Chapter 35

The world isn’t as beautiful as it seems, whether it’s the scenery or the human heart.

Liang Daiwen strode purposefully toward the break room, while Gu Yi stood at the emergency exit. She used to think that robots couldn’t feel, and that cats could roam freely by their owner’s side without worry, lazily sleeping during the day and sneaking peeks at night, scratching at the hem of their pants or rubbing their palm, testing their owner’s reaction. She thought it was safe, but the owner had already guessed the cat’s thoughts long before, and now the idea of hiding was on shaky ground.

She descended one floor through the emergency exit and tiptoed to a small window. Outside, a stray cat in the park was lying on its back next to a manhole cover, with no one passing by. After a while of boredom, it curled into a ball and hid in the shadow. How much does a robot really understand about a cat’s thoughts? The cat, perched on the shoulder, wasn’t just asking to have its head petted; it wanted to nuzzle the owner’s hand until it was tired. It would bring a dirty little mouse onto the bed, wanting to share its beloved toy with the one it liked. When it was sick, it would hide its condition, only asking for help when it was too weak to hide it any longer, because it didn’t want the other person to worry. Once it regained its strength, it would wait by the door for the owner to come home...

Cats, such aloof animals, don’t easily open their hearts to just anyone. What I can show you is the love I can no longer hide.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, someone entered the emergency stairwell to make a phone call—it was Guan Xingxin. Her voice was different from its usual sweetness, sounding like she was frowning, and her tone was lower than usual. The voice on the other end was clear as well—it seemed to be her mother.

“I’ve told you, I don’t want to get married right now.”

“How can you not want to get married? You’re almost thirty. You were blind when you were young, and that’s always a disadvantage. As you get older, the amniotic fluid will start to smell, don’t you know?”

“Mom, you should read more popular science. Can I hang up? I have a friend waiting for me.”

“I’m not in a hurry. But Chen Mom will be. It’s not just one family expecting you, it’s two. Have you forgotten the house your parents bought for you? The rent is for you, and when you get married, the house will be given to you as part of your dowry. If you don’t get married and have children, this house won’t be yours anymore. They’re waiting for you to enter a new stage of life...”

“Stop being so greedy, Mom. I don’t want ‘Chen Dad’ and ‘Chen Mom’. It’s you and Dad who want that. I’ve already gotten enough from them—the tuition and living expenses, all generously provided. But honestly, I never really wanted to pursue this self-funded master’s degree, and I don’t want to keep asking you for money. Can you stop being so concerned about me?”

“I’m your mother!”

“I know. So does that mean I have to become a mother to be a qualified woman? Among the blind date candidates you’ve sent, those suitable factory directors, leaders, deputy section chiefs, and the tobacco bureau’s son—are they really right for me? It’s not about whether I’m right for them, is it? I’m the right age, I look good, I’m understanding—but I’m not that understanding, Mom...”

“You’ll understand how important it is to be a good wife when you get married. Find a husband from a good family, and make him happy. All you need to do is take care of the kids, and in the rest of your time, you can do whatever you want. You won’t have to suffer. Being a full-time wife is a safe, profitable job. What are you doing now? Do you know how upset Chen Mom was after that video? You’re losing your value!”

“Enough, don’t remind me. I have two dads, two moms, and an older brother. I have to be the obedient daughter, the gentle younger sister, the perfect child, and make everyone happy. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Can I hang up now?”

“You only know how to hang up on me. Remember to go on a blind date this weekend! If you don’t find anyone, I’ll take the train to the People’s Square blind date corner. I won’t be embarrassed…”

Guan Xingxin hung up the phone, just in time to bump into Gu Yi, who was standing at the stairwell. She hadn’t taken off her motion capture suit yet and was wearing a pair of gray slippers. Wrapped up in the suit, her body appeared slim, with beads of sweat at her temples, and her chest was accentuated in a way that looked awkward, like a praying mantis—no one could look beautiful in these clothes, but she could. However, she looked so disheveled at this moment, with tears brimming in her eyes, and upon seeing Gu Yi, she tried to hold them back. But she failed, and a tear dropped onto her motion capture suit.

