Chapter 136

Lin Yuewei managed a smile that looked worse than crying.

There were seven billion people in this world, and she had only ever liked two of them. One of them she knew nothing about—what she looked like, what her personality was, even her name—but she had still fallen for her for no reason at all. The other had been a hasty marriage; she had thought it was just a brief crossing of paths, but in the end it was exactly like the saying: only when she turned back did she realize that person had been waiting all along, beneath the lantern glow.

In the end, those two people turned out to be the same person.

Gu Yanqiu looked at her reaction, completely bewildered. She was shocked too. Gu Yanqiu wasn’t someone who liked to immerse herself in the internet; the internet represented things she couldn’t control, and she wasn’t used to that feeling. To her, “Weed” had only ever been a somewhat familiar online friend who would ask her to play games, and if Gu Yanqiu had time, she would agree. They had known each other for two or three years, and the only personal detail the other side had ever revealed was that she was abroad.

That was all.

A card partner she played bridge with; that was Gu Yanqiu’s entire definition of Weed.

But she had faintly felt that the other person seemed to be more than that. It seemed like she really wanted to be friends with her.

Gu Yanqiu couldn’t help thinking: if she had been a little closer to Weed back then, would she have discovered the other person’s identity earlier and grown closer to Lin Yuewei sooner? But those were only ifs; she was already very satisfied with the result now.

They could play bridge together in the future. Lin Yuewei’s skill was truly excellent; no wonder she had been able to crush those rich second-generation heirs last time.

Gu Yanqiu pointed at the computer. “Then do you want to play? I remember Weed… you’re very good.”

There was something strange about Gu Yanqiu linking the screen name with Lin Yuewei herself.

No, then she remembered something else. If Lin Yuewei was Weed, that meant she was a veteran of this online bridge game. Why had she said she didn’t play the online version?

“I’m not playing.” Lin Yuewei stood up and walked out of the room.

Gu Yanqiu stood as well, her gaze following Lin Yuewei’s back. “Weiwei?”

Weren’t they online friends before? Wasn’t that something to be happy about?

Lin Yuewei collapsed onto the carpet and closed her eyes, pretending to be dead.

The shock had been too much. She needed to calm down.

Gu Yanqiu, gazing at the stars.

She recalled the conversations she had once had with Gu Yanqiu, and all she could feel was endless embarrassment, especially after their identities had been exposed. All those tentative little approaches, all the girlish heart fluttering hidden beneath them, now looked like one black history entry after another, each one humiliating beyond endurance.

Lin Yuewei lay on the carpet, staring at the chat log on her phone.

March 15, 2018. Lin Yuewei remembered this date vividly; it was the day she and Gu Yanqiu had gotten their marriage certificate.

Gazing at the stars: Only just saw your message. I’ve been busy lately and finally have two quiet days. Sorry. Do you have time for a game? I’m not in a great mood.

Weed: I do

Weed: Isn’t it three in the morning there right now? Don’t you sleep? [smiley face]

Gazing at the stars: I came back to the country a while ago. I’m not on a time difference anymore [smile]

Gazing at the stars: I’m inviting you

…

Weed: [thumbs up]

Gazing at the stars: [thumbs up]

Gazing at the stars: I just remembered I have something to do. I’m logging off first.

Because that day was so special, even now Lin Yuewei’s memory of it remained crystal clear. She had slept until the sun was high, sat in the dining room eating, then Gu Yanqiu came back. After that the two of them had eaten lunch together in a not very pleasant mood, and then they had gotten into an even less pleasant fight. She had gone upstairs to play games, while Gu Yanqiu stayed in the living room, or perhaps went back to her room too.

So… Lin Yuewei tapped the line that said, I’m not in a great mood. Was Gu Yanqiu feeling bad because of the argument with her?

And the last line, I just remembered I have something to do. I’m logging off first—what had she done then? Lin Yuewei’s gaze settled on the time: 3:30 in the afternoon.

She narrowed her eyes.

