This game can be played by up to ten people.

Inside an entertainment-integrated milk tea shop.

In a private room.

"Hehe, running into you is so great, brother-in-law. I’ve never been in a luxury private room before~"

Leng Ling'er's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the high-end gaming console in the room.

Though Gu Yan had already bought her all this during their previous shopping spree.

Lately, her sister had been holed up in the gaming room studying, leaving her deprived of her beloved computer for ages.

Gu Yingying sat nearby, frowning at the milkshake in front of her. After mustering her courage, she took a cautious sip.

Her brows lifted slightly in surprise. Hmm?

She picked up the milkshake with delight. "Commoner food isn’t half bad."

"Pfft, are you acting out some clueless noble princess from another world?"

Leng Ling'er, fiddling with the console, shot back without missing a beat.

"You—!"

Gu Yingying’s face flushed red. She did enjoy those prince-and-princess storybooks, but how did this brat see right through her?

Clenching her teeth, she was about to retort when Leng Ling'er cut her off with a glare.

"'You' what?"

"...Nothing."

Gu Yingying’s defiance instantly deflated.

Damn it!

This is all Gu Yan’s fault! That jerk!

She shot him a resentful glare, huffed, and turned away.

Gu Yan was baffled.

He hadn’t expected Gu Yingying to be outmatched by Leng Ling'er.

Was this the so-called... "every bully meets their match"?

When he first met Leng Ling'er, she’d been calling him "trash" left and right.

Only after his excellent guidance had she toned it down.

Though, judging by her unfiltered antics on short-video platforms, she’d probably just shifted battlefields.

Gu Yingying sulked, sipping her milkshake.

The sweetness filled her mouth, but her mind lingered on her earlier humiliation.

After all these years...

She stole a glance at Gu Yan and bit down on the straw.

Even now, in danger, her first instinct was still to call for him...

Her thoughts drifted to the past.

Back then, she knew nothing about martial arts, let alone being a prodigy.

She’d just trailed after Gu Yan like a shadow.

The turning point was during a gathering at the Gu Family estate.

Shy and chubby as a child, she’d often been bullied by peers.

Only Gu Yan had stood up for her.

Maybe that was when she’d started liking him?

But as time passed, her father lost the race for the family head position and became a changed man.

He demanded she become a genius and reclaim what they’d lost.

Then came Gu Yan’s infamous "simp" rumors.

Gu Yingying felt both disillusioned and... weirdly relieved.

If Gu Yan was just an ordinary man, then once she became family head...

She could—

Thunk!

"Ow!"

Gu Yingying clutched her forehead, glaring up.

Leng Ling'er stood over her, holding a controller and jerking her chin. "Hey, can you even play games?"

"Games? That’s kid stuff."

Gu Yingying smoothed her hair, annoyed. "Can’t you see I’m thinking?"

"I’m not a mind-reader," Leng Ling'er scoffed, dropping the controller in her lap. "Can’t believe a genius doesn’t game. My sister’s a pro at everything!"

That did it.

Gu Yingying snatched the controller, eyes blazing. "Fine. But if you lose, you answer a question."

"Uh, this is a team battle game."

"Then—change it!"

"Nah, let’s try this first! It’s way more fun with at least three players. You’re perfect!"

"So I’m just filler...?"

Gu Yingying sighed but stood up anyway.

Bai Qionglan observed her discreetly, concluding she was just a kid—no threat.

Ling'er was probably just humoring her. Definitely.

Soon, the three girls were crammed on the couch, gaming away.

Seeing the situation under control, Gu Yan turned to the elegant woman beside him.

"Big sis, did you really come to Jianghai just to snoop on my love life?"

Gu Yunrou responded with a nonchalant hum.

Then, as if remembering something, she looked at Gu Yan with a hint of resentment in her eyes: "Little brother, do you still remember what happened when we were kids?"

"Huh? What?"

Gu Yan was taken aback, then asked in confusion.

"Ah."

Gu Yunrou sighed.

It was back when Gu Yan was still very young.

The moment happened during a gathering at the Gu Family estate.

Back then, due to her introverted personality and her belief that her intelligence far surpassed others,

she was at that age where she was deep into her chuunibyou phase, and no one dared to approach her.

But in truth, she was also lonely and wanted to make friends.

Yet... no one noticed this.

Except for Gu Yan.

He mustered up the courage to approach her with the still slightly chubby Gu Yingying in tow.

["Yun... Yunrou sister, are you alone?"]

["Then come play with me and my little sister."]

At that time, the sincerity in Gu Yan's expression and words had moved her.

Especially since Gu Yan was... quite adorable as a child.

So her heart melted instantly.

But later, rumors spread about Gu Yan being a "simp," which left her feeling frustrated with him.

She thought that if she seized the family head position, maybe Gu Yan would sense the danger and snap out of it, no longer acting like a simp.

Who would’ve guessed that before this year’s family gathering even began,

Gu Yan would do a complete 180-degree turnaround.

"Ah."

Gu Yunrou sighed again. She reached out and pinched Gu Yan’s cheek: "You were much cuter back then."

"??"

Gu Yan swatted her hand away and said irritably, "Has anyone ever told you you’re like a riddle-speaker?"

"Riddle-speaker?"

"Someone who only says half of what they mean, thinks they’ve explained everything in their head, and leaves the listeners dying of curiosity."

Gu Yan retorted in annoyance.

Gu Yunrou found this amusing. She smiled wordlessly as she looked at him.

Little brother... still the same little brother.

But he’s really changed so much...

Is it because of Leng Qingqiu?

I’m really looking forward to meeting her tomorrow.