Chapter 16

Gu Nianxi froze, her round eyes wide as she stared at Bai Jin.

She seemed unaware of how adorable she looked. Bai Jin patted her back affectionately and gestured for her to get up. "The Gu residence is large, but it's not convenient for moving around. You can't stay cooped up in the attic painting forever, sister. And if you go abroad to study later, and Mom and Dad don't agree, you'll have a home in the capital to return to."

Gu Nianxi, nudged by her, snapped back to reality and stood up, though her expression remained dazed.

Bai Jin's heart softened at the sight and she said gently, "If the Cheng family comes looking for you again, you don't have to face them. I'll stay at the Gu residence and handle it."

"With a house, no matter what happens, you'll have a place to rest. Don't worry—that place is for you alone. I'm spending from my private account; no one will know."

"The house is a newly completed property under Hongsheng Real Estate—spacious layout, plenty of sunlight. The south-facing room has good ventilation, and if you'd like, you can turn it into a studio." She paused. "It's not far from the 'Bright Moon' gallery, surrounded by a commercial district, so commuting is convenient. Not far off is a park, a 4A scenic spot with nice views. The address is..."

—No. 9 Peony Street, Lanyue Mansion, Building 3, Room 1601.

Gu Nianxi lowered her head, murmuring silently to herself.

"No. 9 Peony Street, Lanyue Mansion," Bai Jin said.

She walked to the bookshelf, her back to Gu Nianxi, so she didn't see the look of utter desolation on Gu Nianxi's face.

In her past life, Bai Jin had also given her such a house.

Back then, she had said:

—"I know you hate me. But business is business, and this is separate. This house came from my first project at Hongsheng. That day you were left at home and missed the chance to choose, so I owe it to you. No one else in the Gu family will know about this place."

—"Perhaps you won't believe me, but I still consider you my sister. From now on, take care, sister."

Bai Jin turned back with a folder in her hand; the open folder revealed the floor plan.

Gu Nianxi looked at her, silently weeping, her heart full of inexpressible sorrow and grievance, mixed with a hint of resentment—not toward Bai Jin, but toward the elusive fate itself.

That look startled Bai Jin. She set down the folder, walked up to Gu Nianxi, and wiped away her tears with the back of her callus-free fingers.

"Why are you crying again?"

Gu Nianxi was always crying. She cried when sad, when happy, when angry, when in pain, when life felt bitter.

Bai Jin could always tell the reason. That time in the darkroom, she cried to vent; just now, sitting on her lap, she cried from fear and grievance. But now, Bai Jin couldn't tell why she was crying.

Those dark eyes held too many emotions, like a spilled spice rack with intense flavors mixed into a chaotic mess. She couldn't say it, so she could only cry endlessly. Amidst the tears, she felt lost, as if standing on an endless white plain, uncertain of where she came from or where she was headed.

Gu Nianxi was like that—alone yet afraid of loneliness, using emotions as a cord to connect with others. If one day she stopped crying and her tears dried up, perhaps she would lose all ties with this world and fall into the void...

Thinking of this, Bai Jin held her tightly. The scent of Gu Nianxi reminded her of their first meeting; back then, she had carried the same scent—a surging, alive fragrance.

Bai Jin silently thanked that meeting, even thanked the time Gu Nianxi had hated her.

After their parents died, the world around her had seemed blurry and faded. She stopped caring about everything, as if a veil separated her from things, making everything dull.

She thought, "Dull is fine; isn't life made of dullness?"

But Gu Nianxi appeared, like a vibrant splash of color, surging forcefully into her gray world, stirring ripple after ripple.

Gu Nianxi's joy, anger, sorrow, and jealousy could deeply affect Bai Jin, tugging at her heartstrings as now.

"Bai Jin..." the person in her arms murmured, "I just regret..."

"Regret what?"

"Regret... not meeting you sooner."

Bai Jin brushed her hair from her forehead, her light-colored eyes as vast as the sea: "It's not too late now."

Gu Nianxi was taken aback, then broke into a smile: "Right, it's not too late now."

In her past life, she had never spent a single day in that house. She considered it an insult from Bai Jin and preferred to live in a cramped rental of less than twenty square meters rather than stay there.

But now it was different; everything had a chance to start over.

This was truly wonderful.

