The store clerk brought back the cropped pants, and Tong Xiaosong silently took them to the fitting room to change. After coming out, he put on the sandals chosen by Gu Xuan.
After a while, Wu Mabo and Tang Yuxin each brought back a pair of shoes, accompanied by the cashier. Gu Xuan didn’t hesitate and took out his wallet to pay with a card, saying, “Take those clothes that were just matched as well.”
Tong Xiaosong was taken aback; those clothes were all in his size. To avoid misunderstandings, he glanced at the store clerk, confirming that the packed items were indeed the clothes he was just given.
Frowning, Tong Xiaosong’s tone became somewhat agitated, “I don’t want your things, Gu Xuan!”
Gu Xuan calmly replied, “I’ll wear them myself; it’s not for you. Don’t get worked up.”
Tong Xiaosong was at a loss for words. The sizes for Gu Xuan and himself were vastly different; how could those clothes fit Gu Xuan’s tall stature?
Wu Mabo walked over, patted Tong Xiaosong on the shoulder, and cheerfully said, “Don’t mind him. Take what’s given to you. Even if you don’t want it, he paid for it. How he deals with it later is his own business.”
Tong Xiaosong:…
***
The four store clerks carried the packaged shopping bags and escorted them all the way to the car.
The car hit the road again.
Gu Xuan glanced at the rearview mirror and said, “It seems like you don’t need to go to the hospital…”
Wu Mabo asked in confusion, “Why go to the hospital?”
Gu Xuan explained, “Before, I noticed you weren’t feeling well, so I thought about taking you to the hospital for a check-up, see what’s lacking, and supplement accordingly. But now…”
“Supplement! Why not supplement?” Wu Mabo insisted, “I strongly demand to go to the hospital!”
Tang Yuxin hesitated for a moment and said, “This time, I’m not trying to extort you. I think we should go to the hospital. Those things have been consuming my flesh. Although my body seems to be recovering for some unknown reason, I feel very uncomfortable, and I’m constantly tired.”
Gu Xuan smirked, “Then let’s go to the hospital.”
Tong Xiaosong found it a bit strange; it seemed like Gu Xuan intentionally made Wu Mabo and Tang Yuxin request to go to the hospital.
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.
Once in the hospital, Gu Xuan had Wu Mabo and Tang Yuxin use his supplementary card while he took Tong Xiaosong for additional examinations. He ordered a wide range of tests, from routine blood work to bone density, almost checking everything that could be examined.
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While Wu Mabo and Tang Yuxin took advantage of this opportunity to buy a bunch of supplements, Tong Xiaosong felt extremely uneasy.
Because he felt that Gu Xuan was becoming more and more like the person he dreamed of—Zhi Xian.
This feeling was extremely terrifying for him.
Because that person was Gu Xuan.
***
When they returned to the dormitory, it was almost dawn.
Wen Dong turned on the light and saw two people in brand new clothes and shoes, accompanied by a large pile of supplements.
He exclaimed, “Did Gu Xuan die?”
Tong Xiaosong:…
Wu Mabo put all the bags on the floor and sneered, “How could that be? He’s got a strong life force.”
Wen Dong: “…So, did you two take advantage of the opportunity and snatch things from him while he wasn’t around?”
Tong Xiaosong: “These were all voluntarily bought by Gu Xuan for us.”
Ke Lin stared blankly at the items, “Is he really that good?”
Wu Mabo climbed onto his bed, sighed deeply, and said without much kindness, “Of course, he’s not that kind-hearted. But considering that we went through a life-and-death situation tonight, it’s not too much to take advantage of him.”
Ke Lin instantly snapped out of his daze, got up, and asked, “What about Tang Yuxin? Did you find a way to save her?”
Wu Mabo replied, “We’ve rescued her, and she also brought back a bunch of stuff to the dorm. Let me tell you all about…”
Tong Xiaosong’s items were several times more than those of the other two, but fortunately, Wu Mabo helped him carry them back.
As he organized his things, Wu Mabo slowly recounted everything that happened that night until it was completely bright outside.
