Self-Perception - Chapter 50

“Yes,” Gu Wansheng replied candidly.

“Did you pick it up yesterday evening when you went out to buy soy sauce?”

“Yes.” Gu Wansheng looked at her. She couldn’t quite gauge Wen Jinyan’s attitude behind these questions, but she nodded in response nonetheless.

She had expected Wen Jinyan to say something more, but unexpectedly, Wen Jinyan simply propped herself up and said, “I’ll go make some noodles for you.”

Gu Wansheng watched her walk out of the room. After lying there for a while, she got up to follow. In the kitchen, Wen Jinyan was busy preparing the noodles, leaving Gu Wansheng with only the view of her back.

She walked over and embraced Wen Jinyan from behind, resting her chin intimately in the crook of Wen Jinyan’s shoulder.

Wen Jinyan’s body paused for a second. She turned the heat down and said in a calm voice, “You’re still sick, why did you get out of bed?”

“I just want to cling to you.” Gu Wansheng leaned her head against Wen Jinyan’s back. Her nose was stuffed, making her voice sound muffled. “Yanyan, I hope you can answer one question for me.”

“I’m not angry,” Wen Jinyan said, beating her to the punch. She turned around, her gaze lingering on Gu Wansheng, and cupped her face. Gu Wansheng’s face still carried the feverish heat, feeling warm to the touch. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, when she looked up at Wen Jinyan, her eyes were misty. Wen Jinyan knew it was a lingering effect of the fever, but for a moment, she felt there was a hint of apprehension in Gu Wansheng’s eyes.

Wen Jinyan rested her forehead against Gu Wansheng’s and said softly, “Gu Wansheng, thank you.”

She used to believe that leaving a snowman in its natural environment was the best way for it to exist, but Gu Wansheng had shattered that theory and personally brought her a second possibility.

Her snowman could have a second way of living, and the person who brought that possibility was Gu Wansheng.

“Thank you for doing all of this for me in secret. I’m very happy.”

Hearing this, Gu Wansheng smiled. She wrapped her arms around Wen Jinyan’s waist. “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”

If Wen Jinyan was happy, then she was happy.

“But in the future, you must consider yourself more. A snowman isn’t as important as you are.”

After saying this, Wen Jinyan added hastily, “I’m just using it as an example.”

The clarification was a bit too obvious. Gu Wansheng’s smile widened almost to her ears as she sniffled. “Okay.”

Gu Wansheng wanted to say more, but Wen Jinyan suddenly gasped. “The noodles!”

Because they had cooked for too long, the noodles were very soft and had lost their chewiness.

“I’ll eat these. I’ll make you a fresh bowl.”

Gu Wansheng caught her hand before she could move. “It’s fine, don’t bother.”

In the end, the two of them ate the soggy noodles. Wen Jinyan had made a clear broth. Gu Wansheng praised it repeatedly as she ate, even finishing all the soup.

Wen Jinyan knew her noodle-making skills were mediocre at best, but Gu Wansheng’s words and actions provided her with immense emotional value.

After eating, Gu Wansheng walked around the living room to digest. Wen Jinyan sat on the sofa, her eyes fixed on her.

Suddenly, Wen Jinyan seemed to remember something. She got up, and Gu Wansheng watched her leave and return with a glass of water and medicine in her hands.

“I’m not a child,” Gu Wansheng said, though she couldn’t hide her smile.

Later, as she lay in bed staring at the dark ceiling, the corners of her mouth didn’t drop for a moment; her mind was incredibly active. She didn’t dare roll over, fearing she might wake Wen Jinyan. Consequently, the next morning, Wen Jinyan asked her if she had a beautiful dream last night.

The temperature in Jiangcheng grew colder and colder.

By the day of the Winter Solstice, Wen Jinyan had invited Wen Qiuyi over. She had discussed this with Gu Wansheng, who had agreed.

