When a Straight Girl Enters a Yuri Novel - Chapter 1

The Ji family villa was located in Luoshui City, a place where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. Walking through the villa district, one might occasionally spot celebrities.

The villas weren’t cheap, and naturally, the environment was excellent.

The living room was well-lit, where a painting once bought for eight million at auction had been replaced with a photograph of a young girl.

The girl was bending slightly, her eyes gently closed, the tip of her nose lightly touching a white rose. Her rosy lips were slightly parted, giving her the appearance of an innocent, ethereal spirit.

Ji Ming’s eyes were fixed on the girl in the photograph, but his attention was entirely focused on the woman sitting on the sofa.

He had so much to say, yet at this moment, not a single word could escape him, leaving the atmosphere in the living room heavy with silence.

It was only ten in the morning, and faint barks could be heard from outside.

The woman sitting at the other end of the sofa tilted her head slightly, her peripheral gaze drifting toward the floor-to-ceiling window. Half of her face was bathed in sunlight, her profile smooth and elegant, with long, curled lashes and a perfectly sculpted nose—like a stunning beauty straight out of a manga.

If not for her icy, indifferent expression, her features might have appeared even more captivating.

Noticing her displeasure, Ji Ming quickly forced a smile and explained, “That’s Xiangyan’s dog, named Coco.”

The Xiangyan he mentioned was his eldest daughter from his previous marriage—and also the reason Gu Jinghe had come to the Ji household today.

Of course, she was also the girl in the photograph.

After Ji Ming’s explanation, Gu Jinghe withdrew her gaze. Her fingers tapped lightly on her lap, and when she spoke, her voice was smooth yet laced with frost. “Mr. Ji, I’ve already waited half an hour.”

Ji Ming wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face still wearing an ingratiating smile, though inwardly, he cursed Ji Xiangyan over and over.

“Please don’t be upset, President Gu. Xiangyan will be here any moment. Ah, this girl—I told her to hurry back, but she insisted on dressing up properly before meeting you.”

Gu Jinghe lowered her eyes slightly, leaning forward to pick up the teacup from the table. She took a delicate sip, her fingers lightly pinching the rim.

The fragrance of the tea spread across her tongue, carrying a subtle sweetness. Behind the cover of the cup, Gu Jinghe secretly smacked her lips and mentally pestered her system, “System, I still think milk tea tastes better.”

“I’ll have to grab a cup on the way back—no, make it two.”

After all, she was no longer a broke and overworked employee. Now, she was a cold, elegant, and domineering CEO who could bankrupt people at will.

If not for her aloof and indifferent persona, she would have already pulled out her phone to scroll through Weibo.

The Ji family’s sofa was comfortable, but no amount of comfort could make sitting idly for half an hour any less tedious.

It was just plain boring.

Gu Jinghe couldn’t show her boredom, though—because CEOs were supposed to be patient. She also couldn’t play with her phone, because a CEO’s phone wasn’t for entertainment—it was for work.

The worst part was that she had to follow these ridiculous rules. The moment she even thought of doing something out of character, the system would start nagging in her head, giving her a headache.

Sitting here in a battle of silence with Ji Ming was utterly dull. The only thing she could do was sip tea—and even then, she couldn’t drink too much. After all, what kind of CEO would excuse themselves to the bathroom at such a crucial moment?

Gu Jinghe pressed her lips together, her expression growing even colder, making Ji Ming sweat even more.

Fortunately, at that moment, the butler’s voice finally came from the doorway, offering a sense of relief for the two people sitting in the living room.

“The young miss has returned.”

Ji Xiangyan didn’t say anything. In truth, she had arrived a bit earlier. She had seen Coco outside and played with the dog for a while before coming in.

This was the first time the butler had treated her with such eagerness. Ji Xiangyan set down her backpack and said, “Thank you for your trouble.”

“No trouble at all. Please go in, young miss. The guest and the master are waiting for you.”

Ji Xiangyan had known someone was coming—and she knew exactly who it was: Gu Jinghe, the current heir of the prestigious Gu family.

It was almost laughable. Ji Ming had no business acumen, and the Ji family had been on a steady decline over the years. Recently, a key project Ji Ming had heavily invested in was abruptly halted, resulting in massive financial losses. After days of fretting, somehow, he managed to establish a connection with Gu Jinghe.

