Chapter 61: Rejection Part 1

Gu Liuguang thought this suggestion was very bad, but she had no standing to voice a rejection.

If Zhang Xibai had someone she liked, how could she help Lin Shixia deal with her later?

【What kind of mess is this?】 Gu Liuguang asked the System worriedly. She needed to prepare a backup plan in advance.

She followed Lin Shixia’s lead and smiled too. “I’ve never encountered a situation like this. We’ll decide when the time comes?”

Lin Shixia’s expression didn’t change. She reached out to pull Gu Liuguang into a hug and planted a kiss on her earlobe. “I’ll listen to you.” She half-jokingly added, “If the person Zhang Xibai likes is you, I definitely wouldn’t help her.”

Gu Liuguang froze for a moment and eyed Lin Shixia suspiciously. Lin Shixia and Zhang Xibai did have a so-so relationship. If she said too much, Gu Liuguang might even suspect that Zhang Xibai really did like her.

Lin Shixia met her gaze. “What’s wrong? Does Liuguang know who she likes?”

Gu Liuguang looked away and said seriously, “I don’t know.”

She was telling the truth. She no longer cared about Zhang Xibai now. With Lin Shixia in the middle, she could at least delay their meeting. As long as she didn’t provoke Zhang Xibai before the breakup, that would be fine.

Lin Shixia clearly wanted to ask more about who Zhang Xibai might like. They didn’t have many mutual friends they were close to, and it was even less likely for one of those friends to become her fan. It was more probable that it was someone from Gu Liuguang’s company.

The delivery arrived and interrupted Lin Shixia. Worried about being recognized, Gu Liuguang ran to the door to get it.

The delivery guy handed her the food. He lifted his cap, saw her face, and froze. While photographing the delivery, he kept glancing at her. “Are you a celebrity?”

Gu Liuguang waited for him to finish snapping photos, then snatched the bag and quickly said, “No,” as she tried to close the door. The guy stuck his foot in to block it. “Add me on WeChat?”

Gu Liuguang got annoyed right away and scowled. “Who are you? No.”

She slammed the door hard, but he pushed it open and tried to step inside. Gu Liuguang yanked the door to try to crush his leg, but realized she didn’t have the strength. Without thinking, she kicked him straight in the knee.

“What’s going on?”

Lin Shixia, who wasn’t far away, noticed something off. She walked over from the bar area and saw the two struggling at the door. Her brows furrowed as she strode up, grabbed the door, and looked down imposingly at the delivery guy trying to come in.

The delivery guy spotted someone else inside the apartment and immediately relaxed, dropping his hand and pulling back his foot.

By the time Lin Shixia reached the door, he had guiltily backed away toward the elevator. He shouted over his shoulder as he ran, “I didn’t do anything.”

He found her a bit familiar, so he stopped, stood in front of the elevator, and stared toward the door. His gaze lingered on Lin Shixia’s face, wanting a clearer look.

Lin Shixia frowned, first checking on Gu Liuguang to make sure she wasn’t too shaken, then closed the door.

Multiple conflicts in such a short time made her worry that Gu Liuguang couldn’t handle it. She planned to deal with the delivery guy later—complain first, then decide whether to call the police or handle it privately.

After closing the door, Lin Shixia comforted Gu Liuguang. “The order has a record. We’ll complain to customer service first, then find this guy.”

Gu Liuguang wasn’t really shaken. She just regretted not kicking him harder. She shook her head. “Forget it. We’re heading back today anyway.”

Lin Shixia didn’t argue. Even if Gu Liuguang wouldn’t give her the order details, she could track it down from the bag’s brand logo. Gu Liuguang found it troublesome, but she didn’t.

She placed the packed meals on the bar counter. To distract her, Lin Shixia brought up why Zhang Xibai wouldn’t just say who she liked.

Lin Shixia said, “I asked if she had a photo, but she wouldn’t say.”

