The Mouth Is Stubborn, But the Body Is Quite Honest [Rebirth] - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: 017 “So, How Does Miss Gu Plan to Take Responsibility?”

As the two of them swayed and stood up with the help of the flight attendants, Gu Linlang heard Qi Wanyang quietly let out a small “hiss,” as if she was enduring pain.

Just then, a young woman in a business suit rushed over from the first-class cabin, asking worriedly, “Ms. Qi, are you alright? Is your shoulder hurt?”

Gu Linlang suddenly remembered that Qi Wanyang had slammed her shoulder hard against the cabin wall to protect her.

A surge of uncomfortable feeling hit her heart, and she anxiously asked the flight attendant: “Is there a doctor on the plane? Can someone look at my friend?”

The flight attendant also realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly made an announcement asking for a doctor, but the passengers looked at each other and shook their heads helplessly.

“Linlang, I’m fine,” Qi Wanyang forced a smile. “The plane is about to land. This little injury is nothing.”

Gu Linlang suddenly cupped Qi Wanyang’s face, her almond eyes wide and sharp with focus. “Qi Wanyang, stop acting tough in front of me! If it hurts, say it hurts!”

Then she turned and waved to the flight attendant: “Do you have an ice pack?”

“I apologize, ma’am, we only have ice cubes, but we can put them in a bag,” the flight attendant replied politely.

“That works too. Please bring a bag, and also a thin towel,” Gu Linlang efficiently instructed.

Qi Wanyang’s assistant, Dana, had never met Gu Linlang, but the name “Miss Gu” was famous. She adjusted her glasses and suggested with a smile: “Miss Gu, my seat is next to Ms. Qi. How about we switch?”

Gu Linlang’s eyes immediately lit up: “That would be wonderful! But I booked last minute and only got an economy class seat.”

“It’s no problem,” Dana waved her hand. “I actually find economy class more relaxing.” She then followed the flight attendant toward Gu Linlang’s original seat.

Gu Linlang carefully supported Qi Wanyang, maneuvering through the narrow aisle toward the first-class cabin.

The dark gray carpet underfoot was thick and soft, muffling all sound.

The seats on either side were separated by half-height walnut partitions, making each space feel like a small private compartment. Once the frosted glass curtain was drawn, it became an independent, private area.

Their seats were in the middle, two parallel seats side-by-side.

Unlike the single seats, the divider between them was not a fixed wooden wall but a movable, beige soft curtain that could be raised or lowered.

The curtain was currently fully down, revealing two cream-colored leather seats.

“Slowly,” Gu Linlang said. After helping Qi Wanyang sit down, she naturally took the adjacent seat.

A flight attendant came over and closed the partition door, making the space feel quiet and private.

“Let me look at your shoulder injury?”

“Why are you on this plane too?”

After they settled down, both spoke simultaneously, then paused.

Gu Linlang swallowed her words. She couldn’t very well say she came abroad specifically to avoid Qi Wanyang, only to bump into her and nearly cause a plane crash.

Gu Linlang didn’t know how she was supposed to feel right now. It was truly a small world for enemies.

Qi Wanyang broke the silence first, her voice soft but laced with teasing: “I’m coming to Japan for an important work meeting. What about you? You didn’t follow me here, did you?”

Gu Linlang’s face flushed, and she quickly retorted: “Stop flattering yourself! I just decided to come out and play on a whim! How was I supposed to know I’d run into you?”

Qi Wanyang narrowed her seductive peach-blossom eyes and deliberately drew out her words: “Oh? But I distinctly remember telling you a few days ago when I visited you in the hospital that I was coming to Japan for a meeting, didn’t I?” She suddenly burst out laughing. “Miss Gu is still so stubborn.”

Qi Wanyang found the memory of that hospital visit amusing. Gu Linlang had reacted like a mouse seeing a cat, shrinking entirely under the blanket and refusing to come out.

Yet, when Qi Wanyang turned to leave, the girl suddenly rushed up and hugged her from behind. When she turned back, the girl quickly retreated under the covers and wouldn’t show her face again. That awkward behavior had made her cousin, Hong Hui, and the others watching the show bend over with laughter.

The “social death” memories forcibly inserted by the System immediately flashed in Gu Linlang’s mind, and her entire face instantly flared up, even her neck turning pink.

She violently turned her head away, wishing she could open the cabin door and jump out right now.

Damn it! Did Qi Wanyang really say she was going to Japan for a meeting?

Because the memory snippets the System forcibly uploaded were too socially humiliating, Gu Linlang hadn’t carefully reviewed exactly what had happened or what people had said during those three days.

If she had known Qi Wanyang was going to Japan, she never would have left the country!

It seemed “custody” was a terrible idea. Gu Linlang felt like she must have been crazy to exchange for that fast-forward time.

“Ahem!” She cleared her throat loudly, lifting her chin and forcefully changing the subject: “I never owe anyone a favor. I will take full responsibility for your injury.”

