Gu Xi arrived rather late. There had been some traffic on the way.
Aunt Lin took the pastries and fruit she’d brought, then handed her a new pair of cotton slippers, reminding her, “Hurry and go eat. Yuzhou has been here since past three in the afternoon.”
Gu Xi paused mid-motion while hanging her coat. Just as Aunt Lin finished speaking, Bai Yuzhou emerged from the dining room with a smile. “I called you—why didn’t you pick up? We could have come together.”
The young man was tall, lean, and fair-skinned, dressed in cream-colored knit casual wear. He looked like he could still be a college student.
He acted as if nothing had happened and even reached out to take her hand.
Gu Xi sidestepped him. She also noticed several extra pairs of shoes by the entrance and asked Aunt Lin, “Are there other people here?”
Aunt Lin smiled. “The old master’s nephew came by.”
Aunt Lin had always drawn clear lines between closeness and distance. The “old master’s nephew” she referred to was someone Gu Xi usually called Uncle Bai—Grandfather Bai’s elder brother’s son. Grandfather Bai’s elder brother had died early, and his wife remarried, so Uncle Bai had been raised by Grandfather Bai.
But Uncle Bai had a terrible relationship with that man. Gu Xi hadn’t known at first, but once she accidentally witnessed the two of them interacting in private, she discovered that the affable elder whom everyone saw was actually extremely vicious and ruthless in front of that man.
Gu Xi pulled herself together, nodded at Aunt Lin, and walked past Bai Yuzhou toward the dining room.
Bai Yuzhou didn’t seem embarrassed. He gave Aunt Lin a helpless smile. “She’s still mad at me.”
Aunt Lin smiled back but said nothing.
Grandfather Bai beamed when he saw her come in and told her to sit down. Gu Xi scanned the table and finally took a seat at the lowest end.
Bai Yuzhou came in right after her. Seeing this, he paused for a moment, then sat down beside her.
Uncle Bai laughed and asked, “You two are fighting again? Yuzhou, Xixi is a girl—you need to be accommodating. Your aunt still scolds me all the time, and you see me dare to talk back?”
He made himself sound so doting toward his wife.
The middle-aged woman beside him shot him a glare at those words.
Uncle Bai chuckled twice and poured her a glass of wine. “Just kidding. You’re the gentlest-tempered one in our family.”
Sitting next to them were their two sons—the older, Bai Shengyang, twenty-three, and the younger, Bai Tianyao, twelve. Bai Shengyang wore a pleasant smile, while Bai Tianyao ignored everyone and had already started helping himself to the food.
The whole family seemed warm and harmonious.
But Gu Xi knew that Uncle Bai had several mistresses and illegitimate children outside. Auntie had made a scene a few times, but after being subjected to domestic violence, she’d given up hope. Even her sons didn’t side with her.
Uncle Bai added, “Xixi, you’re graduating next year, right? When are we going to get to drink to your happy occasion?”
In her previous life, Gu Xi had rather liked this uncle, because every time they met, he’d take her side and tell Bai Yuzhou—in the tone of an elder—to treat her better.
Now, hearing those words, she found them utterly repulsive.
Bai Yuzhou ladled a bowl of chicken soup for Gu Xi and said with a smile, “Soon. When the time comes, Uncle, you’ll have to give us a big red envelope.”
Uncle Bai laughed heartily. “That goes without saying!”
Gu Xi glanced at Bai Yuzhou beside her with undisguised disgust. He smiled back at her and coaxed softly, “All right, it’s my fault.”
Of everyone at the table, only Gu Xi ate with any true displeasure.
Grandfather Bai noticed she wasn’t eating much and shot her several meaningful glances. Gu Xi understood—what her grandfather had said before was genuine. He really did want her to play both sides and keep Bai Yuzhou as a backup.
Not long after the meal, Uncle Bai’s family left. Gu Xi wanted to leave too, but it was already dark outside.
When Bai Yuzhou saw Uncle Bai and his family out of the courtyard, he realized Gu Xi was no longer there. He found her in the dining room—she was on the phone.
Her voice was calm with a hint of sweetness. “Okay, I understand.”
“Do I need to prepare anything?”
“All right. All right.”
Gu Xi hung up and quickly called Fang Pingping. “The production team just contacted me—they want me to come the day after tomorrow.”
Fang Pingping’s excited voice came through the phone. “Really? Then I’ll go with you first. Once you’re settled, I’ll come back.”
“Would that be too much trouble? You’re still preparing for grad school.”
“No trouble at all—I’ll bring my books to study.”
“Great. Let me check flights first. And don’t be shy—I’ll cover your travel and accommodation.”
“Perfect, thank you, superstar!”
Gu Xi couldn’t help but laugh at her. Knowing Fang Pingping would be with her was a relief. From her previous life to now, she’d never gone far from home alone to handle something by herself. This was a significant challenge for her.
Thinking she’d be leaving the day after tomorrow, she decided to call a ride and head back to her place tonight. As she turned, she saw Bai Yuzhou standing right behind her. She had no idea how long he’d been there.
When Bai Yuzhou saw her expression turn cold, for some reason, it made him feel vaguely uncomfortable.
Still, he put on a smile. “Xixi, I heard you mention a production team. Are you becoming an actress?”
He only asked casually. He assumed it was some school club activity—he didn’t believe Gu Xi could actually act or become an actress. Other than clinging to him, she had basically no initiative or ability. After graduation, she’d probably slack off at any job she got anyway.
Gu Xi didn’t respond to him. She was about to walk around him to go find Grandfather Bai when Bai Yuzhou’s expression darkened. He grabbed her wrist, his tone turning sour. “What exactly do you want? I’ve already apologized, and I’ve broken things off with Mengmeng.”
