Self-Perception - Chapter 28

The host’s questions mostly revolved around Gu Wansheng’s recent topics, anecdotes during the film shoot, her future activities, and her marriage.

Wen Jinyan stared at the screen because she saw Gu Wansheng momentarily freeze when she heard the topic, but it was only for an instant.

Gu Wansheng touched her bangle, a half-strand of hair draping over her chest. She smiled gracefully, “She is a very good person. I can’t find a precise word to describe her, but she is worthy of all beautiful words.”

Cheers erupted from the audience, and the host started to liven the atmosphere, “Teacher Gu, you and your wife have such a wonderful relationship. We are truly envious.”

Outside the screen, Wen Jinyan watched Gu Wansheng tuck her hair behind her ear, revealing her earrings. The earrings were jade green, complementing the indigo color of her outfit. Her movement was slight, yet it made the jade green swing and sway.

Jade green naturally carries a slight coolness, and Wen Jinyan felt an impulse to cup the jade green in her palm.

“Sister Jinyan,” Meng Qiu noticed Wen Jinyan staring without blinking and thought she was mesmerized.

“Hmm?” Wen Jinyan snapped back but didn’t turn to look at Meng Qiu.

Meng Qiu rested her chin on her hand and watched, seeing Wen Jinyan’s hands tighten, zooming in on the screen until Gu Jie’s (Sister Gu’s) face filled the entire display, yet Wen Jinyan didn’t shrink the screen.

Meng Qiu mentally timed it, and it was about ten minutes later that she saw Wen Jinyan return the screen to its original ratio.

I didn’t expect this side of you, Sister Jinyan.

Gu Wansheng’s posture was relaxed; though leaning against the sofa, her upper body was upright. Yet, the hand wearing the dark green bangle rested casually on the armrest, and her upper body leaned toward the host, making the figure wrapped in the qipao look even more graceful.

The qipao flattered her figure, and even more so, her temperament, especially Gu Wansheng’s. Wen Jinyan’s gaze lingered on the flat expanse of fabric over her stomach. A week ago, in the dim light, the indoor intimacy, Gu Wansheng’s flat lower abdomen gently pressed against her own corresponding area, rubbing and sliding…

She opened the bullet comments, attempting to detach herself. The screen was filled with the uniform text: “Gu Beauty,” “This figure makes me gasp, shi ha shi ha [sound of heavy breathing].”

Wen Jinyan, “…” This generation of netizens truly lacks a sense of propriety.

Clap! She closed the tablet. Meng Qiu had gone to fetch her water, so she was alone in the hospital room. Next to the table was a flower Wen Jinyan didn’t recognize. The flower must have been brought by Gu Wansheng. Water droplets still glistened on the petals. When she leaned in, there was a faint fragrance. Wen Jinyan reached out to touch a petal soft, like the feel of an ice silk duvet.

Her phone rang. Wen Jinyan glanced at the caller ID and answered.

“Where are you?” Su Muqing asked.

“In Ningcheng.”

“What are you doing running off to Ningcheng? Sightseeing?” Su Muqing’s background noise was mixed; she didn’t know where she was.

“I can’t sleep.”

Su Muqing, “Thinking about the past again.”

Wen Jinyan tacitly agreed.

Su Muqing thought for a moment. Ningcheng didn’t seem to have any sleep-aiding tools. Was she there to relax or…

Thinking of past experiences, Su Muqing’s voice grew tense, “Jinyan, I really want to see you now. Can you video call me?”

Wen Jinyan realized what Su Muqing was worried about. If she were to start a video call now and let Su Muqing see her sitting in a hospital bed in a patient’s gown, she would probably buy a plane ticket and fly straight to the hospital overnight.

“Ningcheng is inland,” she said. There was no sea, not even a large lake.

Su Muqing was still worried and insisted on a video call. Wen Jinyan sighed helplessly, “I’m with Gu Wansheng.”

Su Muqing’s mind didn’t immediately process this. A few minutes later, she asked, “Did you go to Ningcheng for Teacher Gu?”

“Muqing, I can’t sleep without Gu Wansheng. Medicine doesn’t help either.” Even after taking the medicine, those images were still in her mind ferocious/ghastly, vicious/malicious. The difference was only that her eyes were closed instead of open.

“Where are you now? Is Teacher Gu by your side? Let me hear Teacher Gu’s voice?” Su Muqing was still uneasy, as she couldn’t see the exact situation on Wen Jinyan’s end.

“I’m at a hotel. Gu Wansheng is at work, and I’m writing my novel at the hotel.” Wen Jinyan told a white lie. A fever wasn’t a major illness, but if Su Muqing saw her in a hospital gown, with dry, cracked lips and a flushed face, she would definitely bombard her with questions, wanting all the details.

“Alright then. Bring me back a nice souvenir from Ningcheng. Remember, you have to bring it back yourself. I don’t want something transferred by someone else.”

“Besides you, I don’t really have any other friends,” Wen Jinyan replied with a smile. She was teasing, but also speaking the truth.

“I’m hanging up. I need to sleep now.” Wen Jinyan didn’t wait for Su Muqing to speak and ended the call. Just then, Meng Qiu returned, carrying a kettle and refilling Wen Jinyan’s cup.

“How soon can I leave?” The smell of disinfectant water was everywhere in the hospital; she felt she was getting pickled in it.

“The doctor said you have two more bags of IV drip. Counting the time, it should be about when Sister Gu finishes her interview and shoots an advertisement.”

Wen Jinyan looked up at the IV drip hanging on the stand. This bag was still half full. “When the drip is done, I can press the call button. I don’t need anyone to stay and watch me here.”

The implication was for Meng Qiu to go to Gu Wansheng.

