My Evil God Girlfriend (gl) 51

Chapter 51: The Aftermath

Xiang Er stood up silently, gathered herself, and, her body aching, walked out of the bathroom.

She didn’t look back.

Shen Yuhe followed her, but before she could enter, Xiang Er closed the guest room door.

The click of the latch was soft, not forceful, yet Shen Yuhe hesitated at the door, her hand on the doorknob, unable to bring herself to open it.

A long time passed. Shen Yuhe checked her watch. Twenty minutes later, Xiang Er emerged.

She was neatly dressed, light makeup on her face, a small backpack slung over her shoulder, no jewelry, her appearance simple and understated.

She wore a heavy, brownish-grey coat, a scarf, and a hat, her head lowered as she walked past Shen Yuhe, towards the door.

Shen Yuhe followed closely behind.

Reaching the entrance, Xiang Er suddenly turned and looked at Shen Yuhe, her voice flat:

“I don’t want to walk with you.”

Shen Yuhe froze.

She watched as Xiang Er left the apartment, walked down the stairs, and quickly disappeared around the corner.

Silence fell upon the apartment. Shen Yuhe looked around the living room, then walked slowly towards Xiang Er’s closed door, peering inside.

The quilt was rumpled, the window tightly shut, the room dimly lit, the lingering scent of Xiang Er on the bed, the sweet fragrance of arousal, now fading, like a flower abruptly withering and falling, its petals turning to ash on the floor.

Unexpected.

Shen Yuhe saw a mirror on the desk and looked at her reflection, a strange, complex expression on her face.

She didn’t quite understand the myriad expressions a human face could make. She didn’t understand, she didn’t understand anything.

She had done everything right, hadn’t she? Following the countless examples she had absorbed from human interactions, she had followed all the necessary steps to becoming a couple.

Giving a gift. Check.

Helping with problems. Check.

A sweet date, a walk and a meal. Check.

A romantic confession. Check.

Romantic wine, a slight intoxication. Check.

Doing things that only couples did. Half-check…

Where had she gone wrong?

Shen Yuhe looked down at the floor, a single rabbit slipper lying there. In her haste to leave the room, she had left it behind.

She wondered if Xiang Er had seen it.

They should have become the closest of lovers, but Shen Yuhe had a feeling that Xiang Er now disliked her.

And… it wasn’t the kind of dislike directed at a Evil God.

It was a dislike of her, of this body, of the name “Shen Yuhe.”

Why?

Shen Yuhe picked up the rabbit slipper and returned to the master bedroom.

The bed was neatly made. She sat on the edge, thinking, and a new set of clothes appeared on her body.

A warm, white outfit, suitable for the season. Light makeup appeared on her face, her lips a soft, non-threatening pink, her eyeshadow a gentle, warm pink.

She walked out of the room, the door closing automatically behind her. The next moment, she was on the subway, where Xiang Er was.

A beautiful woman suddenly appearing on the train, the other passengers barely glanced at her, their initial surprise replaced by a vague sense of “she was already here, I just didn’t notice,” followed by a fleeting appreciation of her beauty, before politely looking away.

Shen Yuhe, across the crowded car, saw Xiang Er standing amongst the passengers, her back turned, her head lowered, holding onto a pole, motionless, like a small, brown cloud.

A cloud that could dissipate at any moment.

Shen Yuhe watched her silently from a distance, observing her every move, but not approaching.

The god’s false heart ached with a strange, unfamiliar pang.

Was this what humans called “pain”?

It was a truly strange sensation.

Xiang Er arrived at the company and calmly worked through the backlog from yesterday.

Her supervisor walked past, hesitated, then left without saying anything, not even calling her to the morning meeting.

General Manager Cheng wasn’t there today, nor was the big boss, and everyone took advantage of the opportunity to slack off.

Zhu Minmin, her eyes bright with excitement, kept glancing at Xiang Er, but seeing her pale face, she wisely kept her distance, only offering her a bottle of water during lunch break.

