After resting on Sunday with little improvement, Wen Ran, with his crooked neck, got in the car to go to Gu Yunchi’s house early Monday morning. 339 warmly welcomed him, showing genuine concern and sympathy. Then it dropped a “I’ll come find you after I’m done” before dashing to the kitchen.
These days, the teacher came late. Gu Yunchi was sitting on the sofa, drinking coffee and looking at his phone. Wen Ran stood still for a while and thought that he would be more comfortable with 339. He headed for the kitchen, only to realize that there was still something he hadn’t done. So, he peeked around the corner by twisting his sprained neck and said to Gu Yunchi, “Morning.”
In any case, Gu Yunchi wouldn’t pay attention to him. After the greeting, Wen Ran went to stand next to 339. He saw it diligently grinding coffee beans by hand.
“Why not use an electric grinder?” Wen Ran asked.
“He insists that I grind by hand! Ten pounds of it!” 339 grabbed the grip and huffed and puffed while vigorously turning it. It cursed angrily, “Ten pounds! Does he want to drink himself bloated!”
“Maybe it’s a year’s supply,” Wen Ran comforted 339, though soon regretted it, uncertain how long 339 would need to grind. He decided to retreat to the living room.
Like a crooked-necked weed, Wen Ran returned to the living room. He positioned himself directly on the carpet in front of the coffee table to make it easier to solve and complete schoolwork. He spread out the textbook and lowered his head painfully to write. Soon, he got stuck on a challenging question. Wen Ran struggled for quite a while but couldn’t find the solution. He raised his head and hesitated for a few seconds before asking Gu Yunchi at the end of the sofa, “Can you teach me this problem?”
Just in case Gu Yunchi thought he was pretending to be cute by tilting his head, Wen Ran explained, “I twisted my neck. I’m not intentionally speaking like this.”
He had overthought it. Gu Yunchi didn’t bother to look up at him in the first place, “Ask the teacher.”
“The teacher explained this type of problem to me before, but I forgot.” Wen Ran felt deeply ashamed. It had been covered on his first day, but he didn’t fully absorb it due to nervousness at the time. “I’m embarrassed to ask again.”
“Aren’t you thick-skinned?” Gu Yunchi finally glanced at him.
“Maybe I’m just thick-skinned around you,” Wen Ran said. That was the truth. Pleasing Gu Yunchi was his mission, and it was impossible not to be thick-skinned.
Gu Yunchi’s expression darkened, “Don’t disgust me.”
“I’m sorry,” Wen Ran didn’t expect that this sentence would disgust Gu Yunchi. He warily gave a sincere apology, “Don’t be angry.”
“Ah, he’s here, he’s here.” 339 suddenly came out of the kitchen and made a beeline for the front door, “Young master, the piano tuner has arrived.”
Two bodyguards followed behind the tuner. They nodded to Gu Yunchi before proceeding to the opposite end of the living room—toward the pure black concert-grade grand piano. Wen Ran had thought it was mere decoration, but turned out it wasn’t. It piqued his curiosity. As Gu Yunchi wouldn’t notice while he was engrossed in his phone, Wen Ran got up to go over to watch.
339 didn’t want to grind beans anymore and joined the excitement while chatting with Wen Ran on the side, “Do you play the piano?”
“A little,” Wen Ran replied.
He remembered the year he first came to the Wen family. Chen Shuhui picked up his hand to inspect it and remarked, “Seven years old is too late. Your fingers will never be as flexible as those of a four or five-year-old. It will be difficult to learn the piano.” In the end, he was still allowed to learn, not to pursue a hobby but merely as a pretense to attain a level of sophistication, so that in the future, he would be presentable and not utterly worthless.
“This piano costs over 8 million. The tone is exceptional. It’s just too fragile and requires constant temperature and humidity control throughout the year,” 339 explained, “You can try playing it later.”
Wen Ran took a step back silently to distance himself from the piano worth over eight million and said, “Better not.”
The tuning was swiftly completed. When the bodyguards and the tuner left, Wen Ran stood by the piano, still staring at it. It truly was a stunning piano, like a classical art piece. In the end, Wen Ran was unable to resist, he turned to look at Gu Yunchi and asked, “Can I play the piano? I’ll be careful.”
He had mentally prepared to be mocked, but to his surprise, Gu Yunchi didn’t lift his head, “Break it, and you’ll pay the bill.”
That could be interpreted as permission. Wen Ran even forgot to say thank you. He walked over and sat down. He gingerly placed his fingertips on the keys. It took him a few seconds to find the feeling before gently pressing down with his fingers.
The regularly cleaned huge floor-to-ceiling windows were crystal clear, even filtering the sunlight that shone through, casting on Wen Ran’s hair, eyelashes, and slender fingers. Wen Ran was dressed in a gray T-shirt, his dark brown hair was soft and fluffy. He could actually look a little cold when he had no expression, but his beautiful black eyes, the mole beneath his eye, and his slightly upturned lips softened the coldness. Because of the sprain, he tilted his head slightly, the slender white neck pressed against the black collar that was encircling it, along with a light brown medicinal patch on his skin.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
339 stood uncharacteristically obediently a meter away from Wen Ran. In reality, it secretly took numerous photos of him using the surveillance camera.
