Chapter 14

Gu Nianxi quickly realized Bai Jin was avoiding her.

Not only had their sketching session ended abruptly that day, but Bai Jin had also turned cold in their daily exchanges.

She still replied to Gu Nianxi's messages, but her responses were like those of a polite stranger.

Gu Nianxi was so furious she threw her phone onto the bed.

"What does she think she's doing?"

She lay on her back, punching her pillow, her face scrunched in frustration.

Xiao An paused at the door.

Her mistress had been like this all day, and every time she asked, she said it was nothing... Could that really be the case?

"Miss," Xiao An finally spoke up, "did you and the second young lady have a falling out?"

"No!" Gu Nianxi said indignantly. "She's the one bullying me, without any reason!"

Xiao An fell silent.

"Then..." Xiao An ventured, "shall we go bully her back?"

"I won't stoop to her level!"

Just as I thought.

Xiao An looked at the pillow, now misshapen from her abuse, and said nothing.

"Miss, I think the second young lady has been doing well lately. Could there be some misunderstanding between you two?"

"Doing well? What's well about her?! It's me who's been doing well! Look at her, getting bold and starting to bully me!"

Gu Nianxi grew more upset as she spoke. "She's avoiding me and won't tell me why. I even... I even texted her to say I wanted to be with her, and she dared to make excuses to refuse! That's too much!"

"Yes, too much!... But, Miss, the second young lady isn't the type to avoid people without reason. Did you do something that made her misunderstand?"

"You're taking her side too! You're a traitor too!" Gu Nianxi buried her head in her blanket, secretly wiping her tears on the bedsheet.

What had she even said? She'd only warned her to be careful of the power struggles among families—she hadn't said anything else!

Did Bai Jin really think she was meddling too much? Or did she think Gu Nianxi was trying to interfere with the Gu family again, fighting her for the inheritance? But hadn't her stance been crystal clear at Hongsheng last time? She only wanted... only wanted to fight for a little freedom for herself. What did the Gu family or the Cheng family have to do with her?

Why was Bai Jin avoiding her? This lifetime was so different from the last—they'd already gone from enemies to friends... Why was she distancing herself like in the previous life?

If that was the case, it would've been better if she'd never approached her at all, never said anything about wanting to be friends!

Xiao An quietly slipped out of the room.

When her mistress was upset, she didn't like having people around.

Still, it was strange. These past few days, she'd watched the two of them get along so well... The second young lady knew her mistress's temperament, so why would she suddenly snub her?

Xiao An still felt there was some misunderstanding between them.

After hesitating for a moment, she walked to the west wing and knocked softly on the door.

A moment later, the door opened.

"Is something the matter?"

Xiao An looked at Bai Jin's calm face and felt a sudden chill. "S-Second Young Lady..."

When her mistress wasn't around, the second young lady was quite intimidating. Xiao An swallowed hard and lowered her head. "Please go see the young lady. She misses you."

Bai Jin said nothing. After a long pause, she replied, "Understood."

After Xiao An left, Bai Jin closed the door and sat back down in her chair.

Gu Nianxi missed her?

Even if... she really did miss her, Gu Nianxi wouldn't have sent Xiao An to deliver the message. She had a thin skin, never willing to concede in an argument, never willing to bow to anyone.

Right now, she was probably still sulking in her room.

Bai Jin looked at the photo frame on her desk.

The picture was a selfie of her and Gu Nianxi taken at Hongsheng. Back then, she had been in such a state that she wanted nothing more than to cling to Gu Nianxi, so she'd half-coerced her into taking a photo together.

Gu Nianxi cared about her appearance, so even when dragged into it, she smiled for the camera. In contrast, Bai Jin herself stood there with a cold, expressionless face, like a wall.

At the time, she hadn't seen her own heart clearly. She'd foolishly thought her feelings for Gu Nianxi were purely physical, so she constantly wanted to press close to her, wishing she could lock them together.

Now that she understood her own feelings, she was running away. What she wanted wasn't just Gu Nianxi's body, but her heart, their future...

But none of that was attainable.

If it wasn't meant to be, then she wouldn't seek it.

Wasn't that simple logic? All human greed, anger, and attachment came from unattainable desires. Since she knew there was no path ahead, why must she insist on ramming her head into the wall?

Besides, Gu Nianxi was different from her. She had so little, and had received so little love. If she learned that Bai Jin's closeness was also driven by covetousness—no different from Cheng Qihang—how heartbroken would she be?

She had to bury her unspeakable feelings deep and play the role of friend and younger sister. That would be best for both of them.

Bai Jin turned the photo frame face down, opened her laptop, and forced herself into work.

