Chapter 8

In her past life, when her father brought Cheng Qihang home, he wore a smile.

"Nianxi, come over. This is President Cheng. Get to know him."

She stepped forward. That day, by chance, she wore a puffy dress and gave a little curtsey. "Hello, Uncle."

"What uncle? Call him older brother! You're messing up the seniority!" her father scolded.

"...Hello, older brother."

Only then did her father look pleased. He introduced Cheng Qihang, saying he was young and promising, successful, already in the top fifty of the capital's wealth list at his age, and that the two of them had hit it off instantly.

Gu Nianxi sat nearby, listening, like a vase.

It wasn't until her father told her to show Cheng Qihang around the garden that she actually looked at him.

Thirties, pale face clean-shaven, hair gelled back, philtrum too long, lips too thin, eyes too small—and they roamed with a restless glint, sizing her up.

Gu Nianxi felt sick.

Especially when they walked through the garden and he droned on about his business exploits, his bad breath dogging her through the scent of the flowers, forcing her to wrinkle her nose.

She cut him off coldly: she wasn't interested, she was tired, she was going back to her room. But the man grabbed her hand.

Cheng Qihang said: Nianxi, you must know what President Gu intends. Besides being a bit older, he was more than her match. She should be sensible. The Gu family had raised her all these years; without them she was nothing. Now they were even arranging a good marriage for her—she should be grateful...

Gu Nianxi was furious. His grip held her fast, but her eyes caught the gardener's pruning shears. She grabbed them and jabbed at him.

She thrust wildly, untrained—no real danger, but maximum humiliation. Cheng Qihang stumbled back, released her, and sat down hard on the ground, his gelled hair falling loose.

Gu Nianxi threw down the shears and ran.

That evening, after seeing Cheng Qihang off, her father dragged Gu Nianxi from her room, slapped her twice, and locked her in the punishment room.

She sat in the dark, clutching her burning cheeks and crying. Outside, the butler and servants were absorbed in preparing for Bai Jin's coming-of-age ceremony—first a banquet at one of the Gu family's high-end hotels, then a private party at the residence.

Late that night, Bai Jin returned. Unlike Gu Nianxi, her grades were excellent. During that period, she was preparing to apply for early admission to the Capital University finance program, which required countless materials, so she often stayed at school until late.

No one bothered with Gu Nianxi in the punishment room. But Bai Jin came back, and she came to the door.

Gu Nianxi recognized her by her footsteps. Through the door, she weakly told her to get lost.

Bai Jin didn't. She got the key from the butler and opened the door.

She'd brought food—a wooden tray with plain congee.

Gu Nianxi, tears blurring her eyes, had looked at Bai Jin with hatred...

What had those eyes held then?

Pity? Sympathy? Disgust?

Or the usual indifference?

"Sister?"

Gu Nianxi snapped back. She looked at Bai Jin.

Bai Jin's light brown eyes watched her with concern.

She'd inherited Jiang Man's eye shape and color. When she focused on someone, without much effort, her gaze carried a hint of depth.

Gu Nianxi closed her eyes.

"I'm fine." She pulled back, pouting. "Let's head down. Don't want Butler Ye to come looking..."

A hand stopped her. Bai Jin held a soft handkerchief, its silky texture wrapping warmth across the tip of her nose.

Gu Nianxi instinctively closed her eyes.

It didn't seem easy to wipe, so another hand came up, gently cupping her chin to steady her.

Bai Jin's movements were gentle, as if Gu Nianxi were fragile. Without reason, Gu Nianxi's nose stung. She tried hard to recall how Bai Jin had looked at her in the punishment room, but all she remembered was a blur smeared with tears.

After two wipes, the touch lifted. Just as Gu Nianxi was about to open her eyes, Bai Jin's fingertips pressed back, tracing her lashes.

"Sister's lashes are so long," Bai Jin said.

Long, like little fans, and curled.

The sensation was strange too, like a butterfly landing on her hand, fluttering its wings.

Gu Nianxi's eyes were moist, the corners tinged red, as if stirred.

So fragile... and so sensitive, Bai Jin thought.

"Sister had a bit of ash on her nose." Seeing Gu Nianxi glare, Bai Jin explained, "I helped wipe it off."

Gu Nianxi sniffled. After a moment, she grabbed Bai Jin's sleeve. "Bai Jin, if you ever find out my life isn't as glamorous as you imagine..."

Bai Jin watched her quietly. To Gu Nianxi, that gaze seemed kind and tolerant, as gentle as her touch, making her want to lean in.

"...don't sympathize with me." Gu Nianxi finished.

"Did something happen?" Bai Jin asked. She thought a moment. "The guest today—does sister know him?"

Gu Nianxi shook her head.

She didn't know if today's guest was Cheng Qihang.

If he was, why had he come earlier this time?

*

"President Gu, President Jiang."

Cheng Qihang shook Gu Hongzhuo's hand with a smile. Jiang Man stood aside, her smile thin—not warm, but not icy.