Gu Nianxi wiped her tears haphazardly, crying and laughing at the same time. Bai Jin didn't know what had gotten into her, but seeing her expression, she judged it was happiness and thought she was crying over the house, which made her even more tender.

She gently stroked Gu Nianxi's hair, feeling as if time had returned to that day in the solitary confinement room, when they had leaned on each other like this, drawing strength from one another.

Those wild desires seemed humbled and tamed by love, with the destructive and protective instincts interweaving and merging indistinguishably.

"I kept a room for myself too," she said, looking into Gu Nianxi's bright black pupils with a smile. "Would you mind, sister?"

She wanted to join Gu Nianxi's life, becoming as unobtrusive as air. That way, when the day came for Gu Nianxi to leave her, perhaps she would hesitate, because she had grown accustomed to the air.

If she could be like this now—unwilling to let go—that would be best.

Her answer was an even tighter embrace from Gu Nianxi.

"No, I won't..." Her trailing voice still carried a sobbing tone, soft and pliant, clinging to Bai Jin. "I like being with you. If only we were real sisters, Bai Jin."

Bai Jin thought that if they were real sisters, her psychologist's expression would likely grow more solemn.

"Isn't this good enough?"

"Mm, it is."

Gu Nianxi sniffled, raised her head, and looked at her happily. Her washed-clean eyes were glossy and translucent, tempting Bai Jin to kiss her.

She held back, thinking this would probably be the norm from now on. With practice, she'd get used to it.

Before coming to Bai Jin's room, Gu Nianxi had been anxious, angry, and sorrowful; but she left with a relaxed smile.

Xiao An noticed and thought, "The second young lady is truly skilled—she managed to cheer up the young lady in a few words."

Gu Nianxi returned to her room, sat on the sofa, and took out her phone to share the recent developments with Cui Xiaoyue—but saw a new message in her SMS inbox.

The sender was a string of gibberish; the message read:

[Do you want to make the person you hate disappear?]

Gu Nianxi paused, then let out a cold laugh.

In the two months since her rebirth, many things had changed, but some things still followed the path of her past life.

Like Cheng Qihang's proposal, and the anonymous text message in her phone.

The sender was unknown, but without a doubt, this person wanted to harm Bai Jin.

They wanted to use her to kill Bai Jin.

In her past life, after receiving the message, Gu Nianxi had cursed it out and then blocked and deleted it.

What business was it of anyone else's between her and Bai Jin? Even if someone were to harm Bai Jin, it had to be her own doing; who were these people to use her as a pawn?

But in this life...

Gu Nianxi typed:

[Who are you?]

Gu Nianxi wasn't slow; on the contrary, she was often very perceptive.

On the attic, the moment their eyes met, she felt a desolation in Bai Jin's gaze, as if she had watched something wither and die before her, with no hope left.

Her avoidance had started then. Gu Nianxi was certain Bai Jin had thought something through, something that made her decide to keep her distance.

Gu Nianxi felt it had to do with the power struggles in the capital.

It was a great whirlpool—gloomy, terrifying, dangerous—and anyone who entered it couldn't stay clear.

Perhaps Bai Jin distanced herself to protect her.

When she left the Gu family in her past life, she knew the Gu household was already teetering on the brink; why else would they have sold her off to the Cheng family like merchandise?

The Gu family had risen through real estate, acquiring many domestic and overseas enterprises. But the winds of the capital could change at any moment. The leverage on Gu's properties was extremely high; a few risk-aversion regulations could quickly erode market confidence in these industries and snap the family's capital chain, plunging it into a death spiral.

Meanwhile, the old and new aristocratic families watched greedily, waiting for the Gu mansion to collapse so they could swarm in and snatch a share.

When Bai Jin returned, she was taking over a mess.

She was smart and cautious; before inheriting the Gu family, she would have done her homework and discovered the family's problems, as well as the undercurrents beneath the capital's calm surface.

But she hadn't left. Even until Gu Nianxi's death, she remained in the Gu family, propping up the crumbling mansion.

Now, Bai Jin had returned to the Gu family, her fate following the same track as in her past life; she would continue to stay and become the legitimate heir to resolve the crisis.

But fate differed this time. Now, they would walk side by side, and neither would be alone.

Gu Nianxi's fingers traced the row of gibberish on the screen.

