This sudden message was like an invisible red thread, coiling around Gu Yebai’s neck from an impossibly strange angle—and then tightening violently.
Must reply within one minute.
The red-haired girl’s sweet smile surfaced in Gu Yebai’s mind.
If he didn’t reply on time, she would definitely start overthinking again.
He could already imagine Gao Hongyi’s tearful, about-to-cry expression questioning him…
“Is Uncle Bai cheating on me outside?”
“Has Uncle Bai fallen for someone else?”
“Does Uncle Bai think I’m too clingy, that I’m a nuisance, and wants to run away from me right now?”
First, he needed to take a deep breath.
Inhale.
Exhale.
“Xiaolin, let me reply to my girlfriend’s message first.”
But because he was too flustered, his elbow accidentally knocked against the edge of the table.
Smack.
Then, the coffee cup toppled over.
The hot latte splashed out.
A small puddle of pale brown liquid soaked into the wooden table.
Luckily, the temperature had already dropped.
His arm was only slightly reddened.
“Oh dear, so clumsy.”
Bai Xialin’s eyes and hands were quick.
She swiftly pulled out several tissues, bent down to wipe the table, then promptly wiped Gu Yebai’s arm.
Her fingertips were cool.
Her gentle motions were like soothing a frightened little animal.
“Ah, it looks like your pants got some too.”
“Let me wipe these for you as well.”
Bai Xialin then leaned down… at this angle…
This was too…
Gu Yebai suddenly felt ashamed.
Here she was trying to wipe his wet pants, and his mind was wandering to inappropriate thoughts.
“Wait—”
“I’ll wipe this part myself!”
“Anyway, I mean… I’m really, really sorry!!!”
How could he possibly let Bai Xialin wipe there?
Gu Yebai snatched the tissues and wiped the awkward spot himself.
“It wouldn’t have hurt to let me help, you know.”
“Sigh, Little Guogu is definitely the type to be super afraid of his wife.”
Bai Xialin sat back down across from Gu Yebai, her eyes curving into crescents.
But there was no mockery in them.
“In this world, there are no men who are afraid of their wives.”
“There are only men who respect their wives.”
Gu Yebai puffed out his chest, reclaiming a bit of his eight-foot-tall man’s dignity after that awkward moment.
Bai Xialin blinked at his words, then couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh, her shoulders trembling slightly, as if amused by his seriousness.
“That’s so cute,” she said.
Her voice softened, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible sigh.
“But… if I were Little Guogu’s girlfriend instead…”
“I would never make you panic like this every time you see a message from me—to the point of spilling your coffee.”
“I wouldn’t make you count down the seconds in terror, afraid that replying even one second late would mean being misunderstood or getting you angry.”
“If Hongyi saw me comforting you like this, she’d probably be angry, right?”
“But no matter how much she resents me, I won’t be afraid.”
“Because I’ll only feel sorry for you.”
Bai Xialin bit her lip gently.
A thin layer of moisture seemed to glisten in her eyes, as if she were genuinely upset.
“Little Guogu works so hard, is so good, puts so much effort into writing his novel, and tries so hard to love his girlfriend. Such a good Little Guogu, yet he has to be anxious even while drinking a cup of coffee. Seeing that makes my heart ache for you…”
“If it were me, I’d only think: What is Little Guogu busy with right now? Is he tired?”
“Even if you didn’t reply to me, I wouldn’t overthink things, nor would I get jealous for no reason. Because I trust you.”
“How could someone as good as you ever betray me? As long as I know you’re safe and happy, that’s enough for me.”
By the end, her voice had dropped so low it was almost a whisper, yet every word was clear—like a soft feather with tiny barbs, lightly scratching the tip of Gu Yebai’s heart.
Listening to her ramble on, Gu Yebai inexplicably felt that this energetic Seoul girl suddenly seemed a little… two-faced.
“Okay, Little Guogu, reply to her quickly. It’s already been two minutes. If you don’t reply soon, your girlfriend will definitely start overthinking again.”
“Right. I know.”
Gu Yebai picked up his phone, lit up the screen, and lightly rubbed the edge with his fingertip twice.
Nothing to be afraid of.
Hongyi… she’s the most adorable girl in the world.
