Chapter 99 Side Story: The Fantasy Building

"Yes, you can just sign here."

"Okay, thank you. We'll head back now."

"Thank you for your trouble, driver," Wen Ting said, taking two bottles of water from the trunk.

"You're too kind," the two movers said, taking the water and getting into their truck before bidding her a cheerful farewell. "Happy housewarming, beautiful lady!"

The moving company truck left, and Wen Ting glanced at the map sent by the property management before parking her car in the underground garage.

This SUV is basically used by Gong Baidie.

Initially, it was used to set up stalls at various exhibitions to sell handmade millet; later, as the business grew and a studio was established, he had to visit raw material factories to compare the differences between various fabrics and accessories, and to investigate the latest trends and competitors' information; in recent months, it seems that he has also been going to some offline events of platforms and advertisers.

In addition, this car also picks up Wen Ting whenever it rains and she has to work overtime.

I bought it almost three years ago, and Wen Ting has only opened less than ten times.

Once you find your parking spot, the last bits and pieces will be in the trunk.

Gong Baidie had been organizing her new home for seven or eight days. She brought these things over, and the entire moving process was complete.

Stepping into the elevator, Wen Ting pressed the button for the 9th floor.

This is the house she and Gong Baidie bought six months ago. It's listed as joint property and is a bit far from her company. But with Gong Baidie, she doesn't need to take on a lot of freelance work or spend time on housework. Comparatively, the increased commute is acceptable.

After looking at houses for almost half a year, this old-style house with two balconies and a rooftop terrace was the one they were most satisfied with after comparing various options.

Upon entering the house and turning through the foyer, you are immediately greeted by a huge floor-to-ceiling window.

The house is backed by a small park, where the summer woods sway in the distance, their leaves, swept by the wind, repeatedly reflecting the sunlight, shimmering like a piece of emerald gemstone.

Every time Wen Ting saw this scene, she couldn't help but lose herself in thought.

The smart lock emits an unlocking sound.

Wen Ting turned around and saw Gong Baidie enter the room. She pulled down her mask and said, "You arrived first."

"Has the deposit been refunded?" Wen Ting asked.

"Hmm." His face was flushed, and fine beads of sweat appeared where the mask covered him.

"You must be so hot." Wen Ting handed him a bottle of mineral water. "Wearing such a thick mask in 40 degrees Celsius, you really are putting on a brave face."

Gong Baidie took it, "I haven't even put on gloves yet."

Wen Ting turned on the air conditioner. "You've been in the modern world for three years, how come your thinking still hasn't been corrected?"

"I'm not protecting your property, I just don't like being watched."

He tilted his head back to drink water, and Wen Ting, watching his Adam's apple bob, suddenly laughed.

Gong Baidie glanced at her, her eyes asking what she was laughing at.

“It’s nothing,” Wen Ting said softly, “I just think you’re really cute.”

The mineral water bottle was slightly dented from being squeezed, but he nonchalantly screwed the cap back on, unconcerned. "Cute?"

"You're becoming less and less like your original persona."

The bottle rattled, and Gong Baidie glared at her. "You're the one who wouldn't let me serve you food, wouldn't let me take off your shoes and wash your feet, wouldn't let me kneel at the door to greet you morning and night, and now you don't like it anymore?"

They said they'd live together forever.

It's only been three years, and now that she has the house, she can't stand it anymore?

Those phoenix eyes were about to ooze resentment when they were suddenly sealed by soft lips.

He raised his hand to push her.

His body was covered in sweat, and even he himself was disgusted by it.

"Let me finish." The kiss was brief, and Wen Ting stepped back before Gong Baidie could push her away, smiling helplessly. "I just realized that even though you are different from your original character, and even completely opposite in many ways, I actually think you are... even cuter."

Gong Baidie's breathing became slightly sluggish.

She herself was a little embarrassed, and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, saying, "It's prickly, like a little hedgehog."

