Confident Leng Qingqiu, Little Leng You Can't Get Out

"Brother-in-law, how (munch munch) did you make (munch munch) these chicken legs so delicious (munch munch)?"

At the dining table.

Leng Ling'er puffed her cheeks as she spoke to Gu Yan.

Moved! Happy! It's good to be alive!

Leng Ling'er felt like crying inside.

Finally, she got to taste this again.

Leng Qingqiu felt a little annoyed, as if this implied she hadn’t been taking good care of Ling'er all this time.

"Ling'er, can’t you mind your manners a little?"

Leng Qingqiu frowned slightly, displeased at seeing her younger sister like this.

Though she couldn’t see her face clearly, just the sound of Leng Ling'er’s voice was enough for Leng Qingqiu to picture her current state.

"Oh..."

Leng Ling'er reluctantly toned it down.

Gu Yan chuckled. "If the kid loves eating, just let her enjoy it."

"Here, Qingqiu, I made some for you too."

"It’s a bit late, so consider it a midnight snack."

Actually, he didn’t even need to say it.

Leng Qingqiu had already stuffed a few cream puffs into her mouth.

She licked her lips, feeling her whole body go soft and relaxed!

Mmm~~!

This! This is the taste of happiness!

Munch munch~~

It’s been so long since she last had this!

Leng Qingqiu quietly ate her cream puffs while Gu Yan watched her from the side.

Leng Ling'er sulked—Hmph! Sis, you’re no better! You’ve lost all composure thanks to Brother-in-law’s cooking too!

Tsk. Women!

Gu Yan stared for a while before he couldn’t resist reaching out and pinching Leng Qingqiu’s cheek lightly.

Honestly, the texture was amazing.

"?"

Leng Qingqiu noticed the intrusion. Still eating her dessert, she turned her head in confusion. "What?"

Seemingly used to being herself around Gu Yan, she had her eyes open this time.

But unlike when Xiao Leng appeared, Leng Qingqiu’s eyes...

Were a misty gray.

Hearing her question, Gu Yan withdrew his hand and smiled gently. "Nothing. I just think you’re really cute, Qingqiu."

"Especially when you’re eating."

"W-what nonsense are you saying...?"

Leng Qingqiu’s face instantly flushed red. She covered her mouth with a cream puff, hiding her rising smile.

Then she picked up another one and handed it to Gu Yan. "Here, have one."

"Heh, then I’ll gratefully accept it."

"Hmph! Then you’d better be really grateful!"

Leng Ling'er, still eating, quickly caught onto the mood at the table.

She cleared her throat and stood up. "Brother-in-law, Sis, I’m done eating. I’m going to bed now."

"I have school tomorrow."

With that, she gave Gu Yan a knowing thumbs-up before hurrying upstairs.

Gu Yan returned the gesture.

Ah, my sister-in-law, you truly understand me!

Once Leng Ling'er left, the atmosphere between Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu grew even more intimate.

"Qingqiu, Ling'er’s gone."

"Mhm? And?"

Leng Qingqiu pretended not to understand, though her cream puff-eating pace slowed down noticeably.

Gu Yan shifted closer, pressing against her side.

His unique scent filled Leng Qingqiu’s senses, making her heart skip a beat. Just as she was about to scoot away—

Gu Yan wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back. His deep, magnetic voice whispered into her ear, "And then..."

"Shouldn’t we, as a married couple, do some... evening activities?"

Leng Qingqiu froze—Plop!

The cream puff in her hand fell onto the table. Her ears turned pink. "E-evening activities? Like what?"

"You tell me, Qingqiu. You look so beautiful in your pajamas..."

"The scent of you fresh out of the bath has me all worked up."

"If... if only..."

Gu Yan’s voice grew softer with each word.

Leng Qingqiu listened, her heart pounding.

If... if only what?

The next second—

"Ah!! I can’t hold back anymore, Qingqiu!!"

Sniff sniff~ Sniff sniff~ Sniff sniff~~!!!

"People sniff cats, but let me sniff you instead!! Sniff sniff sniff!!"

"If I can do this without you getting mad, I’d die happy!!"

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Gu Yan pulled Leng Qingqiu into a tight embrace, burying his face in her neck and showering her with kisses and sniffs.

"!!!!"

"!!! Get lost!!"

Leng Qingqiu was instantly overwhelmed with embarrassment and irritation.

She realized she’d been far too naive about Gu Yan’s limits.

You can never... ever predict what this pervert will do next.

......

......

"Qingqiu, my Qingqiu, I’m sorry..."

"It’s just been so long since we’ve been close."

Outside Leng Qingqiu’s door, Gu Yan pressed against it, sticking his head in to apologize.

"Hmph!"

Leng Qingqiu scoffed and pushed his head back out. "Pervert!"

Slam!

The door shut.

Leng Qingqiu leaned against it, clutching her chest.

She took a deep breath.

Unbelievable. All that romantic atmosphere was completely ruined by his perverted antics!

Honestly...

I was actually looking forward to what he’d do next...

Leng Qingqiu bit her lip lightly. But...

Only she knew the real reason she’d run away.

Because...

She was too embarrassed (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄).

That’s why she couldn’t handle Gu Yan’s shameless behavior.

If it was just a kiss, she could manage.

But anything more...

Her mind drifted to the relationship articles she’d read online.

Just imagining the things couples did in those stories—

"Ugh..."

Leng Qingqiu covered her face and slowly slid down the door, crouching on the floor.

No way!! Absolutely no way I can handle that!!

[Other Me, you just let go of a chance to grow stronger...]

[I could feel it—just a little more, and your perception would’ve leveled up.]

Suddenly, Xiao Leng’s voice echoed faintly in Leng Qingqiu’s mind.

Huh?

She’d almost forgotten about Xiao Leng.

Her guard instantly went up. "Xiao Leng, what do you mean by that?"

[Nothing much.]

"Really? Well, let me tell you something—even if you can leave my body, I’ve already taken precautions."

"I’ve reinforced the barrier around my inner self with the Night King’s power."

"So there’s no way you can escape from me now!!"

Leng Qingqiu declared confidently. The Night King was a master of manipulating souls, after all.

Using the power of darkness to seal away her alternate personality was child’s play.

[........]

Xiao Leng fell silent.

She had noticed her current predicament. So my other self is this wary because of what happened last time...

But... heh, what a shame...

Meanwhile, Leng Qingqiu smirked when she sensed Xiao Leng’s frustration.

With the triumphant smile of a victor, he said, "You resent me, Leng Qingqiu, because you're too dangerous. Staying within me is your safest haven."

As he spoke...

Perhaps it was time.

Leng Qingqiu also felt a wave of exhaustion. She let out a yawn.

And so, she settled into a deep, restful night's sleep.

After all, skincare comes first.