"Gu Luo, Gu Luo."
Gu Luo nodded in response and immediately sped up his dishwashing.
Luo Shuning did the same.
The two worked together seamlessly, their movements swift and steady, as if they had practiced this routine countless times.
Clean plates glided effortlessly between their hands, soon neatly stacked in the cupboard.
Normally, they would take their time washing dishes—truth be told, they just wanted to spend a little longer together.
Without realizing it, the kitchen had become their own little world of subtle affection.
Gu Feng quietly stepped back outside the kitchen, silently watching the scene unfold before him. A knowing smile curled at the corners of his lips.
His eyes brimmed with satisfaction.
They were just too perfect for each other.
His son and Shuning were practically made for one another.
And if they ever had a baby, whether it took after the father or the mother, it would undoubtedly be absolutely adorable.
Just as Gu Feng was lost in sweet fantasies of the future, envisioning the blissful days when he’d become a grandfather, a sudden chill crept up his spine.
This feeling was all too familiar—whenever Luo Liang fixed her gaze on him, this inexplicable coldness would follow.
"Uncle, why are you smiling so happily?"
Right on cue, a crisp voice sounded beside him.
Gu Feng instinctively turned and was met with a strikingly beautiful face—one that mirrored Luo Liang’s usual expressionless demeanor.
It was Luo Shuhe, whose looks and figure were identical to Luo Shuning’s.
She stood there quietly, exuding an icy aura like a frozen statue.
"Shuhe…"
Gu Feng quickly plastered on a smile, inwardly relieved.
Then, with a slight gesture, he motioned toward the dining area, signaling for them to talk there.
Luo Shuhe gave a small nod and followed.
"Shuhe, has your brother been taking good care of you all?" Gu Feng asked warmly.
"Brother takes very good care of us," Luo Shuhe replied succinctly, her voice devoid of emotion.
"That’s good…" Gu Feng nodded approvingly before casually adding, as if it were just an offhand question:
"So, Gu Luo and Shuning get along well, don’t they?"
At this, Luo Shuhe almost frowned but caught herself, shaking her head instead. "I’m not sure about that."
After a brief pause, she cut straight to the point:
"Uncle, what you really want to ask is whether Gu Luo and Shuning like each other, isn’t it?"
"Ahem…" Caught off guard, Gu Feng cautiously glanced toward the living room, ensuring no one else was listening, before nodding slightly. "Well, yes. They’re young, after all."
"And you don’t disapprove?" Luo Shuhe tilted her head slightly, her cold expression now tinged with a hint of playfulness.
"Why would I? It’s natural for young people your age to develop feelings. We’re not old-fashioned parents—we won’t interfere with your relationships."
"I see." Luo Shuhe nodded thoughtfully.
"So… how are Gu Luo and Shuning usually?"
"They’re not as close as Gu Luo and I are." Her answer was crisp and firm.
"…Huh?" Gu Feng was once again thrown off balance, his face a picture of astonishment.
"Gu Luo and I are very close. Besides squeezing toothpaste for his sister, he only does it for me. Not only that, but Gu Luo has also carried me—"
"C-carried you?!"
Gu Feng felt like his brain was overheating, struggling to process the information.
He gestured vaguely, asking, "Uh… what kind of carry are we talking about here?"
"Bridal carry. Hugs…" Luo Shuhe stated matter-of-factly, as if describing the most mundane thing in the world.
"……"
Gu Feng’s mind short-circuited under the sheer volume of revelations.
What in the world was happening?
Was his son actually involved with Shuhe?
Had the chemistry between Gu Luo and Shuning just been a misunderstanding—nothing more than a close sibling bond?
Even as a self-proclaimed expert in matters of the heart, had he misread the situation this badly?
It took Gu Feng a while to regain his composure. "So… Shuhe, are you and Gu Luo dating now?"
Without hesitation, Luo Shuhe nodded. "We will be soon. We’re in that ambiguous stage—just one step away from making it official."
She added, "I’m glad you don’t disapprove."
"Of course not, of course not!" Gu Feng waved his hands reassuringly, his smile widening.
