Chapter 71: Resignation

After hurrying home, packing up, and taking a shower, Gu Liuguang finally set up her tablet to watch dramas. She kept the video call open on her phone, with Lin Shixia on the other end.

She didn’t feel too uncomfortable. While scooping yogurt, she chatted with Lin Shixia, who had just wrapped up filming and was talking about the day’s events on set.

The director had swiftly replaced the actor. Lin Hang’s popularity and Hot Searches were still trending, with fans on one side and the accusing victims on the other. The argument grew fiercer—skeptics kept questioning, while the other side kept producing new evidence. Even the released schedules matched up.

Gu Liuguang had no curiosity about Lin Hang himself, but she paid special attention to his fate. “Will he go to jail?”

In the Original Plot, it had been quite severe—ruined reputation and imprisonment.

Since it got exposed early this time, she wondered if the outcome would change.

Lin Shixia said, “Everyone has to take responsibility for their own actions.”

Gu Liuguang’s scooping slowed, her eyes flickering. Her own behavior amounted to moral corruption at worst.

Zhang Xibai and the others had been highly manipulative. If push came to shove, the other side had top-tier lawyers for defense. Making them pay would depend on whether she had the ability.

Forget it. She was just cannon fodder. As long as she completed the task, she could leave this world.

Hearing Lin Shixia’s indifferent tone when talking about Lin Hang made Gu Liuguang inexplicably guilty. She picked up her milk tea to hide her face and took a fake sip to change the subject.

“Tian Dao is so popular right now. Three out of every ten videos are clips from this drama.”

Lin Shixia stared at her and smiled casually. “That’s bought promotion.”

Dramas cooperated with major platforms, buying promotions and partnerships during airing. Without it, related videos wouldn’t get pushed and might even be throttled.

She hadn’t expected Tian Dao to blow up. Once the main cast started appearing, the promotions quickly followed.

Gu Liuguang let out an “oh.” “What work does Shadow Butterfly have after wrapping? Are you staying in C City? We’ve only been apart one day, and I miss you already.”

She gazed at Lin Shixia on the video with feigned affection, her long lashes drooping, her beautiful fox eyes narrowing slightly. She looked like a tsundere kitty acting coquettish, with a hint of disdain on the surface.

Lin Shixia caught her breath at the sight. After a few seconds, she slowly smiled. “I’ll do some variety shows. My agent will arrange the rest. There’s a variety show as a flying guest.”

Gu Liuguang wasn’t too invested in her work. “Is it filmed in C City?”

Lin Shixia realized it and couldn’t suppress her smile. She set down her book, propped her chin on one hand, and stared at Gu Liuguang. “Not necessarily.”

Gu Liuguang looked at her innocently, blinking without speaking. The spoon in her hand poked at the yogurt repeatedly.

She stubbornly stayed silent. After watching for a bit, Lin Shixia said, “I’ve seen the locations from the production team. It won’t come to A City for now.”

Gu Liuguang asked, “So I won’t see you for the next few months?”

Lin Shixia showed a troubled expression. “Probably. My job doesn’t allow easy leave, and you can’t abandon yours either. Unfortunately, our workplaces aren’t in the same place.” She paused for a few seconds and carefully observed Gu Liuguang’s expression.

“If our workplaces were together, that would be great. It might take months before I’m free.”

Gu Liuguang bit her spoon, her dark eyes fixed on Lin Shixia.

Her hair cascaded down, thick and voluminous, piling up around her face. Fresh from a shower with the AC on, she hadn’t bothered tying it up after drying. As she scooped yogurt, it draped to the sides.

Her skin was snow-white, her nose petite. Chilled by the cold yogurt, her lips were pink and puffy. When she parted them, tiny pearly teeth showed.

Her already small face looked even smaller framed by hair. The phone screen was small too, making her seem like a child with bigger eyes.

Lin Shixia stared at the screen, reluctant to look away. A smile played on her lips as she continued at the same pace. “Your work environment is full of handsome men and beautiful women. One day, around some corner, a girl might throw herself into your arms.”

“Another day, at a company gathering, you get plied with a drink until you’re dizzy, everything blurring. The girl next to you, eyes full of adoration, clings to your arm and confesses.”

Lin Shixia stopped there without finishing. Gu Liuguang was still listening. When she paused, Gu Liuguang reacted and understood.

It meant that when drunk, people lost control and might cheat.

Seeing Gu Liuguang’s dawning realization, Lin Shixia poured herself a glass of water and took a sip, wetting her lips. “You’re always surrounded by all sorts of beautiful people. I lack a sense of security and worry you’ll be seduced by someone else.”

Gu Liuguang frowned instinctively. Hadn’t she and Lin Shixia switched roles? Who should really be worrying about whom?

Thinking of the plot, she felt Lin Shixia’s concern was justified. In the plot, no matter how beautiful Lin Shixia was or how confident, under the plot’s force, she turned into a lovestruck fool, insecure and clingy.

Gu Liuguang declared firmly, “It won’t happen.”