"You..." This description is not a compliment in any world. Gong Baidie was a little embarrassed and annoyed, but she couldn't take her eyes off her.

When she spoke softly, it was as if she had bound him with a soft white silk ribbon, his weakness was tied to her hand, and he could not break free.

Compared to the gentle and tender Gong Baidie, Wen Ting felt at ease knowing that Gong Baidie was sometimes sarcastic and would argue with her.

Over the years, she noticed that the more submissive Gong Baidie was, the worse her mood became. But describing it as "at ease" seemed a bit of an exaggeration.

Did she subconsciously still feel that Gong Baidie was in danger?

Wen Ting didn't rule out this possibility; after all, he wasn't human and was bound to be dangerous, but she had no intention of letting him leave.

She still needs him; he absolutely cannot leave.

"Why are you saying these things in broad daylight?" Gong Baidie pursed her lips, her ear tips turning red. "Hurry up and pack, don't waste time, you only have one day of vacation."

“Oh dear, how can praising your husband be considered a waste of time?” Wen Ting was greatly surprised. “I have always regarded this as the most important task in my life.”

"you…"

"Let's kiss a little longer, darling," she pleaded softly, putting her arm around his shoulder. "You're so cute, I love you so much."

The Adam's apple bobbed laboriously before Wen Ting's eyes.

She was immediately enveloped in his fragrance; even in the sweltering heat of midsummer, he still carried the cool, delicate scent of snow orchids.

Amidst the sounds of swallowing and sucking, a muffled, hoarse murmur escaped: "Don't ask me... Don't ask me anymore, Wen Ting."

She knew perfectly well that as long as she spoke in this tone, his answer would never be a denial, so why bother asking for his opinion again and again?

“I love you,” she replied vaguely, “I always want to confirm your feelings.”

Her slender fingers covered Gong Baidie's chest and stroked his flushed cheeks. She occasionally let out a soft nasal sound and sighed, "I like it so much... Baidie, kiss me a little more."

The kiss, which was already drawing to a close, suddenly deepened and lengthened.

She was absolutely ecstatic today.

"Wen Ting..." His phoenix eyes, with their upturned corners and alluring curves, were as sweet as sugar. He was slightly breathless and couldn't help but plead, "Wen Ting, I..."

"No, I can't." She pushed him away, looking troubled. "I only have one day off today, I need to get ready quickly."

Gong Baidie took a deep breath.

She did it on purpose.

He turned around, his face cold, and went to tidy up the room. Just as he was about to leave, she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

"Are you angry?" Her voice was so innocent it was shameless, and so alluring it was like a cat's tail.

"What exactly do you want?" Gong Baidie raised an eyebrow. "Clean up the room, or clean me up. Choose one."

She let out two muffled laughs from his back, then let go of his hand. "Okay."

I'm in such a good mood today, and I have so much energy that I can't put it all into Gong Baidie.

Gong Baidie discovered it early on.

Since buying the house six months ago, Wen Ting has often expressed excitement.

A woman who usually hates washing dishes was humming a song while cleaning from morning till night today.

From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., the new house was mostly tidied up.

Wen Ting stopped Gong Baidie, who was about to cook, and ordered a seafood delivery from a nearby restaurant.

I thought she had just ordered two bowls of seafood rice, but she ended up setting out a table full of high-end fresh seafood and even ordered two bottles of wine.

Gong Baidie frowned. "You've spent all your savings. Don't be so extravagant."

"We've already called, so let's not spoil the mood." Wen Ting opened a bottle of wine. "The money's gone, but we can earn it back later."

Gong Baidie was stunned; she never imagined that Wen Ting would say such a thing.

"What's with that expression?" Wen Ting chuckled and handed him the wine. "I like money because it allows me to live the life I want. Right now, having a luxurious seafood feast with my lover in this new house is the life I want. I'm happy with it."

She didn't hear anything else clearly, but since she called him her lover, Gong Baidie had no objections and sat down to eat with her.

The front balcony of this apartment offers natural scenery, while the back balcony faces the high-rise buildings and streets of the capital.

