Chapter 18: Hitting On Her

Gu Yining’s suicide attempt was something of a secret, given that it was years ago. Even Cheng Qingtang had only learned of it through Pei Yirou—even Song Mingyao didn’t know.

Her words came with a prejudged assumption: she mistook Ji Huaqing for a substitute.

That face was too similar.

Ji Huaqing’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t know who the “ex” was, but from the word “substitute” in the last sentence, she could deduce the ex was her: Ji Huaqing.

Under Cheng Qingtang’s calm eyes, waves were churning. “If you’re after money, I can help you leave—freely and with dignity.”

She straightened up; her long, slender legs were similar to Gu Yining’s. A thin layer of golden light settled over her, casting a long shadow on the floor.

Cheng Qingtang’s terms were tempting. She was convinced the other woman didn’t know about Gu Yining’s ex. Anyone who truly had feelings would find it unbearable.

“I’m not after money. Sorry.” Ji Huaqing refused. She disliked Cheng Qingtang’s overbearing manner—it was suffocating.

She turned to leave. Cheng Qingtang, unwilling to let it go, added, “You don’t know how crazy Gu Yining is. She’s never forgotten her ex. She raised her ex’s niece, buried her ex’s parents for her. She has severe mental illness—depression. Do you understand?”

“I can give you money. Stay away from that lunatic.”

Ji Huaqing paused, stopping instinctively. “If she’s a lunatic, why are you throwing yourself into the fire for her?”

Ji Huaqing stood elegantly before the mirror. Cheng Qingtang looked at the reflection—a woman with long black hair on her shoulders, a white shirt buttoned only to the second button, perfectly revealing a graceful neck.

Buttoned to the second—that was Gu Yining’s habit.

Ji Huaqing liked it buttoned to the first. On her way out, Gu Yining had deliberately fixed it for her. Reasoning that the times had changed, Ji Huaqing had gone along.

Cheng Qingtang stared at those buttons. Ji Huaqing frowned slightly. “Miss Cheng?”

“Gu Yining always says the second button is the most beautiful, but someone always liked the first—too covered, too old-fashioned. She also said that if she could go back, she’d make that person button it to the second.” Cheng Qingtang curled the corner of her mouth casually. “Look—you, the substitute, did it for her.”

Ji Huaqing instinctively touched her buttons, her expression flat. “I’m going back first.”

“Think about my offer. You don’t want to live in another’s shadow your whole life, do you?” Cheng Qingtang pressed again.

Ji Huaqing thanked her softly, then asked, “Who knows about her suicide attempt?”

“If you want to know, I’ll tell you. On June 20, ten years ago—which happened to be the fifth anniversary of that plane’s disappearance—Zhou Hui found her and took her to the hospital. Her ex had been on the plane and never came back. She was confirmed dead.”

“Thank you.”

Ji Huaqing thanked her quietly, turned, and walked away. The moment her back was to the mirror, the perfunctory smile on her face vanished.

She returned to the booth. Next door, Pei Yirou was singing and dancing with a group of young women, burning with excitement.

Gu Yining sat in her original spot, head down, playing with her phone. Her skin was white as milk, her long, curling lashes trembling slightly. She looked up at empty space, her eyes halting, her straight nose striking.

No matter how many times Ji Huaqing saw her, she still found this woman breathtaking. Her bearing, her facial features—all eye-catching.

She carried a cold, sharp edge now, like a blade honed by frost, washed of all dust. Every move, every gesture, was steady.

Suicide—that was something emotionally unstable people did. It didn’t fit Gu Yining.

She seemed too calm.

Ji Huaqing stopped, stealing a look at Gu Yining. When she’d seen enough, she turned to go back—and saw a girl walk over.

The girl was young, quite pretty, and she sat down directly, laughing and saying something.

Gu Yining sat sideways, radiant, sure to attract attention.

The girl took out her phone; the screen lit up, and she presented it to Gu Yining. Ji Huaqing knew that gesture—it was how Pei Yirou had just hit on the girls: scan the code and add friends.

Smiling, Gu Yining took out her phone and added her.

A smug look crossed the girl’s face. Whatever she said, she was clearly pleased. Even Gu Yining, chin tilted back, was laughing.

Her smile was still cold and distant.

Gu Yining was so carefree, accepting a stranger’s advances. She hardly looked like someone with severe depression.

As Gu Yining laughed merrily, Song Mingyao suddenly coughed violently. Gu Yining, confused: “Your throat hurts?”

“Teacher Ji, I drank your Wangzai milk. I’ll get you a couple more bottles.” Song Mingyao shot up, smiling with utmost devotion.

Ji Huaqing could tell she was trying to tip off Gu Yining. She nodded and let her run off.

The girl who’d been hitting on Gu Yining saw Ji Huaqing, but she didn’t leave her seat. She even asked, “Going to the hotel?”

Ji Huaqing: “…”

“No. You can go now.” Gu Yining declined with a smile, airy as clouds.

The girl left. Ji Huaqing switched seats, moving far away from Gu Yining.

