I Quit Being This Female Lead (GL) - Chapter 90

Since Xun’s mother handed over her industries to her daughter, she had been living an incredibly carefree life. When she was happy, she went abroad to feed pigeons; when she wasn’t, she wandered across the country, sending various local specialties and postcards to her two daughters from every place she visited.

The autumn weather was very crisp. After feeding the cat food to Guazi (Sunflower Seed), Mang Ke carried the cat out to sunbathe on the scratching post in the yard.

“Miss Mang Ke.”

The maid stood at the door, holding a large box, and said, “Madam has sent another box of gifts. Should we open it now, or wait until Miss is back?”

Mang Ke looked back at the box in the maid’s arms. The carton, wrapped in brown paper, was covered with various exquisite postmarks and stamps, making it look too delicate to be an ordinary package.

“Did Yunyun say what time she’s coming back today?”

Mang Ke walked over the flagstone path in the courtyard, took the package from the maid’s arms, and asked without looking up, “If she’s coming back early today, we’ll open it together. If she’s coming back late, I’ll open it first and take a look.”

The maid replied, “Miss didn’t say what time she’d be back when she left today. Would Miss Mang Ke like to call and ask?”

Mang Ke sighed softly: “She must be busy. I won’t disturb her. Auntie, please find a place to put this down for now. We’ll talk about it when Yunyun gets back tonight.”

The package was returned to the maid’s arms. The maid saw her somewhat disappointed expression but didn’t know how to comfort her. Since Madam left, all the company’s work had been handed over to Xun Fangyun. It had been nearly a week, and the two of them hadn’t had a proper conversation.

The wind scattered the falling leaves. Many flowers and trees were planted in the yard, including two ancient ginkgo trees. They stood nestled together, their branches and leaves dense enough to cover the sky. It was said that Xun’s mother had spent a fortune to transplant them from another location.

Thick ginkgo leaves covered the yard, and the maid would sweep them up according to the weather. Fortunately, the weather had been nice these past few days, so a thick layer of leaves had collected under the ginkgo trees in the yard, looking remarkably bright.

Guazi’s scratching post was under these ginkgo trees. Sometimes, when the cat got tired of the post, it would climb the trees and occasionally stay there all day without wandering off.

Dinner was simple home-style dishes prepared for Mang Ke. Only Mang Ke and the two maids ate at the table.

Local news was playing on the wide LCD screen. Mang Ke glanced back while eating her Kung Pao Chicken. Today’s broadcast seemed to be an interview with a local tycoon.

[Thank you, Miss Xun, for accepting an exclusive interview with our television station.]

On the screen, a female host in a magenta suit jacket sat on a sofa, looking at Xun Fangyun, and smiled: [How is your work going, Miss Xun? We heard you took over the company less than a year ago. Are you adapting well?]

Xun Fangyun, sitting opposite the host, was dressed in a black professional women’s suit. Her long hair was down. She glanced subtly towards the camera and spoke: [Initially, it was indeed a bit difficult to adjust, but over this past year, I’ve adapted quite well. I feel that once you take on certain things, they are not as daunting as you imagine.]

[Miss Xun has also made significant contributions to the local area this year. You are truly a prominent figure in the business world now.]

[I know what you mean. The circumstances of my awakening did cause a stir, and I am very grateful to have woken up because it allows me to live better in this world.]

Mang Ke turned to look at the poised Xun Fangyun on the television. She recalled that this was the new outfit she had changed into today. At the time, Mang Ke had asked her why she was dressed so formally, but Xun Fangyun had just smiled and hadn’t answered.

So, she was accepting a television interview.

Seeing that Mang Ke had forgotten to eat and was focused intently on the TV program, the two maids exchanged a knowing look, then pressed the remote control to record the segment.

Mang Ke saw the “REC” symbol displayed on the TV and buried her head in her food, asking, “Why are you recording this for no reason?”

The older maid couldn’t help but laugh: “Miss finally appears on a television interview, of course we have to save it properly.”

Mang Ke mumbled quietly, “She’s been on TV before.”

“We save every interview, because Madam wants to watch them too.”

The maid scooped a bowl of soup for Mang Ke and placed it in front of her, smiling: “This is being recorded for Madam to watch.”

Mang Ke nodded, the tips of her ears faintly red.

The meal took longer than usual. Only after the TV interview finished did Mang Ke put down her bowl and chopsticks and return to the bedroom.

Meanwhile, Xun Fangyun, who had just finished the live interview, let out a long breath. She looked at the host and smiled: “Is that it?”

The host also smiled: “Yes, thank you for your hard work, Miss Xun. Today’s interview was a great success.”

Xun Fangyun stood up. She checked the time and said, “It’s getting late. I’ll head back now.”

“Of course, please be careful on your way, Miss Xun.”

Leaving the broadcast room, Xun Fangyun unbuttoned the collar of her suit jacket while taking out her phone from her pocket. She pressed the power button, and after a few seconds, the screen slowly lit up.

Taking the television station’s elevator down to the parking lot, Xun Fangyun checked her missed calls but didn’t find the call she had been hoping for.

Xun Fangyun felt a little upset. She was coming home so late and her phone was off, why didn’t Mang Ke think to call her?

Despite her internal complaints, Xun Fangyun still dialed the home phone number. The maid who had just finished tidying up answered.

“Miss.”

“Mhm,” Xun Fangyun asked while getting into the car, “Has Xiao Ke eaten?”

“Miss Mang Ke has already eaten and went upstairs to rest,” the maid replied.

Xun Fangyun pondered for a moment: “Did she ask why I’m coming home so late today?”