Three thirty…

It seemed that after she had said that, Gu Yanqiu had knocked on her door and asked her to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau with her to get the marriage certificate. Lin Yuewei had agreed, then gone back to look at the computer in her room; Gazing at the stars had logged off. So the virtual Gazing at the stars had signed off, and the real Gu Yanqiu had immediately signed on.

Lin Yuewei: “…”

Their chat frequency had never been high, especially after Gu Yanqiu returned to the country. She had never logged into QQ often to begin with, and after coming back she had been busy with work and even busier with romance, with even less time to deal with an online friend.

During the filming period, Lin Yuewei had one day when the pressure was too much. Lying in bed, she thought of the other person and wanted her to keep her company in chat.

Weed: Are you free?

Gazing at the stars: Free; start a game?

Lin Yuewei thought: Of course Gu Yanqiu only has games in her heart. The moment I talk to her, she brings up games.

She kept reading.

Weed: I don’t have a computer right now

Gazing at the stars: Is there anything I can help you with?

Weed: Chat with me. Are you free?

Lin Yuewei covered her eyes with her hand. Through the gap between her fingers, she asked herself: Was this really how she used to flirt with people?

A few minutes passed before Gazing at the stars replied: Yes; I just woke up

Weed: I don’t even know what to say. I can’t sleep. Do you have any interesting stories to tell?

Lin Yuewei snapped her phone shut and took two deep breaths before she could force herself to keep reading this excruciating conversation. Gu Yanqiu had followed her out at some point, but she didn’t look angry, so she just stood nearby and watched.

As she watched, she noticed Lin Yuewei’s ears turning red, as if she had seen something terribly shameful.

Gu Yanqiu: “???”

Lin Yuewei covered one cheek and ordered Gu Yanqiu around. “Go back to the room and play your game first.”

Gu Yanqiu: “???”

Lin Yuewei: “If you don’t go, I’m going to be mad.”

Gu Yanqiu said “oh” and went back to the room, leaving a line at the door: “Call me if you need anything.”

Lin Yuewei had already opened the phone again and answered distractedly, “Got it.”

Gazing at the stars: If you can’t sleep, count sheep

Weed: Are you a straight guy?

Gazing at the stars: Straight guy?

Weed: Nothing. I’ll tell you a story

Gazing at the stars: Okay

Then Lin Yuewei told a story for half an hour, and Gu Yanqiu’s replies were nothing but “mm,” “okay,” “like this,” “fine,” and “very good.” No matter how hard Lin Yuewei tried, she couldn’t figure out how she had managed to carry on such an awkward conversation back then.

Now, from the perspective of an outside observer, Gu Yanqiu’s attitude was obvious. She had absolutely no interest in her. It had all been Lin Yuewei’s one-sided wishful thinking, using a few thin clues to speculate whether the other person might like her.

Later there was another stretch, after she had finished filming the show.

Gazing at the stars: [smiley]

Gazing at the stars: I’ve been busy lately and didn’t see your messages. Sorry

Weed: It’s fine. Want to play a game?

Gazing at the stars: [okay]

Gazing at the stars: You?

Weed: Sorry, I’m a little distracted

Gazing at the stars: Oh

Weed: Aren’t you even curious why?

Gazing at the stars: Not curious. Everyone has their own troubles; asking others to understand you is not as good as learning to help yourself

Weed: Are you Buddhist?

Gazing at the stars: The Buddha is in my heart

Gazing at the stars: Good night

By then, Lin Yuewei had already shifted her attention away from Gazing at the stars. After that chat, she never actively looked for the other person again. Since she wasn’t searching, the other side never came looking either; after that, the account became a gray avatar languishing on her friend list, and it was basically abandoned.

Back then, Lin Yuewei had even wondered why Gazing at the stars sounded so much like Gu Yanqiu—both of them were especially good at provoking her. So it turned out they were the same person.

Lin Yuewei tapped the upper-right corner, intending to clear the chat log, but in the end she gave up. The past had once belonged to the past; now it had become something the two of them shared. Even if it was a little embarrassing, it was still a shared memory.

It was just that she had once secretly liked Gu Yanqiu, and she wasn’t planning to say that. At least not for now. It was too humiliating.