Lin Shixia paused, then chuckled. “Mm, I believe you.”

Gu Liuguang regretted it immediately. She should have steered toward resignation along Lin Shixia’s words, but she couldn’t backtrack now. It couldn’t be her worrying about her own cheating either.

After that, Gu Liuguang chatted absentmindedly. Several times, she wanted to bring up resigning with Lin Shixia—mainly because she didn’t know how to ask her to cover the breach of contract fee.

After hanging up, Gu Liuguang lay irritably on the bed. Today’s episode of Tian Dao was too captivating; Lin Shixia’s beauty had leveled up again.

She couldn’t hold back. Though she’d quit being a fan, her Weibo account remained. She’d meant to sell it but hadn’t. Now it was perfect for posting photos.

After uploading twelve professionally edited shots, Gu Liuguang sighed in satisfaction.

The photos trended quickly, flooded with Lin Shixia’s fans excitedly asking if she wasn’t leaving.

Gu Liuguang replied to one, simply explaining she’d seen the latest episode and couldn’t resist posting due to Lin Shixia’s beauty.

After enjoying the rainbow farts in the comments, Gu Liuguang logged out of Weibo. Gu Shuang messaged, asking if the rose plant had arrived.

Gu Liuguang explained guiltily that it was too late for delivery, so it would come tomorrow.

Gu Shuang didn’t react much. Gu Liuguang gradually relaxed. She’d felt uneasy about taking so much money before, but Gu Shuang’s attitude eased her tension.

Gu Shuang chatted a bit more, then sent a photo of a penguin.

A black-and-white animal stood on a massive ice floe, with endless glaciers behind.

-Shuang: So smelly.

-Shuang: It’s like standing in a penguin’s toilet.

Gu Liuguang’s “So cute” hovered on her fingertip. Instead, she curiously asked a few questions, a touch of loss rising in her heart.

She felt she’d never see penguins in Antarctica in this lifetime.

-Shuang: Want to come?

-Little Light: Just thinking about it.

Gu Liuguang vaguely sensed that if she said yes, Gu Shuang would really take her to Antarctica.

She tactfully refused the joke of an invitation and sighed to the System: 【Money corrupts the will.】

The System substituted points and nodded in agreement: 【Well said.】

If not for the task, she might have forgotten her own name.

Gu Shuang was quite chatty. Gu Liuguang didn’t know how the conversation shifted from Antarctic penguins to her wanting to resign and go to C City.

She’d only mentioned work restrictions and family expenses.

-Shuang: No need to worry about work in C City after resigning. What type of job do you want?

Gu Liuguang hesitated, then explained, citing the girl from the Hengdian set last time who suggested she do self-media vlogs. She said she wanted to try self-media work.

Gu Shuang didn’t doubt it or ask more. She just offered help: a nicely renovated apartment and editing equipment.

She even brainstormed content ideas using her own resources.

Gu Liuguang stared blankly until Gu Shuang asked, “What do you think?” She snapped back.

After agonizing, she replied: Let me resign first.

Resigning required hefty breach fees, and asking Lin Shixia felt awkward.

-Shuang: A friend told me streamers have to pay breach fees when quitting?

Gu Liuguang’s eyes widened. How did Gu Shuang know?

Her fingers typed and deleted on the screen. She admitted it required breach fees and cut off further questions to avoid pursuit.

Sensing Gu Liuguang’s reluctance, Gu Shuang didn’t press, but hinted vaguely.

-Shuang: Helping a girlfriend pay breach fees is what Shixia should do.

-Shuang: You going to her makes it reasonable for her to foot the bill. Just tell her directly.

Gu Liuguang’s tension eased, her lips curving up. The previous pressure vanished. She realized even if Lin Shixia didn’t want to pay, if she asked, Gu Shuang would cover it.

Suddenly, Gu Liuguang wanted to ask why Gu Shuang was so good to her.

While she hesitated, Gu Shuang sent “Good night” and told her to rest early.

Gu Liuguang could only reply good night sullenly.

She lay in bed, lost in thought. Glancing at her phone, it was already 3:30 a.m. She frowned at the screen, recalling her video chat with Lin Shixia.

It dawned on her late—who was more susceptible to temptation between her and Lin Shixia? The answer was obvious.

She felt Lin Shixia’s words were a reminder: her girlfriend was easily tempted, so she needed some sense of crisis.

Gu Liuguang wavered, unsure if she was overthinking. She asked the System to analyze Lin Shixia’s intent.

System: 【Possible, or not.】

Gu Liuguang felt it said something yet nothing.

She steeled herself: 【Then I’ll just message Lin Shixia directly?】

System encouraged: 【No problem.】

Gu Liuguang typed and sent.

-Little Light: Baby, I want to resign and go to C City.

-Little Light: Help me pay the company’s breach fee.

System: 【Wait, that wording… isn’t it too blunt?】

Gu Liuguang agreed, thought for two seconds, and followed with a sly fox emoji.

She asked the System: 【Better now?】

System: 【Feels even more shameless.】