Accidentally Sold Myself (Rebirth) - Chapter 21
21: A Harmonious Couple
“Mo Yuze, care to explain?” Lan Qingxue cast a cold glance, sending a chill through Mo Yuze’s heart.
Seeing the situation turn awkward, Gu Xi tried to slip away, but Mo Yuze grabbed her sleeve, forcing her to smile awkwardly. “Hello, Sister Qingxue.”
“Gu Xi, why are you two here?” Lan Qingxue’s tone softened when addressing Gu Xi, but her gaze turned icy when it shifted back to Mo Yuze.
“Uh, well…” Gu Xi glanced at Mo Yuze and tugged at her sleeve, unsure how to respond. She figured it was best to let Mo Yuze handle it.
Mo Yuze ignored the obvious differential treatment, though it stung her heart. Lan Qingxue had never treated her so coldly before, and the indifferent expression left her momentarily dazed. Suppressing her discomfort, she pointed at the man behind Lan Qingxue and asked, “Who’s he?”
Lan Qingxue’s eyes flickered, and a meaningful smile curved her lips. “Does it concern you?”
“Hey, handsome, why don’t you introduce yourself?” Gu Xi, sensing the tension, stepped in to lighten the mood.
The man smiled at Gu Xi, scratched the back of his head, and stepped forward to introduce himself, only to be interrupted by Lan Qingxue. “Alright, it’s not some shameful secret. No harm in telling you.”
Lan Qingxue looped her arm through his, her voice gentle. “This is Chen Xiang. My parents introduced him to me a couple of days ago. After spending some time together, I think he’s pretty decent.”
Gu Xi glanced at Chen Xiang, noticing his stiff posture and expressionless face, which told her Lan Qingxue’s words were a lie.
But Mo Yuze took it seriously, her emotions flaring. Her voice rose sharply. “He’s your boyfriend? If you have a boyfriend, why are you still messing with me?”
Her loud outburst drew the attention of everyone in the café. Lan Qingxue frowned and softly said to Chen Xiang, “You should go. I’ll contact you later.”
Chen Xiang, as if relieved of a burden, bolted without a word, leaving one to wonder if he thought Lan Qingxue was some kind of monster.
Mo Yuze pursed her lips, staring at Lan Qingxue. She could pretend not to know before, but now that Lan Qingxue had made it clear, she felt caught off guard.
Seeing Mo Yuze’s expression, Lan Qingxue didn’t feel pleased. She was just tired and a bit resentful. In a calm tone, she said, “Mo Yuze, I’m human too. I get tired. You don’t respond to me—do you expect me to wait for you forever?”
Mo Yuze lowered her head, her expression unreadable. Gu Xi coughed and said, “Um, Sister Qingxue, there are a lot of people here. Should we head back?”
“Good idea. It’s almost noon, and Luo Ningshuang should be back soon. We have things to discuss. Let’s go.” Lan Qingxue pulled Gu Xi ahead, while Mo Yuze followed quietly like an obedient child.
Gu Xi felt a pang of sympathy and whispered, “Sister Qingxue, that Chen Xiang isn’t really someone your parents introduced, right?”
Lan Qingxue shook her head, her expression tinged with melancholy. After calming herself, she said, “No, he’s my cousin. He’s attending N University here and doesn’t like the dorms, so he asked me to help him find a place.”
“Oh, but why did you lie to her?” Gu Xi asked, puzzled.
Lan Qingxue gave a bitter smile. “Call it a bit of selfishness. From the start, I’ve been the one chasing her, and I’ve been the one getting hurt. For years, I’ve thought about giving up—I almost did. But now, seeing a glimmer of hope, I’m not satisfied. I want her to feel the pain I’ve endured.”
Gu Xi grew worried. Playing with emotions like this was risky. “Aren’t you afraid she’ll leave you if she finds out you lied?”
Lan Qingxue tilted her head, gazing at the sky with a sense of release. “If that happens, it means we’re truly not meant to be. I won’t waste any more time on her. In this world, no one is indispensable.”
Gu Xi knew further words were pointless. As an outsider, she could only hope both of them would be okay.
Mo Yuze trailed behind, watching Gu Xi and Lan Qingxue whisper to each other. It was clear they were discussing something they didn’t want her to hear, and a suffocating feeling gripped her, making her uneasy.
The group rode back to the villa in Lan Qingxue’s car in silence.
At the entrance, they saw Luo Ningshuang bidding farewell to a stranger. She explained proactively, “He’s a lawyer. My dad sent him to deliver a contract.”
Gu Xi asked curiously, “What contract?”
“Shares in a management company. I told you someone would bring it over.” Luo Ningshuang said, pulling Gu Xi inside while playfully tapping her nose.
Gu Xi wrinkled her nose and shot her a look, subtly gesturing toward the two behind them.
Mo Yuze took off her jacket and tossed it onto the sofa, clearly in a bad mood, hoping to draw attention.
But no one paid her any mind.