Just two nights ago she had openly admitted to having a first love, and even expressed deep disdain for that first love. Less than two days later she discovered that the first love was her current partner? Even novels wouldn’t dare write it like this.

Lin Yuewei covered her face with a pillow and let out a long sigh.

What she didn’t know was that Gu Yanqiu, in her room, had done the same thing, scrolling through the chat logs back and forth. She was looking at them from an entirely different angle than Lin Yuewei had. She knew herself, of course, but Lin Yuewei’s tone when she had said those things back then—she needed to infer that.

…

Lin Yuewei felt the pillow lifted off her face. The sudden brightness made her close her eyes uncomfortably; she shielded them with her hand for a moment before opening them again and looking up at Gu Yanqiu from below. “What is it?”

Gu Yanqiu knelt and sat beside her, her dark eyes fixed on her like a deep pool.

Lin Yuewei’s heart gave a jolt. She prayed to the heavens: She didn’t find out. Please, she definitely didn’t find out.

“It’s sunny now,” Gu Yanqiu said.

Lin Yuewei shifted her angle and looked out the window. Sure enough, the sky had cleared. The rain here had come quickly and gone quickly too; from heavy clouds to bright sunshine, it had taken only a little over ten minutes.

Lin Yuewei let out a barely perceptible breath of relief and took the hand Gu Yanqiu offered to sit up. “Then let’s go out and play. I’ll call Photographer Fang.”

“Okay,” Gu Yanqiu said.

Lin Yuewei went to make the call. In a place where she couldn’t see, Gu Yanqiu narrowed her eyes slightly and watched her back with a thoughtful expression.

Photographer Fang was already up and waiting for the weather to clear. As soon as Lin Yuewei called, he answered at once and said they’d meet in the hotel lobby in twenty minutes. Lin Yuewei hurried back to change clothes. The clothes had been packed by Gu Yanqiu, and after rummaging through the suitcase twice without finding them, Lin Yuewei was afraid of messing things up, so she called Gu Yanqiu over to help.

Gu Yanqiu found her a bohemian-style long dress; the top and bottom were a bold royal blue and golden-brown color combination, with the lower half made of layered, thick-pleated ruffles. On Lin Yuewei, with her cool, almost aloof face, it instead gave her an unexpected brightness and allure.

Lin Yuewei stood in front of the bathroom mirror and put on her earrings. Once she was fully dressed, she came out and twirled in front of Gu Yanqiu, holding up the hem of her dress. Gu Yanqiu looked at her for a few seconds, then curved her lips into a smile. “Beautiful.”

Lin Yuewei hopped over in two or three steps and circled around her, spinning so much that Gu Yanqiu’s vision seemed to blur. Gu Yanqiu stood up and caught her in one arm, smiling helplessly. “Stop spinning; it’s making me dizzy.”

Lin Yuewei stopped and looked toward the suitcase. “What are you wearing?”

Gu Yanqiu let go of her, picked out a white cotton-linen dress, and held it up against herself. “This one, probably.”

She turned her back to Lin Yuewei to change clothes, told her to pick out two hats, and even told her exactly where the hats were.

By the time they came out, Photographer Fang had already arrived. His girlfriend was sitting on the long sofa in the lobby, serving as his model. Photographer Fang snapped a few shots, then lowered his head to check the photos he’d just taken. Only then did Lin Yuewei cover her mouth and cough softly behind him.

Photographer Fang turned around and lit up at once. He gave the two of them a gentleman’s bow. “Two beautiful ladies, may I ask whether I have the honor of inviting you to join us?”

He said it in English. There were other people in the lobby, and hearing that, several of them turned to look. The men in particular looked over at the three women surrounding Photographer Fang, each more striking than the last.

Lin Yuewei parted her lips. “Tone it down, Casanova.” She lifted her eyebrows toward the girlfriend standing behind Photographer Fang.

Photographer Fang laughed. “It’s fine. She doesn’t mind.”

Though he said that, Photographer Fang still straightened up and took his girlfriend’s hand. The four of them left in a very high-profile manner. Once they reached the beach, they split apart, neither pair having any habit of showing off their affection in front of the other.

