Chapter 38: You Don’t Know Either?

Gan Xun habitually followed Zhao Chiyun’s instructions and stopped the small talk she originally disliked but had wanted to do for Zhao Chiyun’s sake.

She let out an “oh” and continued walking up.

Lan Xiaoxi still stood in place. Cui Can waved her hand for her to hurry up. Blockhead! Standing there so stiffly put so much pressure on people.

As she saw Gan Xun ascending the steps, she subconsciously made a motion to support Zhao Chiyun with one hand. Then Lan Xiaoxi turned and left.

She had called Zhao Chiyun to come play on a whim. Lan Xiaoxi had been in class at the time, so she hadn’t gone over to say anything.

Now she suddenly felt that this encounter was somewhat exciting.

Lan Xiaoxi went down a few steps, then stopped and looked up to ask, “Have you all eaten? If not, want to grab a meal together?”

Gan Xun turned back, about to refuse, when she heard Cui Can brightly agree, “Sure, hotpot? Teacher Lan’s treat?”

“I’ll treat.” Lan Xiaoxi smiled comfortably.

If Zhao Chiyun weren’t there, Gan Xun wouldn’t have stayed to eat with them. She had already blocked them, so accepting these overtures now wouldn’t feel quite right.

But she had her own considerations, which happened to align with Cui Can’s.

Cui Can said, “We’ll be colleagues from now on. Better to get familiar ahead of time so it’s not awkward when the County Princess comes to teach.”

Gan Xun explained to Zhao Chiyun, “That’s what I was thinking too. After all, she’s the boss.”

Zhao Chiyun didn’t respond to that. She glanced at Gan Xun. “How did I not know you’d lost two jin?”

Gan Xun hadn’t expected the topic to suddenly jump to weight, but she patiently answered, “I’d already lost it before you came, and it hasn’t gone back up.”

She added, “It’s just two jin. I’m fine like this now.”

Zhao Chiyun made an expression of sudden realization and said in an archaic tone, “So that’s how it is. I thought my eyes weren’t sharp enough.”

When people didn’t know what to say, they usually opted for a dry laugh. Gan Xun laughed while glancing at Cui Can. She spotted a teasing glint of mischief in the latter’s eyes and suspected her real intentions today, so she glared over.

Cui Can returned a look that said, “You’ll only bully me.”

They rested in the office for a bit before Lan Xiaoxi came up to call them to head out.

The hotpot restaurant was in the nearby mall. They didn’t even need to drive—just a few minutes’ walk.

On the way, Lan Xiaoxi seemed to chat with Cui Can the whole time, but most of the topics circled back to Gan Xun.

Her eyes occasionally drifted over, taking the chance to observe Zhao Chiyun as well.

When asked if she had just gotten off work, Gan Xun said, “I quit. No need to work lately.”

Lan Xiaoxi immediately voiced her support. “That company exploited you too much. You should’ve switched jobs long ago. Taking a break is great. It’s the hottest part of summer now—I suggest waiting till it passes before job hunting.”

“If you need anything, just tell me.”

She wore large black square-framed glasses with short hair tucked behind her ears and had the face of an artist—the rich kind.

So if she said she could help, she probably really could help Gan Xun.

Before Gan Xun could politely decline, Cui Can cut in. “If Xunxun wants to come to our Book Garden, aren’t you still short an assistant?”

Lan Xiaoxi knew she was joking and didn’t spoil the fun, nodding eagerly like a bird pecking rice. “Of course we’re short. She could help schedule my classes too.”

Gan Xun smiled. “Hold it. Keep talking and I might actually get tempted. Who knows, one day I might not want to strive anymore and just come over.”

“By the time you come, you’d probably be Teacher Chiyun’s personal assistant. No time left to work for us.”

Cui Can hit the nail on the head.

Gan Xun burst out laughing. Lan Xiaoxi glanced at Zhao Chiyun again because of it. Zhao Chiyun just lowered her eyes in a faint smile, saying nothing.

Once out of the elevator, Lan Xiaoxi said, “You all go grab the number first. I’ll buy milk tea. Gan Xun, still lemon tea for you, right? What about your friend?”

Zhao Chiyun replied indifferently, “Thanks, but no milk tea.”

