Chapter 73: Resignation

【Do you really like Lin Shixia?】

Gu Liuguang lay flat on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. She ignored the System’s words.

But the System took this question very seriously and kept pressing Gu Liuguang.

Gu Liuguang lazily rolled over onto her side: 【Does it matter?】

She picked up her phone. After hanging up the video call, Lin Shixia sent a bunch more messages, filling in what she wanted to say before the call cut off.

-I didn’t consider your feelings in time. I wasn’t trying to force you to declare anything.

-Don’t feel pressured, and please don’t be mad at me. I just fear losing you.

……

-Everything I said is true. I really do want to marry you.

Lin Shixia kept sending messages like a tireless machine that never grew weary. She didn’t start another video call, as if she were pouring her emotions into an emotional confidant.

She went from talking about feelings to benefits, trying to offer Gu Liuguang security with money. The most outrageous part was that she said she would give all her assets to Gu Liuguang, including her income after marriage.

Domestic law didn’t support same-sex marriage, but they could immigrate.

She wanted to do so many, many things with Gu Liuguang.

Gu Liuguang didn’t know what she was thinking—or perhaps one of Lin Shixia’s words had touched her—and sent her a message.

-You have filming tomorrow. Go to bed early.

-I’m not breaking up with you.

-Marriage is too soon for me. I don’t want to think about it for now.

-Stop messaging me nonstop.

-Good night.

This briefly soothed Lin Shixia. Gu Liuguang let out a long breath and murmured, “This kind of thing really isn’t for humans.”

She didn’t sleep well that night. When Gu Liuguang got up, she felt listless. Looking in the mirror, she found her face alarmingly pale, with dark circles underneath that looked like she’d pulled all-nighters for over a week.

Gu Liuguang patted her cheeks in the mirror, but with no color returning, she gave up and went to wash up. Soon, the delivery guy called.

Gu Liuguang had him bring it right in.

Only after opening the packaging did she discover how incredibly thoughtful the sender was. The flowerpot was prepared in advance, filled with suitable soil. There were also some fertilizers for plant care nearby. Perhaps feeling the instructions were too vague, there was a more detailed handwritten “tutorial” attached.

At the end, she realized it was written by the gardener she’d met last time.

After observing it for a bit, she dragged the rose to the balcony. The orientation there was good, so there was no worry about it getting too much sun.

Following the gardener’s instructions, she took a watering can and poured water onto the plant.

Halfway through tidying up, the Blue Diamond Stud Earrings arrived.

She set down the watering can and ran to sign for them. The blue diamond studs were much smaller than the diamonds she’d seen in C City.

The smaller the diamond, the easier it was to find ones with clean crystals. Larger crystals might have inclusions, so they couldn’t compare in price to big gems.

Even in the sunlight, they sparkled brilliantly.

She put on the earrings, then deliberately changed into a skirt and took photos in front of the mirror. She realized half-body shots made it easier for people to notice her earrings.

She carefully selected two photos, edited them, and prepared to post to Moments. But she got lazy with the caption.

She didn’t want people to know Big Sis had sent them, yet she wanted to seem a bit classy, not like some tacky person.

Unfortunately, ever since entering this world—from infancy to adulthood—she hadn’t studied properly. Trying to come up with something cultured left her stumped for ages.

She scrolled through Xiaohongshu but hadn’t found a suitable caption when Gu Shuang messaged her, saying she’d seen the delivery signed for and asking how the flowers were.

Gu Liuguang frowned, got up, and walked to the balcony. She took three photos from the perfect angle and sent them over.

-Still sorting it out. It looks a bit wilted? I just watered it.

The water droplets on the rose were almost evaporated, so Gu Liuguang picked up the watering can and misted some more, placing it right next to the pot for the shot.

When taking the photo, she even included a bit of her foot in slippers.

-Pretty, right?

Gu Liuguang thought to herself that just from the photos, anyone could tell how much care she was putting into this plant. The money Gu Shuang had transferred her was well spent.

-I put it here on purpose. It gets good sunlight without worrying about rain.

While waiting for Gu Shuang’s reply, Gu Liuguang finished watering the rest and dragged the pot to the corner of the balcony. That way, she could enjoy it without it getting in the way.

-Very pretty.

Gu Liuguang was about to brush her off with a couple more lines when Gu Shuang beat her to it, saying she had things to do and they’d check it out carefully on video call tonight.

After ending the chat, Gu Liuguang breathed a sigh of relief. She slap-slap ran back to the bedroom in her slippers and admired herself in the mirror for a bit before digging out the Blue Sapphire Diamond Chain and putting it on.

“Having money is great.”

She changed into matching clothes and took two faceless photos, then quietly posted them on Xiaohongshu.

If no one knew how beautiful they were, that would be such a shame.

Half an hour after posting, this newly registered Xiaohongshu account finally got its first comment. She excitedly tapped to view it.

-So pretty! Can I get the link?

It wasn’t what she’d imagined. Had the person really not recognized the blue sapphire and blue diamond?

Was it because her phone’s camera was too poor to capture the texture?