Lin and Gu picked a relatively quiet spot. The scorching sun hung directly overhead. Lin Yuewei pressed the brim of her bucket hat with one hand and looked toward the people laughing and roughhousing farther down the beach, while Gu Yanqiu sat on a lounge chair under a large parasol and asked, “You want to play?”

Lin Yuewei drew her gaze back, saying neither yes nor no.

“Mm?” Gu Yanqiu said.

Lin Yuewei blinked at her. “I want to play with you.”

Gu Yanqiu glanced at the girls on the beach, all in bikinis and all of different skin tones, then shook her head slightly. “I’ll pass.”

Lin Yuewei tipped her chin toward the group. “Then I’m going?”

Gu Yanqiu’s expression clearly became conflicted, but in the end she said, “Go ahead. I’ll watch from here.”

Lin Yuewei: “I really am going.”

Gu Yanqiu nodded.

Step by step, Lin Yuewei walked toward the center of the crowd. The vivid pattern of her long dress bloomed brilliantly beneath the fierce sunlight, as if a mass of rich sunset clouds had melted into the crowd.

If Lin Yuewei really wanted to get friendly with someone, it was very easy. She only had to soften the coolness around her a little, and soon she was playing with those girls. Afterward, she didn’t forget to cast a glance toward Gu Yanqiu.

Volleyball was a very popular sport on the beach. There were no strict competition rules here, only fun first and foremost.

The girls’ silver bell-like laughter drifted in on the sea breeze.

But to Gu Yanqiu, the scene before her was especially piercing.

Lin Yuewei was naturally athletic and had excellent jumping ability, so she inevitably touched the ball more often. Jumping up and batting the ball away, the lines of muscle in her arms were smooth and clear; landing, she would occasionally brush against the girl beside her. She laughed and apologized to the other person, who either laughed it off and said they didn’t mind or bashfully lowered their head.

At some point, Lin Yuewei always seemed to collide with other girls. Sometimes she was certain no one was nearby when she landed, but when she turned back, her arm would always brush against someone else’s warm skin.

She bumped into another girl.

“Sorry.” Lin Yuewei said it automatically in Chinese, then added, “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” The voice answering her belonged to a blonde, blue-eyed girl. White people’s features were often hard to judge accurately, but by Lin Yuewei’s estimation the other girl was probably between eighteen and thirty. Her gaze was direct and bold, and she spoke Chinese with no discernible rise or fall in tone.

Lin Yuewei’s instincts warned her something was off. She tried to tug her arm free, but couldn’t. The other girl leaned in closer.

Lin Yuewei was debating whether to use force when an arm reached from behind and wrapped around her neck. Then the foreign girl’s hands were firmly pulled away, and Lin Yuewei fell directly into a familiar embrace.

“Honey~” came a low female voice above her head.

Lin Yuewei’s scalp prickled. Recognizing the other person’s voice, she didn’t struggle. She obediently, docilely nestled against her chest.

Gu Yanqiu put on her best lousy acting performance. She lowered her head, hooked a finger under Lin Yuewei’s chin, and lightly touched her lips to Lin Yuewei’s. Then she looked at her with a domineering yet gentle gaze and said in English, “I turn my back on you for just a moment, and you’re already being lured off by someone else. Such a bad thing.”

Lin Yuewei covered her mouth and gave a delicate little giggle. She lightly punched Gu Yanqiu’s chest with a small fist and said coquettishly, “You’re so annoying. I just wanted to play for a bit; how was I supposed to know someone would keep clinging to me?”

Foreign girl: “…”

My mistake. Goodbye.

The foreign girl left, and Gu Yanqiu took Lin Yuewei’s hand and led her back to their lounge chairs, her face tight and silent.

Lin Yuewei traced little circles over her chest with a finger and dragged out the word, “Honey~” in exactly the same tone Gu Yanqiu had used on her just now. After finishing, she couldn’t stop herself from laughing. Gu Yanqiu was so cute; she had so many odd little ideas. She needed to praise her properly when they got back.

Gu Yanqiu shot her a cool look.

