Accidentally Sold Myself (Rebirth) - Chapter 9

9: Speeding

After understanding the situation, Luo Lingxi hung up the phone and sat in her chair, lost in thought for a moment. Yin Na approached, curiously asking, “What did your sister ask you to do? Do you need my help?”

Luo Lingxi’s face lit up with a smile. “Sure, I could use your help this time. I need you to investigate the Gu family, specifically events from over a decade ago. You’re the best person for the job.”

Yin Na’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she confidently promised, “Alright, no problem.”

“There’s one more thing I need to ask of you,” Luo Lingxi continued. “I’m heading back to China for a bit, and I’ll leave things here in your hands.”

Yin Na pouted, clearly displeased. “No way, I want to go with you.”

Luo Lingxi frowned. “That won’t do. I don’t trust anyone else with things here. I’ve worked hard to build my market in the U.S., and I can’t risk it. Don’t worry, I’m just going back to check on my sister’s wife. I’ll be back soon.”

Yin Na wasn’t unreasonable, but she was still reluctant. After chasing Luo Lingxi for so long without success, the thought of her leaving for China left her frustrated. “Fine,” she said, “but you have to kiss me, and I’ll stay here obediently and look after the company.”

Luo Lingxi sighed helplessly. She wasn’t particularly fond of foreigners—men or women—due to differing aesthetics. But over the years, she’d seen Yin Na’s efforts, and perhaps with time, she’d grown accustomed to her. Maybe they could give it a try.

She beckoned Yin Na with a finger. Yin Na eagerly stepped forward, and Luo Lingxi, still seated, pulled her down and kissed her lips.

Yin Na shivered with excitement, her entire body trembling. She’d done it! The soft, sweet sensation of Luo Lingxi’s lips sent her heart racing. She reached out, resting her hands on Luo Lingxi’s shoulders, ready to deepen the kiss with a passionate French kiss.

But Luo Lingxi pushed her away with a chuckle. “Alright, I need to go pack. I’m leaving things here to you.”

Yin Na’s face fell, filled with resentment. She hadn’t even savored the moment, and now Luo Lingxi was leaving? Sitting in the chair Luo Lingxi had just vacated, still warm from her presence, Yin Na suddenly realized something. “Wait a minute! She got me with just one kiss, and now I’m stuck doing free labor? I’m such an idiot! Ugh… but what can I do? I like her!” She groaned, realizing she’d been played.

Luo Ningshuang put away her phone and returned to the private room. Gu Xi was still frantically typing away. Luo Ningshuang knocked on the table and said, “Alright, time to head back to the company.”

“Oh!” Gu Xi mumbled, head down, still typing as she followed Luo Ningshuang.

Luo Ningshuang shook her head helplessly, worried Gu Xi might trip. She slowed her pace, and thankfully, Gu Xi, though engrossed in her phone, was mindful enough of her surroundings to make it to the car safely.

“Stop playing on your phone in the car.” Luo Ningshuang warned. “It’ll make you dizzy.”

“Ah, okay!” Gu Xi was about to put her phone away when she noticed a notification from the Jinjiang system. Opening it, she read:

“Dear Author, to help you avoid a bad ending, the system has issued a task: Successfully sell your work for film or TV adaptation to boost your fame. This will earn you Luck Points. The more points you accumulate, the easier it will be to achieve your goals in the future~!”

Gu Xi’s eyes lit up with excitement. She hadn’t expected the Jinjiang system to help her like this. Boosting her fame would likely keep the Gu family at bay, and selling her work for adaptation could bring in a fortune.

“Why are you so happy?” Luo Ningshuang asked, assuming Gu Xi’s excitement was due to her so-called “online friend” coming to visit. A hint of displeasure crept into her voice.

“Uh, nothing, it’s nothing.” Gu Xi replied, unable to explain.

Luo Ningshuang pursed her lips, her fingers tapping the steering wheel rhythmically, a sign of her irritation.

Gu Xi glanced at her, sensing her mood. She didn’t understand why Luo Ningshuang was upset over something so trivial. After all, Luo Ningshuang was her “sugar daddy,” and an upset sugar daddy could mean trouble—like getting cut off. Trying to smooth things over, Gu Xi said, “I have a friend coming to visit, so I’m a bit excited.”

As expected, Luo Ningshuang’s expression darkened further. She had no outlet for her frustration and said coldly, “A friend? Hmm?”

“Yeah, a friend I met online. We’ve known each other for about three years. She’s great and has helped me a lot.” Indeed, this friend had edited her manuscripts, discussed outlines and character designs, and supported her when she was just starting out. She was practically a mentor.

Luo Ningshuang frowned. An online friend? Gu Xi didn’t even know this person in real life, yet she called her “great”? Greater than her? Glancing at Gu Xi, she noticed her sneaking glances, which softened her mood. “In that case,” she said more gently, “as your wife, I should naturally play the host. Let me know when she arrives.”

