Cough, This is My Bestie

Fearing Xiao Lin's retaliation against Gu Yan, she decided to have Mei Xue secretly protect Gu Yan.

When danger struck, Mei Xue would immediately step in to protect Gu Yan.

Afterwards, she would leave with just one sentence: "You don't need to know who's protecting you."

Tsk, it seemed like the perfect plan.

It should have been that way, but...

In the Leng Family home, at the dining table on the first floor.

Three people with distinctly different expressions sat together.

So! Why did Gu Yan suddenly come over?!

Didn't you say your aunt was coming to deliver vegetables today? Shouldn't she be the one cooking?!

This won't do, I can't expose myself.

Thinking this, Leng Qingqiu cleared her throat and calmly introduced, "...This is a child from my relative's family, her name is Mei Xue."

"She happened to come visit me today."

Hearing this, Mei Xue's expression also became quite unnatural. She struggled to suppress her feeling of panic.

With water droplets still in her hair that hadn't been fully dried, she swallowed hard, somewhat afraid to look at Gu Yan's expression: "H-hello, I'm Mei Xue, I'm mast... Leng Qingqiu's best friend."

Oh no no no, I just called the master by name, I'm finished, I must atone with my life!

Mei Xue didn't know what was happening, she only knew her mind was in chaos right now.

After showering and getting dressed, she was about to dry her hair when she saw Gu Yan standing behind her with a strange look on his face in the mirror.

Then came the sound of hurried footsteps from upstairs.

And that's how they ended up in this situation.

Gu Yan looked at Leng Qingqiu, then at the flustered Mei Xue.

Ah, what's going on here?

He had originally planned to come to the Leng home for a blissful private time with his dear Qingqiu.

But why was Mei Xue here?

And how did it turn into this situation?

Even someone as clever as Gu Yan hadn't expected to find himself, Leng Qingqiu, and Mei Xue all at the same table.

After all, according to Gu Yan's plan, the best-case scenario was to privately resolve the plot where Mei Xue would betray Leng Qingqiu in the original story.

He hadn't expected it to come out in the open like this.

But since things had come to this...

Gu Yan forced a smile and looked kindly at Mei Xue: "Nice to meet you, Miss Mei. I'm Gu Yan. Thank you for always taking care of my dear Qingqiu."

At these words.

Mei Xue's face changed.

Dear Qingqiu?? This guy calls my master "dear Qingqiu"?!?

How disrespectful, doesn't he fear death?

She quickly looked at Leng Qingqiu, but saw that her expression hadn't changed at all.

Mei Xue suddenly realized, oh, so in order to take over the Gu family, my master is pretending not to care.

After all, it's not like she actually likes Gu Yan, so no matter how annoyed or displeased she might be inside, she wouldn't show it on her face.

As expected of the master!

Thinking this, Mei Xue also forced a smile and replied to Gu Yan: "Oh, no, I should be thanking you for always taking care of Qing...qiu."

"Haha, you're too kind, Miss Mei."

"Haha, not at all, Mr. Gu..."

Of course, neither of them noticed.

Although Leng Qingqiu's expression hadn't changed at all, her hands under the table were tightly clenched.

She felt utterly mortified inside.

Damn it! How dare he! How! How could he use that kind of nickname for me in front of my subordinate!

What will they think of me now?! Damn it! Damn it! This is so embarrassing!

Leng Qingqiu felt incredibly ashamed, she wanted nothing more than to lock herself in her study and never come out again.

Ding dong~ The clock chimed on the hour.

Gu Yan looked up and then said to Mei Xue, "It's almost time for lunch. Why don't you stay and eat with us, Miss Mei?"

His eyes held a mysterious glint; he needed to question her properly.

Mei Xue was conflicted upon hearing this. It wasn't up to her whether she could stay or not.

It was up to her master, and besides... as a servant, how could she possibly eat with her master?

However, Leng Qingqiu spoke up with a smile, "Gu Yan is right, Mei Xue, you should stay for lunch."

Leng Qingqiu didn't want Gu Yan to think she was petty.

Even if it might affect her image in her subordinate's eyes a little.

Hearing this, Mei Xue repeatedly nodded: "Yes! I mean, sure!"

Gu Yan looked at the flustered Mei Xue with exasperation.

Please, at least try to act more convincingly. It's a good thing I'm the one sitting here; if it were anyone else, they'd have seen through the charade already. What an idiot.

This won't do, my alone time with Qingqiu is already so limited, I can't let this fool ruin it.

Thinking this, Gu Yan smiled and said, "Miss Mei, why don't you go to the kitchen first and help me prepare the side dishes for lunch?"

"I've already had my aunt deliver them, you should be able to wash and cut them, right?"

Hearing this, Mei Xue felt a bit uncomfortable. Come on, your Qingqiu isn't my master.

Even if I need something from you, don't expect me to do everything you say!

But Mei Xue stood up and replied with a smile: "Of course, I'm very good at that."

Well, staying here is too stressful for my heart anyway, being alone in the kitchen would ease the pressure a bit.

Seeing Mei Xue leave.

Leng Qingqiu also felt relieved, after all, Mei Xue was her subordinate, and the fact that she was the Night King of the Night Organization...

She absolutely did not want Gu Yan to know about that. Now that she was alone with Gu Yan, she could relax a bit.

Just as she was thinking this, the next moment.

A warm body pressed against her.

Leng Qingqiu felt herself being embraced by something.

"Qingqiu~ Qingqiu~ Why didn't you tell me we had a guest? I was so nervous."

"And it's a woman too, you have no idea how shocked I was when I came in and saw her drying her hair."

Gu Yan had stood up, walked to Leng Qingqiu's side, and directly hugged her.

He kept inhaling the fragrance from Leng Qingqiu's body.

"Hey! Be more careful! Someone's here!"

"She's my best friend, it's normal for her to visit me!"

Leng Qingqiu's face turned slightly red. Mei Xue was still in the kitchen after all.

She tried hard to push Gu Yan away.

But Gu Yan stuck to her like glue and wouldn't let go.

[Bear hug pure love interest, +10 points!]

[Continue bear hugging pure love interest, +30 points!]

[Pure love interest feels embarrassed, +100 points~]

No way, this is the perfect opportunity to replenish pure love energy.

But he couldn't trouble Qingqiu too much either, so Gu Yan pulled a chair over, sat down next to Leng Qingqiu, then put his arm around her shoulders.

He pulled her towards his chest, but she resisted strongly, pulling away, resulting in a tug-of-war between them.

"Qingqiu, we haven't seen each other in so long, don't you miss me?"

"It's only been one night!"

"Is that so? There's an ancient Chinese saying that goes 'Three days apart feels like thirty days.' So one night apart must feel like ten days."

"? What kind of strange comparison is that? And isn't it supposed to be 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'?"

"Good wife, you're so smart. I'll reward you with a kiss."

"? Get lost!"