Chapter- 8
Afraid of Polluting Your Eyes
Yu Zhi leaned closer to the glass, touching her own head in disbelief.
Her face was still her own, but the explosion of bright yellow hair on her head looked like it had been struck by lightning. Combined with the crop top and tight pants, she looked exactly like a street punk.
Was this how she’d been running around yesterday?
Yu Zhi felt like she might faint.
She pinched the spot above her upper lip hard enough to keep herself from passing out.
When she’d been thrown into this book yesterday, she hadn’t even stopped to check what she looked like.
This morning, when she got dressed, she’d just picked out what seemed to be the most “normal” clothes from a pile of bizarre outfits.
The washing facilities at home were primitive — no full-length mirror, not even a proper one she could use to see her face clearly.
So she just assumed she still looked like her real-world self.
After all, with her natural beauty, how bad could it be?
But now, seeing herself with that explosive yellow mess on her head, Yu Zhi felt even her pretty face looked swollen with shame.
She couldn’t bear to look — she literally couldn’t!
And somehow, she suddenly remembered what that handsome model guy had said to Pei Nian’an yesterday:
“You should stay away from certain types of people at school.”
Thinking about it now, Yu Zhi actually felt he had a point.
She was polluting the poor girl’s eyes just by existing like this!
Yu Zhi immediately pulled out her phone and searched for the nearest hair salon.
She needed a makeover right now. Keeping that yellow hair even one more second was an insult to her own sense of aesthetics.
Following the navigation, Yu Zhi arrived at a salon.
When she pushed open the door, there were only a few people inside.
Seeing a new customer, the manager immediately came forward enthusiastically.
“Hey, beauty! What do you want to do today?”
“I want to dye my hair — and straighten it,” Yu Zhi said, pointing at her frizzed-out yellow hair.
The manager nodded after examining her hair.
“Beauty, we usually don’t recommend dyeing and straightening at the same time. How about this: I’ll give you a deep treatment first, then we’ll dye your hair, and finally we’ll do a conditioning straightening, okay?”
Yu Zhi nodded absentmindedly.
She didn’t care about the process — she just couldn’t tolerate this hair any longer!
Seeing her agree, the manager grinned widely and shouted toward the back,
“Xiao Wen! Take the customer to wash her hair!”
At that name, Yu Zhi’s heart gave a heavy thump.
Could it be that kind of coincidence?
Sure enough — speak of the devil.
The curtain lifted, and Wen Ying came out, ponytail tied neatly, apron on.
The two locked eyes. Wen Ying froze for a second, then quickly recovered her calm.
“This way, please,” she said softly.
Yu Zhi reclined on the shampoo chair while Wen Ying adjusted the water temperature.
“I overheard you saying you want to dye your hair,” Wen Ying said as she started washing. “What color do you want this time? Still yellow?”
“Do you think I look good with yellow hair?” Yu Zhi asked suddenly, watching her through the mirror.
Wen Ying’s fingers paused slightly in Yu Zhi’s hair before she replied, “I think it’s fine — it suits you.”
“Oh.” Yu Zhi closed her eyes. “I’ll dye it black.”
Wen Ying squeezed out some shampoo, lathering it into bubbles on Yu Zhi’s hair. Her tone stayed light: “Black is nice too — it looks more like a student.”
The water flowed over Yu Zhi’s head, and the two fell silent.
“Is the temperature okay?” Wen Ying asked gently.
“It’s fine.” After that, Yu Zhi didn’t speak again.
Though Wen Ying was the heroine of this novel, at the end of the day, she was just a girl in her early twenties.
To Yu Zhi, a five-year veteran of the workplace, Wen Ying’s attempt to appear innocent was as transparent as glass.
That earlier question had been enough for Yu Zhi to sense the faint malice hiding behind Wen Ying’s sweet, pure façade.
But she didn’t expose it.
After all, Wen Ying was the heroine — she came with plot armor. Yu Zhi couldn’t afford to provoke her, but she could certainly stay out of her way.
When they were done, Wen Ying wrapped Yu Zhi’s hair in a towel. “All finished.”
Yu Zhi sat down in front of the mirror. The manager stood behind her.
“What kind of cut do you want, beauty?”
“Shoulder length — but still long enough to tie up.”
“Got it! We’ll do it just like we discussed, then?”
Yu Zhi nodded.
Three hours later, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, stunned.
Her formerly fried yellow hair was now sleek and black, falling softly to her shoulders.
She looked completely transformed — calm, elegant, and clean.
“Wow, this is like night and day!” the manager said admiringly. “That yellow hair before nearly scared me to death. This looks so much better!”
Yu Zhi turned her head slightly.
With the same facial features, but no longer hidden under a wild hairstyle, her beauty had taken on a more refined, bookish air. Even her outfit suddenly looked better.
As she scanned the QR code to pay, she noticed Wen Ying stealing glances at her.
When their eyes met in the mirror, Wen Ying froze, a flicker of surprise flashing across her gaze.
She opened her mouth as if to say something but only managed, “…Take care.”
Yu Zhi pushed open the glass door — but just as she was stepping out, someone came in.
Gu Chengnian strode into the salon.
Pei Nian’an followed in high heels, panting slightly, her cheeks flushed.
Seeing her, Yu Zhi called out, “Pei-jie!”
Pei Nian’an looked up, staring at Yu Zhi for several seconds, confusion in her tone.
“Yu Zhi?”
“It’s me, Pei-jie!” Yu Zhi blinked playfully.
Pei Nian’an’s eyes lit up.
“Oh my god! It is you! You finally got rid of that horrible yellow hair!”
Yu Zhi laughed awkwardly. “I didn’t want to pollute your eyes, so I changed it.”
“Much better,” Pei Nian’an said approvingly, giving her a once-over. “You look way more presentable now.”
Then she looped her arm through Yu Zhi’s and pulled her back into the salon, muttering,
“Chengnian-ge insisted on coming here for a shampoo. Since I’ve got nothing to do, come wait with me!”
Looking around the shop, Pei Nian’an frowned.
“I seriously don’t get it — why would he come to a shabby place like this?”
Yu Zhi immediately understood.
Of course — the classic attraction between male and female leads. Gu Chengnian must be here for Wen Ying.
But she didn’t say that aloud — just quietly followed Pei Nian’an back inside.
“Who’s here for styling?” the manager asked cheerfully again.
Inside, Gu Chengnian scanned the salon, his tone cool and even.
“Just a wash.”
The manager quickly shouted, “Xiao Wen! Quick, take this customer for a wash!”
Wen Ying came out again — and when she saw the trio, she froze briefly before regaining her composure.
“Who’s getting their hair washed?” she asked calmly. “Please come with me.”
The moment Pei Nian’an saw her, she exploded.
“You again?!”
