Self-Perception - Chapter 59

Wen Jinyan had truly never played before. Although she had watched Gu Wansheng play a few rounds, she only understood the logic in her mind, her hands hadn’t learned a thing.

After losing five or six rounds in a row, she looked at Gu Wansheng with anxious eyes, as if asking, “What should we do?”

Gu Wansheng patted her leg to comfort her. “It’s okay. Remember what I said?”

“That I have you as my strategist?” Wen Jinyan organized her cards.

A soft laugh drifted from beside her. “I said if we win, it counts as yours, if we lose, it’s on me.”

“So relax, it’s just entertainment. Besides, practice makes perfect. You’ll win the next few rounds.”

As if Gu Wansheng’s words were a prophecy, Wen Jinyan actually started winning after a few more games.

Wen Jinyan turned her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Gu Wansheng, seeking praise.

Gu Wansheng leaned in close, the scent of Silver Mountain Water tea enveloping Wen Jinyan. Pressing against her ear, she whispered intimately, “Yanyan, you’re amazing.”

To outsiders, Gu Wansheng appeared to be speaking normally, but only Wen Jinyan knew how scorching and burning the skin behind her ear felt where Gu Wansheng touched it.

The ten yuan Wen Jinyan had won from Gu Wansheng was soon lost, and she even ended up in the red. The other three had won varying amounts, and their expressions grew much brighter.

As dinner time approached, they finished their game and began heading toward the dam.

“Why isn’t Director Bai here yet?” Wasn’t she supposed to come back after taking Xiao Mian home? It was almost time to eat, and there was no sign of her.

Gu Wansheng checked her WeChat. A few minutes later, she said, “Xiao Mian is holding onto her and won’t let her leave. She’s stuck.” Gu Wansheng added, “But they should be at the dam by now.”

“She told you?”

“I guessed.”

Well then.

By the time Gu Wansheng and Wen Jinyan reached the dam, most people were already seated, waiting for the meal to start. Gu Wansheng messaged Bai Jin to ask where she was. Not far away, Bai Jin stood up and called out her name. That one shout drew everyone’s attention, and Gu Wansheng covered her forehead in embarrassment.

“Next time, just reply with a general direction,” Gu Wansheng said as she pulled out a chair and sat down.

Bai Jin paused for a moment before reacting, tilting her chin up. “Fine.”

The meal began, and they started eating.

“Auntie Bai, I want a steamed bun.” Xiao Mian reached out with her chopsticks but couldn’t reach. Just as Bai Jin was about to get one for her, a bun was already placed in Xiao Mian’s bowl.

“Thank you, Grandma Zhang,” Xiao Mian thanked her politely.

Children who act well-behaved are very likable. Combined with the fact that Xiao Mian was one of the prettiest children in the neighborhood, the neighbors all enjoyed doting on her.

“You’re welcome! Xiao Mian is so good.” The elderly lady loved children, especially pretty and well-behaved ones.

After finishing dinner, the group walked slowly back home. The sunset fell over the fields, casting a red glow. A flock of birds flew in the distance, making the scenery feel quiet and beautiful. Wen Jinyan took out her phone to capture the moment.

“The countryside scenery is so beautiful.” A breeze blew from nowhere, and Wen Jinyan reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear.

“Mm. If you like it, we can buy a small villa in the countryside,” Gu Wansheng said, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind Wen Jinyan’s ear, revealing her fair skin.

Observing the situation, Bai Jin pulled Xiao Mian and walked ahead.

“Auntie Bai, why are you walking so fast? I can’t keep up!!” Xiao Mian complained as she was pulled along, her steps feeling like they were flying.

“Go back early to wash up and watch TV,” Bai Jin replied, thinking to herself: So cheesy. Is having a wife that big of a deal?

At the mention of TV, Xiao Mian started jogging, her voice full of excitement. “Yay, yay!”

Wen Jinyan watched the backs of the two leaving, her ears turning hot. Gu Wansheng saw it clearly and laughed.

“You’re still laughing,” Wen Jinyan gave her a mock glare.

“Okay, I’ll stop,” Gu Wansheng suppressed her smile, then thought of something and whispered, “Should we do the thing we didn’t do a few nights ago tonight?”

The thing they didn’t do a few nights ago?

Wen Jinyan thought about it, and her ears burned even hotter.

“No,” Wen Jinyan walked forward.

Gu Wansheng chased after her, teasing, “Really no? I remember that night, Yanyan, you were pulling me…”

Before she could finish, Wen Jinyan interrupted her, a blush of embarrassment appearing on her face as she warned, “Gu Wansheng!”

“Alright, alright. If Yanyan says no, then we won’t.”

Wen Jinyan felt frustrated, looking at her but unable to say anything. She walked straight ahead. Gu Wansheng followed a few steps behind, keeping pace.

Initially, Yanyan had given her the impression of a cold person. Although she seemed gentle and followed her because she liked her, it always felt like there was an invisible wall between them. Now, Yanyan felt like she had flesh and blood, she would laugh, feel joy and anger, and act coy when teased.

It’s so good.

After getting married, she slowly discovered that Yanyan liked her. But before she found out, when did Yanyan start liking her? Was it love at first sight or a long-term plan? Was the place they first met really a bar?

Gu Wansheng walked forward and took her hand. Wen Jinyan let her.

“Yanyan, what do you like about me?”