Gu Jinghe agreed to collaborate with the Ji family—on one condition: Ji Ming had to hand over his eldest daughter, Ji Xiangyan, to her.

It was no secret that Gu Jinghe, the heir of the Gu family, preferred women. But Ji Ming never expected her to take an interest in his own daughter.

Ji Xiangyan was his child with his ex-wife, who had passed away three years prior. Ji Ming had neglected Ji Xiangyan’s upbringing, and as a result, the two were not close.

Compared to the company, a daughter with whom he had a strained relationship seemed insignificant. Ji Ming agreed almost without hesitation, leading to today’s arrangement.

Given Gu Jinghe’s status, she shouldn’t have needed to come in person. Perhaps the original owner had considered it a form of amusement.

Gu Jinghe took a final sip of tea to steady herself.

Setting down the cup, she turned and locked eyes with the girl who had just walked in.

Ji Xiangyan was eighteen—the prime of youth. She had a pair of mesmerizing peach-blossom eyes that shimmered like cool moonlight when she wasn’t smiling. But when she did, they curved like crescent moons, the corners lifting with an indescribable allure.

Tall and slender, Ji Xiangyan had a delicate frame, yet her curves were undeniably alluring in all the right places. She wore a simple tracksuit, her shorts barely covering her long, pale legs.

Truly the female lead—every inch of her seemed meticulously crafted by Nuwa herself, flawless in every way.

Gu Jinghe examined Ji Xiangyan from head to toe with the appreciative gaze of one beautiful woman admiring another. Yet her expression remained cool, betraying none of the heat in her heart.

“Xiangyan, greet Ms. Gu properly.”

Ji Xiangyan had never been close to Ji Ming, and she certainly wasn’t willing to sacrifice herself for his company. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have lingered outside to play with the dog despite his repeated urging.

While Gu Jinghe was sizing her up, Ji Xiangyan did the same.

This Ms. Gu had willow-leaf eyes—cold and deep, exuding an innate arrogance.

She wore an off-shoulder top that accentuated her exquisite collarbones, her skin a creamy white. Below, a high-slit, body-hugging skirt revealed knees tinged with a faint pink, her calves slender and perfectly proportioned. On her feet were diamond-studded high heels, the thin straps winding around her ankles, making them appear delicate enough to snap with a touch.

She was, without a doubt, an extraordinarily captivating woman.

However, Ji Xiangyan curled her lips into an extremely perfunctory smile.

What a shame. No matter how beautiful President Gu was, it didn’t matter—she didn’t like women.

Ji Ming watched her standing there in silence, growing increasingly anxious, afraid Gu Jinghe might take offense.

President Gu had come specifically for Ji Xiangyan, yet not only had Ji Xiangyan kept her waiting for so long, but her attitude upon meeting was also cold and indifferent. Who could tolerate that?

Ji Ming carefully observed Gu Jinghe’s expression, worried she might storm off in anger—if that happened, the company would truly be beyond saving.

Fortunately, though Gu Jinghe’s expression was far from pleasant, she didn’t actually turn and leave. She stood up, extending a hand toward Ji Xiangyan, her face expressionless as she said, “Ji Xiangyan, hello. I’m Gu Jinghe.”

Ji Xiangyan loosely grasped her fingers, giving them a perfunctory shake. “Hello, President Gu.”

Gu Jinghe didn’t seem bothered by her dismissive attitude. She withdrew her hand, her gaze fixed on Ji Xiangyan’s eyes, though her words were directed at Ji Ming. “The scenery outside is quite nice.”

Ji Ming reacted swiftly, immediately offering with a smile, “Then why not have Xiangyan accompany you for a stroll, President Gu?”

Gu Jinghe gave a slight nod and walked out without another word, indifferent to whether Ji Xiangyan followed.

Behind her, Ji Xiangyan let out a quiet laugh, her face devoid of expression as she remained rooted in place.

Ji Ming’s expression darkened. With Gu Jinghe gone, he no longer had to play the sycophant, finally revealing his true colors.

“Xiangyan, hurry up and follow her. Don’t keep President Gu waiting.”

