What's Wrong with Changing to a New Wife? [Rebirth] - Chapter 6

Gu Ji thought about the embarrassment Cheng Zhuo had caused him earlier and, after a moment of reflection, felt he should apologize.

Being called “sister-in-law” wasn’t something any guy would easily accept.

“He was drunk and talking nonsense. Please forgive him. I’ll make sure he apologizes to you properly when he sobers up.”

Cheng Zhuo had climbed into the car and immediately fallen asleep in the back seat, sleeping like a log, completely unaware of the trouble he’d stirred up.

Yan Congyu chuckled lightly. “It’s fine.”

The bar wasn’t far from the university, and the car soon entered the campus, pulling up in front of the dormitory building.

Gu Ji was puzzled. “Do you live around here too?”

Otherwise, how had Yan Congyu known to stop right at their dorm without even asking where they lived?

Yan Congyu suddenly froze, his grip tightening on the steering wheel as he scrambled for an excuse. “…I just parked randomly. Do you live here?”

Gu Ji, as expected, didn’t overthink it and nodded. “What a coincidence. You parked exactly where you needed to.”

Yan Congyu paused. “Yeah, quite a coincidence.”

If Gu Ji’s tone hadn’t been so normal, Yan Congyu might have thought he was being sarcastic.

Gu Ji got out of the car and opened the back door to rouse Cheng Zhuo. “Wake up, we’re here. No more sleeping.”

Cheng Zhuo was slow to wake, mumbling an “okay” before climbing out of the car. He seemed relatively conscious.

Gu Ji said goodbye to Yan Congyu. “Thanks a lot for today. If you ever need anything, just let me know.”

“No need to thank me,” Yan Congyu replied. “Can I add you on WeChat?”

Gu Ji hesitated for a moment before remembering they hadn’t exchanged contact information. He pulled out his phone. “Of course.”

They added each other on the spot. Yan Congyu’s WeChat name was a capital letter “Y.” Gu Ji promptly changed the contact name to his real name.

Gu Ji had a peculiar stubbornness about this. He couldn’t stand seeing bizarre screen names in his contacts list. Whether it was family or friends, he always saved them under their full names.

In his past life, Lin Qingran had been the only exception. During their student days, Gu Ji had saved him as “Qingran Baby,” which he later changed to just “Qingran” after graduation.

But now, even that had been changed back.

Yan Congyu caught a glimpse of Gu Ji’s phone screen and paused for a couple of seconds. “I don’t think I ever told you my name?”

“…” Gu Ji couldn’t recall whether Yan Congyu had mentioned his name back in the private room. But since the other said he hadn’t, Gu Ji couldn’t very well say he’d known it from a past life.

Gu Ji replied, “…You did.”

Yan Congyu seemed to chuckle. “Is that so? Maybe I just forgot.”

Gu Ji decided to just go with it. “Yeah.”

With their WeChat connection established, Gu Ji said goodbye to Yan Congyu and dragged Cheng Zhuo upstairs.

Cheng Zhuo, ever polite, waved at Yan Congyu. “Bye, sister-in-law.”

He was immediately smacked on the head by Gu Ji, who was mortified. “Stop talking.”

Yan Congyu’s lips curled into a pleased smile. “Goodbye.”

Only a few dim yellow streetlights illuminated the area around the dormitory. The hazy glow fell on Gu Ji, outlining his distinct silhouette and shadows. As Yan Congyu watched him walk away, a faint sense of loss settled in his heart.

Yan Congyu was certain he hadn’t told Gu Ji his name, and it was impossible that Gu Ji had known it beforehand.

Because before today, he had run into Gu Ji before, but the other’s gaze had always been distant and unfamiliar, as if they were complete strangers.

So, someone else must have told him.

Was it Lin Qingran?

Yan Congyu had known Gu Ji for a long time and was also aware that he had a boyfriend, with whom he shared a good relationship. That was why Yan Congyu tried his best to avoid appearing in front of Gu Ji—he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control his feelings.

