The kitchen was filled with Gu Yan's casual yet emotional singing.
Leng Qingqiu's heart trembled almost imperceptibly.
She didn't know why, but she could feel it—
the happiness in Gu Yan's voice.
She wasn't stupid.
From lyrics like "Owning you means owning the whole world," it was obvious who the song was about.
About her.
What she hadn't expected was that Gu Yan genuinely believed that having her equaled having everything.
She had never experienced such a feeling before.
For a moment, her breathing unconsciously quickened.
"…Listen carefully," Leng Ling'er muttered to herself.
Though she was only half-listening, the catchy melody and sweet lyrics still painted a picture in her mind.
A couple.
Sweet. Close. Loving.
It sounded like a confession.
But who sang this song?
She'd never heard it before.
At the same time, Leng Qingqiu moved her feet and slowly walked closer to Gu Yan.
[The love target is moved by the song. Points +1]
"…Honey, don't be willful…"
Gu Yan was humming halfway when the system prompt sounded.
He paused for a split second.
Just as he was about to turn around, a cold voice sounded beside him.
A tall figure stood close.
Her chin lifted slightly, brows faintly knit.
"…Who are you saying is hard to chase?"
Leng Qingqiu didn't know why she asked that.
Maybe she just wanted to start a conversation.
Gu Yan reacted instantly.
He smiled, reached out, and gently tidied the hair by her ear.
"Of course it's our Qingqiu."
"Back then, you were Jianghai City's number one genius."
"You were like the stars in the sky. Of course it was hard for me to chase you."
Leng Qingqiu felt his fingers brush past her ear.
For once, she didn't avoid it.
She snorted lightly.
"I never heard that the Gu family's eldest son tried to pursue me back then."
"On the contrary, I heard you spent years chasing Shen Wan'er."
"You sang this song for her, didn't you?"
As she said it, the warmth in her chest cooled slightly.
It wasn't impossible.
What if this song was just recycled?
She didn't care who he sang to—
but now, at least in name, they were engaged.
She didn't want a fiancé who was still clinging to his past.
It would make things… inconvenient.
Gu Yan naturally knew how to answer.
He took her hand and spoke affectionately.
"Qingqiu."
"My love for you is like a river flowing across plains and mountains."
"I fear no danger. I just come to you."
"Confession Balloon is an original song I wrote for you back then."
"Maybe it's fate—
we still ended up together."
"That's why I couldn't help humming it."
"…You're exaggerating."
Leng Qingqiu said that, but her mood quietly improved.
The corners of her lips lifted.
She quickly pulled her hand back, took a deep breath, then turned toward him again.
"So the song is called Confession Balloon?"
"And you wrote it yourself?"
"You actually have that kind of talent?"
Gu Yan nodded seriously.
"Of course. At the time, my mind was full of you."
"I even imagined doing all sorts of things with you—so the inspiration just came."
"Bah! Can you talk properly?!"
"…Alright, alright. It's late. Let's hurry up."
Leng Qingqiu spat, then reached out and touched the sink.
"Qingqiu, what are you doing?"
Gu Yan immediately grabbed her hand.
"This is the sink. It's dirty."
She shook his hand off, speechless.
"This is my house. I know what it is."
"And you—"
She snorted.
"What, do you think girls who are 'hard to chase' can't wash dishes?"
She rolled up her sleeves skillfully and turned on the faucet.
Gu Yan froze.
At first, he'd only approached Leng Qingqiu because of his unavoidable death and the system.
Later, because she was his type, he chose to treat her well.
And in his mind, girls raised in big families probably didn't cook—or clean.
But now…
Watching her wash dishes, a warm feeling rose in his chest.
Leng Qingqiu could roughly guess what he was thinking.
She didn't want him to see her as fragile.
Even blind, even inconvenienced—
She refused to show weakness.
He had already done so much today.
She could at least share the load.
Honestly…
for a rich young master, Gu Yan was absurdly decent.
Gu Yan turned on the faucet beside her.
"Okay then. You wash those. I'll handle the bigger pots."
"…Alright."
She paused, then asked casually,
"Then you won't sing Confession Balloon anymore?"
Gu Yan was startled, then smiled.
"I will. I'll start again."
"I didn't say I wanted to listen. Sing if you want."
"Okay. Then I'll sing."
And so, Gu Yan's newly exchanged God-level Singing Skill echoed through the kitchen once more.
Because it was sung for Leng Qingqiu, the system quietly discounted the cost again.