Wen Jinyan thought of Gu Wansheng’s aunt and mentioned her as well. Since they were all blood relatives, she wanted the two sides to meet.

Gu Wansheng didn’t see any issue with it, but considering her aunt had been busy preparing for the year-end summary lately, she mentioned the possibility of her being busy to Wen Jinyan before making the call.

To her surprise, Gu Huai agreed. She even asked Gu Wansheng, “Will anyone else be there?”

Gu Wansheng replied, “Yanyan and her aunt.”

Gu Huai simply said “Okay” and hung up.

At seven in the evening, Gu Huai arrived. Wen Jinyan opened the door for her.

“President Gu,” Wen Jinyan said, and immediately regretted it.

Why call her President Gu? I should call her Aunt.

Gu Huai didn’t seem to mind and gave a brief “Mm.” She reached into the inner layer of her coat and took out a red envelope. “This is a wedding gift from me.”

Wen Jinyan took it with a smile. “Thank you, Aunt.”

Gu Huai looked down to change her shoes. There were only disposable slippers on the floor and no one else’s shoes. After changing, she asked, “Where is Xiao Jiu?”

“She’s in the kitchen.”

Gu Huai gave a second “Mm.” After greeting Gu Wansheng in the kitchen, she went to sit on the sofa.

Wen Jinyan walked into the kitchen and closed the sliding door before asking, “Is Aunt in a bad mood lately? She doesn’t seem very spirited.”

“The end of the year is approaching, there are probably many things she needs to handle,” Gu Wansheng replied while tossing the vegetables in the pan.

Wen Jinyan washed the bowls and nodded. “When is your aunt arriving?”

“I just called to ask. She’ll be here soon.”

Just as they finished speaking, the doorbell rang. Before Wen Jinyan could even step out of the kitchen, Gu Huai had already opened the door.

When Wen Qiuyi saw that the person opening the door was Gu Huai, her pupils visibly dilated.

“Aunt,” Wen Jinyan called out, seeing the two of them standing at the door without moving a step.

Gu Huai was the first to step aside to let Wen Qiuyi in.

“Aunt, this is Gu Wansheng’s aunt.”

“Hello,” Wen Qiuyi offered a flat greeting.

“Aunt, this is my aunt, Wen Qiuyi.”

“I know. The great pianist, very famous,” Gu Huai said.

“I didn’t expect you to know my aunt,” Wen Jinyan smiled.

“Ms. Wen plays the piano beautifully,” Gu Huai followed Wen Jinyan’s lead.

“Mumu, this is the gift for you and Gu Wansheng,” Wen Qiuyi said, cutting off the conversation as if she couldn’t be bothered to listen to Gu Huai.

“Thank you, Aunt.” Wen Jinyan took the gift, her gaze shifting between the two women. She felt that the atmosphere between them was somewhat off.

She didn’t dwell on it. She went to the kitchen to cut some fruit and brought it to the living room, only to see her aunt and Gu Wansheng’s aunt sitting far apart, enough space for two more people to sit between them.

Wen Jinyan felt something was wrong, especially remembering the look Gu Wansheng’s aunt had given at the auction. She returned to the kitchen after delivering the fruit.

“Does your aunt know my aunt? I feel like there’s something strange between them.”

“Ms. Wen is so famous, and my aunt loves music. Maybe it’s a one sided acquaintance,” Gu Wansheng said as she put the dumplings into the boiling water.

Wen Jinyan thought Gu Wansheng had a point and began helping her.

Gu Huai looked at the sugar oranges on the plate. She picked one up and peeled it. She heard the person beside her speak.

“You don’t seem surprised to see me at all.”

Gu Huai put a segment of the orange in her mouth and smiled. “You aren’t some fierce beast, why should I be surprised?”

“You know what I mean,” Wen Qiuyi looked at her coldly.

Gu Huai put down the remaining half of the orange. Her fingers were stained with juice, and a faint citrus scent spread through the air.

