Like...

*Click*

She closed the door and leaned against it.

Leng Qingqiu covered her rapidly beating heart, which hadn't calmed since earlier.

She gently bit her lip, her face slightly flushed - whether from the hot shower she'd just taken or something else, she wasn't sure.

In her mind, she kept replaying both Gu Yan's confession song at the banquet hall and his direct question from moments ago.

For once, Leng Qingqiu found herself at a loss for how to respond.

Perhaps because his question had come too suddenly, leaving her flustered, she could only curse at him before frantically retreating to her study.

Only the study could give her some semblance of peace.

She slid down the door until she was sitting on the floor, hugging her knees and burying her face between them.

Do I like him...

Do I like Gu Yan? Could I like Gu Yan? No, should I even be able to like him?

Agreeing to be his wife in name only - one could say it was just compensation for her plan to take over the Gu family.

But that compensation certainly didn't include falling for Gu Yan.

It seemed impossible anyway - falling for Gu Yan? He was just an ordinary person who happened to be able to break marble.

She had sensed it herself - he had no cultivation ability at all. Surely one couldn't suggest that Gu Yan was stronger than her and all her subordinates?

To not even be able to detect his cultivation level?

Besides, hadn't there been cases of people flipping heavy trucks with their bare hands in moments of extreme tension and anger?

Leng Qingqiu recalled the story Gu Yan had once told her.

["There was once an athlete who said: In a moment of extreme anger, I once flipped over a heavy truck that was coming at me. Afterward, my whole body went weak and cold - that was the closest I've ever been to death. Later, my athletic dreams were ruined by a heavy rain, and I've been in decline ever since."]

Though it sounded somewhat exaggerated, there was indeed scientific evidence that the human body hadn't been fully developed.

"The human body truly is remarkable."

Leng Qingqiu marveled, and come to think of it, according to Ling'er, Gu Yan had a nice physique - she wondered what his body fat percentage was...

Then she shook her head vigorously. No, no, this wasn't the time to think about such things.

Did she really like Gu Yan?

Leng Qingqiu lifted her head slightly, wearing an expression as if she were struggling to decide whether to eat one or two ice cream bars.

She pressed her lips together, unaware that her face was completely flushed.

Her fingers gripped tightly at her arms.

She recalled every moment spent with Gu Yan, every word and action of his echoing in her mind.

His wild, passionate confession song still lingered in her thoughts.

She couldn't help but smile, whispering, "I like..."

But quickly, she shook her head.

"No, I don't."

Leng Qingqiu stood up, took a deep breath, and forced her upturned lips back down.

She sat at her desk with practiced ease and opened a book.

I don't like him, I don't like him, how could I possibly like him!

Leng Qingqiu clenched her fists tightly. In this life, revenge was her only path.

She couldn't possibly have a normal girl's life of dating and marriage!

Oh, Leng Qingqiu, you've become far too lazy.

Just because Gu Yan has brought some happiness to your life these past few days, you've become this lax?

Just because Gu Yan defended you and Ling'er at the banquet, you feel touched?

Just because Gu Yan said he wanted to dedicate a song to you in front of everyone, you're happy?

All of this! These are things that cloud your judgment!

Leng Qingqiu took deep breaths, trying to expel these unwanted thoughts that were affecting her mind.

After a few minutes, her heart became as solid as rock.

Her expression grew perfectly calm.

*Flip, flip, flip*

She began to read through the book.

That's right, Leng Qingqiu, you can never be like normal girls. You only have one purpose in this life.

That is revenge, revenge, revenge.

Kill all those who destroyed your family - no... not just kill them.

You must make them suffer as you have suffered!

You must make them watch as their loved ones, friends, and family die before their eyes!!

Gu Yan was an obstacle to her revenge plan.

Leng Qingqiu had figured it out - regarding Gu Yan, she would close off her heart, no matter what he did for her.

She would never be moved again, because emotions...

Were the most useless things of all.

*Flip*

She only needed Ling'er...

*Flip, flip*

As long as Ling'er was safe, nothing else mattered.

*Flip, flip, flip*

Friends? Love? She needed none of it, didn't need Gu Yan either - she only wanted the Gu family behind him.

Everything was for revenge; she was just using him.

*Flip, flip, flip, flip*

Yet why did Gu Yan's pixelated face keep appearing in her mind?

Why? She was only using him, so why wouldn't he leave her thoughts!

*Flip, flip, flip, flip, flip*

The pages turned faster and faster as Leng Qingqiu's heart grew more unsettled.

Then suddenly.

"Qingqiu, are you alright?"

A concerned voice thundered through Leng Qingqiu's thoughts.

"I brought you some food since you didn't go to the banquet hall. I packed some cream puffs for you."

"Thought you might not have eaten dinner properly."

"Oh, and it was actually that little imp Ling'er who reminded me to bring these. Who knew that little imp could be so thoughtful."

Gu Yan, having stopped his nosebleed, placed the packed high-class cream puffs on the desk while looking worriedly at Leng Qingqiu.

She seemed lost in thought - surely it wasn't because his words had troubled her?