That single tear made Gu Yi feel a little uncomfortable. Guan Xingxin smiled and quickly regained her sweet and gentle voice: “You won’t tell anyone, right?”

After taking off the black motion capture suit, Guan Xingxin changed into a floral shirt and a white lace skirt. Her long wavy hair swirled as she walked towards the group in nude flat shoes, surrounded by darkness and applause. An hour ago, colleagues who had been joking behind her back were now holding a cake, approaching to watch her blow out the candles: “Congratulations, Leila broke the record in her live broadcast today! The military ships are more than ever!”

After blowing out the candles and the applause died down, someone said, “Hey, strange, why aren’t the lights on? The electricity on this floor must have tripped again. It’s always like this during a big live broadcast, and the property management doesn’t care... Damn, does getting electrocuted count as a work injury?”

Laughter spread in the darkness, with someone turning on their phone flashlights. Dozens of phone torches illuminated the room, and Yu Dule said, “Why does it feel like it looks better with the lights off? The white tube lights earlier were ugly.” Gu Yi’s hand was gently held by a soft finger, likely from Guan Xingxin. From the past, she would have probably run into the arms of Yu Dule or Lu Ming in fear of the dark. But now, Guan Xingxin only uneasily grasped her hand. Gu Yi understood—this was the habit of someone who had kept secrets for so long, and now she was showing a glimpse of her unease.

Guan Xingxin smiled and said, “Thank goodness you’re here. I really hate the dark.”

Liang Daiwen, holding a phone, looked around: “How about we leave now? It’s the end of the workday, right?”

“How can we? My cake isn’t even eaten yet, and you guys are here to celebrate my birthday. My colleagues are still working overtime with me.”

“Isn’t Leila a virtual character? This is just a job, right? Many people probably want to leave now.”

“Liang Daiwen, you really have no heart. Leila is me, her soul is all mine. Without her, I wouldn’t know how to live. How can you say I should leave early?” Realizing something, she continued, “I see, it’s getting late. Let’s cut the cake and finish it quickly, then we can leave.”

In the darkness, no one’s expression could be seen, but the awkwardness in the quiet room could still be felt. Liang Daiwen, an honest person by nature, bluntly said these words, and Guan Xingxin received them clearly—many people were waiting to leave, and Leila’s existence didn’t have meaning for everyone—not everyone understood or appreciated her. Saying it outright felt cruel.

The lights came on amidst the awkward silence. The ten-inch cake was quickly divided, and everyone eagerly ate, each with their own thoughts. Guan Xingxin kept smiling, as though she hadn’t taken the earlier conversation to heart. Lu Ming checked the time: “Guan Xingxin, the little ones in the theater should be done rehearsing. The cake I ordered is also here. Do you want us to celebrate again?”

Guan Xingxin insisted on taking a separate car from Liang Daiwen and even specially asked Gu Yi to ride with her. Just before getting in the car, Gu Yi sneezed as she opened the car door, only to be unceremoniously covered by Liang Daiwen’s coat. The scent of the perfume was “YES I DO” from Liberation Orange County, and Gu Yi had once sniffed all the perfumes in Liang Daiwen’s collection—was this the scent of his confession?

The car was left with just the two girls as they smoothly drove from the industrial park towards the city. Having been a “trash cat” for so long, Gu Yi could easily read the robot’s thoughts. Liang Daiwen’s bluntness at this moment was definitely to make Guan Xingxin angry. But if Guan Xingxin knew how her colleagues commented on her behind her back, she would probably understand Liang Daiwen’s intentions. Robots were blunt by nature, and if they didn’t connect, they wouldn’t waste time talking. Liang Daiwen must have already reached his limit in enduring for the sake of Guan Xingxin, doing everything for his friend. Reflecting on the company’s annual meeting where Liang Daiwen had joked around, performing a tree act, then immediately leaving, and even rushing customers away at a sharing session—he’d probably rather have only people who were genuinely curious about his designs…

It was no wonder he wanted to work independently and had no friends.

