What's Wrong with Changing to a New Wife? [Rebirth] - Chapter 16

Yan Congyu’s hand rested casually on the steering wheel as he asked, “Do you usually check the school forum?”

“Not usually,” Gu Ji shook his head, then nodded. “But I did today.”

When Yan Congyu saw the posts on the forum earlier that morning, he noticed some people misunderstanding the situation due to lack of context. He had tried to explain a few things, but no one paid attention. At the time, he considered forwarding the posts to Gu Ji but ultimately decided it would be better if Gu Ji didn’t see them, so he dropped the idea.

Since Gu Ji already knew, Yan Congyu asked, “Aren’t you going to clarify?”

The school forum was filled with conflicting opinions. On an anonymous platform, it was inevitable that some would spread malice. Whether Lin Qingran had cheated first or the two had broken up beforehand was already muddled, and there were always those who enjoyed muddying the waters further.

Gu Ji fell silent. Perhaps due to his drunken state, his mind drifted to memories of his past life upon hearing about the forum, and his voice carried a hint of despondency. “They’ll criticize me.”

Yan Congyu frowned. “Who would criticize you?”

Gu Ji pressed his lips together. “A lot of people.”

Yan Congyu slowed the car. He didn’t understand why Gu Ji would think that. When he checked the forum earlier, no one had criticized Gu Ji. Even those who recognized him hadn’t mentioned his name, opting instead for other references.

Besides the people on the forum, who else could it be?

Yan Congyu’s eyes flickered, and he asked gently, “Tell me who criticized you.”

Gu Ji finished his ice cream and said quietly, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

The unpleasant memories buried deep in his mind were things his subconscious didn’t want to bring up, even when drunk.

Yan Congyu paused, feeling both amused and helpless. “Alright, I won’t ask then.”

Gu Ji nodded, clearly unwilling to discuss it further. “Don’t ask about this.”

Yan Congyu changed the subject. “Is there anything you’d like to do?”

Gu Ji thought for a long time before answering in a low voice, “…I want to go home.”

Yan Congyu knew Gu Ji’s home was in Rongcheng, so going back shouldn’t be difficult. Yet, why did he phrase it as something he “wanted to do”?

Sensing he might have touched on a sensitive topic, Yan Congyu quickly shifted the conversation. “…Then, what do you like to eat?”

Gu Ji held up the empty ice cream wrapper and showed it to him. “This.”

Catching a glimpse out of the corner of his eye, Yan Congyu couldn’t help but smile. He pulled over to the side, got out to buy another ice cream, and handed it to Gu Ji when he returned.

Gu Ji thanked him.

After Gu Ji finished the ice cream, Yan Congyu tried to talk to him again but found him already leaning against the car window with his eyes closed.

Yan Congyu didn’t say anything more and focused on driving.

When they arrived at the school dormitory, Yan Congyu got out first and went to the passenger side to wake Gu Ji.

Hearing they had reached the dorm, Gu Ji took a moment to process the information before slowly getting out of the car. His movements were a bit sluggish but otherwise fine.

He nodded. “Thank you.”

Yan Congyu suppressed a smile. “Can you manage on your own? Should I walk you up?”

Gu Ji’s posture was steady. “…I can.”

Yan Congyu watched Gu Ji go upstairs before turning to leave.

Gu Ji went straight to bed after returning to his dorm. By the time he woke up, it was already evening, and the sky was growing dark.

He woke up relatively early. The entire dorm was quiet, with no sound at all. Everyone was still asleep.

Gu Ji pressed his temples, the lingering effects of the alcohol still making him uncomfortable. He got out of bed to pour himself a glass of water, and as he drank, the events of the previous day gradually resurfaced in his mind.

“…”

He set the cup down, questioning his own memory.

Drinking had indeed caused trouble. Cheng Zhou’s drunken antics were one thing. After all, it wasn’t the first time. But how could he himself have done something so foolish?

After a long moment, Gu Ji took another sip of water and reluctantly accepted the reality. He picked up his phone, intending to send Yan Congyu another thank-you message.

But when he opened his phone, he noticed numerous missed calls, all from Lin Qingran.

—What could he possibly want now?

Thinking about what might unfold, Gu Ji frowned in displeasure. Just then, Lin Qingran’s call flashed on the screen again. Curious to see what tricks the other was up to, Gu Ji answered the call.

“Hello.” Lin Qingran’s voice sounded weary. “Why haven’t you been answering my calls?”

Gu Ji replied flatly, “If there’s nothing important, I’m hanging up.”

“There is.” Lin Qingran cut straight to the point. “Where did the photos on the forum come from?”

Gu Ji answered, “I don’t know.”

Lin Qingran had been in a state of extreme agitation all day. Breaking up with Gu Ji was one thing, but the forum’s gossip was another matter entirely.

The photos on the forum were different from the ones in Gu Ji’s phone. The angles clearly indicated they were taken inside the private room, but with so many people present last night, he couldn’t remember who had been sitting where.