Gu Xi had no idea where he got the confidence to say that. She looked at him with a strange expression. “Do I have to accept your apology just because you gave it? Besides, what happens between you and Song Rumeng has nothing to do with me. I’ve made it very clear—we no longer have any relationship.”
Hearing this, Bai Yuzhou looked at her with irritation, probably thinking she was just being difficult again. He held back, then softened his tone once more. “Xixi, I really know I was wrong. Something like this will never happen again.”
Gu Xi pried his fingers off her wrist one by one, her expression calm and indifferent. “Bai Yuzhou, I don’t like you anymore. Really—I feel nothing at all. And I never will again.”
As if something occurred to her, she wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I find it dirty. I don’t like things that others have used. That includes you.”
Bai Yuzhou froze on the spot. By the time he came to his senses, Gu Xi had already disappeared. A strange panic seized his chest. He frowned, thought of something, and chased after her.
Gu Xi had told Grandfather Bai that something had suddenly come up at school. She coaxed him with a few sweet words, promised to stay longer next time, and headed out.
Bai Yuzhou caught up with her in the courtyard. “Gu Xi, Father sent me to find you. He’s already warned me. I won’t do anything like that again—I’ll only love you. Grandfather also told me to treat you well.”
Seeing Gu Xi suddenly stop, he thought she was softening. He quickly added, “You know, ever since I was little, I’ve been most afraid of Father. I wouldn’t dare disobey him.”
Gu Xi turned her head and asked, “Bai Yuzhou, can you be any more shameless?”
The look she gave him was laced with undisguised contempt. Without looking back, she walked away.
Gu Xi thought about what Bai Yuzhou had just said and found it laughable. In her previous life, that man had been extremely fixated on Bai Yuzhou’s existence. He’d often ask her in bed where Bai Yuzhou had touched her. If she showed even a hint of guilt, he’d torment her for hours.
If she’d met Bai Yuzhou in private, he’d have even more ways to make her regret it. The worst time, Bai Yuzhou had been in a car accident and nearly lost his life.
She’d gone to confront him. He hadn’t denied it. She’d called him a madman, and he’d only smiled and asked, “If I were the one hit by a car, would you feel sorry for me?” At the time, she’d felt a vague unease, knowing he was capable of such a thing.
The truth was, you shouldn’t speak carelessly. In the end, he died in a car accident. Even much later, Gu Xi couldn’t understand how someone so formidable could die so easily.
It was only after his death that she learned he’d made a will shortly after she became pregnant—leaving all his assets to her.
But it was too late. The baby was gone. He’d thought she’d aborted it for Bai Yuzhou. Even now, she couldn’t bear to recall the look in his eyes that night—as if he were ready to drag them both down together, mad and cold.
Gu Xi let out a deep breath and pushed open the courtyard gate. Just then, the bell at the entrance rang. She looked up and saw a tall figure in black standing at the door.
Their eyes met, and she caught a flicker of amusement in his gaze.
She dropped her eyes. Without greeting him, she walked right past him, her steps quick and long, as if she were holding a grudge against him too.
Bai Shulin watched her calmly, his expression returning to one of cold indifference.
Bai Yuzhou hadn’t expected him to show up tonight—or to walk in on his argument with Gu Xi. He had no idea if the man had heard what was said. A wave of unease washed over him, but he steeled himself and stepped forward. “Father.”
The next day, Gu Xi and Fang Pingping boarded a flight to S City.
Fang Pingping was used to dealing with people from her part-time jobs. While Gu Xi memorized her lines, Fang Pingping handled the production team and arranged their meals and accommodation, careful to keep costs down.
When they arrived at the set, they learned that the previous actress for the third female lead had hit it big with her last show. Right before filming started, she’d suddenly demanded a pay raise. Things had turned sour, and the makeup artist—a friend of the director—had recommended Gu Xi to the director instead.
The makeup artist belonged to a network of industry professionals. One day, she’d seen someone in a group chat praising a new extra for her looks, complete with photos. That was how Gu Xi had caught her attention.
Seeing her in person now, it was indeed striking. Even someone used to the glamour of the entertainment industry couldn’t look away.
The director had already lost time over the female lead’s role, so as soon as Gu Xi arrived, he arranged to shoot her scenes first.
Gu Xi had never really acted before. Fortunately, the third female lead had very few lines. In the show, she was the male lead’s first love—she’d left him years ago to study abroad. Now back, she finds the male lead has fallen for someone else. She feels a little unbalanced but isn’t a villain. Eventually, moved by the female lead’s sincerity, she encourages the male lead to follow his heart and sincerely wishes them well.
It was a fairly positive female role—beautiful, smart, decisive—quite different from the typical vicious supporting actress in many romance dramas.
The director was very pleased with Gu Xi. He said that aside from her beauty, she had a unique quality—like an exquisite antique vase in a display case: beautiful, fragile, with a mysterious story untold. Her gaze was stubborn yet carried a hint of coldness.
It wasn’t quite the character he’d imagined, yet it fit in a strangely perfect way. The third female lead was, after all, someone who prioritized her career over love.
Because the director was satisfied, life on set was relatively peaceful for Gu Xi. She just had to memorize her lines. When she had free time, she’d stand to the side and watch how others acted. When it was her turn, the director would guide her—even telling her exactly where to move, what expression to use for each line.
Gu Xi treasured the validation. It made her feel like she wasn’t so useless after all.
Fang Pingping stayed for three days before heading back. Gu Xi stayed on for another week.
Before she left, the lead actress suggested they have a meal together. Gu Xi made an excuse to decline. Later, the crew said they’d throw her a wrap party. She couldn’t keep refusing, so she agreed.
But when she arrived at the dinner that night, she found only a few newbie actors from the set—all women.