After Transmigrating Into A Wealthy Supporting Character, I Stole Away The Female Lead - Chapter 8

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Gu Lizhou released Bai Qingyan’s hand and got up to answer the door.

One of the bodyguards from earlier stood outside. When he saw his young mistress open the door, he said, “Miss, I’m here to deliver some things.”

He handed her the evening clutch and a new phone.

Seeing the two items, Gu Lizhou immediately understood. She accepted them and casually praised him a few times.

Unexpectedly, the bodyguard became embarrassed. Scratching his head with a slightly shy expression, he said, “Tian San retrieved the clutch, and Butler Liu asked Tian Wu to buy the phone. Tian Qi merely brought them upstairs, so there’s no need to thank me, Miss.”

Gu Lizhou nearly burst out laughing.

So the seven bodyguards tonight were named Tian Yi, Tian Er… all the way to Tian Qi?

And the one named Tian Qi was especially ridiculous.

“Do you know there’s a toothpaste brand called Tianqi?”

Tian Qi shook his head. “I don’t.”

“It’s the toothpaste from that commercial where someone taking a picture shouts, ‘One, two, three—Tianqi!’ and everyone says ‘Tianqi’ together.”

“……”

Tian Qi shook his head again, looking inexplicably embarrassed.

After Gu Lizhou closed the door and returned inside, her face still carried a barely restrained smile.

Bai Qingyan looked at her and thought that the way her lips curved and her eyes narrowed in amusement made her resemble a fox.

“What are you laughing about?” she asked.

Gu Lizhou walked over and sat beside her, her eyes curving as she replied, “I’m laughing at the bodyguards’ names. They’re called Tian Yi, Tian Er… all the way to Tian Qi.”

Bai Qingyan’s lips also curved involuntarily.

Noticing the familiar clutch in Gu Lizhou’s hand, she asked, “Is that my bag?”

Gu Lizhou handed her the clutch and the new phone.

“Mm. The phone inside probably got waterlogged, though. Move your SIM card into this new one.”

Bai Qingyan took the phone from her clutch and tried turning it on. Sure enough, it no longer worked.

She transferred the SIM card into the new phone. While waiting for it to start, she lowered her eyes toward the device, which was identical to her old one, and quietly said, “Thank you.”

She truly should thank her.

Without Gu Lizhou, she would have had no choice but to endure tonight’s humiliation alone.

Simply imagining that scene made her feel miserable.

Gu Lizhou looked at the woman before her and felt that another one of her weak points had been struck.

She desperately wanted to reach out and stroke Bai Qingyan’s head.

When someone was this beautiful, it was far too easy to lose control of oneself.

Unable to suppress the restless urge in her heart, Gu Lizhou raised a hand and placed it on Bai Qingyan’s head.

Bai Qingyan’s body stiffened.

Gu Lizhou noticed it immediately and became terribly guilty. Yet for some inexplicable reason, she left her hand where it was instead of withdrawing it.

The small head beneath her palm did not move, so neither did she.

The atmosphere in the room clearly began to change.

Coming back to her senses, Gu Lizhou cleared her throat.

“I merely wanted to say that there’s no need to thank me. It’s getting late, so you should rest early.”

After speaking, she fled toward the bedroom.

Her face practically hurt from being slapped by her own words.

One moment ago, she had claimed that she would never use unspoken rules or take advantage of Bai Qingyan. The next moment, she had already touched her and created such an ambiguous atmosphere.

She had said one thing while doing another.

Who knew what Bai Qingyan would think of her now?

Even so, she genuinely thought Yanyan was adorable.

No matter how Bai Qingyan looked at it, Gu Lizhou’s retreating figure resembled someone fleeing in defeat.

She could not help laughing softly.

She tucked the loose hair in front of her face behind her ear. The top of her head seemed to retain the warmth of Gu Lizhou’s palm.

In truth, she did not dislike it.

She was merely unaccustomed to it.