It wasn’t until today, when he accidentally overheard Lin Qingran mention their breakup, that Yan Congyu took the initiative to approach Gu Ji. Without this opportunity, he might have restrained himself for a lifetime, never disturbing Gu Ji.

Without hesitation, Yan Congyu would forever be grateful for the decision he made today. If not for this evening, he would never have known that the relationship between Gu Ji and Lin Qingran wasn’t as close as he had assumed.

In the past, it seemed as if Gu Ji’s eyes could only see Lin Qingran, and the two of them were inseparable. Yan Congyu would never do anything to disrupt someone else’s relationship, so he had always kept his distance and watched from afar.

—But now, their relationship had fallen apart first.

After watching Gu Ji’s figure disappear, Yan Congyu gently pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek, as if the sweetness of the ice cubes still lingered on his lips.

The building had no elevator, and the dormitory was on the fourth floor. However, Cheng Zhuo refused to take another step once they reached the third floor.

Gu Ji said patiently, “If you don’t keep moving, I’ll carry you up.”

Hearing this, Cheng Zhuo instinctively wrapped his arms around the railing. “No way.”

At any moment, someone could pass by on the stairs, and he didn’t want to embarrass himself again.

Gu Ji sighed in frustration. “You we’re almost at the dorm. Wouldn’t it be better for you to act like a fool there?”

Cheng Zhuo raised a finger, signaling he had one condition. “I have one request.”

Gu Ji replied expressionlessly, “Go on.”

Cheng Zhuo couldn’t let it go. “I forgot to say something to ‘sister-in-law’ earlier. I want to call him.”

Gu Ji’s face tightened. “You don’t have a sister-in-law.”

Cheng Zhuo leaned against the railing and thought for a moment. “Then I want to call that handsome guy from earlier.”

Gu Ji asked, “You don’t even know him. What would you say to him?”

Cheng Zhuo squatted on the floor and said seriously, “I want to apologize to him.”

Gu Ji was surprised. He hadn’t expected Cheng Zhuo to have such awareness while drunk. After all, Cheng Zhuo’s earlier behavior had been disrespectful, and it was only right to apologize promptly.

He had originally planned to have Cheng Zhuo apologize to Yan Congyu the next day when he was sober. But since Cheng Zhuo was willing now, it was better to resolve the matter sooner rather than later.

Gu Ji took out his phone, opened the newly added WeChat contact, and dialed the voice call, handing the phone to Cheng Zhuo. He whispered, “Apologize properly.”

Cheng Zhuo nodded solemnly.

As soon as Cheng Zhuo took the phone, the WeChat call connected, and a clear, pleasant voice came from the other end. “…Gu Ji?”

Cheng Zhuo covered the phone and brought it to his ear, whispering, “Sister-in-law, it’s me.”

Gu Ji: “?”

Cheng Zhuo deftly dodged Gu Ji’s attempt to grab the phone and quickly added, “…When did you and Brother Gu get—”

Gu Ji swiftly snatched the phone back from Cheng Zhuo, cutting him off before he could finish the sentence.

He hadn’t expected a drunk Cheng Zhuo to play tricks on him and hadn’t reacted at all at first.

“Sorry, he’s talking nonsense again,” Gu Ji said, his ears turning red as he apologized into the phone. “…I’m sorry to bother you. Please don’t take it to heart. I’ll treat you to a meal tomorrow to make it up to you.”

On the other end of the line, Yan Congyu, who hadn’t left the building yet, sighed inwardly upon hearing Gu Ji’s voice. He felt that he might not be able to sleep tonight.

“It’s no trouble,” Yan Congyu said softly. “How are things on your end? Do you need any help?”

Gu Ji glanced at Cheng Zhuo, who was clinging to the railing and refusing to let go, “…”

He walked to the side. “It’s fine. Everything’s under control.”

After hanging up the phone, Gu Ji was about to call Xu Jingyin down to help, but for some reason, Cheng Zhuo suddenly became willing to move.

He supported himself on the staircase and climbed up at an astonishing speed.