Then, somewhat awkwardly, he pressed further: "But what about Gu Luo and Shuning…?"
"Uncle, don’t misunderstand. Gu Luo and Shuning only appear close because they cook together every day. There’s nothing special beyond that."
Luo Shuhe’s explanation was patient, her voice still cool but crystal clear.
"Oh… I almost got the wrong idea." Gu Feng sighed inwardly, lamenting how age had dulled his perception—he couldn’t even tell who his own son fancied anymore.
"That’s all right. So, Uncle, you could talk to Mom privately about Gu Luo and me." Luo Shuhe gave a slight bow.
"I really like him. If Mom doesn’t agree, I hope you can put in a good word for us."
"I will, but let’s not rush things." Gu Feng hedged diplomatically, offering a placating smile. "For now, focus on your studies. Let the relationship develop naturally. When the time comes, I’ll definitely support you."
He wasn’t about to take any risks—this had all happened within a week!
If he marched up to Luo Liang and announced, "Hey, our son and daughter are together now," he didn’t dare imagine the consequences.
Love was a long game.
No need to hurry.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Luo Shuhe’s face, but she quickly masked it, thanking him politely. "Thank you… Dad."
Hearing that word, Gu Feng beamed and immediately pledged, "Shuhe, don’t worry. Pursue Gu Luo with confidence—your dad’s got your back!"
"Thank you, Dad." Luo Shuhe bowed again.
And just like that, the two formed a secret alliance in the dining room.
"Uncle, we’re done washing up."
Before long, Luo Shuning and Gu Luo emerged from the kitchen.
"Great." Gu Feng smiled at Luo Shuning before turning to Luo Shuhe beside him. "Shuhe, let’s all go for a walk at East Lake Park."
"I’ll pass. My foot’s bothering me a little."
"Your foot? Are you okay?" Gu Feng asked with concern, then shot a pointed look at Gu Luo. "Gu Luo, when you have time, give Shuhe’s foot a massage. As an older brother, you should act like one."
"……"
A question mark slowly materialized above Gu Luo’s head.
Utterly bewildered.
What the hell?
Why did it feel like his cheap old man had been brainwashed by the little devil?
If it were Gu Ximan with a sore foot, it would be understandable.
But this is Luo Shuhe.
Even though she's also a younger sister, massaging her feet still feels a bit too...
Wait, hold on.
Hadn’t he already done it?
Before Gu Luo could speak, Luo Shuning smiled and cut in, "I’ll massage Shuhe’s feet when we get back. No need to trouble you, brother."
"Alright."
Gu Feng nodded with a smile, then subtly exchanged a glance with Luo Shuhe—Dad just gave you a helping hand, too bad it got intercepted.
Luo Shuhe blinked almost imperceptibly in response—Thanks, Dad.
Seeing this, Gu Feng grew even fonder of Luo Shuhe.
Maybe it was because she was the first to call him "Dad," making him feel a special closeness.
Or perhaps their wavelengths just aligned effortlessly, making communication smooth and natural.
Or maybe it was simply his deep love for Luo Liang—love extending to those who shared her temperament, like Luo Shuhe.
Honestly, his son and Shuhe were a match made in heaven.
Shuhe was the perfect daughter-in-law.
Just like that, Comrade Gu Feng completely overturned his stance from mere minutes ago.
His resolve was utterly unreliable.
Meanwhile, Luo Shuling was on the living room sofa, giving Luo Liang a massage. Her technique, though unpolished, was earnest, and Luo Liang rested her eyes, savoring her daughter’s attentive care.
After finishing her meal, Gu Ximan retreated to her room to binge anime, lost in the gripping storyline.
So, only Gu Luo, Luo Shuning, and Gu Feng went downstairs.
They then set off on foot toward East Lake Park.
After the three left, Luo Shuhe remained silent for a long while.
Then, she slowly walked to the fridge, opened it, and took out a carton of yogurt.
But she didn’t open it right away.
Instead, she stared at the packaging for a long time, her eyes clouded with unreadable emotions.
............
............

e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.

rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!

ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!

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.”