Accidentally Sold Myself (Rebirth) - Chapter 3

3: Announcing the Marriage

Gu Xi finally understood why Luo Ningshuang wasn’t wearing high heels today. It was May 20th, and the civil affairs bureau was packed with couples registering their marriages. The crowd was overwhelming, with the line stretching outside.

“Good heavens, how long will we have to wait in this queue?” Gu Xi inwardly wailed. Why did it have to be today of all days? And the lady in front of her, with such a big belly—why was she here today too? Did she think getting married on 520 (a romantic date in China, sounding like “I love you”) meant her husband loved her more?

Gu Xi turned to Luo Ningshuang, noticing her calm and composed demeanor. Suddenly, Gu Xi felt she might be overreacting. “Hey, how about we come back tomorrow instead?”

Luo Ningshuang gave her a cold glance, and Gu Xi immediately shut up. Not long after, a woman approached—it turned out Luo Ningshuang had already arranged for someone to hold their place in line.

In no time, the two of them completed their marriage registration.

Sitting in the car, Gu Xi stared blankly at the marriage certificate in her hands, feeling like it was all a dream.

Luo Ningshuang reminded her, “Tomorrow, I’ll announce our marriage.”

Gu Xi nodded absentmindedly, then suddenly looked up. “Can we not announce it?”

“What do you think?” Luo Ningshuang countered.

“Fine!” Gu Xi sighed. If they didn’t announce it, what was the point of getting married? Was her brain malfunctioning? Oh well, starting tomorrow, she’d probably become public enemy number one. Whatever, she’d just stay home and quietly write.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll be my personal assistant and come to work with me.” Luo Ningshuang said, shattering Gu Xi’s daydreams.

“Why?” Gu Xi blurted out.

No, no, she didn’t want to be the center of attention.

Luo Ningshuang replied with two words: “The contract.”

Alright, fine, Daddy, you call the shots!

Back at the villa, Luo Ningshuang handed Gu Xi the keys, the passcode, and the access card. “Your room is downstairs. If you need anything, tell Aunt Lan—she’ll take care of it. I have business at the company, so I’m heading out.”

With that, Luo Ningshuang left in a hurry, clearly a workaholic.

Gu Xi watched her leave, then excitedly ran to her room. A computer, laptop, and iPhone were neatly arranged on the desk, with a new phone nearby.

So exciting!

Gu Xi picked it up and examined it. It was brand new. “This is for me too?”

Comparing her old, worn-out phone to the shiny new one, she decided to swap out the SIM card. To her surprise, the new phone already had a SIM card installed. Opening the contacts, there was only one number—likely Luo Ningshuang’s private line.

Gu Xi saved her best friend’s number, logged into QQ, and sighed. She didn’t have many friends. She used to have Huang Lejia’s number, but now it was just her best friend and Luo Ningshuang.

What a pathetic life, right? Gu Xi shook her head and opened her chat with her best friend. A flood of messages popped up instantly.

— Writing yet?
— Where are you?
— You haven’t been online in days! Are you still updating that story?
— Heartbroken? Or did you get hit by a car and die?

Gu Xi’s emotions grew complicated as she read these. Heartbroken? Yes. Hit by a car and died? Also yes. During the time she was a wandering spirit, only this friend she’d never met in person kept messaging her, asking how she was. Back then, she couldn’t respond.

Gu Xi typed: I got heartbroken.
Her friend replied instantly: It’s fine, it’s fine. Out with the old, in with the new.
Gu Xi coughed. Sometimes she wondered if her friend was a fortune-teller. I’ll take your word for it then.
Friend: What about me? Wanna pair up and be a CP?
As always, her friend was trying to “ship” them. Gu Xi quickly changed the subject: Do you believe in rebirth?
Friend: Did writing novels fry your brain?

Gu Xi logged into Jinjiang Literature City, intending to screenshot a message from the site to show her friend. But no matter how she searched, she couldn’t find it—it was as if it never existed.

She replied: Just testing a plot idea.

Friend: Stop testing. Even if you were reborn, your girlfriend wouldn’t come back.

Ouch, that hit hard. Gu Xi: Writing, writing.

Friend: Alright, report your word count in an hour.

Gu Xi: Got it.

It had been a while since Gu Xi wrote anything. Her typing speed was painfully slow, and since this was an old, abandoned story, she’d long forgotten what she planned to write.

Friend: 2680 words. How about you?

An hour passed already? Gu Xi looked at her pitiful 987 words and typed tearfully: 987. No more talk, I’m updating today no matter what.

Friend: Alright, you got this. I’m back to writing too.

After struggling for another hour, Gu Xi finally updated her overbearing CEO story. The moment she did, a reader named “Carnivorous Queen” dropped a massive “deep water” reward, sparking a flood of comments below.

— OMG, Queen, you’re so rich! Marry me!
— Hey, upstairs, if anyone’s getting married, it’s our author to her! You’re out of luck.
— Wait, didn’t anyone notice the author finally updated? Why’s the conversation going off-topic?
— Keep it up, author! No money for rewards, but I’ll cheer you on with love and words!

