The Leng Family experienced a major incident.
As a result, Leng Qingqiu, the de facto head of the Leng Family, convened a small family meeting for the first time since Gu Yan arrived.
The attendees were: Leng Qingqiu, Leng Ling'er, and Gu Yan.
Leng Xing'an had no connection to the content of this meeting.
In the living room, Leng Qingqiu sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, arms folded, and her eyes open—a rare sight—staring intently at Leng Ling'er, who knelt on the floor, trembling with her head down.
To Leng Qingqiu, the life essence of the person before her felt both familiar and alien.
"Sister, what's wrong with you? Why have you become like this?"
Leng Ling'er knelt on the floor. When she saw the 18+ book titled "Being a XXXXX" thrown in front of her, she knew.
It was over.
Everything was over.
Her sister had discovered the secret of this book!
Her lifelong reputation was about to be ruined!
Just look at the serious atmosphere. Sister rarely called family meetings, and whenever she did, it was always to address major issues.
And now she even had her eyes open—something she hadn't done in front of others since she blinded herself.
In short, Leng Ling'er was utterly panicked.
The atmosphere grew heavier. Gu Yan, seated beside Leng Qingqiu as arranged, began to feel restless.
He had already figured out that this 18+ storybook belonged to Leng Ling'er.
Oh dear... this was awkward.
He glanced at Leng Ling'er, unsure of what to say. Who would have thought...
The cuckold was right beside me??
Although his sister-in-law had just helped him out, making him feel somewhat guilty, he couldn't help but...
Gu Yan cleared his throat and spoke slowly to Leng Ling'er, "I'm sorry, Ling'er... I know your brother-in-law is quite charming, but... sorry, I'm a pure love enthusiast."
"Cuckolding is heresy."
Just as Leng Ling'er was about to explain that she didn't want to cuckold him but simply enjoyed the thrill of the cuckold fantasy, Leng Qingqiu shot Gu Yan a sideways glance, silencing him.
Then she turned her gaze back to Leng Ling'er, her tone calm but carrying the tension of an impending storm. "Ling'er, your brother-in-law is here too."
"Tell your sister the truth. How do you really feel about him?"
As she spoke, Leng Qingqiu's heart was filled with struggle and pain.
She loved Gu Yan, but if Ling'er also had feelings for him, she truly didn't know what to do.
Ling'er was her only sister. Her previous wish was for Ling'er to grow up happily, living a normal life like any other girl.
Not like her, who had spent her life consumed by revenge.
But... that was before.
Since Gu Yan came into their lives, she realized she could balance revenge with a normal relationship with him.
However, if Ling'er also fell for Gu Yan... what should she do?
On one side was the man she loved, and on the other was her beloved sister.
"I... I..."
Leng Ling'er opened her mouth, glancing at Gu Yan and then at Leng Qingqiu.
Regret surged within her. If only she hadn't borrowed that book from Bai Qionglan back then.
Now everything was misunderstood.
Seeing Leng Ling'er remain silent, Leng Qingqiu assumed she was admitting to it.
Her face paled visibly.
She forced herself to stay composed, her voice filled with disappointment. "Not answering means you agree, doesn't it..."
"I never thought... I never thought Ling'er would become like this..."
"You're at an age where you should be studying. Why are you reading such books and doing things unrelated to your education?"
"Oh, right..."
At this point, Leng Qingqiu took a deep breath and continued, "Is it because you've made some bad friends? Did they teach you this?"
Gu Yan, listening from the side, felt something was off. He looked at Leng Qingqiu, whose expression was pale and weak. Though her tone was calm, Gu Yan could clearly sense the turmoil in her heart.
She was clearly suffering a major blow.
But... Qingqiu, the child is grown up now. Speaking like this will only hurt Ling'er deeply.
He glanced at Leng Ling'er, whose expression was also growing distant, as if she hadn't expected her sister to say such things.
But Leng Qingqiu didn't notice this. From the past until now, everything about Leng Ling'er had been under her control—her education, her daily life, everything.
She had promised their mother to protect Ling'er.
And what did protection mean? It meant guiding Ling'er down a path she deemed safe.
After delivering a series of parental admonishments, Leng Qingqiu's voice grew colder. "Ling'er, why are you so disobedient? Why won't you follow the path I've set for you..."