No, no, no, Leng Qingqiu wasn't that kind of woman. She was probably thinking about her next steps for revenge.

Hearing this, Leng Qingqiu took a deep breath and said with feigned exasperation: "You fool, don't you know eating cream puffs at night makes you gain weight?"

Hearing this, Gu Yan pulled up a chair and sat beside Leng Qingqiu: "Oh? How rare to hear such words from a sweet tooth like you."

"What sweet tooth? What kind of nickname is that?"

Leng Qingqiu protested with her mouth full of cream puff.

Gu Yan rested his chin on the desk, watching tenderly as Leng Qingqiu ate with both hands: "You look like a hamster."

"You! You're the hamster!"

Leng Qingqiu finished one cream puff and reached for another, her expression growing more indignant at his words.

What hamster? Has he ever seen a hamster as beautiful as me?? I definitely don't like this stupid man.

To prevent Leng Qingqiu from eating too much, Gu Yan reminded her: "By the way, don't eat too many at night. Two should be enough."

"I'll leave after you finish eating."

Hearing this, for some reason, Leng Qingqiu unconsciously slowed down her eating pace.

She didn't know why she did this, but outwardly she just snorted: "As if I need your reminder? You make it sound like I'm the type who would devour all the snacks in front of me at once."

Aren't you though?

Gu Yan smiled knowingly but kept the thought to himself. No need to argue at a time like this.

Ah! My wife is so beautiful! Even when she's just quietly eating, she's so beautiful! She's amazing!

"Here."

At this moment, Leng Qingqiu grabbed a cream puff and held it out to Gu Yan, face turned aside: "You eat too."

Gu Yan was startled for a moment, then took it and took a bite, his eyes lighting up: "Delicious! These high-class cream puffs really are something."

Hearing this, Leng Qingqiu found something to comment on and unconsciously said happily: "Please, you call these high-class cream puffs? You clearly haven't tried the ones my mother used to make..."

But as she spoke, she fell silent.

Gu Yan also realized this, and suddenly the room fell into silence.

Time ticked by slowly, and Gu Yan watched as Leng Qingqiu finally finished her cream puffs.

He let out a long breath, then stood up and gently patted Leng Qingqiu's shoulder: "I'm sorry, Qingqiu. I'll take my leave now."

Too much had happened today, and Leng Qingqiu's mind must be in chaos. He should leave and let her collect her thoughts alone.

Gu Yan believed in and trusted Leng Qingqiu - she was a woman who could compose herself with just a few breaths.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to master the Ice Heart Scripture to perfection in the original story.

Seeing that Leng Qingqiu didn't respond, Gu Yan sighed softly and stood up, walking towards the door.

He's leaving, is he really leaving...

Leng Qingqiu belatedly squeezed her hand.

The cream puff was long finished, even though she had tried to eat as slowly as possible.

Licking her lips, Leng Qingqiu heard the sound of Gu Yan getting up and walking to the door.

Instinctively, Leng Qingqiu's distinctively cool voice reached Gu Yan's ears.

"Like..."

!!

Gu Yan's whole body suddenly trembled, and he quickly turned his head to look at Leng Qingqiu.

Then he heard her say indifferently: "I really like the taste of this cream puff, but I prefer the ones made at home."

"Gu Yan, since your cooking skills are so good, next time make some for me yourself."

Oh, so that's what it was.

Gu Yan somehow felt relieved and smiled, "Sure."

Click~

The door closed, and Gu Yan left.

He sat back in his luxury car, tilted his head back against the headrest, and pressed his hand against his chest.

A happy expression appeared on his face.

Phew!!!! Thank goodness Qingqiu didn't say she liked me, otherwise I might have died from my heart beating too fast right there.

However...

[When the pure love interest expresses like, +100,000 points~~]

Can you get so many points just for liking a cream puff?

Gu Yan was a bit confused, but it seemed Qingqiu really liked sweets, so next time he'd show off his skills!

[Sensing the strong pure love energy between host and Leng Qingqiu, ding ding ding~! The pure love technique has evolved~~ Upgraded to pure love technique stage two~~ Please check the details yourself, host.]

Gu Yan: ??

This thing can evolve? What are you, Pokémon?

Meanwhile.

In the study.

Leng Qingqiu covered her face with both hands, her face now bright red.

"I said it..."

Leng Qingqiu's voice trembled.

But fortunately, adding those extra words meant Gu Yan didn't suspect anything.

Moreover.

Saying "like" ≠ I actually like Gu Yan.

Compensation... this was nothing more than compensation to Gu Yan for taking over the Gu family.

If saying "like" could make him happy, of course I'm willing to do such an effortless thing!

"That's right... I'll never actually like Gu Yan."

Leng Qingqiu was very confident about this point.

Humming the "Love Confession Balloon" that Gu Yan had sung to her, Leng Qingqiu happily flipped through her books as usual.

Oh right, I should also have Ling'er make me a copy of "Light Years Away."

Hmph~ Although he's just a poor fool being used by me, his singing is quite good.

Leng Qingqiu swung her legs, in an excellent mood.