Ever since her parents had died in an accident when she was sixteen, no one had performed such an intimate gesture toward her.

Bai Qingyan recalled how Gu Lizhou had repeatedly and seemingly unintentionally stroked her head while drying her hair.

She had assumed Gu Lizhou had never dried another person’s hair before and was simply inexperienced.

Thinking about it now, she had probably done it deliberately.

A trace of unnaturalness flashed through Bai Qingyan’s eyes.

Her mind automatically skipped over the matter of Gu Lizhou touching her ears.

She should not be the only one experiencing these strange feelings.

With that thought, she sent Li Xiaoqi a text message before standing and walking toward the bedroom.

Inside the bedroom, Gu Lizhou was sprawled chaotically across the bed with both hands covering her face.

She was confronting the problem of there being only one bed and wondering how they were supposed to sleep later.

Before she could devise a solution, Bai Qingyan entered.

Gu Lizhou did not know why she felt so guilty.

She did not even dare continue lying shamelessly on the bed. She hurriedly sat up, pretended to be composed, and stood beside it.

“I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

The moment she said it, she felt slightly uncomfortable.

Her words made it sound as though there genuinely was something between them and that they needed to avoid suspicion.

Without waiting for Bai Qingyan’s response, Gu Lizhou walked straight toward the door.

Her strides were unusually large. She wanted to escape quickly so that the two of them would not fall into an awkward silence.

However, just as she was about to reach the doorway, the door slammed shut.

Gu Lizhou: “?!”

Her mind went blank at the sudden move.

She subconsciously swallowed and looked at Bai Qingyan in confusion.

“…What’s wrong?”

Bai Qingyan acted as though there was nothing improper about her behavior.

At least, her expression remained unchanged. She appeared perfectly serious and proper as she leaned against the doorframe with her arms folded, looking directly at Gu Lizhou.

“The sofa is uncomfortable to sleep on.”

Her gaze shifted toward the large bed.

“This bed is spacious enough for two people. But if you mind, I’ll sleep on the sofa instead. You booked this room, so you shouldn’t be the one sleeping outside.”

After speaking, Bai Qingyan remained still and waited for Gu Lizhou to decide.

She seemed completely unaware of Gu Lizhou’s internal struggle and maintained a calm, unhurried demeanor.

Gu Lizhou, however, felt her palms begin to sweat.

She withdrew her gaze from the tightly closed door and pretended to be calm.

“I don’t mind. Let’s go to sleep early, then.”

She did not dare look at the beauty standing so close for another second.

She swiftly turned, climbed onto the bed, and lay along its very edge.

Using the blanket as cover, she secretly placed a hand over her heart.

It seemed to be beating several times faster than usual.

She had been single for all twenty-five years of her previous life, and she had remained single entirely through her own ability.

No one had ever succeeded in flirting with her.

Yet now, she had actually been flustered by a woman.

No, that was wrong.

Bai Qingyan had not even begun flirting with her!

Why was she clinging to the edge of the bed and getting excited for no reason?

Gu Lizhou could not help despising herself for being so useless.

She knew that she was not opposed to romantic relationships with women. Bai Qingyan was also extraordinarily beautiful and possessed a pleasant voice.

Being attracted to her was perfectly normal.

But tonight was clearly only a pure, innocent case of sleeping beneath the same blanket and chatting.

How could she still be so excited and nervous that her heart was racing?

Truly…

Remaining single for too long was dangerous.

Seeing Gu Lizhou lying on the very edge of the bed with the blanket covering half her head, amusement entered Bai Qingyan’s eyes.

A rare smile appeared on her face, containing a faint trace of schadenfreude.

She casually pressed the light switch on the wall.

Darkness immediately flooded the room.

Moonlight slipped inside from outdoors and blended with the shadows, softening the slightly unusual atmosphere and making the room peaceful and serene.

Bai Qingyan walked to the other side of the bed, gently lifted the blanket, and lay down.

She knew Gu Lizhou was still awake.

