Self-Perception - Chapter 68

For the following week, Gu Wansheng became busy with the public relations crisis, but she still made video calls to Wen Jinyan every night. At times, her words seemed hesitant, as if she were holding something back. Wen Jinyan sensed something was wrong and asked what happened, but Gu Wansheng said nothing, only claiming she was exhausted.

By the fifth day of taking medication, Wen Jinyan’s nightmares at night finally ceased.

On the evening of the final day, Gu Wansheng went to Su Muqing’s house to pick up Wen Jinyan.

Originally, Wen Jinyan wanted to return on her own, considering Gu Wansheng was still embroiled in online controversy and it wouldn’t be good if they were photographed together. However, Gu Wansheng refused to listen.

After the two said their goodbyes to Su Muqing, they returned home. Wen Jinyan went to shower. When she came out, she saw Gu Wansheng sitting on the sofa. She walked over while drying her hair.

As she drew closer, she noticed a script lying on the coffee table. Having just showered, she wasn’t wearing her glasses and couldn’t see the text clearly.

Is this Gu Wansheng’s new drama?

“Yanyan, is there anything you want to say to me?” Gu Wansheng looked up at Wen Jinyan, her voice flat. “Or rather, are you hiding something from me?”

Her voice was calm, but her eyes were fixed unblinkingly on Wen Jinyan, making Wen Jinyan’s heart tighten.

Did she discover something? Or is this a test?

Gu Wansheng handed her the script. Wen Jinyan’s mind was a mess as she took it and flipped it open.

In the quiet space, the only sounds were the rustling of pages and Wen Jinyan’s slightly unsteady breathing.

She closed the script and looked up, but instinctively looked away when she met Gu Wansheng’s direct gaze.

Gu Wansheng took in her reaction. “Just as I thought…”

Wen Jinyan opened her mouth but found herself speechless.

“You should have told me sooner,” Gu Wansheng said, lowering her eyes.

Wen Jinyan pressed her tongue against her teeth, her voice sounding raspy when she finally spoke. “When did you find out?”

“Last week, the first night after you left, I couldn’t sleep. I went into the study and saw it.” Gu Wansheng’s voice fluctuated slightly. “If I hadn’t found out by chance, how long did you plan to wait before telling me? Or were you going to keep me in the dark forever?”

Watching Gu Wansheng keep her head down, Wen Jinyan felt a wave of guilt. She understood that there should be no secrets in a marriage.

“Gu Wansheng…” Wen Jinyan bit her tongue, the sharp pain pulling her thoughts back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep it from you.”

Wen Jinyan took a deep breath, her voice strained. “I just didn’t know how to tell you…”

I was afraid to let you know what a failure I am.

“You and Luo Zhou…” Gu Wansheng began, but Wen Jinyan took a sharp breath and cut her off. “That’s right. I am Luo Zhou.”

“I knew it…” Gu Wansheng murmured to herself.

Huh?

Gu Wansheng’s downcast eyes gradually widened until she finally looked up at Wen Jinyan in pure shock.

“You are Luo Zhou?!”

Now it was Wen Jinyan’s turn to be confused, seeing the genuine astonishment in Gu Wansheng’s eyes.

“Ah… yeah. Yes.”

What does that expression mean?

Wait, this isn’t what I thought. Shouldn’t Yanyan just be an acquaintance of Luo Zhou? How did she become Luo Zhou herself?

No, wait! since she has the script, it’s possible she is Luo Zhou?

Yanyan is actually Luo Zhou?!

“You’re really Luo Zhou?”

“Weren’t you… trying to talk to me about this?” Wen Jinyan asked, puzzled.

Realizing her incorrect deduction had led to an even bigger surprise, Gu Wansheng let out a hum of affirmation. “More or less.”

She stared at Wen Jinyan with a hint of reproach. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Wen Jinyan: “…”

She had assumed Gu Wansheng already knew the truth.

At this point, Wen Jinyan realized the whole thing had been a misunderstanding. Gu Wansheng had no idea she was Luo Zhou.

Oh well, I had to tell her sooner or later.

Wen Jinyan sighed softly and took Gu Wansheng’s hand, feeling nervous. “Wait until I finish explaining, and then you can ask me anything you want, okay?”

Gu Wansheng felt the grip on her hand tighten.

Is she that nervous?

Gu Wansheng placed her other hand over theirs and nodded.

Wen Jinyan told her the general course of events, including how Xiao She had framed her and how she and Su Muqing had been gathering evidence over the years. By the end, she even told her about undergoing psychological treatment.

By the time Wen Jinyan finished, Gu Wansheng’s shock had turned into pure heartache.

She gently patted the back of Wen Jinyan’s hand while cursing, “Xiao She is a total scumbag!”

“Yanyan, you’ve suffered so much. Those years of psychological treatment must have been so painful.”

Gu Wansheng understood better than anyone. People online just type words, perhaps they don’t know you, they’re just following a trend, they’re bored, they’re doing it for money, or they just can’t stand to see others succeed. Without knowing the facts or the reasons, they can use their hands to roast someone over a fire.

“Yes, it was painful.” So painful that during that time, she stayed home depressed, wanting to end her life.

Standing on the balcony, watching the heavy traffic below, she had thought: If I just jump, maybe I won’t have to endure the abuse and torture anymore.

If I jump, I won’t have to hear those voices.

She was truly exhausted.

But Su Muqing had called out to her. She saw Su Muqing’s face covered in tears, begging her to come back…

In the year that followed, Su Muqing accompanied her to see psychologists, moved her into her own home, and tried every possible way to make her happy.