Gu Ji: “…” He felt like cursing.

**

The next day.

With no classes in the morning and no alarm to disturb him, Gu Ji slept until ten o’clock. As soon as he got out of bed, he saw Cheng Zhuo standing right in front of it.

A lavish breakfast was laid out on the nearby desk. Cheng Zhuo wore a guilty expression as he said, “Brother Gu, I’ve sinned. I’ve wronged you.”

When Cheng Zhuo woke up that morning, the memories from the previous night flooded his mind like a tidal wave, leaving him frozen in place for a full minute.

—What had he done?!

—Had he unilaterally found a “wife” for Brother Gu?!

Gu Ji got out of bed and said coldly, “I’m not your brother anymore.”

“Don’t say that!” Cheng Zhuo hurriedly tried to prove his innocence. “Drunk people tend to act crazy. I didn’t mean to call him ‘sister-in-law’ on purpose.”

Gu Ji let out a sigh. “Stop talking.”

Every time Cheng Zhuo brought it up, it was like forcing Gu Ji to relive the events of the previous day all over again.

Cheng Zhuo asked, “So when are we going to apologize to that handsome guy?”

To be honest, Gu Ji had already developed a psychological aversion to the idea of Cheng Zhuo and Yan Congyu meeting again. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Cheng Zhuo’s next words would inevitably include “sister-in-law.”

“We don’t have time at noon. Let’s do it in the evening,” Gu Ji said. “I’ll send a message to ask if he’s free.”

Gu Ji typed out a message and sent it to Yan Congyu.

After sending the message, Gu Ji went to the bathroom, leaving his phone on the desk.

When he returned, Cheng Zhuo pointed at the phone. “It buzzed. Twice.”

Under normal circumstances, Cheng Zhuo might have dared to sneak a peek at Gu Ji’s phone, but after the events of the previous night, he was now timid and trembling with apprehension.

Gu Ji opened his phone and saw two new messages on WeChat. One from Yan Congyu’s chat window and the other from Lin Qingran.

He opened Yan Congyu’s chat first. The other party replied that he was free and available whenever Gu Ji wanted to meet.

Gu Ji typed a quick “Okay” with one hand.

Next was the message from Lin Qingran, suggesting they have lunch together and asking Gu Ji to meet him early at the art studio.

As for Lin Qingran, although Gu Ji had absolutely no desire to be alone with him now, he still had to maintain appearances. After all, they were still technically in a relationship, and he didn’t want to be labeled as an emotionally abusive jerk if word got out.

A little after eleven, Gu Ji headed toward the art building.

In Gu Ji’s memories, in his previous life, he hadn’t visited Lin Qingran at the art studio often. Lin Qingran never liked Gu Ji coming to the classroom to find him, usually making Gu Ji wait downstairs regardless of the weather—be it windy, rainy, or scorching hot.

As for the reason, it was probably because Lin Qingran had another “spare” suitor in the classroom whom he liked to flirt with.

But this time, for some unknown reason, Lin Qingran’s message had even specified the exact art classroom, telling Gu Ji to come directly to the room.

Sunlight streamed into the corridor as Gu Ji absentmindedly searched for the classroom, his mind preoccupied with how to quickly extricate himself from Lin Qingran. He lifted his gaze and unexpectedly met a pair of slightly startled eyes.

The back door of the classroom was open. Yan Congyu sat in front of the easel, still holding a paintbrush in his hand. He had casually glanced outside the door earlier, never expecting to see Gu Ji. Suddenly, his heartbeat seemed to skip a beat.

Gu Ji wasn’t particularly surprised, as he had already learned yesterday that Yan Congyu was also in the art department. Standing in the hallway, he waved a greeting toward him.

Yan Congyu lowered his gaze slightly, set down his things directly, and stood up to leave the classroom through the back door.

Gu Ji glanced into the classroom and asked, “…Is there no teacher?”

“No teacher, we’re supposed to paint on our own,” Yan Congyu replied. “Why are you here?”