Self-Perception - Chapter 10

“But I heard that her mother abandoned her a long time ago, and she is much more attentive to her niece than to her own daughter.”

After several movements, Wen Jinyan breathed heavily. She looked up at the person in the mirror; wet strands of hair clung to her face, dripping water from the ends, and her lips were pale.

She bit her lip, using her teeth to slightly draw out some color, her fingers gripping the edge of the porcelain white marble, veins standing out.

It had been so long. She thought that hearing about her again would leave her feeling calm, at least without any turmoil, but it was still the same. She still couldn’t forget, couldn’t let go.

After standing in the bathroom for a while, Wen Jinyan took a towel and wiped the water from her face. Before leaving, she looked in the mirror and restored her indifferent demeanor.

“Where did you go just now?” Gu Wansheng placed her chopsticks on the bowl and asked casually.

“Checking my phone,” Wen Jinyan gently pulled out the chair without making a sound.

Gu Wansheng looked at her, biting her lip, “Just now, were you angry?”

“No,” Wen Jinyan sat down and picked up her chopsticks.

Her words sounded sincere, but from her expression, Gu Wansheng couldn’t tell if she was truly not angry.

“Regardless, it was wrong of me to presumptuously inquire about your background,” Gu Wansheng used the serving chopsticks to place a fried egg in her bowl.

“My apologies.”

“I am not angry with you,” I am just angry with myself.

Wen Jinyan’s flat tone of reply reassured Gu Wansheng.

“Mm, I know. Have your noodles.”

As she picked up her chopsticks, a fried egg was placed into her bowl.

“One is enough,” Wen Jinyan said, then lowered her head to seriously eat her noodles.

Gu Wansheng was delighted and simply watched her eat.

She noticed that the person was very refined even when eating noodles. There was no slurping sound; she would eat the entire length of the noodle and would not bite it off midway.

It was clear she was very well-mannered. And also a little cute.

“Why are you staring at me?” Wen Jinyan noticed a gaze fixed on her since she started eating. She swallowed all the noodles and asked with clear eyes.

“Nothing,” Gu Wansheng picked up her chopsticks and began eating her noodles.

After finishing, the two went to wash the dishes together, which meant putting the bowls in the dishwasher.

Wen Jinyan walked out of the kitchen and onto the balcony, making a phone call to Su Muqing.

“Muqing, have you gone back?” Wen Jinyan closed the sliding door. She saw a chaise lounge beside her, stared at it for a moment, and then sat down.

“Mm, I’m back. Ji Yibai came to find me, crying and saying she needed me to go back, or she wouldn’t leave. It was broad daylight with so many people watching, so I couldn’t really refuse. I had no choice but to go back with her.”

Wen Jinyan didn’t expose her lie.

“Did you finish the food in the refrigerator?”

“No, but I took it back with me. Don’t worry, your refrigerator is fine.”

Last time, Su Muqing didn’t finish the food and didn’t take it back, forgetting it in the refrigerator. It was Wen Jinyan who discovered it, and the fridge almost started to stink.

“How is it at your marriage partner’s house?”

“Not bad.”

“Did she… did you two do anything?”

“What?” Wen Jinyan didn’t immediately understand, looking at the succulents on the balcony.

“Did you two have that?”

“Which that?”

“You know… did you… sleep together?”

“We only slept in the same bed,” Wen Jinyan said, amused.

“Didn’t do anything else?”

Wen Jinyan fiddled with the corner of her clothes. “We kissed.”

“Did you initiate or did she?” Su Muqing sounded very gossipy, unfortunately, Wen Jinyan couldn’t see her expression.

“At first, I asked her to kiss me, but then she started kissing me actively. She really likes me kissing her.”

“How do you know?”

“When I kiss her, she smiles.” Wen Jinyan’s eyes seemed to once again conjure Gu Wansheng’s smiling face. She turned her head and saw Gu Wansheng sitting on the sofa watching her. Their eyes met.

Gu Wansheng didn’t avoid her gaze at all, she raised the remote control, indicating that she was watching TV.

Wen Jinyan retracted her gaze.

“Tsk tsk tsk, you haven’t fallen for her, have you?” Su Muqing teased.

“I’m just answering your question.”

“Alright. As long as you know what you’re doing.”

“Do you have any news about that person?”

“No, but I found the evidence you asked me to look for earlier.”

“Then send the files to me.”

“Jinyan, we have so much evidence now, how long until you…”

Su Muqing was interrupted gently by Wen Jinyan before she could finish. “It’s not enough. What I want is more than just clarifying that incident.”

“Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this topic. Are you free tomorrow? Would you mind coming to our magazine office to help? A big shot is coming tomorrow, and I’m a bit uneasy about the new junior girl, I’d like you to help write the draft.”

“Okay,” Wen Jinyan agreed immediately without overthinking. She hung up the phone. When she turned her head, she saw Gu Wansheng changing channels with the remote control.

She pushed open the sliding door and glanced at the TV; it was a very old movie.

“Suspect No. 1.”

Gu Wansheng looked up at the sound. “You’ve watched it too?”

“Mm, it’s a very representative work in the suspense and brain teaser genre.”

“Every single look and action of the actors in it is worth observing and contemplating for people in the industry.”

Gu Wansheng was a little surprised to hear that. She placed a pillow on her lap, her hand absentmindedly pinching it.

“I didn’t expect you to know so much.”

