Chapter 2
"You pervert!" Cheng Su was kicked to the floor, still a bit dazed.
In truth, Gu Qianxi hadn't used much force, not even close. Cheng Su had been startled by the sudden commotion, lost her balance, and fallen.
Gu Qianxi leaned against the headboard, watching her warily.
"Hey, um, it's me, it's me, Cheng Su," Cheng Su said immediately, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender.
Gu Qianxi of course knew it was Cheng Su who had climbed into her bed in the middle of the night. This woman, bathed in the glow of 800-level holy light, had crept into her room and shaken her awake.
"What do you want?" Gu Qianxi frowned, pulling the blanket up to cover the expanse of pale skin on her chest.
Cheng Su blinked. Seeing Gu Qianxi's action, her face instantly flushed crimson, and she stammered, "No, why are you pulling the blanket up? I didn't do anything! Dr. Zhao asked me to change your dressing regularly, every two hours. She must have told you. And your door wasn't even closed, didn't you know?"
"No, why are you pulling the blanket up? I'm not that kind of person! And we're both women, me helping you with your dressing is just girls helping girls! You know, I'm not interested in women, I'm straight!!!"
Cheng Su explained, sounding utterly defeated.
Gu Qianxi stared coldly at Cheng Su and murmured, "The window is open."
A gentle breeze drifted in, ruffling Cheng Su's air bangs.
The window had been left open, and the cold wind chilled her, raising goosebumps on her back.
"Haha." After about thirty seconds of silence, Cheng Su swallowed hard, her neck flushing crimson. "Oh, oh, oh, um, haha, you didn't say earlier, ugh, haha, I'll close it for you."
I'm so embarrassing, Cheng Su. Just die on the spot. This world can't contain you.
After closing the window, Cheng Su forced herself to regain her composure, feeling the heat of her own breath. "Um, I really was just here to change your dressing."
She had to explain herself. She wasn't the kind of person who would take advantage of someone in need. Qianxi, please believe me.
Gu Qianxi watched Cheng Su silently, observing how the woman's face gradually flushed red, spreading down her neck. She noticed Cheng Su's constant fidgeting, like a never-ending spinning top—secretly sticking out her tongue, touching her nose, rubbing her ears. The earlobes hidden beneath her long, golden curls were probably also turning pink.
Knowing Cheng Su couldn't see her, Gu Qianxi brazenly observed her through the sheer veil.
A question puzzled Gu Qianxi. Since her rebirth, she felt she could no longer see through Cheng Su.
Gu Qianxi stared into Cheng Su's eyes, their outer corners flushed crimson with shyness, like two half-ripe cherries.
Gu Qianxi asked Cheng Su indifferently, "Aren't you the one who hates troublesome things like changing dressings the most?"
The old Cheng Su wouldn't even stay in the same room with her.
Cheng Su moistened her dry lips. "You're my wife. Helping you change your dressing is my duty."
"But you just said you were straight."
"Ah, do those conflict? Is that not allowed?"
Gu Qianxi laughed in exasperation. "Monogamy?"
"Cough, cough, cough!" Cheng Su nearly choked to death from fright. She quickly shook her head and waved her hands in a frantic triple denial: "I'm not! I didn't! Don't accuse me! I... I... I'm actually asexual!"
"A straight asexual..." Cheng Su repeated weakly.
Oh my god, what is she even saying? Her mouth has completely lost its grip on reason—it's gone rogue, all the way to the Pacific!
Gu Qianxi sighed, wondering why she was bored enough to listen to Cheng Su's flimsy excuses.
Cheng Su's silver tongue had been sweet-talking and deceiving her since they first met, and it hadn't changed one bit.
"I'll change the dressing myself from now on," Gu Qianxi said coldly. "And even if my door is open, don't come in without my permission."
"But your eyes..."
"Cheng Su, I was blind before I met you. Was I not alive then?"
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Cheng Su returned to the guest room and lay down on the bed, unexpectedly finding herself unable to sleep.
She stared at the ceiling, the floor lamp, the bay window, and the bone-setting water on the nightstand. The more she looked, the more alert she became.