Gu Yining handed her the phone, smiling subtly. “Your phone.”

“Thanks.” Ji Huaqing took it, swiped it open, and found a friend request.

She tapped the avatar and looked toward where the girl had gone. Was that her WeChat she’d just added?

Ji Huaqing rejected it without hesitation, then turned off the screen. Gu Yining looked at her. “That seat is reserved for Cheng Qingtang—you’ve taken her seat.”

“Sorry.” Ji Huaqing quickly sat back in her original spot. Her movements were natural and casual, but her shoulders were rigid with tension.

Gu Yining wore a faint smile, utterly lazy.

Just then, Cheng Qingtang returned. She reined in her smile and called Pei Yirou back from next door.

“You called me here for what? Ditching us to net new fish—is that proper?” Gu Yining demanded of Pei Yirou.

Pei Yirou, still wistful, looked at her cold face, then glanced at Cheng Qingtang, swallowing her words.

“There was something, but now there’s nothing.” Pei Yirou sighed.

Her mother had wanted her to play matchmaker between Cheng Qingtang and Sister Gu. But Sister Gu had suddenly found a partner, making tonight’s gathering deeply awkward.

Gu Yining smiled at Pei Yirou until the girl’s heart trembled. “Don’t look at me like that. Who told you to get a girlfriend without a word? I’m telling you, find time to visit my mother—she’s been worrying about your big milestone. Since Auntie came home, she doesn’t like going out, and my mother worries about her too.”

“Her sleep is bad. She shouldn’t go out. Anyway—I’m off?” Gu Yining instinctively glanced at Ji Huaqing.

Ji Huaqing clearly didn’t like the atmosphere here.

Pei Yirou hesitated. Ji Huaqing across the way suddenly took out her phone. “Can we exchange contact info?”

“Yes, yes.” Pei Yirou was flattered, giving her best emotional performance. “A beauty like you is just so giving. Let me tell you—if you two break up, don’t be sad. I can find you someone better. My contact list is full of rich beauties.”

The two added each other on WeChat. Gu Yining led Ji Huaqing out of Ten Li of Jianghuai.

Ten Li of Jianghuai was packed. The water was streaked with colored lights, shimmering. Sightseeing boats sat on the river, tourists aboard riding the wind.

“Teacher Ji, want to go for a ride?” Gu Yining’s face was slightly flushed. Facing the wind, her long hair drifted.

Ji Huaqing followed her gaze. The dock was crowded; they’d probably have to wait.

She hesitated. Gu Yining walked over, and she followed. Gu Yining’s eyes smiled, clear and beautiful as the moonlight.

“Let’s go look.” Ji Huaqing stopped and turned toward the dock.

Puzzled, Gu Yining caught up.

The queue was long. They took a number and waited to the side.

Then the girl from the bar arrived, here with her companion for a boat ride. She walked straight up to Gu Yining. “Why did you reject my friend request?”

Rejected?

Gu Yining’s expression flickered, an indifferent smile on her face. “Probably my girlfriend took the phone. She rejected it.”

“You have a girlfriend?” The other was surprised, instinctively looking at Ji Huaqing.

Ji Huaqing looked down, avoiding her gaze, like a thief caught red-handed.

The girl left quickly.

Gu Yining didn’t mention the rejection. She looked up at the sky, her long hair lifted by the river wind, with a fragile, sorrowful beauty.

Half an hour later, it was their turn. They put on life jackets and boarded a boat.

Gu Yining took the controls and turned to Ji Huaqing. “Which direction?”

“Whatever you like. As long as you’re happy.” Ji Huaqing had no opinion; she had no interest in these facilities. But once the boat moved, the sudden wind swept over them, carrying the scent of the lake. In an instant, her whole body relaxed.

Both body and soul felt free and open.

Gu Yining drove fast, racing over the water, spray churning behind them. Ji Huaqing could barely keep her eyes open. “Slow down.”

“You do it.” Gu Yining waved her over. “Try it.”

Ji Huaqing didn’t want to, but meeting Gu Yining’s eyes, she somehow nodded. The boat slowed. Gu Yining steered with one hand and pulled Ji Huaqing over.

The boat was steady, but moving around still rocked it. The moment Ji Huaqing sat down, feeling the boat tilt, she instinctively hugged Gu Yining.

Gu Yining’s laughter came, cool and distant: “It won’t tip, Teacher Ji.”

When she was teasing, she loved to enunciate “Teacher Ji.”

Ji Huaqing steadied herself and got her breath back, only to realize she was sitting on Gu Yining’s lap—where the warmth burned like a hot brand. Her shame made it impossible to lift her head.

“You… move over. Sit somewhere else.”

“Alright. Look ahead.” Gu Yining wrapped an arm around her slender waist and pointed ahead: “They’re coming straight at us.”

One hand on the wheel, the other pressed against Gu Yining’s shoulder, Ji Huaqing knew the position was too intimate. But Gu Yining’s words made her look up.

Another boat was charging straight at them, moving fast, with no intention of turning aside.