Chapter 142
Gu Yanqiu arrived on time, but Yin Lingxi was still earlier than she was.
This time they’d met at a French restaurant. After Gu Yanqiu sat down, she got straight to the point. “You wanted to see me about something?”
She was still in a hurry to get home and coax Lin Yuewei.
Yin Lingxi didn’t answer directly. She slid the menu over and said evenly, “Order first.”
Gu Yanqiu didn’t take it. Yin Lingxi tilted her head and looked at her. “Or... are you in a hurry?”
“No.” What else could Gu Yanqiu say? She had no choice but to take the menu, order a red wine braised beef and a cream soup, and hand it back.
While they waited for the food, Yin Lingxi finally got to the point.
“Are you investigating your mother’s social connections behind the scenes?”
“Yes.”
“May I know why?” Yin Lingxi interlaced her fingers and rested the back of her hand against her chin, looking into her eyes.
“No.” Gu Yanqiu’s answer was firm.
“Fine.” Yin Lingxi said, “If you can’t be honest with me, why should I lay everything out for you? That seems a little unfair, doesn’t it?”
“This involves family matters; I can’t really talk about it.”
“You mean the He family mother and son in your house?”
“You investigated me?” Gu Yanqiu narrowed her eyes.
“I had to get a general understanding.” A trace of a smile appeared on Yin Lingxi’s face and vanished almost immediately, as if she weren’t truly amused and had only smiled for the sake of smiling.
“What else did you find out?”
“Nothing else. What happened in your family made such a scene in Yanning City last year; anyone in the circle would know if you just asked around.”
“So what profound insight does Miss Yin want to share?” Gu Yanqiu’s tone had already cooled.
“Nothing profound.” Yin Lingxi lowered her eyes indifferently and stirred her coffee with a small porcelain spoon. “I just don’t like making decisions when I know nothing. It goes against my principles.”
“Then I suppose we’re destined to disagree and part ways?” Gu Yanqiu said thoughtfully.
“Not necessarily.” Yin Lingxi tilted her head, the corner of her lips lifting slightly.
Gu Yanqiu looked at her, smiling faintly as well.
What each of them was thinking privately, only they knew.
The waiter brought the dishes. Yin Lingxi ate her soup at an unhurried pace, as if she’d forgotten about the topic entirely; then she brought up the acquisition case she’d mentioned the night before.
Gu Yanqiu chatted with her.
Once she set aside the fact that the other woman currently had something she wanted, Yin Lingxi was actually very good company; she spoke properly and had original opinions. To be fair, she was someone worth getting to know.
Yin Lingxi noticed Gu Yanqiu’s occasional glances toward her phone on the table. When the meal ended, she stopped the conversation at the right time, pressed a napkin lightly to the corner of her mouth, and teased, “What, do you have a date with a beauty?”
Gu Yanqiu nodded. “My wife is waiting for me at home.”
Yin Lingxi said, “Then I’ve been rather rude.” After a pause, she added, “I’m leaving Yanning tomorrow. I’ve finished my business trip here; I probably won’t be back for some time.”
Gu Yanqiu said coolly, “Have a safe trip.”
Yin Lingxi curved her lips slightly, lifted the coat draped over the back of her chair, and revealed a gift bag hidden beneath it. She set it on the table. “I happened to learn it was Miss Gu’s birthday, so I’m congratulating you in advance. Just a small token; I hope you like it.”
Gu Yanqiu took the gift and smiled politely. “Miss Yin is very thoughtful.”
Yin Lingxi called the waiter over to settle the bill, then stood. “I won’t keep you from your evening with your wife. Until next time.”
Gu Yanqiu also stood with the gift in hand. “Let me see you out.”
They parted ways at the restaurant entrance.
***
The first thing Lin Yuewei saw when Gu Yanqiu walked in was the gift bag in her hand; her eyes sharpened instantly. “What’s that?”
“A gift from Yin Lingxi.” Gu Yanqiu deliberately didn’t say the word “birthday,” afraid it would arouse Lin Yuewei’s suspicion. Besides, people had this sort of mindset: the closer a birthday was, the less they mentioned it, and the more it felt like a surprise.
“What’s she giving you a gift for, out of nowhere?” Lin Yuewei took the bag from her, shook it once, and asked, “What’s inside?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t opened it yet.” Gu Yanqiu sat down on the sofa and reached behind her neck to press lightly at the muscles there. After a full day of work and then driving out to dinner, she was a little tired.
That answer pleased Lin Yuewei a little. She pointed at the bag. “Can I open it?”
