Self-Perception - Chapter 54

“Then I’ll head out first. Send me a WeChat message when you’re ready,” Gu Wansheng understood, lightly closing the door behind her as she left.

Only then did Wen Jinyan look at the bullet chat, which was filled with question marks: “????????”

She turned on her microphone. “Sorry about that, someone was here just now.”

The chat asked: “Is the author sama living with a roommate?”

Wen Jinyan replied: “No, that was my wife.”

The chat exploded into another string of question marks. One reply even surprised Wen Jinyan: “I knew it! With a voice like the author sama’s, she definitely doesn’t drink Chinese herbal medicine.”

Herbal medicine? What does drinking herbal medicine have to do with my voice? Am I that out of touch with internet slang?

The host finally managed to pull the topic back on track. After chatting for about an hour and a half, the broadcast ended. Wen Jinyan packed up her microphone and cables and walked out of the room.

Gu Wansheng was sitting in the living room watching TV.

“Why didn’t you turn the volume up a bit?” Wen Jinyan took the remote and increased the sound.

“I was afraid of disturbing you,” Gu Wansheng handed her some sliced fruit. “Soothe your throat.”

Wen Jinyan took a piece, the sweetness of the orange swirled in her mouth, perfectly tart and sweet. “The soundproofing in the room is quite good, I couldn’t hear it.”

“Are you spending New Year’s with your aunt this year?” Gu Wansheng asked.

“My aunt is going to my maternal grandmother’s house for the New Year,” which was Wen Jinyan’s mother’s home.

“You… aren’t going back?” Gu Wansheng asked.

Wen Jinyan paused mid-bite. She subconsciously lowered her head before looking up again. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been back. I’m not used to it.”

Her small movements didn’t escape Gu Wansheng’s eyes.

“Besides, I promised you before. I’m going with you.” She stared directly at Gu Wansheng, as if seeking a firm confirmation.

“Alright, then come with me,” Gu Wansheng took her hand.

They decided to set off on January 24th. After much consideration, they chose to drive back, with Bai Jin joining them. Before leaving, Bai Jin said she needed to buy something. Gu Wansheng told her to “make it quick,” but before she could finish the sentence, Bai Jin had already vanished.

When Bai Jin returned half an hour later, she was carrying large bags of items.

“What did you buy? What took so long?” Gu Wansheng asked casually.

Bai Jin explained while showing off her haul, “These are supplements for Grandma, calcium tablets and such, these are snacks for Xiao Tang, and some gift packs.”

Hearing this, Wen Jinyan suddenly realized she hadn’t prepared any gifts. As she turned to head toward the supermarket, Gu Wansheng caught her hand.

“Where are you going?”

“I want to buy some gifts too. I can’t go back empty-handed.”

“I’ve already prepared your gifts.”

“I didn’t see them,” Bai Jin said as she opened the trunk to arrange the gift boxes.

“I bought a lot, so they wouldn’t fit in the car. I hired a specialized delivery service,” Gu Wansheng said, checking the time. “Let’s go, it’s about time.”

For the first half of the journey, Gu Wansheng drove while Wen Jinyan sat in the passenger seat with her seatbelt fastened. Bai Jin chattered incessantly in the back until Gu Wansheng, her ears ringing, told her to shut up.

“If you keep distracting me, I’ll drop you off and let you call a taxi home.”

“On what grounds?” Bai Jin protested, lightly tapping the back of Wen Jinyan’s seat to show her dissatisfaction. “Jinyan, look at her. Look at that temper.”

Bai Jin put on a hurt expression, mimicking the tone of a neglected concubine from a palace drama: “That ‘fair minded goddess’ everyone talks about in the industry? All fake.”

“Pfft,” Wen Jinyan suppressed a laugh and comforted her. “Director Bai, you should save your voice for now.”

“On the grounds that I bought this car. Close your mouth before we even get to the high-speed rail station.”

Defeated, Bai Jin shut her mouth but kept her eyes fixed on her. “Jinyan, look at her. I really don’t get why you like her.”

“Because she’s a good person.”

“You two are a united front. I can’t win against you,” Bai Jin gave up and stayed quiet.

Wen Jinyan hid her smile behind her hand, and Gu Wansheng finally got some peace and quiet. To keep Gu Wansheng from getting sleepy, Wen Jinyan made small talk to maintain her attention. Normally, when people talk, their eyes shift with the conversation and move away when the talking stops.

However, Wen Jinyan’s gaze didn’t move even after she finished speaking.

“Is there something on my face?” Gu Wansheng stole a quick glance at Wen Jinyan in the passenger seat.

“No. I just think… you look very cool when you drive.”

Wen Jinyan’s eyes curved into a gentle smile. Gu Wansheng’s lips curled up as she tried to stay composed, though she was beaming inside. “It’s not the first time you’ve seen me drive.”

