Chapter 1

Yang Yunran has been in a vegetative state for some time.

The VIP hospital room was filled with the smell of disinfectant and flowers. The boss of his agency, his manager, partners, and some fans came and went with bouquets.

The doctor told the visitors, “The patient’s condition is not optimistic. Contact the family as soon as possible to discuss removing the life support.”

Yang Yunran heard his manager’s sobbing voice: “Is there really no hope? He hasn’t even won the Golden Melody Award yet. He was nominated this year. How could this happen so suddenly…”

I can hear you! I’m not dead!

Yang Yunran tried hard to flutter his eyelids, to control his nerves to move his fingers. He even felt like he succeeded! But it was all just wishful thinking—on the hospital bed, the young man remained motionless, his face pale and gaunt, wearing a transparent breathing tube, with only a paper-thin layer of a body under the blanket.

The manager cried for a while, and then the assistant took her out.

The room quieted down, and then an audiobook began to play from the assistant’s phone:

“Chapter 9 of ‘The True Young Master of the Academic God Returns to the Rich Family and Takes the Entertainment Industry by Storm,’ continuing from last time, Zhao Youmo never thought that the second-generation rich kid Yang Yunran, who made his acceptance letter fly away, was actually switched at birth with him, and that he was the biological son of the wealthy family!…”

The vegetative Yang Yunran felt a surge of mental clarity.

What is this book? Written by an anti-fan?

The assistant played several disjointed chapters of this melodramatic rich-family novel beside his bed.

The false young master had the same name as him.

From the fragmented information in the chapters, Yang Yunran pieced together part of the storyline.

The protagonist, Zhao Youmo was a child from an orphanage sponsored by the Yang family, the same age as the disposable false young master Yang Yunran.

Because of the sponsorship, Zhao Youmo served as a lackey for the false young master for ten years.

After failing the college entrance exam, Zhao Youmo went to the U.S. to be the false young master’s study companion, working three jobs a day to save money for Harvard.

Later, the false young master accidentally learns of Zhao Youmo’s true identity and sabotages his academic career and visa, causing Zhao Youmo to be deported back to China.

Soon after, the truth came out that the two babies had been switched at the hospital, and Zhao Youmo, who had a miserable childhood, was the true heir of the wealthy family, while the book’s Yang Yunran had become the pampered and rich only son, enjoying all the love and luxury.

When the parents learned about the false young master’s malicious actions towards Zhao Youmo, they stripped him of all his privileges overnight and kicked him out. Even his boyfriend, whom he met during his studies abroad and who deeply loved him, abandoned him after seeing his true nature and turned to fawn over Zhao Youmo.

Such a dramatic, melodramatic plot.

Yang Yunran was gradually getting hooked.

Just as the story was about to reach its peak of face-slapping, the reading abruptly stopped.

“Almost forgot!” the assistant’s voice said, “The awards ceremony is starting!”

Then came the live broadcast of the awards ceremony on TV.

“This year’s Golden Melody Award for Best Album, the nominees are—”

“‘Guessing,’ Zhou Pei!”

“‘Goodbye, Never See Again,’ Ke Xiang!”

“‘Arctic Ocean and the Nile,’ Yang Yunran!”

The male host, who was a familiar face to Yang Yunran, introduced the nominees and then suddenly said emotionally, “Everyone knows, I’ve known Yang Yunran for many years since he first entered the industry. He became famous very young, at sixteen, when he posted songs online. The theme song for my first movie was written and composed by him. He is truly a very talented young musician, but not long ago…”

The host, slightly choked up, said, “Due to a concert accident caused by a stage setup error, Yunran fell from a ten-meter-high platform and has been unconscious ever since. So, unfortunately, Yunran cannot be with us here today… As his good friend, I want to say that regardless of whether he wins an award today or not, he is the best musician in my heart! Let’s all cheer for Yang Yunran! Come on! We hope he recovers soon!”

…

A good friend?

In fact, Yang Yunran and this male host have barely met a few times, but that’s how this circle works, putting on a show with insincere emotions.

