Photograph
The boy’s body was light and soft, and he cried without making a sound—like a little white bunny, red-eyed and quietly aggrieved.
“It’s okay,” Gu Yilan said hoarsely. He looked down at the fluffy head pressed to his chest, raising his hand slightly, but in the end, didn’t touch it.
He meant it.
Seventeen thousand was nothing to him, and other people’s attitudes rarely mattered. Having grown up surrounded by gossip and slander, he’d long since learned to numb himself to the world with cold indifference.
But feeling the arms clutching him tightly, he realized—maybe someone else did care deeply.
So he added, “It’s not your fault.”
He had seen the whole thing from outside—the couple fooling around and bumping into things in the not-so-spacious area. Their aggressive confrontation afterward was nothing more than them relying on having more people and a bit of money, thinking they were in the right.
Su Zesui slowly let go, wiping his tear-streaked cheek with the back of his hand. His eyes were red to the point of bleeding.
Crystal-clear tears fell like beads.
He cried hard, but unlike most people, there were no sobs or hiccups—just quiet weeping. Even while crying, he looked obedient.
Gu Yilan wore all black, so the tear stains on his chest didn’t show much.
He kept a polite distance, not touching the boy. Instead, he looked down at Su Zesui’s flushed hands, his brows lightly furrowed, lost in thought.
It wasn’t until Su Zesui reached into his small bag for tissues that Gu Yilan came back to himself. He softened his tone, a rare gentleness in his voice: “Stop crying.”
The words were clumsy, sounding hollow no matter how you put them. But Su Zesui nodded hard.
All his life, whenever he got bullied, he would hide away and cry by himself. He never dared let his brother know—he was afraid it would stress him out and worsen his already fragile health. So no one had ever comforted him. No one had ever stood up for him.
Now, just one sentence from Gu Yilan made him realize—when someone is there for you in your pain, it really does feel comforting.
“I… wanna go home,” Su Zesui said in a small voice, sniffling through his red nose.
He knew he was acting spoiled.
He had run away and been caught. He should have accepted the punishment without complaint. But the morning wasn’t even over, and he already wanted to give up.
Gu Yilan didn’t respond right away. Instead, he pulled out a few more tissues and handed them to him. Then he zipped up the small backpack and gestured for him to wear it.
Su Zesui put on his bag and took the small shopping basket. Then, pointing at the coffee, he said in a tiny voice, “You carry it.”
Trash cans in A City were rarer than top students at elite universities.
Su Zesui didn’t want to carry the cup of coffee that had made him so upset any longer.
“Mm.” Gu Yilan took the cup naturally, raising his eyelids to glance toward the entrance of the store.
His hands were elegant and well-defined, with long, strong fingers. The veins lay faint beneath his skin, and even just holding a coffee cup, he exuded the calm elegance of a successful businessman.
Su Zesui looked down at his own fair and slender fingers and absentmindedly bent them slightly.
Gu Yilan withdrew his gaze, and his cold voice snapped Su Zesui out of his thoughts. “We can’t go home yet.”
Su Zesui slowly curled his fingers into a fist and responded softly, “Oh.”
“My family wants to meet you. Do you want to go?”
Hearing this, Su Zesui looked up.
He was usually terrified of strangers, but oddly, he didn’t feel so afraid of Gu Yilan’s family. Maybe, deep down, he instinctively believed that anyone Gu Yilan introduced him to wouldn’t hurt him.
Besides, being in a house felt much safer than staying outside.
He didn’t hesitate for long before nodding.
“Let’s go,” Gu Yilan said, lifting his leg to walk. “To the parking lot.”
After what had just happened, Su Zesui didn’t dare to leave the man’s side even for a second.
He puffed out his cheeks and stuck closely to Gu Yilan, eyeing the surroundings like he was on high alert, afraid to relax even a little.
They hadn’t gone far to begin with, and within a few minutes, they were back at the parking spot.
The butler, who had been waiting by the car, immediately stood up straighter. But when he saw the boy’s red-rimmed eyes, he froze and instinctively glanced at Young Master Gu, his eyes filled with silent reproach.
——Sinful. Just sinful.
——It’s just marriage, was it really necessary to bully the poor kid like this?
Without a word, Gu Yilan opened the rear car door and said, “Drive.”
“Yes, Young Master Gu.” The butler bowed slightly and answered respectfully.
Once the ruthless capitalist had taken his seat, the butler finally dared to look at the boy more closely. “L-Little Master, what happened to your hand?”
Su Zesui looked down at his reddened hand and answered honestly, “I got hit.”
“What?!” The butler’s voice cracked despite his effort to stay quiet. His eyes darted to the back seat in alarm.
