TNSFC – Chapter 78

Que Yining intensely disliked people she didn’t like touching her body, even though she had involuntarily grabbed Gu Qianqian’s clothes.

After realizing what had happened, Que Yining immediately recoiled, and at the same time, Gu Qianqian pushed her away.

Their disgust for each other was almost blatant and undisguised; neither wanted to be near the other, each treating the other like a germ.

Que Yining wasn’t sitting steadily to begin with, and Gu Qianqian’s forceful push sent her body tilting to one side again.

Just as she was about to fall to the ground, and the bodyguards in the shadows were preparing to rush out and catch her, another hand was faster.

Gu Shanxue supported Que Yining, and with her other hand, she steadied the wheelchair, allowing Que Yining to sit securely.

“Shanxue?”

Que Yining’s voice was filled with pleasant surprise as she smiled at Gu Shanxue.

Gu Shanxue was a mix of shock and anger. She didn’t have time to speak to Que Yining, instead placing her hand over the back of Que Yining’s hand to soothe her, frowning with intense dislike and disgust at Gu Qianqian.

“What are you doing here?”

The moment Gu Shanxue saw Gu Qianqian, she instinctively felt that Gu Qianqian was going to harm Que Yining. Moreover, Que Yining was currently injured and had difficulty moving her legs; if Gu Qianqian really tried to do something, it would probably be hard for Que Yining to resist.

After all, this stepsister was not a good person in her eyes. Even setting aside the fact that she was the illegitimate daughter of a mistress, her character and conduct were highly problematic.

“I just came to visit. Just now, she wasn’t steady and grabbed onto me. It has nothing to do with me.”

Gu Qianqian hurriedly explained, eager to distance herself from the situation.

Although she hated Gu Shanxue, she also knew she couldn’t compete with her right now. After all, Gu Shanxue was currently working at the company, managing it well, and their father valued her highly, listening to her opinions more often. She had just returned and didn’t want to be driven out again. If she didn’t stay in Lu Su, how could she fight her?

“It was me; I accidentally got stuck while turning the wheelchair and grabbed her. But she deliberately came to provoke me, saying I deserved to be hit by a car, and also called me ugly.”

Que Yining’s eyes darted. She grasped Gu Shanxue’s hand, her voice sounding rather weak, her expression aggrieved as she spoke.

Beating the white lotus at her own game.

A teasing smile was hidden in Que Yining’s eyes; anyway, what she said was the truth.

When Gu Qianqian heard the first half of Que Yining’s sentence, she had initially breathed a sigh of relief. But when she heard the second half, she almost choked.

“No… I…”

Gu Qianqian was somewhat at a loss for how to defend herself; she had indeed said those things.

Gu Qianqian was furious. She didn’t want to show weakness in front of Gu Shanxue, but seeing Gu Shanxue’s expression, she couldn’t help but feel intimidated. In her mind, she cursed Que Yining for being shameless and playing pitiful, when just moments ago, Que Yining had been scolding her so vigorously.

“I originally thought spending half a month in the mountains would have reformed you somewhat. It seems your foolishness and malice are incurable. You should go back for another half a month.”

Anger surged in Gu Shanxue’s heart, and her expression grew even colder.

She actually knew in her heart that Que Yining wouldn’t be bullied by Gu Qianqian; after all, Que Yining wouldn’t take Gu Qianqian seriously at all. But when Que Yining made such an aggrieved complaint, her heart clenched, and she couldn’t help imagining the scene of Que Yining being insulted by Gu Qianqian’s malicious words, wishing she could just throw Gu Qianqian out of there.

“Gu Shanxue, you can’t do this to me! What right do you have…”

Gu Shanxue called the driver: “Come in and take Gu Qianqian home.”

Gu Qianqian’s face flushed red. She stomped her foot resentfully and ran out.

Gu Shanxue didn’t let her gaze linger on her, instead focusing on Que Yining, gently tucking away a stray strand of hair from her forehead.