Gu Liuguang didn’t know Zhang Xibai well and didn’t want to think about it. “Maybe she doesn’t.”

The System suddenly chimed in her head: 【Maybe she’s worried Lin Shixia is Cao Cao?】

Gu Liuguang paused. 【Who’s Cao Cao?】

The System gave a quick rundown: some historical figure from a parallel world.

Gu Liuguang cut it off halfway. After realizing Lin Shixia’s feelings for her wouldn’t change, she came clean. Very bluntly, she told Lin Shixia, “After I get back, the Guild might start the Personal PK Tournament. Our group leader said they delayed it specially because I took leave…”

She bit her chopsticks, her pretty eyes blinking at Lin Shixia as she asked slowly and sweetly, “Baby, will you help me out then?”

“You don’t have to spend too much. My usual revenue is pretty good.” She paused, then added, “But I took several days off and didn’t tend to those bosses, so my revenue might not beat others.”

“I’ve heard other groups say that low revenue gets you passive-aggressively called out by the hosts and operators in the team. You’ll get held back for endless meetings.” She shrugged, angling herself to look her best for Lin Shixia. “Baby, I’ve been at the company so long and never gotten held back for a meeting.”

Their company’s atmosphere was decent. Backstabbing and poaching bosses happened often. Revenue records went out daily in the Group Live work chat, and the group wouldn’t go too far. But after streams ended, the trash talk flew like it was free. Gu Liuguang’s current group just hadn’t dealt with it yet.

Being held back for meetings was a new PUA tactic from the company amid recent expansion. Some MC-led groups had abysmal revenue and were jealous of others’ earnings.

Once signed, no one dared quit easily—leaving meant tens of thousands in penalties.

Gu Liuguang occasionally peeked at the big group chat. Her revenue was unusually high, but these past days, she’d been all about Lin Shixia and hadn’t tended to a single boss.

Aside from a few low-spenders who nagged daily to meet up, the slightly bigger spenders only messaged occasionally. The one she’d suspected was Lin Shixia hadn’t sent a thing lately.

Still, Gu Liuguang wasn’t too worried. Even if she couldn’t top the revenue charts like before, with filters on, it wouldn’t look too bad.

Lin Shixia wanted to suggest Gu Liuguang consider a new job, but considering the opportunities she could offer weren’t ones Gu Liuguang seemed interested in, she let it go.

Lin Shixia said straightforwardly, “When’s the stream? I’ll send you gifts then.”

“Baby, do you have enough pocket money lately?”

As she spoke, she transferred money to Gu Liuguang.

Gu Liuguang accepted without blinking. After seeing so many transfers, money didn’t even feel real anymore.

Gu Liuguang looked up and smiled sweetly at Lin Shixia. “Thanks, Baby.”

Lin Shixia had to head to the set that afternoon, and Gu Liuguang needed to return to A City today. Reluctantly, she hugged Gu Liuguang and got clingy.

She’d taken too much leave lately to keep tagging along, so Lin Shixia whined, “Baby, I’ll come find you in a bit. Video call at night, okay?”

Gu Liuguang said, “Sure.”

She didn’t want Lin Shixia changing her mind right after she got back to A City. Video calls were a must.

Lin Shixia clearly didn’t want to leave and lingered in the apartment a while longer until Wang Li called to urge her. Only then did she head downstairs.

Once Lin Shixia left, Gu Liuguang changed her flight and returned to A City.

Ye Qingying messaged to hang out, saying she wanted to buy something for her.

Gu Liuguang said she was back in A City and told Ye Qingying not to bother.

Ye Qingying suggested delivering it straight to Gu Liuguang’s home.

Gu Liuguang mustered her strong self-control to refuse. Ye Qingying’s reminder made her message Gu Shuang about heading back to A City.

-Shuang: So soon? Because of Ye Qingying?

-Little Light: Leave time’s up. Gotta go back to work.