“Maybe I just never looked at you properly before. Now that I’m watching you, I can’t help but get a bit lost in it.”

“You told me not to talk, yet here you two are whispering sweet nothings,” Bai Jin suddenly popped her head up from the seat to complain.

“Shut up,” Gu Wansheng stopped her.

Bai Jin took a few deep breaths and let out a hum of annoyance. The officials are allowed to set fires, but the commoners aren’t allowed to light lamps!

So what if you have a wife? Ever think about how this single dog, no, single lady, feels?

At noon, the three of them stopped at a service area for a simple meal. Gu Wansheng and Wen Jinyan ordered noodles, while Bai Jin opted for a burger and coffee. Due to Gu Wansheng’s celebrity status, they chose a very secluded spot where almost no one noticed them.

After resting for a bit, they moved out again. This time, Bai Jin took the driver’s seat. Wen Jinyan went to open the passenger door, but she was pulled back by a gentle yet firm grip.

“Go to the back and rest,” Gu Wansheng said, noticing the fatigue under her eyes.

When Gu Wansheng was driving, Wen Jinyan had kept talking to keep her alert, which meant Wen Jinyan was just as tense. At the service area, Gu Wansheng had counted her yawning five times.

“But you just drove,” Wen Jinyan implied that Gu Wansheng needed rest too.

Bai Jin chimed in, “Jinyan, just let her sit in the front. The mountain roads later are very winding, it’s better if Wansheng is there to help with the navigation.”

Wen Jinyan let go of the door handle and nodded. She was indeed exhausted. Once in the back seat, with the car silent and only a few passing vehicles outside, she drifted into a dream.

Gu Wansheng looked in the rearview mirror for the third time. Wen Jinyan was curled up on her side facing the driver’s direction. Her brow was slightly furrowed, as if she wasn’t sleeping soundly.

Once they exited the highway, Gu Wansheng whispered, “Drive steadily.”

Bai Jin glanced at Wen Jinyan in the back and gave a quiet “mm” in understanding.

When Wen Jinyan woke up again, the car was pitch black. Her arms and legs were numb from sleeping. She rubbed her wrists and asked groarily, “Where are we?”

Gu Wansheng turned back from the front. “Almost there, about an hour left. Want to sleep more?”

Bai Jin, at the wheel, felt a shiver, not from cold, as the windows were shut tight, but because Gu Wansheng’s voice was so soft it could practically melt.

Ugh, women in love, no, married women are truly terrifying.

Wen Jinyan shook her head. Her throat felt dry. “I want some water.”

Gu Wansheng immediately opened a thermos and handed it to her, cautioning, “Take small sips, it’s a bit hot.”

Wen Jinyan obeyed. Usually, when drinking hot water, people make a slight sound to avoid burning their tongue, but Wen Jinyan drank silently. In the darkness, Gu Wansheng couldn’t see her clearly, but looking at her silhouette, she could imagine the cautious, testing way she was drinking.

The thought made her let out a soft chuckle. So well-behaved.

Unaware of Gu Wansheng’s thoughts, Wen Jinyan handed back the thermos and checked her phone. The light made her squint. It was 11:30 PM. She dimmed the screen and realized something important.

“Where are my glasses?” she muttered, feeling around the seat. She turned on her phone’s flashlight but couldn’t find them. “Strange…”

She had been so sleepy when she got in the car that she had forgotten she’d taken them off.

Gu Wansheng took the glasses out of a case and handed them over. “Your glasses are here. At the service station, I saw they were about to slip off your nose, so I took them off for you.”

Wen Jinyan put them on, and her vision cleared.

At 1:00 AM, after navigating the pitch-black, winding mountain roads, they finally reached their destination. Bai Jin turned off the engine and stepped out to stretch her limbs.

Wen Jinyan also stepped out, but the moment her feet hit the ground, her legs felt weak. Fortunately, Gu Wansheng was quick enough to support her.

“What’s wrong?” Gu Wansheng asked with concern.

“My legs are just a bit numb from sitting so long.”

As she spoke, she looked up. The lights in the house ahead were still on. As Bai Jin and Gu Wansheng carried the bags, Gu Wansheng pushed open the iron gate with her free hand. Despite her light touch, the old, unmaintained gate let out a loud screech.

“Zhi ya!”

The gate swung open, and simultaneously, the inner door of the house opened. Light spilled out as an elderly woman walked out tremulously.

Seeing her, Gu Wansheng quickly put the gifts down to support her. “Grandma, it’s so late, why aren’t you asleep?”

The elderly woman carefully looked Gu Wansheng over from head to toe before replying, “Ah Jin told me a few days ago you’d be back around now. I was worried you wouldn’t see the road, so I kept the lights on.”

Knowing that Grandma simply missed them too much, Gu Wansheng didn’t say anything more and simply helped her inside. Bai Jin and Wen Jinyan followed them in.