“Are you okay? Were you scared?”

Just now, when Que Yining almost fell to the ground, Gu Shanxue’s heart had leaped into her throat.

Que Yining wrapped her arms around Gu Shanxue’s waist, rested her head on Gu Shanxue’s chest, and said softly, “I was a little scared.”

In front of someone you love, it seems you really do become a bit more vulnerable. Things that might seem insignificant in front of others, when presented to someone you care about, feel like you’ve suffered a great injustice, making you want to act cute and seek comfort.

Que Yining’s emotion was three parts genuine and seven parts feigned; it was a good opportunity to act cute, and she wasn’t going to waste it.

“Next time, have the bodyguards stay by your side, in case someone causes you trouble again.”

Gu Shanxue gently stroked the top of Que Yining’s head. Because Que Yining’s hair hadn’t been cut for over half a month, the dyed color had mostly faded back to black, cascading down her back like a waterfall.

“Okay.”

Que Yining agreed and held out her wrist to Gu Shanxue.

Her wrist was fair and slender, adorned with a small, beige butterfly-shaped leather hair tie, which she dangled in front of Gu Shanxue.

Gu Shanxue understood, took off the hair tie, and tied up Que Yining’s long hair.

The atmosphere between them was harmonious and intimate, making it impossible for an outsider to intervene.

Kunna stood to the side, quietly being a pillar, wondering when they would notice her.

“And this is?”

Que Yining had actually noticed someone was there from the beginning, but she had only glanced out of the corner of her eye and hadn’t paid much attention. Now, as her gaze shifted from Gu Shanxue, she saw the woman standing behind her.

It was a beautiful foreign woman with light blonde hair and light blue eyes, who was smiling at her.

“Hi, hello, I’m Kunna, Gu’s friend.”

Que Yining’s English was very good, so communication was no barrier. She also greeted Kunna and introduced herself.

Kunna winked and nudged Gu Shanxue. She didn’t even need to ask to sense that the beautiful woman in the wheelchair in front of her was likely the girl Gu Shanxue liked. Thus, she acted very enthusiastically.

Que Yining also sensed her goodwill, simply assuming Kunna had an outgoing personality, and started chatting with her.

Gu Shanxue pushed the wheelchair, her eyes full of tenderness as she watched Que Yining’s lively and joyful expression while she chatted.

Kunna saw this and tutted inwardly.

Indeed, love changes people. Gu Shanxue, who had always been very decisive, would also hesitate to move forward because she felt she couldn’t love someone forever. But such things are never fixed; people change, feelings change, and nothing in the world is constant.

Kunna didn’t believe Gu Shanxue didn’t understand this; she knew Gu Shanxue was just trapped.

And to break the cage that shackled her, a sharp sword was needed, someone proactive, unshrinking, and passionate. Clearly, this young woman named Que Yining in front of her was very suitable.

After returning to the hospital room, Gu Shanxue went to the bathroom, intending to help Que Yining wipe her face.

“Could you send her away for a moment? I have something I want to say to you.”

Que Yining heard Kunna’s whisper. Although she didn’t understand what the other person wanted to say, she felt it probably wasn’t anything bad. And if it was something to be said behind Gu Shanxue’s back, it was likely about Gu Shanxue. So, she nodded at her.

So, after Gu Shanxue finished wiping her face, she spoke: “Shanxue, I’m craving cherries. Could you go buy some for me?”

Her face clearly read ‘please, please.’ Gu Shanxue had no resistance to such an expression from her and nodded.

Before leaving, she gave Kunna a look, telling her not to say anything inappropriate.

Kunna looked back at her with innocent confusion, as if to say, “I don’t understand what you’re trying to convey.”

Only after confirming Gu Shanxue had left did Kunna speak.

“Que, you like Gu, right?”

