He Woke Up!
“Hubby, there’s no need to thank me. It’s what I should do.”
Ning Yi’s good deed had indeed allowed Gu Cheng to detect scents again. Yet she remained humble, showing no sign of arrogance!
The lingering odour around Gu Cheng’s nose served as a reminder that his sense of smell was functioning again. “…Mm.”
Ning Yi clasped her hands over her heart with emotion. “Hubby, I can’t wait for the day you wake up!”
But Gu Cheng, his voice indifferent, asked, “When I recover, will Ah Yi still love me this much?” Once she truly saw… who he was.
“Of course, hubby!” Ning Yi replied without a hint of hesitation. “When you’re down, I’ll stay by your side. When you rise again, who else would I be but yours?”
Gu Cheng was silent for a moment, not inclined to answer.
Ning Yi eagerly supplied, “Your eternal love! Your North Star!”
Gu Cheng: “…”
He had never met anyone who threw around declarations of love as casually as Ning Yi.
And yet—
Since she’d appeared, he could hardly feel lonely anymore.
Feeling like she was Gu Cheng’s indispensable ally on his path to recovery, Ning Yi declared confidently, “Hubby, I’ll help you regain your sense of taste and hearing too!”
By any means necessary. Boldly and thoroughly!
Gu Cheng imagined the potential “methods” Ning Yi might use in the future.
He fell silent. “….”
—
Elsewhere.
After leaving the Gu household, Ding Ziyue headed straight to the hospital. She knew that the lonely Gu Cheng was still waiting for her voice to reach him!
Ding Ziyue had come up with a brilliant way to communicate with him.
Since Gu Cheng’s inability to hear or see wasn’t caused by innate neurological issues, she could use bone-conduction headphones! With this device, she could record everything she wanted to say and play it directly for Gu Cheng.
Ding Ziyue was so moved by her own idea that she almost cried.
She could barely imagine it—after three long years of isolation, when Gu Cheng finally heard someone’s voice for the first time, would he be so emotional that he shed tears?
That night, back home with her headphones, Ding Ziyue cleared her throat and began pouring out every word of encouragement she had for him in the gentlest, softest tone possible.
When her recording was complete, she updated her CMore profile with a cryptic post:
“Days without light must feel like the apocalypse [image].”
The post was a double entendre. On one hand, she subtly hinted at her anticipation for the moment she would be the “light” that awakened Gu Cheng. On the other hand, it announced her participation in the upcoming high-society post-apocalypse-themed outdoor event.
This event, an annual highlight among the elite, was grand as always. This year’s randomized theme was the apocalypse. And this time, Ding Ziyue was determined not to let Ning Yi steal the spotlight again!
Or rather—once Gu Cheng woke up, Ning Yi’s ability to keep her footing in the family might become questionable.
Ding Ziyue smiled to herself.
—
The Next Day.
Gu Cheng had just finished cooperating with a round of medical examinations.
The doctors recorded the data, discussing quietly as they closed the door behind them.
“Madam’s methods seem to be effective?”
“Should we try them ourselves?”
“Good idea. Let’s get started…”
As their voices faded, a figure quietly slipped into the room.
Smiling, she picked up Gu Cheng’s hand and wrote a few words on it.
“…” Gu Cheng maintained his impassive expression. After a moment, he spoke to Ning Yi in his mind: “Ah Yi, do you want to rest for a bit?”
Having just eaten her fill, Ning Yi had indeed planned to take a nap.
But Gu Cheng taking the initiative to ask her to rest? Highly unusual.
Feeling suspicious, she tapped a few keys on her computer and easily hacked into the Gu family’s surveillance system. When she saw her sister’s cheerful face on the screen, she froze. “…”
“No thanks, hubby,” Ning Yi said sweetly. “You’ve been resting too little lately. I wouldn’t want to disturb you ^3^.”
Gu Cheng: “…”
Moments later, something resembling a pair of headphones was placed over his ears.
A soft background melody began to play. Against the melancholic and tender notes of a winter love song, Ding Ziyue launched into her tragic heroine monologue.
“Hey, Gu Cheng, how are you?”
“Your three years, I ache for you. I understand all the pain you’ve endured.”
“That year, that version of you, has always stayed in my heart.”
Gu Cheng: “…”
The veins on the back of his hand slowly began to bulge.
Meanwhile, Ding Ziyue sat by the bedside, watching as her voice transmitted into Gu Cheng’s mind through the headphones. Her heart melted with tenderness.
