Chapter 3: The Original Male Protagonist

Outside, the sun was high in the sky, the sunshine bright, but the spring chill was still there, and the gusts of north wind still made people's cheeks pale and the tips of their noses red.

Tingyu led the way, and Gu Yunyao followed, surveying the surroundings and recalling the plot of the book.

Based on the original owner's memories and the plot, she knew that this courtyard was now called Mingxi Courtyard, and besides her, there were three other masters living there: Gu Chengshen's wife, Song, who was also Gu Yunyao's mother; Gu Yunyao's half-brother Gu Long; and Gu Yanzhi.

As she walked along, she also saw the houses where Song and Gu Long lived. Their carved beams and painted rafters, their winding corridors, were both exquisite and beautiful.

However, Tingyu continued walking, leading her to the westernmost part of Mingxi Courtyard, finally stopping in front of a gray house. Gu Yunyao's eyes widened. The house before her was built in who knows when. Weathered by wind and rain, the glazed tiles on the eaves had faded, their original appearance unrecognizable. The red paint on the carved beams was peeling in patches, a sight unbearable to look at. The lattice windows on either side of the house seemed to be faulty, not closing properly, and creaked in the cold wind.

Gu Yunyao was shocked!

She had never witnessed Gu Yanzhi's living conditions firsthand; all she knew was from the novel's description. "The Beloved" didn't offer much detail about Gu Yanzhi's miserable existence within the Gu family. This was, after all, an old romance novel. By the time the heroine and hero met, the Lin family had been rehabilitated, and Gu Yanzhi had been reinstated as crown prince. This past event only resurfaced briefly in Gu Yanzhi's memories.

Thus, Gu Yunyao had never considered the torture and bullying Gu Yanzhi had endured. Gu Yunyao's voice trembled, "Is this... where the Second Young Master lives?"

Tingyu nodded seriously, "Yes, Third Miss. You asked the Second Young Master to move in here half a year ago. You say... he doesn't deserve it..."

Tingyu's voice gradually dropped, unable to continue.

Gu Yunyao placed a hand on her forehead and waved it, indicating she understood.

This must have been one of the original owner's ways of bullying Gu Yanzhi. Never mind, that was all in the past. Now she's here to improve Gu Yanzhi's favorability!

Gu Yunyao gathered herself and gestured for Tingyu to knock on the door.

Tingyu knocked, but there was no movement from inside.

"Where's the servant?" Gu Yunyao asked, somewhat annoyed.

Tingyu muttered, "Maybe he went... to the side room to play cards."

From her expression, Gu Yunyao understood that this had happened more than once. She sighed, "Forget it. Go get them. I'll go in and see the Second Young Master first."

Tingyu sighed and immediately turned away.

Gu Yunyao then pushed open the door and walked inside.

Cold!

This was her first impression upon entering the room.

The empty room contained only a bed, a tattered cypress table, and a few round chairs. There was no other decoration, and the plain white walls were bare.

The stove in the middle had long since gone out, emitting no heat. The teapot on the table was freezing cold. Even the quilt covering Gu Yanzhi was so tattered that its original pattern and color were unrecognizable.

Gu Yanzhi lay quietly on the bed, his eyes closed. He hadn't opened his eyes despite the commotion of Gu Yunyao pushing the door, presumably because he was asleep.

In his sleep, his long eyelashes trembled, casting a shadow across his pale cheek like the trembling wings of a butterfly, ready to fly. Unlike the ferocious and ruthless tyrant in the water, Gu Yanzhi's face, sound asleep, was calm, carrying a touch of the aloofness and elegance of a young man.

Gu Yunyao suddenly realized that he was only thirteen this year. In modern times, he would be a junior high school student, not just a child.

For some reason, a bittersweet feeling welled up in Gu Yunyao's heart. She suddenly realized that this was the real world, and Gu Yanzhi wasn't just a hero in a novel; he was a real person. Before coming here, she had only considered Gu Yanzhi an NPC to improve her favorability, but upon meeting him, she suddenly felt a deep desire to treat him better.

