Call My Name in Autumn, and I'll Leave

The warm evening sunlight bathed Gu Yan's face.

He opened his eyes in a daze.

He found himself lying on a sofa.

Ah, a familiar scenario—he’d been knocked out by Leng Qingqiu again.

Gu Yan sighed softly.

First of all,

He was a fake Night King.

Secondly, he was the Netherworld Sovereign.

And lastly... where was his cultivation?

"You're awake?"

"Now that you're awake, stop lying around. Hurry up and get ready to leave."

"There’s nothing left for you here."

A cold, indifferent voice came from the side.

Gu Yan sat up and looked over.

There,

Leng Qingqiu—now back to her usual composed self—sat on the adjacent sofa.

Her expression was calm, her tone detached.

But sensing Gu Yan’s lack of reaction, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of nervousness.

Damn it... She’d gone a little too hard and knocked him out again.

But it’s fine. Normally, people don’t remember what happened before they blacked out.

So as long as she acted unbothered, then...

Just as she thought this,

Gu Yan’s aggrieved voice reached her ears: "Qingqiu... you’re so cruel..."

There he was, curled up on the sofa, trembling pitifully: "I just came to see you and chat... but you treated me like this..."

"Playing with my body like this..."

"Wha—?!"

"You!"

Leng Qingqiu’s composure shattered instantly. Her face flushed red as she gritted her teeth in frustration.

She was stunned.

Seriously?! A man with multiple secret identities, yet he could act so vulnerable in front of her?!

What was he, some helpless girl who’d been wronged by a villain?!

Wait—didn’t that imply she was the villain?

Pah! Gu Yan was the real troublemaker here! He provoked her first!

Yes, she wasn’t at fault at all.

Gu Yan was the problem!

"Shut up!"

With that thought,

Leng Qingqiu stood up, her face burning with embarrassment as she grabbed Gu Yan’s arm and tried to yank him off the sofa. "Get up! Stop clinging to my sofa!"

"This is my office. I have every right to kick you out!"

Of course, Gu Yan wasn’t leaving. He’d finally come back—there was no way he’d miss a chance to be affectionate with Leng Qingqiu.

So with one hand being pulled by her and the other gripping the sofa, he dramatically cried out: "Agh!! Qingqiu!!! I won’t go!! You toyed with my heart and now you’re kicking me out?!"

"Is this how the head of the Sword Holding Department behaves?!"

"Aren’t you going to take responsibility for me?! I— Mmmph!!"

Before he could finish,

Leng Qingqiu, flustered, let go of his arm and clamped a hand over his mouth, glancing nervously toward the door. "Quiet! Don’t shout—if someone hears, it’s over!"

Her face burned with humiliation. If her subordinates found out she’d been doing... this with Gu Yan in her office...

Her reputation would be ruined!

Every time she slayed a demon afterward,

People would whisper behind her back:

"Look... that’s the one who forced herself on a civilian man..."

"Tsk tsk... forced a man..."

"In broad daylight, the head of the Sword Holding Department is actually that kind of person..."

Stop it, stop it! You’ve got it all wrong! I didn’t force Gu Yan—we’re a couple! How is that forcing him?!

Leng Qingqiu’s mind was a mess from not being intimate with Gu Yan for so long, and she spiraled into wild thoughts.

Gu Yan, meanwhile, inhaled deeply, his nose filled with the delicate fragrance of her hand.

Mmm... Qingqiu smells so good~~

Unable to resist, he flicked out his tongue—lick.

"Eek!"

Leng Qingqiu jerked her hand back in shock, her palm tingling.

"Heh, scared you, didn’t I?"

Gu Yan grinned triumphantly.

This jerk!

Her fists clenched.

Hearing his smug laughter, Leng Qingqiu trembled with anger—but then forced herself to relax.

No, no, calm down, Leng Qingqiu. If you lose your temper, you’ll just be playing into his hands.

The angrier she got, the more he’d tease her.

So instead,

She’d show the professionalism befitting the head of the Sword Holding Department!

Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and spoke calmly: "What will it take for you to leave? I really have work to do."