“Of course. Go ahead.”
Lin Yuewei tore through the wrapping in a few quick motions. Inside was a square royal-blue velvet box. She shoved it into Gu Yanqiu’s hands on purpose. “You open it. Makes it look more important.”
Gu Yanqiu: “No, no, I’m not important.”
Lin Yuewei snorted and opened the box.
Inside was a bracelet.
Gu Yanqiu’s heart had first leapt upward and thudded sharply, but after seeing the bracelet clearly, she finally relaxed.
It wasn’t the same style, not even the same color. This one was rose gold.
Lin Yuewei had bought her a bracelet and was waiting to give it to her on her birthday; if someone else had given her the same kind of gift in advance, that would have been disastrous. Thankfully, it wasn’t.
Lin Yuewei clicked her tongue hard at the bracelet in the box, her expression full of disdain.
Gu Yanqiu thought she was upset because Yin Lingxi had accidentally given the same kind of gift. She was just about to say something when Lin Yuewei said, “She actually had the nerve to give you something as ordinary as a bracelet?”
Gu Yanqiu frowned slightly. Lin Yuewei must be angry to say that.
Lin Yuewei turned to ask, “Do you even like bracelets?” If she really did, Lin Yuewei had basically never seen her wear one. She always wore prayer beads instead. Yin Lingxi really couldn’t even flatter someone properly.
Unexpectedly, Gu Yanqiu nodded. “I quite like them.”
She was lying, though not entirely.
Gu Yanqiu hadn’t liked bracelets before. Her left wrist wore a watch, her right hand rolled prayer beads; there was nowhere for a bracelet. But if Lin Yuewei gave her one, then she liked them now.
This time it was Lin Yuewei’s turn to be astonished. “!!”
Why had she never heard her mention it before?
Lin Yuewei’s expression shifted through several changes. Gu Yanqiu felt she hadn’t explained herself clearly enough and might cause a misunderstanding, so she pointed at the bracelet in the box and added, “I just don’t like rose gold. I prefer silver.”
Lin Yuewei said, somewhat dazedly, “Oh.”
That wasn’t what she’d imagined.
After thinking for a while, Lin Yuewei still couldn’t believe it and asked again, “You really like bracelets?”
Gu Yanqiu answered, “I do. I like silver best.”
Lin Yuewei looked like she was going slightly distant.
Her reaction was different from what Gu Yanqiu had expected too, as if the bracelet in the drawer at home hadn’t been prepared for her at all. But she didn’t suspect anything; she only thought that, as expected of an actress, Lin Yuewei was much more natural at it than she was.
Gu Yanqiu put the bracelet from Yin Lingxi, along with the gift bag, into the storage room. On the way past the guest room, she glanced in absentmindedly; the drawer was intact. Tomorrow she would still have to get up earlier than Lin Yuewei, to avoid letting her discover that Schrödinger had rummaged through all the drawers at home and accidentally exposed the surprise.
They indulged in each other once that night, and Gu Yanqiu went to sleep early. Lin Yuewei lay awake with her eyes open, unable to sleep.
She sat up in bed and studied Gu Yanqiu seriously for a few minutes. Only after confirming she was deeply asleep did she quietly slip out of the bedroom. It was a long time before she came back, and in the darkness she let out a silent sigh, then finally fell asleep again.
A bracelet was fine. Fine.
***
Qu Xuesong finally settled on a time to have dinner with Lin Yuewei; it was a few days later than she’d originally said, but the timing worked out very well. March 11, which happened to be the day before Gu Yanqiu’s birthday.
It was Monday. Gu Yanqiu was at work, and Lin Yuewei didn’t even need to invent an excuse; she drove out from home at lunchtime. Qu Xuesong was a big star, recognized wherever she went, so they’d arranged to meet at a private club with secluded surroundings and steep prices.
Lin Yuewei arrived first. Qu Xuesong showed up right on time, led in by the waiter. The moment she saw Lin Yuewei, her eyebrows and eyes lifted, but her words were not so polite. “Lin, you kept me waiting long enough.”
Lin Yuewei was practically ready to kneel. “Teacher Qu, Sister Qu, please spare me. I really know I was wrong.”
She clasped her hands and bent into a ninety-degree bow.
Qu Xuesong gave a soft huff and sat down.
The waiter came over to pour tea and water; Lin Yuewei stopped him with a hand and said, “I’ll do it.”
She poured Qu Xuesong a full cup. “Top-quality West Lake Longjing. Sister Qu, try it?”