Que Yining wasn’t surprised that Kunna knew. Although she didn’t think she had been particularly obvious, she nodded, waiting for Kunna to continue.

“Then do you know if Gu likes you?”

When this topic was mentioned, Que Yining perked up. She had a bold guess in her heart; hearing this from Gu Shanxue’s friend suggested that Gu Shanxue had likely shared her feelings with her friend.

“I think I know, but I can only sense that she’s moved by me. Yet, she never says anything, nor does she respond.”

Que Yining wasn’t annoyed, but rather a little puzzled. She could feel that Gu Shanxue also had feelings for her, but the responses Gu Shanxue gave weren’t the kind she wanted.

She just assumed it was Gu Shanxue’s personality, so she needed to slowly delve into her heart.

But what Kunna said next surprised her somewhat.

Kunna: “Don’t doubt her feelings for you. I swear, this is the most emotionally turbulent I’ve ever seen her. She likes you a lot, and she’s very worried about you. She just doesn’t dare to respond to you.”

“Doesn’t dare?”

Que Yining was a little surprised, wondering if her feelings were too intense, too frightening, and had startled Gu Shanxue.

Or did Gu Shanxue think she was just playing around? But she really only looked like a player!

“It’s a problem with her personality, or rather, her beliefs.”

Kunna explained to Que Yining why Gu Shanxue was hesitant and unwilling to agree, mentioning Gu Shanxue’s family.

Environment has a significant impact on a person’s character, especially the influence from one’s family of origin, which cannot be ignored.

Que Yining was silent for a moment after listening. Suddenly, in that instant, she realized her mistake.

She knew this was a book, and she knew Gu Shanxue was the protagonist. So, she had inevitably incorporated this understanding into her perception of Gu Shanxue. She subconsciously believed Gu Shanxue was destined for greatness, that the people from her original family who bullied her would eventually be trampled underfoot by her, and that she would become the most brilliant existence.

So she had overlooked that, even as the protagonist, in that environment, Gu Shanxue was once just a young girl, and the pain she suffered would remain in her heart.

A huge sense of guilt suddenly welled up in Que Yining. She didn’t take those people from the Gu family seriously. She felt, or rather, she assumed Gu Shanxue felt, that they were just insignificant clowns. But she forgot that no matter how disgusting and unfaithful that man was, he was still Gu Shanxue’s biological father, and someone Gu Shanxue’s mother couldn’t let go of. It was imaginable what kind of impact Gu Shanxue would suffer from this inability to let go.

Que Yining herself was someone who valued family greatly. Her happy childhood had laid the foundation for the kindness and perseverance ingrained in her. It was only because her happiness was destroyed that she began to seek revenge. She could have become a crueler, more twisted, and more unrestrained person, but she didn’t. She always remembered what her parents told her in her childhood: although she had to retaliate against those people, she would never use her own body as a bargaining chip to get what she wanted.

“She feels her affection for you isn’t yet strong enough to spend a lifetime with you. She’s very worried about becoming like her father. That sounds a bit absurd and ridiculous, right? But she’s genuinely worried about this. I think her mother must have put too much pressure on her.”

To the point where she pushed herself to the opposite extreme.

Kunna didn’t explicitly state this underlying meaning, but Que Yining understood it herself.

“I never thought she thought that way.”

Que Yining’s eyelashes fluttered. She looked at the warm sunlight outside the window, her voice somewhat heavy.

Que Yining was someone who followed her heart. She liked Gu Shanxue, so she pursued her. The more she pursued, the more she liked her, so she wouldn’t give up. She hadn’t envisioned what kind of life she wanted to live with this person; in her mind, that was something to think about after they got together.

She suddenly felt heartache and sadness, an indescribable emotion lingering in her heart.

If Kunna hadn’t told her, she might not have guessed it on this level.

“This way of thinking is indeed very special. To be honest, it’s the first time I’ve encountered it. Quite incredible, isn’t it?”

