Chapter 9 She Should Have Known Herself
Gu Manman slowly opened her eyes, she put her hands up to block the glaring light, and her head was splitting.
She tried to recall what happened last night, but only vague fragments remained - Su Yu's advice, one glass of wine after another, and the lingering ring of the phone.
"Ming Zhou..." she murmured to herself, and suddenly remembered that she seemed to be brought back from the restaurant by him.
Gu Manman forced herself to sit up and then noticed that the pajamas she was wearing were not the ones she wore when she went out yesterday. It was obvious that someone had changed them for her.
Her cheeks flushed involuntarily and she looked around subconsciously, but did not see Feng Mingzhou.
Snowball jumped lightly onto the bed and rubbed the back of her hand.
I walked out of the bedroom with heavy steps. The living room was still empty. There was only breakfast and a note neatly placed on the dining table.
Gu Manman walked closer to the dining table and saw a carefully prepared breakfast - a bowl of millet porridge, a plate of neatly cut fruits, and a few slices of perfectly toasted whole wheat bread.
Next to the bowl of porridge, there was a neatly folded note.
She reached out and picked up the note. It was written in Feng Mingzhou's usual neat handwriting: "I had something urgent to deal with this morning, so I'm leaving first. The porridge is in the insulated box. Remember to eat it while it's hot when you wake up. Don't be hungry. The medicine is on the dining table. Take it on time. Call me if you have anything."
The cell phone suddenly rang. Gu Manman picked up the call. It was her editor, Sister Wang.
"Manman! Good news! Your "Homeward Journey" is going to be made into a TV series. The investor is very generous. The launching ceremony will be held this afternoon. You must come!" Sister Wang's excited voice came from the other end of the phone.
Gu Manman was stunned. This news was too sudden. She subconsciously wanted to share it with Feng Mingzhou.
She dialed Feng Mingzhou's number, but only heard a busy tone.
Once, twice, three times...
She put down the phone, and the image of Feng Mingzhou turning around and leaving without hesitation at the party that day appeared in front of her eyes. His back was in a well-ironed suit, and he was holding Lin Jinyun's hand...
Giving up the idea of calling again, Gu Manman walked towards the closet, intending to find a suitable outfit for the afternoon activities.
When the closet door opened, she froze.
There were several sets of clothes that had never been seen before hanging inside, each of which was amazingly exquisite, and the labels showed the names of internationally renowned designers.
Gu Manman's fingers gently stroked the fabrics, soft and high-end, each piece perfectly suited her style and size.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, the launch ceremony of the TV series "Homeward Journey" was held on the top floor of the Emperor Hotel.
Gu Manman chose the simplest beige suit in her wardrobe, which was light yet elegant.
She stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, took a deep breath, and forced herself to put on a professional smile.
"Manman!" Sister Wang waved at her from afar, her eyes full of excitement, "Come quickly, I'll introduce you to the investors."
Gu Manman walked over slowly.
"This is our original author, Ms. Gu Manman." Sister Wang introduced enthusiastically.
Gu Manman followed Sister Wang's gaze.
Lin Jinyun was wearing a dark blue evening gown and stood elegantly in the position of the investor's representative with a decent smile on her face.
"I've heard of you for a long time. Miss Gu's writing style is truly amazing." Lin Jinyun stretched out her slender hand, with a hint of condescending praise in her tone.
Gu Manman held the hand mechanically.
"Thank you Miss Lin for your recognition of my work." She tried to maintain her superficial calm.
A smile flashed across Lin Jinyun's eyes: "You're welcome, this project has great potential, and I look forward to its success."
The flash suddenly lit up, making Gu Manman unable to open her eyes.
"Please look at the camera and come closer," the photographer instructed enthusiastically.
Gu Manman was forced to stand side by side with Lin Jinyun.
"I heard that Miss Gu grew up in an orphanage?" Lin Jinyun whispered under the cover of the spotlight, "It's not easy to write such a work."
Gu Manman’s smile froze on her face.
"You're too kind." She tried to keep her voice steady.
Lin Jinyun smiled slightly: "I heard that Ming Zhou takes good care of you. He is always considerate, especially to those who need help."
The host of the banquet announced the official start of the opening ceremony, and Gu Manman finally found an opportunity to leave Lin Jinyun.
She picked up a glass of champagne and hid in a corner to catch her breath, but found three missed calls on her mobile phone screen, all from Feng Mingzhou.
She hesitated and ultimately didn't call back.
Gu Manman gathered her shawl and stood in the corner of the banquet hall.
In this space made of gold and jade, she became a dark color that could not blend in.
The light cast by the crystal chandelier was so bright that it could clearly illuminate everyone's expressions.
Ten steps away, Lin Jinyun was surrounded by a group of people, and their laughter was clear and pleasant.
She spoke calmly, and her every move revealed the elegance unique to the upper class.
Lin Jinyun lowered his head slightly and humbly accepted everyone's praise. His expression was just right, neither appearing proud nor overly humble.
Gu Manman clenched the wine glass in her hand.
She suddenly realized that the difference between herself and Lin Jinyun was not just in birth and family background, but also in what was in their bones - the unique temperament of people who grew up in a favorable environment, the confidence and composure engraved in their DNA.
These things were something she could not learn no matter how hard she tried.
Once upon a time, she naively believed that love was equal.
As long as two people love each other, nothing else matters.
Now she finally understood why those business leaders always looked at her with a playful look in their eyes, as if they were looking at a canary.
She looked at Lin Jinyun in the distance.
The woman raised her glass and clinked it gently with an older lady, her white-toothed smile perfect.
This is what it means to be a good match. This is what everyone considers a match made in heaven.
It's not her, it will never be her.
When the waiter passed by with a tray, she subconsciously leaned towards the wall, fearing that she would dirty someone's clothes.
This subconscious action made her more aware of her incompatibility.
Over the years, she thought she had made a lot of progress.
She learned how to appreciate red wine, how to distinguish the different uses of knives and forks, and how to deal with various awkward situations in social situations.
But these efforts seemed so ridiculous and futile in front of Lin Jinyun.
Gu Manman looked down at her hands. They were a little rough, with her nails trimmed simply and neatly, without any decoration.
These are the hands of an orphan who grew up in the slums, hands that tried their best to climb up but always smelled of dirt.
She should have known better.
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