——No way… it couldn’t be what I think, right?
“It doesn’t hurt,” Su Zesui said quickly, overwhelmed by the butler’s concern. He hid his injured hand behind his back and ran over to the other side of the car.
The butler was left standing there, dumbfounded, silently chewing over the same old theory about this little master possibly being… a masochist?
Su Zesui sat by the window, with just one seat between him and Gu Yilan.
As soon as he settled in and buckled his seatbelt, Gu Yilan’s voice came from beside him. “Close your eyes.”
Su Zesui had heard that command many times before—usually when Gu Yilan was applying ointment to his injured knee.
So he knew exactly what was about to happen.
He waved his little hand and said, “I-It’s fine.”
It only stung at first when the cup was knocked over. After that, it just felt numb. No big deal.
But Gu Yilan ignored him. He extended a hand, palm up, and held it out in front of Su Zesui.
Su Zesui hesitated for a second, then obediently placed both hands lightly over the man’s palm, and instinctively shut his eyes.
Gu Yilan didn’t touch him. He just examined the area where the hot coffee had splashed on Su Zesui’s hand. Once he was sure it wasn’t serious, he said, “It’s fine. You can open your eyes now.”
The butler got into the driver’s seat and, seeing that everything had been taken care of, asked, “Young Master Gu, where to?”
Gu Yilan leaned back in the seat and, with a trace of fatigue in his voice, closed his eyes and casually gave an address.
The butler visibly stiffened when he heard it.
But the boss’s words were absolute. After a brief moment of shock, he pressed down on the gas and sped off toward the destination.
With Gu Yilan’s eyes closed, Su Zesui took the opportunity to openly study the man’s profile.
He had always thought of Gu Yilan as some sort of divine being—capable of everything, fearless, untouchable, tireless.
It wasn’t until now that he finally realized… the one who had been protecting and caring for him all this time was just a regular human being too. Someone who could get tired. Someone who might even… need care from others.
Su Zesui suddenly remembered the light sun-protection jacket he’d stuffed into his little bag earlier. He moved gently, carefully pulling it out, and quietly draped it over the man’s body.
Once he was done, he went back to watching Gu Yilan’s sleeping face, unable to look away. It was a long while before he finally, reluctantly, turned his gaze elsewhere.
He was about to meet Mr. Gu’s family, but right now, his eyes were red and swollen, and his eyelashes clumped together with tears—he definitely didn’t look his best.
So he raised both hands and fanned the air toward his face, trying to cool down the heat in his eyes.
In truth, Gu Yilan hadn’t fallen asleep.
He had always been a light sleeper, highly alert—there was no way he’d fully relax and sleep in the backseat of a car.
And yet, for some reason, when he felt the boy gently drape a jacket over him, he didn’t lift his unusually heavy eyelids. Instead, he let the boy fuss around him while his own thoughts drifted aimlessly.
The destination was far from the central business district. Even with the AMG One speeding along the entire way, it still took nearly forty minutes to arrive.
The moment the car came to a stop, Gu Yilan opened his eyes. Every trace of fatigue and emotion vanished from his expression.
He reached out and picked up the jacket Su Zesui had placed on him. Turning his head slightly to look at the boy, his voice was low and hoarse. “Still feeling bad?”
Su Zesui pressed a hand to his chest. It felt a little stuffy, but it didn’t hurt, so he shook his head.
Gu Yilan silently observed his series of small movements, then gave a slight nod and stepped out of the car. “Let’s go.”
They had arrived at an upscale residential area on the outskirts of the city—more accurately, a gated manor district.
Past the gravel paths and lush greenery stood a five-story mansion at the center of a vast courtyard. Elegant and imposing, it exuded a timeless charm and historical grace.
Su Zesui followed nervously behind the man, watching him calmly knock on the front door.
He had expected Gu Yilan’s parents to answer, but to his surprise, it was the head of the Gu family himself—Gu Yilan’s grandfather.
When he saw them, Grandpa Gu’s eyes crinkled with a kind smile. “You’re here! I thought you young people would be too busy to come visit an old man like me.”
Gu Yilan, as always, showed no warmth. He merely nodded in response.
“You must be Su Zesui, right? What do your family members usually call you?” Grandpa Gu asked as he turned to the boy. He raised his hand, intending to pat the boy’s shoulder kindly, but Su Zesui instinctively stepped back.
He wasn’t as afraid as he would be with strangers, but he still didn’t dare speak.
At that moment, he had tucked himself entirely behind Gu Yilan, with only a small tuft of hair sticking out and swaying in the air.
Gu Yilan tilted his head slightly, glancing at the trembling boy, but didn’t pull him forward. Instead, he answered on his behalf in a soft voice, “Suisui.”