Sighing, Cheng Su picked up her phone, unlocked it, and began aimlessly scrolling in the dark.
Suddenly, a group voice call popped up, labeled "New City Fairies Group."
Cheng Su frowned and answered.
A blast of loud, raucous music blared through the phone. She pulled it away from her ear.
"How's it going, A'Su? Did you get the startup funds yet? Coming for drinks tonight?" a slurred, drunken voice asked.
Cheng Su pressed her lips together without speaking, deciding to observe and avoid revealing her hand.
Another voice, laced with amusement, chimed in, "Of course she got them! Blind Gu is utterly smitten with our A'Su. A little coaxing from her, and she'll be completely under her spell."
A harsh burst of laughter followed.
Cheng Su listened with a frown, gradually piecing together the situation. The original host and her group of friends were plotting to swindle Gu Qianxi out of money. It seemed the original host's deliberate push of Gu Qianxi earlier was also about this money. The original host treated Gu Qianxi like an ATM. When Gu Qianxi, concerned about the original host's extravagant spending, asked for details about the money's use, the original host flew into a rage, her face flushing with shame and anger, and shoved Gu Qianxi.
This... is the original host even human? She should be sent to a mental hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. Gu Qianxi was truly miserable, being deceived out of her money and heart by such a woman. She wasted years before finally escaping the original host and ending up with her white moonlight. How tragic.
Cheng Su felt an inexplicable irritation. She clicked her tongue, her tone icy. "Are you all drunk? Her name is Gu Qianxi."
"Ah, no, we're not. She's just Blind Gu, isn't she? A blind woman with a little money—he's not worthy of you, A'Su."
"A'Su, are you planning to divorce Blind Gu? Hahaha! Can't wait to marry A'Lan, can you? I know a lawyer who'll make sure Blind Gu leaves with nothing."
Cheng Su's brow furrowed deeper. It seemed the original host had been colluding with these people to covet Gu Qianxi's wealth. And who was A'Lan? She didn't know her.
Her voice grew increasingly stern. "I'll say this one last time. She has a name. It's Gu Qianxi."
"Alright, alright, Gu Qianxi, Gu Qianxi. Did you get the money yet? If you did, let's go abroad and have some fun."
"Yeah, yeah! It's been so boring lately. If we don't go soon, I'll go moldy!"
"It's not even daytime yet, and you're already daydreaming? Why should you get to spend Gu Qianxi's hard-earned money? Don't you have hands or feet? If you can't earn anything yourselves, you just keep leeching off her. Is she your mother? What makes you think she owes you anything? And stop calling her 'Blind Gu'—go rinse your mouths in the toilet if they're not clean enough." Cheng Su, holding back a surge of anger, unleashed a torrent of criticism.
The caller on the other end was jolted awake by the tirade. Stunned, they stammered, "A'Su, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying you parasites should stay in the sewers and stop being an eyesore out here."
Slap! Cheng Su hung up without hesitation, the call ending abruptly after her final insult.
The group chat had become increasingly irritating to her. She blocked each member one by one before leaving the group entirely.
That sleepless night, Cheng Su spent the long hours thinking about Gu Qianxi, eventually drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, Cheng Su woke up momentarily disoriented. The reality of her transmigration and the chaotic state of her current situation rushed back. She buried herself in the covers, silently screaming, This is too much.
After washing up and going downstairs, she found the aunt had prepared a lavish breakfast—a table overflowing with dishes from across the country.
Wow. Cheng Su had never seen such a feast. Is this what rich people's lives are like? Damn it, I'm starting to resent the wealthy.
Cheng Su had originally planned to call Gu Qianxi down for breakfast, but Gu Qianxi had explicitly forbidden her from entering her room without permission the night before.
Cheng Su sighed and abandoned the idea.
She sat at the dining table and served herself a portion.
After the meal, Cheng Su had eaten quite a bit. She praised the housekeeper's cooking, making the woman beam like a flower.
After breakfast, Cheng Su settled on the living room sofa to watch television.
Before long, Gu Qianxi descended the stairs in her smart wheelchair.