“No way, Sister Jinyan. Sister Gu told me to take good care of you and not leave you for a second.”

“I have hands and feet; what’s there to worry about? She’s so busy; aren’t you going to follow her?” She was obviously referring to who.

Meng Qiu shook her head like a sieve, a stubborn persistence in her voice, “No.” She knew clearly who paid her salary.

Wen Jinyan didn’t say anything more, only tapping away on her phone with one hand. Though writing a novel with one hand was very inefficient.

By the time Gu Wansheng finished shooting the advertisement, it was completely dark outside. She put on her mask and hat, got into the car, and headed to the hospital.

Just as she reached the door of the ward, Meng Qiu came out, holding a fruit knife, apparently going to wash it.

“Is the IV drip finished?” Gu Wansheng stepped aside.

“Almost. Sister Jinyan just fell asleep,” Meng Qiu reminded Gu Wansheng. Only then did Gu Wansheng notice the light in the room was divided into two parts one part dark, the other bright, creating a stark contrast.

Gu Wansheng softened her steps, placed the thermos on the table, and quietly picked up a small stool. Her right leg was folded over her left, and she gazed at Wen Jinyan’s sleeping face.

Her face was no longer as pale as when she was first brought in; the flush had subsided, and her lips had some color.

It seemed her recovery was going well.

Half of her body was in the shadow, the other half in the light, flickering between dark and bright, yet her eyes were luminous. Her eyelids were slightly lowered, and her brows gently curved upwards, a look of gentle, relaxed attention, an unrestricted gaze.

Wen Jinyan’s hair lay smoothly on the blue and white hospital gown. The window wasn’t closed properly, and the autumn night wind seeped through the gap, blowing her hair onto her neck and some onto her face.

Gu Wansheng stood up, closed the window, and smoothly drew the curtains tight. After doing this, she turned 180 degrees back to the small stool, reached out, and gently lifted the strands of hair that had fallen onto her neck, placing them back in their original position, and also tucking the hair on the woman’s face behind her ear.

Meng Qiu saw this scene as soon as she walked in. She saw Gu Wansheng sit back on the small stool. When she approached, she noticed Gu Wansheng’s right toes lightly tapping and shaking in the air.

This was a small sign of Sister Gu’s good mood.

Meng Qiu also lowered her voice, “Sister Gu.”

Gu Wansheng nodded at the sound, her mouth opening slightly. Her voice was very soft, and Meng Qiu couldn’t hear what she said, but combined with Gu Wansheng’s actions, she understood.

Sister Gu was telling her to go downstairs to eat.

Meng Qiu opened her memo, typed, and handed it to Gu Wansheng: [Sister Gu, should I bring you something?]

Sister Gu had been operating at high intensity all afternoon; she must be tired, but she didn’t know if Sister Gu needed to improve her dinner options.

Gu Wansheng took her phone, typed, and then handed it back to Meng Qiu: [No need]

After Meng Qiu left, the ward was very quiet. Gu Wansheng could even hear her breathing slowly syncing with Wen Jinyan’s.

Half an hour later, she looked up at the IV drip hanging on the stand; it was finished. She quickly called the nurse over. The nurse arrived, removed the indwelling needle, and advised Gu Wansheng, “Don’t eat spicy or greasy food recently, and maintain a regular lifestyle.”

Gu Wansheng nodded. Only after the nurse left did she gently place Wen Jinyan’s recently exposed hand, from where the needle was removed, back under the covers.

Wen Jinyan opened her eyes, her vision still slightly blurry. She slowly focused her pupils, and a vague figure in the center of her vision gradually became clearer.

“You’re awake,” a distinctive voice fell into her ear. Even though Wen Jinyan’s vision was still fluctuating between blurry and clear, she could identify the owner of the voice by sound.

“You came,” she said. Her throat’s sharp sensation was greatly reduced when she spoke, and she wasn’t hoarse, but it had turned into an itch. Her nose was still blocked, especially in the confined environment, which made her very uncomfortable.

Wen Jinyan’s voice was muffled and stuffy, and her nose twitched slightly when she spoke. Gu Wansheng turned on the indoor air purifier.

“Get up and eat some porridge,” Gu Wansheng opened the thermos and ladled out a bowl. The millet porridge was still hot, and steam spread across the bowl.

Gu Wansheng tested the temperature; it was just right. She set the small table across Wen Jinyan’s flat lying body on the bed, placed the millet porridge on it, and then put the side dishes down.

“Have you eaten?” Wen Jinyan asked. After she spoke, an itch struck her throat. She turned her head to the side and covered her mouth with her hand, coughing. When she turned back, there was a sheen of moisture in her amber eyes.

Even the coughing just now was very restrained.

“I have eaten,” Gu Wansheng said.

Wen Jinyan didn’t say anything more. She picked up the spoon and lowered her head, and her hair quickly slid over her side neck, causing a slight tickle. Wen Jinyan hadn’t even tasted the porridge yet when she tried to tuck the hair behind her ear with her other hand, but a cool touch collided with the back of her hand.

She was about to look up but was stopped by the person. “I’ll do it.”

Gu Wansheng gathered the strands of hair together with both hands, using her palm as a hair tie to firmly hold the hair.

Wen Jinyan noticed her action, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and she continued to eat the porridge.

She bent over, and Gu Wansheng’s hand followed her movement forward she straightened her back slightly, and Gu Wansheng’s hand moved backward.

There wasn’t the slightest sensation of being pulled, which made Wen Jinyan speed up her eating when she noticed this fact.

“Eat slowly. I’m not tired.”

Her thoughts were noticed. Wen Jinyan paused her movement but accelerated the speed at which she chewed the food in her mouth.