The Salted Fish And Protagonist A Ended Up Together - Chapter 39

Gu Man shook her head, then quickly spoke up upon realizing Wen Mian couldn’t see her. “It doesn’t hurt,” she said, her voice filled with reassurance.

Wen Mian curled her lip, thinking to herself: I don’t believe you for a second.

“Fine… I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me, your rut wouldn’t have been triggered.” She lowered her head, her eyes dimming as her fingers unconsciously crumpled the hem of her shirt.

Gu Man remained silent for a long time. Wen Mian grew even more nervous, her heart leaping into her throat.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door, synchronized with Gu Man’s voice coming through the phone: “It wasn’t your fault, it was my own doing. Also, don’t open the door.”

Wen Mian froze for a moment before her eyes lit up. She hurried to the door, her hand gripping the handle, but she loosened her grip remembering Gu Man’s instruction not to open it.

They stood there in silence, separated by the door.

The call wasn’t disconnected; the phone just hung loosely by her leg.

Wen Mian felt a sour sting in her nose, as if she’d bumped into something hard. She wanted to cry.

She asked hoarsely, “Aren’t you feeling unwell?”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Gu Man’s mouth. “Well, there’s a princess here who needs comforting.”

Wen Mian wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, finally breaking into a genuine laugh through her sniffles. “Who wants your comfort!”

Gu Man hummed in agreement, not contradicting her. “Right, our little Princess Wenwen doesn’t need comfort… then, can I at least listen to her voice?”

Though she had uttered many unconscious endearments before, saying them while fully conscious made Gu Man’s throat feel dry.

Wen Mian tilted her head high. “Fine, I’ll reluctantly let you listen for a bit.”

As soon as she said it, she added: “Just for a little while! You need to rest!”

Gu Man nodded gently. “Okay. Our little Princess Wenwen really knows how to care for people.”

Wen Mian’s cheeks burned. She pressed her hands tightly against her face, forcing herself to speak through her embarrassment. “Don’t call me that!” Her tone was a mix of shyness and mock annoyance.

Gu Man: “Alright, I won’t call Little Princess Wenwen that anymore.”

Wen Mian got even angrier. If they were face to face, she would have definitely given Gu Man a couple of punches, but since she couldn’t reach her through the door, Gu Man called her that without any inhibitions.

So, Wen Mian decided to break off their friendship for one minute…no, let’s make it half a minute, considering Gu Man was feeling unwell.

The room gradually grew quiet. Gu Man’s eyes crinkled at the corners as she took the initiative: “Does Wenwen not want to talk to me anymore?”

Wen Mian gave a heavy “Hmph” that carried from inside the room to the hallway.

Gu Man feigned disappointment. “It seems Wenwen really doesn’t want to talk to me. How about I tell Wenwen a story?”

Wen Mian’s eyes lit up, and she secretly pricked up her ears.

Imagining Wenwen’s curious expression, Gu Man’s voice softened as she began. “Once, there was a person who kept pestering Xiao Xing. Xiao Xing found it a bit annoying but tolerated it, thinking the person just wanted to become famous and was using the wrong methods.”

“But the person went too far, and Xiao Xing decided to stop interacting with her entirely. Then one day, they were forced to meet to sign an agreement. That person closed her eyes for a moment, and when she woke up, Xiao Xing discovered she had changed.”

“At first, Xiao Xing didn’t want to pay attention, waiting only for the agreement to end. But she found that the person was changing more and more. Xiao Xing couldn’t help but be attracted, gradually understanding why she had changed, and their relationship grew better and better.”

“Now, that person is willing to be Xiao Xing’s… for a lifetime…” Gu Man suddenly paused.

Wen Mian’s heart raced even faster. She couldn’t help but let out a small, “Mm?”

Gu Man continued, “Wenwen, are you willing to be a companion a friend, with me for a lifetime?”

The little deer galloping in Wen Mian’s heart instantly dropped dead. Her face went blank, and she almost wanted to laugh. She clenched her fists, wishing she could punch Gu Man right in the head.

Friends! Friends! All she thinks about is being friends! Do ‘friends’ do the things we’ve done? Honestly!

Seeing that Wen Mian hadn’t answered for a long time, Gu Man’s trembling eyelashes seemed to freeze. she held her breath, not daring to make a sound.

“You want to be friends with me?” Wen Mian’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

Gu Man, however, sensed a hint of danger. Her fingers instinctively gripped her clothes as her mind raced. Friends? Is being friends not okay?

“Gu Man,” Wen Mian suddenly called out.

“Yes!” Gu Man’s eyelashes flickered as she immediately responded.

“If you want to be friends with me, of course you can. As long as you don’t regret it,” Wen Mian continued, her voice cold and laced with hidden peril.