“Yes, I investigated the relationship between you and Wen Jinyan. I didn’t find anything specific, but my intuition told me your relationship wasn’t ordinary. So when I heard from Xiao Jiu that Wen Jinyan’s aunt would be here, I wondered…”

Gu Huai pulled a tissue to wipe the sticky juice from her fingers, her eyes cast down.

“I wondered if that person would be you.”

Looking at her submissive posture and slightly slumped shoulders, Wen Qiuyi’s voice was no longer as cold as before. “Gu Huai, we aren’t young anymore. The past is the past. Now that the two children are together, we are just in-laws, nothing more.”

“Aunt, Auntie, the dumplings are ready!” Wen Jinyan brought the dishes to the table.

Wen Qiuyi stood up. Gu Huai followed behind her without saying a word.

“Aunt, please save this year’s annual meeting gift for me too,” Gu Wansheng said, placing a pork and cabbage dumpling in Gu Huai’s bowl.

“Did Jiangcheng TV invite you to the New Year’s Eve gala again this year?” Gu Huai asked, catching the dumpling with her bowl.

“Yes, I’m going to sing this year.”

Hearing “singing,” Wen Jinyan looked up. “Singing?”

It made sense; Gu Wansheng’s voice was gentle and delicate. That kind of voice would sound beautiful singing love songs. Thinking back, she had never actually heard Gu Wansheng sing.

After this exchange, peace returned to the dinner table. Wen Qiuyi glanced at Gu Huai out of the corner of her eye. Gu Huai ate her dumplings quietly, keeping her emotions perfectly stable. No trace of their private tension showed at the table.

This allowed Wen Qiuyi to relax as well.

Once they finished eating, Wen Qiuyi and Wen Jinyan chatted for a few moments before Wen Qiuyi prepared to leave. Wen Jinyan wanted to walk her out, but Wen Qiuyi declined.

“Then Aunt, send me a message when you get home,” Wen Jinyan urged, worried since it was late.

“I’m leaving too, there are some things at the company,” Gu Huai said, checking the time. Gu Wansheng opened her mouth to speak, but Gu Huai stopped her. “No need to see me out.”

“Then drive carefully, Aunt.”

Gu Huai and Wen Qiuyi entered the elevator. Neither said a word. When they reached the basement, Wen Qiuyi walked out first and went straight to her parking spot. She turned around to face Gu Huai, who was blatantly following her.

“Doesn’t President Gu have company matters to handle?”

“I just sent my assistant to the office,” Gu Huai said, hands in her pockets, her expression unchanged.

“Then President Gu should head back early. I’m leaving.” Wen Qiuyi went to open her car door, but Gu Huai reached out and held the door shut. Her voice was low and her tone softened, but her actions were firm.

“Ms. Wen, could you give me a ride?”

“Does President Gu not have a car?”

“The assistant drove it away,” Gu Huai continued. “The assistant is at the company.”

She still speaks the same way as before, infuriating.

“Surely Ms. Wen wouldn’t have the heart to watch me wait here in the biting cold for my assistant to come back for me?”

The words Wen Qiuyi wanted to say were choked back by that sentence. “Does President Gu not have a driver?”

“They’ve already finished work. It’s late, it’s not good to trouble others.”

This sentence carried two meanings: first, that it was too late for anyone to fetch her, and second, that Wen Qiuyi did not fall into the category of “others.”

Wen Qiuyi ignored her and started the car. Gu Huai stood there, making no move to stop her from driving away.

Wen Qiuyi watched Gu Huai’s figure grow smaller in the rearview mirror until she vanished. When she reached the first traffic light, her fingers tapped against the steering wheel. On the third tap, she turned the car around.

Back in the parking lot, Gu Huai was still standing in the exact same spot, motionless.

“I’ll give you ten seconds.”

Gu Huai curled her lips into a smile. “Thank you, Ms. Wen.”