He had spent the entire day contacting acquaintances to have the forum posts deleted, but the damage was already done. While public posts could be removed, there was no way to stop people from discussing the matter privately.

“I know those photos have nothing to do with you,” Lin Qingran pleaded. “Gu Ji, please, just do me this one last favor.”

Though his words were a request, his tone carried no sense of humility. It sounded more like a demand.

Gu Ji didn’t need to think hard to guess what Lin Qingran was scheming. He refused outright, “No.”

Lin Qingran’s brows furrowed in disbelief. “You’re saying no before I’ve even told you what it is?”

Gu Ji walked out to the balcony and stated with certainty, “You want me to post a clarification for you on the forum, don’t you?”

He knew Lin Qingran all too well. The other man cared most about his public image and vanity. Making him lose face in public was a punishment worse than anything else.

Gu Ji hadn’t scrutinized the forum closely, but he could imagine what people were saying. In a place where no one was held accountable for their words, the comments could be vicious.

After all, in his past life, Gu Ji had experienced it firsthand.

And how had Lin Qingran treated him back then?

When Gu Ji was being publicly vilified, all it would have taken was one word of explanation from Lin Qingran to clear his name. But the other hadn’t done it. Afraid of being dragged into the scandal himself, Lin Qingran had stayed perfectly hidden.

Lin Qingran said anxiously, “We were together for years, and now we’ve broken up. Can’t you even do this small favor for me? Have you no regard for our past at all?”

At this point, aside from Gu Ji stepping forward to clarify, Lin Qingran couldn’t think of any other perfect solution. Deleting the posts was nothing more than self-deception.

Gu Ji replied impatiently, “I won’t help.”

“Clarification is for things you didn’t do, Lin Qingran. You’re not innocent in this.”

With that, Gu Ji hung up the phone and promptly blocked the number to avoid any further annoying calls.

In his past life, when he was scorned and condemned, he had also wished for evidence or someone to step forward and clear his name.

Unfortunately, none came.

Those who wanted to help him lacked the ability, and those who had the ability had no desire to help.

This time, his decision not to kick someone when they were down wasn’t out of kindness, but because he found it troublesome and didn’t want to get involved in the mess.

After deleting all of Lin Qingran’s contact information in one go and ensuring there was no way for the other person to reach him again, Gu Ji let out a sigh of relief. He then dialed Yan Congyu’s number.

The call connected after just two rings. So quickly that Gu Ji hadn’t even had time to think about what to say.

Yan Congyu’s voice came through the phone first, sounding puzzled at the lack of response from the other end. “…Gu Ji?”

Gu Ji acknowledged, “It’s me.”

After saying that, he fell silent again. He hadn’t figured out how to broach the subject, and suddenly he felt the urge to hang up. He should have prepared what to say before calling.

In the end, Yan Congyu took the initiative to ask, “You’re awake? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

“I’m fine.” Gu Ji felt a bit embarrassed for troubling the other person repeatedly over the past few days. “…Sorry to bother you again. Next time, you don’t have to worry about me.”

Yan Congyu chuckled. “It’s no bother. It was convenient to head back to school together anyway.”

Gu Ji felt that even though he wasn’t rowdy when drunk, he was still quite a nuisance. “If something like this happens again, just leave me with my roommate.”

He added, “Don’t feel obligated or anything.”

Yan Congyu had never considered taking care of Gu Ji a burden, but the other person kept feeling indebted. He sighed inwardly. It was all because they weren’t yet close enough.

Still feeling like he owed Yan Congyu something, Gu Ji added, “If you ever need help in the future, just come to me directly.”

Yan Congyu asked softly, “Are you free tonight? I’d like to come over and paint.”

“Yes.” Gu Ji happened to have nothing to do and replied readily, “I’ll come to you. Your painting supplies must be hard to carry.”

“Then let’s meet at the back lake on campus,” Yan Congyu suggested. “Is that alright?”

Gu Ji hummed in agreement. “Wait for me.”

As dusk began to settle, the scenery by the back lake was lovely. A gentle breeze occasionally swept by, and the temperature was pleasantly cool. The streetlights had already turned on, casting a faint, hazy yellow glow over the lake’s surface.

Gu Ji easily spotted Yan Congyu’s location near the lakeside, where two small folding stools and an easel were set up.

“Painting outside?” Gu Ji asked curiously. “Can you see well enough?”

“Yes, the lighting here is good,” Yan Congyu replied.

The streetlights in this area were spaced just right. Bright enough without being too dim or glaring.

After sitting down on one of the small stools, Gu Ji was handed a takeout container by Yan Congyu.

He took it curiously. “What’s this?”

“You haven’t eaten yet, right?” Yan Congyu said. “I bought this at the convenience store earlier.”

Even before opening the lid, Gu Ji guessed what it was. “…Oden?”

