Although Gu Yan had assured Leng Ling'er that he would handle everything, he couldn't help but wonder...
How could he distinguish between the second personality and Leng Qingqiu?
Was it through their expressions? Or their actions?
But since it was another personality, their behavioral logic shouldn't differ much from Leng Qingqiu's, the original host.
As Gu Yan pondered this, he arrived at the dining table.
"Qingqiu... um, we can handle the kitchen. You can just wait outside for dinner, okay?"
"Okay, Mom."
Hearing the familiar voice, Gu Yan looked up and saw Leng Qingqiu untying her apron by the rack. As he watched her, his expression gradually brightened. "Hey! I've got a great idea!"
On Leng Qingqiu's side, she felt it wasn't right to let Gu Yan's parents do all the work in the kitchen, so she volunteered to lend a hand.
Su Murong, worried that the cooking fumes might stain Leng Qingqiu's clothes, tied a small apron around her.
But before long, Su Murong sent her out.
Perhaps she was afraid of tiring her future daughter-in-law?
Leng Qingqiu smiled softly. What a loving family.
But then, suddenly...
"Qingqiu, come here for a hug."
Huh?!
As Gu Yan's whisper reached her ears, Leng Qingqiu felt a pair of large hands wrap around her waist from behind.
"What are you doing all of a sudden?? Gu Yan, let go!"
Since they were close to the kitchen, Leng Qingqiu had no choice but to lower her voice and scold him in embarrassment.
"Wait, Qingqiu, I just need to verify something! It'll only take a moment!"
Gu Yan quickly explained.
As her soft, warm body nestled into his arms, a system notification chimed.
[Active physical affection with your pure love partner detected. +100 points!]
This was the real Qingqiu! And as their affection and the pure love technique improved, the points they earned also increased!
Gu Yan's face lit up with joy. This made things much easier!
"Qingqiu! This is great!"
But as good as it was... things were getting awkward...
Qingqiu's body was so soft and fragrant. Once he held her, he couldn't bring himself to let go.
"Ahh... ahh..."
Gu Yan couldn't help but bury his face into Leng Qingqiu's back, inhaling deeply. "Qingqiu... my Qingqiu... Sorry, just let me hold you like this a little longer..."
!!!
Leng Qingqiu's heart skipped a beat.
The next second, she no longer cared if the commotion would alert Su Murong.
Thud!
"Pervert!"
"Get off me!"
Leng Qingqiu, flushed with anger and embarrassment, elbowed him hard from behind.
"Oof!"
"Who elbows their own loving husband like that?!"
Gu Yan clutched his chest in pain, writhing on the floor.
"Hmph!"
Leng Qingqiu hung up the apron, seemingly pleased to hear Gu Yan's cries of pain. She snorted lightly, "You deserve it, you pervert."
With that, she dragged the still-twitching Gu Yan away from the kitchen.
If this were the Leng Family, I'd make sure you paid for this.
I'd show you who's really in charge in this relationship!
Time passed.
After dinner, Gu Yan felt that the little incident with Leng Qingqiu might have affected their relationship.
At least, that's what he thought.
Because...
"Qingqiu, isn't it lonely to bathe alone?"
"How about I help you scrub your back or something?"
Gu Yan, holding a change of clothes, suggested this to Leng Qingqiu as she was about to enter the bathroom.
"Get lost!"
Bang!
His answer was an angry shout and the sound of a door slamming shut.
"The love is gone. Qingqiu wasn't like this before."
Gu Yan sighed repeatedly, his expression full of disappointment.
Leng Ling'er, standing nearby, couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Come on, you loser! My sister never agreed to bathe with you before either!"
"Can you stop being such a creep? I'm starting to wonder if letting you be with my sister was the right decision!"
Seriously, if the other personality were to appear, and this idiot Gu Yan couldn't tell the difference and treated her the same way he treats my sister...
Leng Ling'er broke out in a cold sweat just thinking about it. She didn't even dare to imagine the outcome.
Gu Yan, on the other hand, looked utterly righteous and pure as he replied, "You don't understand. I just want to be with Qingqiu every moment of the day."
"This is love... This is love!"
"...Brother-in-law, please, just act normal."
Leng Ling'er, a self-proclaimed expert in "bull-headed" relationships, found it impossible to communicate with this pure love warrior.
Speaking of bull-headedness...
Leng Ling'er's eyes flickered with regret. It had been so long since she'd read any of her favorite "bull-headed" novels. With her sister around, it was even more impossible now.
Ah, what a pity. Oh well, I'll just pick some material for my dreams tonight.
Like Ning Qian and her senior brother... Hehehehe!! I'm sure I'll sleep well tonight!
...
Time passed, and Gu Yan stood at the door of Leng Qingqiu's room.
He placed his hands on Leng Qingqiu's shoulders, quickly taking in her appearance in her black and gold silk pajamas. "Alright then, Qingqiu. If you feel uncomfortable sleeping tonight, just call for me... I'll come right away!"