“I know my sister, Ning Yi, has caused you a lot of harm.”
“But don’t be afraid—I’ve always been here for you.”
Worried that Gu Cheng might not know who had been the one mistreating and “abusing” him, Ding Ziyue deliberately emphasized Ning Yi’s name. This way, when he woke up, it would be the moment Ning Yi faced her downfall and Ding Ziyue rose to glory!
Gu Cheng: “…”
He suppressed his irritation, again and again, before finally asking Ning Yi in his mind, “Ah Yi, are you sure you don’t want to rest?”
Ning Yi replied sweetly, “Shhh, love.”
By the time Gu Cheng finished enduring this ordeal, ten long minutes had passed.
Ding Ziyue, still savouring the experience, packed up her headphones. She had poured her heart into recording three full tracks of BGM-accompanied monologues. Knowing Gu Cheng hadn’t heard another person’s voice in years, she believed every word she said was precious enough to heal his wounded soul.
If she’d had more time, she might have replayed the tracks three more times. However, a knock at the door signalled the return of the doctors, and she reluctantly had to leave. With one last lingering glance at Gu Cheng’s handsome features, she walked away, both wistful and filled with hope.
Gu Cheng managed to survive the ordeal purely through years of honed willpower.
Any less patience, and someone might not have made it out alive.
—
When the doctors returned, they began preparing the items they had discussed earlier.
“—Ah Yi.”
Gu Cheng suddenly called Ning Yi in his mind. “You can come over now.”
“?” Ning Yi glanced at the surveillance feed and confirmed that her sister had indeed left with a radiant smile.
Switching effortlessly to her “devoted wife” mode, Ning Yi cooed, “Hubby, you want to get back to work, don’t you? Alright, I guess I’ll just have to lie down for a while in your place. Go ahead, no need to worry about me~”
Gu Cheng’s lips curved into an amused smirk, though his tone remained neutral. “Ah Yi is so good to me.”
“Of course, hubby! Love you~” Ning Yi chirped.
After switching back to his own body, Gu Cheng headed straight for the study to handle urgent matters.
But as Ning Yi lay on the bed, something felt off.
What is that smell?
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was standing nearby, she cracked her eyes open slightly. The doctors were busy fiddling with something nearby—and the smell was getting stronger.
Thanks to the “success” of Ning Yi’s snail noodle bamboo shoot package experiment, the doctors had decided to try other pungent substances to observe Eldest young master Gu’s physiological responses.
After all, the madam’s methods, though unorthodox, had proven effective! Unlike previous techniques like electrotherapy, this was harmless and caused no damage to Gu Cheng’s body.
Truly, just as Madam Song Lan said, Ning Yi was a little lucky star!
Realizing something was very wrong, Ning Yi quickly tried to swap back into her own body, only to find she couldn’t—damn it! This is the third swap; the cooldown is active!
At that moment, the doctors approached with a plate of stinky tofu, holding it near her nose.
Ning Yi: “…”
Next came blue cheese, causing even the doctors themselves to grimace in pain.
Ning Yi: “…”
Finally, a can of Surströmming appeared. Dr. Qian hesitated. “Should we really open this?”
**Nomad: Surströmming is a traditional Swedish dish of fermented Baltic herring that’s been around since at least the 16th century. It’s known for its pungent smell and distinctive taste, and is sometimes considered one of the world’s smelliest foods**
Dr. Wang suggested, “Maybe just crack it open a little?”
With pained expressions, they held it closer.
Ning Yi: Don’t you dare!
Unable to bear it anymore, she gagged loudly. “Urgh!”
—
Ning Yi: Gu Cheng! How dare you repay kindness with cruelty! Just you wait!
But the next moment, the doctors by the bedside were practically ecstatic.
“Did you hear that?! Gu Cheng’s mouth moved!”
“Eldest young master can speak!”
“Quick, fetch Madam and the Old Master!”
Gu Cheng finished logging into the Gu Corporation’s intranet, gathering and reviewing the data he needed, before stepping out of the study.
His expression was dark, and his eyes gleamed with a sharp, dangerous light.
Ding Ziyue was a fool, and her brother wasn’t any better. He’d been manipulated into collaborating with Gu Zhisong to push forward the East City project—a project Gu Cheng had long envisioned as an internet industry hub. But Gu Zhisong wanted to build luxury residences on that land instead, a plan as ridiculous as if a donkey had kicked his head.