Qu Xuesong took a sip. The flavor was sweet at the end, and she gave a light hmm. “Not bad.”
Lin Yuewei kneaded her shoulders. Her pressure was just right, and Qu Xuesong half-closed her eyes to enjoy it for a while. She also felt embarrassed continuing to put on airs over something so petty; what was the point of arguing with a child? She was becoming younger and younger the older she got.
She tapped the hand Lin Yuewei had placed on her shoulder. “All right, stop acting cute with me. Say what you want.”
Lin Yuewei said, “Nothing. I just wanted to treat you to a meal. If you’re free this afternoon, we can even do a spa treatment.”
Qu Xuesong: “I’m not free.”
Lin Yuewei: “There you go again.”
Qu Xuesong flicked at her clothes and took another sip from her teacup. “I really don’t have much time. I still have an interview tonight and have to leave early.”
Lin Yuewei immediately looked crestfallen. “You’re that busy?”
Qu Xuesong smiled and tapped her on the forehead, then lifted her finger away. “And what, you thought I was like you? I really squeezed out a little time in the middle of a packed schedule to have dinner with you.”
Lin Yuewei: “My honor.”
Qu Xuesong: “So greasy.”
Lin Yuewei: “……”
Fine, then she’d do it without being greasy.
Lin Yuewei took out the gift she’d prepared in advance and waved it in front of her twice, providing her own sound effects. “Ta-da.”
Qu Xuesong: “What is it?”
Lin Yuewei: “For you. Want to open it?” She set the gift bag down beside Qu Xuesong.
Qu Xuesong raised an eyebrow, opened it with curiosity, then took out the bracelet and put it on. She held it up to the light twice and said, “Not bad. Pretty nice. At least you’ve got a little conscience.”
The stone in Lin Yuewei’s chest finally dropped. She smiled brightly. “I’m glad you like it.”
Qu Xuesong followed her words down the line and curved her lips into a meaningful smile. “Anything is good if I like it?”
Lin Yuewei didn’t dare answer and trembled a little.
Qu Xuesong went on by herself. “What if I liked you? Would that be good too?”
Lin Yuewei cautiously revealed a little of the truth. “The one at my house probably wouldn’t agree.” She couldn’t expose Gu Yanqiu directly to Qu Xuesong, but she could reveal that she already had a partner; she was fully certain Qu Xuesong wouldn’t go telling anyone.
Qu Xuesong studied her expression for a while, then suddenly asked with great interest, “Are you afraid of me?”
Lin Yuewei hesitated. “A little.”
Qu Xuesong burst out laughing. “All right, I don’t like little kids like you. How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t be so full of yourself.”
Lin Yuewei: “……”
Was this her being full of herself? It was clearly Qu Xuesong who kept teasing her. If it were anyone else, fine, but it was Qu Xuesong, the one person Gu Yanqiu was most “concerned” about. Sneaking out today without telling Gu Yanqiu had left her uneasy ever since.
If Qu Xuesong kept startling her like this, she felt like her heart attack would be coming next.
Lin Yuewei boldly asked, “Then what type do you like?”
“I like...” The image of Ji Han immediately surfaced in Qu Xuesong’s mind. Mature, intelligent, serious and proper; beneath the facade of decisiveness and ruthlessness was a tenderness no outsider would ever know. So many years had passed, and Qu Xuesong still couldn’t forget her. Even after the other woman had smeared her in front of her current partner, the person she thought of first was still her.
Like a nightmare that refused to let go, day and night.
Qu Xuesong’s gaze dimmed a little; the air around her seemed to drop a few degrees. She lifted her eyes and gave Lin Yuewei a cold look. “In any case, not someone like you.”
The moment Lin Yuewei saw her expression, she understood. She was probably thinking of an old flame.
Lin Yuewei wanted to press and ask whether it was Ji Han. Her instincts told her that Qu Xuesong and Ji Han might have a story, but this was personal; it wasn’t her place to ask. If she asked correctly, she would be tearing open someone’s wound. If she asked incorrectly, it would only turn awkward.
Unexpectedly, Qu Xuesong took the initiative to bring up the subject, albeit indirectly.
“Is Shao Yasi your friend?” Qu Xuesong asked casually. She reached out and accepted a small bowl of soup from the waiter, took a sip, found it a little hot, and set it aside to cool.
“Yes.”
“How good of a friend?” Qu Xuesong used her chopsticks to pick up a small bite of winter bamboo shoots. They were cooked very pleasantly here; light on oil and salt, with the ingredients’ own texture brought out to the fullest. She used the serving chopsticks to place a bite into Lin Yuewei’s bowl. “Try this too; it’s pretty good.”