Lin Yuewei immediately fell silent and shook her arm up and down. “Don’t be mad. I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Gu Yanqiu said irritably, “I know you didn’t do it on purpose.” If she had done it on purpose, that would have been even worse.

Seeing only how cute she was, Lin Yuewei smiled with crescent eyes. “Then why are you still mad?”

Gu Yanqiu lost control for a moment and raised her voice. “What do you mean, why am I mad?” She had just been groped by someone, and Lin Yuewei still looked so indifferent. Gu Yanqiu had finally seen it clearly: Lin Yuewei was simply a magnet for peach blossoms, a walking peach tree, attracting people wherever she went. And she handled the mess faster than those people could even cling to her.

Of course Lin Yuewei knew why she was angry; she was jealous. She got jealous when she saw others trying to hit on Gu Yanqiu too. But the first thing Gu Yanqiu had said was clearly a joke. Did she really need to explode like this? It wasn’t as if Lin Yuewei had actively seduced that person; someone else had insisted on sticking to her. Could she control herself, and could she control other people too?

Lin Yuewei frowned. “I’m advising you to speak properly. Be a little nicer.”

“I—” Gu Yanqiu silently recited the Heart Sutra a few times and then said, keeping her tone calm, “I’m unhappy.”

Speaking properly was a good sign. Lin Yuewei followed her lead and said gently, “Keep going.”

Gu Yanqiu said, “Every time you go to a strange place, a lot of people end up liking you. It was like that last time, and it’s like that this time too. I know this isn’t your fault, but I’m still unhappy. I want to tie you to my side, put you in my pocket, cover your face so no one can see you at all if possible.” By the end, she actually sounded a little grumpy.

Of course she would never really do something like that; it was just an exaggerated way of speaking. Lin Yuewei heard only the overflowing possessiveness and concern, and her face broke into a bright smile. “I didn’t realize President Gu was this kinky.” She stretched out both hands and closed her eyes. “Come on, tie me up.”

Gu Yanqiu: “…”

Lin Yuewei opened one eye and looked at Gu Yanqiu, who still had a slightly puffed cheek without realizing it. Gu Yanqiu met her half-open gaze, huffed once, and turned her face away.

Amazing. Gu Yanqiu was even acting cute now. This kind of sulking was different from the kind she used to have when her emotions were out of control and on the verge of exploding; this was someone spoiled by affection, someone completely at ease.

Lin Yuewei walked around to face her. Gu Yanqiu immediately shifted to the other side. After back and forth like this three times, she finally lifted her head and met Lin Yuewei’s eyes.

Lin Yuewei said sincerely, “I was wrong.”

Gu Yanqiu looked at her.

Lin Yuewei continued, “Unless it’s necessary, I’ll try not to go to crowded places like that next time. And if I do go, I’ll definitely take you with me. Okay?”

Gu Yanqiu: “Okay.” She agreed very quickly, as if afraid Lin Yuewei might change her mind.

Lin Yuewei placed her hand on the top of Gu Yanqiu’s head and gently stroked it. Gu Yanqiu tilted her head on purpose and nuzzled her palm, which made Lin Yuewei feel as though there was a big dog under her hand, shamelessly acting cute.

Lin Yuewei: “…”

She shook the thought out of her head. The Gu Yanqiu in front of her was still just an adorable little cutie.

After that, Lin Yuewei didn’t go back to playing volleyball with the girls. The two of them wore sunglasses and hats and strolled along the beach, walking until the people in the distance became tiny little dots before stopping.

Lin Yuewei took off her shoes, lifted the hem of her dress, and carefully stepped into the water, motioning for Gu Yanqiu to come over and join her. The two of them held hands and walked barefoot through the surf. Gu Yanqiu was restrained in front of other people, but beside Lin Yuewei she was completely different, her laughter carrying far out over the water.

Whenever they saw a wave rolling in, the two of them hurried to run back. Watching the waves crash against the rocks and send up white spray, they saw the sand on the ground darken with damp marks.

Once, they weren’t quick enough and the seawater, dragging sand along with it, soaked both of their skirt hems, leaving them filthy. Lin Yuewei was fine; her dress was dark enough that if you weren’t paying close attention, you might even think it was a deliberate design. Gu Yanqiu was different; the white hem of her dress showed every bit of dirt.

