Chapter 4: Yi

Who is Yi?

Yi is one of Gu Yebai’s most important patrons, tossing out rewards of several thousand RMB as if it were nothing.

In a sense, she’s his benefactor.

She often posts various photos in Gu Yebai’s reader group chat.

The backgrounds are either the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, or the Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo…

The her in the center of the photos is even more striking than the landmarks behind her.

She dyes her hair a vivid red—definitely not the kind from a cheap salon, but a deep, wine-red hue.

She gives off a vibe of “I’m the queen, confidence radiates from me.”

She rarely shows her full face, often just from one angle or a half-profile.

She always has a special fondness for the color red.

In those glamorous photos, you might see a red wool coat, a red silk scarf, or a red knit dress…

Comparable to a top-tier female celebrity, she seems to carry her own spotlight, the princess among princesses.

Life really is unfair.

The farthest and most luxurious place Gu Yebai has ever been is the Wanda Plaza in Linchuan.

Yi: Uncle Bai, why haven’t you replied yet?

Baiye Duxing: Just finished my lunch break.

Baiye Duxing: What’s up?

Yi: There were quite a few typos in last night’s novel update.

What’s going on, Uncle Bai?

Do you need some… disciplining?

Baiye Duxing: Was rushing the progress last night.

I’ll do a polished version when I get home today.

Baiye Duxing: Sumimasen (Sorry).

Yi: Hmph, Uncle Bai, I’m super looking forward to your novel.

You can’t be so sloppy next time, okay?

Right then, Yi suddenly initiated a video call.

The phone rang.

If this were during class, Gu Yebai would be in trouble.

Luckily, it was lunch break.

If he clicked to accept, he might finally see Yi‘s real face.

None of her various travel photos ever showed her full face.

The video call rang for about ten seconds before Yi canceled it on her end.

Yi: Sumimasen, clicked the wrong thing by accident.

Baiye Duxing: What a pity.

If I had clicked accept, maybe I could have seen Yi-chan’s true face.

Yi: Does Uncle Bai want to see my real face?

Yi: It’s not impossible.

If Uncle Bai’s writing speed gets a bit faster, I could send you some of my life photos.

Yi: Consider it a reward for Uncle Bai.

Most readers call Gu Yebai “Uncle Bai.”

Actually, it started when someone asked what Gu Yebai did in real life, and he told them to guess.

Most people guessed he was a corporate drone (Corporate slave), and a few others speculated he was either a grad student or preparing for civil service exams.

No one guessed the truth—a high school freshman.

So, to avoid disappointing everyone, Gu Yebai simply fabricated a corporate drone identity for himself online, playing the “old dude” role.

The benefit was that often people older than him would seek life advice from him, this “life senior.”

Gu Yebai found it quite amusing.

And at this moment, Gu Yebai could tell that Yi was privately messaging him because she had some troubles too.

So, as a life senior, Gu Yebai had to put on the “old dude” act now.

Baiye Duxing: Alright, reward discussed.

Now it’s time for the punishment.

Yi: The punishment is that Uncle Bai has to listen to me vent.

Yi: I’ve been feeling really lost lately.

Baiye Duxing: I knew you had something on your mind.

Are you hesitating between buying a Louis Vuitton bag or a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace?

Yi: That shouldn’t count as a worry, right?

Just buy them all.

Baiye Duxing: My apologies.

Yi: Uncle Bai, actually… I’m not my parents’ biological child at all.

Yi: I was probably switched at birth.

Yi: It happened a few days ago.

I had a physical and blood test, and found out I’m actually blood type B.

But both my parents are type A.

Genetically, I can’t be their daughter.

Normally, with that kind of family background, the hospital shouldn’t make such a basic mistake.

Gu Yebai closed his eyes.

Putting himself in her shoes.

Right now, she must be feeling very hurt, very uneasy.

Baiye Duxing: Yi-chan, here’s what I think.

Even without a blood relation, the bond you’ve built growing up with your parents won’t change because of this.

Baiye Duxing: You’ve lived together for so long, haven’t you?

Yi: If what happened to me happened to Uncle Bai, what would you do?

Yi: Look for your real parents?

She didn’t know that Gu Yebai’s last remaining connection in the world was already gone.

Her unintentional question was actually quite hurtful.

Baiye Duxing: I believe the grace of raising someone is greater than the grace of giving birth.

Baiye Duxing: But I probably would look for them.

However, I wouldn’t be sad if I couldn’t find them.

That’s about it.

Yi: What a coincidence, that’s what I think too.

Yi: But I’m actually thinking about something else, Uncle Bai.

As you know, my family is fairly well-off.

Baiye Duxing: I suggest you remove the “fairly.”

Yi: I’m thinking… I might have inadvertently stolen someone’s happiness.

Is that child, who should have been my parents’ real child, suffering in poverty or hunger because of my existence?

Out of comfort, and partly based on careful observation.

Gu Yebai gave his answer.

Baiye Duxing: Excessive wealth doesn’t necessarily equal happiness.

Sometimes, if you look carefully, you’d notice that in the photos, Yi‘s eyebrows are always slightly arched, and her eyes often hold a hint of confusion.

As if the queen is just surface armor, used to hide the little girl inside.

Though for someone like him, who often goes hungry, to sympathize with her… there’s a bit of presumptuousness in that.

Yi: I know Uncle Bai is comforting me.

But I believe the worries of the rich are definitely fewer than those of the poor.

The thought that my parents’ real child might be suffering somewhere in the world makes me feel like a thief.

Baiye Duxing: What do your parents plan to do?

Yi: They plan to look for their real child, and also look for my real parents.

They’ve already hired private investigators.

Yi: My parents are quite capable.

They’ll probably get to the truth before long.

They also told me I’ll always be their daughter.

Baiye Duxing: That’s good.

Yi: Uncle Bai, I’m a bit scared.

The clothes on my body, the bed I lie on, the bags in my closet… none of this should belong to me.

Thinking that the life I’ve lived was actually stolen from someone makes me feel terrible…

Baiye Duxing: This isn’t your fault.

And you never stole anyone’s life.

You will always be you.

I don’t think a life can be stolen.

Baiye Duxing: Don’t let someone else’s mistake become the reason for your inner turmoil, haha, Yi.

Yi: Thank you, Uncle Bai.

Yi: I feel a little better.

Yi: By the way, guess what color pajamas I’m wearing now?

Yi: The correct answer is I’m not wearing anything right now.

I’m about to go take a shower.

I’ll allow you to imagine the scene in your mind.

Baiye Duxing: Is this seduction?

Yi: That’s for you to imagine.

Baiye Duxing: Our company’s lunch break is almost over too.

Gotta get back to work.

Baiye Duxing: Also, I have zero interest in little girls younger than me.

Yi: Who should I give my 600 monthly votes to?

They expire in a few days.

Ah well, let them expire then.

Baiye Duxing: No, wait, I was wrong.

Actually, Uncle here is a lolicon.