Chapter 9: Gu Siqing — This Is My Space

On the way from the room to the hospital, Shen Qingyan saw many things he had never seen before. Most items from this era had a distinct period feel, marked by signs and characteristics of the times. But as he walked down the corridor, what he saw was an entirely different scene.

The white floor seemed polished enough to reflect one’s shadow. The walls on either side were painted an immaculate white, and the whole place had a feeling that he couldn’t quite describe. There were also robots moving back and forth, efficiently performing their tasks in the rooms. Just three of those robots could handle a large space, and each one could adapt to two or three roles.

“I want to know where this is,” Shen Qingyan finally gave in to his curiosity, unable to ignore how out of place this environment felt compared to where he came from.

Gu Siqing didn’t hide anything and directly explained, “This is my space. Only the people I choose can enter here with me. It’s probably about fifty or sixty years ahead of your current era.”

Hearing this, Shen Qingyan instinctively started calculating in his mind. Fifty or sixty years in the future? Could this really be what the future looks like? Just who was his wife? Could she be someone from the future?

Ever since Gu Siqing explained that this was her personal space, Shen Qingyan’s mind had been racing. But he still couldn’t fully figure it out. Seeing the confusion on his face, Gu Siqing couldn’t help but laugh, “Don’t overthink it. Let’s get through the examination first, and then I’ll give you a proper introduction and explain everything in detail.”

“Since we’re husband and wife, I won’t hide anything from you.”

Perhaps it was this last sentence that moved him. Even when he was taken into the examination room and laid on the examination table by the robot, Shen Qingyan remained calm. He trusted Gu Siqing.

Lying on the examination table, Shen Qingyan only felt like he was there for two or three minutes before the robot lifted him up again.

“That’s it?” He felt like his understanding of the world kept getting refreshed in this space. Just two or three minutes was enough for a full examination?

Gu Siqing nodded, casually grabbing the scan images from nearby. “Take a look. After the surgery, your bones are healing. As long as you cooperate with follow-up rehabilitation, there shouldn’t be any major issues.”

Looking at the thin image film that showed his bones clearly, Shen Qingyan realized it was far more advanced—and faster—than anything at the county hospital. He was now fully convinced that this was truly technology from fifty or sixty years in the future.

As the country progresses, so does everything else.

Shen Qingyan couldn’t make sense of the images, so he glanced at them and handed them back to Gu Siqing. “I believe you.”

Gu Siqing finally felt relieved and pushed him out of the examination room.

“We’ve been gone for quite a while. Won’t the family be worried?” Realizing this only now, Shen Qingyan asked in concern.

Gu Siqing just smiled, and with a slight shift in her figure, she pushed him out of the space and back into the newly decorated wedding suite in their hotel.

Seeing the familiar setup—the furnishings of the hotel room, the enamel water jar by the pillow, and the red quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks—Shen Qingyan finally felt grounded again.

Gu Siqing continued explaining by his side, “That space is unique to me. Coming back from there to this room only takes one second.”

“Also, while we’re in the space, we can still hear everything happening outside.”

After her explanation, she added, “There’s a clear spring inside the space. The water has health benefits—drinking it regularly is good for the body. I replace the water in the room with it every day, so make sure you drink plenty.”

Listening to Gu Siqing introduce her space so carefully, Shen Qingyan’s doubts gradually faded, and he started to truly trust her. He even felt relieved.

His new wife wasn’t some spy or criminal—instead, she had a mysterious space and secrets that ordinary people didn’t. Plus, he had even gained two children out of nowhere. Not bad at all!

After returning from the space once again, Gu Siqing squatted down in front of his wheelchair. “Still doubting me now?”

Shen Qingyan quickly shook his head and, after a moment of thought, said, “I was wrong earlier. Waking up in such a strange place made me suspicious of you. I apologize.”

“I trust your abilities and know you’re different from others. From now on, our family will keep this secret together, and I’ll protect you.”

Hearing his words, Gu Siqing nodded inwardly, quite satisfied with him. She thought, If he could accept me in the last life, then in this one—where I’m showing him my secret early—he should be able to gradually accept it too.

“Alright,” Gu Siqing replied seriously.

Shen Qingyan suddenly smiled and extended his hand. “Then let’s reintroduce ourselves. I’m Shen Qingyan, 26 years old.”

“You’re probably called Gu Wanrou, right? Hello, Wanrou.”

Gu Siqing gently shook his hand and met his warm gaze, then shook her head. “I’m not Wanrou. I’m Gu Siqing.”

“Huh?” Shen Qingyan was stunned. His mother had told him the name of the girl he was marrying was Gu Wanrou. How could it not be?

Seeing his confusion, Gu Siqing casually sat down on the bed. “Gu Wanrou is my cousin. She took my identity and went to college using my name. So I had no choice but to use hers to marry you.”

As she spoke, she even chuckled a little.

In her previous life, she had married Shen Qingyan under Gu Wanrou’s name. It was the early 1980s—there were no ID cards yet. A few years later, when IDs were introduced, their names were officially switched: Gu Wanrou’s ID used the name “Gu Siqing,” while hers used “Gu Wanrou.”

Their identities had completely swapped.