The Dazed Crowd, Xiao Leng's Favorability Rises to 99%

Time passed.

At the dining table, everyone eating the spiritual cuisine experienced what could only be described as... an identity crisis.

"Mmm..."

"Got it, you want some meat, right?"

"Hmm?"

"Oh, craving some soup, is that it?"

"Mmm."

"Tastes good, huh? I made it especially to suit your preferences, Qingqiu."

At some point, Leng Ling'er had already moved aside.

Gu Yan sat beside Leng Qingqiu, smiling as he attended to her every need.

Leng Qingqiu barely had to lift a finger—her bowl was always full.

Moreover, the two shared an uncanny understanding. With just a glance or a sound from Leng Qingqiu, Gu Yan instantly understood her meaning.

Clink.

Leng Qingqiu set down her chopsticks.

"Here, wipe your mouth."

Gu Yan promptly pulled out a wet wipe and gently dabbed her lips.

The two seemed to exist in their own little world, completely oblivious to the stunned and bewildered gazes around them.

As if enveloped in a rosy haze, nothing could disrupt their bubble.

Clatter.

Shangguan Miaoyin's chopsticks fell onto the table.

She sat frozen, her body trembling slightly.

Master...

Master is sacrificing so much to take over the Gu Family!

To think she’d let this so-called husband of hers serve her like this!

This is too enviable!!

Damn it! Gu Yan, don’t get too full of yourself! Master is only doing this to manipulate you better!

Surely Bai Lian must be seething with resentment too!

Thinking this, Shangguan Miaoyin glanced at Bai Lian.

"So good!"

"This is delicious!"

"Ahh, this one’s amazing too!"

"Yummy, yummy!"

Bai Lian was devouring the feast with the ferocity of a whirlwind.

Hah! Gu Yan, I admit I underestimated you!

Damn it! Bai Lian has defected!

But I won’t be swayed so easily!

Shangguan Miaoyin picked up her chopsticks again, mechanically chewing while brainstorming ways to resist the allure of Gu Yan’s cooking.

"Alright, time for the main course."

Seeing that Leng Qingqiu had eaten her fill, Gu Yan clapped his hands.

Whoosh!

In an instant, plates flew out, each laden with steaming, mouthwatering desserts!

A giant cream puff landed right in front of Leng Qingqiu.

The sweet aroma wafted under her nose.

She swallowed discreetly.

This... This is what I’ve been waiting for. I absolutely need to finish with a cream puff!

With that thought, Leng Qingqiu picked up the puff with both hands and took a delicate bite.

Instantly, the rich cream filled her mouth.

Mmm! Pure bliss!

Her brows lifted slightly as she chewed the puff at a steady, measured pace.

Everyone was stunned.

Master/Minister... She actually looks... happy?

Their eyes shifted to Gu Yan, who sat beside her.

This man... How does he have this kind of power?!

Noticing that Gu Yan had been busy serving her, Leng Qingqiu picked up a smaller puff with her free hand and held it out to him.

"Here, you eat too. You’ve worked hard," she said calmly.

Instead of taking it, Gu Yan leaned forward and bit into the puff directly from her fingers.

"Mmm, thanks," he mumbled through a mouthful.

Only then did Leng Qingqiu seem satisfied, returning to her own puff with quiet delight.

The others were once again frozen in shock.

Shangguan Miaoyin’s breath hitched. The cake in her hand plopped back into her bowl.

Master... just fed that man?!

Hssssk—!! AHHH!! AHHHH!!!

"Ahh!"

Who just screamed?!

Shangguan Miaoyin whipped her head around—only to see Leng Qingqiu’s younger sister, Leng Ling'er, cheeks flushed as she watched the interaction between Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu with barely contained excitement.

She wiped a bit of drool from the corner of her mouth. "This is so entertaining!!"

?

Shangguan Miaoyin’s mind filled with question marks.

Wait, what’s going on?

Master’s sister is this friendly with him?

She even seems to... enjoy watching them like this?!

No! I refuse to accept this!

I’ll never acknowledge this man!

He’s just a tool Master is using to take over the Gu Family!

Just a man, just a man!

Yet, even as she thought this, her hand kept shoveling the fallen cake into her mouth.

Damn it! Why is this so delicious?!

An hour later...

The table was a battlefield of empty plates and crumbs.

Shangguan Miaoyin and the others slumped in their chairs, too stuffed to move, their stomachs slightly rounded.

Thanks to his divine butler skills (acquired via system exchange), Gu Yan was unmatched in hospitality.