“Xiao She…” The name escaped Gu Wansheng’s lips, her eyes filled with an irrepressible ruthlessness, as if she wanted to tear him into pieces.

Seeing this, Wen Jinyan reached out and gently covered her eyes.

“Gu Wansheng, don’t dirty your hands.”

Wen Jinyan spoke softly but firmly. “Xiao She will pay his price.”

“So, what’s the plan now?”

“Waiting for an opportunity.”

Gu Wansheng looked at her. “If there is anything I can do to help, you must tell me.”

For something like this, it would be more satisfying for the person involved to settle it personally. Gu Wansheng would only step in when her wife needed resources.

This included, but was not limited to, some “harder” methods.

Wen Jinyan said, “But Gu Wansheng, don’t get yourself involved.”

Anything involving Xiao She should not touch Gu Wansheng.

Gu Wansheng understood her concerns and smiled. “Yanyan, I didn’t establish myself in this industry by relying on the Gu family or my aunt. I can handle more than you might think.”

“So, don’t worry. Even if I am involved, I can use all legal means to withdraw safely.”

“So you told her everything?!” Su Muqing asked.

“Yes,” Wen Jinyan replied.

“Good. That gives us one more ally,” Su Muqing said, looking on the bright side.

“Try not to involve her as much as possible,” Wen Jinyan reminded her.

“Ah,” Su Muqing let out a long trail of a sound. “Understood, understood. But what if the cornered dog tries to jump the wall?”

“We strike once and kill it, so it doesn’t have the strength to jump,” Wen Jinyan’s voice was cold.

“Sss…” Su Muqing hissed over the phone.

Truly, one should never provoke a married woman.

“Move the preparations forward. Have Zhang Wen release my news.”

“But your health just…” Su Muqing was worried.

“I know, but I can’t wait.”

Xiao She had already begun to threaten Gu Wansheng. He was willing to lose his own face just to drag Gu Wansheng down, his intentions were now out in the open.

She could not sit idly by.

“If we’re going to do this, we must be ruthless. We can’t give him a moment to breathe.”

Three days later in the early morning, Luo Zhou posted:

“Hello everyone, I am Luo Zhou. I apologize for taking up public resources. Years ago, I was framed, which caused serious negative impacts on my personal reputation, work, and life, and misled public perception. It also caused varying degrees of harm to those associated with me. The events of that year cannot be explained in a moment. Therefore, I will hold a press conference in three days, where I will make the truth of what happened back then public.”

Within just a few minutes, several terms appeared on the trending list with the [HOT/EXPLOSIVE] tag:

• [Luo Zhou’s Return]
• [Luo Zhou Suspected of Being Framed]
• [Press Conference in Three Days]
• [Luo Zhou Defending Her Rights]

Various media outlets, sniffing out a business opportunity, rushed to comment on the post.

Netizens were also out in full force to “eat melons” (gossip):

• [User A]: What’s going on? Luo Zhou was actually framed?
• [User B]: Is anyone actually believing this? Back then, Teacher Xiao She had evidence and logic on his side. Now Luo Zhou just makes a post without any proof. I think she just wants to profit off negative traffic.
• [User C]: I agree. She definitely wants to make a quick buck.

Opinions were mixed. Some were there for the drama, some were intentionally stirring the pot, and some remained neutral.

“Why is she back again?!” In the conference room, Xiao She threw his phone onto the sofa.

Bo Shan stared at the headlines. News of Luo Zhou had already buried the news about Xiao She and Gu Wansheng.

Her eyes were filled with terror. “She’s back for revenge. She’s back for revenge.” She turned to Xiao She. “Xiao She, what do we do?”

“What do we do?” Xiao She sneered. “If you hadn’t felt so much hatred for her back then and planned that whole scheme, would she even have a chance to get revenge?”

“Xiao She!” Bo Shan glared at him. “Don’t you think you’re any better! I came up with the plan and found you, but didn’t you agree to it? You have no talent, and she surpassed you in everything…”

“Shut up!” A glass shattered at Bo Shan’s feet.

“What, did I hit a nerve because you’re desperate? I’m telling you, at worst, we’ll go down together!”

Xiao She rubbed his forehead. “You… just let me think of something.”

“You better think of something,” Bo Shan said as she slammed the door on her way out.

“Wait, right. There’s another way. There’s another way.” Xiao She acted as if he had found a literal lifesaver. He scrambled to grab his phone from the sofa and dialed a number. It connected after a moment.

“You have to save me…”

Wen Jinyan glanced at her phone again, but Su Muqing stopped her. “You can’t.”

“I’ve already seen the storm online. It’s about what we expected. Xiao She is likely panicking.”

“What about Gu Wansheng’s headlines?”

“Naturally, they were pushed down by yours.” Su Muqing handed her an apple. “Now you, Luo Zhou, and Xiao She are tied together.”

Gu Wansheng walked over from the side. “The notification for the press conference in three days has been sent out. Also, I’ve found Teacher Lin Qingnian for you.”

“Lin Qingnian? The voice actor?” Su Muqing asked.

Gu Wansheng nodded. “Don’t you guys have recordings? I’m afraid Xiao She will try to deny it to the end, so I specifically invited her.”

“You even know Teacher Lin… Teacher Gu, you really are…” Su Muqing gave Gu Wansheng a thumbs up.

Seeing Wen Jinyan’s inquisitive expression, Gu Wansheng explained, “A long time ago, a character I played needed to speak Northern Qi dialect. I couldn’t get it right, so the director specifically invited Teacher Lin to help. We became familiar with each other over time.”