Xiang Er didn’t order takeout, nor did she eat anything. She didn’t even drink the water, just sat there, staring blankly.

The office bustled with activity during lunch break, everyone eating, chatting, watching videos. Only Xiang Er’s corner remained cold and silent.

She sat at her computer, her face expressionless, her eyes open but unseeing.

Suddenly, the entire office fell silent.

Xiang Er sensed something, but she didn’t move, not even blinking.

A voice, Zhu Minmin’s excited voice, called out:

“Xiang Er! Someone’s here to see you!”

Xiang Er remained motionless, like a statue.

Zhu Minmin walked over and tapped her shoulder:

“That person, that person is here to see you!”

Xiang Er, after several taps, finally turned her head slowly and looked towards the entrance.

And there she was, standing at the entrance, the entire office staring, their faces alight with curiosity, even pausing their meals.

Shen Yuhe, dressed in white, elegant as a lily, holding two takeout containers, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er.

Seeing Xiang Er look at her, Shen Yuhe’s eyes lit up, a smile appearing on her face as she waved.

Xiang Er looked at her. Shen Yuhe was different today, not just her clothes and makeup, which were more subdued, but her demeanor, a cautious hesitancy Xiang Er had never seen before.

Shen Yuhe, seeing Xiang Er’s expressionless face, her smile faltering.

Zhu Minmin whispered:

“Go to her! No wonder you didn’t eat anything today, someone brought you lunch!”

But Xiang Er turned to Zhu Minmin, her eyes cold and resolute, startling Zhu Minmin.

Xiang Er spoke, her first words since arriving at the office:

“No, thank you.”

Then she turned back to her computer, clicking the mouse, mindlessly refreshing her desktop.

Zhu Minmin’s eyes widened in surprise, then she looked at Shen Yuhe at the entrance, sensing trouble in paradise! What had happened? Had they fought? A lovers’ quarrel?

She desperately wanted to ask Shen Yuhe, but didn’t dare. She could only approach Shen Yuhe and say:

“She said… no, thank you.”

The light in Shen Yuhe’s eyes had vanished the moment Xiang Er turned away, her beautiful face now clouded with sadness, a sight that made even Zhu Minmin’s heart ache.

Zhu Minmin couldn’t help but say softly to Shen Yuhe:

“Don’t… don’t worry, it’s normal for friends to fight. As long as you don’t give up, show her how you feel, shower her with love and care, you’ll definitely make up, I’m sure of it! I’m rooting for you guys, I support you!”

She gave Shen Yuhe a thumbs-up and winked.

Shen Yuhe finally looked at her and asked cautiously:

“Really?”

Zhu Minmin, full of confidence, declared:

“Of course! “

She patted her chest:

“I’ve been the love guru for countless friends! Trust me, I know what I’m talking about!”

Shen Yuhe looked at her for a moment, nodded, and said politely:

“Thank you. Then, could you please take this to her?”

She offered the two takeout containers, customized meals from a high-end hotel nearby, nutritionally balanced, and beautifully presented. Zhu Minmin had seen these meals online before, each one costing hundreds of yuan, she had scoffed at them as overpriced, and now, here they were.

Zhu Minmin took the containers, genuinely impressed:

“Wow! You’re so good to Xiang Er, I’m definitely shipping you two!”

Shen Yuhe raised an eyebrow:

“Shipping? What does that mean?”

Zhu Minmin:

“It means… like a couple. By the way, if you don’t mind me asking, are you and Xiang Er a couple?”

Shen Yuhe hesitated for a moment, then said:

“Maybe… not yet.”

Hearing this, Zhu Minmin’s shipper heart soared. She was witnessing a budding romance, how lucky! She immediately offered her best wishes:

“You will be soon! Good luck!”

Shen Yuhe’s eyes lit up slightly.