Coafg qijslcu j rbcu, Qfc Ejc ufcais iloafv tlr tjcvr. Pa rffwfv tf tjv tla j ofk kgbcu cbafr, yea atf qljcb’r reqfglbg rbecv dejilas kjrtfv jkjs atf oijkr ilxf oibklcu kjafg, qgfnfcalcu tlw ogbw offilcu abb vlrtfjgafcfv.
Qfc Ejc aegcfv jgbecv. Vlcmf 339’r tfluta kjrc’a fcbeut ab yibmx tlr nlfk, tf wjvf fsf mbcajma klat Xe Tecmtl jmgbrr atf afc-wfafg vlrajcmf—Qfc Ejc kjr rajgaifv. Lf tjvc’a fzqfmafv Xe Tecmtl ab yf ibbxlcu ja tlw.
Wen Ran sweated as he felt as though he was being looked down upon for showing off his incompetence in front of an expert.
339 secretly saved Wen Ran’s performance video before inching closer and inquiring, “What song did you just play? I tried to identify it but couldn’t find it.”
“It’s a composition written by my former piano teacher,” Wen Ran said, “It’s called ‘Polar Night on the 19th.’”
“Wow…” 339 exclaimed, “What a coincidence! The young master’s birthday is on the 19th.”
Just then, Gu Yunchi’s phone rang. He walked out of the living room to answer the call.
“And he was born during a polar night,” 339 continued, “Madam gave birth while Mr. Gu was working on a project in the Polar Circle. It was in the middle of the polar night, so they named him ‘Yunchi.’ In ancient Chinese, ‘Yun’ means sunlight.”
Yunchi—the sun doesn’t appear for a long time, hence the polar night.
How could there be such a coincidence? Wen Ran was caught off guard and stayed still. 339 became ecstatic and spun in place while exclaiming joyfully, “This must be fate, it must be~” as excessive pink bubbles erupted on its screen.
The teacher still hadn’t arrived. Gu Yunchi wrapped up his call and headed to the study. Wen Ran tidied up the textbooks on the coffee table and prepared to go upstairs as well. 339 sidled up to him and suddenly said, “You’re special. You’re different from the omegas I know. You give off an air of detachment, a sense of loneliness like you’re neither near nor far…”
“?” Wen Ran couldn’t help but interject, “What’s your point?”
“Just…” Two shy blushes appeared on its screen, 339 said, “Could you ask Gu Yunchi for Aimee’s current phone number?”
“Aimee?”
“She’s a robot developed at the same time as me, my good friend. We stayed connected for quite a while, but then she suddenly lost contact. Gu Yunchi won’t tell me her new number.” 339 looked up at Wen Ran pitifully, “Can you ask for me?”
“Why would he tell me if he won’t tell you?”
“I feel like you two are getting along better now. Just in case? Please, Aimee is my only friend and I’d love to call her again.”
“Fine, I’ll ask for you.”
“Love you! Love you!” 339 began spraying pink bubbles again.
Gu Yunchi was already studying. Wen Ran sat at the other end of the desk and didn’t dare to interrupt him. He could only stare at him while thinking about how to ask. After staring for more than half a minute, Gu Yunchi raised his head, looking annoyed, “You have a lot of time?”
“339… wanted me to ask for Aimee’s phone number.” Wen Ran spoke cautiously, “Do you have it?”
“I don’t.”
Wen Ran wasn’t convinced, “How could you not know~?”
His speech was typically straightforward so the drawn-out sound at the end was unintentional and lacking finesse. This added a hint of pleading and urgency, emphasized by the tilt of his head as if he were trying to appear cute.
Gu Yunchi lowered his head and continued writing, “You’re not a hero for pretending to be like this for 339.”
Wen Ran didn’t understand a word of the sentence. Just as he was about to ask what he meant, Gu Yunchi continued, “Aimee was sold off by the client two years ago. Her programming was reset before the resale and her memories of 339 were wiped.”
“So that’s how it is.” Wen Ran opened his textbook. After a moment’s reflection, he asked, “Then why didn’t you just tell 339 directly?”
After a brief pause, Gu Yunchi swiftly resumed working on assignments and ignored him. Wen Ran gradually realized the redundancy of his question. 339 was merely a robot to Gu Yunchi. There were many reasons why: he wasn’t in the mood to explain, too lazy to bother, deliberately keeping it from 339. In essence, he only had to take into account his own mood without having to think about 339’s feelings.
Wen Ran lowered his head and resumed studying the daunting problem he had forgotten how to solve.
Some noise came from downstairs as the teacher arrived. The study door swung open as 339 opened it for the teacher in advance. Soon after, the elevator dinged open and footsteps echoed down the hallway. Gu Yunchi finished solving a question and placed several filled pages of scratch paper within reach. Then he opened the textbook he would be using today.
The flipping pages lightly blew away the hair on his forehead. He said flatly, “339 will be sad.”