However, Bai Qingyan was genuinely tired. After closing her eyes, her consciousness soon became hazy.

The room fell silent.

The night was dim and tranquil, but Gu Lizhou was not sleepy in the slightest.

Bai Qingyan’s figure repeatedly appeared in her mind.

When she heard the steady breathing of the woman behind her, she quietly turned over.

Using the moonlight spilling in from outside, Gu Lizhou silently studied Bai Qingyan’s sleeping face.

Her long eyelashes resembled tiny fans, while her nose was tall and delicate. The lines of her face appeared softer than when she was awake.

Gu Lizhou slowly moved closer, allowing her to see Bai Qingyan’s features more clearly.

Noticing that Bai Qingyan’s brows were furrowed as though she were troubled by something, Gu Lizhou involuntarily reached out to touch her face.

Only when her hand was suspended in midair did she realize what she was doing.

Afraid of waking Bai Qingyan, she carefully withdrew it.

Gu Lizhou thought about the mission assigned by that rotten system: help one of the protagonists reach the pinnacle of life.

At that moment, she was extremely grateful that she had chosen the female lead.

Otherwise, she probably would have been unable to complete the mission.

After all, an idiot like Gong Tiancheng could not possibly be compared with someone as wonderful as Yanyan.

If she had to confront and destroy him later while completing the mission, she would not need to feel even the slightest bit merciful.

“Fortunately, I chose you,” Gu Lizhou murmured quietly. “I won’t allow anyone to bully you again.”

She gently tucked the blanket around Bai Qingyan, then turned onto her back and closed her eyes, preparing to sleep.

As though she had obtained the reward she wanted, her mind finally stopped causing trouble.

Drowsiness quickly arrived.

Just as Gu Lizhou was drifting off, she suddenly felt something tighten around her waist.

Gu Lizhou: “!”

Her eyes flew open, and she turned her head.

The person who had originally been sleeping some distance away had moved closer.

Bai Qingyan’s small head was even burrowing insistently into her embrace.

As though feeling cold, Bai Qingyan wrapped a leg around her after moving closer, pressing her entire body against Gu Lizhou.

Only then did Gu Lizhou discover that the hands and feet of the person in her arms were cold.

Her nervousness immediately disappeared.

She carefully slipped her left arm beneath Bai Qingyan’s waist and half-embraced her, adjusting her into a comfortable position within her arms.

After a while, the person in her embrace finally stopped moving and settled peacefully.

Perhaps it was because of the body wash, but Bai Qingyan carried a faint, pleasant fragrance resembling lavender.

Gu Lizhou slowly exhaled and stared blankly at the ceiling with her eyes wide open.

Wonderful.

She was no longer sleepy at all.

The following day—

Sunlight streamed into the room, dyeing it with warm colors.

Bai Qingyan had slept exceptionally peacefully.

She had not slept this well in a long time. She had experienced no dreams throughout the night, and by the time she awoke, the sky was already bright.

However, she discovered that her entire body was curled inside Gu Lizhou’s embrace.

One hand rested on Gu Lizhou’s waist, while one of her legs was wedged between Gu Lizhou’s.

Such an excessively intimate position made Bai Qingyan feel terribly embarrassed.

Her pale face immediately turned crimson.

Seeing that Gu Lizhou was still asleep, Bai Qingyan guiltily withdrew both her arm and leg. She carefully moved backward, attempting to create some distance between them.

She had barely retreated before she could release a breath of relief when the arm beneath her waist suddenly pulled her back.

Her body immediately stiffened.

Bai Qingyan lowered her head and pressed her lips together, a trace of nervousness entering her heart.

She no longer dared move carelessly.

She could only follow the motion and settle back into Gu Lizhou’s embrace.

After waiting briefly, she heard steady breathing above her head.

Only then did she carefully struggle free and move onto the empty pillow beside them.

Finally, she released a breath of relief.

Lying on her side beneath the blanket, she examined the sleeping Gu Lizhou.