Yang Yunran not only has no family but also no close friends. In others’ eyes, he is a somewhat reclusive music nerd, persisting in clarity amidst the muddy waters, burying himself in writing and creating songs, releasing music, and maintaining an active presence online.

In recent years, he hasn’t had much inspiration for writing songs and has created a lot of garbage.

The album was forced on him by the company. When Yang Yunran initially signed the unfair contract, it stipulated that if he didn’t release an album within two years, he would have to pay a huge penalty.

For a long time, Yang Yunran just wanted to rest.

To encourage him to find inspiration, the company said, “You can have an underground romance.”

But when Yang Yunran said, “I’m GAY,” both the manager and the boss were shocked. They repeatedly told him at his home, “Absolutely not! Finding a woman is okay, but not a man! The risk is too great! If the paparazzi catch you, the whole company is finished!”

Yang Yunran replied, “I’m so bent I can’t get any straighter.”

Implying that he couldn’t be with a woman.

The boss said, “If you really like men, Yunran, with your looks, there are plenty of powerful sponsors who would support your career while being with you. It’s a win-win. Just nod, and the Grand Slam of Music Awards is yours. What do you think?”

Not much.

Yang Yunran’s mouth twitched.

He wasn’t in it for the money; he lived off his talent.

In this distorted circle and restless environment, Yang Yunran listened to his own lousy tunes echoing from the TV speakers, feeling only a deep emptiness. His remaining will to live flickered like a dying candle.

“Congratulations to Ke Xiang for winning the Best Album Award! Congratulations!”

As expected, the winner was not him.

The award ceremony still exploited him as a comatose person: “Let’s connect with Yang Yunran’s manager. I’m sure everyone here, like me, wants to know how Yunran is doing.”

The hospital room became noisy.

The lights flashed brightly, which Yang Yunran knew were flashbulbs.

A junior from the company took the microphone and, in a somber tone, spoke in the hospital room, “I’ve known Brother Yunran for five years. We’re as close as brothers. I want to pray for him with one of his favorite songs, hoping that when he hears it, he can feel how much we want him to pull through.”

Then he started to sing Yang Yunran’s famous song a cappella.

…

It was awfully unpleasant. Yang Yunran wanted to leave this world. Could they stop putting on a show in front of a vegetative person?

With such an escape, Yang Yunran gradually lost consciousness.

Darkness enveloped him, and a warm, damp feeling crept up his limbs. For the first time in a long while, Yang Yunran felt a nest-like warmth. After what felt like a long time, he slowly opened his eyes. The scent of fig-scented candles lit on the sink reflected off the beige ceramic tiles of the bathtub, accompanied by Grammy-winning songs playing from a Bluetooth speaker.

Annoying.

He raised his long fingers, slightly curled them, stretched out his arm, and pressed the button to change the song.

Across from the bathtub was a large mirror, fogged up with steam.

Yang Yunran soaked in the bathtub for a while, coming to his senses, then suddenly sat up, wiping the glass with his five fingers. His face was clearly reflected in the mirror—blond hair highlighting his fair cheeks, with clear, calm eyebrows.

It was his face but with some differences.

A bit younger, a bit more spirited.

He was stunned, and touched his right eye, feeling the familiar texture of the lens.

…Did he wake up from his vegetative state?

And what’s with the hair? Yang Yunran ran his hand through his hair, looked up at the colorful ambient lights of the bathroom, and stood up from the bathtub.

“Where is this, a hotel?”

“Xiaohua?” He wrapped a towel around himself and called for his assistant’s name, pushing open the bathroom door and stepping out.

It was a large two-bedroom apartment, not like a hotel, with the heating on. The table was cluttered with a coffee pot, a computer, and a few books. Outside the window, thick snow had fallen, and in the distance, he could vaguely see old brown gabled buildings with stained glass windows, suggesting he was abroad.

Yang Yunran wasn’t sure: “Was I transferred abroad for treatment?”

He noticed a student ID, picked it up, and saw the English name “Youran Yang,” with a photo of himself with blond hair and an unrestrained expression.

