Xiao Leng's Favorability Level Rises Again

When Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu returned, it was already very late.

"Brother-in-law! You and sis actually ditched me to go on a date alone!"

"How awful!"

Leng Ling'er blocked Gu Yan's path, pouting angrily as she questioned him.

Gu Yan replied nonchalantly, "Of course we had to ditch you. You'd just be a third wheel if you came along."

Leng Qingqiu, standing nearby, looked puzzled. "What does 'third wheel' mean?"

"It means Ling'er would just stand there staring at us while we're making out."

Leng Qingqiu's face flushed red at his words.

Now that he put it that way, it did sound pretty embarrassing.

Leng Ling'er huffed indignantly. "Brother-in-law, you're the worst! I’d just be watching, not doing anything! You’re so stingy!"

"Heh."

"Ling'er, stop fooling around."

Only after her older sister spoke up did Leng Ling'er finally settle down.

Seeing this, Gu Yan couldn’t resist teasing her further. "Hear that, little sis? Your sister’s orders—no butting into our relationship."

"Gu Yan, you should talk less too."

Leng Qingqiu frowned.

"Oh..."

Watching Gu Yan get scolded lifted Leng Ling'er's spirits. She giggled. "Serves you right, loser Gu."

Gu Yan rolled his eyes. "Hah, like you have any right to talk."

Then, as if remembering something, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a key, dangling it in front of Leng Ling'er. He sighed dramatically.

"I was actually planning to give this to you."

"But with that attitude of yours... guess not~"

"Huh? What is it?"

Leng Ling'er leaned in to examine the object in Gu Yan’s hand. As she looked, her eyes widened with excitement, her whole body trembling.

"!!! A motorcycle key!"

"Yep. A custom-made bike, just for you. You won’t find this model on the market."

Gu Yan feigned regret. "I figured since you’re turning 18 soon and can get your license, I’d prepare your coming-of-age gift in advance."

"But now, seeing how you are..."

Thud!

Leng Ling'er immediately dropped to the floor, clinging to Gu Yan’s leg, her dyed blonde hair shaking as she pleaded. "Brother-in-law~ my dearest brother-in-law~"

"Hey... where’s your dignity?"

"Brother-in-law, I was wrong! I’ll never oppose you again!!"

"I swear—"

Before she could finish...

"Ling'er, stop this nonsense!"

Leng Qingqiu, red-faced with embarrassment, dragged her sister up from the floor.

This is so humiliating. Is this really my sister?

Is this how someone raised by the Leng Family behaves?

Holding Leng Ling'er firmly, she suppressed her frustration and said sternly, "Ling'er, didn’t we agree you’d only get a motorcycle after getting into university?"

"Even if your brother-in-law bought it early, I’ll keep the keys until then."

She then turned to Gu Yan, her voice icy. "Hand it over."

"...Okay."

Sensing the murderous aura, Gu Yan shivered and obediently passed the key.

He cleared his throat and added to Leng Ling'er, who looked utterly crestfallen, "Well, Ling'er, your sister’s right."

"You’re still too young. You can’t handle this bike yet."

"Let your sister hold onto it until you get into uni."

With her last hope dashed, Leng Ling'er looked on the verge of tears.

Ugh! Brother-in-law, you’re so spineless!

...

...

The next day would mark the final day of the Gu Family’s three-day gathering—the most critical moment determining whether Gu Yan would become the family’s next head.

That night.

Creak... creak...

The sound of floorboards groaning underfoot echoed softly.

Gu Yan tossed and turned in bed, frowning.

Hmm... why does it feel like something’s about to happen again...

The next second.

"Vessel."

!!

A cold voice whispered in his ear.

Gu Yan’s eyes snapped open.

??

He turned to see a figure standing beside his bed.

She had changed into casual clothes and was staring at him calmly.

"Xiao Leng? What do you want?"

Gu Yan checked the time—[2:33]—and grimaced before burrowing back under the covers. "Just so you know, I’m exhausted. I want to sleep."

"......"

Time passed silently.

Whoosh!

Gu Yan threw off the blanket and sighed at Xiao Leng, who still hadn’t left. "What do you want?"

Finally, she spoke. "I want to experience the festival atmosphere."

"???"

"Then go experience it. Why wake me up?"

Gu Yan just wanted to go back to sleep.

"Fine."

Xiao Leng gave him a blank look, then turned and left.

??

Gu Yan blinked in confusion. Hey, hey! You’re using my wife’s body!

Damn it, I really am just a slave now.

...

...

Half an hour later.

Jianghai City’s festivities never slept.

Even at this late hour, the food streets were still brightly lit.

At a cotton candy stall:

"Boss, two sticks, please."

"Coming right up! You and your girlfriend... huh? Weren’t you two here earlier tonight?"

The vendor stared at Gu Yan and Xiao Leng in confusion.

Strangely, the woman seemed different from the one he’d seen earlier.

"Never mind that..."

Gu Yan grabbed the cotton candy and quickly pulled Xiao Leng away.

As they wandered, snacking and exploring, Xiao Leng suddenly noticed something.

She tugged Gu Yan away from the crowd.

The two sat on a public bench.

Xiao Leng nibbled at her cotton candy, then glanced at Gu Yan’s resigned expression.

A strange, unfamiliar feeling stirred in her chest.

Since they were here anyway, Gu Yan took a bite of his own treat and asked, "Why bring me here?"

"You’ll see soon... Ah, it’s starting."

Xiao Leng suddenly focused on the sky.

Gu Yan followed her gaze.

The next moment—

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Gu Yan’s heart jolted.

The night sky erupted in dazzling fireworks, their brilliant explosions painting the darkness with light.

Streaks of radiance burst forth, illuminating the heavens like daylight.

Gu Yan’s pupils contracted as the blasts reverberated in his ears—no, deeper, as if detonating in his very soul.

Each firework’s glow reflected on his face, etching his expression with intricate emotions.

The cotton candy melted on his tongue, its sweetness mingling with the visual spectacle.

"Every year at this time, there’s a fireworks display like this."

Xiao Leng’s voice broke the brief silence.

"It’s a tradition of the Gu Family and Jianghai City—a celebration of peace and prosperity."

How do you know all this?? Even I, a Gu Family member, didn’t know.

Gu Yan nodded, snapping out of his daze.

Seemingly sensing what Gu Yan was about to say, Leng Qingqiu leisurely explained, "Want to ask how I knew?"

"Because I saw the poster on the street."

"And..."

She leaned slightly toward Gu Yan and reached out her hand.

Gu Yan flinched. "Wait—"

But contrary to his expectations,

Leng Qingqiu merely plucked a stray leaf from his hair.

As the final firework burst into a grand display across the night sky, the entire horizon seemed to ignite.

And in that moment, Gu Yan watched as Leng Qingqiu slowly parted her lips, wearing a smile—whether feigned or genuine, he couldn’t tell—and said, "And... I wanted you to see this beautiful fireworks show too."

"Just you and me."

"........"

Hiss...

The sound reached his ears almost simultaneously.

Gu Yan couldn’t help but avert his gaze.

This was... way too much.

[Pure Love Target’s Trust Level Increased to 96%!! New Memory Fragment Unlocked~~ Please Check~~]