"What? What do you mean?"
Gu Luo didn’t quite understand at first.
"Ugh, just trust me, okay? Stop talking, you annoying big brother." Gu Ximan was feeling unusually flustered at the moment.
With that, she opened her phone and hesitated for a moment before finally tapping on someone’s chat window.
That someone was none other than her best friend, Lu Xuexue.
Gu Ximan really didn’t want her annoying big brother to carry Lu Xuexue in his arms, afraid that too much contact between them might spark real romantic feelings.
But.
No matter how much she resisted the idea, she couldn’t bear to let Gu Luo’s efforts go to waste.
Her big brother had always been selfless toward her, spoiling her to no end—even when she posted embarrassing childhood photos of him being used as a "horse" in their group chat, he never got upset.
His love for her was boundless.
So how could she be selfish in return?
Besides, it was just a hug. It wasn’t like her annoying big brother would fall for Xuexue just from carrying her, right?
Yeah, no big deal.
Absolutely no big deal.
Gu Ximan kept mentally convincing herself, her emotions tangled as she sent the message to Lu Xuexue.
But the moment she hit send, she suddenly felt hollow inside.
It was the pain of pushing someone she loved into another’s embrace with her own hands.
Yet, even if time rewound, she would still make the same choice.
Her big brother would always come first—no exceptions.
Down below the stage.
[Gu Ximan: Xuexue, go talk to the host. I need to use the bathroom—see if you can take my place.]
Lu Xuexue stared at the message on her phone, both surprised and delighted.
She immediately looked up, her gaze meeting Gu Ximan’s on stage.
Their eyes locked in silent understanding.
Just like how guys had their unspoken "bro code," girls had their own telepathic connection.
Lu Xuexue hesitated for a second before quickly typing a reply:
[Lu Xuexue: Manman, maybe we should just give up. I heard someone say holding someone in a princess carry for too long can cause muscle cramps and strain.]
[Lu Xuexue: Since you need to go to the bathroom anyway, I’ll make it up to you with a gift later.]
Her feelings were just as complicated. Deep down, she longed to be carried by Brother Gu, but...
Brother Gu was her top priority, just like her parents—nothing could change that.
Soon, Gu Ximan replied again.
[Gu Ximan: Don’t worry, Xuexue. My annoying big brother is super strong—he’s not like most guys. Remember what the group leader said during the tug-of-war? "Control the variables."]
[Gu Ximan: No matter what, we can’t let his efforts go to waste. Even if he doesn’t care, I do.]
Reading these messages, Lu Xuexue couldn’t help but swoon internally.
Manman was such a devoted little sister, putting her brother above everything else. Even though she clearly didn’t want Lu Xuexue getting close to Brother Gu, she still made this choice.
The bond between these siblings was just too sweet.
Meanwhile, nearby, "Single Dog No. 1" was waggling his eyebrows at "Single Dog No. 2."
Single Dog No. 1—Grandpa, your grandson can’t hold back anymore. Please, just let me have this loli!
After sending this silent plea, he immediately glanced toward Gu Luo and the others on stage, his meaning clear—Grandpa, look! That guy’s already holding a top-tier beauty. We finally found a wild, premium loli—just let me shoot my shot!
Single Dog No. 2 shot back a look—Ancestor, isn’t it obvious she’s into me? She looked at me earlier, I swear! Let me handle this—I’ll cover your breakfast for a month.
This time, Single Dog No. 1 didn’t respond with his eyes. Instead, he lowered his head slightly and flashed what he thought was his most charming smile at Lu Xuexue, nervously stammering:
"Uh… h-hi there."
Lu Xuexue, who had been about to head toward the host, paused and tilted her head. "Yes? Can I help you?"
"Ah… um… well… I…" Single Dog No. 1’s face turned red. He coughed awkwardly, pulling out his phone, his voice barely above a whisper:
"I was wondering if… if I could… get your contact info…?"
"Sorry, no."
Without hesitation, Lu Xuexue shook her head, her tone calm but firm, before briskly walking toward the host.
She had thought it was something important, but of course—it was just another attempt at flirting.
She was used to being approached for her number whenever she went out.
Compared to Brother Gu? These guys didn’t stand a chance.
Honestly, she’d rather be Brother Gu’s devoted admirer than their so-called "goddess."
"Uh…"
Rejected so decisively, Single Dog No. 1 was so embarrassed he could’ve dug a three-bedroom apartment with his toes. He could practically feel the judgmental stares from everyone around him.
He was certain the people behind him were laughing at him in their heads.
So. Freaking. Awkward.
At this point, the world might as well just end.
"Dude, what the hell was that?"
Single Dog No. 2 elbowed him hard in the ribs, then hissed under his breath, "Who approaches someone like that? Ever heard of ‘taking it slow’?"
"Look, you scared her off. Way to go, genius."
"You’re the worst wingman ever."
As his friend berated him, Single Dog No. 1’s face burned with humiliation. Clenching his teeth, he spat out the few English words he knew:
"You you up, noob be!"
Not one to back down, Single Dog No. 2 fired back in equally broken English:
"I’m fi-hank you, and you?"
"Man! What I say?!"
"Kale!"
"F me!"
And just like that, the two descended into a bizarre battle of English vocabulary, each trying to outdo the other.
But since they’d been taught by the same teacher, neither could gain the upper hand.
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
"Uncle, here’s the thing—my friend isn’t feeling well. Do you think maybe…?"
On the other side of the stage, Lu Xuexue politely explained the situation to the middle-aged host.
Pausing briefly, she quickly added, fearing he might refuse:
"How about this? I’ll sponsor all the prizes for this event. Would that work?"
The host immediately waved his hands, chuckling warmly. "No need, no need! This event is just for fun, a little thank-you to our customers."
