Who Is This Woman

"Boss, I just had to dress up properly for the occasion, so it took a bit longer."

"Let me introduce you—this is my fiancée, Leng Qingqiu."

Gu Yan first pried Lin Yinyin off himself, then introduced her with a smile.

"Fiancée?"

Lin Yinyin froze for a moment after being pulled away. She glanced at Gu Yan, then at Leng Qingqiu beside him.

Thinking she didn’t understand, Gu Yan clarified, "Yeah, my future wife."

Leng Qingqiu’s lips curled slightly at his words.

Lin Yinyin snapped out of her daze, though it was unclear which part upset her. She pouted and shouted, "I’m not a kid! Of course I know that!"

"Gu Yan, you jerk!"

With that, she ran off, her eyes brimming with tears.

??

Gu Yan mentally typed out a few question marks. Hey, hey, hey, was all that candy I treated you to wasted?

Oh well. His goal had been achieved anyway. Lin Yinyin’s overly familiar behavior was enough to send the clueless bystanders into a frenzy of speculation.

At that moment—

"You sure know a lot of women."

"Let’s keep moving. No point standing here."

Leng Qingqiu wore a gentle smile as she linked arms with Gu Yan, the picture of a perfect couple.

In reality, Gu Yan was barely maintaining his smile—his inner arm was being mercilessly pinched by Leng Qingqiu.

He chuckled awkwardly, "Minister Lin is just a kid, not a woman."

"Hmph. She clung to you."

"Kids do that. She’s just a kid."

"She clung to you."

"She—"

"She clung to you, and her actual age isn’t that of a child."

Gu Yan had no defense left. He lowered his voice and frantically apologized, "Qingqiu, I was wrong. Next time, I’ll make sure to cling to you instead."

"........."

"What nonsense are you spouting?! Who’d want a smelly man like you clinging to them?"

Leng Qingqiu’s face flushed red, and she finally stopped pinching him.

Everyone watching the affectionate pair felt an inexplicable tightness in their chests, as if suffocating.

Especially Gu Zihua, who was utterly dumbfounded.

Seriously, how?

How did you, after ditching the simp life, end up thriving like this??

How?! My own people betrayed me, yet you’re doing better than ever?!

He gritted his teeth, glaring at his so-called "useless" younger brother, now the center of attention.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go!

He wanted to see Gu Yan flustered and humiliated, a laughingstock!

Why was he the one in the spotlight now?!

Damn it, damn it, damn it!

At the very least, Gu Yunrou and Gu Yingying wouldn’t—

His thoughts were cut short as his expression stiffened.

Because Gu Yunrou and Gu Yingying were walking straight toward Gu Yan.

And greeting him warmly.

"Ah, how sweet you two are, little brother."

"Big brother, you finally made it!"

Gu Yunrou and Gu Yingying approached, having already sided with Gu Yan after their previous interactions.

Gu Yingying immediately locked onto Leng Ling'er.

Seeing her in a violet evening gown, Gu Yingying’s eyes sparkled.

Wow! Sister Ling'er is stunning!

I wanna hug her!

"Sister Ling'er, you’re so beautiful!" x2!!

Gu Yingying naturally walked over and wrapped her arms around Leng Ling'er’s right arm.

But—

The moment she did, she noticed something odd.

Huh? Why did someone say the exact same thing?

She glanced to the left.

Somehow, a raven-haired girl was also clinging to Leng Ling'er’s left arm.

If Xiao Lin had stayed a little longer, he would’ve realized Ning Qian wasn’t looking for Gu Yan—but Leng Ling'er.

And so, the misunderstanding was born.

Ning Qian was equally puzzled. Why did someone echo her words?

She turned to the right, locking eyes with Gu Yingying.

The two stared at each other for a long moment.

Then—

"Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

They released Leng Ling'er, hostility flashing in their eyes as they pointed at each other.

"Sister Ling'er?!"

"Who is this woman?"

Gu Yan’s lips twitched. Wait, why does this feel so familiar?

Hey, little troublemaker, you’re not the protagonist here! Stop stealing the protagonist’s tropes!

Then again, even the protagonist would struggle with this...

But the next second—

Leng Ling'er wrapped an arm around each of them. "Oh, enough with the ‘who’s who’ nonsense!"

"You’re both my best friends!"

"Let me introduce you—this is Ning Qian, a bit of a chuunibyou."

"And this is Gu Yingying, Gu Yan’s little sister."

Best... friends...

Ning Qian and Gu Yingying blushed, exchanged a glance, then shyly (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) lowered their heads.

Sister Ling'er definitely meant me when she said "best friend"! x2!!

And just like that, the crisis was averted.

Gu Yan: ...........?

When I type this question mark, it’s not me who’s confused—it’s you!

Leng Qingqiu didn’t find her sister’s behavior odd either, figuring that since they were all girls, as long as Ling'er was happy, it was fine.

Then—

"Yan, Qingqiu."

"Don’t just stand there! Come sit by Mom and chat for a bit!"

Su Murong’s voice called from ahead.

Gu Yan looked over to see two empty seats beside Su Murong, surrounded by a row of wealthy socialites in lavish dresses.

Still arm-in-arm with Leng Qingqiu, he gave Gu Yunrou, Gu Yingying, and Leng Ling'er an apologetic smile. "Excuse me for a moment."

Turning to Leng Qingqiu, he said gently, "Shall we?"

Leng Qingqiu nodded slightly.

As Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu took their seats, Su Murong’s high-society friends erupted in chatter.

"Wow! Sister Su, is this your son? So handsome!"

"Eh?! Miss Leng is your daughter-in-law?! My goodness, my daughter used to cover her walls with her posters!"

"Such a beautiful daughter-in-law. I’m so jealous, Sister Su!"

"Giggle! It’s all Yan’s doing—we parents had no say in it."

"Let me tell you, our Qingqiu is exceptional. There’s no girl in the world more outstanding than her!"

"By the way, how does your son know Minister Lin? What’s the story there?"

"Oh, Yan works in the Martial Arts Department. Cough, maybe there’s a little something between him and Minister Lin. Ohohoho~~"

"So envious!"

"Sister Su... would you mind having one more daughter-in-law...?"

"No way! You’re way too old for that!"

Su Murong basked in the praise, her smile unstoppable.

Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu couldn’t get a word in, but they understood—this was every parent’s favorite pastime: showing off their kids.

After listening to her mother’s humblebragging for a while longer, Gu Yan took Leng Qingqiu’s hand and stood up. "Mom, I’m taking Qingqiu out for a walk."

"Alright, alright... It’s cold outside, so don’t let our little Leng catch a chill!"

"Got it!"

"Goodbye, Mom."

"Oh, goodbye, little Leng."

Leng Qingqiu let Gu Yan hold her hand, her initial nervousness gradually easing away.

The corners of her lips curled slightly. Hmm, this feeling wasn’t bad at all.