Ke Lin expressed concern, “This time it was so dangerous, we might as well go next time. Having more people provides security.”
Wu Mabo sighed, “Who knows what bad ideas Gu Xuan might come up with next time. It’s like a weasel paying New Year’s greetings to a chicken. You two shouldn’t get involved. In case something happens to us, you’ll have to seek revenge for us.”
After organizing his things, Tong Xiaosong said to Ke Lin and Wen Dong, “I’ve laid everything out on the table. Let’s eat together; they’re all from Gu Xuan, and it’d be a waste not to eat them.”
Ke Lin was surprised, “Wow, Tong Xiaosong, you actually have this kind of understanding? I thought you wouldn’t accept anything from Gu Xuan.”
Wu Mabo burst into laughter, “He understands nothing! I said that before. He naturally didn’t want them and kept refusing. We had to force him to buy so much stuff.”
Tong Xiaosong frowned, “I feel like Gu Xuan is acting strange…”
Wen Dong pondered and agreed, “I also find Gu Xuan strange. According to his usual behavior, he disdains pretense, being arrogant and self-centered. But from Da Bo’s description, Gu Xuan seems like a different person.”
Tong Xiaosong was shocked, “I feel the same way! And there’s that scent on him again, like burning paper or incense!”
Wu Mabo scoffed, “It’s impossible for him to be a completely different person. According to your logic, the real Gu Xuan is buried in that grave.”
Wen Dong said thoughtfully, “A complete replacement is unlikely. Where would we find someone exactly like him? I suspect… Could it be that he really has a dual personality, and at a certain trigger, his personality switches? For example, the smell Tong Xiaosong mentioned—could it be incense? Does incense trigger his personality switch?”
Ke Lin hesitated, “Could it be incense? Tong Xiaosong also has that scent, right? I feel like it’s the copper basin, the copper basin is the trigger.”
Tong Xiaosong said, “The scent on me should have been there ever since we got the copper basin. But the Gu Xuan with the burnt paper scent appears sporadically and wears the same outfit every time. It’s the one we saw him wearing when we went to Tang Yuxin’s house. The only exception was last night when he changed…”
Knock, knock, knock.
Three distinct knocks interrupted the conversation, and all four people in the room turned their attention to the door.
Wen Dong jumped down from the upper bunk, pressed his hand against the door, and loudly asked, “Who’s outside the door?”
Gu Xuan’s voice came from outside, “It’s me, open the door.”
Wu Mabo rolled his eyes, “Whoever says it’s me is here. Isn’t he becoming like Shunfeng-er?”
Wen Dong frowned and glanced at the copper basin on the table, whispering, “It can’t be that sinister, right?”
Wen Dong opened the door slightly, scrutinizing Gu Xuan up and down.
In the corridor, students were coming and going. Gu Xuan held two steaming drinks and politely smiled at him.
Wen Dong:…
He opened the door, saying, “Come in.”
Gu Xuan walked into the dormitory, heading straight for Tong Xiaosong.
Tong Xiaosong stared at Gu Xuan in surprise, subconsciously taking a step back. Before he could say anything, a cup of warm drink was handed to him.
The warmth from his palm instantly spread to his heart, dispelling the cold and fear.
Looking down, he held a coffee cup from a milk tea shop, and its contents were completely invisible.
Without waiting for him to ask, Gu Xuan said, “This is the calming tea I brewed, also dispelling the negative energy. I forgot to let you all drink it in the car.”
As he spoke, he raised his hand, using his height advantage to place another cup on the upper bunk, pressing it against Wu Mabo’s arm.
“Hiss! It’s hot!” Wu Mabo instantly jumped up, snatching the cup away. “Fuck! Gu Xuan, can’t you do something human!”
Gu Xuan smiled innocently and politely, “I’m sorry, but it’s warm now. It shouldn’t be hot anymore.”
Wu Mabo: …
It really was warm, but his arm was cold, so when it suddenly touched, it definitely felt hot.
Hahaha I hope they will get together soon. Thx for the chap pickle boss ^0^
ˁ•ᴗ•ˀつ～ 💞