The Cannon Fodder Crazy Beauty Has Awakened [Quick Transmigration] - chapter 57.1

“Do you care about everyone like this?”

Jiang Mengyu lowered her eyelids, “…Alright.”

Gu Lanqiu suddenly lost interest. She lay back in her own spot, pulling the blanket up, “I’m sleepy.”

Jiang Mengyu paused for a long moment before turning off the light, plunging the room into darkness.

Gu Lanqiu didn’t close her eyes. She could sense Jiang Mengyu’s presence beside her, the faint, elegant scent of jasmine permeating the air.

A distance lay between them, and neither spoke to break the silence.

In the end, it was Jiang Mengyu who slowly inched closer. Tentatively, she reached out and wrapped an arm around Gu Lanqiu. When Gu Lanqiu didn’t resist, she tightened her embrace, pulling her into a close hug.

“Lanqiu.”

Jiang Mengyu’s voice was muffled, “Whatever you want to say to me, whatever you want to do, you can.”

“Just don’t push me away.”

Her tone was so submissive, the plea in her voice almost tangible.

Gu Lanqiu closed her eyes, exhaling silently. In the end, she didn’t respond.

The next morning, Jiang Mengyu woke up early.

Previously, she would always cling to Gu Lanqiu in a drowsy, coquettish manner, begging her to stay in bed a little longer. This was the first time Jiang Mengyu let go without hesitation.

Gu Lanqiu froze for a moment, feeling the emptiness beside her. Strangely, she found herself unaccustomed to it.

But she quickly schooled her expression.

Breakfast was congee made by Aunt Zhang. Gu Lanqiu had little appetite and was about to put down her chopsticks after just a few bites.

Jiang Mengyu placed a piece of fried egg in her bowl, her brow furrowing slightly, “You never eat properly.”

“No wonder your stomach hurts.”

The words carried a hint of complaint, yet they inexplicably eased the restlessness in Gu Lanqiu’s heart. The tension between them vanished without a trace.

In the end, Gu Lanqiu finished the bowl of congee.

After breakfast, the two left the house together.

Once in the car, Jiang Mengyu seemed to remember something and suddenly turned to Gu Lanqiu, “Lanqiu, I don’t think I ever told you, I really like the gift you gave me.”

Gu Lanqiu was taken aback. What gift?

Meeting Jiang Mengyu’s dark, clear gaze, Gu Lanqiu didn’t let her confusion show. She hummed in acknowledgment, “Glad you like it.”

“Secretary Zhao said you picked it out yourself.” Jiang Mengyu lowered her head to fasten her seatbelt, “I thought…”

Thought what?

That she hated her?

Gu Lanqiu immediately knew Secretary Zhao must have been spouting nonsense to Jiang Mengyu again and Jiang Mengyu seemed to have actually believed him.

Gu Lanqiu didn’t even know what the gift was. She would never have had the time or inclination to buy something for Jiang Mengyu.

Fortunately, Jiang Mengyu didn’t press for details. The two rode in silence until they reached the downtown plaza.

“Just drop me off here,” Jiang Mengyu unbuckled her seatbelt. “Lanqiu, I’ll go ahead.”

“Mm.”

Gu Lanqiu watched as she stepped out of the car. She didn’t ask what Jiang Mengyu planned to do, just as she had said before, it was Jiang Mengyu’s private matter, beyond her concern.

But…

Gu Lanqiu unlocked her phone, her half-lidded eyes betraying nothing.

Out of caution, she still made a small move on Jiang Mengyu.

Gu Lanqiu thought to herself that she wasn’t particularly concerned about Jiang Mengyu, but rather considering her own safety, what if Jiang Mengyu conspired with others to plot against her?

Jiang Mengyu had come to meet Madam Jiang.

Before leaving in the morning, Gu Lanqiu, unusually affectionate, had taken the initiative to pin a hair clip on her.

The diamond butterfly design was dazzlingly beautiful. Gu Lanqiu had picked it out from a pile of jewelry and casually fastened it into Jiang Mengyu’s hair.

Jiang Mengyu mused that Gu Lanqiu probably didn’t know among the gifts she had asked Secretary Zhao to prepare, there was also a hair clip.

The butterfly’s wings shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight. Ignoring the stray strands of hair fluttering against her cheeks in the breeze, Jiang Mengyu walked straight into the café and was led by the waiter to the private room where Madam Jiang was waiting.

Madam Jiang had already been there for a while.

Seeing Jiang Mengyu enter, she quickly stood up. “Mengyu, you’re here. How have you been feeling lately?”

Jiang Mengyu nodded at her. “Nothing serious.”

The wound on her chest did hurt, but Jiang Mengyu had always had a high tolerance for pain. She only ever revealed her discomfort when Gu Lanqiu tried to push her away, as if by accident.

The two sat facing each other. Madam Jiang studied her expression, confirming that she seemed in good spirits before letting out a relieved sigh.

With no outsiders in the private room, Madam Jiang didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, “You and Gu Lanqiu, are you really…?”

She still suspected Jiang Mengyu was lying to her. Not long ago, Jiang Mengyu had clearly only regarded Gu Lanqiu as Xu Zeyan’s aunt, treating her with nothing but respect and deference, no other feelings involved.

Everything had happened too suddenly.

It was as if, ever since Jiang Mengyu had saved Gu Lanqiu, everything had started to feel off.

“Mengyu, have you…?”

Had she hit her head too hard in the car accident?

Madam Jiang didn’t voice the question, but her expression made it clear that was exactly what she meant.

Jiang Mengyu sidestepped the question. “How has Uncle Zhou been lately?”

