidered shirt, adjusting the cuffs.

A fresh citrus scent wafted over as he stood, meeting Qi Xun’s gaze as he stepped out.

Facing Qi Xun’s eyes, Ruan Xinyuan felt less nervous.

He smiled like a blooming peach blossom, his voice sweet, tone natural.

“Professor Qi, can I borrow a minute of your time to talk?”