Gu Shuang didn’t say more, just told her to let her know next time she came to A City.

By the time Gu Liuguang got back to A City, it was almost evening. She’d covered the furniture with dust covers before leaving, so there wasn’t much dust, but she still booked a cleaning service on her phone.

She messaged Zhang Ze too. He told her to stream a day first thing tomorrow to test the waters, and push the Personal PK Tournament to the next day.

After that, he asked if things at home were sorted.

Gu Liuguang had planned to casually reveal she had a girlfriend, but remembering the company rules against artists dating, she held back.

After brushing off Zhang Ze, Su Tian—who’d somehow heard she was back—sent several messages wanting to grab dinner.

-Su Tian: You must be tired from just getting back. If you don’t wanna go out, I’ll pack dinner and bring it over. If you don’t wanna eat with me, I’ll drop it off and leave, okay?

She sent a bunch in a row. Gu Liuguang, fresh from a shower, lay on the sofa with her feet on the coffee table. Her half-dry hair fanned out over the cushions. She squinted at WeChat and saw Fox had messaged her too.

It was about the earrings they’d agreed on—asking when she was free to sign for them.

If Su Tian knew she was back in A City, no surprise if others did too.

Now that she knew Fox wasn’t Lin Shixia, logically, to avoid entanglements, she shouldn’t accept the earrings.

But they’d been promised before she got together with Lin Shixia, so taking them should be fine.

As if sensing her hesitation, Fox sent a photo and video of the blue diamond earrings. Super high-res—even the facets were crystal clear, flawless.

They rivaled the nearly ten-million-yuan diamonds she’d seen at Gu Shuang’s last time, sparkling just as purely.

Hard to refuse. Worst case, she’d have Lin Shixia handle it later, buy them off with cash.

She messaged Fox that she had a stream tomorrow, but if they could deliver in the evening, that worked.

-Fox: Streaming starting tomorrow?

-Little Light: Yeah.

Gu Liuguang hadn’t planned to reply. Lin Shixia had already promised to help with PK gifts. No need to tend to others.

But streaming habits from this time made her subconsciously maintain a bit, whether for tasks or work.

So she replied with a yeah.

Not ignoring, but not enthusiastic either.

After sending it, she regretted it. Always topping revenue, now she’d drop in the ranks—kinda bothered her.

These days, her heart had been tied to Lin Shixia; she barely replied to messages. Fox must’ve noticed, hence no messages lately.

Now knowing she was back and streaming, Fox messaged right away. Her being so cold might make Fox stop sending gifts for good.

No messages these days—probably watching other Group Lives.

Gu Liuguang started to fret, wondering if she should send more, but figured Lin Shixia was loaded enough to take first in PK.

-Fox: What time?

Gu Liuguang blinked, sure she read right, and typed back: Stream starts tomorrow at 3:30 PM, break at 6 for an hour, goes till midnight.

-Fox: Got it.

-Fox: [Transfer 50,000, note: voluntary gift.]

Gu Liuguang stared at the screen for a good while without claiming it. Normally, she’d snatch it instantly.

The System, eyeing it greedily, urged her: 【Why not claim it? You could buy so much stuff.】

Gu Liuguang was torn, but the System’s nudge made her close the chat. Earnestly, she told it: 【I have a girlfriend now.】

The System said incredulously: 【You’re a slag girl by nature. What’s wrong with taking the money?】

Gu Liuguang wasn’t pleased: 【It’s because I’ve taken too much money that I don’t want to keep going.】

The task was just to rip off Lin Shixia. No need to rip off others. Fox never asked for leg pics, never P’d her weird porn, never made odd demands—just sent gifts, transfers, and now earrings.

No need to keep circling her money.

Before, she was single. Now with a girlfriend, she wanted to stop.

The System went quiet a bit, then advised: 【But that’s your character. You’re so slag to Lin Shixia, yet you can’t bear to circle a stranger? That’s very OOC.】