Self-Perception - Chapter 4

Gu Wansheng cast the address onto the car screen navigation and said to the driver, “Go to this place.”

“Understood.”

“Sister Gu, where are we going?”

“Picking someone up.”

Meng Qiu, “Ah?!”

Gu Wansheng immediately smiled, “Xiao Qiu, help me take out the new white shirt and suit pants from the luggage.”

Although Meng Qiu was confused, she did as she was told.

Soon, the car arrived at the location and stopped in a slightly hidden spot.

[Gu Wansheng]: I’m here. (A picture of the parking location and license plate was attached.)

[Wen]: Okay, I’ll be right down.

Not long after, Wen Jinyan arrived at the location. After clearly seeing the license plate on the car hood, she walked up to the car and knocked on the window.

“Sister Gu, we’ve been spotted,” Meng Qiu said alertly.

“Let her in,” Gu Wansheng looked at Wen Jinyan from inside the car. The person was wearing an impeccable, flat white shirt and glasses, with facial features that were smooth but not sharp.

Meng Qiu looked at Gu Wansheng in surprise, thinking: What did Sister Gu just say?

Seeing Meng Qiu’s stunned expression, Gu Wansheng opened the door herself.

The car door automatically opened, and Wen Jinyan got in without hesitation.

“Excuse me, who are you?” Wen Jinyan looked up, towards the source of the voice.

Gu Wansheng was sitting inside in the shadows, with Meng Qiu’s body blocking most of her. Wen Jinyan couldn’t see the speaker’s face, only the edge of their clothes.

Gu Wansheng gently tugged the back of Meng Qiu’s clothes, causing her to sit up straight, rigid and not daring to move.

Wen Jinyan’s first reaction to the voice was that she had gotten into the wrong car. She apologized, and without much hesitation, tried to withdraw.

Who knew Gu Wansheng was one step faster and closed the door.

Wen Jinyan, “…”

A very low laugh sounded in the air.

“I’m sorry, did I scare you?” Gu Wansheng emerged from behind Meng Qiu and patted Meng Qiu’s shoulder, signaling her to move aside.

“No,” Wen Jinyan was still slightly bent over. Although the car was spacious, it wasn’t tall enough. It was starting to strain Wen Jinyan’s back.

“Xiao Qiu, you sit in the back seat,” Gu Wansheng gently pushed her.

Meng Qiu’s face showed a bit of sadness when she heard this, feeling that she had been replaced by a new stranger in the spot next to Sister Gu.

But she still complied and moved to the back seat, staring resentfully at the “culprit.”

“Thank you,” Wen Jinyan sat down next to Gu Wansheng. A faint scent of jade dragon tea wafted from the person beside her.

“Did you bring the thing?” Gu Wansheng propped her chin on one hand and asked, tilting her head.

“I brought it,” Wen Jinyan replied. Sitting in a strange environment, she was a bit uneasy, her back straight and her breathing shallow and deep.

Gu Wansheng’s eyes shifted, and her voice was gentle, “Don’t be nervous, I won’t eat you.”

“Under normal circumstances, it is a normal phenomenon for a person to be nervous for the first time in an unfamiliar environment.”

Hearing her serious explanation, Gu Wansheng chuckled softly. She told the driver, “Go to the Bureau of Civil Affairs,” and then said nothing more.

Meng Qiu: ???!!!!

Bureau of Civil Affairs?!!

Who’s getting married?!

Sister Gu?!

Oh my gosh, should I tell Sister Shang? Will Sister Shang be furious? Will I still get my bonus?

Meng Qiu felt like she was shattering, but she still tried to piece herself together.

She leaned toward Gu Wansheng, asking in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Sister Gu, why are you going to the Bureau of Civil Affairs?”

May God bless Sister Gu, that she’s only passing by the Bureau of Civil Affairs and not getting married.

“What else would I do at the Bureau of Civil Affairs? Of course, I’m getting married,” Gu Wansheng looked at Meng Qiu with a “you’re an idiot” expression.

“Xiao Qiu, you…” Gu Wansheng raised her hand and pointed to her head in the air, leaving the rest unsaid.

Well, she’s shattered into pieces, and can’t be put back together.

Meng Qiu was on the verge of tears. Some people were in the car, but their souls had already ascended.

“What about Sister Shang?” Since Sister Gu wanted to get married, she, as an assistant, had no right to stop her, so she could only bring up Sister Shang.

“I’ll tell her after I return to the company.” Gu Wansheng suddenly warned, “Don’t report this, okay?”

Meng Qiu nodded fiercely. It was too late to report it anyway, because they had already arrived at the Bureau of Civil Affairs.

“You two go out first, I’ll change clothes in the car.”

Wen Jinyan got out of the car and felt a gaze constantly focused on her. She looked at the source of the gaze and politely asked, “Is something wrong?”

Meng Qiu shook her head like a rattle drum, flashing a smile, “No, nothing.”

She didn’t dare to ask, even if something was wrong. Who was this person? She didn’t know her last name or first name, she just had a good-looking face, so why did Sister Gu choose to marry her?

Could it be…

A flash of inspiration struck Meng Qiu, making her even more fragmented.