Many people in the industry are not aware of this.

“A good film will be remembered for a lifetime.”

“Want to watch it together? The movie hasn’t been on for long.”

Gu Wansheng’s eyes carried a direct invitation. Sunlight slipped in from the balcony and fell at Wen Jinyan’s feet. Looking up, Gu Wansheng was in the shadows. Gu Wansheng squinted, unable to clearly see the expression on her face.

After a few breaths, Gu Wansheng finally heard Wen Jinyan’s voice, her tone level.

“No, I’m going to the study to write my novel first.” Wen Jinyan said, then lifted her feet and went upstairs.

Wen Jinyan stayed cooped up in the study all afternoon. Gu Wansheng brought her a fruit platter and juice during that time and didn’t bother her again.

Wen Jinyan wrote three chapters and published them.

When evening arrived, she went downstairs and heard sounds from the kitchen. This time, she proactively entered the kitchen to help, having already taken washing the dishes as her job.

Gu Wansheng had simply tied up her hair, looking down with lowered eyes, revealing a fair nape. Hearing the sound of water, she knew someone had arrived.

She had thought Wen Jinyan wouldn’t come in.

“Finished your work?” Gu Wansheng flipped the fish.

“Mm, what are you making?”

“Sweet and sour fish.”

If she remembered correctly, this was the first time Wen Jinyan had proactively asked what dish she was making. She must write this down in her memo later.

“Gu Wansheng.”

Gu Wansheng didn’t look up, responding with a single sound from her throat.

“How are you so amazing?”

Gu Wansheng’s hand holding the spatula paused.

She’s praising me! She’s praising me!!

She must also write this down in her memo.

“How am I so amazing?” Gu Wansheng kept a straight face on the surface but was ecstatic inside.

“Cooking,” Wen Jinyan said, feeling the compliment wasn’t enough, she added, “The dishes you make look good and taste good.”

“Just knowing how to cook is considered amazing?”

“Mm.”

“Why?”

“Because I studied for a few months, but I still couldn’t do it.”

When she was in school, she couldn’t get used to French cuisine and wanted to learn to cook herself, but all her attempts failed.

Gu Wansheng found that Wen Jinyan was very different tonight, talking much more.

This must also be recorded in the memo.

Her conversational topics also increased.

“I’m going to write magazine for a photoshoot tomorrow. Do you want to come?”

Wen Jinyan remembered Gu Wansheng mentioning she was going to write in the car earlier.

“Yes.”

“And the commercial shoot in a few days?”

“Yes.”

“Next week, when I join the filming crew, do you want to come along?”

“Yes.”

Gu Wansheng didn’t know what made her laugh, her eyes creased with mirth.

Why is everything she says so cute?

Using a half-joking, half-serious tone, she asked, “Do you want to be with me that badly?”

“Is it not allowed?” Wen Jinyan’s voice was like warm water, clean and clear. As she looked at Gu Wansheng, her amber eyes sparkled.

Gu Wansheng felt her heart tremble under her gaze.

Does she like me that much?

“You can,” Gu Wansheng somewhat unnaturally avoided her gaze, wondering if Wen Jinyan noticed.

“Hurry up and go out, it’s smoky in here.”

Wen Jinyan said okay and left the kitchen.

Gu Wansheng’s appointment with write was at 3 PM, but Wen Jinyan needed to go earlier.

“Jinyan, you’ll follow us to the site later,” Su Muqing said.

“Alright,” Wen Jinyan nodded.

Su Muqing had other things to do and left. After Xu Yuanyuan watched Su Muqing go, she walked up and asked, “Sister Su, what did she say to you just now?”

“She told me to follow you guys to the site.”

“I really didn’t expect the beautiful Gu to come here this time. You wouldn’t believe how happy I was when I heard Sister Su say that the beautiful Gu chose our magazine.”

“Do you think she’ll sign an autograph for me later if I ask her?”

“She probably will,” Wen Jinyan echoed.

“I hope so. I need to buck up and leave a good impression on my goddess.” Xu Yuanyuan finished, and as if remembering something, she pulled Wen Jinyan, leaning her face close and asking,

“Does my condition look okay?”

A face suddenly appeared in front of Wen Jinyan. Her eyes widened, but she quickly recovered and shook her head.

“You look great.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” Xu Yuanyuan patted her chest.

Wen Jinyan sat in her seat for a while, watching the time and then followed Xu Yuanyuan into the venue.

People were moving around the venue.

“Move the lighting a little further.”

“Where is the light blocker?”

“Make the scene a bit cozier.”

Wen Jinyan heard Su Muqing’s voice as soon as she walked in.

Wen Jinyan slowly walked up to Su Muqing and confirmed what she should be doing later.

“You just stand next to Xie Ming and watch later. Pay attention to Gu Wansheng’s answers and get familiar with how to write the draft in advance,” Su Muqing handed her a bottle of water.

“You actually don’t need to be here, but the subject this time is a big shot, so I need you to listen in.”

“Mm, I understand.”

Gu Wansheng’s status in the industry was indeed quite high, and Wen Jinyan had specifically looked it up.

She rose from a young actress to a Best Actress award winner, with major resources pouring in. Now, she chooses scripts rather than scripts choosing her.

Someone called out to Su Muqing, who patted Wen Jinyan’s shoulder and left.

Wen Jinyan twisted open the bottle cap and took a sip. Her gaze searched for Xie Ming’s figure.