Once Lan Xiaoxi walked away, Zhao Chiyun said to Gan Xun, “Miss Lan knows you quite well.”

Gan Xun felt the tone wasn’t quite right. Zhao Chiyun had been off ever since arriving at the Book Garden today.

At first, she thought Zhao Chiyun was just shy in a new environment. Now she realized she was simply in a bad mood.

And Cui Can had to add, “We know her well. We’ve eaten together before.”

Zhao Chiyun kept smiling. It was beautiful, but from Gan Xun’s understanding of her, this smile didn’t look good.

Did Zhao Chiyun dislike Lan Xiaoxi?

Once seated, they first ordered a yin-yang pot—spicy broth and sour broth bases.

Gan Xun scanned the table’s mini-program and showed it to Zhao Chiyun. Zhao Chiyun had already learned to order. She skimmed the menu and only added fried rice.

Gan Xun smiled and said to her, “Not many people get fried rice with hotpot. Are you hungry?”

Zhao Chiyun calmly replied, “Since it’s on the menu, that proves it’s allowed. What does it matter to me if few people order it?”

People who didn’t overthink enjoyed the world first. Thanks to Zhao Chiyun, Gan Xun discovered that this hotpot place’s fried rice was exceptional—the most fragrant she had ever tasted in her life.

In the end, she ate even more than Zhao Chiyun.

Gan Xun sat next to Zhao Chiyun, directly across from Lan Xiaoxi. Before the food arrived, Gan Xun helped introduce them.

Lan Xiaoxi beamed. “Your friend looks so young. Have you graduated?”

Zhao Chiyun looked at Gan Xun. Gan Xun recited the script they had rehearsed ahead of time. “She never went to college. Not much education, but she likes practicing calligraphy and poetry in her spare time.”

Lan Xiaoxi kindly replied, “No problem. I’ve seen the work. Miss Zhao joining our Book Garden is our gain.”

Seeing Zhao Chiyun raise a brow with a smug “smart of you” expression upon hearing that, Gan Xun thought she looked like a cat.

“She’ll need your care going forward. She was in secluded cultivation in the countryside before and doesn’t interact much with strangers. She’s only been in Mirror City a short while and isn’t used to it yet.”

Cui Can could tell Gan Xun was quite anxious, practically wanting to tell Lan Xiaoxi this was the County Princess—you have to indulge and coax her.

Even more nervous than Zhao Chiyun, who was about to start working there.

So she assured her, “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’m still here. I’ll take good care of her.”

Zhao Chiyun didn’t like this backstory much and had protested to Gan Xun before, but Gan Xun said it was the least likely to raise suspicions and easiest to cover if needed.

She had reluctantly agreed then. Now hearing Gan Xun say it out loud, she still felt unhappy and silently kicked Gan Xun under the table.

Gan Xun looked down at her kicked ankle. Zhao Chiyun’s shoe tip had hit the bone—vicious.

Glancing back at Zhao Chiyun, she sat prim and proper, her face a picture of upright nobility.

With innocent poise, she asked Gan Xun, “What’s wrong?”

Gan Xun chuckled. “Nothing. I thought a dog bit me down there. My mistake.”

Another kick followed.

Gan Xun winced and shifted outward a bit, calmly sipping her lemon tea.

Zhao Chiyun leaned closer and softly said, “Tastes good, right?”

Gan Xun nodded. “Want to try?”

She asked casually, certain Zhao Chiyun wouldn’t drink from hers. Unexpectedly, Zhao Chiyun nodded. “Hand it over.”

Gan Xun noticed the gazes from across the table and found herself in a bind. “I’ve drunk from it. Only half left.”

“I don’t mind.” Zhao Chiyun spoke in a tone of bestowing favor.

Out of options, Gan Xun obediently moved the lemon tea from her left side to between them. Zhao Chiyun really drank from it.

The hotpot was too spicy and too hot. Even with the shop’s strong AC, Zhao Chiyun still broke a sweat.

Her tongue tip went numb from the Sichuan peppercorns. She felt this meal wasn’t entirely to her taste—except for the fried rice Gan Xun had eaten a lot of.

On the drive back after bidding Lan Xiaoxi farewell, Cui Can asked, “What about the ID card issue? Need me to figure something out?”