Zhu Minmin carried the takeout containers inside and placed them on Xiang Er’s desk, then leaned down and tried to persuade her, repeatedly gesturing towards the entrance.

Xiang Er only showed her profile, barely speaking, not even glancing at Shen Yuhe at the door.

Zhu Minmin helped open the containers and placed the chopsticks in Xiang Er’s hand, then returned to her own workstation.

Xiang Er held the chopsticks, looking at the food, for a long moment.

Shen Yuhe waited expectantly.

Xiang Er put down the chopsticks, without taking a single bite, closed the takeout containers, and pushed them away.

Shen Yuhe frowned deeply.

Remembering what Zhu Minmin had said, Shen Yuhe suddenly pushed open the office door and strode inside, walking quickly towards Xiang Er’s workstation.

Her demeanor was aggressive, like she was ready for a confrontation, but as she reached Xiang Er’s desk, her expression softened, her voice lowering:

“Eat something. Don’t you like the food? I ordered something bland, according to your preferences.”

Xiang Er’s neck was stiff, her gaze seemingly fixed on her computer screen, or perhaps at nothing at all. She didn’t turn, didn’t look at Shen Yuhe.

Even though Shen Yuhe’s unique sweet fragrance filled the air, she remained motionless, like a clay statue of a Bodhisattva, her eyes unseeing.

She didn’t say a word.

Shen Yuhe tried to listen to her thoughts, but there was only one: I don’t want to see her anymore. I’m tired.

“Eat something…”

Shen Yuhe pleaded softly.

Xiang Er remained motionless.

Shen Yuhe scooped up some rice and vegetables with a spoon and held it out to Xiang Er.

Xiang Er turned her head away.

Shen Yuhe moved the spoon closer, and Xiang Er stood up and walked out of the office.

Her figure was slender, but her back was straight, her demeanor resolute, as if bravely walking away from this life, from this world.

Shen Yuhe immediately followed, finding her in the bathroom down the hall.

Xiang Er entered a stall and locked the door. There were other people in the bathroom, but as soon as Shen Yuhe entered, they were all influenced by a mysterious thought and quickly left.

The bathroom fell silent. Xiang Er sat on the toilet, her eyes unfocused, she didn’t know anything, nor did she want to know.

She just wanted to be left alone.

But… outside her stall, the sound of high heels clicking against the tiles echoed, sharp and jarring.

A jade-white hand gently opened the stall door.

The locked door, before Xiang Er’s eyes, its latch retracting, easily opened.

Shen Yuhe stood before her, her brow furrowed, her face a mixture of confusion, pain, and sadness, an expression that didn’t suit her, an expression she had never shown before.

Trapped, with nowhere to hide, Xiang Er’s gaze finally met Shen Yuhe’s, their eyes dark and unreadable, two equally matched opponents.

“What do you want?”

Shen Yuhe’s voice was tinged with a rare self-doubt.

“I want… the truth.”

Xiang Er’s voice was hoarse, but firm.

That was all she wanted.

She wouldn’t tolerate, absolutely wouldn’t tolerate, any secrets from Shen Yuhe! Shen Yuhe was her beacon of hope, if even she was hiding something, if even she wasn’t being honest, then what was the point of living?

What was the point of living a lie!

She took a deep breath, the cheap air freshener stinging her nostrils, and she started coughing, a violent, wracking cough, until her throat bled!

She spat out a bloody mouthful of saliva and laughed, a self-deprecating laugh:

“I want the truth, tell me the truth!”

Her voice was high-pitched and shrill, a desperate cry laced with madness! She was doing this on purpose, she knew Shen Yuhe couldn’t bear to see her like this, she knew it would make her feel bad… she was doing this on purpose!

She even smiled, a defiant smile, her gaze challenging, fixed on Shen Yuhe’s beautiful, confused face.

She was gambling, gambling that… Shen Yuhe still cared.

“Okay. I’ll tell you the truth when we get home tonight.”

Shen Yuhe whispered.