Qi Wanyang’s eyes narrowed slightly at the corners, and her smile was meaningful: “So, how does Miss Gu plan to take responsibility?”

Gu Linlang’s ears burned under Qi Wanyang’s intense gaze. Before she could figure out how to respond, the flight attendant timely delivered the ice pack and towel.

“Your shoulder hit the wall so hard, you definitely have some soft tissue damage,” Gu Linlang said, taking the ice pack and towel. “Let’s ice it first, and then go to the hospital when we land.”

She mimicked how Qi Wanyang had taken care of her when she was injured, carefully wrapping the ice cubes in the towel.

Qi Wanyang watched her, slightly amused: “Alright, I’ll follow Miss Gu’s lead.”

Qi Wanyang cooperatively took off her suit jacket.

Gu Linlang glanced at the silk shirt she was wearing and hesitated: “Should we apply it like this? Or should we… take off the shirt too?”

She quickly glanced around. The compartment door was securely closed without a gap, so it should be safe.

Qi Wanyang’s eyelashes fluttered. She lifted her eyes to look at Gu Linlang, her voice suddenly dropping a few notes: “Then, will you help me?”

Gu Linlang’s hand trembled, and she nearly dropped the ice pack.

What the heck? The smelly fox was usually as thick-skinned as a fortress, so why was she suddenly acting shy, which made Gu Linlang’s own ears burn?

Placing the ice pack aside, Gu Linlang secretly took a deep breath and reached out to unbutton Qi Wanyang’s shirt.

The small space was so quiet they could hear each other breathing. Qi Wanyang’s eyes never left her face, and Gu Linlang’s fingers were shaking, making her dare not look up.

As the buttons came undone one by one, the pale apricot lace bra against the snow-white skin abruptly entered her view, making her breath catch in her throat.

Worse still were the rising and falling curves of her chest and the tantalizing glimpse of cleavage, which instantly reminded her of the night she spent at Qi Wanyang’s house, when she saw everything that should and shouldn’t be seen.

Gu Linlang’s gaze was uncontrollably glued to places it shouldn’t be, and chaotic thoughts kept popping up in her mind, impossible to suppress.

“Linlang,” Qi Wanyang suddenly whispered close to her ear, “The ice is going to melt if you keep zoning out.”

The warm breath sent a shiver through Gu Linlang’s body. She hastily collected herself and noticed the red swelling on Qi Wanyang’s left shoulder, which was particularly noticeable. Suddenly, her romantic thoughts vanished, replaced by concern. She quickly slipped half of Qi Wanyang’s shirt off her shoulder and gently pressed the towel-wrapped ice pack onto the area.

The cool sensation seeped into her skin, and Qi Wanyang let out a soft sigh of relief. The burning pain in her shoulder finally lessened.

“Is that better?” Gu Linlang lightly pressed the ice pack, staring intently at Qi Wanyang. Seeing the undisguised fatigue between her brows, Gu Linlang’s voice involuntarily softened: “Before, when I was injured, you took care of me the same way… I’m just repaying the kindness; don’t read too much into it.”

Hah, still stubborn.

Qi Wanyang’s lips curved slightly, but then she instantly put on a troubled expression: “It’s much better, but I’m just a little tired.”

“Then you should rest for a bit. I’ll keep icing it for you,” Gu Linlang blurted out. When she looked up and met Qi Wanyang’s smiling eyes, she felt her cheeks stinging as if they’d been licked by a small flame. “I was just returning the favor for when you took care of my injury… don’t read too much into it.”

Heh, still so defensive.

Qi Wanyang’s lips curved, but immediately she looked troubled again: “But the injury is all the way to my back; no matter how I lie down, it’s uncomfortable.”

The area from Qi Wanyang’s left shoulder to her shoulder blade was indeed red, causing Gu Linlang to furrow her brow too.

“How about… you lean on me?” Gu Linlang’s throat was tight as she tentatively suggested.

Given Qi Wanyang’s personality, she would probably refuse, right? But Qi Wanyang smiled and immediately agreed: “Then I’ll trouble you.” With that, she leaned toward her.

The moment Qi Wanyang settled into her arms, Gu Linlang’s entire body stiffened.

Qi Wanyang noticed her tension and made a move to pull away: “It’s alright if it’s too much trouble. I can manage for a little longer.”

“N-not too much trouble!” Gu Linlang found her justification, her voice a bit louder than necessary. “I said I’d take responsibility for you, and I mean it! Lean on me and sleep for a bit; we still have over an hour before landing.”

“Mhm.” Qi Wanyang leaned back into her embrace. This time, Gu Linlang steadily held her, one hand still pressing the ice pack, the other gently wrapped around Qi Wanyang’s slender waist.

Qi Wanyang also naturally wrapped her arm around Gu Linlang’s waist. The heat emanating from Gu Linlang’s skin beneath her palm was startlingly high, and she couldn’t help but inwardly chuckle.

This girl is sharp-tongued, but her body is honest. Why didn’t I notice how cute she was before? I wasted so many years arguing with her.