Sister Gu and her had been together for a long time?

As Sister Gu’s assistant, she didn’t even know this. It’s over, Sister Shang is going to scold me to death.

“Why is your complexion so bad?” Gu Wansheng got out of the car, looking at Meng Qiu’s pale face.

“Are you sick? Why don’t you go back first, there’s nothing much to do anyway.”

“Then, Sister Gu, I’ll go back first.” Since she had nothing to do here, she might as well go home and think about how she could die a little easier.

“Mhm. Go back.” Gu Wansheng watched her leave, then turned to Wen Jinyan and said, “Give me your ID card.”

Wen Jinyan handed it to her.

The Wen Jinyan on the ID card was still very young and wasn’t wearing glasses. But her attractiveness was still striking.

Gu Wansheng glanced past her photo and opened her mouth when she saw the date of birth, “Younger than me, huh.”

Wen Jinyan looked into her eyes, “Do you… not like younger people?”

Gu Wansheng returned the ID card to her and stepped onto the stairs, “No. Are you afraid I’ll suddenly regret it?”

“Mhm,” Wen Jinyan lowered her eyes to look at the steps and suddenly bumped into Gu Wansheng’s back. She stumbled slightly and was caught by a pair of hands that steadied her.

“Why did you suddenly stop?” Wen Jinyan looked at Gu Wansheng, who was one step higher than her.

“You walked too fast,” Gu Wansheng released her hand when she saw that Wen Jinyan was steady. But she thought to herself: Is she that afraid I’ll regret it?

The two arrived at the Bureau of Civil Affairs. As soon as the staff saw Gu Wansheng take off her mask, their mouths dropped into a circle, and they were extremely excited, “Gu… Goddess Gu!”

Gu Wansheng put a finger to her lips, shushing them.

“Here are our ID cards,” Gu Wansheng handed the ID cards to the staff.

“O-Okay. Please go to the photography room for your photo,” the staff member left with their ID cards. She looked back three times as she left, clearly finding it hard to believe.

“Let’s go,” Gu Wansheng naturally took her hand.

“You’re very famous,” Wen Jinyan’s palm felt warm as she was led by Gu Wansheng.

“I thought you knew when you sent me the message.”

After watching the recorded video, Wen Jinyan specifically searched for Gu Wansheng’s information and realized she was a celebrity.

“I just didn’t expect you to have fans even here.”

“After all, I’ve been in this industry for a long time. If no one recognized me, I’d be quite a failure,” Gu Wansheng smiled faintly. There were very few people registering for marriage today, but the line for divorce was long. They easily went straight into the photography room.

As expected, the photographer was also surprised. Before taking the photo, he even asked Gu Wansheng if he could have an autograph. Gu Wansheng replied with grace and ease, “Of course. But I’ll have to trouble you to take beautiful pictures of my wife and me.”

The way she said “wife” was natural and intimate, which surprised Wen Jinyan.

“Since you two are so good looking, any shot will be stunning,” the photographer adjusted the camera and said to Gu Wansheng, “Please move closer and smile.”

After the photos were taken, Gu Wansheng put on her mask and hat.

As the two walked out, they encountered a couple getting divorced, their expressions extremely sour, looking like enemies seeing each other. The distance between them could fit another Wen Jinyan.

Wen Jinyan watched the couple leave the door one after the other, thinking: If Gu Wansheng and I divorce, will it be like this? After all, we don’t genuinely like each other, and we’re just getting what we need.

“What are you looking at? Lost in thought.”

“That couple,” Wen Jinyan came back to her senses, withdrawing her gaze.

“Don’t look at them. We’re not here to get divorced,” Gu Wansheng turned her head to the side. “Watch your step, marriage registration is this way.”

At the registration desk, the two received their red marriage certificates. After the staff member stamped them, she smiled and congratulated them, “May you have a harmonious union for a hundred years.”

“Thank you,” Gu Wansheng accepted it and opened it as they walked out the door. The red stamp covered both of their pictures.

“Because of my work, I can’t live at your place, so I wanted to ask, will you live in my apartment or not move out?”

Although they were married, they had no emotional foundation and didn’t know each other well. If Wen Jinyan didn’t want to live with her, she wouldn’t force her.

“I’ll live in your apartment,” Wen Jinyan answered gently, as if she was stating a very ordinary fact.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll… do this and that to you?” Gu Wansheng finally brought up the topic. She opened the car door, letting Wen Jinyan get in first, and then followed.

“What does ‘this and that’ mean?” Wen Jinyan asked after the privacy partition was lowered.

“Perform… marital duties with you.”

“We are legally married, so you are allowed to do that to me. We are getting what we need.”

Up to this point, she didn’t reject Gu Wansheng holding her hand or talking near her ear. Furthermore, her marriage to Gu Wansheng was to experience lust, to feel empathy, and to be able to write about romance.

Gu Wansheng didn’t expect Wen Jinyan to so honestly utter the words “getting what we need.”

Well, she also married her because she was attracted to her face and figure. She just didn’t expect Wen Jinyan to be as attracted to her looks as she was.