She’s kind, sensitive, and sometimes so cool she makes his heart race.
She just… loves him too much.
Baiye Duxing: I’m a little stuck on my writing. I’ll stop here for now and continue tonight.
Baiye Duxing: How are things on your end?
Baiye Duxing: Is class tiring?
Send.
He stared at the chat box, as if waiting for a verdict.
A few seconds later, Gao Hongyi’s reply popped up almost instantly.
Yi: Didn’t I tell you to reply to my messages within one minute?
Yi: Why aren’t you obedient?
Yi: Hey, why?
Three questions, like three thin red threads, wrapping around him one after another.
Gu Yebai’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
He typed frantically, his fingers trembling slightly.
Baiye Duxing: I didn’t see my phone just now… I’m sorry…
Baiye Duxing: I made you worry. Please don’t be angry.
Yi: Look at you, so scared. I’m just teasing you~
Yi: I’m talking to you in a yandere voice. So, how is it? Do I sound convincing?
Yi: But well… if someone doesn’t behave, I might just turn into a real yandere, you know.
Yi: So… are you staying at home obediently right now?
Gu Yebai stared at the last line.
Something clogged his chest.
Lying—saying “I’m at home.”
That would be easy.
Just three words. Send.
But his fingertip hovered above the keyboard, unable to fall.
Once lies start, they snowball.
What if she finds out?
More importantly, he suddenly remembered that cramped, damp little home in Linchuan County.
The door had been pushed open violently.
Gao Hongyi had rushed in, thrown reason to the wind, and pulled him into a tight hug—as if holding the most precious thing in the world.
Her eyes red, her voice trembling: “Uncle Bai… I finally found you.”
She cherished him so much.
Deceiving someone who loved him like that felt too cruel.
Gu Yebai closed his eyes for a moment.
Finally, he typed.
Baiye Duxing: I’m sorry. I went out.
Baiye Duxing: It was too stuffy at home. Back in Linchuan County, whenever I got stuck on my writing, I’d go out for a walk by myself.
Baiye Duxing: The sun feels really nice.
Send.
The chat box went silent for two seconds.
Then, as if a switch had been flipped….
Yi: Go home!
Yi: Who allowed you to go out?
Yi: It’s so dangerous outside by yourself. What if you get hit by a car? What if you run into some ill-intentioned woman like Bai Xialin?
Yi: Be good. Go home! Now! Immediately!
Every exclamation mark was like a needle piercing Gu Yebai’s heart.
He stared at the screen, his fingers frozen in place.
The pressure was overwhelming.
Baiye Duxing: Hongyi, I…
Before he could finish the message, Gao Hongyi’s profile picture started flashing wildly.
Typing…
Typing…
Suddenly, Gu Yebai felt the warm light of the café go cold.
He instinctively looked up at Bai Xialin across from him.
Bai Xialin wore a worried, helpless expression, as if she wanted to say she hadn’t expected things to escalate like this either.
And on the phone screen, new messages from Gao Hongyi began to pour out one after another—
Yi: Where are you?
Yi: Tell me where you are.
Yi: Uncle Bai… please don’t make me come find you myself, okay?
The phone suddenly vibrated violently, as if infused with some urgent, frantic emotion.
The incoming call screen popped up.
Yi is requesting a video call.
Bai Xialin tilted her head and asked softly.
“Are you going to answer? She seems… very anxious.”
Gu Yebai didn’t speak.
He looked at the accept button like it was an abyss from which there was no return.
“I’ll go excuse myself to the restroom.”
“I’m really sorry. I didn’t think it would turn out like this…”
“Oh, and one more piece of advice for Little Guogu, who has such high morals~”
“A white lie isn’t really a lie, you know. If lying benefits both sides, then if it were me, I’d choose to lie without hesitation.”
00:15…
00:16…
It seemed there was no option other than to answer.
His pupils dilated instantly.
His heart rate spiked past 160.
A buzzing filled his ears, as if an invisible hand had suddenly gripped his throat.
If this kept up, he really was going to get a heart condition from fright…
“My whole life has been like walking on thin ice…”
“Tell me… can I make it to the other side?”
Gu Yebai clutched his chest and slowly pressed the accept button…