Goddess, Are You Blind? (GL) - Chapter 17

Xue Funian tilted her head slightly, just as a sea breeze blew against her face. It carried the salty tang of the ocean, yet felt especially pleasant.

“This is…?”

Before she could finish speaking, Ji Yun had already taken her hand and led her toward the shoreline, with the dog trotting happily behind them, tail wagging.

“I just wanted to bring you out for a walk. You’ve been cooped up at home for so long, it’s time you got some fresh air.” Ji Yun held her hand carefully, guiding her step by step at a leisurely pace.

“The sand here feels a little rough.” Funian looked up at Ji Yun with a smile. Bathed in the sunlight, that smile was dazzling.

“Not comfortable?” Ji Yun frowned, glancing down at Funian’s bare feet. Just as she was about to speak again, Funian bent down, slipped off her shoes, and grinned cheekily.

“It feels great. It’s been such a long time since I’ve come out—sunshine, sea breeze, the beach… it’s wonderful.”

Ji Yun found herself staring blankly at Funian’s small pale feet, soft and delicate, so lovely that for a moment she forgot what Funian had just said.

“Jiejie, jiejie.” Funian called her twice before Ji Yun came back to herself.

“As long as you’re happy, Ah Nian. Come on, over here.” She reached over to pick up Funian’s shoes and held her hand, leading her down toward the water’s edge. When the waves lapped up to Funian’s ankles, the icy chill made her burst into laughter.

“There are so few people here. I can’t hear anyone around.”

“That’s because no one knows about this place yet.” Ji Yun chuckled. This girl’s ears really were sharp.

“Many years ago, the Cheng family took an interest in this land. Back then, since it was far from the city, no one paid attention to it. Old Master Cheng bought it outright, and now Cheng Jirui wants to develop it.”

“But didn’t you say this place was remote? Why would he want to develop it?” Ji Yun glanced at Funian, who still had that bright, childlike smile on her face.

“Are you trying to apprentice yourself to me to learn the trade now?”

Funian didn’t hold back, clasped her hands together in mock respect, and said with a laugh, “Master, please enlighten your humble disciple.”

“Oh, oh, you’re really getting into it, aren’t you?” Ji Yun tapped her nose, amused. “Think about it—these days the rich are everywhere. It’s just an hour’s drive to get here, and the scenery and air are amazing. That’s exactly the kind of thing the wealthy love.”

“You really don’t act like some proper young lady from a rich family,” Ji Yun teased as she reached out and playfully pinched Funian’s cheek.

“Oh my, this face! How can it be so soft and smooth?”

As she explained, Ji Yun kept sneaking in little touches, her mood impossibly light.

Funian, on the other hand, flushed slightly and took two small steps back, bumping into the dog, who brushed against her ankle and barked happily, clearly enjoying itself as well.

“Doggy’s happy too.”

“Of course. This place really is beautiful—” Ji Yun stopped abruptly. She had suddenly remembered that Funian couldn’t see. She had always been careful, always afraid of accidentally poking at that sore spot—but still, words sometimes slipped out too quickly.

Funian caught the pause and immediately smiled, deliberately changing the subject: “Jiejie, when did Jirui say he wanted to meet?”

“Three days from now, I think.” Then Ji Yun snapped, “What, you’re actually looking forward to meeting that conniving brat?”

The dog gave an indignant bark on the side—what kind of “brat” was worthy of being compared to it?

“It’s not that, jiejie. I just want to do well with what you’ve entrusted me.” Funian rushed to explain, clutching at Ji Yun’s sleeve anxiously.

Ji Yun glanced down at her hand and chuckled. “I keep saying I need to cut your nails when we get back. Otherwise it’s either your palm you scratch up, or my clothes.”

Hearing the teasing warmth in her tone, Funian relaxed and laughed as well, the unease from before melting away.

The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder down the beach with the dog in tow, Funian kicking up water now and then, splashing both of them. She herself didn’t notice, but Ji Yun just watched her fondly, smiling.