“Thanks.” Lin Yuewei paused, then answered her previous question. “A very good friend. We debuted on the same program, so I guess we’re basically best friends.”
“I see.” Qu Xuesong lowered her eyes in thought.
She wasn’t the kind of person who liked to meddle in other people’s business. The last time she had spoken up, it was because she couldn’t stand Ji Han deceiving a young girl again; perhaps there had also been a little something else at work. Now that she’d confirmed Shao Yasi was Lin Yuewei’s friend, she couldn’t bear to watch her jump into a fire pit.
Qu Xuesong looked at Lin Yuewei. “Ji Han isn’t someone worth entrusting your life to.”
Lin Yuewei was shaken. So it really was her.
She pretended to be confused. “Teacher Qu knows her well?”
Qu Xuesong’s face was expressionless. “Very well.” After a pause, she added, “Once upon a time.”
Lin Yuewei took the matter to heart. “I’ll pass that along.”
Qu Xuesong also said, “Don’t say I told you. And just pass it along once; if she’s determined to be foolish, you don’t need to get involved.”
Lin Yuewei nodded. “I know.”
Qu Xuesong answered with a light “Mm” and dropped the subject without any intention of lingering on it.
After that, they moved on to gossip.
Qu Xuesong knew far more than Lin Yuewei did, so Lin Yuewei took the question of her inexplicably being dragged onto the trending list a few days ago and asked about it. Qu Xuesong really did know.
“That female lead offended someone. But the person she offended didn’t have much ability, so they could only use some mild tricks to smear her a bit. It sank after less than a day, and the account behind the official Weibo got fired. As for you, you were just a little shrimp they used and then threw away. If anything, you came out ahead; you got to ride on the female lead’s popularity.”
“So I’m the biggest winner?”
“You could say that.” The atmosphere had lightened, and a warm smile colored Qu Xuesong’s brows and eyes. “But your little bit there only counts as a tiny profit. When you really become popular someday, you’ll know what a real winner looks like.”
“Are you a winner?” Lin Yuewei suddenly asked her. First-tier flower star, ratings queen, luxury endorsements, almost every television award one could name; as far as a TV actress was concerned, shouldn’t that count?
“No.”
For some reason, Qu Xuesong’s answer didn’t surprise Lin Yuewei.
She always felt there was a kind of pessimism around Qu Xuesong; she never seemed to have especially high enthusiasm for anything. She was a true work machine. She hid it very well most of the time, all dazzling glamour and brilliance, but once she was somewhere private, or once the conversation touched on something more personal like this, it would show.
“Maybe... ”
“Maybe what?”
Lin Yuewei realized she’d spoken out loud. She shook her head and smiled. “Nothing. Maybe once I get to your stage, I’ll think the same way. People always want more once they have enough. Maybe then I’ll move into the film industry too?”
Qu Xuesong smiled and neither confirmed nor denied it.
She knew what she lacked wasn’t these things.
Lin Yuewei knew it wasn’t either, but she didn’t say so.
The two of them exchanged one knowing look, and neither pierced the veil. Some roads had to be walked alone; some people had to be met by fate. Qu Xuesong’s career had already stabilized. It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about falling in love again, but it was too hard. She couldn’t meet the right person, so she simply stopped hoping. If Ji Han hadn’t had so many people around her over the years, Qu Xuesong might not have been able to resist going back to look for her.
In the end, Qu Xuesong extended an invitation to Lin Yuewei. “I’m thinking of investing in a drama myself and playing the lead. Are you interested?”
“Me?” Lin Yuewei was flattered, then said sincerely, “I’m honored by Teacher Qu’s favor, but I still have a drama to film in the middle of this year. I probably won’t be free until the end of the year, so I doubt I’ll make the schedule.”
“No rush. I’ve got my own projects too. I’m just reserving you in advance.”
“How far in advance?”
“Two years, maybe.” Qu Xuesong touched her chin.
Lin Yuewei: “……”
Qu Xuesong patted her shoulder. “By two years from now, you’ll definitely be popular. There’ll be a lot of people fighting over you then, so I’m staking my claim now, to avoid losing out later.”
Lin Yuewei: “Should I record this too?”
Qu Xuesong pretended to reach for her phone. “Not a bad idea.”
Lin Yuewei sat up straight, and Qu Xuesong laughed.
