The atmosphere in the car was suffocatingly heavy.
Ning Qian silently shed tears, her stubbornness preventing her from making a sound. Her face was ashen, staring blankly out the window as if she had lost all hope for life.
Gu Yan sat in the passenger seat, attempting to console her: "Ning Qian, think about it. The world is vast, and there are countless opportunities for love. Why fixate on just one person?"
"Since your senior brother has chosen Shen Wan'er, you should broaden your horizons and look for other, more exceptional men."
Ning Qian remained silent, her shoulders trembling even more violently.
Gu Yan thought she was listening, but...
Ning Qian stubbornly pursed her lips, her voice quivering: "I don't allow you to speak ill of my senior brother."
"Senior Brother is the most outstanding..."
Great, another lovesick puppy and hopeless obsessive.
No wonder you end up being swayed by the protagonist's rhetoric and fall for him again.
Gu Yan smirked, delivering a blow: "Yes, yes, your senior brother is outstanding, but he didn't fulfill his promise to you, did he?"
Those words struck a chord.
Ning Qian's breath caught, and she clenched her teeth, whispering: "You know nothing! Senior Brother surely loves me! It's just that Shen Wan'er deceived him!"
"Senior Brother definitely loves me, and he will surely be with me! He promised to marry me!"
"Senior Brother... I must go and ask him now!"
Saying this, Ning Qian frantically pulled at the car door, but the child lock prevented her from opening it.
Rat-a-tat-tat!
The more frustrated she became, the more she tugged, until she finally broke down, low sobs escaping her.
She covered her face, murmuring: "Senior Brother... Senior Brother..."
Gu Yan watched all this with a look of utter disbelief. However, this was exactly what he had planned for.
But... he glanced at Shangguan Miaoyin, who seemed to be deep in thought while looking at Ning Qian.
Could she be thinking about recruiting her, just like in the original story?
If Shangguan Miaoyin could read minds, she would be astonished that Gu Yan was so clever to guess this.
Indeed.
Shangguan Miaoyin was indeed considering recruiting Ning Qian.
After all, her master had previously instructed her to seek out talented individuals in the world.
Mei Xue had already found a genius, You Xingxue, while she was still at zero in terms of enthralling talents. She had to step up her game.
Only I should be the favorite by the master's side!
Noticing Gu Yan's gaze, Shangguan Miaoyin exchanged a glance with him.
"Hehehe..."
"Hehehe..."
The two individuals with the intention of recruiting Ning Qian exchanged knowing smiles.
A few more minutes passed.
Shangguan Miaoyin, feeling it inconvenient to move within the car, coughed: "Mr. Gu, since it's inconvenient for you to take us with you, why not drop us off somewhere? I'll take Ning Qian out for a walk and lift her spirits."
"After all, you have a grandmaster bodyguard protecting you; you'll be perfectly safe."
At this, Gu Yan shook his head, his words carrying deeper implications: "No, no, no. Inconvenient was just earlier. Now I've thought of a much more convenient solution."
Shangguan Miaoyin's eye twitched: "........Then I eagerly await your solution."
"You'd better be ready to be impressed."
Shangguan Miaoyin: I'll endure!!
......
.....
Consequently..... after switching to a seven-seater vehicle.
"Yahoo!! Brother-in-law, you're awesome! You even helped Ling'er and Qionglan get leave to go out and play! If my older sister finds out, she'll scold you to death."
"And this car is so big!!!"
Leng Ling'er sat in the back, her legs stretched out, beaming with joy.
Bai Qionglan nodded in agreement, hugging Leng Ling'er's arm and smiling: "Brother-in-law, you're too good to Ling'er!"
"And you even brought my brother along! It didn't matter if you didn't call him!"
Bai Jun and Gu Yan sat in the front, with the former watching the affectionate interaction between the two close friends, pushing up his glasses.
Then, he looked at Gu Yan helplessly: "Gu Yan... why so sudden? What about our previous plan?"
Gu Yan, who was playing music, looked at Bai Jun puzzled: "Plan? Brother Bai, you wouldn't want me to take two girls out and risk being misunderstood, would you?"
"I can't, I can't. Qingqiu and I are pure love!"
Bai Jun sighed, pushing up his glasses helplessly: "Then... okay."
But this was indeed a good solution.
Jianghai has recently become too dangerous.
Having my sister stay with them is definitely safer than being alone.
After all, not only do they have two grandmasters, himself and Lao Gao, in the vehicle.
