Chapter 13

Lin Yuewei lay on the bed with one hand behind her head, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Jiang Congbi, all smiles, held her phone and kept tapping at the screen. Jiang Congbi was the lazy sort, even more like the rich second-generation stereotype; she liked eating, drinking, and having fun. For her to stay up this late and work this hard could only mean one of two things: chasing celebrities or playing games.

The way she was sitting didn’t look like she was gaming, and even the angle at which she held her phone hadn’t changed. Lin Yuewei’s fixed gaze moved, and she asked lazily, “What are you doing now? Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“What time is it?”

“Midnight.” Lin Yuewei pulled her phone over and glanced at it.

“It’s still early.” Jiang Congbi didn’t even spare her a look. “You go to sleep first. I’m busy.”

“Busy doing what exactly?”

Jiang Congbi held her phone screen up in front of her.

How to pursue a reserved, ascetic-type girl.

Lin Yuewei: “……”

Jiang Congbi clenched a fist. “I’m going to make a perfect battle plan.”

Lin Yuewei: “You’re serious?”

Jiang Congbi shot her a sidelong look. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

Lin Yuewei said, “Weren’t you into guys before? You were even talking about chasing a junior from school a while ago.”

Jiang Congbi went, “Oh,” and said, “That junior? He’s nowhere near Gu Yanqiu, and he’s not challenging at all. I could hook him with a flick of my finger. Chasing Gu Yanqiu is way more interesting.”

She set her phone down and said excitedly, “You don’t know; she’s just like the heroine who walked straight out of a novel. Too perfect.”

Lin Yuewei was thoroughly shocked. “You don’t even know her, and you’re already saying that? Your filter is way too thick.”

Jiang Congbi waved a hand. “It’s fine. I’ll get to know her slowly later.”

Lin Yuewei sneered, “Looks-obsessed idiot. Stop making excuses for yourself.”

Jiang Congbi picked up her phone again and started taking notes in her memo app. “It’s not all about looks. I started with her appearance, but I’ll stay for her temperament. This person’s a treasure; I want to dig her out and take a good look.”

“That sounds kind of creepy,” Lin Yuewei said. She slid under the blanket, turned her back to Jiang Congbi, and closed her eyes. “I’m going to sleep first. You can keep working on your strategy.”

“Got it.”

Jiang Congbi switched off the overhead light and turned on the reading lamp, then tucked the blanket around Lin Yuewei.

“Good night.”

“Good night.”

Lin Yuewei listened to the rustling beside her and forced herself to fall asleep. She didn’t know how long it was before she woke from a dream and, rolling over, found that the room was still lit. She rubbed her eyes. “You still not sleeping?”

Jiang Congbi glanced at the time in the upper-right corner of her phone. “The night’s almost over. I’ll sleep in the morning instead. I don’t have class anyway.”

“Have you finished your thesis? Aren’t you supposed to turn in the first draft soon?”

Jiang Congbi: “Ah.”

She immediately fell into a dilemma: should she research flirting strategies first, or write her thesis first?

Lin Yuewei said, “From what I can tell, Gu Yanqiu is basically a nun. She cultivates her body and mind; it won’t make any difference if you chase her two months later. Your thesis is more important. I remember your parents care a lot about it. They even messaged me a few days ago reminding me to keep an eye on you.”

Jiang Congbi’s face instantly fell, and she lost all interest in her strategy.

“I’m so jealous of you,” she said. “You finished your thesis last semester, and this semester you’ve got nothing going on. You just wait to pass and then defend.”

Lin Yuewei pinched both sides of her face. “You make it sound like I didn’t write it word by word on the keyboard. Be good and write your thesis. I’m going back to sleep.”

“Xiaoweiwei.” Jiang Congbi poked Lin Yuewei’s shoulder from behind.

“What?”

“Can you…”

“No.”

“I haven’t even said anything yet.”

“I know what you’re going to say. Write your own thesis.”

“Hmph.”

“Your huffing won’t help either. Be obedient and write your thesis. Your family’s still waiting for you to inherit the business.”

