Xiao Leng Makes Another Appearance

The night bell tolled.

Moonlight filtered through the gauze curtains, spilling into the bedroom.

Creak... creak...

The floor let out low, muffled groans underfoot.

A pair of bare feet, translucent under the moonlight, slowly appeared beside Gu Yan's bed.

"Heh."

The intruder let out a soft chuckle.

"My other self... what a pity. You miscalculated one step."

"As someone the Night no longer fully acknowledges, you don’t have enough power to restrain me."

Xiao Leng glanced at Gu Yan, who was deep in sleep, then leaned down slightly, bringing her face close to his.

Her hair cascaded freely as she tucked a loose strand behind her ear, her gaze sweeping over Gu Yan with a hint of possessiveness.

Back in the forbidden zone,

the taste of his essence, like ambrosia, had been intoxicating.

The memory still lingered in her mind.

Now, with Gu Yan so close and utterly unaware, Xiao Leng's breathing grew slightly uneven.

How she longed... to savor that sweetness once more.

Lost in thought, she leaned in further.

But...

Just as she was about to touch him, hesitation struck.

His alluring scent filled her nostrils, yet...

For some reason,

a strange thought flashed through Xiao Leng's mind.

If she indulged in secret like this, wouldn’t it mean she was inferior to her other self?

After all, the other her could do such things with him while he was awake.

But her? Only when he was asleep?

Wouldn’t that make her lesser?

No way.

The more she thought about it, the more unsettled she became. Her expression gradually cooled as she stared blankly at Gu Yan.

One second... two seconds... three...

Xiao Leng slowly straightened up and sat on the edge of the bed, placing her right hand over her chest.

Her face was impassive, though her brows furrowed slightly.

Hm?

Something felt off.

Since when did she overthink like this?

Could it be... that as the other her grew closer to Gu Yan, she, the secondary personality, was also being influenced?

But...

Xiao Leng shook her head.

Impossible. She wouldn’t be affected.

If proof were needed—

She raised her hand.

Whoosh!

A pitch-black dagger, etched with intricate runes and pulsing with an eerie glow, materialized in her palm.

This was the true form of the Night King—the dagger known as [Night]!

Xiao Leng gripped the dagger and turned her gaze to the sleeping Gu Yan.

Then, with a swift motion, she thrust it toward his chest!

Yet, just before the blade could pierce his skin, it froze—a mere 0.1 cm away.

Xiao Leng was pleased with her precise control.

The clearest proof that she remained unaffected was her flawless mastery over the dagger.

The reason the other her couldn’t fully wield it as the Night King’s true successor...

was because she was still shackled by human emotions.

Only by discarding such worthless sentiments could one truly become the Night King.

But alas, the other her was drifting further from that destiny.

And the reason... was this man.

Her thoughts lingered as she studied Gu Yan, until—

"Xiao Leng?"

"You’re out again??"

Gu Yan, roused by the faint scent of Leng Qingqiu’s perfume, suddenly woke.

He quickly assessed the situation.

Perhaps because he’d grown familiar with Xiao Leng, he could instantly tell which "her" this was.

But...

When he noticed the dagger poised over his chest,

he froze. "You... what are you—?"

If he wasn’t mistaken, the dagger seemed to be trembling violently,

as if desperate to plunge into his heart.

Yet Xiao Leng’s grip held it firmly in place.

Swish!

She withdrew the restless dagger and instead placed her empty hand on Gu Yan’s chest.

Then, with an indifferent expression, she stated, "Nothing happened."

??

Gu Yan blinked, then bolted upright, pressing himself against the headboard.

He yanked the blanket tighter and hissed in disbelief, "Nothing my ass!!"

"That dagger is the Night King’s, isn’t it?!"

"Xiao Leng, what’s your game? Trying to kill me now?"

"Where’s your sense of partnership?!"

He was floored.

Seriously, who could’ve guessed? Xiao Leng, sneaking into his room in the dead of night using Leng Qingqiu’s body,

was plotting to murder her own ally?!

Xiao Leng had no explanation for the situation.

Should she admit she’d been testing whether the other her had influenced her?

Still, the experiment was a success.

She hadn’t been swayed.

After all, she’d perfectly restrained the dagger from striking.

So she replied coolly, "No need for such a reaction. You’re still alive, aren’t you?"

"Now that you’re awake, don’t bother sleeping."

Gu Yan’s eye twitched at her shamelessness. "‘Don’t bother sleeping’... Do you even know what time it is?"

He paused, then sighed. "What do you want this time?"

"Just so you know, I just got back from the forbidden zone. I’m exhausted."

"You really expect me to work nonstop like some kind of slave?"

Xiao Leng stared at him for a few seconds before declaring, "I’m interested in the dessert you made for the other me tonight."

"Are you even listening—?! So?"

"So I want some too."

"Eat, eat, all you do is eat. You’re going to make Qingqiu’s body gain weight."

"? I’m telling the other you that you called her fat."

End of conversation.

In the kitchen.

Tap-tap-tap~

Gu Yan whisked eggs.

Beside him, Xiao Leng dipped a finger into the prepared batter,

then licked it.

Her brows relaxed slightly.

The sweetness seemed to soothe her restless mind.

So she reached out for another taste.

Gu Yan shot her a look. "If you keep eating, there’ll be none left."

"......"

At that, Xiao Leng withdrew her finger.

She stared blankly at him. "Double standards."

"?"

What nonsense is this now? Where did you even learn that phrase?

Gu Yan rolled his eyes, sieving the egg mixture as he muttered, "What double standards? Do you even know what it means?"

"It’s double standards. If it were the other me, you wouldn’t stop her."

"? Putting aside the fact that Qingqiu is my wife and I adore her, how is this double standards? It’s 2 a.m., and I’m making dessert for you. Shouldn’t you be grateful?"

"......"

Xiao Leng had no retort, but she was thoroughly displeased.

She fell silent, standing quietly to the side, watching Gu Yan with an unwavering gaze.

One minute... two minutes... three minutes...

Gu Yan couldn't take it anymore under her piercing stare.

With a helpless sigh, he said, "Xiao Leng, Sister Leng, I surrender. Could you stop staring at me like that?"

"It's... kinda awkward."

Only then did Xiao Leng finally speak. "I thought you'd enjoy it. After all, you usually seem quite obsessed with my body."

Gu Yan's lips twitched at her words—it made him sound like some kind of absurd pervert.

To defend his dignity, he turned to face her and declared solemnly, "Putting everything else aside—"

He paused, took a deep breath, then clenched his fists and shouted, "Even if I were obsessed, it'd be with our Qingqiu's body, not yours, Xiao Leng!!"

Xiao Leng: "........?"

Upstairs.

In Leng Ling'er's room.

"Mmm... Sister..."

"Brother-in-law... is getting stolen by another sister..."

"The new sister's cooking is just as bad..."

Leng Ling'er tossed and turned in bed, mumbling incoherently with a troubled expression.