Self-Perception - Chapter 21

“Tell me,” Bai Jin said after putting down the documents in her hand, with an expression of trying anything possible.

“Lu Wan,” she continued, “I’ve heard her songs before. I feel like her singing has a sense of storytelling.”

Wen Jinyan didn’t say much more.

Bai Jin thought for a moment, then called staff to compile Lu Wan’s information for her. She also put on her headphones and looked up a few of Lu Wan’s songs to listen to.

After listening, Bai Jin’s eyes lit up.

Lu Wan’s voice has a classical charm, and her voice possesses a sense of expressive desire and destiny. It just so happens that the film she is shooting is about great righteousness and tragedy. Upon listening, she truly felt she had found a gem.

“Very good,” Wen Jinyan watched Bai Jin’s brows gradually relax, knowing that it was almost certain to work out.

“Jinyan, you’ve really helped me out a lot,” Bai Jin took off her headphones, full of praise.

“I only offered my idea,” Wen Jinyan’s voice was calm. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bai Jin start looking for Lu Wan’s contact method, then she retracted her gaze.

“What are you two talking about?” Gu Wansheng had just finished her makeup and changed into her costume, and as she walked out of the lounge, she saw Wen Jinyan and Bai Jin talking. As she quickly walked over to Wen Jinyan, she heard the words “helped out.”

“Jinyan recommended a candidate to me. I listened, and it’s pretty good,” Bai Jin was still excited. “Your wife has really helped us out a lot.”

Gu Wansheng’s lips curled up when she heard “your wife,” but she quickly suppressed it, realizing they were on set.

“Who is it?” Gu Wansheng asked.

“Lu Wan.” The smile that Gu Wansheng had just suppressed instantly tightened into a straight line.

Lu Wan!?

Before Gu Wansheng became a huge star, she had acted with Lu Wan. At that time, Lu Wan was still in the acting circle and had not transitioned to the music industry. They were both minor stars, and they looked out for each other in acting. Over time, they became close.

At that time, Gu Wansheng was innocent and didn’t doubt Lu Wan’s words. But she didn’t know that Lu Wan had always been in love with her, and even drugged her to get her.

If she hadn’t used all her strength to push her, coincidentally knocking her unconscious… perhaps…

After that, her aunt found out and directly forced Lu Wan to leave the industry. But she didn’t expect that Lu Wan would return to the entertainment industry and enter the music industry just a few years after leaving.

How unlucky.

Gu Wansheng suppressed the surge of inexplicable anger and asked, “Let me hear the voice.”

Bai Jin handed her the headphones.

Lu Wan’s singing came through the headphones. Bai Jin stared at her, excited, “Isn’t it perfect?”

“Maybe I don’t have much musical talent,” Gu Wansheng took off the headphones and handed them back to Bai Jin. She gave a forced smile, “I don’t hear anything different, but as long as you, Director, think it’s suitable.”

Bai Jin felt that Gu Wansheng’s words were strange, but she couldn’t pinpoint why.

Bai Jin contacted Lu Wan’s manager, wanting to talk to Lu Wan about her interest in recording a song. Lu Wan agreed. Bai Jin had originally planned to invite her to a restaurant for a detailed discussion, but Lu Wan directly suggested coming to the set.

This saved Bai Jin a lot of trouble.

They set the meeting for the following week.

“Cut! Teacher Gu, your expression isn’t quite right, soften it a little,” while Bai Jin was mostly done with her task, the assistant director immediately called out.

Everyone on the set froze for two seconds when they heard that sentence.

That was Gu Wansheng. The last time someone heard her get an NG was several years ago.

“Sorry, Director. Let’s do it again,” Gu Wansheng said apologetically, aware of her own emotion.

Upon hearing this, Bai Jin directly told the assistant director to step aside and watched the scene herself.

Gu Wansheng closed her eyes. With a single breath, she adjusted to her best state.

There were no more minor hiccups in the following shooting, and the staff wrapped up.

