After Her Death, They Begged for Forgiveness - Chapter 11

Gu Xiaozhou waited patiently for a week, only to eventually discover that Xu Bingqi had deleted all her social media accounts across every platform.

She clicked into Xu Bingqi’s WeChat, which displayed the status: [Deactivated WeChat User].

Unwilling to accept it, Gu Xiaozhou tapped again, only to find a cold line of text: This account is no longer in use. Tap for details.

Gu Xiaozhou was momentarily dazed. She couldn’t believe that in this age of information, someone would willingly abandon all the connections they had built on their original accounts.

It was like tearing down the Great Wall with one’s own hands.

She recalled how the butler had told her earlier that Xu Bingqi had moved out of the Xu family villa.

At first, she thought Xu Bingqi was playing some kind of strategic retreat, but now she was beginning to change her mind.

No one would delete all their social media accounts just out of a momentary fit of pique.

Unless that person had already made up their mind to leave for good.

If Xu Bingqi was truly determined to leave the Xu family this time, then perhaps she wouldn’t compete with Xiao Ruo over the family assets anymore, would she?

If Xu Bingqi could really stay out of trouble from now on and never return to the Xu family, then Gu Xiaozhou might just let her off the hook for now.

After all, the time bomb was still firmly in her hands. She could make Xu Bingqi’s life a living hell anytime she wanted.

With that thought, the tension in Gu Xiaozhou’s heart slowly receded like a tide, and her mood gradually returned to calm.

She studied her reflection in the dressing mirror carefully, making sure every strand of hair was perfectly in place, before adjusting her angle to reveal a smile as radiant as the sun.

Today, she was going to visit Xiao Ruo on set.

Gu Xiaozhou took another moment to gaze at herself in the full-length mirror, and once satisfied, she broke into a brilliant smile.

She didn’t expect Jiang Ruo to fall in love with her one day, but she did hope Jiang Ruo would always see her as her best friend.

Gu Xiaozhou hurried to Jiang Ruo’s film set.

Today, she had treated the entire crew to milk tea and lunch in Jiang Ruo’s name.

After all, Jiang Ruo was a bit naive, Gu Xiaozhou had to take care of everything for her.

When Gu Xiaozhou arrived, Jiang Ruo was half-reclining on a lounge chair, a faint smile playing on her lips as she chatted and laughed with another actor nearby.

The moment Jiang Ruo spotted Gu Xiaozhou, her eyes lit up, and her smile widened. She turned to the actress beside her, who had suddenly grown visibly more reserved, and introduced, “This is Gu Xiaozhou, my friend.”

The actress immediately stood up in surprise. Although she already knew Gu Xiaozhou’s status, seeing the young CEO personally visiting the set made her realize just how close the two really were.

Jiang Ruo remained reclined on the lounge chair, gesturing for Gu Xiaozhou to take a seat nearby. With a light laugh, she said, “Did you see today’s hot search? My sister deleted all her social media accounts.”

A crew member promptly brought over an empty chair and placed it next to Jiang Ruo’s lounge chair for Gu Xiaozhou to sit. After settling in, Gu Xiaozhou nodded. “I never thought it would actually be true.”

Jiang Ruo’s smile faded slightly as she shook her head gently. “I never doubted it for a second.”

Gu Xiaozhou noticed the faint trace of melancholy in Jiang Ruo’s expression and couldn’t understand why Jiang Ruo cared so much about Xu Bingqi’s departure. “Isn’t it better this way? At least she won’t be around to bully you in the Xu family anymore.”

“But she’s still my sister, my mother’s own daughter. We’re all worried about her.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Jiang Ruo caught the look of concern in Gu Xiaozhou’s gaze directed at her, and a subtle feeling stirred within her.

Somewhat inappropriately, she found herself thinking of Xu Bingqi, the very person Gu Xiaozhou despised to the core.

She seemed to have somewhat forgotten when exactly it started when those two who were once inseparable gradually became like strangers, eventually going their separate ways.

But Jiang Ruo quickly suppressed the strange emotions in her heart. Before the novel’s plot concluded, she had no time for melancholy or sentimentality. She had to ensure everything returned to its proper course.

Gu Xiaozhou didn’t take it seriously: “Why worry about her? Xiao Ruo, you’re just too kind-hearted, even feeling pity for someone like Xu Bingqi.”

Jiang Ruo patiently listened to all of Gu Xiaozhou’s incessant chatter: “No matter what kind of person she is, she is still my sister. I must ensure her safety.”

Gu Xiaozhou always felt that Jiang Ruo possessed a kind of innocence and kindness, as if she were a doll dancer enclosed in a glass dome of a music box, unable to push open the glass and step into the real world.

This thought lingered in Gu Xiaozhou’s mind for only a moment before slipping away.

After a moment of contemplation, she said, “I’ll look into her whereabouts and let you know when I have any news.”

Jiang Ruo tilted her face slightly upward, the corners of her lips curving into a smile. “Sister Xiaozhou, you’re so good to me.”

Gu Xiaozhou’s lips unconsciously lifted into a smile.

Making Jiang Ruo happy made anything worth doing.

Today, she had a rare moment of leisure and decided to visit a flower shop to personally pick out a bouquet to give to Jiang Ruo in the evening.

Because they had become friends in November years ago, Gu Xiaozhou would personally select the most beautiful yellow irises at the end of every November.

The language of yellow irises is “Friendship forever.”

Every year, she silently prayed in her heart that she and Jiang Ruo would remain friends forever.

This time, at the flower shop she visited annually, Gu Xiaozhou encountered a familiar face.

“Hello, I’d like to pick out the most beautiful bouquet of sunflowers.”

