Self-Perception - Chapter 11

Half an hour before the event started, Gu Wansheng arrived at Write. Wearing a simple white dress, she followed the staff member gracefully to the venue.

“Hello, Teacher Gu,” Su Muqing stepped forward to greet her.

The crowd in the venue was already approaching. Xu Yuanyuan had arrived beside Su Muqing early.

“This is today’s host, Xu Yuanyuan,” Su Muqing introduced.

“Gu Beauty no, Teacher Gu, hello. I’m very honored to be able to interview you. I’m your fan and have admired you for a long time,” Xu Yuanyuan was very excited.

“Thank you for your support,” Gu Wansheng smiled, her eyebrows curving.

Ah, ah, ah, ah, she actually smiled at me. As expected of Gu Beauty, her skin looks truly flawless up close.

Su Muqing subtly pulled her hand. Xu Yuanyuan snapped back to attention and quickly said, “Teacher Gu, let me take you to the dressing room.”

“Okay,” Meng Qiu followed by Gu Wansheng’s side. Upon reaching the dressing room, besides the makeup artist, a person was sitting on the sofa inside.

Gu Wansheng was slightly surprised, but quickly regained her composure.

Why is Wen Jinyan here?

“Jinyan, this is Teacher Gu,” Xu Yuanyuan introduced.

“Mm,” Wen Jinyan was not at all surprised that Gu Wansheng would appear here.

“Teacher Gu, please have your makeup done here first. Jinyan, let’s step outside,”

“Alright,” Wen Jinyan and Gu Wansheng exchanged a glance, and she closed the door behind her.

“Sister Gu, why is Sister Jinyan here?” Meng Qiu only spoke after Wen Jinyan left.

And why does it feel like Sister Jinyan didn’t react much when she saw Sister Gu?

“I don’t know,” Gu Wansheng shook her head.

Just now, Xu Yuanyuan called her Jinyan their relationship must be quite good. She didn’t tell me she was coming, nor did she tell them about my relationship with her. Is it inconvenient, or is she trying to avoid suspicion?

Gu Wansheng felt uneasy, a feeling that persisted until she was about to go on stage to answer questions.

“Sister Gu, Sister Gu,” Meng Qiu called her.

“Hm? What is it?” Gu Wansheng came back to reality.

“Did you go over all the questions that Write sent yesterday?” Meng Qiu lowered her voice.

“Yes, I did,” Gu Wansheng stood in the shadow.

Meng Qiu glanced at Gu Wansheng.

Why do I feel like you look like you haven’t reviewed them at all.

“Teacher Gu, we are ready to start anytime,” Xu Yuanyuan said from not far away.

“Okay,” She stepped out of the shadow. Under the lights, the woman’s makeup was subtle and elegant, and the white dress enhanced her classical and dignified beauty. Yet, she was born with a pair of ‘peach blossom eyes,’ adding a touch of tenderness.

Wen Jinyan’s gaze fixed on the woman. Her eyes, behind the half-rimmed glasses, were calm as still water, showing only appreciation.

“Teacher Gu looks so beautiful.”

“Of course! Haven’t you heard the nickname ‘Gu Beauty’?”

“‘Gu Beauty’? How did that nickname come about? Tell me.”

“A few years ago, a netizen initiated online poll was held to elect the number one beauty in the entertainment industry. Gu Wansheng single handedly garnered sixty percent of the votes. That’s where the nickname came from. But she was so popular at the time; as soon as the results came out, there were people cursing and defaming her. Tsk, tsk, tsk, I was there at the time, and the things they said were simply…” The staff member did not continue.

“Did she not respond at all?”

“Teacher Gu didn’t step forward at the time; instead, she used her work and strength to elevate herself, and naturally, no one dared to refute her anymore.”

The conversation between the staff members next to her clearly reached Wen Jinyan’s ears.

The woman on the stage sat up straight, her posture distinguished, every smile and glance carrying a hint of softness.