Then, half-jokingly, he added,
"Besides, the total prize pool is over a thousand bucks."
Lu Xuexue nodded thoughtfully. "Oh, just a few thousand? Then it’s settled—I’ll cover it. I did break the rules, after all."
Honestly, a few thousand yuan was practically pocket change to her.
"Cough—" The host choked back his surprise, realizing this petite girl was probably what the internet called a "rich loli."
And it was obvious she had a thing for that handsome guy on stage.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly—being handsome sure has its perks.
After getting the host's permission, Lu Xuexue immediately hurried toward the stage.
The entire process took no more than two and a half minutes.
When Gu Luo saw who it was, he froze for a moment before suddenly realizing what this so-called "solution" was all about.
"Stupid big brother, put me down now."
Gu Ximan had already reached her limit, her voice trembling slightly.
"Ah, right."
As soon as Gu Luo set Gu Ximan down, she bolted like a startled rabbit, darting straight for the restroom.
In the blink of an eye, she vanished into the crowd.
"Brother Gu... sorry for the trouble..."
Lu Xuexue's face was now completely flushed, unbearably adorable.
"Got it."
Gu Luo didn’t have time to overthink it. He swiftly reached out and effortlessly scooped her up in a princess carry.
After all, wasting time would be unfair to the other contestants.
Soft.
Incredibly soft.
Though Lu Xuexue’s figure might not match Gu Ximan’s in certain areas, her softness was exceptional.
At the same time, a faint, sweet fragrance drifted into Gu Luo’s senses.
Delightfully intoxicating.
Of course, Gu Ximan had her own scent too, but he’d grown so accustomed to it that he could no longer distinguish it.
"Brother Gu... thank you..."
Lu Xuexue kept her head lowered, her cheeks so red they seemed about to drip blood.
Her heart was pounding wildly.
It felt like a dream.
She was actually being princess-carried by Brother Gu!
"Don’t worry about it, Xuexue. No need to be so shy. I’ll practice with you more often," Gu Luo reassured her with a smile.
"Mmm... thank you, Brother Gu..."
Lu Xuexue covered her burning cheeks with one hand, hesitated for a second, then asked in a tiny voice,
"Brother Gu... can I take a photo?"
"Sure, go ahead."
Gu Luo agreed without a second thought.
It wasn’t a big deal.
Besides, he still needed to ask them both what their conflict was about later.
Hearing this, Lu Xuexue lit up with joy and immediately pulled out her phone.
She then proceeded to snap pictures from every possible angle.
Many of the photos captured Gu Luo’s face perfectly.
These would be her most precious memories.
............
Down below,
Single Dog No. 1 and Single Dog No. 2 stood frozen, noses itching in disbelief.
What the hell?
Wasn’t this rich loli a free agent?
How did she end up in someone else’s arms?
And what was the deal with that high-ponytailed beauty from earlier?
Seriously, dude.
You’re taking all of them?
Aside from being ridiculously good-looking, what else do you even have?
What kind of monster are you?!
After a long silence, Single Dog No. 1 couldn’t take the awkwardness anymore and muttered,
"Uh... my friend isn’t feeling well. I should go check on him..."
Single Dog No. 2 nodded blankly.
"Wow, what a coincidence... my grandma’s about to give birth to my dad... let’s head back together..."
............
............
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
he colors of other people’s emotions. Light red meant anxiety. Gray meant exhaustion. Orange meant excitement. Yellow... meant repression. At the same time, he could gain unlimited control over one of those colors. Pale cyan: relaxation. Using this ability, he started offering “two-yuan hugs,” spending an afternoon exchanging emotional-color experiences with others. Then came his final female customer of the day— a girl whose emotional color was pure black... —— A week later, Xu Chuan had become skilled at using pale cyan—Relaxation—treating it like a bottle of menthol balm whenever he needed it. That was when he discovered he had unlocked another unlimited emotional color: Purple, the color of fear. So these emotional colors refresh every week? Fine, I take it back—I’ll never call you useless again... —— Much later, after Xu Chuan had accumulated countless emotional abilities, one night, he suddenly found himself inside someone else’s dream. There, he could use the emotional colors he possessed to paint. And in her dream, he painted her a shower of pink shooting stars, spreading across the depths of the night sky...
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
transmigrates into the world as the sect master of the Heavenly Yan Sect, which is on the verge of being wiped out. He binds a system that grants him cultivation power based on the number of disciples he has: for each disciple, he automatically gains a year's worth of cultivation every single day! Take one disciple: every day he gains 1 year of cultivation power. While others struggle through a year of bitter training, he gets the same just by sleeping through a single night. Take ten disciples: every day he gains 10 years of cultivation power. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—he breezes through all bottlenecks without lifting a finger. Take one hundred disciples: every day he gains 100 years of cultivation power. Even a Soul Transformation Venerable before him can’t survive a single blow. Take ten thousand disciples: every day he gains 10,000 years of cultivation power! With a wave of his hand, he topples empires. With a single step, he crushes the sacred grounds of the universe. ... While others fight tooth and nail for secret techniques, Lin Yan casually hands out Nascent Soul-level cultivation manuals as beginner textbooks. While others strain to find talented recruits, Lin Yan opens his doors to anyone—so long as they’re human. In just three short years, the Heavenly Yan Sect went from a backwater sect made up of three crumbling huts to a sacred land that every cultivator under heaven would kill to enter. ... One day, otherworldly demon gods invade, with a million demon soldiers pressing down upon the realm. Lin Yan, yawning, rises from his lounge chair and glances at the system panel: [Current Disciples: 1.28 million] [Daily Cultivation Increase: 1.28 million years] He waves his hand casually, and the countless demon soldiers are reduced to ashes in an instant. “So noisy… interrupting my fishing.”