Neither of them noticed—
At the kitchen door stood a girl, expression slowly stiffening.
"…Sister…?"
Leng Ling'er stared at the two of them as if petrified.
Talking.
Laughing.
Singing.
Washing dishes.
Meanwhile, she felt like an extra.
"Waaah! How did this happen?!"
Leng Ling'er clutched her head, tears welling up.
The sun had fully set.
"It's late. I'll head back."
Gu Yan said softly.
In the luxury car, Lao Gao couldn't hide his satisfaction.
When he looked at Leng Qingqiu, his gaze was noticeably gentler.
Leng Qingqiu nodded calmly.
"If you have to cook so much every time you come, then forget it."
"I know you feel sorry for your husband because I'm tired. I'll cook less next time."
Gu Yan laughed.
"I didn't say that. I'm just worried about my stove's lifespan."
She paused, then turned to him.
"Drive safely."
Before Gu Yan could react, she walked inside.
He snapped back and shouted cheerfully,
"Qingqiu! I'll come again tomorrow morning!"
A flat reply drifted back.
"…Up to you."
Bang.
The door closed.
But where Gu Yan couldn't see—
As Leng Qingqiu walked deeper inside, the corners of her lips quietly curved upward.
Suddenly—
Thump.
Something rushed into her arms.
"Sister!! You've changed!!"
Leng Qingqiu smiled helplessly.
"What changed?"
Leng Ling'er cried harder.
"Sister! You've been wrong ever since Gu Yan came!"
"There's only Gu Yan in your eyes!"
"It's only been two days! I've become an outsider!"
Leng Qingqiu sighed.
Maybe she really had neglected Ling'er.
She patted her back gently.
"Be good. Sister hasn't changed."
"We just need the Gu family's power to help us recover."
"So I endured the nausea and dealt with Gu Yan."
"…Really?"
Leng Ling'er looked up, instantly relieved.
"That's great! I thought you liked him!"
"It's good you didn't fall in love!"
"Even though he can cook, sing, has money, and looks good—
it's good you didn't fall for him!"
"Otherwise I wouldn't even have a place at home!"
Leng Qingqiu felt something odd hearing this.
Like Gu Yan?
Impossible.
She would never live like a normal girl.
Love wasn't for her.
"Don't overthink it," she said calmly.
"How could I like Gu Yan?"
Leng Ling'er nodded hard.
Then Leng Qingqiu asked casually,
"By the way… what do you think Gu Yan looks like?"
"Oh him? He's a pretty decent-looking small fish."
"I heard he worked out every day just to please Shen Wan'er."
"Good figure. If he cosplayed, he'd definitely slay."
"But his past bootlicking made people cringe."
"They say he rejected hundreds of girls for Shen Wan'er."
"Never even had a girlfriend."
"…I see."
Leng Qingqiu nodded, thoughtful.
"Sister, don't fall for that trash Gu."
"…Ling'er," Leng Qingqiu said after a pause,
"Show some respect. He's your brother-in-law in name."
"And didn't you fail math?"
"Come to the study after your shower. I'll tutor you."
"…Ah?! Sister!!!"
---
On the way back.
Lao Gao drove while glancing at Gu Yan's smile in the rearview mirror.
"Young Master," he said warmly,
"Seems you really like Miss Leng."
Gu Yan nodded lightly.
"Yes. I've decided to treat her well for life."
He paused, then asked,
"By the way, Lao Gao… how strong are you?"
Lao Gao chuckled.
"Maybe strong enough to block a bullet for you."
Gu Yan smiled and shook his head.
"Then I'll protect you from now on."
His smile slowly faded.
The protagonist.
According to the plot, that man would kill him.
Gu Yan wasn't strong enough yet.
But he had time.
And a system.
His eyes turned cold.
A plan had already taken shape.
"Lao Gao," he said calmly,
"Investigate someone named Xiao Lin in Jianghai City."
"Find everything."
Lao Gao nodded without hesitation.
"By tomorrow night."
Gu Yan closed his eyes.
Xiao Lin.
Dragon King Mountain.
Dragon-shaped jade pendant.
Young Master of the Dragon King Palace.
And that palace…
Was destroyed by Leng Qingqiu.
The corner of Gu Yan's mouth lifted slightly.
As expected of Qingqiu.
If she could destroy the Dragon King Palace—
Then even the protagonist…
wasn't invincible.
He had time.
More than enough.