Gan Xun said, “Still waiting on news. I asked someone to handle it.”

“Who’d you ask?”

Gan Xun paused briefly but didn’t hide it. “Gan Hua.”

Cui Can fell silent. Zhao Chiyun perked up with interest. “Your clansman.”

Gan Xun told her, “My dad.”

Zhao Chiyun found it odd. If she had gone to her father, why not say so directly at the time? She had only said “an acquaintance.”

Cui Can could only say, “Finding him will speed things up.”

Gan Xun smiled. “Haven’t even caught a glimpse of the man. More pretentious than even our Qinghe County Princess. I chatted with Zhuang Ping about it.”

“He can drop dead for all I care. As long as he gets it done for you. If he doesn’t, tell me. I’ll handle it.”

Zhao Chiyun thus understood. Gan Xun had a very poor relationship with her father.

No wonder so many things made sense now.

She replied, “This County Princess has always been approachable, the easiest to get along with. You don’t know either?”

Cui Can mimicked her tone as she asked Gan Xun, “You don’t know either?”

Gan Xun pointed out the window. “Look, a bunch of aunties are doing square dancing.”

The car erupted in laughter.

Once home, Zhao Chiyun showered first as usual. While waiting, Gan Xun half-reclined and scrolled her phone for a bit.

When she wanted to search for that pair of shoes to add to her cart, she found her screenshot gone.

In its place before the flight path image was a chat screenshot.

It was a conversation with a former colleague from her company. The content showed them subtly prying about Zhao Chiyun, asking where she got her hair maintained to keep it so long.

Gan Xun had replied, “Cut it.”

The other person revealed their true intentions, asking if they could add her WeChat. Gan Xun replied, “She doesn’t use WeChat.”

She had screenshotted it to vent to Cui Can, so where was her copy?

After her shower, Gan Xun appeared before Zhao Chiyun with a manicure kit.

“Extend your paws.”

Zhao Chiyun shot her a look. She sat cross-legged on the sofa and elegantly extended her hand.

With a demand: “Don’t cut them all short.”

Gan Xun showed a template. “Not even like mine?”

It had nothing to do with others. She just never liked long nails since childhood—they trapped dirt and felt uncomfortable.

Zhao Chiyun loftily critiqued from on high, “No good. Only manual laborers have hands like that.”

“As one of the working masses, I am proud.”

Gan Xun was immune to the damage.

One hand steadied the County Princess’s precious slender jade hand while the other carefully used the clippers. She had never trimmed nails for anyone else and feared accidents, practically gluing her eyes to the task.

Zhao Chiyun stared intently at her own hand too. Once convinced Gan Xun’s hand was steady, she finally turned her gaze to Gan Xun’s face.

Gan Xun, seriously at work, naturally exuded a steadfast cuteness.

After finishing one hand and switching to the other, Gan Xun casually asked, “Did you delete my photo?”

Zhao Chiyun paused briefly and softly said, “I did not.”

Gan Xun acted nonchalant. “Must’ve been accidental then. No big deal. Easy to recover.”

“How to recover?”

“Phones have tons of functions. You’ll figure it out with time.”

Gan Xun smiled at her.

“All done. Satisfied?”

After getting affirmation, Gan Xun polished them once more.

“You don’t like Miss Lan?”

Zhao Chiyun spoke up.

“Don’t like her.”

“Have you ever hugged her?”

“Of course not. What are you thinking?”

Gan Xun was baffled. “I’ve only eaten with her and Cui Can a few times. Not that close.”

“Not close, but have you kissed her?”

“Zhao…”

Gan Xun frowned but stopped herself from calling her name. “County Princess, speak plainly.”

Zhao Chiyun’s nails were smoothly buffed, sending a tingling numbness through her fingertips.

She composed herself before continuing to ask Gan Xun, “Do you really plan to be her… assistant?”

“Just kidding. I’d beg on the streets before taking a menial job.”

Gan Xun immediately made her stance clear.

After packing up, she earnestly explained, “I won’t casually get intimate with women.”

Zhao Chiyun stayed quiet for a moment, then lifted the hand she had so carefully tended and caressed Gan Xun’s cheek.