Of course, this kind of life wouldn't have happened before.
But—
Didn't he have a system now?
Gu Yan held Leng Qingqiu's hand. Her face clearly showed disgust; she struggled briefly, then, realizing she couldn't break free, gave up. Her expression turned cold and distant.
Gu Yan, however, looked oddly sentimental.
"I learned all this because of you, Qingqiu."
"I've imagined this scene for a long time."
"I cook at home for you. I massage your back when you come back from work."
"On weekends, we drink tea and look at the flowers in the yard. If we're bored, we can barbecue outside."
"And then—"
"That's enough!"
Leng Ling'er finally couldn't take it anymore. She rushed over and forcefully pried Gu Yan's hand away from Leng Qingqiu's, then glared at him angrily.
"What are you saying supposed to mean?! You're the one staying at home while my sister goes out to work and earn money?!"
"Are you even a man?!"
Gu Yan looked at her as if she'd said something extremely stupid. He curled his lips.
"Isn't that obvious? My Qingqiu is talented."
"If someone as dumb as me went out to make money, I'd probably lose the entire Gu family fortune."
"So of course Qingqiu has to be the one in charge."
Leng Ling'er froze.
He was clearly praising her sister… so why did it make her so mad?
And what was with my Qingqiu?!
You two just established a relationship yesterday, okay? Stop acting like you've known each other forever!
Even Leng Qingqiu couldn't help finding it a little amusing.
This man really was different from other men.
Most men talked about "supporting you for life" to curry favor.
But Gu Yan? He openly declared himself useless and pushed everything onto her instead.
The corners of her lips lifted unconsciously—
Then she realized it.
And immediately suppressed it.
[Pure Love Partner feels happy, points +1]
The system prompt rang out softly in Gu Yan's mind.
He smiled inwardly.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
If this kept up, Leng Qingqiu's favorability would rise sooner or later.
He cleared his throat lightly.
"Alright, it's getting late. I'll continue cooking."
"Qingqiu, read for a bit. I'll call you when dinner's ready."
As he spoke, he naturally took her hand again and guided her toward the desk.
Leng Qingqiu frowned, clearly uncomfortable with being treated like this.
"I can walk by myself."
Gu Yan seized the opportunity without hesitation and replied righteously,
"That won't do. If I weren't here, fine. But now that I am, I can't let anything happen to you."
"What if you fall again like yesterday?"
"You—!"
Leng Qingqiu's face darkened instantly. The embarrassing memory from yesterday surged back.
"How dare you bring that up! Let go!"
"You really—!"
Gu Yan laughed while arguing with her, escorting her all the way to the desk. Only then did he reluctantly let go.
"Alright, alright, I'll let go. I'm going downstairs first."
Without waiting for her response, he turned and left the study.
That bastard!
Leng Qingqiu's chest rose and fell sharply.
How could there be such an infuriating man?
Annoying. Shameless. Completely unreasonable.
But…
Downstairs, he was cooking for them.
He was clearly the eldest son of the Gu family—yet he personally gave her a massage, helped her sit down, and lowered himself to cook for the two sisters.
An indescribable feeling welled up in her heart.
This… this…
She took a sharp breath.
Stop thinking.
He did all this on his own initiative. She never asked him to.
That's right.
She absolutely could not develop such a ridiculous sense of gratitude.
Emotions were the biggest obstacle on her road to revenge.
Leng Ling'er noticed her sister's troubled expression and felt indignant.
Damn Gu scumbag.
It had to be because of him that her sister looked so conflicted.
Although they were childhood sweethearts.
Although he was nominally her brother-in-law.
Although—
"Sister…"
Leng Ling'er was about to speak when Leng Qingqiu interrupted calmly.
"Ling'er, go to the kitchen and help Gu Yan."
"So he won't think everyone in the Leng family is lazy."
Leng Ling'er froze.
"…Ah?"
The kitchen?
—
"So this is how you help me?"
Gu Yan stared speechlessly at Leng Ling'er, who was stirring egg liquid together with eggshells, her eyes red, expression empty, movements lifeless.
Leng Ling'er immediately exploded.
She sniffed hard and glared at him.
"It's all because of you!"
"Because of people like you, my sister—my sister has changed!"
Her voice cracked. She burst into tears and angrily pounded Gu Yan's chest with her small fists.
"I'll beat you to death! I'll beat you to death—woo—!"
Her crying stopped abruptly.
Leng Ling'er froze, eyes widening.
Something hot and slightly large had been stuffed into her mouth.
She chewed subconsciously.
In the next second, a rich, spicy aroma exploded across her taste buds.
Her eyes lit up.
She looked at Gu Yan in disbelief, chewing as she spoke.
"Th-This… what is this? It's delicious!"
Gu Yan pulled the chopsticks out of her mouth, casually rinsed them under cold water, and replied without turning around.
"Spicy rabbit meat."
"Oh. Rabbit meat."
Leng Ling'er nodded instinctively.
Then—
"…Rabbit?"
"Rabbit meat?!"
She stared at the dish beside her.
A beautifully cooked plate of spicy rabbit sat there quietly.
Her vision darkened. She nearly fainted on the spot.
Behind her, Gu Yan washed the dishes, a malicious smile tugging at his lips.
Heh.
Serves you right, little brat.
—
Time passed slowly.
Leng Ling'er, seemingly burdened by guilt and sorrow over eating the rabbit, was no longer allowed to help.
Gu Yan sent her to the living room to watch cartoons instead.
She sat cross-legged on the sofa in white socks, hugging a huge white rabbit plushie, glaring at the TV.
"Bastard… bad guy… trash… scum…"
"Rabbits are so cute, and you actually eat rabbits!"
Her opinion of Gu Yan plummeted to a new low.
Just then, voices drifted down from upstairs.
"I said I can walk by myself. Don't hold me the whole time."
"No. Going downstairs isn't a small matter."
"If I could, I'd carry you."
"Carry me?! I'm not a child anymore! Gu Yan, stop exaggerating!"
"Unmarried women are all children."
"You—!"
Leng Qingqiu was supported by Gu Yan as they slowly walked downstairs.
She could feel his warm breath nearby—and the faint, clean scent on his body.
He was clearly a man.
So why did he smell… so good?
No, that wasn't the point.
Unmarried women were children?
This was absurd.
She was the true pillar behind the Leng family—and yet this man treated her like a child.
Outrageous.
Completely outrageous.