Afternoon for Two

Leng Qingqiu didn't bother to pay attention to Xiao Leng's unusual behavior. She quickly adjusted her breathing and sat back at her desk, pretending to read as she usually did.

Time passed slowly.

Leng Qingqiu couldn't focus on the book at all. Frowning, she glanced toward the study door. "Huh? Where is he?"

She began to feel restless. Although it always annoyed her that Xiao Leng could sense Gu Yan's arrival before she did, she had to admit that his intuition was quite accurate.

At least, a second after Xiao Leng sensed it, she also felt Gu Yan's presence. But...

Why hasn't Gu Yan come up yet?

She had already prepared herself.

How could it take half an hour?

Just as she was thinking this,

*Click~*

The study door slowly opened.

"Xiao Qingqing~~(๑′ᴗ‵๑)ＩLᵒᵛᵉᵧₒᵤ❤~~"

Gu Yan bounced in, holding a unique bouquet of flowers. He walked over to Leng Qingqiu and said, "Qingqiu~ My Qingqiu~ Do you know what surprise I've brought for you?"

Oh? A surprise?

Leng Qingqiu's heart stirred, but on the surface, she remained cold and indifferent, ignoring Gu Yan as she continued to read as if nothing had happened.

Stay calm, stay calm. If I act too enthusiastic every time Gu Yan comes, won't it seem like I really like him?

If Gu Yan ever figures it out, I'll die of embarrassment.

Seeing Leng Qingqiu pretending to be calm, Gu Yan instantly understood. Life needed a little seasoning to spice things up and promote harmony between them.

He knew what Leng Qingqiu meant—the greeting was too plain.

So,

Gu Yan knelt on one knee, holding the unique bouquet of flowers and presenting it to Leng Qingqiu. "Hello, Princess. From now on, you won't need to say a word to live happily. Do you know why?"

"Because... your Yan has arrived."

?!!

Leng Qingqiu, who had been trying to stay composed, couldn't hold back anymore.

She pushed away the sweet-smelling flowers that were practically in her face and grabbed Gu Yan's collar, shaking him back and forth. "What kind of cringe-worthy, cheesy pickup line is this?!"

"Even if you're going to flirt, don't make it so awkward!!"

"Saying 'Princess, you're so beautiful' would be a hundred times better than 'your Yan has arrived'!"

"Can't you even chat properly?!"

Leng Qingqiu was furious, but what made her even angrier was...

Even such a cheesy line, coming from Gu Yan's mouth, made her heart skip a beat.

Darn it!! Why have I become like this? It's all because of Gu Yan! This bad guy has turned me into this!

Seeing Leng Qingqiu's strong reaction, but with constant notifications popping up in his mind, Gu Yan understood.

What to do when your wife is obviously head over heels but refuses to admit it?!

Gu Yan thought, "She's just too cute!!!"

"Qingqiu! No matter what you say, I have to tell you!"

"This is my love for you! My endless love for you!"

"I want to pour all these words into your mind!!"

Leng Qingqiu immediately covered her ears in embarrassment. "Ahhh, stop it, stop it! It's so cringy!"

"Please, just talk like a normal person!"

She trembled with shame. If her subordinates ever saw her like this, her reputation would be ruined!!

Seeing that Leng Qingqiu was genuinely too embarrassed, Gu Yan decided to stop reciting the dozens of cheesy lines in his mind. "Alright, alright, Qingqiu, I'll stop. It's just that I haven't seen you in so long, and I got too excited!"

"It's only been a day..."

Leng Qingqiu, her face flushed, finally looked up and complained after Gu Yan finally calmed down.

But now that the fuss was over,

Leng Qingqiu decided to ask what she really wanted to know: what Gu Yan had been up to recently and where he had gone today.

So, she took a deep breath, put her hands down, and after calming herself,

She blurted out, "Why didn't you come to see me as soon as you arrived?"

Ah! Wrong question!

Leng Qingqiu's face turned bright red in an instant. Darn it!

She had meant to ask what Gu Yan had been busy with.

Why did she end up saying that instead? It's all Gu Yan's fault for making her act so strangely!

Gu Yan immediately perked up. He brought the unique bouquet of flowers closer. "Here, Qingqiu. Do you remember I promised to make cream puffs for you?"

"But ordinary cream puffs are too boring, so I shaped them like flowers. Even though you can't see them, you'll definitely taste the love I put into them."

??

When I type this question mark, it's not because I have a problem, but because you do.

Leng Qingqiu took the puff flower bouquet, momentarily at a loss for words.

Putting aside the fact that he had promised to make cream puffs for her,

She covered her face, feeling a mix of shock, delight, and helplessness, and muttered, "Who in the world gives someone a bouquet made of cream puffs?!"

“Do you really think this is okay? Even I can't help but want to complain about this!”

Gu Yan hesitated for a moment. He looked at the edible flower bouquet in Leng Qingqiu's hands, then thought about the regular bouquets people usually give.

Then,

He nodded confidently. "It's definitely fine. Don't you think this is super cool, Qingqiu?"

"If you don't like it, I'll take it back."

With that, he reached out to take the puff flower bouquet.

Leng Qingqiu was about to say something, but when she heard Gu Yan's question,

She froze for a moment, then immediately clutched the puff flower bouquet tightly. "Wait! Who said I don't like it?!"

She sniffed the sweet aroma wafting from the bouquet, swallowed, and added in a small voice, "It's just... only I would like something like this."

"What? What did you say?"

"Your voice is so soft, I can't hear you~"

Gu Yan leaned in closer, pressing her to repeat herself.

"I..."

Leng Qingqiu regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth.

Her face was now completely flushed with embarrassment.

Darn it, what am I even saying...

This annoying man, he definitely heard me but is just pretending not to.

But...

As the tempting aroma filled her senses, Leng Qingqiu knew these were cream puffs made by Gu Yan himself.

They were on a completely different level from store-bought ones.

They were the cream puffs of the gods! The Cream Puff Deity!!

Wait, no! That metaphor is way too weird!

Anyway!

"I like them! I like them! I love cream puffs the most!"

"Are you satisfied now?!"

Leng Qingqiu shouted in embarrassment, then grabbed a puff and stuffed it into her mouth.

Whatever teasing or mocking Gu Yan throws at me later, I don't care! I'm eating first!

In an instant, the sweet, delicious flavor of Gu Yan's divine cream puffs exploded in Leng Qingqiu's mouth.

Her brain was instantly reshaped into the form of Gu Yan's cream puffs.

Leng Qingqiu's face immediately lit up with happiness as she quietly and contentedly ate the puffs.

One, two, three...

Gu Yan sat down beside Leng Qingqiu, watching her gently.

Hmm, as expected, when Qingqiu eats her favorite sweets, she turns into a little kitten.

Perhaps because this side of Qingqiu was just too adorable,

Gu Yan couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke Leng Qingqiu's head, saying softly, "Qingqiu, I really love you so much."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Leng Qingqiu's eyelashes fluttered. She slowly swallowed the last bite of the puff, her face flushed as she lowered her head. After a few seconds, she let out an almost inaudible, shy response.

"Mhm."

The afternoon was peaceful and warm.

Sunlight poured in through the mottled window frames, draping the two of them in a golden veil.

Their figures intertwined in the light and shadow, creating a dreamlike scene that was utterly enchanting.

In that moment, time seemed to stand still, and the entire world stopped turning. Only the sound of their heartbeats and breaths intertwined, composing the most beautiful melody.

...

...