As dusk fell, the garden view from the front balcony became obscured.

The trees, which shimmered like jewels, dimmed, while the city night view from the back balcony began to glow brightly.

"Cheers." Under the warm restaurant lights, Wen Ting raised her glass to him. "You've worked so hard these past six months, looking at houses and overseeing renovations. Without you, I might not be able to move in even in ten years."

"You're just spouting nice words." Gong Baidie clinked glasses with her.

In the crystal-clear glass, the wine refracts a mellow luster.

Wen Ting drank two cups, propped her head up, and gazed at the night view outside the back balcony.

“The capital…” she murmured, “is so beautiful.”

"Is it beautiful?" Gong Baidie couldn't feel it.

He has been to many cities and seen modern society. Compared to other cities, the capital has many shortcomings.

Its buildings are too densely packed, encroaching on green space;

Due to high land prices, many old buildings from earlier years could not be demolished, making the city look messy and dilapidated, lagging behind the construction of today's new first-tier cities by nearly half a century;

In addition, the air quality here is also very poor due to the excessive flow of people and vehicles.

Overall, it's not even as visually appealing as the Imperial City in the game "Gong Bai Die".

“To me, this is the most beautiful place in the country.” Wen Ting gazed at the lights outside the window.

Despite the great distance, the dazzling lights appeared like crescent moons falling into her eyes.

"Bai Die, you may not know how advanced the capital was compared to other places ten years ago."

She unconsciously swirled the wine in her glass, the clear white wine turning inside.

"I have experienced that incredible level of advancement."

"The shock was like telling someone from twenty years ago that no one would use paper money anymore, which really shocked me at the time."

The clear wine glass reflected Wen Ting's rosy face, slightly tipsy.

"At that moment, I thought—this place is so beautiful, I'd rather die here."

Gong Baidie narrowed her eyes.

Is this the reason why she works year-round without a break, from the moment she opens her eyes until she closes them?

"No matter how good it is, what good is it if you suddenly die?"

“To die in the capital is a kind of happiness.” Her flippant laugh infuriated him.

"What happened?" He frowned. "You have such high standards for your quality of life, have you... been violated?"

“Violation?” Wen Ting blinked slowly, then exclaimed, “Ah, some things did happen, but none of it matters. Pursuing a better life is human nature, and I’m just living according to my instincts.”

His expression was solemn and somber. Wen Ting looked at him for a while and then realized what he meant. "Oh dear, you don't think I'm so poor that I almost starved to death, which is why I've become obsessed with money, do you?"

Gong Baidie remained silent.

"Oh my god, am I still a beautiful, strong, and tragic character in your heart?" Wen Ting laughed out loud. "No, not at all. I've had a pretty smooth life since I was a child, especially after I created you. My life has been on a meteoric rise."

Gong Baidie almost believed it; if it weren't for the second half of her sentence, he would have really thought Wen Ting was telling the truth.

"Smoothly?" he sneered. "I don't know what happened before you awakened your consciousness, but I've been watching you ever since."

"Being unfairly treated, falsely accused of plagiarism, having your competition spot squeezed out by connections—oh, and having your roommate sexually assaulted in your bed for a thrill—is this what you call a meteoric rise in life?"

Wen Ting choked. Forget the others, how did she even know the last one?

Oh, right, she took a picture of the condoms in the trash can next to her bed with her phone...

Gong Baidie's face turned cold. "If you don't believe me, then don't say it. There's no need to lie like this."

“It’s not that I don’t trust you.” Wen Ting rubbed her temples in distress. “How could I not trust you? I just feel that there’s no need to talk about those things.”

After a while, she realized something: "Are you curious?"

Gong Baidie pursed her lips, her face clearly saying, "No, I'm not curious. You'd better not tell me, even if you die."

"Okay, darling." Wen Ting reached across the table and hooked her fingertips with his. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know, don't be angry with me."

"Then you tell me."