Over the meal, he also got acquainted with a few more members of the Night Organization.

Aside from Shangguan Miaoyin, Bai Lian, and Murong Ci, there was also:

- A refined man in ancient robes, Jun Zilan, who wielded a folding fan and specialized in butterfly transformation techniques.

- A tall, burly man with a short beard, Zhao Lei, a master of ancient martial arts.

- And finally, a half-beastman with animal ears, Liao Ya—a hybrid of monster and human.

Gu Yan noticed that Liao Ya kept sneaking glances at Bai Lian during the meal.

Just like in the original story... He has a crush on her.

Leng Qingqiu had left earlier, citing urgent business.

In reality, Xiao Leng (her alternate persona) had warned her that she’d acted too far out of character as the Night King during the meal.

If she didn’t step away soon, her subordinates might catch on.

In the kitchen...

Gu Yan was washing dishes using his spiritual energy, a soft smile playing on his lips as he recalled Leng Qingqiu’s expressions during dinner.

This composed, aloof version of Qingqiu...

I love her just as much!!

Basically—she’s just too adorable!!

Huff—huff~~~ Why is my wife so cute?!

He picked up a pair of chopsticks and quickly scanned the room.

Seeing no one around, he brought them closer—these were the ones Leng Qingqiu had used.

She’d definitely call me a pervert if she saw me like this, so while no one’s here...

Bzzzt!

A chilling aura suddenly filled the air.

"What are you doing?"

A cold voice cut through the silence.

Gu Yan: "!!"

He jolted, dropping the chopsticks, and spun around.

There stood Leng Qingqiu, arms crossed, looking down at him with undisguised disdain.

Huh? Normal eyes?

"Xiao Leng?" Gu Yan immediately recognized her.

"Hmph. At least you remember me," Xiao Leng sneered, eyeing him critically.

She could sense that Gu Yan had been further infected by the Night Energy.

But...

What puzzled her was that his behavior toward Leng Qingqiu remained as... enthusiastic as ever.

Strange.

Logically, his emotions should be fading, leaving him indifferent to everything.

So why is he still so obsessed with her?

Is he... faking it?

Gu Yan hadn't seen Xiao Leng in a long time.

Hearing her words, he chuckled lightly, "Xiao Leng, you’ve helped me so much. I’d never forget about you."

"Tch, smooth-talker. Is this how you tricked the other me into going in circles?"

Xiao Leng snorted, thinking Gu Yan was the type to say whatever suited the situation.

Gu Yan was used to her sarcastic remarks by now.

He shrugged helplessly, "Yeah, yeah. Why are you just like Qingqiu, always saying that about me?"

"And here I was, thinking about you."

As he spoke,

under Xiao Leng’s slightly stunned gaze,

Gu Yan flicked his fingers lightly.

Buzz!

A spatial rift appeared,

and from it floated out a plate of desserts and a cup of milk tea.

The items landed on the table beside Xiao Leng.

After finishing, Gu Yan looked at her with a smile. "I figured you’d come to see me, so I saved these for you. Consider it my thanks for all your help."

Hearing his words and glancing at the sweets beside her,

Xiao Leng’s emotions became indescribably complicated.

Gu Yan...

But on the surface, she maintained her cold expression. "Narcissist."

"I only came to stop a certain pervert from doing something inappropriate with things my body has used."

"Wha—?!"

"Pervert? I’m not a pervert! This is just another way I express my love for Qingqiu!"

"No one understands me, no one gets it! Love—does no one understand what love is?!"

Gu Yan defended himself righteously.

Xiao Leng’s expression darkened further. She stared at him for a few seconds before coldly stating, "Even more perverted now."

"Tch—!"

Gu Yan clutched his chest, deeply wounded.

Seeing this, Xiao Leng’s lips curled up almost imperceptibly before she quickly masked it again.

She said flatly, "As long as I’ve confirmed you haven’t lost your mind, that’s enough."

"Don’t forget your plan."

"If you run into trouble..."

"You can come find me at midnight."

With that, Xiao Leng vanished.

Gu Yan was left scratching his head.

Huh? Just to check if I’ve lost my sanity? What kind of weird habit is that?

He shook his head and was about to take back the desserts he’d prepared for her when—

he suddenly paused, then smiled helplessly.

Just like Qingqiu, such an unstraightforward personality.

The plate of sweets and the milk tea were already gone.

At the same time—

[Pure Love Target’s Trust Level Increased to 99%!! New Memory Fragment Unlocked~~ Please Check~~]

The system’s notification chimed in.

Marking another step closer to the truth for Gu Yan.