Gu Yu was born in the Millennium Dragon Year, when the maternity ward of the hospital was overcrowded and it was difficult to find a bed. After much difficulty, Gu Yu's mother managed to secure one, only to find that the family in the next bed was that of a fortune-teller.

The fortune-teller sported a pair of small mustaches and wore round, black-framed glasses. Glancing back at the cradled Gu Yu, he frowned and smacked his lips, saying, "This child, his fate is not good... Alas... I reckon he won't live past twenty..."

His wife had been lying on the bed smiling, but upon hearing what her husband said, she became rigid in an instant. She tugged at the corner of her husband's clothes while chuckling dryly towards Gu Yu's mother, "Don't take it to heart, don't take it to heart, his predictions are never accurate... Ha ha... Ha ha ha..."

Gu Yu's father, although a regular civil servant, was also an amateur boxing enthusiast. Upon hearing the fortune-teller spout such nonsense, he clenched his fists, ready to hit him, but thanks to their numerous aunts who stopped him, they managed to avoid a fatality in the hospital ward.

However, after just a few days, Gu Yu's mother noticed that her son was weak at suckling and would sometimes even choke and cough during feeding, and seemed to breathe quite rapidly at other times. She hurriedly called for a doctor who, upon examination, said with a grave face, "It could be congenital heart disease. Why don't you take him to a larger hospital in the provincial capital for a look?"

Gu Yu's parents exchanged a glance and without another word, began packing to head to the provincial city.

At that moment, the fortune-teller insisted on shaking his head and said, "Don't rush, don't rush. Everyone has their own fate. Your son has a cluster of lucky stars in his House of Fortune according to his Zi Wei Dou Shu astrological chart. Whether or not he can live past twenty will depend on this noble person."

Gu Yu's father gave him a fierce glare and said, "Spare us your feudal superstitions, we believe in science, not fate!!"

"Tsk, tsk, so stubborn..." The fortune-teller smacked his lips and watched as they left.

——

Five years later, Z City.

The spring was splendid, with grass growing and warblers flying, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers.

Tang Yuran, now in the middle class of kindergarten, was sitting in the classroom listening attentively to the teacher talk about not speaking to strangers, when suddenly the classroom door was pushed open.

Another teacher peeked in, smiled at the teaching Mrs. Zhang, and whispered, "A new student has arrived."

Mrs. Zhang nodded and then said to the children with a beaming smile, "We have a new student joining our class today. Let's welcome him with a round of applause, shall we??"

"Yes—!!" The children replied in their sweet voices, and a somewhat scattered applause arose in the classroom.

The teacher standing by the door smiled, turned her head, and, holding the hand of a little boy, slowly walked into the classroom.

The weather that day was just right, the bright and dazzling sun shining through the classroom windows, casting a light, white halo on the little boy in the white shirt.

The boy in the halo was delicately featured, his brows and eyes picturesque. Tang Yuran blinked and thought he was really good-looking.