Editor and proofreader: Oceanblue

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Ye Qingyun’s words echoed in Gu Shenyuan’s mind. His thoughts went blank, and all he could hear was Ye Qingyun’s confession.

Does he like him?

Was this what Ye Qingyun chose to say after seeing that person’s photo?

Gu Shenyuan’s blood was boiling. He pulled Ye Qingyun into his arms, feeling his warmth.

“Ye Qingyun…”

Ye Qingyun thought for a moment, his expression still unsatisfied. He thought his earlier words weren’t accurate, so he corrected himself: “No, I was wrong earlier. I shouldn’t have said I like you the most.”

Gu Shenyuan froze.

Ye Qingyun then said with confidence, “It should be that I only like you! Yes, I only like you.”

Seeing his fake performance in the video, there was no sign of liking Pu Tian at all. It was clear that some mysterious force behind him had threatened him into pretending to like Pu Tian.

Otherwise, how could it be explained that instead of staying put, as the book described, he went out at a specific plot point and staged a false infatuation with Pu Tian?

This made sense of the whole situation!

And after crossing over and being reborn, with no mysterious powers backing him up, that would be strange.

Plus, based on his knowledge of his single status for many years, there was no way he would like a scumbag like Pu Tian. After arriving in a new place, he should have focused on research.

All the inconsistencies pointed in one direction—he had only ever liked Gu Shenyuan.

He hadn’t told Gu Shenyuan this before, perhaps because some mysterious force didn’t allow him to. Now, being reborn, there was no such restriction.

Ye Qingyun felt certain, and he looked at Gu Shenyuan.

Gu Shenyuan looked back at him, his entire being resembling a volcano about to erupt as if he were going to swallow him whole, from head to toe, not leaving a single strand of hair, wrapping him in hot lava.

Ye Qingyun smiled and leaned in, kissing the corner of Gu Shenyuan’s lips.

Gu Shenyuan pulled Ye Qingyun even closer, deepening the kiss.

He was satisfied. He was truly satisfied.

This was an extravagant desire he could never put into words, but now he had heard Ye Qingyun say it out loud.

Even though he knew it couldn’t be real, at least for now, Ye Qingyun only liked him.

Gu Shenyuan’s heart felt like it was soaking in warm water. He was at a loss, like a child who had just received a large jar of candy, only knowing to hold onto Ye Qingyun.

Gu Shenyuan buried his face in Ye Qingyun’s shoulder and muttered, “…I only like you too.”

Normally, after two people confess their feelings, they would naturally feel happy. But from Gu Shenyuan’s expression, tone, and demeanor, Ye Qingyun sensed something was off.

Ye Qingyun felt frustrated.

“Don’t you believe what I said?”

Gu Shenyuan didn’t answer, sitting up and silencing Ye Qingyun with a kiss.

Ye Qingyun: ‘….’

He thought a kiss would make Gu Shenyuan not answer! This was a sign of disbelief!

Thinking about it, he had lost his memory, so his words probably had little credibility. Moreover, Gu Shenyuan had seen his supposed feelings for Pu Tian with his own eyes, and asking Gu Shenyuan to believe that those feelings were fake was a tall order.

Ye Qingyun pulled away from the kiss and tried to reason with Gu Shenyuan, “Don’t you think my expression was fake when I liked Pu Tian before?”

Gu Shenyuan remained silent for a long time before finally speaking in a voice that seemed to come from between clenched teeth, “…Very passionate.”

Ye Qingyun: ‘….’

Where was the passion? That was fake!

Ye Qingyun was dissatisfied and continued to present the analysis in his mind, omitting what shouldn’t be said, and then shared the rest with Gu Shenyuan, eagerly watching his response.

Gu Shenyuan casually said, “There are coincidences. Maybe you didn’t want to follow the set path, but something happened that forced you to go there. You don’t think you would have liked him…”

Gu Shenyuan’s tone shifted with some displeasure. It seemed like he didn’t want to elaborate, and he simply added, “But feelings are the most illogical things.”

At that moment, Ye Qingyun felt like giving up the struggle. He thought he would wait until his memories returned and let the restored version of him explain things to Gu Shenyuan. However, as soon as this thought appeared, Ye Qingyun realized something was wrong.

Would Gu Shenyuan believe the facts once his memory returned?

What if Gu Shenyuan still thought he was distorting the truth, making up stories to deceive him?

…He had lost his memory, but this amnesia identity wasn’t without its advantages.

Ye Qingyun gritted his teeth and stared into Gu Shenyuan’s eyes.

“I’m not joking. Whether in the past, present, or future, I have only ever liked you.”

Gu Shenyuan touched his cheek, the anger fading from his face, replaced by a hint of a smile.

Ye Qingyun continued, “I don’t want to be the only one to confirm this. I want you to tell me the same.”

For Gu Shenyuan, this wasn’t difficult. He responded, “My past, present, and future—there has never been anyone else. Only you.”