The meal ended in high spirits for both host and guest. At 3:30 in the afternoon, Qu Xuesong’s nanny van arrived outside the club. She went straight from there to the television station; not long after she left, Lin Yuewei did as well.
She first returned to the Lin household. As soon as the weather warmed up, Madam Ran Qingqing couldn’t stay indoors; she ran out to fuss over her flowers and plants, while the corgi frolicked all over the yard.
Lin Yuewei parked in the courtyard, called a hurried “Mom” to Ran Qingqing, and then charged straight into the house.
Ran Qingqing called after her, “What are you doing? Rushing off to your next life?”
Lin Yuewei was already upstairs. Sparing two seconds, she opened the bedroom window and shouted down, “Yeah, rushing off to my next life.”
Ran Qingqing looked up. “Are you coming home for dinner tonight?”
Lin Yuewei yelled, “Nope!”
Ran Qingqing lowered her head and cleared her throat. Lin Yuewei shut the window.
She checked the time on her watch, grabbed her things, and left. At the door, she tossed out, “Mom, I’ll be back this weekend. I’m bringing your daughter-in-law with me.”
“Son-in-law.”
“Daughter-in-law!”
“Wait, what’s in your hand?” Ran Qingqing called her back. Lin Yuewei had gone in empty-handed and come out holding a black backpack.
Lin Yuewei lifted the bag. “This?”
Ran Qingqing: “Yeah.”
Lin Yuewei smiled. “Not telling you. See you this weekend.”
She got into the car, blew Ran Qingqing a kiss, and drove away laughing.
***
At 6:15 p.m. on March 11, Gu Yanqiu’s birthday countdown: five hours and forty-five minutes.
Gu Yanqiu arrived home on the dot. Lin Yuewei was sitting on the sofa with Schrödinger curled by her side, just like every other day.
“I’m home,” Gu Yanqiu said very, very softly.
Lin Yuewei answered at a normal volume, “Schrödinger isn’t asleep.”
Gu Yanqiu relaxed. She called Schrödinger’s name, and Schrödinger jumped down from the sofa and lifted its head by her feet, asking for a hug. Gu Yanqiu bent down and picked it up, then asked Lin Yuewei, “What do you want to eat?”
Lin Yuewei rubbed her eyes, then blinked hard. In a casual tone, she said, “Anything’s fine. Make something simple that’ll be ready quickly; I’m a little hungry.”
“Okay.”
Gu Yanqiu put the cat down and went to the refrigerator for ingredients. It was just going to be two simple stir-fried dishes, and with Lin Yuewei helping, they were on the table very quickly.
They broke the record for early dinner; it was only seven o’clock.
Gu Yanqiu’s birthday countdown: five hours.
After resting for more than ten minutes, they went out to walk the cat and returned home at eight. Lin Yuewei went to shower first, while Gu Yanqiu followed the usual routine of hiding snacks for Schrödinger downstairs. Listening to the silence upstairs, she opened that drawer; the gift inside was gone.
It had still been there last night. It had been taken today.
Gu Yanqiu rolled her eyes slightly and curved her lips at the empty drawer before closing it again.
At 11:30 p.m., Gu Yanqiu’s birthday countdown: thirty minutes.
After showering, Lin Yuewei had clung to Gu Yanqiu for three hours. By now she was finally exhausted and asleep.
Gu Yanqiu set her phone to silent and stayed awake until after midnight. Several messages came in one after another. She opened Cheng Guiyuan’s first:
[Big Kite: Happy birthday! Big Qiuqiu!]
[West Gu: Don’t make up nicknames for me]
[Big Kite: Hahaha, it’s your birthday, so you should get some special treatment. I’ll send your birthday gift to your company tomorrow. I know you’re spending your two-person world with your partner, so I won’t disturb you]
[Big Kite: Ah, are you two still going at it now? Speaking of which, the first time at twenty-six is very meaningful. Oh my god, are you in the middle of it right now [shy]]
Gu Yanqiu glanced at the sleeping Lin Yuewei and replied calmly: [She’s asleep; try to keep your thoughts pure]
[Big Kite: I’m going to sleep too. We’ll talk tomorrow]
[West Gu: See you]
Then came Gu Feiquan—
[Jiabei: At this special moment, please allow me to say to the special you: happy birthday! Brother love you!]
[West Gu: Thanks]
[Jiabei: Wait for me in the parking lot after work tomorrow. I have a gift for you]
[West Gu: Okay]
[Jiabei: Go to bed early. Good night]
[West Gu: Good night]
Next was Gu Huai—
[Baby daughter, happy birthday. Your gift will be passed along by Feiquan.]
