Why Can't It Be Thinking of You, My Little Brother

Inside the car.

"Greetings, Old Gao."

"Greetings, Old Gao."

Old Gao was a master-level expert serving the Gu Family.

As juniors, Gu Yunrou and Gu Yingying naturally held him in high regard.

"Heh, no need for such courtesy, young misses."

Old Gao nodded in acknowledgment.

Gu Yunrou and Gu Yingying had arrived in Jianghai, and their first destination was naturally the Gu Family Manor—where their grandparents resided.

As the car moved along the road, Gu Yan, seated in the passenger seat, casually probed for the real reason behind their sudden visit.

After all...

Traveling alone to Jianghai and specifically requesting him to pick them up...

Something was definitely off.

Cutting straight to the point, he asked, "Sis, did you and Yingying come so early because you missed Grandma that much?"

Grandfather was excluded—no one liked Gu Tianlong’s foul temper.

Gu Yan’s smiling expression made Gu Yunrou once again feel that her younger brother had changed quite a bit.

Curving her lips, she teasingly countered, "Why couldn’t it be because we missed you?"

Her gaze swept over Gu Yan’s face.

Hmm? He seemed even more handsome than before.

In front of Old Gao, Gu Yingying remained well-behaved and obediently added, "Brother Gu Yan, Yingying hasn’t seen you in so long... I missed you a little."

Yeah, right. Like I’d believe that.

Gu Yan maintained his smile. "Oh? I’m honored then."

"You should be. I specifically cleared all my work just to come see you."

"Mhm, Yingying too! I canceled all my plans and rushed back from Western Nation."

The sisters’ coordinated responses left Gu Yan at a loss for words.

He chuckled lightly before turning away, his expression shifting to one of calm suspicion.

Something wasn’t right—no, scratch that, nine out of ten things weren’t right.

Based on their usual personalities, these two should despise him, the so-called "useless young master."

Unless...

Had they found out about what he’d been doing in Jianghai?

Was that why they’d taken such an interest?

But even then...

Would they really drop everything just to see him?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Or was it about the heir position? Maybe they wanted to get ahead by visiting their grandparents first?

But that didn’t make sense either—if that were the case, they wouldn’t have asked him to pick them up or even informed him of their arrival.

Tch.

Gu Yan couldn’t figure it out.

The next moment—

"Oh, right. Little brother, there’s something I wanted to ask you."

Gu Yunrou’s voice sounded right beside his ear, so close he could feel her warm breath.

He instinctively leaned away, glancing sideways at her with a strained smile. "Uh, sis, do you always talk this close?"

Gu Yunrou remained unperturbed, smirking as she pulled back. "My apologies. Isn’t this how we always used to talk?"

"Did we? So, what did you want to ask?"

Gu Yan wasn’t buying it.

"Well... little brother, did you... get yourself a girlfriend?"

The moment those words left Gu Yunrou’s lips—

Gu Yingying subtly perked up, her entire body tensing as she focused intently.

Old Gao, observing the rearview mirror, noticed the faint tension in Gu Yunrou’s brows and chuckled inwardly.

This family really was terrible at being honest.

As for Gu Yan—

He froze for a split second before replying, "Yeah, I did."

Then it hit him.

??

When he saw the complicated emotions flashing in the sisters’ eyes, everything suddenly made sense.

Wait...

You two came all this way just for that?!

Hold on—this isn’t the toxic sisterly rivalry I was expecting!

......

......

Meanwhile.

A hidden shadow realm.

This space seemed like a forgotten pocket dimension, its rules and flow of time entirely distinct from the real world.

An unfathomably deep and ancient aura permeated the area, like an abyssal palace shrouded in solemnity.

At its center, layers of distorted shadows coiled like living tendrils, occasionally crackling with eerie blue arcs—as if gateways to another world.

On the ground stood a jet-black palace.

Inside, the ceiling was woven with dark, root-like structures forming a massive web, from which hung an enormous obsidian stone radiating a cold, sinister glow.

Dominating the grand hall was an imposing rectangular black stone table.

Seated around it were figures familiar to Gu Yan—Murong Ci, Shangguan Miaoyin, Mei Xue, Bai Lian... and the other members of the Night Organization.

At the head of the table, Leng Qingqiu sat with an expression as unreadable as a frozen lake, her eyes gleaming with an abyssal darkness.

Her black robes billowed slightly despite the absence of wind, as if moved by some unseen force.

Even the shadows in the air seemed to retreat in reverence around her.

Some in the room remained silent; others gazed at Leng Qingqiu with undisguised admiration.

Master~ It’s been so long since I last saw you~~

Shangguan Miaoyin was practically giddy inside. Today, she had to make a good impression!

The atmosphere was thick with tension, every molecule in the air seemingly awaiting the next command.

Finally, Leng Qingqiu’s voice rang out—soft, yet reverberating through the enclosed space.

"Report on the progress of the plan."

The Night Organization’s first assembly in the Shadow Realm had begun.

Hehe (#^.^#), who knew enhancing my perception would let me create a whole new space like this!

Xiao Leng, doesn’t it feel more legit now?

Oh, and if I wanted... could Gu Yan come in here too?

[...]

[Shut up. Maintain your Night King persona.]

Xiao Leng sighed inwardly. The other her had already made weekend plans with her "furnace" (Gu Yan) to go out and have fun.

Rushing through organizational matters just to wait for the weekend—this kind of mindset was not good!

But the fact that the other her could even think like this... was proof that the erosion of the Night’s power over her had weakened.

[...]

For the other her... this was anything but a good sign.