But also Gu Yan and Shangguan Miaoyin, plus Ning Qian, a disciple of Dragon King Mountain.
Such a luxurious lineup, even if Ye were foolish, he wouldn't dare to make a move.
Hehe, Gu Yan thought it through.
Ning Qian was seated next to Leng Ling'er.
As the daughter of the Leng Family of Jianghai, Leng Ling'er was naturally inclined to make many friends.
So, she looked at Ning Qian and noticed the latter's red, puffy eyes, as if she had been crying.
In an instant, she understood why Gu Yan had invited her.
It was to console the girl!
Heh! As a reward for bringing me out, all I can say is!
You really know how to pick 'em!
Thus, Leng Ling'er took the initiative to greet: "Hi, little sister, what's wrong? Who bullied you?"
"Tell me, as the queen of Jianghai, I'll surely get you some justice!"
As Leng Ling'er initiated the conversation.
Bai Qionglan suddenly became alert, eyeing Ning Qian.
The latter's appearance, looking both gloomy and pitiful, could it be that Ling'er was into younger girls like this?!
No way! That kind of thing!
Bai Qionglan immediately panicked.
Ning Qian, having heard Leng Ling'er, glanced at her briefly before returning her gaze.
Hmph, ridiculous. A ordinary girl like you, how could you understand my pain?
However, Ning Qian clearly underestimated Leng Ling'er's social skills.
She began incessantly pestering the former: "Hey, hey, hey~~ I'm talking to you, did you hear me?"
"Why are you crying? What happened? From your age, are you still in middle school?"
"Why do you have a sword at your waist? Are you cosplaying? Where did you order this outfit? Which studio did you find?"
"Why don't you talk? Did your family scold you?"
"Why aren't you going to school? And why is my brother-in-law bringing you along?"
"What's your name?"
Buzzzzzz~~~
Ning Qian, overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, spoke coldly: "My name is Ning Qian."
Bai Qionglan was instantly displeased with this attitude, saying: "Hey! What kind of attitude is that! Ling'er meant well..."
However, Leng Ling'er waved her hand, speaking with a sacred tone: "Qionglan, when dealing with a girl who's wounded inside, one can't be too rough."
"Because girls are all lovable creatures, especially this..... aloof cosplay girl!"
She gazed excitedly at Ning Qian: "Your name is Ning Qian? Why were you crying?"
Bai Qionglan, too, was thrown off by Leng Ling'er's words.
Crap, why is Ling'er being so concerned about this girl? Why? What about me?
Damn it! I was here first!
Ning Qian here, on the other hand, was speechless.
Do you have to keep going on about this??
But..... as soon as the topic of crying came up, Ning Qian thought of the woman's voice from earlier in Senior Brother's room.
That must be Shen Wan'er, as Gu Yan mentioned.
Instantly.
Her mood plunged again, tears falling relentlessly.
She wiped her tears, trying her best not to sob aloud.
....Ning Qian, you must be strong.
As a disciple of Dragon King Mountain, a little setback like this is nothing. You must hold onto your resolve.
Don't let your tears fall in front of these people anymore!
However.
Before she could dry her tears.
A song suddenly came from beside her.
"The youth own their wildness!"
"Standing tall like mountains, firm and strong!!"
"Daring to measure the celestial bodies anew!"
"Today, the young warriors stand tall!!"
"......"
Then, before Ning Qian could react, she felt herself being pulled into a fragrant embrace.
Following that came Leng Ling'er's comforting words: "Don't bow your head, or the crown will fall."
"Don't cry, or the one who hurt you will laugh."
In that moment, Ning Qian burst into tears.
She had never heard words like this before, and she found them incredibly profound.
"Waaaahhhh!!!"
"Waaahhh! Why did my senior brother treat me like this~! Waaahhh!"
Ning Qian buried her face in Leng Ling'er's embrace, crying and wailing.
Leng Ling'er, meanwhile, hugged her close, breathing in the unique scent of her body.
Hmm, softness is perfect, body fragrance is on point, 9 out of 10—giving you ten would just make you too arrogant.
She patted Ning Qian's back and comforted her: "There, there, Little Ning Qian, tell your Ling'er sister what your senior brother did to you."
Ning Qian sniffled, looked up with tear-filled eyes, and stammered, "Well... it was like this..."
This scene, when Bai Qionglan saw it, filled her eyes with jealousy.
Why! Even I haven't had this kind of treatment!!
How infuriating! Ning Qian!! I hate you!!
Tears welled up in Bai Qionglan's eyes as well.