“Looking at Teacher Gu so intently, are we?” Su Muqing appeared next to her at some point, half-jokingly, half-warning, “You’re a person with a wife; watch your ‘wifely virtue.'”

“She approved it.”

“Are you saying your wife approved?”

“Yes,” Wen Jinyan nodded, then sensed something was off and turned to look at Su Muqing, noticing her shocked expression. “Why are you looking at me like that?

I didn’t say anything wrong.

“Jinyan, as your friend, I still have to say something: you can’t… you can’t be so bold. You and your wife are legally married. You can’t think of someone else when you have a wife.”

You were the one who coveted your wife’s beauty back then. Now, why are you staring at another beautiful person?

Wen Jinyan’s gaze was calm, and she didn’t say much.

Su Muqing sighed inwardly when she saw her expression.

Forget it, why am I worrying? She has judgment.

The two stood for a while and then found two chairs to sit beside the stage.

Two hours later, the interview ended.

Xu Yuanyuan handed the recording pen to Wen Jinyan. Wen Jinyan saw Gu Wansheng leaving.

That direction is the dressing room…

“Thank you all for your hard work today! I’m treating everyone to hot pot for dinner tonight.”

“Great, thank you, Sister Su!”

“Jinyan, come along tonight too,” Su Muqing patted her shoulder.

“I need to ask my wife first,” Wen Jinyan said.

“Wife? Jinyan, you’re married?!” Xu Yuanyuan looked like she had heard an incredible piece of news.

“Yes,”

“When did this happen?”

“Not long ago.”

“Congratulations, congratulations!”

Wen Jinyan’s WeChat vibrated.

“Why did you send me a red envelope?” Wen Jinyan looked at the red envelope cover on WeChat, which read ‘A Hundred Years of Happy Union.’

“A wedding gift,” Xu Yuanyuan closed her phone and “threatened,” “Don’t send it back to me.”

“How about we invite your wife to join us? We can finally meet your wife, Jinyan,” Xu Yuanyuan said, grinning.

“I also need to ask for her opinion,” Wen Jinyan had just finished speaking when she saw Gu Wansheng walking toward them in her peripheral vision.

“Jinyan, so you’re a ‘wife slave’ Xu Yuanyuan teased. “How much do you love your wife?”

Gu Wansheng’s heart momentarily stopped when she overheard the latter part of the sentence just as she approached.

“Editor Su,” Gu Wansheng greeted her. “We’ll be leaving now.”

“Teacher Gu, let me walk you out,” Su Muqing smiled and walked ahead.

“Gu Wansheng,” A light but clear voice sounded from behind.

Gu Wansheng paused and turned around.

“Sister Su is treating us to hot pot tonight; would you like to join?” Wen Jinyan’s expression was open and calm, and her voice was cool.

Su Muqing “!!!!”

Xu Yuanyuan “!!!!!”

Jinyan, what are you saying?!

“Haha, Teacher Gu, we are indeed going to have hot pot tonight, but if Teacher Gu has other commitments, there’s no need to feel obligated,” Su Muqing diffused the situation.

Gu Wansheng looked at Wen Jinyan and remembered the phrase she had just heard. How much do you love your wife?

So, she’s inviting me into her circle, her life, her friends.

She wore high heels, making her half a head taller than Wen Jinyan. As she approached, she carried the faint scent of jade dragon tea.

She lowered her eyes, her expression relaxed, and her red lips slightly parted. Her voice was gentle:

“Alright.”

“Xiao Qiu, you can head back first. I’ll drive myself.”

“Okay, Sister Gu,” Meng Qiu smiled happily.

After walking a distance, she opened her secondary Weibo account:

Folks, I’m obsessed with this pairing.

“Where is the location?” Gu Wansheng asked Su Muqing, though her words were directed at Wen Jinyan.