“I’m not talking about that,” Ye Qingyun said, staring directly at him, his eyes—like jewels—full of trust and dependence on Gu Shenyuan, with a hint of grievance that made one’s heart ache.

“I don’t want you to like that scumbag. I only want you to like me. You say these words out loud to me. Please, say it again.”

Under such a gaze, Ye Qingyun could ask for the stars and the moon, and Gu Shenyuan would try to give them to him, let alone this simple request.

This strange wish, though seeming simple, truly revealed Ye Qingyun’s affection for him.

Gu Shenyuan opened his mouth to agree, but before the words left his lips, another thought flashed through his mind.

…No.

Ye Qingyun wasn’t asking to hear that he had never liked anyone else, but rather that he had never liked Pu Tian.

As long as Ye Qingyun was happy, these words didn’t matter. But—Ye Qingyun wasn’t in a normal state. Ye Qingyun had a medical condition in his brain, and if he was deceived, once his memory returned, he would develop an aversion to him.

If he said, as Ye Qingyun requested, that he had never liked Pu Tian, only him, that would be a serious emotional deception.

This was something the doctor had reminded him of. Even if it wasn’t an intentional lie, if he agreed with a falsehood given by someone with amnesia, without correcting it, it would still count as deception.

A serious deception could only lead to one outcome—Ye Qingyun would develop an aversion to him that would be hard to hide and difficult to erase.

It was like a poisoned candy—sweet on the outside, but with severe consequences once consumed.

He couldn’t fulfill Ye Qingyun’s wish this time.

Gu Shenyuan spoke softly, “Qingyun, pick another wish.”

“Why should I pick another one? I want this one!” Ye Qingyun insisted, his eyes full of grievance.

Gu Shenyuan furrowed his brow slightly.

“Qingyun, don’t play dumb. You know the consequences of this.”

Ye Qingyun not only knew, but he also wanted those consequences.

He looked at Gu Shenyuan with determination and said, “Isn’t it better this way?”

Gu Shenyuan’s frown deepened as Ye Qingyun continued, “Then let me ask you, what would make you believe me completely? If I recover my memory and tell you that I still only like you, would you believe me? Tell me the truth!”

Gu Shenyuan stared at him in silence for a long time, finally speaking curtly, “No.”

Ye Qingyun sighed inwardly.

He knew it. Words alone wouldn’t convince him; seeing was believing.

With Gu Shenyuan’s cautious nature, even if Ye Qingyun explained once he regained his memory, and even if Gu Shenyuan said he believed they were each other’s only, deep down he would always harbor doubt.

Ye Qingyun encouraged Gu Shenyuan, “If I don’t hate you when I recover my memory, that proves everything I say is true! This might be the only chance to prove it—don’t you want to try?”

Ye Qingyun tugged at Gu Shenyuan’s clothes, giving him the most pitiful, syrupy-eyed look he could muster. He tempted, “Try it, trust my judgment.”

Gu Shenyuan locked eyes with Ye Qingyun for a long time. To be honest, Ye Qingyun found it easy to manipulate him.

He felt torn in two—one side telling him to refuse, to not indulge Ye Qingyun’s whims since Ye Qingyun had amnesia and knew nothing, and he, who knew everything, should not follow along with his chaos.

The other side, however, was tempted by Ye Qingyun’s words, releasing long-suppressed desires.

What if Ye Qingyun was telling the truth?

What if Ye Qingyun had never liked anyone else, and only liked him?

He yearned to claim Ye Qingyun completely, leaving no room for anyone else, filling in the blanks of their past and future. He never wanted Ye Qingyun’s gaze to linger on anyone else.

This was a gamble, win, and he gained everything, lose, and he lost everything.

Ye Qingyun could see the hesitation in Gu Shenyuan. He added more fuel to the fire, suggesting,

 “If you’re worried, I could try to find an antidote. Then, if I start to hate you after my memory returns, you could just give it to me and help me fix it. Isn’t that a perfect solution?”

In truth, after his impulse, Ye Qingyun realized his idea was a bit reckless, but if he could find an antidote, it would no longer be reckless but a perfect plan!

With this, Gu Shenyuan would have no reason to refuse, right?

Gu Shenyuan remained silent, his dark lashes lowered, his whole body still, like a perfect statue.

After a long time, he looked up. His pitch-black eyes held no hint of the sweet confession he was about to share with Ye Qingyun, but instead, a firm coldness: “I don’t agree.”

Ye Qingyun was stunned. He hadn’t expected this answer and blurted out, “…Why?”

“Things are already good enough,” Gu Shenyuan’s voice carried a resolute stubbornness.

“I won’t treat you as a gamble, and I won’t accept you hating me. The information might be false, the antidote might be useless. Even if the chance of failure is only one in ten thousand, I can’t bear the consequences. I won’t accept it.”