“Great, no problem!” Gu Xi replied cheerfully. Why wouldn’t she be thrilled? If her sugar daddy was footing the bill, she wouldn’t have to spend a dime. Perfect.

Seeing Gu Xi’s smug expression, Luo Ningshuang knew exactly what she was thinking. This little money-grubber. Her mood lifted, and she smiled. “Let’s get off work early today. I’ll take you to meet my grandfather and parents.”

“Huh? Oh!” Gu Xi was confused. A fake marriage required meeting the family? Fine, but she wasn’t prepared. Wait, why should she even need to prepare?

Then she remembered the contract. Regret crept in—she hadn’t read it carefully. Surely, the contract had a time limit, right? Tentatively, she asked, “Can I ask you something?”

Luo Ningshuang was curious. What could this money-grubber want to know? In her good mood, she was willing to answer anything. “Go ahead. If I know the answer, I’ll tell you.”

“Well, about the contract we signed… how long is it for?” But as soon as the words left her mouth, Luo Ningshuang slammed on the gas.

Gu Xi grabbed the handle above the car door, shrieking, “What are you doing?! You ran a red light! Slow down!”

Gu Xi finally understood how Jiang Wenxi felt riding with her. Watching Luo Ningshuang blow through one red light after another, weaving past cars, she realized one wrong move could mean a fatal crash. Having died once before, the memory of being hit by a car flashed through her mind. The suffocating fear gripped her, her breathing grew rapid, and her lips turned pale. Furious, she shouted, “Luo Ningshuang, if you want to die, go do it alone! I’m not coming along! Stop the car now!”

Luo Ningshuang’s frustration deepened, but she regained some clarity. She slowed the car and pulled over to the side of the road. She wasn’t sure why she’d reacted so strongly. Hearing Gu Xi ask about the contract’s term felt like she couldn’t wait to leave. Turning to apologize, she saw Gu Xi’s pale face and panicked. “I’m sorry, are you okay?”

“Okay? Okay, my ass! Are you insane, driving like that? You scared me to death!” Gu Xi’s anger turned to tears. She’d already experienced a car accident once—she didn’t want to go through it again.

But her tears stopped quickly as Luo Ningshuang pulled her into an embrace, gently patting her back. Gu Xi’s face was buried in her soft, fragrant chest, and all thoughts of the terrifying moment vanished.

“I’m sorry, don’t cry. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have driven so fast. I promise it won’t happen again, and I won’t make you cry again.” Luo Ningshuang said, her heart aching at Gu Xi’s tears. Without thinking, she’d pulled her close. This time, she had been reckless.

Gu Xi wiped her tears and looked up, catching sight of Luo Ningshuang’s stunningly beautiful face—so captivating it could steal one’s breath away. Her heart skipped a beat, and she held her breath.

Luo Ningshuang’s gaze softened as she looked at Gu Xi’s vulnerable expression. Almost instinctively, she leaned down, but at that moment, Gu Xi’s phone rang.

Gu Xi pushed her away, missing the flash of frustration in Luo Ningshuang’s eyes. Checking the caller ID, she saw it was Mo Yuze. Answering, she said, “Mo Yuze? Why are you calling me?”

Mo Yuze sounded exasperated. “Seriously, girl? We just parted ways, and you’re already acting like you don’t know me? Use me and lose me, huh? I dragged myself out of bed this morning, unwashed and unrested, running around with you. At noon, I was worried if you’d eaten, so I went to your company, only to find you two went out to eat without even thinking of me. I—”

Luo Ningshuang snatched the phone, her voice icy. “Had enough?”

“Oh, it’s you! No, I’m not done. I’m starving, and I worked my butt off running around with your wife—”

Luo Ningshuang cut her off before she could ramble further. “Enough. Someone will bring food made by Aunt Lan to the company. Your job is to eat it. That’s it. And don’t call again.” She hung up without waiting for a response, handed the phone back to Gu Xi, and started the car, driving toward LS in silence.

Gu Xi glanced at her occasionally. Shouldn’t she be the one upset? Why was Luo Ningshuang acting like this? And just now, had she been about to kiss her? Had she been teased again?

Staring out the window, Gu Xi felt a bit dazed. Good thing they hadn’t kissed, or she wouldn’t know how to face it. It wasn’t that she disliked Luo Ningshuang—rather, she was afraid of falling for her. Luo Ningshuang was like a poppy flower: dangerously addictive, impossible to quit once you were hooked. Huang Lejia had already exhausted her emotionally. If she fell for Luo Ningshuang and got dumped, Gu Xi knew she wouldn’t survive it.

Logging back into Jinjiang, Gu Xi reread the system’s message. She desperately wanted to ask it what she should do, but the reply button was grayed out, unclickable.

Luo Ningshuang kept an eye on Gu Xi’s expression. Though she didn’t seem angry, there was a sense of distance, like a cloud in the sky—seemingly close but impossible to grasp. This sparked a flicker of curiosity in Luo Ningshuang.

Her expression darkened as she pushed the dangerous thought away. She knew well that once you grew curious about someone, it was the beginning of falling for them.