Self-Perception - Chapter 6

[Floor 18]: What’s going on? Goddess Gu got married!? Why was there no news about it before.

[Floor 20]: Wuwuwu, Goddess Gu is married. My fantasy is shattered.

[Floor 30]: Does anyone know who Goddess Gu’s other half is? I see she didn’t @ them, which means it’s possible they’re not from the industry.

[Floor 31]: It’s also possible they just don’t have a Weibo account.

[Floor 40]: Goddess Gu announced it immediately after winning the award, not hiding it at all for fear of affecting her career. I’m crying. So responsible and dependable, giving so much security.

[Floor 41]: I guess the reason Goddess Gu didn’t reveal her wife is probably to protect her wife’s personal privacy.

Within ten minutes of the announcement, the thread had reached 600 replies. Despite some negative comments, Sister Shang was quick to lead the internet trolls to steer public opinion in a better direction. Moreover, since entering the entertainment industry, she has been diligent, kind, approachable, and treats everyone equally.

With good acting skills and character, she is a breath of fresh air in the industry.

She has good rapport with the general public, not to mention her fans.

Gu Wansheng replied to a few close friends and then made a unified reply on Weibo for the rest.

She opened WeChat, wanting to ask Wen Jinyan if there was anything she couldn’t eat.

After a long search, she couldn’t find her. Only then did she remember that she had added Wen Jinyan’s WeChat using her work account.

She quickly used her personal WeChat account to add her again.

[Gu Wansheng]: I’m using my other account to add you, please accept. I don’t use this one often. Attached was a screenshot of her profile picture.

That fast?

Wen Jinyan clicked on her contacts and saw that the profile picture was a specially designed signature using the two characters ‘Wansheng’.

She clicked accept, and the other side quickly sent a message.

[Gu Wansheng]: Is there anything you can’t eat?

Wen: I don’t eat chili peppers, everything else is fine.

[Gu Wansheng]: What about red bell peppers? Thai chili peppers? Bell peppers? Green peppers? Can you handle spicy food? What’s your tolerance level?

Wen Jinyan looked at the rigorous phrasing and, for the first time, felt that her dislike for chili was a mistake.

Wen: I don’t like green peppers, everything else is fine.

[Gu Wansheng]: Then what do you like to eat?

Wen: Nothing I like.

It was that answer again nothing she liked, nothing she liked to eat.

[Gu Wansheng]: Wait for me at home.

Gu Wansheng directly ordered instant groceries online. When she returned home, she just happened to see Wen Jinyan walking out of the kitchen.

“You’re back.” Wen Jinyan paused her steps and met her. “I’ve already put the groceries on the counter.”

“Wen Jinyan, could you help me with prep work? I can’t manage it alone.”

Wen Jinyan stopped the movement of her raised leg. “But I don’t know how to cook.”

“Just help me wash a few dishes,” Gu Wansheng looked her in the eye, her expression calm.

Without waiting for Wen Jinyan to reply, Gu Wansheng took her hand and led her into the kitchen.

The sound of running water was rushing. Wen Jinyan washed the dishes, and the hand next to her handed over a bag of shiitake mushrooms. After washing the mushrooms, she was handed some potatoes, tomatoes, and spare ribs.

“Could you hand me all the vegetables that need washing at once?” She felt like she was done only for something new to appear every time.

“That’s all for now.”

Wen Jinyan didn’t say anything, took them, and lowered her head to clean them.

“Tomato and sparerib soup or potato stew with spareribs?”

“Either is fine.” Wen Jinyan didn’t lift her head, clearly being perfunctory.

Gu Wansheng wasn’t annoyed, she smiled. “I have a selection disorder, help me choose one.”

“Tomato and sparerib soup then.” This time, Wen Jinyan didn’t blurt it out immediately but paused for a few seconds before replying.

It seems tomato and sparerib soup is preferred over potato stew with spareribs. She does have things she likes more; I’ll try another one next time.

“I’m done washing.”

Can I leave now?

“Go and wait on the sofa.” Gu Wansheng sliced the tomatoes into small pieces.

Wen Jinyan moved past her, taking the washed bowls out with her.

Wen Jinyan had nothing to do, so she opened WeChat. She had been added to a small group by Su Muqing before, and the group was currently buzzing with discussion.

[Xu Yuanyuan]: Goddess Gu is married. shocked.jpg Followed by a screenshot of the Weibo post.

[Xie Ming]: Married? I was shipping Goddess Gu and Meng Ranxu before. My fantasy is shattered.

[Yu Nian]: I’m quite curious who Goddess Gu’s wife is?

[Xu Yuanyuan]: @Xie Ming. Shipping everything will only hurt you.

[Su Muqing]: Why did she announce it at this time? She’s at the peak of her popularity, won’t the number of fans…

[Xu Yuanyuan]: No. Goddess Gu has a good public reputation, and her fans are very loyal. Because of the marriage announcement, she’s been praised by the public for being responsible, and she’s even gained quite a few new fans.

Wen Jinyan finished reading the latest messages and closed her phone.

Gu Wansheng’s efficiency was too fast.

“Gu Wansheng.” Wen Jinyan got up and walked to the kitchen door.

“Hmm?” Gu Wansheng didn’t look up, skillfully slicing potatoes. The fabric on her forearm was rolled up to her elbow, exposing fair skin. Her chopping motion was smooth, neat, and powerful.