She couldn’t use the photos fox had sent her— what if someone recognized them? How would she keep up the pretense?

Gu Liuguang’s expression shifted back and forth when Lin Shixia messaged that she’d gotten up. Wang Li had gone out to get her breakfast, and she’d head to the set for styling before noon.

She even sent a screenshot.

-This is the screensaver I made with Baby’s photo. Looks good?

Gu Liuguang zoomed in on the image and saw it was a screenshot from yesterday’s livestream, restored for clarity. Because it was restored, it didn’t look quite like her.

Little Light: This one’s not good. Change it.

Lin Shixia: Very pretty.

Lin Shixia: Which one does Baby want?

Gu Liuguang had thought Lin Shixia wouldn’t listen, but since she asked which one, Gu Liuguang paused for a second before opening her photo album.

As soon as she did, besides the fresh photos she’d just taken, scrolling down revealed it stuffed full of Lin Shixia’s pictures. She couldn’t find her own for the longest time.

Gu Liuguang frowned irritably and sent the photos she’d just taken, originally meant for Moments, to Lin Shixia.

Little Light: Pick from these two.

Lin Shixia: Baby is so beautiful. Want to kiss.

Lin Shixia sent a kissing emoji, then a fresh screenshot of her new screensaver. She said the other one would be her phone wallpaper.

No trace of yesterday’s anxiety remained, as if she’d coaxed herself out of it.

Since she didn’t bring up marriage and all that, Gu Liuguang felt no pressure. Unknowingly, she lay back on the bed, nestled in the blanket, and exchanged sporadic messages with Lin Shixia.

Until Zhang Ze called. She paused before picking up.

Zhang Ze’s anxious voice came through: “Liuguang, you’re resigning? Why? Is BH Media not good enough? If daily streaming is too tiring, we can adjust the schedule.”

Gu Liuguang didn’t speak. She had only planned to go to the company later that day.

Lin Shixia had said yesterday she’d handle it, but she hadn’t mentioned it in their morning chat, so Gu Liuguang wasn’t sure about the resignation.

She figured she could go in the afternoon and just call in sick for half a day to brush it off.

But before she could decide what to say to Zhang Ze, he rapid-fired a bunch of words.

It all boiled down to retaining her—BH Media could make many concessions, even more.

Once Zhang Ze ran out of steam, Gu Liuguang finally spoke: “I’ve already decided to resign. I don’t plan to do girl group streaming anymore.”

At that moment, Gu Liuguang felt oddly a little nervous, inexplicably guilty, like she’d done something wrong to the company.

But it was all fake anyway. There was no need to feel bad about it.

Once she started, the words flowed naturally. No matter how Zhang Ze tried to persuade her, Gu Liuguang insisted on leaving.

In the end, Zhang Ze probably realized he couldn’t change her mind. Before hanging up, he asked, “Liuguang, be honest with me—are you entering the entertainment industry?”

He might have just been speaking from personal bias. His voice lowered when he said it, and the background noise suggested he’d moved somewhere quiet.

There was nothing wrong with saying it, so Gu Liuguang told the truth for once: “Not entering entertainment. Just going to my girlfriend’s side.”

The other end went silent. Zhang Ze took a long time to recover, blurting out, “W-well then, wish you and your girlfriend 99.”

Network slang slipped right out.

After hanging up, Lin Shixia’s messages had piled up two screens. She scrolled up to see the latest.

She told Lin Shixia about Zhang Ze’s call. Lin Shixia asked when she’d come to C City.

Gu Liuguang said she hadn’t decided yet.

If she really moved, she’d have to pack all her stuff. In less than three short months here, her bedroom was already crammed with her things.

She took a few photos and sent them to Lin Shixia. At first, Lin Shixia chatted with her about it, then went quiet.

In the meantime, several colleagues messaged Gu Liuguang on WeChat, asking if she was really resigning.

Like Zhang Ze, they wondered if Lin Shixia had promised her something, like taking her into entertainment.

Gu Liuguang replied slowly. In their little group chat, the colleagues seemed quite worried, saying Zhang Ze had let it slip yesterday and no one knew what to do about today’s stream.

Gu Liuguang didn’t feel much about it. In her view, BH Media wouldn’t shut down without her. She was a bit puzzled by what they were even worried about.

Once the former colleagues’ emotions settled, they started planning a farewell meal and asked when she was free.

After chatting, Gu Liuguang realized Lin Shixia hadn’t messaged since her photo of the luxury items in her room.

Lin Shixia was the type to tell Gu Liuguang about everything she did.

She opened their chat. The last message was still her photo.

For once, she proactively messaged Lin Shixia: Where are you?

Lin Shixia’s name showed “typing” for a while.

Finally, her message came: a red circle drawn around the photo Gu Liuguang had sent.

Lin Shixia: Baby, where did this bag come from?

Gu Liuguang zoomed in on the photo. She frowned, thought for a moment, then replied.

Little Light: All gifts from others.

It was from Lin Zhenshuang. She really liked the color. She picked up her phone, aimed at the gray-pink bag, and took a photo to identify it. She had no idea why Lin Shixia had noticed this bag.