Gu Yanqiu replied: [Thank you, Dad]
Then Ran Qingqing—
[I’m Ran Qingqing, not Wen Qingqing: Happy birthday. Mom loves you]
Gu Yanqiu’s eyes suddenly turned a little sore.
[West Gu: Thank you]
[I’m Ran Qingqing, not Wen Qingqing: Go to sleep quickly, or you’ll get dark circles]
[West Gu: Got it. I’m going to sleep now. Good night]
[I’m Ran Qingqing, not Wen Qingqing: I’m sleeping too. It wasn’t easy staying up this late. Good night, good kid]
There were also friends overseas; a few had even figured out the time difference and messaged her right on time, which Gu Yanqiu hadn’t expected. She wasn’t good at getting close to others, nor did she place too much importance on friendships. As time passed and distances widened, everyone would eventually become strangers; but at least this year, people still remembered her.
She replied to each one. With a satisfied smile on her face, Gu Yanqiu tucked herself into Lin Yuewei’s arms and fell asleep.
On March 12, at seven in the morning, Gu Yanqiu was woken by her alarm; Lin Yuewei gave a soft murmur and slowly woke as well.
Gu Yanqiu looked into Lin Yuewei’s eyes. Lin Yuewei touched the corner of her own eye with her fingertips and wiped something off. “Anything else?”
Gu Yanqiu: “...No.”
Did Lin Yuewei not have anything to say to her?
Lin Yuewei stretched, jumped out of bed, and went into the washroom to freshen up. Gu Yanqiu followed.
“What do you want for breakfast?” Lin Yuewei asked.
“What do you want to eat?”
“I’m okay with anything. I haven’t had noodles in a long time, so let’s have noodles.”
Gu Yanqiu’s gaze shifted. She looked at her. “Noodles?” Was she planning to make longevity noodles for her?
“Hand-pulled noodles or dried noodles are both fine.” Lin Yuewei didn’t notice a thing.
“Dried noodles, then. You make them, or should I?”
“What do you think?” Lin Yuewei fixed her eyes on her.
In the end, Lin Yuewei made the noodles. Two bowls; one had a poached egg on top. As for the taste? Neither good nor bad, but edible. Gu Yanqiu ate them as if they were delicacies from heaven and earth; when she finished, she looked at Lin Yuewei without saying a word.
Lin Yuewei said, “Why are you looking at me? Change clothes and go to work, or you’ll be late.”
Gu Yanqiu held back for several seconds, wanting to speak but stopping herself, then went upstairs to change.
Lin Yuewei blinked again, and the smile at the corner of her lips flashed by. She turned back to clear the dishes.
At eight in the morning, Gu Yanqiu left. Lin Yuewei saw her off, and Gu Yanqiu looked at her for a long time again. She even couldn’t help but open her palm and hold it out in front of her. Lin Yuewei took her hand in both of hers and kissed it.
“Be good and go to work.”
Gu Yanqiu got into the car and puffed out her cheeks where Lin Yuewei could see them.
Her bracelet!
***
The moment Gu Yanqiu stepped into the company, she was almost blinded by the handsome guy at the office entrance. Lin Zhi was holding a huge bouquet of roses and leading the entire office staff in a chorus. “Happy birthday, Little Gu CEO!”
Gu Yanqiu: “......”
Lin Zhi delivered the flowers to her. Gu Yanqiu found it a little awkward, but the gesture had to be accepted. “Thank you.”
She pushed open the office door and went inside. A little while later, Lin Zhi came in with coffee.
“Happy birthday.” He said it again.
“Thank you.”
Lin Zhi pulled a small wrapped box from his oversized pocket, clasped both hands in front of him, and bobbed his head a little, looking rather bashful. “Your birthday present.”
“You didn’t have to spend this much.” Gu Yanqiu said as if to refuse it.
“It wasn’t much, it wasn’t much. It’s just a perfume; it didn’t cost much. I couldn’t afford anything else either.” Lin Zhi hurriedly waved his hands, then hid both of them behind his back, afraid she might try to return it again.
“Won’t your girlfriend get jealous?” Gu Yanqiu set the perfume down beside her computer, which meant she’d accepted it.
Lin Zhi grinned honestly and scratched the back of his head. “I told her about it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have the guts. She was the one who recommended this perfume to me, too.”
At Gu Yanqiu’s level of spending, jewelry was out of the question. Lin Zhi could only buy something small like lipstick or perfume. Fortunately, those sorts of things were presentable and relatively affordable, and Lin Zhi’s salary could easily cover them.