Su Zesui froze, even forgetting to tremble.
That deep voice—usually used for sarcasm or cutting remarks—was now gently calling his nickname. It was like a bowstring being plucked deep inside him, leaving his whole body weak and tingly.
He stared at Gu Yilan’s tall, straight back in disbelief. Then, raising his hand, he touched his own cheek.
It was hot again.
“Suisui, is it?” Grandpa Gu smiled. “Don’t just stand there—come in and sit for a while?”
Gu Yilan turned to him and asked, “Want to go in?”
Those two intimate syllables echoed in his mind. Su Zesui felt like his soul had floated right out of his body. Without thinking too much, he nodded.
Grandpa Gu had a love for vintage wooden aesthetics. The entire mansion had a rich, classic design, and the furniture was mostly natural wood. The minimalist shapes paired with fine hand-carved details created a serene, timeless atmosphere.
Su Zesui kept his eyes on Gu Yilan’s feet. Wherever the man stepped, he followed, staying close by. Finally, he nervously sat down beside him on the sofa.
“Just a moment,” Grandpa Gu said kindly, heading off to make some tea. The butler quickly followed after him.
Once again, only the two of them remained in the living room.
“Are you scared?” Gu Yilan’s voice came from very nearby.
Still caught up in the echo of “Suisui,” Su Zesui jolted and blurted out, “Suisui’s not scared!”
Gu Yilan looked at the boy’s clenched little fists—pale and trembling—and said with a faint smile, “If you’re scared, just tell me.”
Not long after, Grandpa Gu and the butler returned.
Grandpa Gu sat back in the main seat while the butler stepped forward with the teapot and poured tea for all three of them with practiced ease.
“Give it a try,” Grandpa Gu said warmly, gently sliding a cup toward Su Zesui.
Su Zesui didn’t dare speak. He bowed his head low and nodded slightly, then carefully pulled the cup closer to himself.
“Good boy,” Grandpa Gu praised with a smile.
Seeing the overly obedient boy about to sip the tea right away, Gu Yilan interrupted, “It’s hot. Let it cool first.”
Grandpa Gu couldn’t help but laugh at that. He glanced at his grandson and asked, “Your voice is better?”
It was a sensitive topic—one rarely brought up in front of Gu Yilan.
The butler stood off to the side, pretending to be part of the furniture. Su Zesui perked up his ears to listen.
Gu Yilan frowned. Though he didn’t lash out, he also had no intention of opening up. “Mm,” he replied vaguely.
“How about your arm? Is it healing well?” Grandpa Gu asked with concern.
The butler remained a statue, but Su Zesui couldn’t help glancing up, quietly observing.
Only when Grandpa Gu moved to check Gu Yilan’s arm—injured from helping an elderly woman—did Su Zesui suddenly realize something:
That day, during their escape, outside the front gate… the hand he had grabbed wasn’t the injured one.
It was the other arm—the one that wasn’t supposed to be hurt, yet still bore harsh, cruel scars.
Back then, his mind had been foggy—crammed full of too many thoughts—so he quickly forgot all about it and never thought of it again.
Now, Su Zesui was fidgeting with his fingers, once again confused by it.
But no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t figure it out.
——Why did Mr. Gu have so many injuries?
——Did he go out every day to help elderly people cross the street?
After a short conversation, Grandpa Gu invited them to stay for lunch.
The housekeeper’s cooking was delicious, and Su Zesui ate happily.
But just a few bites in, Gu Yilan’s phone buzzed loudly, signaling that something urgent needed his attention.
When he saw the caller ID, the man frowned, set down his chopsticks, and said to Su Zesui, “I’ll step out for a moment,” before striding out of the dining room like a gust of wind.
“Sigh… it’s my fault, really,” Grandpa Gu said, shaking his head with a long sigh. “He’s so busy because of me.”
As soon as he finished, he looked up to pick up some food—and found himself staring into a pair of wide, sparkling eyes, bright like a sky full of stars, gazing at him without a hint of disguise.
Grandpa Gu: ?
The boy’s gaze was focused and intense, his soft lips slightly parted, clearly curious about what he’d just heard—but too shy to ask.
The old man paused briefly.
Over the years, every one of Gu Yilan’s fiancees had broken off the engagement, each for a different reason. Some had even panicked so much they threatened suicide rather than offend the Gu family. No one ever agreed to marry him.
The boy in front of him was the only one left—the sole survivor.
Naturally, Grandpa Gu was willing to say a little more. “Little Gu has to juggle school and work—he’s so busy he barely has time to rest. If he hasn’t been able to take good care of you, I hope you’ll understand.”