“Teacher Gu, I’ve booked a private room. The people having hot pot are all colleagues from our department; it’s not many people.”

Su Muqing’s gaze shifted between Wen Jinyan and Gu Wansheng.

When did they become so familiar? Do they know each other?

“No need to be so formal; you can call me Wansheng, just like Jinyan.”

It seems they do know each other.

“Then let’s go. Jinyan, come here for a moment.”

Wen Jinyan walked to Su Muqing’s side and was pulled to the next room by her.

“When did you and Gu Wansheng meet?”

“A few days ago,” Wen Jinyan answered truthfully.

“A few days? Who are you kidding? In just a few days, she’s that familiar with you?”

Wen Jinyan rubbed the back of her neck.

“Is it not okay to bring family members?”

“Family members? Oh my god!” Su Muqing’s voice got louder. She glanced around and lowered her voice. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You didn’t ask,” Wen Jinyan replied calmly.

“I…” I am truly exasperated with you.

Having understood the situation, Su Muqing returned to Xu Yuanyuan’s side.

“Yuanyuan, call Xie Ming and Yu Nian; we’ll ride in the same car.”

“Oh, okay,” Xu Yuanyuan ran off.

“Teacher Gu, you can ride with Jinyan.”

“Sounds good.”

The group arrived at the reserved room.

“What!” Xu Yuanyuan exclaimed. Colleagues turned to look. Xu Yuanyuan offered an embarrassed smile and whispered into Wen Jinyan’s ear, “You and Teacher Gu are really wives?”

“Mm,” Wen Jinyan replied softly. Gu Wansheng naturally scalded a set of tableware and replaced the set in front of Wen Jinyan.

The people around them saw this but didn’t say anything, only sending messages in their group chat.

【Xie Ming】: What’s going on? Teacher Gu is scalding bowls for Jinyan?

【Yu Nian】: They wouldn’t happen to know each other, would they?

Someone sent a message that said, “Jinyan is still in the group,” and quickly deleted it.

Xie Ming and Yu Nian “………..”

We forgot about that.

Wen Jinyan was mostly a lurker in the group chat. The messages she had sent could be counted on one’s fingers. After a long time, people basically forgot she was there.

Now, it seems too late to unsend it.

【Wen Jinyan】: She is my wife.

The group chat erupted.

Gu Wansheng heard the constant pinging of WeChat notifications, but Wen Jinyan simply silenced her phone and nonchalantly drank the plum juice.

“Aren’t you going to check your messages?”

The woman leaned in, her breath instantly hitting Wen Jinyan’s ear, leaving a warm trace.

“No need to bother,” Wen Jinyan didn’t pull away, setting down her cup while maintaining the posture.

“Do you want sour plum juice or orange juice?”

Gu Wansheng looked at the dark liquid in Wen Jinyan’s cup and said, “Sour plum juice.”

After the Yuanyang (split) hot pot was served, everyone first raised their glasses for a toast, then chatted and cooked the food.

“I’ll start by toasting Teacher Gu with orange juice,” Su Muqing stood up, raised her cup towards Gu Wansheng, and took a sip. “I hope for pleasant cooperation with Teacher Gu in the future.”

“Naturally,” Gu Wansheng also raised her cup.

Following Su Muqing’s lead, everyone came to toast Gu Wansheng.

“Thank you, Teacher Gu, for the collaboration. And I hope Teacher Gu and Jinyan stay together forever.”

Gu Wansheng accepted every toast.

“Xie Ming! Don’t steal my squid!”

“Why don’t you just blanch another piece?”

Others watched the two of them bicker, laughing heartily.

“Try this,” Gu Wansheng focused on blanching a mushroom for Wen Jinyan.

“Mm,” Wen Jinyan accepted the bowl, took it, and ate, her head down.

Wen Jinyan was incredibly well-behaved she ate whatever Gu Wansheng gave her. Gu Wansheng felt like her heart was filled with something.