Not a Scummy Alpha, But a Sweet Puppy (Transmigration Into A Novel) - Chapter 6

Today, she had deliberately worn a mustard-yellow jacket and a pair of earrings, looking youthful and vibrant. Clutching the painting that had been returned to her, she headed to the agreed-upon restaurant to meet Gu Zhibai.

Jiang Zhenmian had originally intended to treat Gu Zhibai, but Gu Zhibai politely declined. Gu Zhibai argued that since Jiang Zhenmian had given her a gift, it was only proper for her to reciprocate.

The venue was Shuyang Lou. Jiang Zhenmian secretly checked the menu online, then glanced at her bank balance, and nearly wept tears of poverty.

At that moment, countless video clips flashed through her mind: “She married you, not to suffer with you!” “You penniless wretch, how dare you covet our young lady?” “Look at that pretty boy, just another gold digger.”

Jiang Zhenmian: Hmm… my skin is indeed quite fair.

After a half-day subway ride that left her rear numb, followed by a ten-minute walk, she finally reached Shuyang Lou. The doorman wasn’t the typical arrogant cannon fodder character from a Long Aotian novel, looking down on her for her inexpensive clothes. Instead, he was exceedingly polite, asking if she had a reservation.

Jiang Zhenmian gave her name and mentioned her appointment with Gu Zhibai. The doorman led her to the front desk, where another attendant took over.

Shuyang Lou specialized in classical Chinese aesthetics. From the decor to the staff’s attire, the entire establishment exuded an ancient, refined atmosphere.

Celadon porcelain ornaments and gold- and silver-inlaid decorations were elegantly displayed at the front. Intricate details were subtly revealed, creating a balanced and visually striking effect.

This was Jiang Zhenmian’s first time in such a high-end establishment, even across two lifetimes. Her only thought was, “Those large vases in the hallway look so smooth, I really want to touch them.”

The attendant escorted her to the reserved private room, poured tea, and offered assistance with any needs before leaving her alone to look around.

Then, as if by magic, she pulled a compact with a small mirror from her bag and patted some powder onto her face.

Jiang Zhenmian wasn’t skilled at makeup. Fortunately, her youthful, naturally beautiful face needed little embellishment; her natural vibrancy was her best asset. Still, to brighten her complexion, she furtively dabbed a bit of lipstick onto her finger and applied it to her lips, pressing them together.

Having finished her preparations, Jiang Zhenmian finally calmed down, took a few sips of tea to soothe her throat, and began to observe her surroundings.

Gu Zhibai had specifically asked if she had any dietary restrictions, to which Jiang Zhenmian honestly replied that she didn’t. Yet Gu Zhibai remained tight-lipped about what dishes they would be having, saying only with a mysterious smile, “You’ll see when it comes. I promise it’ll be delicious.”

This only heightened Jiang Zhenmian’s anticipation. She had glanced at the menu, and to be honest, the only thing she recognized was rice, and even that was probably a different variety than what she was used to.

She didn’t have to wait long before the private room door slid open. Gu Zhibai entered, wearing a long, dark green dress, her black hair and crimson lips giving her a vintage Hollywood glamour.

A smile bloomed on Gu Zhibai’s lips as soon as she saw Jiang Zhenmian. “Traffic was a bit heavy,” she said softly. “Have you been waiting long?”

Jiang Zhenmian stood up awkwardly, her gaze meeting Gu Zhibai’s for only a fleeting moment. Dazzled by the woman’s warm amber eyes, she quickly averted her gaze, dropping it hastily to those vivid red lips. What would it feel like to kiss them?

Jiang Zhenmian’s hand, hidden beneath the table, swiftly and precisely pinched her thigh, allowing her to regain her composure. “No, no, I just got here myself. Please, have a seat, Sister.”

Gu Zhibai removed her off-white shawl, revealing her smooth, fair shoulders and neck. The bright silver light cascaded over her skin like a dusting of glitter. Jiang Zhenmian’s gaze inevitably drifted to the velvety curve of Gu Zhibai’s neck, lingering on the glimpse of her collarbone beneath the pearl necklace. Her breath caught, and she quickly averted her eyes.

This beauty struck her like a small, sharp, heart-shaped golden arrow, piercing straight through her heart.

I can’t lose my composure!

Jiang Zhenmian subtly inhaled deeply, grabbed the wrapped painting frame from the adjacent seat, and used it to distract herself. “I brought the painting. Here you go.”

Gu Zhibai’s face lit up with delight as she accepted the painting, studying it intently for a moment.

Her focused expression revealed another facet of her beauty. Her long, curled lashes fluttered slowly, like butterflies resting on dewdrops. Her skin, as white as cream, had only a faint blush on her cheeks, a natural, healthy glow.

Gu Zhibai possessed a gentle and elegant beauty, the epitome of Eastern grace. Her features were soft, without any sharp edges. As she lowered her gaze and smiled, she resembled a budding orchid, its petals slowly unfurling.

Yet to Jiang Zhenmian, this beauty was more captivating than the most dazzling jewels.

For as long as Gu Zhibai admired the painting, Jiang Zhenmian secretly watched her. Only when Gu Zhibai rewrapped the artwork and set it aside did Jiang Zhenmian finally shift her gaze, staring intently at the teacup before her as if it held some extraordinary allure.

“They have many signature dishes here,” Gu Zhibai said, her voice calm and measured. “But my favorite is the old pigeon soup. With the weather turning cooler, a warm bowl of soup is perfect for warming up.”