Gu Man didn’t notice the warning. Overwhelmed by sudden joy, the small mole at the corner of her eye seemed to radiate happiness. She nodded repeatedly. “Yes! So, we are friends now?”

She asked that last part very cautiously.

Wen Mian was both speechless and exasperated. Fine, what’s the use of talking to this idiot! If she wants to be friends, let her experience what ‘being friends’ feels like!

At this thought, Wen Mian’s anger vanished, replaced by a sense of anticipation for the “show.”

Completely unaware of the “hardships” ahead, Gu Man remained immersed in her bliss.

“Gu Man, aren’t you unwell? Go back and rest first,” Wen Mian said with “friendly” concern, though her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

Gu Man nodded, looking at the door reluctantly as if she could see Wen Mian through the wood. “Then you should rest well too.”

“Okay.” Wen Mian’s heart softened slightly. I’ll let you off for today since you’re sick. Tomorrow, I’ll let you experience the ‘friend’ treatment, she resolved.

Ears perked, Wen Mian listened for Gu Man’s departure. She slowly cracked the door open and peeked out with one eye at Gu Man’s retreating back.

Her eyes crinkled involuntarily, her heart was overflowing with sweetness.

Hearing the door open behind her, a shallow smile played on Gu Man’s lips, like a child who had just been given candy. She was so satisfied she didn’t know how to express it.

Her brows lifted with indulgence and affection. She pressed a light fist to her mouth, a soft chuckle escaping her throat.

Back in her room, Gu Man couldn’t contain her joy and started pacing in circles. Wenwen agreed! Wenwen…

She murmured Wen Mian’s name, then decided to pick up her phone.

The phone rang once and was quickly answered.

Wang Fei was confused and bewildered. The cold-faced workaholic actually called me on her own?!

While complaining internally, her voice was full of fawning cheer. “Manman, is something the matter?”

“Wenwen agreed!” Gu Man’s voice was full of excitement.

With a clatter, a cup broke. Wang Fei shouted in disbelief, “What?! She agreed?! Agreed to what?”

Before Gu Man could reply, Wang Fei glanced around suspiciously, covered her mouth with her hand, and whispered, “I’ll start the anti-black PR right now. Oh, and I need to contact Xu Qing.”

“Wenwen agreed to be friends with me for a lifetime!” Gu Man announced excitedly.

“Huh?! What did you say?” Wang Fei thought her ears were playing tricks on her.

Normally, Gu Man might have been impatient, but now she repeated softly, “Wenwen agreed to be my best friend for life.”

“Oh…” Wang Fei was speechless, not knowing what to say.

After a long pause, she finally managed, “I see… that’s good… that’s good.”

Gu Man’s eyes sparkled as she countered, “It’s not just ‘good,’ it’s the best.”

Wang Fei sighed internally and nodded along. “Yes, the best, the best. However…”

She asked out of curiosity, “Did Miss Wen say anything else?”

Gu Man froze, her brow furrowing. Did she say something else?

She shook her head, puzzled. “No, why?”

“Haha… haha…” Wang Fei suddenly gave a forced, awkward laugh. “Nothing, as long as you’re satisfied.”

“Yes, I am very satisfied.” A tender veil settled over Gu Man’s eyes as she nodded.

After the “beep,” the call ended.

Wang Fei’s hand dropped slowly, staring blankly at her phone, her mind a mess. Seriously…

She tried to search for the right words but found her vocabulary insufficient to describe Gu Man’s behavior. Eventually, she gave up, though her heart remained full of doubt.

Does there really exist someone in this world so oblivious to their own feelings?

For a moment, she didn’t know whether to pity Gu Man or Wen Mian.

Ultimately, she chose to pity herself. Even though Gu Man hadn’t “realized” yet, there were still a few days left of filming. Who knew when she might suddenly wake up? She’d better prepare herself.

Oh right, I need to get on good terms with Xu Qing. After all, my boss is the one trying to steal her precious gem.

Acting immediately, Wang Fei assigned the tasks to her subordinates and then began searching on her phone: How to flatter the boss of the person your boss likes.

It seemed the employee really took after the employer.

Outside the window, the misty drizzle turned into heavy rain, pattering against the glass like a beautiful lullaby.

The house was bathed in warm light as Wen Mian continued looking at her script.

Because of the rain, no one went out. Soon, it was time for dinner.

Wen Mian knocked on Gu Man’s door and asked softly, “Gu Man, are you there?”

Gu Man, who was handling some work, brightened up instantly. she pulled the door open, her eyes full of smiles. “I’m here,” she replied softly.

Wen Mian laughed inwardly but kept her face indifferent. “Want to go down for dinner?”