(She didn’t, but she needed time to digest the power boost from their earlier intimacy.)

Hearing this,

Gu Yan nodded thoughtfully. He stood, brushed off his clothes, and said solemnly: "Since you put it that way, Qingqiu..."

"I won’t hold back. Just grant me one small request, and I, Gu Yan, will leave immediately!"

Relieved to see him acting normal again, Leng Qingqiu crossed her arms and nodded. "Fine. If it’s within my power, name it."

Gu Yan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said earnestly:

"Then I’ll be direct."

"Qingqiu, I want you to..."

"...say ‘Goodbye, hubby’ in the softest, sweetest voice possible!!"

Leng Qingqiu: ?!

H-Hubby?!

This shameless—!!

A visible blush spread across her face as she shouted furiously: "GET OUT!!"

"Whoa whoa—okay, okay! I’m leaving, I’m leaving! Don’t hit me!!"

BAM!

CRACK!

The door slammed shut, the wall cracking from the force as Gu Yan was thrown out.

Rubbing his head, he sighed. Tch, still no luck, huh?

The "Qingqiu energy" he’d absorbed wasn’t enough—it’d only last him half a month at most.

Well, whatever. I’ll tough it out.

Just then, he sensed a familiar presence.

This aura... Hm? Lin Yinyin’s here too? And heading this way?

Perfect timing. I’ll go see her.

But as he turned to leave—

CREAK.

The office door opened again.

Before Gu Yan could react,

A tiny, trembling whisper reached his ears:

"G-Goodbye... hubby."

?!!!

Gu Yan froze.

Whirling around, he saw Leng Qingqiu peeking out from behind the door, her face flushed.

Instantly, the "Qingqiu energy" inside him... maxed out!!

Leng Qingqiu, too, felt his shock.

She’d only said it in a moment of impulsiveness.

It’s fine. Just compensation for knocking him out earlier. No big deal!

Gu Yan gulped, staring at her in disbelief. "Q-Qingqiu... what did you just say?"

(He’d heard it. But he wanted to hear it again.)

"Nothing! If you didn’t hear it, forget it!"

Leng Qingqiu had already gone through an intense mental struggle before uttering those four words.

Yet, to her surprise, Gu Yan actually wanted to hear it again?

What a willful guy!

"Come on, Qingqiu, I promise—just once! One last time!"

"Please! Just whisper it to me once!"

Gu Yan leaned against the door, his face brimming with eager anticipation.

"You..."

Leng Qingqiu pressed her lips together lightly.

Did he... really want to hear something like that so badly?

Though it was utterly embarrassing...

But since he rarely came back, shouldn’t she indulge him in this small wish?

And so,

Under Gu Yan’s expectant gaze, Leng Qingqiu parted her lips slightly.

But—

"Hey! Little Yan!"

"Long time no see! What are you doing here?"

Leng Qingqiu: ???

Click!

The door slammed shut.

???!!

Gu Yan froze, then began pounding on the door in disbelief.

Bang bang bang!!

"Qingqiu! Qingqiu!"

Seeing Leng Qingqiu slip away, Gu Yan hammered on the door, his face a picture of despair.

No way! No way! It’s over just like that?!

I haven’t had enough! How am I supposed to live without you?!

Gu Yan slid down the wall and collapsed onto the floor, looking as if he’d suffered some devastating blow.

Pat pat!

Lin Yinyin, as carefree as ever, strolled over and cheerfully patted his shoulder.

"Little Yan, why are you crying outside Qingqiu’s door?"

"Boss... your timing couldn’t be worse. Whatever, tell me how you ended up here."

Gu Yan pulled himself together, scrambling up from the floor before shooting Lin Yinyin a resigned look.

"Hehe, Little Yan, I was just about to tell you! Come on, let’s walk and talk!"

Dragged away by Lin Yinyin, Gu Yan reluctantly followed.

Meanwhile, behind the door—

Leng Qingqiu leaned against it, one hand pressed to her chest, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush of embarrassment.

Of all times... someone had to show up.