Soon, Gu Zhisong would present the East City project proposal at the shareholder meeting. Without Gu Cheng present to oppose it, if the proposal passed, it could drag the Gu Corporation into a massive pitfall.
Gu Cheng narrowed his eyes. He could no longer afford to remain idle. Although his body’s control was still in recovery, with his hands and eyes functioning, he could at least communicate and assert his intentions.
It was time to reclaim his voice.
As he walked through the manor, he suddenly noticed the staff running around, shouting:
“Eldest young master Gu has spoken!”
Gu Cheng: “?” What did I say?
The Gu family manor was already teeming with guests from elite circles. However, neither Song Lan nor the Old Master paid them any mind, racing urgently toward Gu Cheng’s room.
The news couldn’t be kept under wraps. Like a thunderclap, it exploded across the upper echelon of society—
Gu Cheng is waking up?!
Seizing the opportunity, more people flooded into the private residence. After all, this was shaping up to be the headline event of the year!
Ding Ziyue slipped into the crowd of young socialites, pretending she’d just arrived. No one knew she had already snuck into Gu Cheng’s room earlier.
She could barely hide the smug joy on her face.
She had just spoken to Gu Cheng using bone conduction headphones, and now he was about to wake up and speak!
What did this prove? Did it even need to be said?
Her light had finally pierced through his darkness!
Under her warmth and encouragement, the man was ready to rise again!
Standing beside her, Wen Xiaoman noticed “Ning Yi” walking toward them and couldn’t help but laugh.
“I say, Ning Yi, aren’t you going to hurry up? Gu Cheng is waking up! If you don’t show some effort, you’ll be kicked out of the Gu family in no time!”
“Forget using Gu Cheng’s credit card or riding his horse—can you even stay in the Gu family?”
“And don’t even think about attending events in our circle again—”
“Don’t you know that once Gu Cheng wakes up, he’s going to dump you?”
Gu Cheng: “…”
How come I don’t know about this?
Ding Ziyue affectionately grabbed his arm. “Sister, let’s go see Gu Cheng together!”
After enduring her voice for hours earlier, Gu Cheng felt sick just hearing it again. He coldly pulled his arm away.
But to Ding Ziyue, this reaction confirmed her assumption—Ning Yi was panicking!
This was the moment she had waited so long for, and she wouldn’t allow Ning Yi to escape. She wanted everyone to witness Gu Cheng acknowledging her as his guiding light and saviour!
—
In the end, Gu Cheng was escorted back to his hospital room amidst a crowd of people.
At the centre of the room’s pristine white setting, Ning Yi sat propped up against the headboard, her expression inscrutable.
For the first time, Ning Yi was experiencing Gu Cheng’s body first-hand. She could see, she could sit—although she still couldn’t move—but with this face, just looking at someone made them immediately avert their gaze in awe and bow nervously:
“Eldest young Master!”
Ning Yi: Wow, being a cold CEO is so satisfying!
Outside the room, Ding Ziyue and the others were unable to enter, so they could only watch from the doorway. The man leaning against the bed, dressed in white, with dishevelled black hair and deep, dark eyes glowing as brilliantly as ever—
Still so handsome! Like a god descending from the heavens!
It was him—Gu Cheng! He was awake!
Standing just within Gu Cheng’s line of sight, Ding Ziyue’s heart was pounding, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She was waiting for him to say it—that Ding Ziyue had guided him out of the darkness, that she was his light!
—
Inside the room, Gu Cheng and Ning Yi stared at each other, each in the other’s body.
Ning Yi (smug): So you made me smell Surströmming, huh?
Gu Cheng (stern glare): Ah Yi, don’t say anything reckless.
Ning Yi: Hehe.
Under Ding Ziyue’s expectant gaze, “Gu Cheng ” finally spoke.
“Ning Yi.”
Everyone froze in shock. Then, Ding Ziyue’s face lit up with a knowing smile—just as she’d thought, the first thing Gu Cheng would do after waking up was expose Ning Yi’s abusive behaviour!
The other elites murmured among themselves. Could it be that Ning Yi was about to be kicked out of the Gu family so soon?
But then—
“She’s my greatest benefactor,” he said.
Everyone’s expressions went completely blank.
And then, before their very eyes, Gu Cheng’s gaze fixed intently on Ning Yi.
His eyes were tinged with red, his voice hoarse as he said, “I’d give you my life. Do you believe me?”
Ding Ziyue was dumbfounded.
The elite circle exploded into chaos. Gu Cheng, still silent, muttered internally: “…Damn it.”
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