“Well, it contains some content that might upset you, so…” She stood up, holding her wine glass, and walked unsteadily around the table to his side.

Gong Baidie was slightly taken aback.

With one hand holding a bottle of wine and the other around his neck, she nestled into his lap, smiling at him, "I have to say it this way."

Her breath carried a faint grape aroma, warmer and more fragrant than wine.

“You said,” Gong Baidie said, supporting her waist, all the coldness melting away, “I’m not angry.”

Sitting in the same chair in their new home, the two chatted from dusk till the night.

Most of the time, Wen Ting was the one talking. Gong Baidie demanded that she share all her memories from birth with him—she knew everything about him, and he had to know everything about her for it to be fair.

"...He was locked up for three days. I packed my things, used the 30,000 yuan compensation from Wanluo to rent a high-rise apartment in the city, looked for a job for a month, and finally got a job at Green Forest."

She talked and drank at the same time, and before she knew it, she had finished two bottles of wine. Her tongue was a little numb, and her speech was slurred.

"You'll know what happens next."

"You haven't contacted him again?"

What do I need him for?

The chest beneath her palm heaved violently. Wen Ting was too drunk to notice Gong Baidie's anger.

After a while, my waist suddenly tightened.

He held her tightly, gritting his teeth in her ear, "You're so cruel to me, why don't you kick him in the groin?"

Wen Ting rested her chin on his shoulder and chuckled, "Who promised me they wouldn't get angry?"

"Besides, I'm so gentle and intellectual, when have I ever hit anyone? I'm not even very good at swearing."

"..." Gong Baidie held her swaying head, "You didn't hit any of your exes?"

“How could I hit someone?” Wen Ting said with her eyes almost closed. “Apart from my first husband, I have a very good reputation with everyone else.”

After she finished speaking, it became clear that Gong Baidie was probably jealous.

Unexpectedly, he chuckled softly, "Is that so?"

"Yeah." What's he laughing at?

Her cheek was brushed against, and Wen Ting heard a smiling sigh in her ear: "I've been missing all of this..."

What are you thinking about?

"Next weekend," he said, stroking her hair gently. "It's too late to talk about it today."

Wen Ting was indeed too sleepy to continue the conversation, and only managed to utter a vague nasal sound.

Before falling asleep, she grabbed Gong Baidie's arm and told him what she most wanted to say that day: "Baidi."

"Um?"

"Thank you."

"This house? You paid for most of it." There's no need to thank him.

"No, it's not just this..." Her voice didn't reach his shoulders or hair, "There should be more..."

"I want to thank you, thank you, thank you..." Her face, half-asleep, was furrowed with delicate brows. "What was I thanking you for again..."

She had even mentally prepared a thank you speech for Gong Baidie before ordering the food, but after drinking two bottles of wine, she completely forgot.

Sleepiness, like silk threads, softly wrapped around Wen Ting's thoughts, making her unable to think and leaving her feeling drowsy and lethargic.

She tried hard to think, her brow furrowing more and more tightly.

"Alright." A cool touch smoothed her brow, and a clear yet gentle voice came from beside her ear, "I know, Wen Ting, I know, you don't need to say anything more."

"You found out?"

"Um."

"You really... know?"

"Don't I know you?" He hugged her and gently patted her back. "Go to sleep."

He spoke with such certainty that Wen Ting felt relieved and stopped forcing herself to think.

She couldn't remember, but he knew, and that was enough.

She nestled into his arms, finding a more comfortable angle, and reminded him of the most important thing: "Tomorrow... remember to wake me up... for work."

"Okay." He answered instinctively, then suddenly realized—

He struggled in hell, finally crawling out of the game, originally intending to let her sleep forever, but now he's gotten used to waking her up.

Oh……

With her arms tightened, Gong Baidie lowered her head and buried it in the back of Wen Ting's neck.

After three years, she also developed the fragrance of snow orchids.

He probably knew what she wanted to say in the end, Wen Ting.

——

(Unit Two - End)