Self-Perception - Chapter 70

“She passed away just after the seventh day ritual. The funeral was grand,” the woman on the other end of the line said.

Wen Jinyan hung up the phone. Gu Wansheng looked at her with a face full of worry. How did a single phone call turn her into this?

“Yanyan?” Gu Wansheng called out tentatively.

“Gu Wansheng…” Wen Jinyan’s eyes instantly reddened.

“What’s wrong, Yanyan? Did something happen during that call?”

“Gu Wansheng,” Wen Jinyan hugged her tightly, “Just hold me.”

Her lover responded with a warm embrace. Though Gu Wansheng knew the call was the source of the distress, she knew now wasn’t the time to ask questions. Wen Jinyan held on so tightly that Gu Wansheng could barely breathe, yet she didn’t pull away.

After a long while, the grip loosened. Wen Jinyan spoke into her chest in a muffled voice, “Gu Wansheng, I need to go to Country F tomorrow.”

“I’ll ask Director Gu for a few days off,” Gu Wansheng said, reaching for her phone.

“No need, I can go alone. This is your first time working with Director Gu, don’t leave a bad impression. I’ll tell you the details when I’ve processed it a bit more.”

“It’s okay, Yanyan. I’m always here.”

Gu Wansheng comforted her while helping her book the flight. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come?”

“Mhm,” Wen Jinyan hummed softly.

That night, Wen Jinyan tossed and turned. On her third turn, Gu Wansheng whispered her name.

“Yanyan.”

Wen Jinyan faced her. “Did I wake you?”

“No. Can you tell me what happened?” Gu Wansheng thought talking might make her feel better.

“Gu Wansheng…” Wen Jinyan’s voice trembled. Gu Wansheng immediately pulled her closer. “I’m here.”

“My Mommy is gone.”

Gu Wansheng hadn’t expected this. In the darkness, she whispered, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Actually, I’m not that sad. Truly. My Mama and Mommy fell in love at first sight, they met the parents by their second date. My aunt said their love was as magical as a novel. But my Mama passed away the year after I was born. From then on, Mommy left me to the nannies.”

“My childhood memories are just me in a room. Later, my world expanded to the courtyard. She visited me only a handful of times a year. I thought she was just grieving, that she couldn’t look at me because I reminded her of Mama, but that she still loved me. Then I saw her treat a relative’s daughter with more care than her own child.”

If they both got hurt, she would help the other girl first. If they fought, she would blame Wen Jinyan without listening to an explanation. Eventually, Wen Jinyan felt like an outsider and stopped wanting to go out.

Then came the incident where she was slandered. She ran back home that night just wanting to hear her mother say, “I believe you.” Instead, she was met with a barrage of verbal abuse and chased back to Jiangcheng.

After that, Wen Jinyan’s state, mentally and otherwise was terrible. Most of those dark days were spent with Su Muqing’s support.

Gu Wansheng held her gently. Having spoken the words, Wen Jinyan felt a weight lift and closed her eyes. She didn’t sleep much, but watching Gu Wansheng’s sleeping face brought her peace.

The next day, Wen Jinyan left early for the airport.

[Baby]: I’m on the plane.

[Gu Wansheng]: Message me when you land.

[Baby]: Okay.

After landing, Wen Jinyan checked into a hotel rather than going home. Her biological aunt sent her a location: the cemetery.

She headed to the site. Near the gates, there was a flower shop. An elderly woman working there recognized her immediately and handed her flowers. Wen Jinyan wasn’t surprised, the Wen family owned this plot.

She walked up the steps, scanning the names until she saw the one that was both familiar and a stranger. She placed the flowers down and looked into the distance.

“I didn’t expect our next meeting to be across the veil of death. But then again, you never liked me anyway. This will be the last time I come to see you.”

The wind picked up, and a light drizzle fell. “Ah, rain.”

She hurried back. At the gate, the woman tried to offer her an umbrella, but Wen Jinyan declined. “The rain isn’t heavy.” She wanted no ties to anything involving the Wen family.

Back at the hotel, her hair was damp. She took a shower. When she emerged in her bathrobe, the doorbell rang. Looking through the peephole, she saw a familiar face but didn’t open the door. The person realized her intent, knocked a few more times, and left.

Wen Jinyan returned to the bedroom to blow-dry her hair. When she came back out, a person was sitting on her sofa. Her face instantly turned cold.

“Xiao Yan, long time no see.”

“This hotel… the Wen family has shares,” the woman said, preempting Wen Jinyan’s move to the phone.

“Tch,” Wen Jinyan scoffed.

“Power and money are wonderful things,” Wen Qi smiled thinly.

“What do you want?”

“Don’t you miss your aunt after all these years?”

“I don’t think I have much in common with capitalists like you.”

Wen Qi laughed. “Fine. Let’s talk business.” She handed over a document.

Wen Jinyan flipped through it, her expression shifting from surprise to confusion.

“Surprising, isn’t it? My sister managed to hide this so well,” Wen Qi said.

It was her mother’s will. All remaining assets and shares in the main company were left to Wen Jinyan.

“Why show me this?”

“I want the company shares,” Wen Qi tapped the table.

“And what are you offering in exchange?”

“Don’t you want to escape the Wen family? To have nothing to do with us?”

“Escape doesn’t mean I want to be broke. My mother left me a fortune, it would be a waste to just give it away.”

“Three conditions for the shares. Also, I know you’ve been looking for someone. Xiao She, was it? I know where he is. Xiao Yan, let’s be honest with each other.”

Wen Jinyan thought for a moment. “One more condition: Never interfere with my life again.”

Wen Qi considered this for a few seconds before smiling. “Of course.”

That night, Wen Jinyan called Gu Wansheng to say she’d be delayed. A few days later, she donated all the assets her mother left her to orphanages and remote mountain villages. After finishing the paperwork, she felt light and happy.

She returned to Jiangcheng at night. Gu Wansheng was waiting at the airport, and Wen Jinyan gave her a massive hug. On the drive home, she told Gu Wansheng everything.

“Don’t you think my decision was a bit reckless?” Wen Jinyan teased. “It was a lot of money. I could have lived comfortably for decades on the shares alone.”

“It was your decision, and I support whatever you do.” At a red light, Gu Wansheng turned to her. The streetlights cast a soft glow over her profile.

“Gu Wansheng, I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

The light turned green. Gu Wansheng shifted gears. “Let’s go home.”

Behind them were the city lights and the hustle of the world, before them was the road home.

[THE END]