“I never knew there were people in this world so eager to sell off their own daughter,” Ji Xiangyan retorted, arms crossed, her eyes filled with deep mockery. “Just what did President Gu promise you to make you this desperate?”

Ji Ming flinched as if his shame had been laid bare. Faced with her scorn, he snapped, “Don’t forget—your mother’s belongings are still in my possession. Or have you stopped caring about them?”

Ji Xiangyan’s eyes turned icy. At just eighteen years old, her gaze was cold enough to unsettle even Ji Ming.

But in the end, Ji Xiangyan had no intention of resisting. She knew she lacked the means to fight back—at least for now. Perhaps she could make use of that President Gu outside.

Gu Jinghe had been certain she would come out. After waiting two or three minutes outside, Ji Xiangyan emerged.

The two exchanged a glance without speaking, walking side by side at a leisurely pace, Gu Jinghe’s assistant following at a discreet distance.

After a while, Gu Jinghe broke the silence. “Miss Ji must know my intentions.”

Ji Xiangyan sneered inwardly, her face mirroring Gu Jinghe’s indifference. “So, President Gu enjoys forcing others into difficult positions.”

Gu Jinghe’s brows furrowed slightly, as if displeased by the accusation. “It’s a matter of mutual benefit.”

That was exactly what Ji Xiangyan wanted to hear. “President Gu is fulfilling Ji Ming’s demands, not mine.”

She referred to her own father by his full name, yet Gu Jinghe showed no surprise—clearly, she already knew about the strained relationship between Ji Xiangyan and Ji Ming.

“Then what is it that you want?”

Ji Xiangyan stopped walking, turning to face Gu Jinghe. “Whatever I want—can President Gu truly provide it?”

Gu Jinghe thought to herself, Here it comes—time to showcase the domineering CEO act.

She recalled the domineering CEO novels she had read before, reaching out to grip Ji Xiangyan’s chin, her thumb lightly grazing Ji Xiangyan’s cheek as she whispered, “Miss Ji, are you negotiating terms with me?”

Forced by Gu Jinghe’s action to meet her gaze, Ji Xiangyan showed no fear despite being at a disadvantage.

“I wonder if I have the privilege to negotiate with President Gu?”

She was gambling—betting that Gu Jinghe was sufficiently pleased with her looks to avoid an immediate fallout.

As expected, hearing this, Gu Jinghe merely lowered her eyes, her gaze settling on Ji Xiangyan’s lips. “State your terms.”

“My condition is…” Ji Xiangyan leaned in closer, their lips nearly touching. “I hope President Gu will prioritize my needs. After all, I truly dislike Ji Ming.”

Gu Jinghe barely suppressed the urge to retreat, almost losing her composure for fear the female lead might misjudge the distance and kiss her.

Hearing Ji Xiangyan’s words, Gu Jinghe’s gaze traveled upward from her lips to her eyes, curling the corner of her mouth. “As you wish.”

She withdrew slightly, but her thumb moved from Ji Xiangyan’s cheek to her lips, pressing down with slight friction. “However, Miss Ji should remember—I prefer those who are clean and obedient.”

Then, Gu Jinghe retracted her hand and glanced at her assistant nearby. The assistant hurried over, handing her a clean handkerchief.

Taking it, Gu Jinghe meticulously wiped the fingers that had touched Ji Xiangyan before tossing the handkerchief back to the assistant. “Convey my farewell to your father. Thank him for his hospitality.” With that, she cast a meaningful look at Ji Xiangyan’s lips and walked away.

Ji Xiangyan watched her retreating figure with an icy, unreadable expression.

Gu Jinghe exhaled subtly, her back turned to the assistant. Playing the domineering CEO was exhausting. When she wiped her hands in front of Ji Xiangyan, the latter’s expression had been so dark she feared a slap was imminent.

Her system chimed in praise, “You’re doing great! You had even me fooled. Honestly, I thought you were going to kiss the female lead.”

Gu Jinghe paused. The assistant cautiously peeked up. “President Gu?”

Snapping back, Gu Jinghe replied, “It’s nothing.” Maintaining her demeanor, she walked on but couldn’t help retorting inwardly, “How could you think that? Why would I kiss her? I’m straight.”