Cheng Qihang was a man in his thirties, visiting the Gu estate for the first time, with a timid-looking child behind him.

Gu Hongzhuo patted his shoulder, then looked at the child. "So this is your little princess?"

"Ah, princess—President Gu's daughter is the one who deserves that title!" Cheng Qihang pulled the child forward. "Shuhui, be good. Say hello to President Gu and President Jiang."

Cheng Shuhui greeted them shyly, her voice all but inaudible.

Gu Hongzhuo: "Good child, good child. You can tell she's a beauty in the making!"

He told Cheng Qihang, "There's a play area for children in the house. How about a servant takes her—"

Jiang Man summoned a servant.

"Fine, fine." Cheng Qihang said to the child, "Listen to the aunties, be good, don't run around, don't cause trouble, got it?"

Cheng Shuhui murmured assent and was pushed off by her father.

Jiang Man frowned slightly.

Gu Hongzhuo spoke up, his voice carrying. "Qihang, not that I'm complaining, but my daughter is here today. I planned to introduce you, yet you brought a child along..."

Cheng Qihang said apologetically, "Ah, I didn't think it through. I figured the child is young—Miss Gu might like her."

"My daughter is awfully rebellious, tsk, all my fault for spoiling her. I hope that once she's in your hands, you can temper those bad habits of hers..."

The two men chatted as they walked inside.

Jiang Man interjected now and then, her words carrying the same hollow trust as Gu Hongzhuo's, before seeming unable to resist bringing up Bai Jin—how outstanding, how sensible she was...

The servant brought fresh tea.

After a few exchanges with Cheng Qihang, Gu Hongzhuo said to Butler Ye, "Go call the eldest young lady down."

Butler Ye smiled. "Sir, and the second young lady?"

"The second young lady needn't come." Jiang Man frowned. "Just Gu Nianxi."

"Very well."

But before Butler Ye could reach the stairs, Gu Nianxi and Bai Jin descended together.

"Xiao Jin? Why are you down here too?"

Jiang Man hurried over, giving Gu Nianxi a rare scrap of a smile before turning fully to Bai Jin. "I heard you're working on the Hongsheng real estate project..."

Gu Hongzhuo waved from the sofa. "Nianxi, come here! Meet President Cheng..."

Gu Nianxi's expression soured. She made no effort to hide her displeasure, staring coldly at Gu Hongzhuo without moving.

Jiang Man held her daughter's hand, chatting warmly, but as she talked, she noticed Bai Jin's attention wasn't on her—it was fixed to the side.

—Her daughter was watching that impostor.

"Xiao Jin," Jiang Man said. "Your father needs to speak with Nianxi over there. How about we go to the side room? I haven't seen you in days—Mom wants to chat—"

"Mom, what does Dad mean by this?" Bai Jin had caught Gu Nianxi's resistance. She swept her gaze across the sofa. "That's the head of Hangyuan Group?"

Hangyuan Group was on the rise; several of its companies had recently gone public with solid valuations.

The Cheng family had marriage ties to the Lin family, one of the four great houses, and their rise had been backed by the Lins behind the scenes.

Bai Jin had visited the Gu family's old estate before and asked the elders there about such matters. They treated Bai Jin as the heir, so they taught her everything.

"Yes. Xiao Jin, come with me this way first..." Jiang Man said.

On the sofa, Gu Hongzhuo sensed Gu Nianxi's attitude and found it strange.

What was wrong with her today? Why so uncooperative?

In the past, spoiled as she was, she still listened when he spoke. But ever since they'd brought their biological daughter home, she'd been throwing tantrums... Sure enough, you can't raise what isn't yours.

Her sour face made Gu Hongzhuo drop his good cheer too.

He walked over and grabbed Gu Nianxi. "President Cheng is here today—don't you put on airs with me. You're almost of age and still so immature. Don't lead your sister astray either."

The four of them formed a strange deadlock by the stairs—Jiang Man pulling Bai Jin, Gu Hongzhuo pulling Gu Nianxi. Meanwhile, Cheng Qihang sat on the sofa, watching Gu Nianxi with a smile.

The eldest miss of the Gu family—reputation didn't do her justice. She was truly as beautiful as a celestial being.

The fake looked even more like a young lady than the real one. Strange things did happen in this world.

His eyes practically wanted to devour Gu Nianxi. As he watched, a figure in white shifted, blocking his view.

He froze, meeting a pair of light-colored pupils.

It was the Gu family's biological daughter. She watched him silently, no extra expression on her face, yet Cheng Qihang felt as if something inhuman were staring at him.

Jiang Man frowned.

Since when had her daughter become so protective of that impostor?

"Xiao Jin," Jiang Man tugged at Bai Jin. "Come talk with Mom over there, alright? Today is mainly about introducing your sister to President Cheng..."

