Extra IF Route: When Leng Qingqiu Could Hear Gu Yan's Inner Thoughts

【Background Story: No supernatural elements. Leng Qingqiu and Gu Yan are ordinary people. Leng Qingqiu has normal eyesight. The two met through an arranged marriage.】

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【When Leng Qingqiu Could Hear Gu Yan’s Inner Thoughts ①】

Leng Qingqiu jolted awake from her sleep, her ears catching a stream of clear, murmuring thoughts—

"Qingqiu’s eyelashes are so long… Ugh, will she notice I stole the apple she peeled last night?"

"...But she looks so adorable when she’s asleep. I just want to pinch her cheeks."

"And also... sniff sniff~~ Qingqiu~~ my Qingqiu~~ you smell so good~~ But it’s fine, Qingqiu’s asleep~~ Now sniff sniff~~! Even if I inhale deeply, she won’t mind!!"

She abruptly sat up and turned to look at Gu Yan, who was peacefully sleeping beside her.

His breathing was steady, his lips curled into a faint smile—the picture of innocence.

But those voices were unmistakably coming from his mind!

Leng Qingqiu narrowed her eyes and lightly poked his cheek. "Pretending to sleep?"

??

"Cough, n-no, not at all!"

Gu Yan instantly opened his eyes, blinking innocently. "Qingqiu, what are you talking about? Your dear husband was just resting his eyes!"

"Oh really?"

Leng Qingqiu leaned closer to his ear and whispered, "Then what does ‘want to pinch your cheeks’ mean?"

"And also..."

Her ears tinged slightly red. "Breathe quieter..."

Gu Yan’s pupils trembled violently: "???"

---

【When Leng Qingqiu Could Hear Gu Yan’s Inner Thoughts ②】

"This ability is definitely broken!"

Gu Yan hid in the study, scratching his head frantically.

"Why can Qingqiu suddenly read minds?!"

"Did I trigger some hidden mechanism when she caught me stealing a kiss last night?"

"No way, if she even finds out where I hid my secret stash… how am I supposed to survive?!"

"The third layer of the shoe cabinet—that’s where I keep all my savings..."

Outside the door, Leng Qingqiu crossed her arms and smirked. "So your secret money is hidden in the third layer of the shoe cabinet."

Gu Yan: "……?"

That night, Gu Yan was forced to surrender all his "ill-gotten gains" and sign a "Full Housework Responsibility Agreement."

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【When Leng Qingqiu Could Hear Gu Yan’s Inner Thoughts ③】

At the family meeting, Gu Yan sat upright, delivering a solemn speech on the surface:

"Regarding the new energy project, I believe environmental benefits should be prioritized..."

But his mind was a chaotic mess:

"This suit and tie are choking me to death! Who even invented business attire?!"

"Qingqiu’s lipstick today suits her so well… Wait, why is she glaring at me?!"

"But... this version of Qingqiu!! She’s just so incredibly adorable!!! Ah… I want to go home and soak up some Qingqiu energy ASAP~~"

"Qingqiu~~ sniff sniff~~ my Qingqiu~~"

Leng Qingqiu elegantly sipped her tea, her cheeks faintly pink, while her high heel mercilessly crushed the instep of a certain someone under the table.

Gu Yan: "Hiss—"

The executives in the room nodded approvingly. "The young master is truly passionate about environmentalism—he’s even moved to the point of losing control over his expression!"

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【When Leng Qingqiu Could Hear Gu Yan’s Inner Thoughts ④】

"Gu Yan, why have you been avoiding me lately?"

Leng Qingqiu blocked the door, cutting off his escape route.

"Absolutely not!"

Gu Yan raised his hand in oath.

"I just wanted to get some exercise… cough, for health reasons!"

But his inner voice betrayed him:

"No no no, 520 is coming up soon. I need to prepare a gift for our Qingqiu. But since she confiscated my secret funds, I’ll have to borrow some from my sister-in-law."

Leng Qingqiu raised an eyebrow and pulled out the "confiscated loot" from behind her. "Why are you so nervous? I just wanted to return this to you."

Gu Yan: "???"

"What’s wrong?"

Seeing his touched expression, Leng Qingqiu leaned in with amusement and whispered teasingly, "Are you so moved you’re about to cry?"

"Q-Qingqiu!! I—I love you so much you you you!!!"

"You—mmph..."

---

【When Leng Qingqiu Could Hear Gu Yan’s Inner Thoughts ⑤】

"Qingqiu, I have a surprise for you!"

Gu Yan covered her eyes and mysteriously pushed open the door.

Her ears were bombarded with his excited inner monologue:

"Qingqiu will definitely love this! The most expensive starry sky projector in Jianghai! And 999 roses!"

"Wait, are roses too cliché? Maybe I should swap them for 999 cream puffs? I remember Qingqiu loves cream puffs."

"No, last time she said even though she loves cream puffs, she wouldn’t want roses shaped like them..."

When she opened her eyes, the room was filled with roses, the projector, figurines, and even a limited-edition eyeshadow palette.

Leng Qingqiu: "…Did you just empty your entire shopping cart?"

Gu Yan scratched his head. "Cough, do you not like it?"

"Silly."

She laughed softly, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him.

---

【When Leng Qingqiu Could Hear Gu Yan’s Inner Thoughts ⑥】

One day, Leng Qingqiu suddenly couldn’t hear Gu Yan’s thoughts anymore.

She frowned. "What are you scheming now?"

Gu Yan pulled out a ring and knelt on one knee. "This time, I wanted to say it out loud—"

"Leng Qingqiu, will you marry me?"

His mind was silent, but the nervousness and anticipation in his eyes spoke louder than words.

Leng Qingqiu extended her hand. "The ring’s too small. Get a bigger one."

Gu Yan flustered. "Y-you—wait for me..."

"Just kidding."

She smiled and slipped the ring on.

"But in this lifetime, don’t even think about leaving me."