“You don’t even know how capable I am. My family’s probably going to be ruined by me one day. When you go into entertainment and become a big star later, we won’t even get to see each other often, and there won’t even be anyone to help me out.”

“……”

“Why aren’t you answering me?”

“Write your thesis.” Lin Yuewei said coldly, still facing away from her.

“Waaah.”

“……”

After a couple of fake whimpers, Jiang Congbi finally quieted down, crawled under the blanket, and went to sleep. Lin Yuewei pinched her again. “I told you to write your thesis and you went to sleep.”

“I’m sleepy.”

“You weren’t sleepy after fooling around all night.”

“Ugh.” Jiang Congbi wrapped all four limbs around her and pinned her down forcefully. “Why are you so naggy? You’re just like my mom. Too much talking makes your hair fall out.”

“No matter how much I lose, it’s still more than yours.”

“Ahhhhhh.” Since Jiang Congbi couldn’t argue with Lin Yuewei, she started acting spoiled and unreasonable. In the end, Lin Yuewei had no choice but to give in.

***

This time, Lin Yuewei fell asleep much faster than the first time. Her mood was inexplicably pleasant, and she rarely got up late. Jiang Congbi didn’t fall asleep until almost dawn; she was sprawled on the bed like a pig, and the phone by her pillow lay quiet.

Lin Yuewei tapped Jiang Congbi’s phone screen to check the time, then let her gaze linger on it for a long while.

“You want to show me the strategy you made last night?” Lin Yuewei said in Jiang Congbi’s ear while she was still asleep.

Jiang Congbi gave a muffled reply, then laboriously opened her eyes to unlock the screen. “Go ahead and look. I haven’t finished yet.” Then she collapsed back down.

Lin Yuewei’s finger pressed on the memo icon and lingered there without lifting. The screen gave a slight tremor; the icon floated up. Then, as if suddenly coming back to her senses, she locked the phone and put it back.

Strange. Why did she need to care about Jiang Congbi’s strategy? Gu Yanqiu had nothing to do with her.

Lin Yuewei talked herself out of it, took a shower in the bathroom, dressed neatly, and went downstairs. An auntie downstairs greeted her; Lin Yuewei came to Jiang Congbi’s house often, so the auntie was very familiar with her and practically treated her like a second daughter of the Jiang family.

“Auntie: breakfast is ready. Your favorite red bean and barley porridge.”

Lin Yuewei said, “Thank you, Auntie.”

She had often drunk the Jiang family auntie’s porridge before, but today’s taste kept making her think of something made by someone else. It was hard to say which was better; she just didn’t like the feeling. It seemed she’d need some time to forget those few days.

Lin Yuewei looked at Auntie Red half-coaxingly. “Auntie Hong, I’ve been eating this porridge at home every day lately. Can we switch it up for the next few days?”

Auntie Hong especially liked Lin Yuewei and smiled so broadly her eyes nearly disappeared. “Then how about I make you stuffed pancakes tomorrow?”

Lin Yuewei said, “Sounds good.”

Auntie Hong said, “Or I can make them now.”

Lin Yuewei said, “No need. Kneading dough is troublesome. Tomorrow.”

Fortunately, the other side dishes were completely different from last time. Lin Yuewei finally ate breakfast in peace, only to come face to face with Gu Yanqiu’s coat draped over the sofa.

Lin Yuewei: “……”

How was she supposed to return this thing?

Before yesterday, Lin Yuewei would have called her matchmaking-obsessed mother and simply asked her to pass it along. Her mom might not be familiar with Gu Yanqiu, but she was definitely more familiar than Lin Yuewei was.

“You might as well sell me this coat,” Jiang Congbi said, having slept until nearly noon. She wore her hair in a bird’s nest, a camisole nightdress with a thin blanket thrown over it, and held an ice cream scoop Auntie had taken out of the fridge for her in one hand as she sat sprawled grandly on the sofa, making outrageous remarks.

Just from her outfit and that performance alone, it was impossible to tell what season it was. This audacious young lady even mocked Lin Yuewei. “I’m telling you, you’re getting better and better at pretending to be proper. Why dress so neatly at home? It’s not like there are outsiders here.”

Lin Yuewei gave her a faint look. “Say that again.”