“That’s good.”
“Then I’ll head back?” Lin Zhi pointed toward the door.
“Mm. Work hard.”
“Got it.” Lin Zhi bounced off in small steps.
Gu Yanqiu opened the perfume, sprayed a little on her wrist, smelled it, found the fragrance acceptable, and tucked it into her shoulder bag.
Cheng Guiyuan’s gift arrived after that: a watch. Gu Yanqiu studied the new watch for a while, swapped out the old one, put it back in the box, took a photo of her wrist, and sent it to Cheng Guiyuan.
Cheng Guiyuan praised it to the skies.
At noon, Gu Yanqiu called home. On the other end, Lin Yuewei was sneezing nonstop.
“You caught a cold?”
“No. I inhaled some chili pepper.”
“Be careful. What did you make for lunch?”
“Steamed pumpkin... cough cough cough... shredded green pepper and potato, and... cough cough cough... stir-fried beef strips with vegetables.”
“Were the green peppers at home really that spicy?” Gu Yanqiu asked skeptically.
“I don’t know. I just got choked up. Do you have anything else to say? If not, I’m hanging up. I still have class with the teacher this afternoon and I’m running out of time.” Lin Yuewei said urgently.
“...All right.” Gu Yanqiu hung up in disappointment. For an instant, she seemed to hear clattering sounds from the other end. She wanted to listen more carefully, but she couldn’t hear anything anymore.
Did Lin Yuewei really not remember? Had the noodles this morning just been a coincidence? She hadn’t meant them as longevity noodles at all; she’d just casually made a bowl of noodles.
No. She must be preparing some surprise for her; the bracelet still hadn’t been given yet.
She comforted herself, and then became even more eager for the end of work.
At five in the afternoon, with half an hour left until clock-out, Gu Yanqiu’s work was already finished under her highly focused attention, but she couldn’t leave early. She had no mind to do anything else, so she idly opened the bridge client on her computer and clicked into the friends list. As expected, Wecao was not online.
She matched with someone herself. By the end of the round, it was just the right moment to leave work.
She shot out of the office like the wind. Lin Zhi at the door was still dumbfounded. What was that?
Just as she’d escaped the misery of desk duty, another roadblock appeared. Gu Yanqiu stood at the elevator entrance going down, looking at the incoming call on her phone: Gu Feiquan. She picked up. “Hello.”
Gu Feiquan said, “The garage is crowded right now. Xiaowu and Xiaowu are both getting off work now. Go down a bit later, or it won’t be good if you get spotted.”
Gu Yanqiu: “......”
Lin Zhi had just tidied his desk when he felt a chill all over his body. Looking up, well then; Gu Yanqiu had come back again.
Lin Zhi: “Little Gu CEO...”
Gu Yanqiu pulled the office door shut behind her.
Tianrui didn’t have a habit of working overtime; everyone basically left on time. Half an hour later, there were hardly any people left in the whole building, and only then did Gu Yanqiu finally go down to the underground parking garage with Gu Feiquan’s permission.
The two of them were like secret agents meeting up. Gu Yanqiu looked around and climbed into the back seat of Gu Feiquan’s Mercedes.
Gu Feiquan took out two bags. “The left one is mine; the right one is Dad’s.”
Gu Yanqiu: “Mm-hmm, got it. I’m going.” She reached for them and was about to get out of the car. She was hurrying home to see Lin Yuewei.
Gu Feiquan immediately looked hurt. “Aren’t you even going to open them?”
Gu Yanqiu: “......”
She couldn’t withstand Gu Feiquan’s pitiful eyes, so she started opening the gifts. The moment her hand touched the bag, Gu Feiquan eagerly reminded her, “Open mine first, the left one.”
Gu Yanqiu: “......”
Gu Feiquan looked at her with shining eyes, her face practically saying, open mine, open mine.
Gu Yanqiu opened the left one. Inside the box was yet another box; it was like Russian nesting dolls. In the end, she took out a thing... she honestly didn’t know what to call it. The base was crystal, and in the center was an independent golden rooster. It was real, solid gold.
Gu Yanqiu: “......”
Gu Feiquan: “How is it?”
Gu Yanqiu said against her conscience, “...Pretty.”
Gu Feiquan: “Right? I thought necklaces and bracelets and all that were too ordinary. My gold rooster represents your zodiac sign, and it can also sit in the house as decoration. A golden rooster heralds the dawn; it brings good fortune. The meaning is pretty nice too. And look at this rooster; at first glance, it’s just a normal gold rooster.”