She continued, “The chestnut foie gras is another must-try. It’s rich but not greasy. I order both every time I come.”

Jiang Zhenmian didn’t try to feign sophistication. Coming from a humble background with no financial backing, she had never been exposed to such delicacies. She saw no reason to feel inferior. Rather than pretending to be worldly or shrinking back in embarrassment, she chose to be forthright. After all, even if she were wealthy, could she ever match Gu Zhibai’s wealth?

“Then I’ll savor every bite later!” Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

The dishes arrived quickly: braised abalone and pork belly, stir-fried green snow cabbage with bamboo shoots, ham and yam cubes, and pigeon soup with foie gras, filling the table. The main course was lobster noodles.

The braised pork belly was rich and flavorful, delicious. The bamboo shoots were crisp and refreshing, delicious. The pigeon soup was smooth and savory, delicious. The lobster noodles were vibrant and springy, delicious!

How could everything be so delicious?

Jiang Zhenmian ate one bite after another, unable to stop.

Gu Zhibai sipped her tea, watching Jiang Zhenmian devour the lobster meat. Her gaze sharpened slightly before she resumed her casual demeanor, picking up a chopstick to take a bite of food.

The real Jiang Zhenmian had always loathed seafood. Whether fish or shrimp, she never touched it, finding it too fishy.

Once, when Gu Zhibai had made fish soup, she had been scolded for it, accused of not caring about her at all. “You know I hate fish! Why would you make this? It stinks!” She hadn’t touched any of the other dishes either, throwing down her chopsticks and storming off.

When Jiang Zhenmian claimed she had no dietary restrictions, Gu Zhibai found it strange. She had deliberately chosen lobster noodles as the main course to test her, leaving her no choice but to eat it.

Looking at her, it was clear she absolutely loved it, not a hint of reluctance in her expression.

Could someone’s preferences really change so drastically?

Gu Zhibai lowered her gaze, concealing the thoughtful look in her eyes.

“Host, Host, stop focusing on the food and say something about that news!”

There it was again, that voice.
The next moment, she saw Jiang Zhenmian swallow her mouthful, take a sip of tea, and say in a cheerful tone, “Oh, right, Sister, I have some good news! I don’t know if it’s a surprise or not, hehe, we’re going to be colleagues now! Well, actually, you’ll be my boss!”

Gu Zhibai: “What?”

Jiang Zhenmian smiled sheepishly, then added with a hint of pride, “I applied for the new art and creative design position, and my design proposal was approved! I’ll start my internship next week.”

Jiang Zhenmian was, at best, someone who could be described as having a decent amount of initiative. To be precise, when the reward was sufficiently enticing, she transformed as if she’d activated a premium membership accelerator, shedding her usual sluggishness and operating at peak efficiency. Her eyes burned with determination, her fighting spirit soared, as if she’d been injected with ten tons of chicken blood.

She made a point of following Gu Corporation’s activities and noticed they were recruiting collaborative artists. Burning the midnight oil, she rushed to finish several sketches and submitted them.

No matter how you pursue someone, you need to create opportunities to spend time together. Just chatting online isn’t enough.

Besides, she needed to be proactive herself, finding a job or internship. She couldn’t just freeload, right?

This was a win-win situation.

An internship? Does she even need to work? Gu Zhibai vaguely recalled that in her previous life, “Jiang Zhenmian” had never held a job. Though she’d claimed she’d take on freelance art commissions, she’d stopped updating her portfolio long before they became a couple and moved in together. All living expenses had been covered by Gu Zhibai alone.

Gu Zhibai hadn’t minded the small expenses. In her mind, as the older and more financially stable partner, it was only natural for her to contribute more.

The person on the other end was still rambling about her interview, clearly trying to embellish the story to make it sound funnier.

Same face, same name, but different demeanor, different personality.
Could she have been reborn into her parallel world self? That would explain the similarities and differences. This Jiang Zhenmian wasn’t the one who had hurt her; she was just an innocent person.

But what about that strange voice?

“Host, you have sauce on your lip!”

Gu Zhibai looked up at Jiang Zhenmian. Sure enough, a small patch of brown sauce clung to the corner of her mouth. Jiang Zhenmian’s face stiffened, and she quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe it away.

Her mind swirled with confusion as she absentmindedly finished her meal, trying to maintain a natural demeanor while chatting with Jiang Zhenmian and even feigning surprise and congratulations.

After the meal, Gu Zhibai glanced at her phone, feigning work obligations. She pretended not to notice Jiang Zhenmian’s sudden look of disappointment, offered an apologetic smile, and said goodbye.

Jiang Zhenmian walked her to the car, waving through the window as Gu Zhibai drove off. Gu Zhibai waved back with a smile, a picture of warmth and affection. But as she pulled out of the parking lot, her brow furrowed again, her eyes filled with confusion.

As she drove home, Gu Zhibai pulled out her phone, opened her browser, and silently typed: What does it mean to hear a second voice in my head?

A flood of search results immediately appeared. Some suggested it was tinnitus caused by work stress, others claimed it was her inner voice, while another warned of a high likelihood of schizophrenia and recommended psychiatric consultation.

Gu Zhibai’s expression grew increasingly grave. Could it be… could it be that I’m hallucinating because I have schizophrenia?
******

Note:

There’s two changes to the setup: Xiao Jiang is now a senior, not a junior, and CEO Gu can only hear the System’s voice, not Xiao Jiang’s words. This range is five meters, but she doesn’t know that yet.

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