Afraid the old man would stop talking, Su Zesui nodded eagerly to show he was listening seriously—very seriously.
Seeing how interested he was in hearing about Gu Yilan, Grandpa Gu was briefly taken aback, then chuckled. “Let’s eat first. I’ll show you something after.”
As soon as he heard that, Su Zesui lowered his head and started eating in earnest. What should have taken thirty minutes took him just ten.
But even after they’d both finished, Gu Yilan still hadn’t returned.
Su Zesui glanced worriedly toward the door.
Grandpa Gu reassured him, “He’s fine. There’s been a staff reshuffling at the company lately. He’s been working nonstop for days. Still, the fact that he made time to bring you here despite all that… it must mean he really likes you.”
Su Zesui touched his fingertips together guiltily, too embarrassed to admit he had made Gu Yilan spend all day yesterday explaining confusing physics problems.
After the meal, Grandpa Gu led him to an old room that had been locked.
It looked like an abandoned study converted into a storage room. The wooden shelves inside were darker and older than the ones in the main house, carrying the weight of time and making one instinctively hold their breath.
“Little Gu doesn’t have a bad heart,” Grandpa Gu said, his words clearly tinted by grandfatherly affection. “If he’s ever done something that upset you, it might not have been intentional. He has his own struggles—it’s not as easy for him as you may think.”
Su Zesui thought for a moment and finally said his first words since arriving: “Mr. Gu… is very good to me.”
Grandpa Gu laughed heartily. “I can see that.”
“Suisui, you’re the one who can break the curse and marry him. Just hang in there a little longer.” Grandpa Gu’s tone grew earnest as he pulled out a thick, heavy photo album from one of the cabinets.
Su Zesui stepped closer and saw that the inside cover of the album read:
[Brilliance of the stars, locked beyond the night of Lan.]
It was likely the inspiration behind Gu Yilan’s name.
The imagery was vivid. In an instant, Su Zesui could picture a glittering galaxy and the vast, lonely universe. It was a name full of poetic meaning, clearly chosen with great care.
He silently repeated it in his heart and quietly committed it to memory.
The album was filled with old photographs, all well-preserved, but the contents felt strangely disconnected from the present.
More precisely, the Gu Yilan in the photos felt entirely disconnected. Aside from the resemblance in appearance, the aura of his younger self was completely different—so much so that they almost felt like two unrelated people.
At Grandpa Gu’s encouragement, Su Zesui carefully flipped through the treasured photo album—And came across something he had only seen once before, in the back study: a photo of Gu Yilan with another little boy.
Only the photo belonging to Grandpa Gu was much clearer—it had obviously been carefully preserved. In the photo, the man’s heartfelt smile from his childhood had the power to touch everyone who saw it.
Staring at the photo, Su Zesui fell into deep thought, quietly repeating something the butler had once told him: “Not a friend.”
Hearing the boy mumble to himself, Grandpa Gu was momentarily stunned. He hesitated, then said, “He used to be a very good friend of little Gu, I suppose… but it doesn’t matter anymore.”
Su Zesui thought for a moment, then pointed to the little boy in the picture and asked, “Where is he?”
“I don’t know,” Grandpa Gu shook his head and repeated, “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Su Zesui kept flipping through the album. He had thought he could watch Gu Yilan grow from a child to an adult through the photos. But the album abruptly ended when Gu Yilan was only four or five years old.
Beyond that, there were just original copies of certificates and awards.
They came from all sorts of competitions—not just children’s physics contests, but also sports days and even games and entertainment activities. It was hard to imagine Gu Yilan ever taking part in such things.
Su Zesui reached the last page and said a little disappointedly, “That’s it?”
Grandpa Gu explained, “He lived with me when he was young. Later, his parents took him back to live with them, over on the west side of the city. After he became an adult, he moved out on his own again.”
Just as the old man finished speaking, Su Zesui’s eyes widened in surprise.
Because he suddenly remembered something that didn’t make sense—
Back then, when Gu Yilan had shown him the surveillance footage from the villa, the recordings clearly dated back eight years. But Gu Yilan would have only been fifteen at the time, and the villa might not have even been built yet. So where did that surveillance footage come from?
Su Zesui wasn’t good at hiding his thoughts; whatever came to mind tended to slip out of his mouth. “The surveillance… the timeline doesn’t add up…”
The timestamp on the footage was system-generated—hard to tamper with. He’d checked it himself at the time.
So then… where exactly was the problem?
Grandpa Gu had clearly heard the boy’s words. It was obvious he knew something about it, but he didn’t offer an explanation. Instead, he looked utterly shocked and asked, “He… showed you the surveillance footage?”