Accidentally Sold Myself (Rebirth) - Chapter 35

35: Punishment

Gu Xi stood alone by the roadside, her chest tight with discomfort. She didn’t want to hide anything or deceive anyone, but what was their relationship, really? No promises, no vows of eternal love, just a contract between them. Why should she have to reveal all her secrets?

Hesitating for a moment, Gu Xi decided to head back to her rented apartment. Only there could her heart find some calm, a place where she could be alone and think of nothing at all.

But…

“Luo Ningshuang, you jerk, leaving me stranded here without even a cab in sight! I curse you to stay single forever!”

Perhaps venting her anger helped, as Gu Xi felt a bit lighter. Glancing at the sparse cars passing by, she sighed and started walking back.

It was rare for her to walk alone like this. Memories of her past life felt as vivid as if they’d happened yesterday, yet at times, it seemed like that life never existed at all.

After walking for an hour, Gu Xi finally managed to hail a cab. When she reached her apartment, she was startled to see someone waiting—an unexpected figure from her past life who had once consumed her entirely: Huang Lejia.

Huang Lejia was crouched by the door, looking utterly dejected. In her past life, after Gu Xi’s death, she had never once visited Huang Lejia, not even for a fleeting glance. She didn’t know—nor did she want to know—how Huang Lejia had fared afterward.

Gu Xi felt like she hadn’t checked her horoscope before leaving the house today; everything was going wrong. Huang Lejia was the last person she wanted to see, but with her sitting right at the door, ignoring her didn’t seem like an option.

Sighing, Gu Xi asked, “Why are you here?”

Hearing her voice, Huang Lejia lifted her head from her arms. Upon seeing Gu Xi, tears immediately streamed down her face. Sobbing, she said, “Gu Xi, I’ve been waiting for you forever. Why are you only back now?”

Gu Xi: “…” What the hell? How was she supposed to know Huang Lejia had been waiting? If she’d known, she wouldn’t have come back at all!

Seeing Gu Xi’s silence, Huang Lejia stood up, grabbed her hand, and spoke with urgency, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I was wrong, truly wrong. He… he doesn’t want me anymore. All this time, he was just toying with me. Now that he knows I’m pregnant, he kicked me out.”

Gu Xi didn’t know how to comfort her. A pregnant woman standing at the door like this didn’t seem right. Opening the door, she said, “Come in, and we’ll talk.”

Once inside, Huang Lejia cried even harder, perhaps overwhelmed by the familiar surroundings.

Gu Xi handed her some tissues, unsure of her own emotions. She should’ve felt sad or angry, but now, it seemed she felt nothing at all. “What’s your plan? Are you going to keep the baby, or…?”

Since she was pregnant, a choice had to be made: raise the child alone or terminate the pregnancy and take time to recover, opening the door to a better future.

Wiping her tears, Huang Lejia looked up at Gu Xi, her lips pressed together in silence. Gu Xi shrugged and said, “It’s your decision. I can help a little, but I’m not going to take care of you.”

Huang Lejia suddenly laughed, tears streaming down again as she did. “You’ve changed. I don’t even recognize you anymore. How long has it been since we broke up? Haha!”

For her, it hadn’t been long, but for Gu Xi, it felt like a lifetime. Smiling faintly, Gu Xi replied, “People change. Did you expect me to wait for you forever?”

She had waited long enough. It was time to let go.

Huang Lejia touched her stomach, no longer fixating on Gu Xi’s changes. “I was going to get rid of it. An unmarried woman raising a kid alone is tough. But seeing you… I changed my mind.”

Gu Xi frowned, not understanding.

Huang Lejia smiled softly. “Don’t worry, I’m not trying to cling to you. I chose this path, and I’ll bear the consequences, just like when my parents kicked me out. I won’t regret it.”

“I plan to keep the baby and go back to my parents afterward. I know they won’t abandon me.”

Gu Xi didn’t quite get it. “Why not go back to them now?”

Huang Lejia’s gentle smile vanished, replaced by a cold expression. “I, Huang Lejia, won’t let myself be discarded like this. He has to pay child support.”

Oh, so it was about money. Typical. No surprise there. It made sense—raising a kid wasn’t cheap, and the child was his responsibility too.

“Gu Xi, can you come with me to the hospital for a checkup tomorrow?”

Could she say no? She really didn’t want to go. She wasn’t the kid’s father! But looking into Huang Lejia’s worried eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse. Nodding, she said, “Fine.”

“In that case, I’ll stay here tonight. It’s more convenient. Thanks, Gu Xi.” Without waiting for a response, Huang Lejia walked straight to the bedroom.

Gu Xi: “…” Why did she have to be the good guy?

If Huang Lejia was staying, Gu Xi definitely couldn’t stay here too. A hotel, maybe? She definitely wasn’t going to Luo Ningshuang’s place.

Patting her pockets, she slapped her forehead. Her phone was with Luo Ningshuang, and she barely had any cash. So, no hotel either?

Glancing at the tiny sofa, Gu Xi felt like crying. She really should’ve checked her horoscope today.

Gu Xi: System, what do I do now?!