Yan Congyu smiled and nodded. “Yes.”

A wave of nostalgia washed over Gu Ji. “I used to love eating this in high school.”

Back in high school, the quality of the school cafeteria was unpredictable. Not only did they have to wait in long lines, but if you went too late, there’d be nothing left. Gu Ji often ended up eating outside the school, and for convenience, he’d occasionally grab oden.

The container still felt warm to the touch. Gu Ji paused. “I’ll eat it later. You go ahead and start painting.”

Yan Congyu sat down behind the easel, pulling out brushes and paints from his bag. “It won’t interfere. You can eat while I paint.”

“…?”

Gu Ji was puzzled for a moment before saying seriously, “Don’t paint me while I’m eating.”

Although he didn’t mind Yan Congyu painting him, he didn’t want to be depicted too casually.

Hearing this, Yan Congyu paused his movements, both amused and exasperated. “No, just sit as you are. You can do whatever you want.”

Gu Ji asked, “Can I move?”

“You can move,” Yan Congyu replied. “It’s not that strict. You can even play on your phone if you want.”

What he didn’t say was that he had painted Gu Ji countless times and didn’t actually need him to pose. Gu Ji’s presence was less about being a model and more about Yan Congyu’s personal indulgence.

Hearing Yan Congyu’s reassurance, Gu Ji didn’t overthink it and unwrapped his takeout box.

The breeze from the lake was pleasant. He glanced at the water and remarked, “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.”

“I don’t come here often either,” Yan Congyu said. “It’s a bit too remote, but the scenery is nice.”

Unable to see Yan Congyu’s progress on the painting, Gu Ji initially tried to stay as still as possible. But after sitting for a while, he grew restless and started plucking blades of grass from the ground.

After some time, Gu Ji suddenly realized something and asked, “Do I need to keep my head up?”

Not wanting to restrict him, Yan Congyu replied, “Just do what feels comfortable. You can even turn your back to me.”

A little later, Gu Ji asked curiously, “Can I take a look at what you’ve painted?”

“Sure,” Yan Congyu said, shifting aside. “Come over.”

The image on the paper wasn’t fully detailed yet, but the overall colors suggested a backdrop of sky, grass, and the lake. Dominating the scene was a boy sitting on the grass, viewed from the side. Though the finer details were missing, it was already recognizable as Gu Ji.

Gu Ji pointed out, “His posture is different from how I was sitting just now.”

“That pose would be uncomfortable to hold for long. Just sit on the stool as you are,” Yan Congyu explained before asking, “Is there anything you don’t like about it?”

“It looks good,” Gu Ji said, studying the easel. Then, as if remembering something, he added, “Could you add a black bracelet at the end?”

Yan Congyu asked, “What kind of style?”

“Just a simple one. A black chain with a bead on it,” Gu Ji described.

Yan Congyu tried to visualize it, but many variations came to mind. “Do you have a picture?”

“…No,” Gu Ji said. “Let me sketch it for you.”

He opened his phone, hastily drew a circle, and added a smaller circle inside.

Yan Congyu understood, though barely. “Alright.”

Gu Ji returned to his seat and scrolled through his phone. Noticing a new message on WeChat, he opened it to take a look.

[Cheng Zhou: Brother Gu, where did you go?]

[Gu Ji: Next time you go out, don’t drink a single drop of alcohol.]

[Cheng Zhou: QAQ I know I was wrong. I just woke up and remembered everything.]

[Cheng Zhou: Can I say the drunk person wasn’t me? Do you believe me, Brother Gu? (timidly.jpg)]

Gu Ji couldn’t really blame Cheng Zhou for being drunk, but he also couldn’t just let it slide. As he was contemplating how to respond, Cheng Zhou sent him a link.

[Cheng Zhou: Link: “What Do Drunk People Do? How Should You Handle Them?”]

[Cheng Zhou: Brother Gu, next time just knock me out.]

At this point, Gu Ji had nothing more to say. He sighed and replied, [I’m used to it. I’m not afraid of losing face.]

[“But you owe Xiao Yan an apology again.”]

[“Cheng Zhou: Brother Gu, I’m glad you’re not mad. I’ll apologize to Classmate Yan next time I see him!”]

[“Gu Ji: Don’t worry, I’m not angry.”]

“Hello—”

While still typing his message, Gu Ji heard an unfamiliar male voice beside him. He looked up and realized he didn’t recognize the boy standing before him.

“Sorry to bother you, but are you Senior Gu Ji?” the boy asked, appearing somewhat shy.

Gu Ji was taken aback. “You are…?”

He couldn’t recall ever meeting this person, and felt slightly awkward at the possibility of having forgotten him.

The boy seemed nervous, stammering as he spoke, “Senior, I’ve liked you for quite a while. Could I add you on WeChat?”

Yan Congyu, who hadn’t been paying attention initially, abruptly looked up upon hearing these words.