Kunna also found it hard to believe; this kind of thinking was unheard of to her.

Kunna: “I asked her, what if by the time you’re ready, the person you like can’t wait any longer and leaves? What would you do? Guess what she said?”

Que Yining: “Hmm?”

Kunna: “She said she would wish them well, as long as they can be happy. This kind of thinking… I don’t know whether to call her selfish or selfless.”

Selfishly shouldering all the emotions alone, yet selfless to the point of disregarding her own happiness. Such a view of love is too pessimistic.

Most people move from process to result, but she insists on defining the result first, even though this result is clearly not constant.

Que Yining wondered, in the original book, how did Gu Shanxue get together with Fu Wenjing?

She thought, Fu Wenjing must have been very persistent.

And she, too, would be very persistent.

She suddenly felt it was also good that she didn’t know the contents of the book, because then she wouldn’t need to know the process. She didn’t need to replicate someone else’s love story. From the day she arrived here, Gu Shanxue was destined not to be the original Gu Shanxue.

Not the Gu Shanxue destined for Fu Wenjing, but Que Yining’s Gu Shanxue.

“Thank you for telling me all this. It helps me understand her better.”

Que Yining let out a breath, her smile radiant, her eyes shining.

“I just don’t like the idea of her finally feeling ready, only for you to have left. Que, although we only met today, I feel that the person she likes must be someone good. In fact, seeing you today, I feel the same way; I think you’re great. If you were to leave her side, it would be her loss. Even though she talks about wishing you well now, she would definitely be in a lot of pain then. I’m her friend, and I want her to be happy.”

Kunna’s words were very sincere; she didn’t want her friend to end up like that.

Since Gu Shanxue wasn’t taking the initiative, Kunna would help give her a push.

Kunna: “Want to exchange contact information? I’m in China now to help her with some things, and I might stay for a while before leaving. If you need my help, call me anytime.”

“Okay.”

Que Yining, her face beaming, exchanged contact information with Kunna.

“What are you talking about? Why are you laughing so happily?”

Gu Shanxue heard Que Yining and Kunna’s laughter coming from the hospital room even before she pushed the door open. She asked as she opened it.

“We were talking about some amusing stories from the past. So, Shanxue, you were that cool back then, using questions to reject suitors.”

Que Yining couldn’t stop the smile on her face, listening with great interest as Kunna talked about Gu Shanxue’s high school and university days.

Kunna said that in high school, someone persistently pursued Gu Shanxue. Rejections were useless; he kept pestering her. So, Gu Shanxue gave him a calculus problem and told him that if he could solve it in front of her within ten minutes, she would agree to date him. Obviously, he couldn’t solve it.

But the person didn’t give up. He studied hard for a month and came back full of confidence to solve the problem. However, Gu Shanxue then gave him a new physics problem, and he failed miserably again.

After this, the person gave up pursuing Gu Shanxue and resolutely threw himself into the ocean of learning.

“That’s all ancient history.”

Gu Shanxue gave her gossipy friend a helpless look, then went to wash the cherries for Que Yining and placed them by her hand.

Que Yining picked one up and put it in her mouth. The cherry was sweet when she bit into it. She finished it in two bites, threw the pit into the trash can, and then picked up another one, holding it to Gu Shanxue’s lips.

Gu Shanxue subconsciously bit off half, her gaze meeting Que Yining’s smiling eyes.

Que Yining: “Is it sweet?”

Gu Shanxue: “Sweet.”

Que Yining calmly put the remaining half of the cherry into her own mouth, sucking and biting the pulp, then nodded and said, “It really is very sweet.”

Gu Shanxue’s face burned when she saw her action, but Que Yining’s expression was too composed. Her lips, moistened by the juice, glistened. She stuck out the tip of her tongue and lightly swept it across her lips. After seeing Gu Shanxue’s gaze, she even let out a low chuckle.

Gu Shanxue’s face burned even more intensely.

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