The Progress Between Xiao Lin and Shen Wan'er

Outside the banquet hall.

Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu strolled leisurely.

The first day of the annual event mainly involved watching performances and introducing a few important guests.

Naturally, Gu Yan found such dull segments uninteresting and chose to skip them entirely.

Leng Ling'er decided to stay in the banquet hall with her close friends, snacking away—but that worked out perfectly.

It gave him time alone with Leng Qingqiu.

It was already December, and the nighttime temperature had dropped below freezing.

A light snowfall had dusted the ground earlier, but it hadn’t accumulated.

Gu Yan guessed that, given Jianghai’s climate, heavy snow wouldn’t arrive until closer to late December.

The Gu Family Manor was as bright as day, illuminated by countless lights lining the pathways.

Gu Yan couldn’t help but marvel—the Gu Family truly had the wealth to flaunt.

Leng Qingqiu was bundled in a down jacket—Gu Yan’s, to be precise.

She tightened the coat around herself, catching a faint trace of his sweet scent lingering on the fabric.

Though as the Night King, she wasn’t bothered by the cold, she was deeply moved by his thoughtfulness.

Walking side by side, Leng Qingqiu couldn’t resist asking, "Gu Yan, did you leave the venue because you were thinking of me?"

She remembered telling him once that she preferred quiet.

Could it be that he had left for her sake...?

Hearing this, Gu Yan turned to her with a smile. "That’s part of it. But the other reason..."

He gently tightened his grip on her hand, his voice softening. "I’d rather have your beauty all to myself."

!!

Thump! Thump!

Leng Qingqiu’s cheeks flushed slightly, her heartbeat quickening.

⁄(⁄⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄⁄)⁄.

"You and your sweet talk..."

Just as she was about to respond, she suddenly sensed something.

Her shyness vanished in an instant, replaced by a calm, composed expression.

Not far away, Gu Yan spotted two familiar figures.

They stood on either side of the path, like guards stationed at the only entrance to the banquet hall.

Amused, Gu Yan led Leng Qingqiu toward them. "Well, if it isn’t Shangguan Miaoyin and Qin Rong."

"Is this your assigned post?"

Shangguan Miaoyin had sensed her master’s presence from a distance.

But when she saw that her master was holding hands with that worthless Gu Yan, her heart twisted.

She understood—her master was sacrificing so much for the plan!

Hearing Gu Yan’s tone, which sounded like either mockery or boasting, she forced a smile.

Yet her eyes kept flickering toward Leng Qingqiu, who stood beside him, expressionless.

"Bai Lian and Murong Ci are guarding the banquet hall interior," she replied.

"Mei Xue and You Xingxue are stationed at the entrance."

Wow, just spilling all the key info right in front of the master, huh?

Gu Yan smirked inwardly. He didn’t glance at Leng Qingqiu’s reaction, answering smoothly instead.

"The banquet hall was too noisy."

He squeezed Leng Qingqiu’s hand. "My wife and I... prefer quieter places."

My... my wife?!

Damn you, you useless trash! Don’t think just because you’re with the master now, you’ll stay with her forever!

You bastard! You’ll regret this, Gu Yan!

Laugh all you want now—soon, you won’t be laughing anymore!

Once the master takes the Gu Family from you, I guarantee you’ll be crying!

Look at the master’s blank expression—she’s only tolerating you for the plan!

She must be hating every second of this!

Gu Yan!! You deserve to die!

Ugh! I’m so jealous! How dare you stand so close to the master!

And holding hands?! Unbelievable!

Shangguan Miaoyin strained to keep her smile intact. "H-How... lovely."

Her words sounded painfully forced.

Outwardly, Leng Qingqiu remained serene.

But inside, she was drowning in embarrassment.

Aahhh!! Gu Yan, stop talking and just leave already!

I can’t take this in front of my subordinates!

If not for years of training to keep a straight face, I’d have lost it by now!

Qin Rong chuckled. "Gu Yan, I’ve heard you mention your fiancée often in the Martial Arts Department. Seeing her today, she really is as beautiful as you said."

Leng Qingqiu’s ears perked up.

Hm?

Gu Yan had been talking about her in the Martial Arts Department?

Aah... this is so embarrassing, so mortifying...

Why didn’t any of my subordinates tell me about this?!

Gu Yan noticed Leng Qingqiu’s grip tightening—she clearly wanted to leave.

