Cang Wei picked up a billiard cue. Gu Lai had been playing with the solids, but when she missed her next shot, Cang Wei naturally stepped up to the table.
“Classmate Cang Wei, do you know how to play?” Gu Lai pinched some chalk and asked leisurely.
“Why are you here?” Cang Wei took her shot. With a crisp sound, a solid-colored ball rolled into the pocket. Even though she knew the answer, Cang Wei still asked.
Gu Lai suddenly felt a wave of irritation in her heart. Why am I here? Great question. “Naturally because I wanted to play pool. What, do you have to manage that too?”
“I didn’t mean it that way.” Cang Wei missed her shot this time and stepped back from the table. “It’s getting late. Let’s head back?”
Seeing this, Gu Lai felt even more restless.
She had followed Cang Wei here for her sake, and earlier she had colluded with the system to set off fake sirens. Everything was supposed to be going well, so who would have guessed that Cang Wei’s very first sentence would be interrogating her about why she was here.
“Do you think I’m bothering you?” Gu Lai asked coldly.
Cang Wei put down her cue and quietly looked at Gu Lai.
From the first moment she saw Cang Wei, Gu Lai had a soft spot for her eyebrows and eyes. At this moment, those dark pupils were covered with a thin layer of mist, as if a silent rain was about to fall.
The skin beneath her eyes was slightly reddish, and the wind stirred her hair, making her features feel somewhat ethereal. Yet Cang Wei’s gaze remained fixed on Gu Lai from beginning to end.
“My hand hurts a bit,” Cang Wei said, curling her right hand loosely as her voice turned weak.
Gu Lai surrendered. “Let’s go home.”
[System Prompt: Task progress 8%]
At nine o’clock, there were not many pedestrians on the road at this hour, let alone any taxis. Since the timeline of the original novel was set rather early, there were no ride-hailing apps available either.
With no other choice, the two of them chose to walk back.
In the quiet night, Gu Lai thought of the scene that had just occurred. “Cang Wei,”
The person called by her turned her head slightly. “What is it?”
“Your moves are so cool.” Gu Lai praised. Seeing Cang Wei’s swift side kick, which even carried the sound of tearing air, she genuinely felt that being around Cang Wei was full of a sense of safety.
“With you by my side, I won’t be scared walking down the dark streets this late.” Gu Lai was somewhat afraid of the dark and rarely went out alone at night.
“Yeah.” Knowing that Gu Lai had followed her out because she was worried, Cang Wei softened her tone even more. “You can call me whenever you’re scared in the future.”
“Okay.” Gu Lai nodded with a smile.
It could be considered a busy day. Back inside Apartment 302, Gu Lai hurriedly washed up and fell fast asleep. She slept exceptionally well, and while she was still immersed in a dream, a sound came from somewhere.
Without opening her eyes, Gu Lai groped for her phone and pressed the power button.
The sound continued.
She became a bit more awake. It didn’t sound like an alarm clock ringing; it sounded like knocking on the door.
Gu Lai struggled to get out of bed and walked over to the door.
“Cang Wei?” Gu Lai looked somewhat surprised and glanced at the clock; it was not yet time for their scheduled departure to school.
“I made breakfast. Have a taste.” Cang Wei was still wearing light-duty homewear, radiating a warm aura.
“It would be ungracious to refuse.” Gu Lai rubbed her nose and followed her into Cang Wei’s apartment.
A steaming bowl of white porridge had already been served and left to cool, and two peeled eggs sat on the table.
The two of them sat down and began to enjoy breakfast. As she ate, Gu Lai thought to herself that Cang Wei’s culinary skills were truly miraculous. Even plain porridge was cooked so deliciously.
Neither spoke while eating. Amidst the cozy atmosphere, the patter of raindrops could only be heard outside the window.
The rain had started last night and still hadn’t stopped.
Gu Lai frowned. “With rain this heavy, how are we supposed to go to school?”
Cang Wei paused her motion of drinking porridge. “Then we won’t go?”
“Can we?” Gu Lai blinked, feeling somewhat excited.
Cang Wei picked up her phone, dialed Teacher An’s number, and conveniently turned on the speakerphone.
“Cang Wei, you aren’t planning to ask for leave, are you?” As soon as the call went through, Teacher An’s voice drifted over.
“Both Gu Lai and I are taking leave.” Cang Wei spoke slowly, as if she were talking about a trivial matter that had nothing to do with her.
