Gu Yan's side.
!!
Gu Yan, who was wrapped up like a mummy, suddenly trembled all over, his eyes filled with joy!!
Huh? What’s going on?
Why do I feel Leng Qingqiu’s presence?
No! This isn’t an illusion! Leng Qingqiu is here!
She came to see me? Really? Is it true?
Gu Yan looked toward the door in excitement, struggling to stand up: "Qingqiu... my Qingqiu... she’s right behind that door...!!"
The medical staff beside him began to panic, trying to hold down the restless Gu Yan: "Young master, please calm down!"
"Young master, you’ve just been bandaged, please don’t move around!"
"Ouch! Why is the young master so hard to hold down? Is he really sick?"
Amidst the commotion, Gu Yan had already sat up, his eyes fixed on the slowly turning doorknob.
The next second.
Click~
The door opened.
"Yahoo! Brother-in-law, we’re here to see you!"
Leng Ling'er, with her dyed blonde hair, walked in carrying a bag of fruits.
As soon as she entered, she saw Gu Yan sitting up, wrapped like a mummy.
She couldn’t help but burst into laughter: "Pfft! Brother-in-law, what’s with this look? You look like some weakling side character from an anime who got caught up in the villain’s mess!!"
Upon seeing it was Leng Ling'er, the joy in Gu Yan’s eyes instantly vanished.
Especially when he saw her mocking expression.
Thud!
He lay back down on the bed, then said indifferently, "Oh."
!!!
"Hey!! What’s that supposed to mean?!"
Leng Ling'er’s smile disappeared, and she immediately got angry. She stomped over, carelessly placing the fruits on the side.
Then she started scolding Gu Yan: "Stupid brother-in-law! Are you really that upset it’s not my sister who came to see you? Well, sorry to disappoint you!!"
"Hmph, it’s seeing you that makes me unhappy."
"You!"
Meanwhile, Yan Qingqing, who had also come, was explaining something to the medical staff.
Although Gu Yan was a bit disappointed that Leng Qingqiu didn’t show up right away, he could still sense her presence. So, he sat up as if nothing had happened.
He waved at the shocked medical staff around him: "You can all leave now. This brat is my sister-in-law."
"Uh... young master, but..."
"No buts, just go!"
"Okay, okay..."
Once the medical staff left, the room felt much more spacious.
Gu Yan picked up an apple from the side and started munching on it, giving Leng Ling'er a disdainful look: "Why is it you and Yan Qingqing? Where’s your sister?"
Leng Ling'er looked at Gu Yan, who was wrapped like a mummy but acting as if nothing was wrong. Her expression turned a bit strange, but she still replied, "Oh, my sister was called over by your mom to discuss something."
"By my mom?"
Gu Yan was surprised and quickly asked, "Quick, tell me, what was my mom’s attitude when you met her? If she gave Qingqiu a hard time, tell me now! I’ll go find them immediately!"
Leng Ling'er was stunned by his reaction, then waved her hands, "No, no, your mom was actually very kind to my sister..."
At that moment.
In a lavishly decorated room filled with gold and jewelry.
Su Murong held Leng Qingqiu’s hand and led her to a dressing table. She stood behind Leng Qingqiu, gently brushing her hair. The gesture was both comforting and affectionate: "Qingqiu, to be honest, I originally wanted Gu Yan to marry a normal girl."
"By normal, I mean in every sense—mentally and physically healthy, from a stable family."
"Someone who could live a peaceful life with him."
"I didn’t want him to step into this cruel world."
Hearing this, Leng Qingqiu’s heart tightened for some reason. On the surface, however, she remained silent, listening quietly.
"But then... I thought about myself. Back then, my parents were also strongly against me marrying Gu Yan’s father. They thought the Gu family was too weak, that they weren’t worthy of me."
"But... love is such a strange thing."
"Even though the journey was tough, Gu Yan’s father and I still ended up together."
"It wasn’t until I looked back that I realized I’ve been doing the same thing—standing in the way of Gu Yan’s love."
Su Murong began to comb Leng Qingqiu’s hair, looking at her reflection in the mirror.
It was as if she suddenly understood the pressure this young girl, who was around Gu Yan’s age, had been carrying.
Her heart ached, and she sighed, "What happened back then, the Gu family had no part in it."
Leng Qingqiu clenched her fists but quickly relaxed them. She responded softly, "Mm."
Su Murong took out a hairpin from an exquisite box and gently pinned it into Leng Qingqiu’s hair.
She looked at Leng Qingqiu’s reflection in the mirror and smiled, "This hairpin was given to me by my mother after I got married. It’s meant for my future daughter-in-law."
"Qingqiu, welcome to our family."
"If Gu Yan ever does anything to wrong you, just tell me, and I’ll make sure he pays for it!"
Leng Qingqiu’s heart stirred at these words. She pursed her lips and nodded, "Okay... Mom."
!!
"Mhm mhm mhm!!! Our Qingqiu is so beautiful and adorable!!"
Su Murong immediately hugged Leng Qingqiu’s head and started rubbing her face against it.
Leng Qingqiu: ".........?"