They had no choice but to rinse their feet, put their shoes back on, and head back, planning to change clothes at the hotel.

By the time they returned, it was around five o’clock. The beach was bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, spread across in broad swaths of warm red. Gu Yanqiu and Lin Yuewei walked hand in hand along the shoreline, sea breeze brushing over their faces, the ease of it deeply comfortable.

Lin Yuewei couldn’t help closing her eyes and emptying all her senses, letting Gu Yanqiu lead her forward. Gu Yanqiu noticed the person beside her moving more slowly, turned to glance at her, tightened her grip, and became even more careful about where she stepped.

No one knew how long they had walked. Lin Yuewei felt as if she were about to fall asleep in that gentle breeze when a clear female voice sounded by her ear: “Weiwei, we’re here.”

Lin Yuewei opened her eyes. Right in front of her was Gu Yanqiu’s face, with the endless sunset behind her.

Lin Yuewei slowly smiled. There was no way to describe the feeling of opening her eyes and seeing her like this.

Gu Yanqiu saw that she still wasn’t moving. “Mm?”

Lin Yuewei shook her head, still smiling. “Nothing.”

She tucked her hands behind her back and went into the hotel first. Passing the front desk, the receptionist offered a standard eight-teeth smile and greeted them. Lin Yuewei was in a good mood and nodded back, returning the greeting. She had a proper, elegant face; brilliant yet aloof, sharp yet soft. She rarely gave anyone a pleasant expression, which made her seem difficult to approach. At that moment, however, her eyes curved slightly, and a gentle, faintly flirtatious smile immediately flowed from those peach blossom eyes.

The receptionist’s face inexplicably grew a little hot. Their eyes slipped away from Lin Yuewei and landed on the woman coming in behind her. Gu Yanqiu’s eyes held a chill, and after the receptionist politely greeted her, she quickly lowered her head.

The two of them walked in one after the other. The peach-blossom-eyed one waited a few steps for the cold beauty, and they became side by side. Then the peach-blossom-eyed one wrapped an arm around the cold beauty’s neck and kissed her on the cheek. The cold beauty responded by holding her around the waist; it seemed as though they were talking about something, and after that the receptionist could no longer see them.

Gu Yanqiu held Lin Yuewei around the waist with one hand and opened the room door with the other. Once inside, she pressed Lin Yuewei against the door panel.

“Are you angry?” Lin Yuewei asked with a smile.

“What do you think?” Gu Yanqiu raised an eyebrow.

“I think you’re angry.” Lin Yuewei tapped Gu Yanqiu’s chest with one finger.

“What’s the point of me being angry? You flirt with a blonde little girl up front, and then turn around and flirt with the front desk girl.” Gu Yanqiu clicked her tongue, sounding sour enough to make teeth ache. “Manager Lin really has plenty of charm.”

“Not as much as you.” Lin Yuewei looked at her and said seriously, “I like you.”

Some things really weren’t as hard to say as they seemed. Lin Yuewei understood it in that instant. In the vast crowd of people, she had only ever met and liked one person. She kept guessing, then giving up, and after finally letting go and falling for someone else, she discovered it was still her.

This was luck and surprise bestowed by heaven; something you could encounter but not seek.

Gu Yanqiu smiled. “I kn—”

Lin Yuewei cut her off. “Weed likes Gazing at the stars.”

Gu Yanqiu froze, then her eyes slowly widened.

Author’s note: Next up, please welcome the Forbidden City, show time.

“Kept guessing, then giving up” is taken from a comment by yesterday’s reader “No Need to Name It.”

Today’s ten-thousand-words goal still wasn’t met QAQ

President Gu still has two unexposed identities x2: her Weibo alt account (the all-powerful netizens are responsible for digging that up), and the mysterious Lin surname sugar daddy who bought bots for Lin Palace during the show’s filming period (Lin Palace once thought this was family; she’ll be unmasked in a very interesting scene). Are there any others? I can’t remember, _"}