Goddess, Are You Blind? (GL) - Chapter 36

Lately, it had been the rainy season. From the hotel, Xue Funian stood looking downstairs, where the scene was blurred and hazy. She could faintly see a few glimmers of light, but beyond that, there wasn’t much she could make out.

Ji Yun had casually bought the first available tickets, which happened to be to Chengdu. The weather here was chilly, and she stepped forward to drape a coat over Xue Funian’s shoulders before standing by her side, gazing down with her.

The people in Chengdu all seemed to carry a kind of lazy ease, without the fast pace Ji Yun was used to in other cities. You could tell just from their slow, ambling steps and the smiles and chatter on the faces of the passersby.

Xue Funian pointed down through the floor-to-ceiling window and turned her head toward Ji Yun:
“Jiejie, that person’s umbrella down there—it’s red, isn’t it?”

Ji Yun turned, surprised. “You can see something?”

Xue Funian shook her head. “Just a blind guess.”

“No wonder. That person’s umbrella is green. For a moment I thought you’d gone color-blind.”

Ji Yun’s words carried a touch of relief, but they made Xue Funian’s brows twitch. She didn’t speak again for a long while.

Seeing the faintly sulky look on Xue Funian’s face, Ji Yun couldn’t help but smile.

She stepped behind her, taking her hand and guiding it, wrapping around her as she spoke:
“Ah Nian, look, this girl is holding a blue umbrella. Over there, that uncle’s is black.”

With Ji Yun’s voice and gentle tug, Xue Funian’s hand moved as if she really was pointing them out herself, seeing the colorful umbrellas below. Slowly, the corners of her lips curled upward, and a soft smile broke across her face.

Once she had coaxed Xue Funian into good spirits, Ji Yun laughed too, guiding her to sit by the bed.
“I checked the weather—it’ll rain for the next two days. Once it clears up, we can go see the panda base. And since we’re here anyway, maybe head to Dujiangyan too?”

“Aren’t you just out here to avoid certain people… and to find the ones behind all this?”

Ji Yun turned to stare at her like she’d said something absurd. Under that gaze, Xue Funian fidgeted, uncomfortable, and quickly asked:
“Isn’t that the reason? Don’t tell me we really came out here just to play?”

For a moment, Ji Yun didn’t know what to say. But before she could speak, Xue Funian reached out, fumbling until she caught her hand.

“If it’s dangerous, Jiejie, then don’t investigate anymore. I’m scared…”

“Ah Nian, how could we not investigate? They don’t just want you gone from this world—they want me ruined and penniless too. If you hadn’t stepped in to cover me, do you think I’d even be here now?”

“And besides, since you’re still investigating, how could I not?”

The words hung there, leaving both women stunned. Then Xue Funian let out a small, helpless laugh.
“So Jiejie already knew.”

Since Ji Yun was already aware, there was no point in hiding. Straightening, Xue Funian confessed:
“After I handed over fourteen percent of my shares, I had Ji Rui look into Yue Feng. I didn’t tell you because I thought your relationship with him was too close.”

At that, Ji Yun gave a cold laugh, then crouched in front of her, lifting her chin with a hand.
“You had Cheng Jirui look into him? And what did you find?”

“Manager Yue didn’t stab you in the back outright, but when he could have helped you, he didn’t.”

Ji Yun nodded in agreement, a self-mocking smile spreading on her lips.

“Then why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I…” Xue Funian faltered. Ji Yun waited patiently, and at last she whispered:
“I thought… since you’ve known Yue Feng for more than ten years, you wouldn’t believe me. And besides… besides, he’s always liked you. I couldn’t imagine he’d do anything to hurt you. So I was afraid…”

“You were afraid I liked Yue Feng too, and that I wouldn’t believe you.”

Ji Yun’s lips tightened. The fleeting joy of moments ago vanished, replaced by a stormy expression that twisted her beautiful features.

And to her surprise, Xue Funian nodded.

A surge of anger burned in Ji Yun’s chest, leaving her raw and aching.

“You had Cheng Jirui look into this, but did you ever think maybe Cheng Jirui and Yue Feng are both friends and rivals? That sometimes, he might actually help Yue Feng?” Her tone was edged with a bitter smile.