Gu Man keenly noticed the slight coldness in Wen Mian’s tone. She frowned, staring down at Wen Mian’s expression for a long time before answering, “Okay.”

Wen Mian hummed and turned to walk ahead of her, though her peripheral vision was still fixed on her.

Gu Man followed behind, completely bewildered and anxious. Is she angry? Is it because of me?

Downstairs, Wen Mian walked over to Zhang Yunxi with a smile. “Hey, Xixi.”

Zhang Yunxi’s gaze shifted to Gu Man, who looked as cold as ever but was surrounded by a low-pressure aura. Her eyes were filled with confusion before she looked back at Wen Mian, signaling with a blink: What happened between you two?

Wen Mian blinked back, her lips barely moving: “I’ll tell you later.”

Zhang Yunxi’s interest was instantly piqued. She nodded repeatedly and gave an “OK” gesture.

She grabbed Wen Mian’s arm, her voice excited. “Quick, quick! Let’s eat. Everything is what you like.”

Wen Mian gave a helpless smile. As she passed Gu Man, she said flatly, “Let’s go.”

Gu Man’s heart felt like it had been dropped into a boiling pot of oil, jumping restlessly. She followed Wen Mian to the dining table cautiously, her gaze becoming increasingly anxious.

At the dining table, Wen Mian continued to ignore Gu Man, keeping her face turned toward Zhang Yunxi.

Oblivious to the cause, Gu Man could only silently serve Wen Mian food, resolving to speak with her once the meal was over.

The livestream audience also noticed the slight distance between the two, feeling a mix of confusion and bewilderment.

【What on earth happened? Why did my two babies suddenly stop talking?】

【Exactly! Is there something we “Distinguished Members” aren’t allowed to see?】

【Ugh, the disappointment and cautiousness in Gu Man’s eyes are making me so sad.】

【Plus one, Mianmian, please forgive her quickly.】

After dinner, things didn’t go as Gu Man had hoped. Wen Mian was pulled away by Zhang Yunxi, leaving Gu Man with only a brief sentence: “Bye, no need to wait for me to go back.”

Gu Man’s hands clenched into fists. Her mood plummeted to rock bottom, as if shrouded in a darkness without a single ray of light.

Her eyes grew icy, like frost that hadn’t melted for a thousand years, piercing straight at Zhang Yunxi’s retreating back. The surrounding air suddenly became suffocating.

Zhang Yunxi shivered. “Why does it feel so cold all of a sudden?”

Wen Mian immediately asked with concern, “Did you catch a cold in the rain? How about we talk tomorrow instead, and you go rest now?”

Zhang Yunxi instantly straightened her back and shook her head resolutely. “No way! It has to be today. You can’t just leave a story half-told!”

Wen Mian nodded indulgently. “Fine, today it is. I’ll finish quickly so you can rest early.”

Satisfied, Zhang Yunxi nodded.

Watching the two of them chatting and laughing, Gu Man’s expression turned even grimmer. Her fingertips gripped the hem of her shirt so tightly that deep wrinkles formed in the fabric.

Su Shiqiu stepped forward helplessly, blocking Gu Man’s view of the two who seemed completely unaware of the low pressure in the room. Her tone was as gentle as ever. “Want to talk?”

Gu Man froze for a moment, glanced sideways at Wen Mian as she turned a corner, and then nodded. “Okay.”

The Pavilion Conversation

Su Shiqiu led her to the pavilion in the small courtyard. She turned to look at the silently standing Gu Man and said, “Sit down first.”

A hint of urgency flickered on Gu Man’s face, but she sat down as instructed.

Su Shiqiu looked out at the courtyard. The rain had just stopped; the plants were damp, and the sky looked as if it had been washed clean, bright and clear.

Gu Man, losing her patience first, asked eagerly, “Can we talk now?”

Su Shiqiu turned back. She had originally wanted to let Gu Man calm down first, but seeing her like this, she realized Gu Man couldn’t wait.

So, Su Shiqiu went straight for the heart: “Did you and Mianmian have a conflict?”

At the mention of this, a faint look of daze appeared on Gu Man’s face. She shook her head slightly, then nodded. “I don’t know.”

“Then can you tell me what happened this afternoon?” Su Shiqiu asked softly.

“This afternoon…” Gu Man lowered her eyes, sinking into memory. “I was in my rut, then I took suppressants, and then she promised me…”

Su Shiqiu was shocked, her pupils shrinking. A confession? They’re together? No! If they were together, this wouldn’t be the reaction.

She pressed urgently, “Promised what?”

“To be friends with me for a lifetime.” Previously, Gu Man had said this with joy, wanting to announce it to the world. Now, mentioning it brought only bitterness.