After playing around, the three of them went home. Soaked through, the girls didn’t feel right going out to eat, so Ji Yun busied herself in the kitchen instead. Funian sat at the table with her chin in her hand, listening intently to the sounds from the kitchen.

The day left them both happy and tired. After dinner, they tidied up and went to bed early.

Three days later, Zhang Shuai called Ji Yun, saying Cheng Jirui had already booked a restaurant and was waiting for Funian.

Ji Yun snorted over the phone: “Let him wait. Our Ah Nian takes things at her own pace.”

Zhang Shuai froze, then quickly agreed and hung up.

Funian, who had been listening quietly nearby, smiled. “Jiejie’s angry at Jirui, isn’t she?”

“How can I not be? Just the thought of him eating with our Ah Nian makes my bl00d boil!” Ji Yun fussed over Funian’s collar, then reached up to stroke her head. “Here, let me tie your hair up.”

Funian stayed still, letting her.

“I keep saying we need to get your hair trimmed. Once we’ve dealt with this Cheng Jirui mess, I’ll take you, alright?”

Funian nodded with a soft smile.

When everything was ready, Ji Yun held her hand and led her out. The dog walked them to the door, gave a couple of barks, then curled back up at home.

At the restaurant Cheng Jirui had chosen, Ji Yun parked and helped Funian out of the car, guiding her carefully inside.

He had booked a small private room, intending it to be just the two of them. When Ji Yun came in with Funian, he immediately stood up, ready to take her arm.

But Ji Yun treated him like air, seating Funian herself and setting the glass of lemon water in front of her hand. “Here’s some water. Don’t forget to drink.”

Funian nodded, and Ji Yun smiled. “It’s fine. Call me later, I’ll come pick you up.”

“Mm. Jiejie, be careful on your way back.”

With a nod, Ji Yun grabbed her bag, gave Cheng Jirui a curt look, and left the room.

Though irritation bubbled inside him, Cheng Jirui couldn’t lose his temper in front of Funian. After all, she was the reason he was here. And clearly, no matter what schemes Ji Yun had, Funian trusted her deeply.

“Funian, these days you’ve been staying at Ji Yun’s. Have you been living well?” He took the coffee the waiter brought, and mimicking Ji Yun’s earlier gestures, gently guided Funian’s hand so her fingers brushed the rim of the cup before letting go. Only then did he sit down again.

“Jiejie’s taken wonderful care of me. Senior, you don’t have to worry.”

She spoke earnestly, which was why she called him “senior.”

But in those words, Cheng Jirui sensed something else. She was placing him at a distance, acknowledging only that old, faint tie of “senior,” and nothing more.

Realizing this, he straightened, wearing the sharp, impassive face he usually reserved for clients—his brows knit, his expression forbidding.

“The project Ji Yun proposed—I supported it at first. But later, I found some flaws. So I couldn’t sign the contract.”

Funian nodded. “President Cheng is right. Jiejie read the contract to me as well. There are parts that aren’t ideal. So you were correct not to sign.”

Hearing her soft, warm words, Cheng Jirui smiled—then froze.

By rights, with Ji Yun caring for her, even without being pushed, Funian should naturally lean toward Ji Yun’s side. Yet now, she was siding with him?

He couldn’t deny the flicker of delight. After all these years, despite only knowing each other during university, she was still willing to see things from his point of view.

The jealousy that had flared earlier, seeing her with Ji Yun, now eased with that thought.

He glanced at her again—she was delicately sipping her coffee, the curve of her lips brushing the rim, before lifting her head to give him a gentle smile.

He was stunned. How long had it been since he’d seen that smile?

Back when they first opened their doors at the same time, he had finally laid eyes on the sweet, well-mannered “little sister” who lived next door. She had looked up at him, smiled with neat white teeth, a faint dimple, and eyes that glittered like starlight.

Now, she was as beautiful as ever, her smile just as soft and endearing—but those eyes, though, were empty, hollow.

While he was lost in thought, Funian spoke again.

“That’s why I’m here, President Cheng—to discuss another business deal with you.”