Xue Funian froze. “Jiejie, you mean…”

“I mean he’s no true friend either. Not after all these years.”

The venom in Ji Yun’s voice made Xue Funian blink, dazed. Slowly, Ji Yun’s fury ebbed, and only then did the meaning of her words truly sink in.

“You’re saying these schemes… were Yue Feng and Cheng Jirui working together?”

Xue Funian wasn’t stupid—she could piece it together. But her first reaction was still disbelief. Cheng Jirui didn’t seem like someone who would harm her.

Ji Yun saw the conflict in her expression. She poured her a glass of hot water and gently pressed it into her cold hands, warming them.

“He wouldn’t hurt you—because he likes you. But not hurting you doesn’t mean he wouldn’t target me. Just like Yue Feng wouldn’t hurt me, but would turn his hand against you.” She passed over the medicine. “Think about it: if I were ruined, wouldn’t Yue Feng be delighted? Then the only person left to stand behind me would be him. And if you were gone, who else in the company could still challenge him? This kind of opportunity, of course he’d take it.”

“Cheng Jirui wants me gone too. If I’m no longer at your side, who would you have left? Only him.” She let out a sharp laugh. “But neither of them expected the other to act so ruthlessly—Yue Feng moving against you, Cheng Jirui against me. That’s what makes them both rivals and allies.”

As she spoke, it was like lancing a wound—the filth and pus spilling out, ugly and foul, leaving Xue Funian shaken to her core. Blind though she was, she finally saw the rot for what it was.

Clutching at her clothes, she stayed silent for a long time. Ji Yun pulled her into her arms, voice softening. “Did I scare you?”

Xue Funian shook her head. “I’d thought of it… but I didn’t dare confront Jirui.”

Ji Yun stroked her back, careful and soothing.

“It’s not your fault. It’s mine, for not seeing clearly sooner.” After a pause, Xue Funian asked:
“But you’ve been friends with Yue Feng for over a decade—how can you distrust him too?”

“In their eyes, nothing matters except profit. Everything else is invisible.” Ji Yun turned her head, staring out the window in silence.

Xue Funian remembered those words long after. Years later, after she had seen countless ugly faces, she still felt a sliver of comfort—at least one person had not been like that.

Seeing her still deep in thought, Ji Yun forced a laugh. “These things are too dirty. Better you don’t know. Just remember—Jiejie will handle it.”

“So it really was Yue Feng and Cheng Jirui together?” Xue Funian lifted her gaze, though all she saw was a blur.

“If my guess is right, it’s not just them. Qi Rui too. He always wants a slice of the pie—no way he’d sit out.”

“What will Jiejie do?”

Taking the empty glass from her, Ji Yun set it back on the table. The blurred shadow moving in Xue Funian’s vision tracked her every step.

“What else can I do? My position is too awkward. Even if I know it’s them, I still lack hard proof. For now, all I can do is sit back and watch, see what else they have up their sleeves.”

Her words held frustration, yet also a strange note of lightness.

“Then this trip…”

“Was only ever to bring you out to play. It has nothing to do with that mess.” Ji Yun ruffled her hair gently, like how Xue Funian used to pet the dog at home—soft and tender.

Xue Funian tilted her head into the touch, unexpectedly comfortable. It felt nothing like the unease she always felt when others touched her.

She remembered an autumn long ago, when Cheng Jirui had reached out to her the same way. That time, she had stepped back, dodging his hand. The moment had been awkward, but he only smiled and said:
“You had a leaf on your head.”

She had brushed it off herself, never letting him touch her.

Yet now, she found herself yielding to Ji Yun’s hand, letting her ruffle her hair. It felt… good. Different. She wanted to lean closer.

“Jiejie,” Xue Funian whispered, tugging Ji Yun’s hand, smiling so brightly it startled her.

“You don’t need to worry about these things anymore. Just stay away from Cheng Jirui. I’m afraid one day he’ll lose his mind and even try to kidnap you.”

The farther he stays from you, the better.

To her surprise, Xue Funian nodded seriously, as if promising.

“Jiejie, I already gave Yue Feng plenty of shares. In his eyes, I’m nothing but a useless board member. Let him think so. Then, when the time is right—let’s cut him off at the root and start over on our own.”