Ding~ The system is just an auxiliary tool and can’t help Author Ji. But don’t worry, Author Ji, your luck points are pretty high right now. Every cloud has a silver lining!

Ding~ Congratulations, Author Ji! “Supporting Character’s Rise” has been selected for filming…

Ding~ Congratulations, Author Ji! “Overbearing CEO” is about to be published.

Ding~ Congratulations, Author Ji! You’ve earned the “Fame and Glory” title, which will boost your personal charm. This won’t affect people you already know.

Ding~ Author Ji’s fame has increased, earning 15 luck points.

Total luck points: 62/300

The string of notifications made Gu Xi grin from ear to ear—until the door suddenly swung open, her smile still plastered on her face.

Luo Ningshuang walked in and saw Gu Xi grinning like an idiot. Frowning, she asked, “Have you lost your mind?”

Gu Xi wiped the smile off her face. She should’ve been mad about being abandoned earlier, but somehow, she forgot her frustration. Surprised, she said, “How do you have a key to my place? And didn’t you go home?”

“I bought this apartment, so it’s not your place—it’s mine. Is there a problem with me coming back to my own home?”

When did Luo Ningshuang buy it? Talk about rich and reckless! So, what, now Gu Xi didn’t even have a place to lick her wounds?

“Gu Xi, who’s here?”

Oh, crap. She’d almost forgotten about Huang Lejia. Seeing Luo Ningshuang’s questioning gaze, why did she feel so guilty? She hadn’t done anything wrong!

Huang Lejia froze for a moment upon seeing the newcomer. From her aura to her looks, she was undeniably stunning. Huang Lejia couldn’t fathom how, in such a short time, Gu Xi had met someone like this. “Gu Xi, who’s this? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Her tone made it sound like she was the host and Luo Ningshuang was the guest.

Sure enough, a shadow of displeasure crossed Luo Ningshuang’s eyes as she stared coldly at Gu Xi.

Oh, God, this is terrifying. Gu Xi was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Gu Xi: System, where’s the “silver lining” you promised? Come out here so I can strangle you!

Luo Ningshuang set down her bag and handed Gu Xi another phone. Turning to Huang Lejia, she said icily, “I’m her wife. And who might you be?”

Huang Lejia looked at Gu Xi in disbelief. Seeing no denial, she covered her mouth and said, “Gu Xi, I never thought you were like this. All this time, I felt guilty, but now I see you’re worse than me! If you were already married, why didn’t you tell me sooner? How are you any different from those playboys who string people along?”

Gu Xi: “…”

“No, I married her after we broke up. Don’t twist things, okay? The one stringing people along was you, not me.” Gu Xi was exhausted. She must’ve been blind back then.

Ding~ Author Ji’s still blind now!
Gu Xi: Get lost!

Huang Lejia pointed at her, exclaiming, “What? You went and got flash-married? I misjudged you, Gu Xi. Now I see you’re even better at playing the game than I am!”

Gu Xi was speechless. What had she done wrong?

Luo Ningshuang stepped forward. “So, you’re the ex. If you’ve misjudged her, why are you still here? Looking for trouble?”

Huang Lejia raised her chin defiantly. “Gu Xi promised to go with me to the doctor tomorrow, so I’m staying.”

Gu Xi rubbed her temples, exasperated. That phrasing was so misleading. She quickly clarified, “Her ex-boyfriend got her pregnant. I’m just helping out of basic human decency, nothing more.”

“Oh? Human decency, or lingering feelings?” Luo Ningshuang’s tone was calm, betraying no emotion.

“It’s really just human decency. Look, you left me on the side of the road, and I walked for an hour. I’m not even mad, so why are you upset?” Gu Xi couldn’t outtalk her, especially with Huang Lejia stirring the pot.

Luo Ningshuang didn’t respond to her. Instead, she asked Huang Lejia, “Whose child?”

“Qi Chenyu’s. The young heir of Qi’s Real Estate.”

Luo Ningshuang nodded, pointing to the room. “Got it. Rest here tonight. Tomorrow, Gu Xi and I will take you for your checkup, and then we’ll go find him.”

Huang Lejia stopped her nonsense and smiled. “Really?”

Luo Ningshuang gave her a cold look. “I keep my word. After tomorrow, get lost. I don’t want to see you again.”

Then she turned her icy gaze to Gu Xi. “You stay here and look after her. I’ll come back tomorrow. And remember—sleep on the sofa.”

As Luo Ningshuang left, Gu Xi let out a sigh of relief. Turning to Huang Lejia, she said, “Please, I treated you well back then, didn’t I? Can you stop adding fuel to the fire? Thanks a lot!”

“I was just scared you wouldn’t help me!”

“Fine. After tomorrow, do whatever you want, just don’t come looking for me again. Go rest. We’re getting up early.”

“Okay.”

Gu Xi sighed, grabbed a blanket from the room, and looked at the tiny sofa. It could barely fit one person. For someone like her with a chaotic sleeping style, it was pure torture—no room to even roll over.

“Luo Ningshuang, you sure know how to punish people!”