“Then let’s go back to your place to pack up.”

“Mhm.”

At four in the afternoon, Wen Jinyan arrived at Gu Wansheng’s apartment. The bodyguard placed the luggage at the door and was then dismissed by Gu Wansheng.

“Let’s leave the luggage in the foyer for now, I’ll show you around the apartment.” Gu Wansheng naturally took her hand and introduced her to the environment, “This is the kitchen, bar, and wine cabinet. I like to drink at the bar, so I designed the wine cabinet and the bar to be combined.”

She led Wen Jinyan up the stairs. “Our bedroom is this one,” Gu Wansheng pushed the door open, letting Wen Jinyan enter.

“I’ll tidy up the walk-in closet later and make half a space for you.”

“This is the study, I read whenever I have time.”

“This is the piano room, the piano was a gift from a friend. Though I don’t play much.”

“This is the projection room.”

“This room is for exercise equipment.”

Gu Wansheng introduced them one by one. Wen Jinyan felt like she was a child showing off her possessions.

“Oh, and the most important thing.” Gu Wansheng handed her a key. “This is the door key. We’ll register your fingerprints later.”

“Okay.”

“Take a look and see if you need to remodel any rooms or add anything you like.”

“I don’t have anything I particularly like. But can I use your study? I need a quiet environment for writing.”

She doesn’t have anything she likes? Is she too shy to say?

“Of course,” Gu Wansheng led her downstairs. “If you need anything later or think of anything you want to change, just tell me.”

Gu Wansheng was practically saying, “Don’t be shy, just tell me directly.” Although it was a marriage of convenience, she shouldn’t be lacking in material comforts.

“Mhm.”

“Come on, let’s go record your fingerprints.” She led Wen Jinyan out the door and fiddled with the fingerprint scanner for a bit.

“Place your left thumb on it.”

Wen Jinyan did as told.

“Now place your right hand on it.”

With a “beep,” the fingerprint was successfully recorded.

The two entered the house and took Wen Jinyan’s luggage upstairs. Wen Jinyan squatted on the floor to unpack. Gu Wansheng sat on the edge of the bed and watched her.

A slender back, fair neck, looking frail and delicate. Should she buy some supplements for her?

Wen Jinyan finished unpacking and stood up, supporting herself on her knees. She felt a moment of dizziness.

“Careful,” Gu Wansheng supported her waist.

Why is her waist so thin? She really needs to buy some supplements for her.

Wen Jinyan recovered and explained, “It’s nothing, I was just squatting for too long and my legs are a bit numb.”

She realized belatedly that Gu Wansheng was holding her waist and her body was pressed against hers.

She didn’t reject the embrace around her waist either.

Gu Wansheng released her hand from her waist and took a step back, “Sorry.”

“It’s okay, I don’t mind being close to you,” Wen Jinyan said honestly. But in Gu Wansheng’s ears, it took on a different meaning.

Is she saying that she likes being close to me?

So it’s not just a marriage of convenience; she likes me?

Wen Jinyan wanted to know how close she could be to her, and she spoke up first, “Gu Wansheng, can you perform some marital duties with me?”

When she said this, there was no avoidance in her eyes, but a hint of desire.

Desire for me to do that to her?

Even Gu Wansheng, who usually has a positive view of lust, almost stumbled.

Wen Jinyan grabbed her hand, “Can’t you?”

Wen Jinyan’s gaze fell directly into Gu Wansheng’s eyes. Gu Wansheng suddenly felt a bit shy and strategically cleared her throat.

“It’s daytime.”

Wouldn’t doing that in broad daylight be too hasty? Besides, they just got married.

“Can’t you kiss me in the daytime?” Wen Jinyan asked, her voice clean and clear.

Kiss?

Gu Wansheng looked at her, “Are you saying you want me to kiss you?”

Wen Jinyan nodded, raising her volume slightly, “I want you to kiss me.”

So I was overthinking it…

Gu Wansheng’s eyes fell on the woman’s lips. They were pale pink, a natural lip color without any makeup.

Wen Jinyan’s eyes, behind her glasses, were sparkling. Her amber pupils blinked, like a kitten waiting to be petted by its owner.

“Then… then close your eyes,” Looking at those eyes, she inexplicably felt a sense of shame and nervousness.

“Why?” Wen Jinyan asked, closing her eyes.

Because I’m nervous…

Gu Wansheng slowly leaned in. The scent of jade dragon tea rushed over, mingling with the clean pine scent of Wen Jinyan.

Her lips hovered a few centimeters above the other’s, their breaths shallow and deep. Gu Wansheng’s palms were slightly sweaty.

“Gu Wansheng, can you kiss me quickly? My skin is itching…” Wen Jinyan suddenly opened her eyes. Gu Wansheng was startled and, without time to see the emotion in her eyes, touched her lips and pulled away.

“Done.”

Gu Wansheng stepped back, feeling a bit warm, and turned on the air conditioner.

The kiss was like a fleeting touch, a light tap on the lips before leaving.

Wen Jinyan didn’t have time to feel the sensation.

But she didn’t reject the kiss either.

She licked her lips, “Can you kiss me longer?”