The delayed response puzzled Wen Ran for a moment. The teacher entered and greeted them.
—
After dinner, Wen Ran couldn’t stop thinking about Gu Yunchi’s comment “339 will be sad”. The more he thought about it, the more he didn’t know what to say to 339.
When 339 saw from the surveillance that Gu Yunchi went to the media room to play games, it immediately stopped grinding coffee beans and rushed out of the kitchen, “Baby, baby! Did you ask for me? Aimee’s number!”
Not wanting to break 339’s heart by telling the truth, Wen Ran had to make up a response that matched Gu Yunchi’s personality, “He said I was meddling and told me…”
Just as he was hesitating between saying “to shut up” or “to mind my own business,” 339 jumped the gun and said, “He told you to get lost, didn’t he!”
Wen Ran, “Urm, actually…”
“Don’t sugarcoat it for him!” It was unlikely 339 would be heartbroken anymore as it was now furious, “Forget it if he didn’t want to tell, but why did he have to lash out at you!” After a pause, 339 comforted Wen Ran, “Don’t worry about it. He actually tells me to get lost at least ten times a day. We’re all used to it.”
“We?”
“Yeah, me and my other 28 personalities.”
“….Right.”
Just as he said that, Gu Yunchi returned and ordered 339, “Find my phone.”
339 was still sulking and shouted, “You make me do everything! Am I your dog!”
“You’re worse than a dog,” Gu Yunchi didn’t give it any face, “Find it.”
So, the phone was searched and found right away. 339 grabbed the phone from the sofa and positioned it in front of Gu Yunchi, “Here you go!”
Gu Yunchi glanced at the screen, “There’s a missed call. Why didn’t you tell me?”
339 realized the neglect in its job and sensibly became humble, “Oh, it was He Wei. You were in class at that time, so he called me instead. Later I forgot about it while grinding the beans. I’m truly sorry. I’ll play the call recording for you now, young master.”
Beep, Beep–
– Hello, 339-laoshi. What’s Gu Yunchi up to? Why isn’t he answering his phone?
– Hello, He Wei-laoshi. The young master is in class.
– In class? That’s funny. Skipping class is more like it.
– He Wei-laoshi, please watch your language.
– Whatever. Let him know I’m coming back home today. Tell him to treat me to dinner, drinks, and fun tonight. Thank you.
– He Wei-laoshi, you’re being a little inappropriate!
– Why? He and Lu Heyang are out there every day living it up, partying hard day and night, indulging in a life of luxury. He must know the best spots in the capital.
– He Wei-laoshi, you’re skilled with idioms, but refrain from personal attacks, or I’ll consult a lawyer!
– You trash can! Who do you think you are?
– You’re the trash can! You big good-for-nothing!
– You want to scold me again? I’ll spit on you!
– I’ll spit on you!
– Ptooey!
…
The back-and-forth “spitting” continued for nearly two minutes. Eventually, He Wei on the other side hung up first.
“What’s the point of playing me this meaningless recording?” Gu Yunchi asked.
“Don’t you think he’s going overboard?”
“You’re one to talk.” Gu Yunchi turned off his phone and headed back to the media room, “Notify the driver to bring the car from the 19th parking spot at 6 pm.”
“Out there every day living it up, partying hard day and night, indulging in a life of luxury, a playboy!” After saying that, 339 went blank. 339 stole a glance at Wen Ran, who was quietly drawing on the carpet. 339 shifted over and saw the sketch on top of the coffee table. It was a two-dimensional freehand drawing of a ship.
“Do you like doing this?” 339 asked.
“It’s alright.” Wen Ran paused momentarily before adding, “Just doodling for fun.”
“So did you… hear that just now?”
“I did.” Wen Ran continued to draw without stopping his pencil, easily drawing straight lines without a ruler. “Isn’t that normal?”
Compatibility meant little and couldn’t constrain anything, especially when it came to Gu Yunchi. Gu Yunchi hated and looked down on him. Wen Ran was there simply to fulfill the ambitions of the Wen family and everything was a task.
Not getting beaten during this period was already something to be grateful for. He could sit here today because of the 97.5% compatibility. Tomorrow, he might be discarded because a 98%, 99%, or even 100% match appeared. There might just be another omega in this world who was naturally highly compatible with Gu Yunchi.
People were bound to die eventually, and if it came sooner, Wen Ran wouldn’t mind at all.
After finishing the drawing, he picked it up and joked to 339, “How about I take you out for a ride on this boat later?”
“Waaah…” 339 took it too seriously, holding the paper with both hands as fried egg-shaped tears streamed down, “We can use it to find Aimee…”
Wen Ran felt a pang of sadness after hearing this. Sometimes being forgotten was more painful than severing ties. He couldn’t bear to burst 339’s bubble and just patted its head.
Translator’s note:
He Wei has found his match 😂
poor 339 ..thank you for the update🌺
Hei wei vs 339 = same level ^^
He Wei o He Wei! You always make me laugh even in Eternities Still Unsaid. How come Chi Jiahan fallen in love with you huehuehue