Gu Yanqiu: “And on closer look?”
Gu Feiquan pointed at it through the glass, smug. “On closer look, it’s not an ordinary rooster. The eyes are gemstones. See that? I had it specially custom-made.”
Gu Yanqiu forced out a smile. “It’s very nice.”
Gu Feiquan stared at her brightly, her whole face written with say it, praise me, praise me.
Gu Yanqiu said, “I really like the gift you gave me. This rooster is the most... special present I’ve ever received.”
She really couldn’t force out any more praise. She went on to open Gu Huai’s gift instead, but Gu Feiquan pressed a hand through her clothes onto her wrist. “Open Dad’s when you get home.” Gu Feiquan looked inexplicably confident. “Anyway, it definitely can’t be better than mine.”
Gu Yanqiu: “......”
Fine. Whatever you say.
Gu Yanqiu pushed the car door open a crack and peeked out. Seeing no one around, she prepared to get out. Behind her, Gu Feiquan said, “Let’s have a meal together sometime when you’re free. Bring your wife too.”
Gu Yanqiu: “...Okay.”
Because she’d been delayed in the garage, by the time Gu Yanqiu drove her car out of the parking lot, it was already dark. When she stopped at a red light, she glanced at her phone. Since that noon call ended, she hadn’t received another message from Lin Yuewei.
Usually she’d send her a message after class. Had she not gotten out of class yet today?
A car horn sounded impatiently behind her. Gu Yanqiu frowned and put the phone down, her thoughts heavy.
Along the way, her mood sank for no reason, little by little.
Then, when she entered the neighborhood and saw the villa ahead with not a single light on, she fell completely to the bottom.
She parked in the garage, turned off the engine, and had just stepped out of the garage entrance when her phone, quiet all afternoon, finally rang. The screen showed three words jumping on it: Darling.
Gu Yanqiu looked at the dark villa in front of her and had a bad feeling. She even didn’t really want to answer.
She took a quiet breath and picked up.
“Baby, the teacher kept me for dinner at her place; I’ll be home a bit later.”
“...Okay.” Gu Yanqiu clenched her hand, pressing down the tremor in her voice.
“Why do you sound a little off?”
“No, the wind’s a bit strong. I just got home and haven’t gone in yet.”
“Okay, then wait for me at home. The teacher’s calling me, I’m going to eat.”
“Bye.” Gu Yanqiu hung up faster than ever before.
She stood there staring at the stretch of road lit by the streetlamp beneath her feet, and her vision gradually doubled.
Forgetting was normal. It was their first birthday together, and Lin Yuewei didn’t seem like someone very meticulous. It was all her fault for hiding it and not telling her in advance. Maybe Lin Yuewei remembered, but thought birthdays weren’t important and simply wasn’t celebrating. Even if she wasn’t celebrating, even if there was no gift, was it really that hard to say “happy birthday”?
She only needed one sentence; four words would have been enough. She didn’t even need the present.
Gu Yanqiu blinked hard, but her vision only grew blurrier as tears welled up.
She had no choice but to lift a hand and wipe the moisture from the corner of her eye.
It was fine.
She took a deep breath.
Next year, she’d tell her in advance. Really, it was fine.
She stood in the cold wind for nearly ten minutes before lowering her head and walking forward, mechanically opening the door to the house.
Creak—click—
She turned to lock it, then took another deep breath.
Mm, it was fine.
But music drifted through the empty room; it was very soft, a little cheap-sounding, like those old spinning lotus candles from childhood, singing the tune: Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...
Gu Yanqiu froze.
At the climax of the third line, light suddenly surged up across the dark floor before her eyes. From beneath her feet all the way ahead, a glowing path spread out like brightly lit dominoes.
At the end of the path stood Lin Yuewei, holding a cake. She was wearing a vivid red outfit, with a ribbon tied in a bow at her collar, like an oversized surprise.
“Happy birthday to you...” Lin Yuewei smiled with her eyes, gently finishing the last line.
Author’s note:
Lin Gong is only a little straight, not stupid hahaha. She could forget her own birthday, but there was no way she’d forget her wife’s birthday; absolutely not. She must have started counting down six months in advance.
This has nothing to do with ritual sense. When it concerns you, it’s all instinctive love.
It’s so hard holding back from spoiling it for you all.
P.S. The details of Lin Gong’s thought process and all the preparations she made for the birthday do have foreshadowing, but I’m guessing none of you noticed. Stay tuned for next time.