Just keep a certain distance.

She would get used to it, and Gu Nianxi... would too.

*

Gu Nianxi lay curled in bed, opening her tablet.

She stared at the screen, her expression deeply serious.

She tapped the built-in AI assistant and typed a question into the dialogue box:

— My close friend suddenly started keeping her distance from me. What should I do?

"Understood. Generating a resolution plan for a friend deliberately distancing from you."

The AI dutifully responded: "First, you need to figure out the reason for the distance... Second, don't give up communication; only through communication can you grasp the crux of the problem... Last, focus on yourself, and don't fall into self-denial because of others' attitudes."

Gu Nianxi snapped the tablet shut.

Stupid AI! It said nothing at all! Just spouting useless lines like "the key to the problem is finding the key problem"—absolutely no practical value!

She fumed for a while, then rallied herself again.

If the AI couldn't solve it, she'd turn to a real person.

She picked up her phone and called Cui Xiaoyue.

She regretted it the moment the call connected—what was she supposed to ask Cui Xiaoyue for? But Cui Xiaoyue had already answered.

"Hello?" The voice on the other end was languid. "Young Miss, I'm on a date. Make it quick."

"I... I have something to ask you."

"Mm?"

Gu Nianxi hesitated. She didn't want to directly say there was a problem between her and Bai Jin, or Cui Xiaoyue would definitely misunderstand again. "Am I... too bad tempered? Is being friends with me..." Her nose started to sting as she forced herself to finish, "...is it exhausting?"

She heard Cui Xiaoyue mutter some apologies to someone else on the other end. Then the phone seemed to be covered, and there was silence for a moment. Footsteps crossed a long corridor, a door creaked open, and only then did she speak again: "Young Miss, what's this? Did you and Bai Jin have a tiff?"

Gu Nianxi's chest tightened.

Was she really that easy to read?!

She hadn't even said anything yet!

"I'm asking you for advice! Stop being a smart aleck!"

"Alright, alright~ Then tell me, what exactly happened?"

"I..." Gu Nianxi was miserable. "I didn't do anything."

"You didn't do anything, but she's avoiding you?"

"How did you know?"

Cui Xiaoyue stood on the balcony and sighed.

This young miss was truly a femme fatale, yet she was clueless, innocent and ignorant of matters of the heart.

Who could endure loving someone like that, being by her side day after day?

"I have an idea here. It's guaranteed to work."

"What?"

"Go sweet-talk her."

"Why should I! I didn't do anything wrong..."

"It's not your fault." Cui Xiaoyue was unusually patient with Gu Nianxi.

"But if everything had to be about who's right or wrong, how would anyone live? How would relationships survive? Between you and Bai Jin, ultimately, you hold the upper hand. Do you want to make up, or do you want her to keep avoiding you? It's up to you."

Gu Nianxi was silent.

"Cui Xiaoyue, tell me—am I too obtuse? I can't figure out what she's thinking, and I can't help with anything she's busy with. And yet, I still enjoy her care."

"I thought about it. If something happened to me, I'd rely on her because she can solve my problems. But when she runs into trouble, she won't tell me, because telling me wouldn't help anyway. What's the point of being friends with someone like me?"

"Young Miss, people don't do everything seeking a point." Cui Xiaoyue said. "You should know that better than most, shouldn't you? The paintings you paint—are you thinking of using them for money and fame, or giving them as gifts to please someone? No. You paint for yourself. Your creative drive needs an outlet, and you have to paint."

"It's the same for Bai Jin. She has feelings she can't control either. Everyone does."

Her voice softened. "Alright, stop asking these pointless questions, Young Miss. You asked me how to get Bai Jin to stop avoiding you, and I've given you the answer. Trust me—don't overthink things. Overthinking shortens your life."

This time, Gu Nianxi was silent even longer.

Cui Xiaoyue didn't hang up either. The two stayed on the line until Gu Nianxi spoke again:

"But I don't want to stay so muddled."

In her previous life, she'd been muddled and clumsy, and fate hadn't spared her. Clearly, it was better to think more.

"I want to help her too."

She'd always been self-centered, always thinking she'd suffered so much, that the world was unfair to her... But what about Bai Jin? How much had she been bearing? She was a quiet one who kept everything bottled up inside, but just because she didn't say anything, did that mean Gu Nianxi should act like none of it had happened?

Bai Jin... must have unspeakable pain in her heart too.

Gu Nianxi wiped her tears.

"Then go do it, Young Miss." Cui Xiaoyue's voice came through the phone. "Just do whatever you want to do."

After hanging up, Cui Xiaoyue shook her head.