Madam Jiang gave her a strange look. “He’s been fine. Didn’t President Gu assign him a project recently? He’s been busy with that.”

She also wanted to ask why Jiang Mengyu had suddenly started referring to Zhou’s father as “Uncle Zhou.” Previously, she had always called him “Dad,” just like Zhou Xinying.

“If you have the chance, try mentioning Zhou Xinying more often in front of him.”

At the mention of Zhou Xinying’s name, Madam Jiang immediately grew wary. “What has she done now?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye!”

Jiang Mengyu shook her head. “That’s not what I mean. I’m saying you should remember to praise Zhou Xinying more in front of Uncle Zhou.”

Madam Jiang was stunned. “Praise her?”

She could tell Jiang Mengyu wasn’t being sarcastic this wasn’t about veiled criticism but genuine, heartfelt praise for Zhou Xinying.

Madam Jiang didn’t understand. Hadn’t Jiang Mengyu always disliked Zhou Xinying?

Madam Jiang truly doted on the female antagonist, and being a perceptive woman, Jiang Mengyu found herself unusually patient with her.

“Mom.” Jiang Mengyu’s tone was calm and detached. “Zhou Xinying is his biological daughter after all. Do you really think he doesn’t know what kind of person she is?”

Moreover, the original novel clearly stated that Zhou’s father eventually realized his problematic attitude toward Zhou Xinying. After the true colors of the malicious female antagonist and her mother were exposed, Zhou’s father had a complete awakening and turned into a doting father.

Awakening?

Not necessarily.

Jiang Mengyu was more inclined to believe that Zhou’s father simply felt he no longer needed to keep up the act.

His feelings for Madam Jiang might have been genuine, and he might have genuinely doted on the female antagonist. But as Jiang Mengyu had pointed out, Zhou Xinying was, after all, his biological daughter, could he really have remained completely unmoved?

If the female antagonist couldn’t see through Zhou Xinying’s act of playing the victim, could Zhou’s father, a cunning old fox really have been fooled as well?

If he was fully aware of Zhou Xinying’s true nature and still deliberately placed her by Xu Zeyan’s side, then his motives were highly questionable.

Jiang Mengyu curled her lips slightly. “Zhou Xinying isn’t our enemy. You don’t need to deal with her.”

Madam Jiang hesitated but eventually nodded. “So, you and Gu Lanqiu… are you serious?”

“Mm.” Jiang Mengyu lowered her head to take a sip of coffee, the butterfly hairpin in her locks glinting faintly.

Madam Jiang’s gaze flickered over it briefly, but she paid it no mind.

“But two women…”

This was still somewhat beyond Madam Jiang’s comprehension. She took a moment to steady herself. “Country Z doesn’t have laws protecting same-sex marriage, Mengyu. If you really stay with her, you’ll have no security in the future.”

The future?

Jiang Mengyu set down her coffee cup, her long lashes casting shadows over the emotions in her eyes. “I love Gu Lanqiu. I don’t need security.”

Madam Jiang choked. Was this person before her really her daughter?

Since when had her daughter become so lovestruck?

“You… What if one day Gu Lanqiu leaves you? What will you do then?”

Jiang Mengyu lifted her gaze to meet Madam Jiang’s, her tone light. “Then I’ll die.”

“If she doesn’t want me anymore, there’s no point in living.”

Madam Jiang was rendered speechless.

In the past, she might have thought Jiang Mengyu was joking. But given that Jiang Mengyu had once gone mad and stabbed herself with a knife, Madam Jiang couldn’t afford to dismiss her words.

“I was just giving an example.” Madam Jiang was genuinely afraid Jiang Mengyu might do something reckless. “Since you’ve already made up your mind, I won’t say anything more.”

Jiang Mengyu had always been strong-willed since childhood. Once she decided on something, Madam Jiang truly had no way of changing her mind.

“Have you thought about what to say to Xu Zeyan?”

Jiang Mengyu remained unfazed. “He’s Lanqiu’s nephew, so in a way, he’s like my junior.”

Madam Jiang’s lips twitched. Jiang Mengyu had adapted quickly, turning an ex-boyfriend into a nephew without the slightest hint of awkwardness.

“And President Gu has no objections?”

“Lanqiu treats me very well.” Jiang Mengyu’s protective tone was unmistakable. “Mom, don’t worry.”

Madam Jiang let out a heavy sigh.

Meanwhile.

Gu Lanqiu removed her earpiece, the echo of Jiang Mengyu’s words still lingering in her mind.

If she abandoned her, Jiang Mengyu would die?

Gu Lanqiu’s instincts told her Jiang Mengyu was entirely capable of such a thing.

The way Jiang Mengyu looked at her was always obsessive and shadowed, as if concealing layers of suppressed emotions. Every time she embraced Gu Lanqiu, her grip was so tight it seemed she wanted to meld her into her very flesh and blood.

Jiang Mengyu never hid her love for her.

[Ding! Target character Gu Lanqiu’s favorability +5. Current total favorability: 172]

After parting ways with Madam Jiang, Jiang Mengyu didn’t immediately return to the North Courtyard. Instead, she turned around to buy some desserts and then sent a message to Gu Lanqiu:

[Lanqiu, can I come to your company to see you?]

It took a while before she received Gu Lanqiu’s reply: [Is something the matter?]

Jiang Mengyu: [Nothing much, I just missed you.]

She snapped a photo of the items in her hand. [I bought some cake.]

Another ten minutes of silence followed. By the time the sun had warmed Jiang Mengyu from head to toe, her phone finally chimed again.

[Gu Lanqiu: Let me know when you arrive downstairs. I’ll have someone pick you up.]

Jiang Mengyu: [Okay.]

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