In July and August weather, even the wind blowing at night was hot.

Gu Wansheng’s costume underneath was already sticking to her skin, vaguely revealing her attractive figure. She tied her hair into a high ponytail, exposing her pale, delicate nape. She changed into a fitted white T-shirt and a pair of shorts. Her skin was smooth and delicate, and her face was full of collagen.

She looked youthful and vibrant, completely unlike a 27-year-old.

“Teacher Gu, wrapping up so early today?” A passing staff member saw her and greeted her.

“Mhm, today’s scenes are finished. You’ve all worked hard,” Gu Wansheng always wore a faint smile.

“Sister Gu, walk slower,” Meng Qiu followed her, jogging behind.

If she didn’t walk faster, she was afraid she would get her eyes dirty.

She had only walked a few steps when a commercial vehicle stopped in her path.

A woman slowly got out of the car. Her face was hidden in the night, and Gu Wansheng couldn’t see her clearly, assuming it was just someone visiting the set.

The woman walked over in high heels. When she got closer, Gu Wansheng saw her clearly.

Her face instantly darkened.

Lu Wan.

Lu Wan saw Gu Wansheng and was not surprised, greeting her warmly, “Teacher Gu.”

Gu Wansheng hadn’t walked away yet, and the soundstage was large, so the echo was loud. Being called out by Lu Wan like this, a large number of staff members heard it. Gu Wansheng had no choice but to force a smile, her tone full of distance, “Teacher Lu.”

Lu Wan completely ignored the obvious coolness in Gu Wansheng’s eyes and smiled as she approached. With staff members watching, Gu Wansheng smelled the perfume on her, subtly frowned, and quietly took a step back. “Teacher Lu, please go inside quickly. Director Bai is waiting for you.”

Meng Qiu also noticed her Sister Gu’s attitude and quickly stepped forward, half-blocking Gu Wansheng, smiling, “Teacher Lu, Sister Gu is a little tired. We’re going back to rest now. Goodbye, Teacher Lu.”

Lu Wan kept her smile, her clothes brushing past Gu Wansheng, “Alright, Teacher Gu, please rest well.”

In the darkness, Gu Wansheng stood in the shadow, her back to the light. After the perfume scent that made her uncomfortable dissipated, Gu Wansheng immediately took her own perfume out of her bag and sprayed it on herself.

The strong scent of Jade Dragon Tea instantly ripped apart the perfume smell.

Meng Qiu: Does Sister Gu have a grudge against Teacher Lu?

It seemed like she had stumbled upon some major gossip.

“…Sister Gu, you…” Meng Qiu took the perfume bottle from Gu Wansheng, turned her head, unable to see the woman’s expression, only the tension in her jawline.

She shut her mouth.

Okay, she was now certain that Sister Gu and Teacher Lu had a history. And not a small one.

As Gu Wansheng’s assistant, adhering to the principle that she dislikes whoever Sister Gu dislikes, Meng Qiu lowered her favorable opinion of Lu Wan to the minimum.

From now on, she must not let Lu Wan get close to Sister Gu.

“That perfume didn’t smell good, my nose is a little uncomfortable,” Gu Wansheng started walking again.

Inside the car, Wen Jinyan was writing a novel on her phone’s notepad while waiting for Gu Wansheng.

Until the car door was pulled open and Gu Wansheng walked in, bending over. The car door was closed, and Wen Jinyan put down her phone and asked, “Gu Wansheng, did you see Lu Wan?”

“…I did,” Gu Wansheng’s voice was calm. The light was dim, and Gu Wansheng squinted, “Do you have something you wanted to ask her?”

Asking about someone else the moment she got in the car, without even asking if I was okay.

“I heard she did voice acting before, and she can imitate any kind of voice perfectly. I was quite curious,” Wen Jinyan said, looking outside the car.

Lu Wan must be talking to Bai Jin right now.

Gu Wansheng simply exhaled lightly, “Drive.”