"Of course," he said smoothly. "Well, we won’t disturb you two. Qingqiu and I will take a walk elsewhere."

With that, he led Leng Qingqiu away under Shangguan Miaoyin’s conflicted gaze.

Once they were gone, Qin Rong sighed. "They really are a loving couple, huh? What do you think, Shangguan—......?"

As she spoke, Qin Rong fell silent, because Shangguan Miaoyin's face had already turned ashen.

"Miss Shangguan?!"

Shangguan Miaoyin's composure shattered.

Watching the master she adored walk away hand-in-hand with that nobody Gu Yan was more agonizing than death itself.

Damn it! Gu Yan, I swear I’ll never coexist with you!

Once I seize the Gu Family, it’ll be the day you kneel and weep in regret!

........

.......

On the path leading to the entrance of the Gu Family Manor...

"Xiao Lin!!"

Shen Wan'er caught up to Xiao Lin, who had left the venue alone, calling out to his retreating figure.

Hearing her voice, Xiao Lin halted mid-step but didn’t turn around. Instead, he clenched his fists and muttered in a subdued tone, "The banquet is about to start."

"Wan'er, don’t you still need to network with potential partners? Go ahead—don’t miss this opportunity."

"I’ll wait for you in the car. I... don’t belong here."

Hearing this and seeing his lonely silhouette, something stirred in Shen Wan'er’s heart.

Yes, Xiao Lin was remarkable—knowledgeable, strong, and the one who had saved her when she was on the brink of death.

No, it could’ve been worse. Given her [Innate Pure Yin Body], the perfect cultivation vessel, she might’ve suffered a far crueler fate.

She had lived in Jianghai for over twenty years.

But for Xiao Lin, this city was entirely unfamiliar, a place he had just arrived in for the first time.

Alone in an unknown place, without friends, he must have been unbearably lonely.

And yet, she had been so focused on climbing the corporate ladder to get closer to her idol that she’d overlooked him.

But now...

Shen Wan'er seemed to have an epiphany.

When she was in danger, Xiao Lin had saved her.

When her company was in crisis, Xiao Lin had provided the beauty-enhancing formula.

When her family pressured her into marriage, Xiao Lin had stepped in as her shield and driven away those vile suitors.

The one who had helped her the most, time and again, was Xiao Lin...

She took a deep breath and walked forward slowly.

Thump!

She embraced him from behind, her voice filled with resolve. "Xiao Lin, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going back with you."

"!!"

Xiao Lin froze. Thump! Thump! His heart raced wildly. What was happening?!

"Wan... Wan'er?"

"Why suddenly...?"

Shen Wan'er cut him off, speaking softly, "I want to learn more about martial artists... about my constitution."

"And... I want to understand you better, Xiao Lin."

"Every time I needed someone, you were there for me."

"I’ve realized my feelings. Xiao Lin, what about you?"

The happiness was too sudden. Xiao Lin stood there dumbfounded, stammering incoherently.

In his mind...

[Kid!! Respond already, damn it!!!]

Dragon Lord couldn’t hold back his impatience. How could this fool hesitate now?!

He was itching to savor the power boost from the Innate Pure Yin Body!

If Xiao Lin dual-cultivated with her, Dragon Lord would also reap the benefits.

Oh—right! Thanks, Dragon Lord!

Snapping back to reality, Xiao Lin turned to Shen Wan'er, his eyes brimming with disbelief and joy. "Wan'er... I—I’ve liked you from the moment we first met!"

Shen Wan'er nodded. "That’s all I needed to hear."

With that, she cupped his face and leaned in gently.

!!

Xiao Lin was stunned.

Wan'er... kissed me?

After pulling away, Shen Wan'er took his hand and smiled. "Let’s take care of each other from now on."

"Y-yeah... Then we..."

Xiao Lin fidgeted, overwhelmed with shyness.

"Let’s go home. This place doesn’t suit me either."

"Okay!"

His expression brightened with elation as he walked ahead, her hand warm in his.

His heart swelled with excitement and disbelief—Wan'er was really with him now!

But what he didn’t see...

Was the look of melancholy and resignation on Shen Wan'er’s face as she followed behind him.

She gazed at his back and sighed inwardly.

Xiao Lin... fine, it’s Xiao Lin then.

Gu Yan and I... can never go back to how things were.

Unbeknownst to both of them...

In the shadows where they had just stood...

Gurgle...

A figure cloaked in darkness slowly emerged from the gloom.

It had witnessed everything.