…

Luo Ningshuang smiled faintly, put away her phone, and resumed reviewing documents. She’d always enjoyed this cute, lazy author’s stories. They were lighthearted and fun, perfect for unwinding after a tiring day.

Noticing the update after days of silence, Luo Ningshuang casually sent a reward to encourage her. Chasing updates was tough, after all.

Knock knock. Secretary Jiang entered, handing Luo Ningshuang some documents. “These are the new designs from the design department, along with the advertising plan.”

Luo Ningshuang took the files and asked, “Am I scary?”

Secretary Jiang flinched but smiled. “Not at all, President. You’re the goddess of the company. Everyone wants to get on your good side…”

Luo Ningshuang waved her off. “Enough. I know whether they’re scared of me or not. Go to the company’s store and pick out a few women’s formal and casual outfits for me. Height around 1.7 meters, figure similar to yours.”

Secretary Jiang glanced at her own curvy figure, then at Luo Ningshuang, curiosity piqued. “President, who are these clothes for?”

Luo Ningshuang raised an eyebrow, hands clasped. “Not scared of me anymore?”

“I’ll get it done right away!” Secretary Jiang fled in a panic.

Luo Ningshuang leaned on the desk, rubbing her temples. She tapped her slender fingers absentmindedly on the surface.

Her phone vibrated. It was a text from Gu Xi.

— Don’t forget there’s a hungry little me at home! You’re a big-shot CEO—how’s the fridge completely empty?

Luo Ningshuang chuckled silently. She didn’t like clutter at home, so Aunt Lan usually bought fresh ingredients daily, and leftovers were thrown out.

Changing Gu Xi’s contact name to “Little Puppy,” she grabbed her keys, stood up, and called Secretary Jiang. “Send the clothes directly to my house.”

“Got it,” Secretary Jiang replied, bewildered but buzzing with gossip. She packed up all the clothes with a grand gesture.

…

After sending the text, Gu Xi regretted it. Why did her brain short-circuit again?

Restless, she messaged her friend: Need comfort. I finally finished writing, but there’s not a single bite to eat at home. I’m starving, dizzy, and about to drop dead.

Friend: Why not go buy something?

Gu Xi: No money. The funds in my Jinjiang account won’t come through for a few days.

Friend: You’re too broke. I told you before not to give all your money to your girlfriend, but you didn’t listen. Send me your bank account, I’ll transfer you some cash.

Gu Xi’s eyes welled up. No need, I won’t starve to death.

Friend: Just tell me. You can pay me back when you’re rich.

Hearing the door, Gu Xi stepped out and saw Luo Ningshuang returning with bags of food. She typed: No need, my sugar daddy’s home.

Friend: Sugar what? You’re not someone’s mistress, are you? Hey, where’d you go?

Gu Xi rushed forward, taking the bags from Luo Ningshuang and placing them on the table. She rummaged through them excitedly. “Wow, so many snacks!”

She opened a pack of sandwich cookies and took a bite, but Luo Ningshuang stopped her. “Come here first. Eat later.”

Confused, Gu Xi walked over, stuffing the cookie in her mouth and mumbling, “What’s up?”

Luo Ningshuang held out her hand. “Give me your hand.”

Gu Xi obediently extended her hand. Luo Ningshuang took her wrist, slipped a ring onto her ring finger, then hooked their pinkies together and snapped a few photos with her phone.

Gu Xi was lost in thought—her fingers are so long, her hand is so smooth, so soft… She only snapped out of it when Luo Ningshuang let go.

Inwardly, she groaned: I’m super gay, and you’re definitely flirting with me. You’re flirting!

Luo Ningshuang posted the photos on Weibo and turned off her phone. Just then, Secretary Jiang arrived with the clothes. When Gu Xi opened the door, Jiang’s eyes lit up, realizing the clothes were for her. She placed the bags inside and smiled at Gu Xi. “Hello, I’m the president’s secretary. May I ask your name?”

Gu Xi blinked. What a sexy secretary—truly the stereotype of “leave it to the secretary.” She grinned. “Oh, I’m Gu Xi.”

Jiang studied her, waiting for more, but Gu Xi just looked clueless. Jiang finally asked, “And… your relationship with the president is…?”

Luo Ningshuang overheard and answered for her. “My wife. Secretary Jiang, we didn’t hire you to gossip. Anything else?”

Jiang froze, shook her head, and bolted. No way was she sticking around to ask questions with the boss right there. But… the boss’s wife? Tsk, interesting.

Luo Ningshuang pointed to the clothes on the floor, using her bossy tone. “Starting tomorrow, you wear these to work.”

Gu Xi nodded, carrying the clothes to her room. There were so many she had to make two trips.

Honestly, she wasn’t a fan of fancy clothes. But since Daddy said so, she’d wear them for show.

How had Jiang carried all these? Gu Xi nearly collapsed after two trips.

She hung up the clothes one by one. The fabric felt luxurious—so soft and smooth. High-end stuff, indeed.

Meanwhile, Luo Ningshuang’s Weibo post had exploded.

— OMG, what’s this? The goddess got married?
— Did anyone notice? Those are two women’s hands!
— Whoa, really? The goddess cheated on her fiancé with a woman?
— Drama alert! I’m eating this gossip up.