Chapter 18: Self-Doubt

Gu Bai did not expect such a coincidence.

He had just turned down Wang Yu’s invitation for a seafood buffet, only to receive one from Su Wan’er immediately after.

It seemed that the seafood buffet and he were fated to cross paths today.

Seeing that Gu Bai remained silent for a long time, Su Wan’er asked with a hint of worry on the other end of the line.

“If you’re busy, Senior Gu Bai, never mind…”

“No, I haven’t eaten yet. What time should we meet?”

Gu Bai was a straightforward person; he knew that rejecting Su Wan’er’s invitation would be quite hurtful.

He was just a bit cold now, not heartless, and he could not bring himself to do such a thing.

Besides, he really had not eaten yet.

“Really!?”

A few adorable cat-girl stickers popped up in the chat box, with the text: “I’ll be waiting for you on Moore Street at 6:00!”

In Gu Bai’s impression, this type of sticker was usually favored by otaku who loved anime, but today was certainly an eye-opener.

Who would have thought that Su Wan’er herself was as cute as these stickers?

“Alright, I’ll be there soon.”

The place where Gu Bai lived was a bit of a distance from Moore Street, so he would need some time.

Although he could leave right away, it would not look good to meet a young woman while dressed so casually.

—

“Yay!”

On the other end of the call, after confirming that Gu Bai had agreed, Su Wan’er clenched her fists in excitement, as if cheering herself on.

Her sister, Su Shuhao, was sitting on the sofa recovering from her injury.

Seeing Su Wan’er looking so excited, she could not help but ask.

“Looking at how happy you are, did something good happen?”

“Uh…”

The smile on Su Wan’er’s face stiffened.

She dared not tell her sister that she was going to have a meal with Gu Bai.

So she could only lie.

“I got three gold items in a ten-pull, so I’m happy about that.”

“Oh.”

Su Shuhao did not play games, so she did not understand the feeling.

She just filed her nails and said nonchalantly.

“Wan’er, do you think… Gu Bai will have a change of heart?”

After the heavy rain incident yesterday, Su Shuhao had started to doubt her best friend’s opinions for the first time.

Based on her feelings at the time, it seemed as though Gu Bai had completely let her go.

But she could not be certain if that intuition was real or fake.

Su Shuhao was not a person with a strong sense of independence.

During the years she spent with Gu Bai, she had become accustomed to relying on others and often asked for their thoughts.

Just like now, even though she had a faint feeling in her heart, she dared not confirm it.

As for Su Wan’er, facing Su Shuhao’s doubt, she thought for a moment and said.

“It’s unlikely.”

“Sigh~”

Su Shuhao let out a miserable sigh.

The regret in her heart grew stronger, but her proud nature kept her from bowing her head. She spoke to her younger sister.

“Wan’er, I bought two movie tickets. I originally wanted to invite Gu Bai myself, but due to the injury on my leg, I have to trouble you to help me.”

“But…”

Su Wan’er said timidly, “Sister, aren’t you already walking normally?”

Clearly, when she returned last night, the sprain had looked quite serious, but today Su Wan’er saw that she had essentially no trouble walking; she didn’t even need support to go up the stairs.

Hearing Su Wan’er’s words, Su Shuhao’s expression stiffened, but she coughed twice to ease the awkwardness and said.

“It still hurts a lot; I can’t go out.”

This was, of course, a lie.

Su Shuhao’s injury, after Gu Bai’s treatment yesterday and a whole day of rest, was already almost completely healed.

But she would not lower herself to invite Gu Bai, so she had to send her sister instead.

Besides, the effect last time looked quite good; it seemed that even Gu Bai could hardly tell the difference between the two of them.

“But I was going to go for a seafood buffet with… a friend tonight.”

Su Wan’er was a bit conflicted.

She had finally gathered the courage to ask Gu Bai to eat, and if she missed this chance, she could not guarantee there would be another.

“It’s just playing with that tomboy, Lai Weiyi, right? You don’t have to worry about a schedule conflict. Just try to invite Gu Bai; you don’t even have to say it in person, just send a WeChat message.”

Su Shuhao subconsciously assumed her sister was going to hang out with Lai Weiyi, as that tomboy often came over to their house, so she did not think much of it.

“Just try it?”

Su Wan’er felt the pressure drop significantly since it was not a forced task, and she said, “Then I’ll try.”

“It’s fine, just do your best.”

Su Shuhao was self-aware enough to know that there was a high probability Gu Bai would not agree to this invitation.

But as long as she could show her stance, she did not need to consider whether he would agree or not.

Relationships were built step by step, and besides, Su Shuhao firmly believed that Gu Bai could not completely let go; otherwise, he would not have helped her in the pouring rain.

Su Wan’er walked to the door and said to Su Shuhao, who was still lost in her own analysis.

“Well then, Sister, I’m heading out?”

“Go ahead. Remember to find Gu Bai and say a word for me. You have my WeChat account and password, so help me send an invite and tell me what he replies.”

“It would be better if you did this yourself, Sister…”

Su Wan’er muttered under her breath, but she knew Su Shuhao’s personality; she wouldn’t even be happy sending a WeChat message, let alone inviting him in person.

Su Shuhao waved at her sister.

She trusted Su Wan’er completely and was not worried that she would run off or try to compete for Gu Bai.

With Su Wan’er’s personality, after hearing about Gu Bai’s “campus bully” reputation, she would never dare to have too much contact with him, and would only submit to her sister’s authority to help her complete task after task.

“Oh, Wan’er, your sister will be waiting here for your good news.”

Su Shuhao crossed her arms, looking very confident and proud of her plan.

—

After Su Wan’er went out, she looked at the movie tickets in her hand and began to think carefully.

If she had to invite Gu Bai to the movies on her own, she certainly would not have the courage.

But under the guise of her sister’s identity, she could legitimately invite him.

Yet, at the end of the day, it was just doing chores for her sister.

Besides, Gu Bai likely would not agree to this invitation anyway; the one to be embarrassed would be herself, not her sister.

After all, they had just broken up, and Gu Bai should still be quite resistant toward her sister.

As her sister said, the probability of Gu Bai agreeing was very, very low.

So, since this was a doomed task from the start.

Why didn’t she just act like she knew nothing about it?

She would not even have to tell Gu Bai; she would just tell her sister later that “Gu Bai refused.”