Luo Ningshuang smiled lightly. “What’s this? Trying to seduce me with all that blinking? At least put some charm into it!”
Gu Xi: “…” No chemistry at all.
Luo Ningshuang understood Gu Xi’s hint. She’d noticed the tension between Mo Yuze and Lan Qingxue from the start, but as a friend, she knew better than to meddle. She could only hope their relationship would withstand the test of time.
“Qingxue, let’s talk while we eat.”
Lan Qingxue nodded and sat next to Luo Ningshuang, while Gu Xi sat beside Mo Yuze. As soon as she sat down, Mo Yuze kicked her.
“Ow!” Gu Xi finally understood how much it hurt when Luo Ningshuang got kicked. She whispered, “What was that for?”
“What were you two whispering about earlier?”
“Uh, well, Sister Qingxue said Chen Xiang isn’t her boyfriend yet. She hasn’t decided.” Gu Xi couldn’t reveal Chen Xiang’s true identity, leaving it for Mo Yuze to figure out herself.
Mo Yuze’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Yep, truer than pearls.”
Luo Ningshuang handed another contract to Lan Qingxue. “Check this for any issues. If it’s fine, sign it soon.”
Lan Qingxue smiled, took out a pen from her bag, and signed without even looking. “Don’t I trust you? This collaboration will probably make Xiao Feng furious.”
Luo Ningshuang nodded. Once Monday arrived and the news broke, LS’s stocks would soar. “I’ve tasked Gu Xi with selecting actors, but she’s inexperienced. You’ll need to help her.”
“No problem. Gu Xi, what’s your plan? I’ll assist you.” Lan Qingxue said readily.
“I’m thinking of going to B City, to film schools and such to pick talent.” Gu Xi said, excited to finally show her skills.
Mo Yuze blurted out, “I’m going too.”
Lan Qingxue sneered. “What for?”
To keep an eye on you, obviously! Mo Yuze didn’t say it aloud. Instead, she said, “To protect you. B City is a mixed bag, and our family’s main company is there. I can help.”
Lan Qingxue scoffed. “Weren’t you kicked out of your family? Do you have money? Will anyone there listen to you? Besides, doesn’t your family deal in steel and construction? How’s that relevant? And what do you do besides flirt all day?”
Every word hit home, leaving Mo Yuze speechless. For the first time, she realized that aside from her family background, she had little to offer.
Luo Ningshuang spoke up for her. “She’s not entirely useless. Her family has connections with officials. She can help ensure the Xiao family doesn’t interfere.”
“Right, more people, more strength.” Gu Xi chimed in.
Lan Qingxue chuckled but still refused. “You two are quite the pair, but I still won’t agree. Whether Mo Yuze can help is debatable, and too many people draw too much attention.”
Mo Yuze, repeatedly shut down, lost her temper. “Fine, I won’t go. What’s the big deal?”
Gu Xi’s face flushed as she muttered, “Who’s a pair with her?”
Her voice was soft, but Luo Ningshuang caught it. She reached across, pulling Gu Xi’s hand with an affectionate look. “My wife, this trip will be tough on you. When you return, your husband will reward you handsomely.”
Mo Yuze gagged, never having seen Luo Ningshuang act so cheesy.
Gu Xi yanked her hand back, glaring fiercely. “You’re the wife!”
“Oh, is my husband hungry? Try this minced pork with eggplant. Your wife made it herself. Please, do me the honor.” Luo Ningshuang teased, unfazed by the others’ reactions.
Gu Xi: “…” Shameless, always flirting.
The dish looked decent, but could Luo Ningshuang actually cook?
Gu Xi eyed it skeptically. Luo Ningshuang clutched her chest dramatically. “Does my husband doubt me? I poured my heart into this dish. Can’t you see the love in it?”
“Shut up! Love your sister! Fine, I’ll eat it!” Gu Xi grabbed a big bite with her chopsticks and stuffed it in her mouth, her eyes lighting up instantly.
“I don’t have a younger sister, sorry to disappoint you.” Luo Ningshuang quipped.
Lan Qingxue chuckled, seeing Luo Ningshuang’s playful side for the first time. “When Ningshuang’s in a bad mood, she cooks. Her skills are decent, though not as good as Aunt Lan’s.”
Mo Yuze reached for the eggplant, but Luo Ningshuang slapped her hand away. “Eat something else. This is for Gu Xi.”
Mo Yuze pouted, looking pitifully at Luo Ningshuang, like a child ignored by her parents.
Lan Qingxue, seeing Mo Yuze’s aggrieved expression, resisted the urge to comfort her and said to Gu Xi, “Let’s leave tomorrow. I’ll book the tickets.”
A plane! Gu Xi, who’d never flown before, nodded excitedly. “Great!”
Luo Ningshuang, seeing Gu Xi’s eager, naive expression, cautioned, “Don’t underestimate the Xiao family. They have deep roots in the entertainment industry and complex connections.”
Gu Xi nodded absently, her mind already on the plane.