For that cold, aristocratic Gu family to have raised such a vivid, radiant soul—it must be their ancestors' blessing.

On the other end, Gu Nianxi dried her tears and picked up her tablet again.

Her expression was somewhat fierce as she asked the AI: How do you appease an angry friend?

The AI answered: Use charm and playfulness, bribe with treats, invite them out to relax.

Gu Nianxi quietly nodded, closed the tablet, cleared her throat, and began making preparations.

After bustling back and forth for a while, she crossed the long corridor and knocked on Bai Jin's door.

She was nervous, biting the soft flesh inside her cheek.

The door opened, and Bai Jin appeared before her. Gu Nianxi broke into a radiant smile:

"Bai Jin~ The kitchen made brown sugar jelly. I, um, brought you a small bowl. Can I come in?"

She was born with ethereal beauty; even with a cold face, she was captivating, and now with a smile like a blooming flower, her watery eyes blinking at Bai Jin, her voice soft—she looked like a sprite who'd strayed into the mortal world, dazzling anyone who saw her.

She's being coquettish again, Bai Jin thought.

She probably didn't understand why she was retreating. She was resentful and frightened, and now she was knocking on her door, already making a concession she'd never have made before.

If she refused to let her in now, the last bit of stubborn resolve would shatter.

Bai Jin couldn't help but reach out and stroke her head.

She was half a head taller than Gu Nianxi, so the gesture came naturally. The fear in Gu Nianxi gradually faded, but a lingering unease remained as she secretly studied Bai Jin's expression.

Bai Jin looked at her cautious little face and felt a tangle of emotions. "Come in, sister."

She took the jelly from Gu Nianxi's hands and set it on the table.

Gu Nianxi steadied herself and stepped into the room. At Bai Jin's attitude, her unease dissolved, replaced by a spark of feistiness.

Today, she was going to get an answer, no matter what... Damn Bai Jin, what could possibly be worth avoiding her like this?

Once she got it out of her, she'd make Bai Jin apologize! Apologize sincerely!

Bai Jin's room was spotless. It was Gu Nianxi's first time inside, and curiosity took over as she quietly looked around.

She'd heard that Bai Jin took care of everything herself and never let the servants enter her room. So did that make her the first person to ever step inside?

A hint of pride surfaced at the thought, showing clearly on her brow, causing Bai Jin, who had been watching her, to smile faintly before quickly suppressing it.

How exactly should she treat Gu Nianxi?

"Bai Jin." Gu Nianxi swept her gaze across the room, then turned back to Bai Jin.

Bai Jin sat in the chair, watching Gu Nianxi approach, and lowered her head.

Gu Nianxi didn't hesitate. She placed her hands on the armrests of the chair, leaned forward, and looked serious.

"Bai Jin, what's really going on with you?"

"Did I do something wrong, to make you unhappy?"

Bai Jin replied, "No... it's nothing."

Gu Nianxi hadn't done anything wrong.

It was just that she was too close. All Bai Jin could smell was Gu Nianxi's fragrance, rich and enveloping, tangling with her breath.

Bai Jin's hands gripped beneath her, fingers digging into the chair, knuckles turning white.

"But you've been cold ever since the sketching trip yesterday," Gu Nianxi pressed. "And your replies to my messages are cold, too. I wanted to see you, and you said you were busy... How is that possible? How could you be not busy before, but suddenly busy now?"

As she spoke, her grievance surged back up, but Bai Jin refused to look at her.

Gu Nianxi turned stubborn as well, her eyes red as she demanded, "Can't you just tell me why? Who does that? You were the one who suggested we be friends in the first place! And now you're suddenly distancing yourself without explaining!"

"Say something, Bai Jin!" Her tears came on cue, falling in drops onto Bai Jin's lap.

Bai Jin's breath hitched.

Gu Nianxi sniffled, then softened her voice again. "Bai Jin... just tell me, we're friends, aren't we—"

Bai Jin suddenly reached out and grabbed her waist.

She was yanked toward the chair with force, lost her balance, and toppled directly onto Bai Jin. Panicking, her legs couldn't find purchase, and by the time she realized what had happened, she was sitting fully in Bai Jin's lap.

Bai Jin's gaze was heavy, her light brown eyes fixed directly on Gu Nianxi.

Gu Nianxi couldn't decipher that look, but she was shaken by the suppressed pain within it, and only belatedly sensed a hint of danger.

Her hands scrambled for the chair, instinctively trying to stand, but Bai Jin pulled her even tighter into her arms, and Gu Nianxi's legs brushed against Bai Jin's, causing her to let out an involuntary whimper.