Gu Xiaozhou, who was in the middle of selecting flowers, turned her head gently. The owner of the melodious and elegant voice made all the flowers in the shop pale in comparison.

Gu Xiaozhou recognized her instantly she was the girl who had spoken up for Xu Bingqi at the hospital entrance.

Though she was momentarily captivated by the other’s appearance, Gu Xiaozhou instinctively felt an aversion to the person before her.

Anyone who held a favorable opinion of Xu Bingqi was cut from the same cloth as Xu Bingqi.

The girl wasn’t as lively and energetic as she had been during their encounter at the hospital. Instead, she carried an unfamiliar sense of quietness.

Gu Xiaozhou overheard the shop assistant ask, “Miss, who are you selecting the sunflower bouquet for? We can help you choose an appropriate greeting card here.”

“It’s for an older sister who has been very kind to me.”

Song Guanjin thought for a moment and then asked, “Can I pick out the bouquet first and then choose the greeting card myself?”

The shop assistant smiled warmly. “Of course. I’ll first help you select some greeting cards suitable for family or friends, and then you can choose from them.”

After Gu Xiaozhou finished selecting the appropriate flowers, the shop assistant skillfully wrapped them in a dreamy princess-style bouquet packaging.

After adorning it layer by layer with ribbons, pearls, and glitter, the young shop assistant chuckled softly and said, “You always choose this packaging for Miss Jiang Ruo’s yellow irises every year.”

Hearing Jiang Ruo’s name, Song Guanjin glanced sideways at Gu Xiaozhou, who was quietly waiting for her bouquet to be wrapped. Their eyes met briefly in the air before she lowered her gaze.

In just a few days, her agent had taught her the intricacies of social etiquette in the entertainment industry. She held no favorable opinion of Jiang Ruo, who had set traps for her during their script reading sessions.

Gu Xiaozhou didn’t let it rest. After a brief pause, she walked over to Song Guanjin’s side. “I’m Gu Xiaozhou. We met before at the hospital entrance.”

“Hello.”

Song Guanjin offered a brief greeting before immediately shifting her gaze back to the sunflowers in full bloom.

“They’re quite beautiful. Who are you picking them for?”

Normally, Gu Xiaozhou wouldn’t bother with a mere pretty face like Song Guanjin, but because of Xu Bingqi, she felt a malicious curiosity toward this person.

“For a friend.”

Song Guanjin didn’t look up, still focused on selecting suitable arrangements.

How utterly rude, Gu Xiaozhou thought with a hint of disgust.

She didn’t press further.

The wrapping Song Guanjin chose was simple, she couldn’t possibly afford the kind of luxurious floral packaging Gu Xiaozhou had selected.

By the time Gu Xiaozhou’s bouquet was nearly wrapped, Song Guanjin had already picked out a greeting card and was carefully writing her message.

She was completely absorbed in the task, her eyes fixed and unblinking, as if pouring all her sincerity through her gaze into the pen.

For a moment, Gu Xiaozhou felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if she were seeing herself meticulously writing cards for Jiang Ruoshu every year.

This person must be very important to her.

Bored and idle, Gu Xiaozhou casually glanced at the card Song Guanjin was writing. In an instant, her eyes widened slightly, filled with shock.

The card was addressed to Xu Bingqi.

In all likelihood, this bouquet would end up in Xu Bingqi’s hands.

A surge of resentment nearly erupted from Gu Xiaozhou’s heart.

Gu Xiaozhou had never known this card-writing pretty face before her. She was certain that, at least a month ago, Xu Bingqi’s social circle had no such person. Yet, at a time when Xu Bingqi had deleted all her accounts and no one could reach her, this insignificant pretty face could still send flowers to Xu Bingqi.

It was simply unbelievable.

Could it be that this very person had lured Xu Bingqi into abandoning the Xu family and her former social circle, cutting ties with her old life without a second thought?

Gu Xiaozhou let out a soft, disdainful snort, thinking how foolish Xu Bingqi truly was.

Thus, with every strand of her hair radiating smug contempt, Miss Gu remarked, “So these flowers are for the young lady of the Xu family.”

When Song Guanjin turned to look at her, Gu Xiaozhou sneered, “So she’s your friend. But don’t say I didn’t warn you Xu Bingqi won’t get a single cent of the Xu family’s fortune. Befriending someone like that, you might end up with nothing but empty hands.”

Seeing no reaction from Song Guanjin, Gu Xiaozhou added, “I’ve seen plenty of schemes from people like you, but you’ve got particularly poor taste picking a foolish waste of space.”

Song Guanjin gave Gu Xiaozhou a pitying look.

She thought someone like the person before her, who flew into a rage at the slightest provocation, ought to get their brain checked at the hospital.

“Don’t avoid treatment for fear of the diagnosis.”

After paying, Song Guanjin picked up her bouquet, carefully inserted the card, and looked earnestly at Gu Xiaozhou. “If you have time, go get a brain scan at the hospital.”

Gu Xiaozhou hadn’t expected this person to dare mock her. She took a deep breath to calm herself, barely managing to keep her expression from twisting in anger.

“Just you wait.”

The words were forced through Gu Xiaozhou’s teeth, a stark contrast to her usual elegance and composure.

She would make sure neither Xu Bingqi nor this audacious pretty face had an easy time from now on.

Song Guanjin thought Gu Xiaozhou meant for her to wait patiently for the medical examination report. After giving Gu Xiaozhou a puzzled glance, she cheerfully left the flower shop with the carefully selected bouquet.

Tonight, she was treating Sister Bingqi to dinner and wanted to arrive early to surprise her.

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