“No,” the maid chuckled. “Miss Mang Ke was focused on watching your interview during dinner. She only went upstairs after the program finished.”

Hearing this, Xun Fangyun couldn’t help but smile. So, it wasn’t that she didn’t care about her.

“I see,” Xun Fangyun cleared her throat. “I’ll be home shortly.”

“Okay, I’ll prepare some supper for you here.”

“Mhm, thank you.”

The city night was submerged in a sea of neon. Xun Fangyun drove straight home from the TV station, bypassing the winding streets of the old city.

Click—

As the car stopped, the maid opened the door and said, looking at Xun Fangyun getting out of the car, “The food is ready. Shall I serve it now?”

“Wait a moment,” Xun Fangyun handed her bag to the maid, looked up at the second-floor bedroom, and asked, “Is Xiao Ke asleep?”

“I don’t think so,” the maid closed the door. “Miss Mang Ke asked me to pour her a glass of milk just a moment ago.”

Xun Fangyun nodded. Passing the living room, she saw the package covered in postmarks on the table and asked, “Mom sent something again?”

“It arrived today. Miss Mang Ke said she wanted to wait for you to open it together.”

Xun Fangyun chuckled softly, walked over, picked up the package, and weighed it. It wasn’t very heavy. She said, “I’ll take it up to open. It’s getting late. Auntie, you should rest soon.”

Without waiting for the maid’s reply, Xun Fangyun took the letter opener and the package and went upstairs.

The small nightlights in the hallway ensured that the path was visible even without the main lights on. Xun Fangyun walked up, stopping when she reached her and Mang Ke’s bedroom.

She saw that the bedroom door wasn’t fully closed. A faint, warm light spilled out from the slightly ajar door, as if someone was waiting for someone.

Coming home from the noisy city, knowing there was always someone waiting, instantly made all the exhaustion and hardship disappear.

Xun Fangyun felt she could understand that feeling, just like now: after a long day of work, Mang Ke would still be sitting obediently by the bed, waiting for her to come home to sleep.

That feeling was immensely satisfying to Xun Fangyun.

The creaking sound of the door opening caught Mang Ke’s attention. She looked up at Xun Fangyun standing at the door and asked, “When did you get back?”

Xun Fangyun smiled and walked in, saying, “Just arrived. Auntie said you were about to sleep?”

Mang Ke’s eyes curved in a smile. She held up the thick book she was reading and shook it: “I’m reading a novel. It’s perfect for waiting for you.”

Seeing Xun Fangyun approach, Mang Ke moved over, leaving room for her on the bed, and noticed the package she was holding.

“Why did you bring that up?” Mang Ke closed her book and stood up to lean close to Xun Fangyun: “I wanted to wait until tomorrow to open it with you.”

Xun Fangyun placed the box on her lap and held the letter opener: “We can open it today. I also want to know where Mom went this time.”

The silvery letter opener cut through the brown paper wrapping, making a slit along an edge. Sliding it down the cut, the brown paper fell away, revealing a small leather box with a baked red lacquer finish inside.

Mang Ke leaned on Xun Fangyun’s shoulder, looking at the beautiful box, and asked, “What is this?”

Xun Fangyun picked it up and examined it, seeing a metal clasp on the front of the small leather box. She pressed the clasp gently with her thumb and heard a ‘click,’ and the box popped open slightly.

The scent of roses emanating from the gap surprised both of them. As the box opened, Mang Ke saw a butterfly specimen framed in a case, surrounded by preserved flowers. The black and gold butterfly was so vivid and lifelike it was hard to believe it wasn’t alive.

Below the butterfly, a word was written in beautiful script—Battus polydamas.

Xun Fangyun looked at the framed specimen, couldn’t help but glance back at Mang Ke, and whispered in her ear: “Gold-rimmed swallowtail butterfly. Mom sent this to us.”

Looking at the beautiful and quiet butterfly specimen, Mang Ke blinked and asked, “Why would Mom send us a butterfly specimen?”

The preserved flowers and the swallowtail butterfly lay in the box, looking as beautiful as a work of art.

Xun Fangyun gently touched the frame.

A butterfly needs to dissolve its own body to emerge from its cocoon. Except for vital organs, everything turns into nourishment for its new life. This pain, which is almost a ‘rebirth,’ is what leads to a completely new world.

Xun Fangyun knew her mother still cared deeply about the years she spent in a coma, and she didn’t want to disappoint her. She also wanted to truly experience this brand-new world.

And she wanted to do it with the most important person in her life.

Mang Ke, curious because Xun Fangyun kept touching the frame without speaking, leaned against her back and rubbed against it.

“I’m so sleepy,” Mang Ke whined affectionately. “Aren’t you tired after working all day? Can we go to sleep together?”

Xun Fangyun turned to look at her, smiled, and leaned in to peck Mang Ke’s soft lips. “Alright, I’ll take a shower. Wait for me in bed.”

Mang Ke: “???”

Mang Ke blushed and said, “I’m really sleepy. I didn’t mean anything else…”

Xun Fangyun leaned closer and chuckled: “I didn’t mean anything else either. Why are you blushing?”

Mang Ke: “…You bad person.”

Xun Fangyun: “But since you seem to be looking forward to it, I can take a shower quickly. Be a good girl and wait for me in bed.”

Annoyed, Mang Ke grabbed a pillow and threw it at Xun Fangyun, then turned and burrowed under the covers.

Xun Fangyun laughed softly. She leaned down, kissed Mang Ke’s forehead, and said, “You sleep first. Goodnight.”

Their brand-new life was still long, and she wanted to savor every moment of it.

—-End of Chapter 90: Extra 1—-