Hearing this, Wen Jinyan’s eyelids slowly lifted as she looked into Gu Wansheng’s eyes. They were focused and earnest.

What do I like about Gu Wansheng…

The first deep impression was Gu Wansheng’s eyes. Later, her thoughtfulness, her attention to detail, her meticulous care when she was sick, her concern made Wen Jinyan slowly sink into a gentle haven. She had never experienced such warmth before.

Her family ties were thin, and she had been tripped up by people she misjudged in the workplace, making her distrustful of emotions. Before meeting Gu Wansheng, the main reasons she hadn’t become completely emotionally detached were the friendship Su Muqing gave her, her aunt being her only family pillar, and the hatred brought by that person!

Even her initial approach to Gu Wansheng was because she needed to write a romance plot, she needed to know what a kiss felt like and the movements involved.

Back then, she treated Gu Wansheng as a tool.

What did she like about Gu Wansheng? She couldn’t give a specific answer, she liked everything about her. She couldn’t pick out just one thing.

“Gu Wansheng, you are like light. People like light, they chase it,” Wen Jinyan looked into her eyes. “So, loving you is as simple as breathing. Everyone will like you.”

Including herself.

Loving the glamorous you, loving the meticulous you, loving all of you.

Gu Wansheng’s mind felt like it exploded. This was the first time she had heard such a confession, it was more moving and seductive than any line she had ever spoken for a character.

“Yanyan, is this your first time in love?” Otherwise, why would she say such moving things?

Wen Jinyan didn’t know why Gu Wansheng asked, but she replied truthfully, “Gu Wansheng, you are my first love.” She continued, “And the only person I’ve ever liked.”

Whether it was a long-term plan or love at first sight, the answer Gu Wansheng originally sought was no longer important.

Bai Jin was right, she was a “love-brain.” Because of Wen Jinyan’s words, her heart surged with waves. She didn’t care about the causes or consequences, as long as Yanyan liked her. She smiled. “What a coincidence. You are also the first person I’ve ever liked.”

Xiao Mian had long since fallen asleep, and Bai Jin had drifted off while looking at her phone. Only Gu Wansheng’s room next door still emitted faint sounds.

The grandmother’s house had been renovated when Gu Wansheng returned. The old mud-tile house had been remodeled for better stability, and considering the elderly sleep lightly, soundproofing had been factored in. She just didn’t expect it to be used for this.

“Yanyan, be quiet. Grandma is a light sleeper, don’t disturb her,” Gu Wansheng whispered while teasing her. Though she told her to be quiet, her fingers entered Wen Jinyan’s mouth, stirring and pressing.

Wen Jinyan was truly afraid the sound would leak out. She couldn’t bring herself to bite the fingers, but wanting to keep quiet, her tongue wrapped around them, letting out whimpers like a small animal.

“When you said ‘no’ so confidently on the road, did you imagine you’d be holding onto me so tightly now, refusing to let me go?” Gu Wansheng breathed into her ear. The sudden sensation made Wen Jinyan’s already sensitive body jerk, letting out a release.

Gu Wansheng bit her earlobe, grinding with her teeth and swirling her tongue. She placed a pillow under Wen Jinyan’s slightly arched abdomen. The veins on the hand gripping the bedsheet were prominent, and the sheets were crumpled.

“Can you hold on for one more minute? Please?” Gu Wansheng murmured against her skin, coaxing her.

“I can’t…” Wen Jinyan’s eyes were misty with tears. The stimulation was too intense. She wanted to turn back to see the expression of the person over her, but her chin was held as they kissed.

Gu Wansheng was in the shadows, her face unclear.

Outside the window, it had started to rain at some point. Raindrops fell on petals, wetting the leaves. Inside the room, the sound of water was also pitter-pattering.

“Yanyan, do you hear it?”

“Hear… what?” Wen Jinyan couldn’t take any more, turning soft like a pool of water, her body relaxed in a yoga-like pose.

“The sound of so much water,” Gu Wansheng’s voice drifted slowly into Wen Jinyan’s ears.

It wouldn’t be until much later that Wen Jinyan realized the soundproofing of each room was actually very good, but that’s a story for another time.

The next day, as noon approached, Xiao Mian wanted to call them for lunch but was stopped by Grandma.

“Young people work a lot of overtime. Let them rest as much as they can now.”

When Wen Jinyan woke up, it was already 3:00 PM. She sat up and looked toward the bedside to grab some clothes. Seeing the state of the room, she closed her eyes.

It was a total mess.

The two of them had played for a long time last night. Gu Wansheng had led her through various positions by the door, the wardrobe, and the bedside, each place carrying their scent. It was exceptionally bold, with both Gu Wansheng and herself taking the lead. By the time they finished and were about to sleep, they could hear the rooster crowing.

They were truly too unrestrained; would this be bad for their health?

Wen Jinyan got out of bed to find clean clothes. As soon as her feet touched the floor, her legs went soft, and she almost knelt straight down. She had just found a high-necked sweater to put on when a pull at her waist dragged her back. Wen Jinyan looked back to see Gu Wansheng’s face buried in her back. Every visible part of Gu Wansheng’s body was covered in “red stars,” and there were teeth marks on her shoulder.

Wen Jinyan felt a belated surge of embarrassment.

Did I really go that hard last night?

“Waking up so early? Why not sleep a bit longer?”