“Fine then.”
“The rain is so heavy. Don’t let yourselves get soaked and catch a cold. Health is the capital of the revolution.”
Teacher An hung up the phone right after speaking, seemingly unwilling to listen to Cang Wei say another word.
Having eaten her fill and hearing this news, Gu Lai let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as though her soul was about to ascend.
Since there was no rush anyway, Gu Lai thought that since she had freeloaded a few meals from Cang Wei, she felt a bit embarrassed. “I’ll wash the dishes.”
This time, Cang Wei didn’t refuse and nodded.
Amidst the rushing sound of running water, Gu Lai got to work. Meanwhile, Cang Wei leaned against the doorway, quietly watching the scene.
The young girl rolled up her sleeves, revealing slender, fair arms. At this moment, her hands were covered in bubbles. As she brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen onto the bridge of her nose, some dense foam left a trace right on the tip of her nose.
[System Prompt: Task progress 9%]
Just as Gu Lai was immersed in her work and caught off guard by the system prompt, her fingers relaxed.
With a crisp crack, the white porcelain bowl shattered on the spot.
Gu Lai instinctively reached out to pick up the pieces, but the sink was full of foam, obscuring her vision.
“Don’t move,” Cang Wei called out anxiously. She walked quickly over to Gu Lai, pulled her hand out of the sink, and
Drip.
A single droplet of bright red blood rolled down Gu Lai’s fingertip, dropping into the white foam where it vanished instantly.
Cang Wei frowned, led her over to sit on the sofa, and turned to find the medical kit in the drawer.
Gu Lai looked down. Her fingertip had been scratched by a piece of porcelain and was still bleeding slightly.
Before long, Cang Wei returned with the medical kit and sat down beside her. After disinfecting the wound with iodine, just as she was about to apply a bandage, Gu Lai instinctively pulled her finger back in a slightly unnatural manner.
“Don’t move.” Cang Wei’s voice sounded somewhat cold. Gu Lai gave a soft oh and turned her head away.
The medical kit sat right on the coffee table, containing some common medications, iodine, and scattered bandages.
She’s quite meticulous, Gu Lai thought.
After applying the bandage, Cang Wei gave Gu Lai a puzzled look before putting the medical kit away.
Now look at this. Not only did she freeload meals from the other person, but she also broke her bowl. Gu Lai felt a bit awkward.
“Does it hurt?” Cang Wei poured a glass of water and handed it to Gu Lai with a calm tone.
Gu Lai took it and shook her head. “I don’t really feel anything.”
Seeing that she was fine, Cang Wei turned around to clean up the mess in the kitchen. The sound of running water filled the air once more.
This time, Gu Lai didn’t insist on helping. Since she would only be making things worse, it was better not to help at all.
Turning her head to look out the window, the patter of the rain had grown much lighter and would likely clear up soon.
Even if it clears up, I’m still not going to school, Gu Lai thought to herself.
Looking at Cang Wei’s lived-in kitchen, Gu Lai was reminded of her own little apartment.
Her empty little apartment.
Twitching the corner of her mouth, Gu Lai’s mind began to spin. Since she had nothing to do today, she might as well go buy some kitchen supplies so she wouldn’t have to rely on instant noodles and restaurants in the future.
And she could also pick up some things for Cang Wei. Judging by the shards she had thrown out earlier, she probably broke more than just one bowl.
[302]
After returning to her room, Gu Lai opened her wardrobe, and it was completely spotless.
Ever since transmigrating into the book, she hadn’t bought any clothes yet. Remembering how she had bought a bunch of random things online the other day, she had completely forgotten about this one thing.
Gu Lai took a deep breath. “System, are you my golden finger?”
[Yes.]
“Then can you fill up this wardrobe for me right now?”
A soft halo of light enveloped the wardrobe. Moments later, the gentle light dissipated, and the wardrobe was now filled with wearable clothes fit for the current season.
“System, can you fix the kitchen up for me too?”
Another burst of light, and the kitchen looked brand new. Gu Lai picked out two nice porcelain bowls to compensate Cang Wei.
Immediately after, she began carefully preparing a meal for herself. She set a pot of water to boil, and once it bubbled, she dropped in the instant noodles.
Opening a chilled can of cola, Gu Lai hadn’t even taken her first sip when
Ding-dong.
A notification chimed. She picked up her phone to check, and it was a friend request.