..........
.......
Back to Gu Yan’s side.
He had already gotten the gist of the situation.
After learning that his mom had also come around, he felt relieved and started bantering with Leng Ling'er and Yan Qingqing.
"Brother-in-law! Did you set up that streaming account for me like you promised? I still want to be a big influencer!"
"Next time, for sure."
Gu Yan tossed the apple core aside, replying with a look of exasperation.
Seriously, I’m swamped with work. When do I have time to set up some influencer account for you?
Besides, can’t you see the state I’m in? You’re not even concerned about me, and all you care about is being an influencer??
Does that make any sense?
"Next time again! You liar, Gu Yan! I’m telling my sister you’re faking your illness!"
Leng Ling'er was furious.
"Faking what? Don’t I look like a patient to you?"
"Come here, let your brother-in-law check if your head’s still soft!"
Gu Yan sneered and was about to reach out with his bandaged hand to teach her a lesson when suddenly, he seemed to sense something.
His body quickly collapsed back onto the bed, his face pale, lips colorless, and his breathing became weak and shallow.
Yan Qingqing and Leng Ling'er were both stunned.
Leng Ling'er had even braced herself for Gu Yan to hit her, but what was going on? Why did Gu Yan suddenly look like this?
The next second.
Click~!
The door was pushed open.
A figure was being helped into the room.
Leng Qingqiu walked in quickly, as if she had sensed a familiar yet weak presence.
Her heart was in knots.
Su Murong gave Leng Ling'er and Yan Qingqing a meaningful look.
Leng Ling'er immediately understood, but!
She glared at Gu Yan, who was lying on the bed, silently urging her to leave.
Ugh! What illness? It’s all fake! Wrapped up like a mummy, but moving faster than anyone else!
Ugh! Is this all just a ploy to get my sister’s attention? You sneaky man!
Leng Ling'er, fuming, dragged Yan Qingqing, who was still confused, out of the room.
"Qingqiu, you stay here and talk with Gu Yan. I’ll leave you two alone," Su Murong said, casting a pained glance at Gu Yan, who lay pale on the bed. She closed her eyes and quickly left, afraid she might burst into tears.
In an instant.
The room was left with only Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu.
Leng Qingqiu sat on the chair beside the bed.
Although she had already known that Gu Yan had been injured in last night’s conflict, when she actually felt his weak, flickering presence, her voice couldn’t help but tremble.
Even her usual composure was thrown out the window at this moment.
"Qingqiu... you’re here..."
Gu Yan’s voice was weak and hoarse as he spoke, "I thought I’d never see you again..."
!!
Leng Qingqiu trembled as she held Gu Yan’s bandaged hand, then slowly traced her fingers over the bandages. When she realized his entire body was wrapped, she could no longer hold back. Her voice choked with emotion, "How... how did you get hurt so badly?"
"The world of martial artists is dangerous... I told you not to push yourself..."
It still happened. Anything related to the night always brings danger.
Gu Yan was indeed injured, and so severely at that...
[The other me, the cauldron, he...]
"Leng Qingqiu, shut up! Gu Yan is already hurt this badly, what else do you want to do?"
[What I meant was...]
"Shut up!"
[......]
Gu Yan looked at Leng Qingqiu, whose tears were streaming down from the corners of her eyes, and knew that his act had succeeded.
So he revealed his true intentions, feigning weakness as he said, "Qingqiu... I don’t know how much longer I can live..."
"If... I mean if... if you could kiss me, I would die without regrets."
"Of course, if you can't, then... mmm!!!"
Before he could finish his sentence.
A soft, sweet sensation, like honey, touched Gu Yan's lips.
The person beside him lowered her head, her movements so gentle, as if afraid of hurting him.
One second... two seconds... three seconds...
Leng Qingqiu's heart was like a turbulent sea, waves of shame burning on her cheeks, but deep down, what burned even stronger was her concern for Gu Yan.
She knew that with Gu Yan so severely injured, every breath he took must be filled with pain.
But...
Huh?
Why does it feel like someone is caressing my back?
Huh?
Why does Gu Yan's movement suddenly feel more intense?
Huh?
Why does Gu Yan's breathing feel stronger now?
At that moment.
Leng Ling'er's voice finally drifted over————
[The other me, what I wanted to say was, the cauldron is perfectly fine...]
Huh?!!!!!
As soon as these words were spoken.
Leng Qingqiu's heart was struck by a flash of clarity, and her expression gradually calmed.
Their lips parted, and then she took a deep breath, asking, "Gu Yan, how are you feeling now?"
Gu Yan, still unaware of the situation, was lost in the sweetness of the moment. He continued to feign injury, groaning, "Hmm... feels good... I just wish it could happen again..."
"Oh, really?"
Leng Qingqiu's expression gradually softened, and then, the moment Gu Yan sensed something was wrong.
She reached out and pressed her hand hard against Gu Yan's face, rubbing it fiercely: "Gu————Yan!!!! You actually faked being injured to trick me!!!"
"Ahhh!! Qing!! Qingqiu, let me explain!!"
"Go to hell!!"
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?!
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