Leng Qingqiu stood at the doorway, her expression somewhat helpless. "I know, I know. I'll call you if I need you, and I'll call you if I don't. I'll call you if I'm lonely, and I'll call you if I'm not."
"You've been standing here talking for almost half an hour."
"Although I really don't want to say this..."
Leng Qingqiu pushed away Gu Yan's wandering hands, then placed her hand on the door, smiling at him. "Ling'er and I need to sleep now. Goodnight, Gu Yan."
"That's right! Goodnight, brother-in-law~ Bye-bye~~ I'm sleeping with my sister now~"
Leng Ling'er stuck out her tongue at Gu Yan.
Click!
The door closed.
Gu Yan sighed deeply. Ah...
If only he could replace Ling'er.
Who knows when Qingqiu will come over next time?
Ah! Married life is tough, Gu Yan thought with another sigh.
In the room, the two sisters lay in bed.
Since things had briefly smoothed over between Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu, Leng Ling'er decided to play matchmaker again. "Sis, brother-in-law seemed really disappointed earlier. Maybe you should go comfort him?"
Huh?!
At this, Leng Qingqiu's expression immediately became awkward.
"Ling'er, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Leng Qingqiu felt a wave of embarrassment. Even Ling'er was thinking like this now?
She quickly turned off the light. "Alright, Ling'er, time to sleep!"
And with that, she shut down the conversation.
Leng Ling'er pouted. Brother-in-law, it's not that I don't want to help you, but my sister's still a bit too shy.
Tsk tsk, poor loser Gu Yan. You'll just have to dream about sleeping in the same bed as my sister tonight~
As for me, I'm off to my "bull-headed" dreamland!
Leng Qingqiu, on the other hand, gradually calmed her flustered heart.
She began reminiscing about all the moments she'd shared with Gu Yan since they first met.
Who would have thought that she and Gu Yan would actually come this far...
To the point where she was now staying at his family's home...
And tomorrow, they were going out...
Was this their first date?
Leng Qingqiu felt her face grow warm.
Would Gu Yan treat tomorrow as a date?
Ah! How embarrassing! Why am I even thinking about this?
If Little Cold knew, she'd probably scold me for becoming weak or something.
But...
Weak or not... this feeling... it's actually quite nice...
It's a shame Little Cold will never get to experience it.
Otherwise, she'd surely understand me... Haha, just kidding.
Someone like Little Cold would never change.
After all, she's the embodiment of my darkest side.
As she thought about this, Leng Qingqiu gradually drifted off to sleep, feeling completely at ease.
...
Drip... drip...
Midnight.
The room was enveloped in silence and darkness.
Only the sound of the clock echoed through the space.
Moonlight spilled onto the edge of the bed.
Suddenly, with a rustle, a figure abruptly sat up.
The blanket slid off "Leng Qingqiu's" shoulders.
The moonlight seemed to serve her purpose, illuminating her face.
Her features, bathed in the silver light, appeared strikingly cold and exquisite, like a finely carved ice sculpture, breathtakingly beautiful.
Her eyes were the coldest stars in the night sky, devoid of the brilliance of a starry expanse, only emitting a frigid light. Beneath her tall nose bridge, her lips were lightly pursed, as if they had never known the meaning of a smile.
Her beauty was the kind that took one's breath away—so cold that it almost made her presence seem negligible, yet so stunning that one couldn't tear their gaze away.
Every movement exuded an extraordinary aura, aloof and unattainable.
Her beauty wasn’t the warmth of sunlight but the icy blossoms under the moonlight, both enchanting and ruthless, making it impossible to look directly at her, only to admire her from afar.
As her name suggested, she was cold, noble, and independent, standing apart from the world. On this silent night, she seemed like the embodiment of the night itself, as if the regal monarch of darkness had descended upon this place.
She reached out and brushed her hair upward, revealing a pair of eyes that, unlike Leng Qingqiu's, showed no trace of emotion. "Hmph, so you’ve fallen into a deep sleep. Did today’s happiness make you rest so soundly?"
Xiao Leng muttered to herself, her tone laced with icy sarcasm.
She rose from the bed, and as moonlight seeped into the room, the details of her jade-like feet became increasingly clear in the dappled light.
Like a work of art, her bare feet stepped onto the redwood floor.
Xiao Leng glanced at Leng Ling'er, who was snoring softly beside her.
After tucking the other in, she walked toward the door.
Her intentions were clear.
The other me, what you think is love is merely your own perception.
Love is the most laughable and worthless thing.
When anyone encounters something new that stirs their heart, they always think about discarding the old to embrace the new.
You’ve simply fallen into the beautiful illusion woven by the furnace, believing that they will always love you.
But... you’re wrong... so wrong...
Loving you now ≠ loving you forever.
While testing my progress, I’ll also prove this to you.
Prove... whether Gu Yan truly loves you or not.