Lin Qingyan Wants

The inner demon acting up in the Jingxin Tower was an accident.

But because of it, the two of them formed an unbreakable bond.

Lin Qingyan didn't regret that deal; in fact, she even felt somewhat fortunate.

Even though at the time, she genuinely just wanted to weaken her inner demon.

And she genuinely hadn't wanted to have too much entanglement with Gu Chengyin.

After all, back then, she was merely curious about Gu Chengyin.

But now, Lin Qingyan had to start reconsidering.

Why was she curious about Gu Chengyin?

Was it because he resembled Empress Lin?

He did indeed.

But if it were just because of that, she could have easily locked Gu Chengyin up, used him when needed, and tossed him aside when she didn't.

With her cultivation base and her status, she could easily do so.

But Lin Qingyan didn't want to.

She had never even considered it.

Was it because Gu Chengyin was useful?

He was indeed.

To protect Luo Zhao, she needed someone by Luo Zhao's side who could step up at crucial moments.

Gu Chengyin was exactly that kind of person, and he did it better than anyone else.

But if it were just because of that, she could have simply kept things strictly business, treating him as a junior worth nurturing or a handy subordinate.

Yet she hadn't done that either.

Lin Qingyan wanted to see Gu Chengyin.

She wanted to talk to him, to see him smile, see him frown, see his face when he was deep in thought.

She wanted to stay in his arms, doing nothing, just staying there.

Lin Qingyan sighed softly in her heart.

She somewhat understood now.

The inner demon was merely a catalyst, and resembling Empress Lin was just a bonus.

Even without these factors, sooner or later, she still would have fallen for Gu Chengyin.

Because what attracted her was never those external things.

It was Gu Chengyin himself.

It was his fearless ambition even when he had nothing.

It was his unhurried composure when facing the strong.

It was his calm rationality when facing adversity.

It was, when he faced her...

That touch of gentleness.

She wanted Gu Chengyin's gentleness.

She wanted him to be gentle only to her.

As this thought surfaced, Lin Qingyan herself was taken aback for a moment.

Then, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

She knew exactly what kind of person she was.

Seemingly aloof and detached, but in reality, she took whatever she wanted and did whatever she pleased.

Even Emperor Luo couldn't control her, nor did he have the ability to.

Therefore, Lin Qingyan quickly accepted this thought.

Yes.

She wanted Gu Chengyin; she wanted all of him.

Lin Qingyan nuzzled against Gu Chengyin's embrace, nestling herself even more comfortably.

But a new question arose.

Did Gu Chengyin like her?

He did.

Lin Qingyan was certain of this.

That gentleness, that carefulness, those probing attempts to get closer yet not daring to get too close.

But how much did he like her?

Did he like her as much as she liked him?

Lin Qingyan thought about it and figured he probably didn't.

At least, not yet.

Liking someone was actually very simple. As long as they looked good, and one didn't dislike those good looks, that was liking.

But that was merely an attraction of the heart, not an investment of true feelings.

Lin Qingyan knew that she had invested true feelings into Gu Chengyin.

But Gu Chengyin was only attracted to her, nothing more.

Because Gu Chengyin had no desire for her.

The look in Gu Chengyin's eyes when he found out Gu Xiaoli was a Half-step Nascent Soul.

That determined light, that absolute resolve to win her over.

He had no romantic feelings for Gu Xiaoli, yet that desire to obtain her was completely undisguised.

What about towards her?

He seemed to have never looked at her that way.

Was it because she was too strong? Was it because he didn't dare? Or was it because...

He didn't actually want to have her that much?

Lin Qingyan's eyelashes fluttered.

She was not one to wallow in self-pity.

If she couldn't get it, so be it. If he liked her less, so be it. What was the big deal?

Since when did she, Lin Qingyan, need to rely on someone else's affection to prove her own worth?

But she still couldn't help but wonder...

How could she make Gu Chengyin like her a bit more?

How could she make the way he looked at her also carry that light full of desire?

This thought circled in her mind before Lin Qingyan suppressed it again.

There was no rush.

She had plenty of time.

Moreover, she didn't actually want Gu Chengyin to become like that.

That desire, that determination to win, was indeed a part of him.

But if he acted like that towards her, would he still be the Gu Chengyin she liked?

Lin Qingyan liked the current Gu Chengyin.

She liked his carefulness when looking at her, she liked his tentative probing when approaching her, and she liked how he looked when he wanted to say something but didn't dare to.

These were also him; this was the Gu Chengyin that existed only for Lin Qingyan.

This was also very good.

Lin Qingyan's eyelashes lowered again.

She suddenly recalled the kiss from just now.

It was long and deep, as if trying to melt all the yearning from the past few days into it.

Gu Chengyin had initiated it.

In the past, she had always been the one to initiate.

Starting from the Jingxin Tower, every single time, she had taken the initiative.

Gu Chengyin had never proactively kissed her, never proactively hugged her, and never said I missed you so much like he just did.

But this time.

Gu Chengyin had taken the initiative.

It was also the first time he had said something like I missed you.

After she got angry, after she was truly prepared to ignore him, and after he had held her and kissed her for a long time.

The corners of Lin Qingyan's lips curled up again, and this time, the curve was a bit wider than before.

She shifted slightly in his embrace, burying her face even deeper.

So, Gu Chengyin wasn't completely incapable of taking the initiative.

He just needed a little stimulation.

Like her getting angry, like her ignoring him, like him being afraid of truly losing her.

Thinking this way, that tiny bit of discomfort in Lin Qingyan's heart finally dissipated completely.

In its place was the languor that followed satiation, and an indescribable sense of smugness.

Just as she had told Gu Chengyin a moment ago.

Lin Qingyan indeed knew what she was doing, and she knew why she was doing it.

She was very clear-headed, extremely rational, and not blinded by love.

This was what Gu Chengyin wanted, but it wasn't what she wanted.

Lin Qingyan knew what Gu Chengyin wanted.

He wanted to maintain his distance, wanting to make a clean break after completing their deal.

To this, Lin Qingyan had only two words:

Dream on.

From childhood to adulthood, everything she wanted eventually fell into her hands.

Gu Chengyin would be no exception.

What Lin Qingyan wanted.

Lin Qingyan got.

Outside the window, the moonlight gradually sank, and the distant sound of the watchman's drum carried over, a reminder that the night was already deep.

Gu Chengyin's breathing became a bit more even, as if he had fallen asleep.

Lin Qingyan did not move.

She just leaned in his embrace like this, listening to his heartbeat, smelling the faint scent on his body.

She suddenly felt that just staying like this was quite nice.

She wanted Gu Chengyin, wanted his gentleness, wanted his affection, wanted him to have eyes only for her.

But there was no rush.

She could take her time.

She could take it step by step, making Gu Chengyin increasingly inseparable from her, increasingly unable to let her go, increasingly...

Liking her just as much as she liked him.

Lin Qingyan's eyelashes fluttered, a glint flashing through the depths of her eyes.

Within that light, there was gentleness, satiation, and certainty.

And a faint trace of something that others would not easily notice...

Domineering possessiveness.