“What’s wrong?”

“The apron string is coming loose, I’ll tie it tighter for you.” Wen Jinyan pulled the thin string and deftly tied a knot.

A clear scent of pine swept in from behind, lightly enveloping her, filling the air with the scent of pine.

“Done.” The pine scent receded. Wen Jinyan left without delay.

Gu Wansheng was left alone in the kitchen, feeling the lingering faint scent of pine.

Wen Jinyan walked into the study. Under the warm light, the bookshelves were densely packed with books, and the display cabinets held various items.

Wen Jinyan looked over them one by one.

Lego, trophies, figurines.

She withdrew her gaze, her fingertip gliding along the spine of the books, finally stopping on one.

The Little Prince. A bookmark was tucked inside. Wen Jinyan opened the book to the bookmark, and her eyes landed on a passage.

It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.

Wen Jinyan read on.

“You will understand that your rose is unique in the world.”

A phone call interrupted her. She answered.

“Hello, Jinyan. I’ve read the passage you sent me. Hmm… your description is too straightforward, it feels pieced together and lacks emotion. Although it’s about desire, there’s no feeling in it at all.”

A few hours ago, after kissing Gu Wansheng, Wen Jinyan quickly wrote a passage about desire and sent it to Su Muqing to see what she thought.

“Then… what is a kiss supposed to be like? How do you and Ji Yibai do it?”

“Hmm… usually, she takes the initiative. She’ll lean closer to me, with subtle breathing wrapping around and enticing me. She’ll gently hold my lip first, and then… then…”

The quieter she spoke, the softer her voice became.

“And then what…”

“She’ll reach in… Oh, come on… things like this happen naturally; there’s no formula. You think it’s mathematics?”

She could feel Su Muqing’s embarrassment even through the phone screen.

“You might have to eat something simple tonight; I have to work overtime. I might be back late.”

“I forgot to tell you, I’ve moved out,” Wen Jinyan only remembered that she had moved in this afternoon and forgotten to tell Su Muqing after her comment.

“Moved out? Where did you go? You didn’t go to… your spouse’s place, did you!?” Su Muqing’s voice rose.

“Yes. I thought cohabitation might help me understand better.”

“Typical you, I’m impressed. I have some things to deal with here, I’m hanging up now.”

“Bye.” Wen Jinyan placed her phone face down on the table.

Could it be that her kiss with Gu Wansheng wasn’t enough? I must savor it again in detail later.

With a goal in mind, Wen Jinyan no longer had the heart for reading. She simply walked out of the study and went downstairs.

Gu Wansheng was just placing the stir-fried shredded potatoes on the dining table. Seeing Wen Jinyan come downstairs, she quickly called out, “I was just thinking of going up to look for you.”

“Come quickly and wash your hands, it’s time to eat.”

Wen Jinyan went into the kitchen to wash her hands. After cleaning up, she filled two bowls of rice and brought them out.

Gu Wansheng looked at the carbohydrates in front of her, feeling a little hesitant. She usually didn’t eat carbs for dinner.

But she served it… fine, eating a little wouldn’t hurt.

She comforted herself and picked up her chopsticks.

“Eat some spareribs, you’re too thin,” Gu Wansheng used the communal chopsticks to put a piece on her plate. She then used a spoon to scoop a bowl of soup for her.

“This soup is very fresh right after being served, be careful not to burn yourself.”

“I can do it myself,” Wen Jinyan felt a little uneasy with her natural enthusiasm, but on the surface, she remained calm.

“Gu Wansheng, do you have time later?”

“What’s wrong?” Gu Wansheng put down her chopsticks and looked up at her.

“I want to kiss you,” Wen Jinyan said seriously and affectionately, her amber eyes sparkling. “Can I?”

Gu Wansheng felt like a cat had lightly scratched her heart an itch so subtle she didn’t even realize it.

She wants to kiss me!!!

So direct, and still asking for my permission, so cute!!

Gu Wansheng lightly coughed into her fist, trying her best to keep her expression normal.

“Yes.”

“Then, can we set a time?”

Gu Wansheng secretly laughed at that.

She has to set a time just for a kiss, so serious.

“After I shower, back in the room?”

“https://www.google.com/search? Okay.” After Wen Jinyan said that, she began to eat. She was about seven points full after finishing the soup.

But she noticed Gu Wansheng smiling as she watched her eat the spareribs, so her hand reacted faster than her brain, and she picked up another piece.

Sure enough, Gu Wansheng’s smile widened when she saw her take another piece of sparerib.

Good, eat more so you won’t be so scrawny.

Wen Jinyan thought to herself: Indeed, people who cook feel a sense of satisfaction when others eat more of their food.

After they finished eating, Wen Jinyan helped Gu Wansheng take the dishes into the kitchen.

Watching Gu Wansheng place the dishes into the automatic dishwasher, Wen Jinyan, who was standing idly by, spoke up.

“Gu Wansheng, you’re a great cook. Do all celebrities know how to cook?”

“It’s not that all celebrities can cook, it’s that I can cook. I just like to cook.”

Wen Jinyan stared at the hands covered in water droplets fair, long, and beautiful. When her knuckles pressed against the marble countertop, her bones were prominent, and the veins on the back of her hands were faintly visible.

“But I feel like these hands shouldn’t be used for cooking. It’s too much of a waste.”