As she pondered this, Gu Yunyao's brow furrowed slightly, vaguely sensing something was amiss. Gu Yanzhi's cheeks seemed to be flushing.

She carefully reached out a finger and tapped Gu Yanzhi's forehead, his expression changing dramatically.

Gu Yanzhi's forehead was burning hot, clearly a cold.

Suddenly, Tingyu and two servants pushed open the door and entered. These two were Guyu and Hanlu, who served Gu Yanzhi.

As soon as they entered the room, Gu Yunyao's nose twitched, and she could smell the stench of alcohol. Looking at their expressions, they both looked dazed.

Gu Yunyao's face darkened.

The master was unconscious, and these two were still in the mood to drink in the side room?!

Seemingly aware of their guilt, they smiled awkwardly and stood aside.

Guyu asked playfully, "Why is the Third Young Master here today?"

Gu Yunyao, unwilling to waste time, interrupted him directly, "How on earth are you serving the master? Don't you know the Second Young Master has a fever?!"

Guyu was startled and stammered, "This... The Second Young Master won't let us serve him after he's gone back to his room..."

"Tingyu, go back to my room and get the medicine, and bring me a new quilt." It would take too long to get a doctor's prescription; Gu Yanzhi's condition couldn't be delayed any longer. Tingyu said anxiously, "Third Young Lady, that's the medicine the doctor prescribed for you. You haven't taken it yet!"

Gu Yunyao waved her hand, "The Second Young Master needs it more than I do right now."

Seeing Gu Yunyao's resolute expression, Tingyu had no choice but to push the door open and go back to get the medicine.

Guyu and Hanlu exchanged glances, both surprised. What's wrong with the Third Young Lady today? Usually, she wishes the Second Young Master were dead.

After Tingyu left, Gu Yunyao immediately instructed Guyu, "What are you still standing there for? It's so cold in the room! Light up the stove and boil some water!"

Guyu and Hanlu nodded hurriedly and got busy.

Gu Yunyao added, "Get another basin of cold water and a towel." Gu Yanzhi's illness couldn't be delayed; he needed to be cooled down quickly.

After a flurry of preparations, a flame finally lit up in the stove, bringing a touch of warmth to the room.

Gu Yunyao soaked a towel in cold water, wrung it out, and placed it on Gu Yanzhi's forehead, trying to cool him down. But his forehead was scorching, and the towel soon warmed up again, forcing Gu Yunyao to dip it in cold water again. Repeatedly, her delicate white hands turned red from the cold water, and her fingertips felt a tingling tingle.

She paid no mind, simply hoping to cool Gu Yanzhi down.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, Tingyu pushed open the door, carrying something. She was startled to see Gu Yunyao's swollen fingertips.

Tingyu put down the medicine and said hurriedly, "Miss, your hands... rest now. Let me do it."

Gu Yunyao shook her head, "No need."

Thinking of the suffering this young man had endured, she felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. Although it was her original self's fault, she had traveled through time and space, and she bore the responsibility for the original self's past. Seeing Tingyu arrive with the medicine, Gu Yunyao said, "Put it on the stove and let it simmer for now. Give it to him when he wakes up."

Tingyu nodded, turned, glanced at the bed, and immediately called out, "Third Young Master, the Second Young Master is awake!"

Gu Yunyao quickly regained consciousness and saw the young man on the bed slowly open his eyes. His expression was hazy, his dark pupils wet.

He stared at Gu Yunyao for a long moment, seemingly too confused by the fever to recognize her.

Gu Yunyao's heart raced, and she whispered, "How...do you feel?"

But the next moment, Gu Yanzhi closed his eyes and opened them again. His eyes were like torches, a fierce emotion raging in them. He stared at Gu Yunyao intently, his gaze as if...he was about to strangle her underwater.