As soon as they got back to the room, Gu Wansheng couldn’t wait to kiss her. Wen Jinyan’s pupils widened, but soon her arms wrapped around Gu Wansheng’s back.

Gu Wansheng deepened the kiss until Wen Jinyan was struggling to breathe before letting go.

Their foreheads were touching. She reached out and took off Wen Jinyan’s glasses, placing them aside. Warm breath was scattered on Wen Jinyan’s earlobe. Wen Jinyan’s body instinctively trembled, and her hands tightly gripped Gu Wansheng’s clothes.

She tilted her head, but in the next second, Gu Wansheng clamped her chin, forcing her to look at her.

Wen Jinyan felt that Gu Wansheng was very different right now, like she was angry. Because during previous kisses, Gu Wansheng liked to gently rub her lip tubercle, but now Gu Wansheng was biting her.

Gu Wansheng noticed her lack of focus and bit down with her canine teeth. Wen Jinyan felt pain, but it was more of a stimulating sensation.

“You’re not paying attention,” Gu Wansheng raised her eyes, which were filled with shifting water, their corners red and lingering.

The hand placed on her waist exerted some force, and the veins on the back of her hand were faintly visible.

Wen Jinyan couldn’t bear it, and small sounds escaped from her lips.

Gu Wansheng’s eyes were deep and dark, her desire fully exposed. “Jinyan, I’m unhappy.”

Wen Jinyan heard it and searched her eyes.

People often say that eyes are the most direct tell, besides the mouth. Every pair of eyes hides the emotions and stories the owner wants to convey.

And now Gu Wansheng was telling her she was unhappy, directly, without any disguise.

Even her eyes were saying it.

Unhappy?

Why would she be unhappy?

Gu Wansheng had been filming on set all day, and her demeanor seemed normal.

Gu Wansheng watched the person below her grip her sleeve, then tilted her head slightly and slowly whispered in her neck, “Between me and Lu Wan, who is prettier?”

Wen Jinyan’s hand tightened. She grabbed the mischievous hand, her mind unable to process why Gu Wansheng would ask this question. Fragmented sounds spilled from her lips, “You…”

Gu Wansheng smiled at this answer, exuding an enchanting charm.

In extreme situations, the body will make the most direct, instinctive response.

Gu Wansheng did not pull out her hand; she slightly supported Wen Jinyan to prevent her from falling.

Wen Jinyan held her hand and said, “Gu Wansheng, you are better looking than Lu Wan.”

Her voice was low and soft, gentle and slow. Especially when she spoke with a slight breath near her ear, it sounded like murmuring, even more like coaxing. Wen Jinyan was coaxing her.

Gu Wansheng’s heart melted. She backed away.

Wen Jinyan had time to catch her breath. Her legs were weak, and she could only lean against the door for support, looking at Gu Wansheng, who had walked into the room.

Between me and Lu Wan, who is prettier?

So, Gu Wansheng was unhappy because someone was comparing the two of them? And she didn’t like Lu Wan.

Before she could finish thinking, Gu Wansheng walked back over.

Her waist was pulled closer, pressed together.

She whispered in her ear, “Jinyan, let me indulge tonight.”

Wen Jinyan sighed softly in her heart, lifted her chin, and kissed the thin lips.

“Hold me.”

The bedroom door was closed. Wen Jinyan was placed on the table, with a white tablecloth beneath her.

“You…” Wen Jinyan wasn’t exactly astonished, but she was startled.

“I just laid it out; it’s clean…” Gu Wansheng kissed the back of her hand and moved upwards.

“Gu Wansheng, let’s go to the bed…” Wen Jinyan tried to pull her legs away, but they were held.

“Right here, okay?” Gu Wansheng placed her hands on either side of her, looking down at her, “We haven’t done it here before.”

She said, “Let’s try it.”

Wen Jinyan’s remaining words were swallowed by Gu Wansheng.

Gu Wansheng called her name over and over in her ear. Wen Jinyan arched the back of her neck. The soft light became fragmented and hazy.