Before she could finish, Leng Ling'er interrupted.
"Stop talking!"
She didn't know where her courage came from, or if it was because Leng Qingqiu had insulted her friends.
She couldn't hold back anymore.
She stood up abruptly and shouted at Leng Qingqiu, "Sister, you're terrible! You don't understand anything!!"
The living room fell silent.
Leng Qingqiu's calm expression froze. "Wh... what?"
Did Ling'er just... yell at me?
This was the first time Leng Ling'er had ever talked back to her, and Leng Qingqiu was momentarily stunned.
But Leng Ling'er didn't wait for her sister to recover.
Her eyes were red, holding back tears.
In the past, whenever Leng Qingqiu scolded her, she would tremble and cry in fear.
But this time was different. Her sister had insulted her friends.
So she mustered her courage, looked at Leng Qingqiu, then at Gu Yan.
Finally, she took a deep breath and shouted, "Sister, you don't understand anything!!"
"I just enjoy the thrill of cuckolding, not because I want to steal your man!"
"Why don't you understand cuckolding?? We cuckolders don't love the person! We love the process!!"
"Fantasy cuckolding is still cuckolding! And fantasies make it even more exciting!!"
"Why can't you understand that, sister?!"
"This is the creed of me, Leng Ling'er, the cuckolder!!"
"Yes, Bai Qionglan gave me this book! But I didn't plan to return it!!"
"Because!! I'm an adult now!! I need to release some stress too!"
"You and brother-in-law can do all sorts of things together! What am I supposed to do by myself?!"
!!!
Gu Yan covered his mouth. What's happening? Wait, what's going on here?
How did such outrageous words come out of a 37-degree mouth?
And how would Leng Qingqiu, the future antagonist and his beloved wife, react?
Her sister, whom she had raised, was now confronting her...
He looked over.
Leng Qingqiu's face first froze, then gradually regained composure. She bit her lip tightly.
Then she suddenly stood up, took two steps toward Leng Ling'er, and shouted, "I don't understand? Yes! How can I understand you?!"
"Didn't I always ask about your hobbies?!"
"What do you like? Did you ever tell me?!"
"I asked you what happened at school, and you always brushed me off with a few words!!"
"I asked you what you did today, and you said nothing, just studying... Is this what you call studying?!"
"Sister can't see you! In my mind, you're still that little girl, just this big!"
"I raised you to this age! Don't you remember? Mom told me to take care of you! I don't want you to get hurt, Ling'er!"
"What is cuckolding? What is love? What are these 'spiritual girls'?!"
"What are influencers? What are short videos? What are soap operas and cheesy dramas?!"
"I don't understand! Sister really doesn't understand!!"
"I tried so hard to learn about everything you like, but sister... I can't see!!"
Her voice, initially calm and trembling, gradually turned into a forceful roar, and by the end, it was choked with tears.
Leng Ling'er was stunned. Because, in her memory, her sister had always been strong...
At this moment... tears were streaming uncontrollably from her eyes.
In an instant, she understood.
The weight of these past years had been far too heavy for her sister.
With the Leng Family annihilated, all the responsibilities had fallen on Leng Qingqiu's shoulders. She had to seek revenge...
Deep down, she knew everything. She had witnessed the night of the massacre with her own eyes.
But she was terrified... utterly terrified, so she chose to close her eyes and avoid thinking about that night.
As a result, all the burden had been placed on Leng Qingqiu.
"I'm sorry, sister..."
Then, Leng Ling'er turned to Gu Yan, and her gaze shifted to the fragile and uneasy expression on Leng Qingqiu's face.
"So that's it, sister...
You've found your [heart] again, and that's why you've become [softer] than before.
But this is the sister I know. Indeed, only Gu Yan could change you.
This guy... truly is something extraordinary."
Gu Yan sat on the sofa, wanting to comfort them and intervene in the matter.
But reason told him he couldn't.
This was a moment for the sisters to open up to each other, and he shouldn't disturb them.
This might be the best opportunity for the two sisters to truly understand each other.
And!
Gu Yan watched as Leng Qingqiu cried, her tears falling like pear blossoms in the rain.
He nodded firmly. Such a vulnerable side of Qingqiu was a rare sight, and he had to quietly appreciate it!