The entire villa was designed with integrated features for the blind, making it easy for Gu Qianxi to move around.
Cheng Su suddenly realized that her constant worry about Gu Qianxi was probably unnecessary. Without her, Gu Qianxi could likely take better care of herself.
Smiling, Cheng Su greeted her, "Good morning."
Gu Qianxi didn't look at her or respond.
Cheng Su's heart remained unfazed. It's normal for the main character big shot to be aloof, she thought. I'm used to it.
Once Gu Qianxi began eating breakfast, Cheng Su multitask, watching TV while discreetly observing Gu Qianxi out of the corner of her eye.
She noticed Gu Qianxi's elegant eating habits: she would dip a small spoon into the ketchup and spread it on the edge of her toast, then slowly tear off small bites. Her mouth movements were so subtle they were barely visible.
Cheng Su thought about her "wolfing down" table manners and felt a pang of guilt. She was relieved she hadn't eaten breakfast with Gu Qianxi, otherwise she would have been too self-conscious even to eat.
Seeing that Gu Qianxi was almost finished, Cheng Su slowly shifted across the table to sit opposite her.
Gu Qianxi had sensed Cheng Su, this "source of light," approaching from afar. She hesitated, wondering what new mischief this one was up to.
Gu Qianxi gently dabbed her lips with a napkin. Even this simple gesture struck Cheng Su as utterly elegant. Gu Qianxi truly exuded nobility from her very bones.
Moreover, Gu Qianxi's lips were completely smooth, like two glossy candies—they looked so sweet and inviting. Cheng Su instinctively bit her lower lip, resolving to never wipe her mouth so violently after meals again. She would learn from the big shot and follow her example.
Gu Qianxi let out a breath, unable to figure out what Cheng Su was up to. Usually, at this hour, Cheng Su would still be nursing a hangover from a night of clubbing with her friends. Even seeing Cheng Su at home this morning had felt slightly unusual.
Realizing she had been staring too intently at Gu Qianxi, Cheng Su awkwardly averted her gaze.
Cheng Su pursed her lips, hesitating. "Um, how about we get a divorce?"
She had been mulling over this sentence all night. It wasn't a sudden impulse, but the result of careful consideration. Better to extricate herself now, while their feelings were still shallow, than face Gu Qianxi's bitter hatred later. Besides, she was just an ordinary person; she really couldn't handle the complexities of a wealthy family.
Gu Qianxi paused, looking up at Cheng Su.
Cheng Su swallowed, feeling nervous. For some reason, even though Gu Qianxi couldn't see her, she felt as if the veil of her eyes could see through her every move.
Gu Qianxi fell silent, pondering. The prolonged silence made Cheng Su uneasy. She knew Gu Qianxi wouldn't propose divorce without reason. In their past life, Cheng Su had never once considered leaving her. Why had she changed now? What had caused this shift—her rebirth, or something else? And could this change trigger a cascade of unforeseen consequences, a butterfly effect?
Gu Qianxi didn't know. But once a variable was introduced, it could be like a dam breaking, its unleashed power sweeping across the entire land.
Gu Qianxi asked Cheng Su why.
Cheng Su sat up straight and answered seriously, like a student answering a question. She reasoned, "First, if you're already uncomfortable being in the same space with me, you clearly don't like me as much anymore. Second, I'm straight asexual, so I'm not interested in you either. Third, instead of letting things get to the point where we can't stand each other, it's better to stop here and leave each other with a good impression."
"Right?"
Gu Qianxi nodded, a rare occurrence. "That makes some sense."
Seeing an opening, Cheng Su became more animated. "Exactly! A failed relationship is nothing. While we're still young, we should go pursue something more... soulmate-level."
"Soulmate?" Gu Qianxi asked.
"Mmm-hmm! A soulmate," Cheng Su replied.
"You're quite ambitious," Gu Qianxi said.
"Heh heh, a person needs ideals," Cheng Su said, scratching her head, a hint of shyness in her voice.
"So, you've already found your soulmate—that A'Lan," Gu Qianxi said calmly.
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