Jiang Congbi coughed awkwardly and laughed. “Just joking.”

Lin Yuewei had washed her hair in the morning. Her long flaxen hair was soft and obedient over her shoulders, and her long, not-quite-delicate peach blossom eyes were wet and luminous, like roses touched with dew. Her other features were cold and sharp, but those eyes softened her looks considerably; still, they did absolutely nothing to lessen the aggression and sense of offense in a first glance. Especially when she wasn’t smiling, the aura around her was even stronger than Gu Yanqiu’s, making people keep their distance.

If Jiang Congbi hadn’t known her for years, she might have been scared off by her. That was also why, despite Lin Yuewei having such a charming face, very few people dared to pursue her. Among the few brave ones, once there was even the slightest hint of contact, they were mercilessly rejected by Lin Yuewei.

Lin Yuewei said, “Hurry up and think of a way for me to return the coat.”

Jiang Congbi thought for a moment. “Why don’t you try courier service? Do you have her address?”

Lin Yuewei’s eyes lit up.

She scheduled a pickup on her phone. The instant the screen showed the appointment had been successful, her ringtone went off. The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.

“The call’s coming in, shh.” Lin Yuewei motioned for Jiang Congbi, who was talking beside her, to shut up first.

“This courier service is pretty efficient,” Jiang Congbi said happily.

The moment Lin Yuewei answered, a strange feeling flashed through her heart.

“Miss Lin.” Gu Yanqiu’s signature voice: obviously frigid, yet forced to sound gentle out of courtesy.

They had only just parted last night, and barely twelve hours had passed since then. Yet Lin Yuewei strangely felt as though they were separated by years. Her fingers tightened slightly; with her true attitude, she asked rather distantly, “Miss Gu.”

Jiang Congbi shot up from the sofa, and Lin Yuewei gave her a warning fake punch.

Lin Yuewei said, “How did you get my phone number?”

Gu Yanqiu said, “I asked your mother for it. I have an unreasonable request.”

Lin Yuewei said, “Go on.”

Gu Yanqiu said, “My father asked me to bring you back for dinner tonight. I may need to stay over. I wanted to ask your opinion first. If you’re unwilling…”

“I’m willing.” Lin Yuewei answered without hesitation.

Gu Yanqiu clearly froze, apparently not expecting that answer. “Then I’ll pick you up after work. Can you give me an address?”

“……” Lin Yuewei wanted to slap herself.

At six in the evening, Gu Yanqiu followed the address Lin Yuewei had given her and picked her up under Jiang Congbi’s glowing-green stare.

Gu Yanqiu kept her eyes on the road as she drove and asked, “Did you bring the ring?”

Lin Yuewei looked sideways. On Gu Yanqiu’s hand resting on the steering wheel, the wedding ring sat clearly on her ring finger.

Lin Yuewei considered herself a very contract-abiding person, so of course she had prepared. She took a red ring box out of her bag, opened it, and the exquisitely designed diamond pair inside sparkled brilliantly in the light. She put it on her ring finger and glanced at Gu Yanqiu, who tilted her head and smiled gently at her.

“Thank you, Miss Lin.”

Lin Yuewei’s heart jolted; she looked away.

The Gu residence was in a remote location, quiet and surrounded by beautiful scenery, with the sea and woods nearby. The heavy iron gate at the entrance gave off a suffocating sense of stern formality.

Gu Yanqiu parked the car, walked around to the passenger side, and opened the door. She held a hand above Lin Yuewei’s head as Lin Yuewei got out with her bag, looking down while turning the ring on her ring finger. After all, this was an unfamiliar place to her, and everyone in the Gu family was a stranger. Aside from nervousness, she also felt a trace of fear.

Gu Yanqiu stood beside her and took the initiative to link her arm through Lin Yuewei’s, saying softly, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Lin Yuewei looked at her. The pleasant scent of agarwood surrounded her, and just like that, her heart settled down.

“Let’s go in,” Lin Yuewei said.

Author’s note: Time to meet the demon-and-monster parents (¬‿¬)

We’re sleeping in the same bed tonight, right? ╰(*°▽°*)╯