Although it was already morning, Gu Lizhou’s skin remained pale and delicate. Her features were flawless, and she appeared somewhat gentler while asleep than when awake.

However, faint shadows could be seen beneath her eyes, making her look slightly sleep-deprived.

Had she slept poorly last night?

Remembering the position in which she had awakened, Bai Qingyan’s face grew warm.

She simply turned away, carefully moved to the edge of the bed, lifted the blanket, and got up.

Finding her phone, she walked to the outer bathroom to wash.

After finishing, she sat on the living room sofa and finally unlocked her phone.

It was already past nine.

She had three missed calls.

Two were from her manager, while the remaining one was from Li Xiaoqi.

Opening her messages, she saw one from Li Xiaoqi:

Teacher Bai, please call me back after you wake up.

Bai Qingyan called her and explained that her phone had been silenced, so she had missed the calls.

Then she asked Li Xiaoqi to come to Room 8302.

After ending the call, Li Xiaoqi frowned deeply as countless thoughts rushed through her mind.

Teacher Bai, who always woke early, had actually slept late.

Could it be that last night…

No, no, no!

Absolutely impossible!

Teacher Bai had merely attended a banquet last night.

How could someone have schemed against her so easily?

She must—she absolutely must—be overthinking!

Li Xiaoqi entered the hotel just as the elevator arrived.

There was already another person inside when she entered.

She pressed the button for the eighth floor and stood near the back.

Her head remained lowered until the stranger exited on the fourth floor.

Only then did she raise it.

The elevator’s mirror reflected her current appearance.

Her eyes were red, and she bit her lower lip while trying desperately to restrain herself so that she would not lose control.

“There had better not be Gong Tiancheng inside that room.”

“No, there shouldn’t be any man in there at all. How could Teacher Bai be defiled by people like them?”

“I must be overthinking. I definitely am.”

Muttering to herself, Li Xiaoqi arrived outside Room 8302.

She paused to compose herself and worked hard to calm her emotions before knocking.

Bai Qingyan opened the door quickly.

Seeing Li Xiaoqi, she pondered briefly before asking, “What’s wrong?”

“Huh? N-Nothing.”

Li Xiaoqi shook her head.

“Was it very windy outside? Your eyes are so red.”

Bai Qingyan walked farther inside as she asked indifferently.

“Oh, I didn’t sleep well. My eyes are just a little uncomfortable.”

Li Xiaoqi smiled.

Seeing that Teacher Bai appeared to be alone, she secretly released a breath of relief and changed the subject.

“Didn’t Teacher Bai say in the message last night that there was something important? Let’s hurry and leave.”

“There’s no rush. Wait a little longer.”

Bai Qingyan patted the sofa, signaling for her to sit.

“Wait? Who are we waiting for? Is someone else inside the room?”

The heart Li Xiaoqi had only just managed to settle immediately flew upward again.

She looked around before finally fixing her gaze on the tightly closed bedroom door.

An emotion called grief instantly spread through her heart, and her mood became terrible.

She wanted to cry.

What should she do?

However, Teacher Bai must feel even worse!

She had to endure it and avoid making the situation more painful for her.

Bai Qingyan glanced at Li Xiaoqi.

Seeing an expression on her face that looked even uglier than crying, she concluded that the woman was imagining nonsense again.

She had no desire to explain.

Only Gu Lizhou was inside the bedroom, after all.

Receiving no answer, Li Xiaoqi assumed that her question had reminded Bai Qingyan of something unpleasant.

She hurriedly pressed her lips together and refused to say anything else.

However, as she thought about it, the situation seemed somewhat illogical.

In Li Xiaoqi’s eyes, Teacher Bai was currently pressing her pale-pink lips together slightly. Her expression remained calm, but whatever she was thinking about seemed to have dispersed some of the coldness between her brows.

According to Li Xiaoqi’s many years of understanding Teacher Bai, this clearly meant that she was in a fairly good mood.

What exactly was going on?