“Do I annoy you a lot?” Guan Xingxin spoke first.

“No, absolutely not. Liang Daiwen didn’t mean anything bad.”

“But I want everyone to like me, at least within my capability.” Guan Xingxin’s tears silently rolled down her cheeks, slipping into her sleeves as she rested her chin on her hand, as if she could avoid puffing her eyes by not rubbing them.

“Before I was five, I couldn’t see. All I saw were red and black—red was dark but warm. My parents were very good to me, but they probably thought I should be like a normal child. I often took long trips to the hospital, but I never thought being blind was a bad thing. At home, everything I touched was familiar, and when we went out, I could hold my parents’ hands. My mom sold wool and knitted sweaters at the market, and I’d help her wind yarn. I could patiently spend an entire afternoon doing it. In exchange, the shrimp chips were delicious—crispy, sweet, and spicy. Every packet was happiness. They would always sigh, so when the doctor said they found a suitable cornea donation, and my mom cried tears of joy, I thought, maybe she wouldn’t sigh anymore. After the surgery, I spent a week peeling off bandages, one layer each day, adjusting to the light. I was always hoping for it to be slower, I wasn’t ready yet. The day the final bandage came off, I wasn’t happy. I would never get the joy of winding yarn for shrimp chips again.”

Gu Yi quietly listened. Guan Xingxin lifted her hair and tossed it to the other side, completely different from her usual gentle self, as if she were reluctantly exacting revenge on life... frustration.

“After that, I did try winding yarn a few more times, but after becoming a normal child, a lot of relatives came to see me and praised me for being pretty. Their expressions didn’t seem happy for me; instead, it was like… observing—observing how I turned from a blind child into an ordinary one. I’m very good at listening to voices, judging from the tone of elders whether they liked me or not. Later, I realized that seeing is much more direct than listening. Facial features can express emotions in so many ways—raising an eyebrow, glaring, pouting, or just a look in the eyes can tell if someone likes you or not.”

“Then why try to please everyone... there’s really no need.”

“Because you heard it from Dad and Mom Chen. My mom was selling yarn when she noticed a woman who frequently came to the market, dressed in a way that didn’t seem like she was there to buy anything, more like she had something to say. My mom was a little scared and was ready to give up the booth, but this woman said she wanted to meet me. Her daughter had died in a car accident, and her retina was donated to me. Our family didn’t know how they found us and was terrified, afraid she might ask for money or change her mind, but we had nothing to give. However, Mom Chen just wanted to be my godmother and was willing to pay because she missed her own daughter—her daughter was killed when she took a wrong turn at the school gate and was run over by a small motorbike. She almost went crazy. Our family was scared for a long time, but slowly, their gifts softened us. A box of Red Fuji apples, some princess-style white dresses, a birthday envelope with money... It was pretty useless, right? My dad’s salary was only six hundred yuan. Anyway, I had money to learn printmaking, learn the piano, and gained an extra brother. We occasionally spent holidays together, and when I couldn’t get into a private middle school, Chen Dad paid the 6,000 yuan tuition without batting an eye. But they started interfering more and more—telling me to grow long hair, wear skirts they bought, join the dance team... Eventually, when I began to dislike all of this, I realized I couldn’t live without them. I couldn’t bear to part with them, nor with the life where I didn’t have to worry about money. When I tightly gripped a coin, I knew I had to be prepared for the indentations and the smell of copper that would linger on my fingers. And, ironically, I’m still not successful, yet my parents are proud that I have a stable and excellent brother, even though he’s not biological—they’re so proud of him.”

The car stopped in front of the theater at that moment. Guan Xingxin opened the door and sweetly said to Gu Yi, “Tonight’s story is a secret, okay?”

“Why tell me?”

“You heard my phone call. I don’t want you to misunderstand and think I’m two-timing. You probably really dislike how I’m wavering between them, right? To the point where you don’t want to be friends with me.”