Seeing Bai Jin not move, Jiang Man grew angrier at Gu Nianxi: if she hadn't said something to Bai Jin, why would her usually clever, obedient daughter be acting up at a time like this?

She looked at Gu Nianxi, her eyes carrying a silent warning.

Gu Nianxi felt the gaze. Her free hand clenched.

How pathetic, she thought. Two lifetimes now, and she'd thought she'd forged an iron heart, that she had no more hope for family, yet she could still be hurt by a single look from this woman.

Suddenly, a warm hand grabbed hers. It was Bai Jin.

"Dad, Mom." Bai Jin's voice was still calm, but there was slight tension in it. "Sister and I have plans to inspect the Hongsheng real estate site today. I'm afraid we can't host President Cheng..."

"Bai Jin." Gu Nianxi suddenly felt terribly sad.

Her voice trembled. "Go back. Don't worry about me."

She'd dreamed of Gu Hongzhuo and Jiang Man changing their minds, dreamed of them coming to protect her, like other people's parents. But in the end, the one protecting her was Bai Jin.

Bai Jin, whom she'd known only three months, and bullied for one of them.

...She couldn't accept Bai Jin's protection. This way she was being too immature, wasn't she? Everyone wanted her to "sacrifice" herself. She'd wrongfully enjoyed seventeen years of the Gu family's wealth and glory—this was what she owed.

How could she drag the Gu family's true, precious daughter into being immature with her?

Hearing Gu Nianxi's trembling voice, Bai Jin's heart ached. She opened her mouth, but Gu Nianxi said, eyes red, "Don't forget what you promised me."

—If you find out my life isn't as glamorous as you imagine, don't sympathize with me.

Bai Jin fell silent and stepped aside.

Jiang Man breathed a sigh of relief and pulled Bai Jin away.

In the side hall, she chose her words carefully. "Xiao Jin, don't worry. You two are different. Mom won't let you—"

"Different?" Bai Jin cut her off, meeting her eyes. "You've known all along that she isn't your biological daughter, haven't you?"

In the living room, by the sofa.

A servant brought out the tea set and brewed tea elegantly.

Cheng Qihang had watched the "family drama" play out. He knew Gu Nianxi resisted him, and felt displeased, but his face still held a smile as he sized her up with a weighing gaze.

There was a packaged aggression in his eyes, subtle but real, churning Gu Nianxi's stomach.

She remembered the last life. She'd been just as helpless then as now.

How was a person supposed to resist this kind of invisible violence, violation, and plunder? Between the two men, she was treated like an object, sold as goods under the name of marriage... She wished she really were an object. Then she wouldn't have thoughts or feelings, wouldn't crave love and respect, and wouldn't be wounded and shed tears when she didn't get them...

Or else, be strong like Bai Jin—unruffled, burying everything in her heart, waiting to settle scores later.

Thinking of Bai Jin, Gu Nianxi held back her tears.

She breathed in shallowly, knowing her reaction couldn't escape the eyes of the men on the sofa. But at least Gu Nianxi didn't want to cry in front of them. That would be too humiliating.

"What's with the sniffling? Pathetic. Greet him!" Gu Hongzhuo barked.

"Ah, President Gu," Cheng Qihang interjected with a smile, holding Gu Hongzhuo back. "Miss Gu is shy. She's just a young lady, it's fine, it's fine."

"Tsk, you don't know, Qihang. This child is stubborn as a mule. Gives me such a headache. She needs discipline."

"Uncle Cheng." Gu Nianxi managed a trembling smile. "Hello."

Cheng Qihang's heart stirred at her smile.

"What uncle? Call him older brother!" Gu Hongzhuo's voice boomed through the living room.

"Brother Cheng."

Gu Nianxi obediently corrected herself.

A servant came to brew fresh tea, and she smiled as she took the tea set. "I'll do it."

Only then was Gu Hongzhuo satisfied.

Cheng Qihang was quite satisfied too. The two men fell quiet, watching Gu Nianxi brew tea with approving expressions.

Gu Nianxi looked at the tea leaves in the cup.

Genuine West Lake Longjing. It could be steeped three times; this was the first.

Boiling water rushed over the pale green leaves. The first steep was supposed to be for washing—the rinse water was poured off, then you steeped the tea in a three-talented cup, poured it into a fairness cup, and the host poured for the guests.

Gu Nianxi skipped all of that.

She poured the first steep into the cups, smiling as she filled two and handed them to Gu Hongzhuo and Cheng Qihang.

"That's my obedient—"

"Oh, thank you, Miss Gu—ah!"

Gu Nianxi splashed the tea into both their faces.

Scalding tea splashed everywhere. The soaked clothes couldn't cool down quickly, and the burning sensation made both men leap to their feet.

"Gu Nianxi!!" Gu Hongzhuo roared.

Gu Nianxi threw down the cup and ran without looking back.

She wasn't wearing a dress today, no high heels either. Her hair loose, like a bird, like a sparrow, stumbling yet running with all her strength toward the sunlight outside.