That expression wasn’t like him at all! The strong sense of incongruity made Yang Yunran aware of a problem. Adding to that the unfamiliar university name, some obscure college in Boston, Yang Yunran suspected it was a prank. He immediately started checking and searching through the items in the room.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Yang Yunran quickly put on some clothes and looked through the peephole. It was a friendly-looking young man.

Yang Yunran opened the door.

A Samoyed enthusiastically jumped on him, knocking him to the ground. Yang Yunran, struggling to hold the big dog, looked utterly bewildered. The young man let go of the leash, squatted down, and smiled at him, “Roy, I took Harry to the park for a walk and played with other dogs for an hour. Today’s work is done. Are you going out tomorrow? I’ll come by at nine to walk the dog.”

Yang Yunran managed to lift his face from Samoyed’s licking, his hair messy against his cheeks. He observed the other person and calmly said, “I haven’t decided yet.”

The young man seemed accustomed to this and said, “I’ll call you beforehand then…” He took out a folder from his backpack, “Here are some successful appeal cases for the internal test in January. You can look through them when you have time.”

“Internal test?” Yang Yunran suddenly raised his hand and took the name tag hanging from the other person’s backpack.

The name on it caught him off guard.

“…Zhao Youmo?”

In an instant, Yang Yunran felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His mind buzzed with memories of his assistant’s audiobooks, where the protagonist Zhao Youmo was a cannon-fodder character, and the name Yang Yunran sparked in his brain like fireworks.

Zhao Youmo, hearing himself called, was reminded, “If you don’t pass the test, Roy, you know you might get expelled.”

Yang Yunran, holding the large dog, stared at him, his mind in chaos. Zhao Youmo? How could it be Zhao Youmo!

Yang Yunran raised his hand and said, “Wait, I need to think.”

Zhao Youmo said, “Did you stay up all night playing games again?” He didn’t seem to care much and lowered his head to ask, “Are you planning to go back to China for the winter break?”

Yang Yunran asked, “Why?”

Zhao Youmo hesitated for a moment, then knelt on the carpet, cautiously opening up, “If you go back, I can help walk Harry. The fee is still 40 dollars per time. With the forty-day Christmas break, it totals 1600 dollars. Roy, could you pay me in advance?”

1600 dollars was nothing to the original Roy, like 1600 yuan, and he would typically transfer it to Zhao Youmo as if giving alms to a poor person.

From listening to audiobooks, Yang Yunran knew Zhao Youmo was earning money to stay in the U.S. to attend an Ivy League school and to donate to the welfare home in his hometown. However, Zhao Youmo’s dream of an Ivy League education hadn’t come true, as his studies and visa were sabotaged by the original Roy upon discovering Zhao Youmo’s true identity.

The book only briefly mentioned this part.

By observing Zhao Youmo, Yang Yunran thought that if this wasn’t a prank, he had transmigrated into the book. At this moment, Zhao Youmo was unaware of being switched at birth and hadn’t had his studies and visa ruined by the original Roy. The novel’s plot hadn’t started yet!

Seeing Yunran’s silence, Zhao Youmo became more nervous, his self-esteem barely perceptible as he changed the subject, “Your boyfriend… hasn’t come over recently?”

Yang Yunran: “My boyfriend??”

His temples throbbed as he remembered the scumbag from the book who abandoned him for wealth!

Zhao Youmo said, “Last time you mentioned Evan was at MIT’s Life Sciences Research Institute,” his tone filled with envy, “It’s amazing. If only I could get in too.”

Yang Yunran didn’t respond, staring blankly for a moment before walking barefoot back to the room, opening his wallet, revealing a thick stack of cash.

“I don’t have any plans for the winter break yet. If you need money, I can lend it to you.” Yang Yunran couldn’t find his phone, so he opened his laptop, unlocked it with a fingerprint, and checked the course schedule on the desktop, quickly absorbing everything.

Seeing his own face in the mirror, Yang Yunran said, “We don’t have classes tomorrow morning. Come with me to dye my hair.”

He pulled out a fifty-dollar bill and handed it to him, “Pick me up at nine.”