“No, actually, there’s something Yu Dule didn’t tell you.”

“Hmm?”

“When you met him at ounce, Yu Dule didn’t look down on you, he just didn’t feel like explaining because that stand-up comedian... we all really dislike him, he’s quite tacky.”

A gust of wind blew across Guan Xingxin’s face. Gu Yi had seen that refreshing look before—the kind of joy that comes when you’ve been silently in love with someone and realize they’ve been thinking of you too, a joy that sweeps away all gloom.

Looking at the three people walking toward them, carrying a cake, Guan Xingxin said, “Little bunny, you trust me, right?”

“Mm.”

“As your best friend, I’ll only tell you this. Liang Daiwen is someone with noble motives and long-term goals. He analyzes everything calmly, but when it comes to love, he has little confidence. The emotional trauma he suffered has really affected him, and he won’t actively pursue anyone again. But those who succeed in love are usually those with impure motives, blindly confident, and persistent. For Liang Daiwen, don’t wait for everything to be perfect, cling to him shamelessly, make him feel a sense of crisis, and once it’s at seven or eight points, he won’t be able to live without you. Then you can make your move.”

Gu Yi was stunned. How many tricks and formulas did Guan Xingxin know?

“In the workplace, it’s the same. I may not work or like people, but I know that challenging tradition and convention will always lose. What sounds rebellious or avant-garde is really just something that hasn’t crossed the line and is useful for business. The truly smart people won’t go against the rules. In other words, using what the public likes to win others over is how you get what you want. Direct confrontation will never be as effective as indirect persuasion. Even steel can’t compare to gentleness, right?”

Leaning in to hear where Guan Xingxin was going to play, Gu Yi asked in confusion, “Is this a dating strategy too?”

“Work and love are the same. There are only a few principles in life.”

Gu Yi blushed and stammered. How could a girl know so many heart-throbbing things?

“When we weren’t that close, you told me about Yu Dule, and I also told you my secret. I have to return the favor, don’t I?” Guan Xingxin waved at the three men who were getting closer. “Even though I know the end is near, I can’t help but look for possibilities in someone I like. Isn’t that a bit pathetic? I really like Yu Dule. If I mess up our relationship, I’ll probably regret it for the rest of my life.”

“How about Lu Ming?”

“Well...” Guan Xingxin smiled. “If Yu Dule doesn’t look down on me, Uncle Lu is just a friend.”

Gu Yi looked at her, her hair blown back by the wind, revealing her beautiful profile. Gu Yi’s heart thudded. This kind of woman, even in a fish pond, would make you forgive her. No matter the gender, she would be willing to become this woman’s emotional private traffic.

Liang Daiwen walked up to the two girls, holding two boxes of Blondel chocolates from behind. “I’m sorry for making you angry earlier.”

Not caring about Garbage Cat’s surprise, he handed one box to her, considering both girls’ emotions, making sure to be impartial. He didn’t mention any colleague’s malicious behavior in the break room but comforted his friends, taking all the blame because he was cold without his jacket and his nose was sniffing.

Gu Yi gave back the jacket, thinking, “You...”

Guan Xingxin took the chocolate and suddenly asked, “Little bunny, Uncle Lu has a six-person script he wants to try reading tonight. Should I ask Xu Guanrui to come?”

Gu Yi had figured out Guan Xingxin’s tactics by now. She wasn’t angry but was definitely going to subtly cause trouble for the other party as a way of getting back at her. This was how she would get revenge on the girl. When Xu Guanrui pushed open the gate and walked in, Gu Yi sensed Liang Daiwen’s alertness. It was the same intense, untouchable feeling he had when they met the young boy in the escape room. Xu Guanrui walked directly toward Gu Yi, leaned in, and sniffed. “You smell nice today.”

Liang Daiwen slowly pulled Gu Yi aside. “That’s my scent.”

Gu Yi rolled her eyes inside. She was in deep trouble tonight—this comedy show was going to lead to disaster. The level of embarrassment would probably be enough to go straight to the crematorium for a floral wreath.