And she, too, could use her identity to help Bai Jin uncover hidden dangers, like this mysterious person.

The mysterious person replied:

[Naturally, someone who can help you.]

[I know you hate Gu Baijin. I'll tell you something: at your coming-of-age ceremony, Gu Hongzhuo will announce Gu Baijin's true identity. Then your lie will be exposed, and you'll be revealed for what you are.]

Gu Nianxi couldn't help but sneer again.

[Who do you think you are to meddle in my affairs? A sneak hiding in the shadows; I don't know which family you're from, but mind your own business and get lost!]

After a long pause, the other side replied:

[What a temper. But how much longer can you keep your position as the young lady? At the coming-of-age ceremony, Gu Baijin will officially return, and you'll be married off as an adopted daughter to Cheng Qihang. You've met him, haven't you? Ha, pitiful indeed. The noble Miss Gu, reduced to a business bargaining chip.]

This person knew a lot. Who could it be? Someone from the aristocratic families?

Gu Nianxi sat on the sofa and let out a heavy sigh.

She really wasn't good at this kind of thing; thinking about it gave her a headache. If only everything in the world were as simple as painting.

*

Bright Moon.

Gu Nianxi handed the wrapped painting to Cui Rou.

"Teacher, the paint isn't dry yet... Could you keep an eye on it?"

"No problem," Cui Rou said with a smile, gesturing for her student to carry the painting to the car.

She was increasingly satisfied with Gu Nianxi these days. She had the same brilliance as before, but now she was more mature and steady—a grown-up.

"This piece isn't as high-concept, but it's beautifully executed. Might not win gold, but silver is certain," Cui Rou said. "But are you sure you don't want to submit under your real name?"

Gu Nianxi shook her head.

Her expression was open: "My family situation is complicated; my parents don't support my studying art. Please keep it secret for me, teacher."

"Your parents don't support you? If they insist on opposing..."

"It's fine, teacher." Gu Nianxi smiled. "Even if my parents don't support me, my sister does. Roughly speaking, that's like the family supporting me."

Cui Rou's expression softened too. "I support you as well."

Gu Nianxi's nose tingled: "Mm."

"I heard you're having a birthday soon?"

"Yes, August 27th, at Shengtu Grand Hotel."

"Unfortunately, I'll be on a business trip then and won't be able to see you. Let Xiaoyue go in my place, carrying my blessings to see you into adulthood."

"Teacher..."

"Why cry? Becoming an adult is a good thing. Just do what you want to do, Nianxi."

"Okay."

The exhibition judging results come out in early September, with the exhibition in mid-September, just in time for the application deadline for the London Arts University interviews at the end of September.

Everything was progressing in full swing.

But another shadow was closing in. Gu's parents had been returning home more frequently lately, partly due to Bai Jin's coming-of-age ceremony and partly due to Gu Nianxi's marriage.

They seemed dead set on marrying her to Cheng Qihang, repeatedly bringing up the Cheng family in conversation—the meaning was unmistakable.

Gu Nianxi's attitude grew colder and colder. She found it laughable that she had once sought affection from these two people.

Whenever that happened, Bai Jin would take her hand to comfort her. Sometimes, when it wasn't appropriate in front of their parents, Bai Jin would sit close and secretly tug her pinky finger.

Her broad, gentle eyes, as if they could embrace everything, always calmed Gu Nianxi down.

And helped her face Gu Hongzhuo's demands with composure.

Gu Hongzhuo wanted Gu Nianxi to apologize properly to Cheng Qihang at the coming-of-age ceremony.

Gu Nianxi sneered inwardly and agreed impatiently. According to the plan, she would leave the Gu family after the ceremony. She could endure one more day of hypocrisy with these people.

If it weren't for wanting to witness Bai Jin being recognized as the Gu family's daughter with everyone's congratulations, she wouldn't even want to attend the ceremony.

It was during these days that Gu Nianxi realized she had grown.

She seemed more and more able to accept that her parents didn't love her.

She instinctively turned to look for Bai Jin and met her gaze just as Bai Jin looked at her.

A thought suddenly crossed Gu Nianxi's mind:

She wasn't accepting that her parents didn't love her; she was accepting the self that wasn't loved by them.

Because Bai Jin also accepted her like that—accepted a Gu Nianxi who had nothing, was bad-tempered, and was a bit spoiled.