The next morning.
Leng Qingqiu ate breakfast in small, precise bites, her face cold enough to freeze the air.
She had made it very clear—she had no intention of paying any attention to Gu Yan, the big pervert.
Gu Yan, meanwhile, lowered his head awkwardly.
"Ahem… Qingqiu, don't be mad. I was half-asleep last night, my brain short-circuited…"
Bad move.
The moment he spoke, Leng Qingqiu raised her head and let out a soft, chilling laugh.
"Heh."
"?!"
"Qingqiu~~~"
"Shut up. I don't want to talk to you right now."
"…Oh."
Leng Ling'er sat at the table, mechanically eating, her eyes darting back and forth between the two of them.
Cold sweat trickled down her back.
Wait.
What exactly did these two do last night?
No way.
No way no way no way—
Did something straight out of the romance novels she read actually happen?!
If that really happened… then what would her position in this family even be anymore?!
"No! You pervert, Gu!"
Leng Ling'er's face flushed bright red as she suddenly shouted.
Gu Yan froze, completely baffled.
Before he could react, she grabbed her bowl and chopsticks and bolted into the kitchen.
"?"
What is wrong with kids these days?!
"Hey! You little gremlin, explain yourself!"
Gu Yan stood up in a hurry. This kind of accusation was dangerous.
Because—
"Oh?"
Leng Qingqiu's cold voice sliced cleanly through the air.
"What did you do to Ling'er?"
Gu Yan's face stiffened. He forced a laugh.
"…If I say I have no idea what she's talking about, would you believe me?"
"Hehe. Considering what you did last night, I'm not sure I should."
Leng Qingqiu knew Gu Yan wouldn't do anything to Ling'er.
She was just… enjoying this a little.
Hmph.
Serves him right for teasing her nonstop.
"Please, you have to believe me."
Gu Yan sighed helplessly—then suddenly paused.
He leaned closer, eyes narrowing slightly.
Leng Qingqiu felt that familiar scent approach and her heart skipped. She frowned coldly.
"What are you doing?"
Despite the icy expression, there was a hint of panic in her voice.
But Gu Yan, fully absorbed in his discovery, didn't notice at all.
"Qingqiu… have you been using skincare lately?"
"…Skincare?" She blinked. "I don't use that stuff."
"That's weird." Gu Yan looked genuinely puzzled.
"You had really dark circles last night, but they're gone this morning."
"And your skin looks better too. Honestly, even better than when we first met."
Leng Qingqiu's mind went blank.
Oh no.
Those dark circles were from cultivating that forbidden art last night.
But Gu Yan didn't know that.
She quickly turned her head away and stood up.
"I—I don't know. Don't get so close."
Then she changed the subject stiffly.
"Aren't you taking Ling'er to school? Hurry up."
"Uh… I haven't finished eating yet—"
"Eat, eat, eat. If I don't kill you one day, I'll go back to the study first."
Under Gu Yan's strange gaze, Leng Qingqiu accurately grabbed her cane and walked upstairs.
…Wait.
She could go upstairs by herself?
Gu Yan blinked in surprise.
Well… it was her house. Of course she could.
No wonder she always said she could walk.
So it was true.
Shaking his head, Gu Yan pushed the thought aside.
But as he continued eating, a realization quietly surfaced.
In the original novel, it never clearly explained how Leng Qingqiu became a Grandmaster.
Her true power only appeared after Leng Ling'er's death.
That was also when readers learned—too late—that she was the final villain.
—
Leng Ling'er saw her sister leave and immediately scurried back to Gu Yan's side.
"Hey! Gu—what were you doing with my sister last night?"
Gu Yan turned, seeing her nervous expression, and replied casually,
"Adult matters. Kids shouldn't ask."
Boom.
Leng Ling'er's brain short-circuited.
She bit her lip, tears welling up as she stared at him.
"You—you two… you really did something that makes babies?! W-woohoo!"
"???"
"No! What nonsense is going through that head of yours?!"
Gu Yan was speechless.
Are kids these days all this precocious?!
"I just made a bowl of brown sugar ginger water!"
—
Upstairs. Study.
Click.
Leng Qingqiu closed the door and leaned against it.
Her breathing was shallow. She clutched her chest tightly, her expression strained.
…No. I have to be more careful.
If Gu Yan discovers my secret…
[Night] was her greatest secret.
And Gu Yan—
She had to admit it. Somewhere along the way, feelings had formed.
But he was still just an ordinary person.
Five years ago, the forces involved were too many, too terrifying.
If he stepped into this… he would die.
She couldn't let him know.
She mustn't.
If Gu Yan really found out… she didn't know what she would do.
Or what kind of expression he would look at her with.
"Please…"
"Don't find out."
Her whisper was filled with quiet pain.
—
No one noticed.
On the roof of the Leng residence, a figure appeared.
Mei Xue slowly removed the cloth covering her eyes.
Beneath it were eyes with no whites—completely black.
She watched Gu Yan and Leng Ling'er leave the house together.
After sensing no energy fluctuations from Gu Yan, she murmured coldly,
"…Just an ordinary person."
Yet her hands clenched the cloth tightly.
Her gaze lingered on Gu Yan—emotionless.
Then why…
Why would such a man make her master suffer like this?
Mei Xue pressed a hand to her chest, her expression darkening.
Even I can feel the sadness in Master's heart.
Just because of this man?
Afraid he'll discover our secret?
Irritation crept into her thoughts.
Why did Master marry him?
Why did she order me to secretly investigate and remove threats around him?
This man…
What exactly is he hiding?
With that thought, Mei Xue covered her eyes again.
Her body melted into the shadows.
No matter what—
If I discover that this man betrays or deceives my master…
Then even if it costs my life,
I will eliminate him.
—
Jianghai High School.
"Bye, brother-in-law!"
"Study hard."
Gu Yan watched helplessly as Leng Ling'er loudly used that title in front of her friends.
This little menace…
He sighed, rolled up the window.
His expression gradually turned serious.
"Lao Gao. Jianghai Hospital."
"Yes, Young Master."
Lao Gao nodded.
Just as Gu Yan predicted, Xiao Lin had gone out job-hunting that morning.
And, as fate would have it, he noticed the security recruitment notice at Shen Wan'er's pharmaceutical company.
Even though the company was on the verge of collapse, the world's corrective force still shoved Xiao Lin neatly inside as a security guard.
After driving for a while—
"Young Master…"
Lao Gao lowered his voice.
"Someone is following us."
"And… they're very strong."
As one of the world's few top-tier masters, Lao Gao could sense subtle auras.
No matter how well hidden, he could feel it.
Gu Yan nodded calmly.
"I know. Ignore her."
Lao Gao froze slightly and glanced at Gu Yan through the rearview mirror.
…The Young Master noticed too?
Even I can only barely sense it—how did he know so clearly?
Young Master… isn't ordinary?
Lao Gao suddenly felt like his years as a bodyguard were a lie.
When did the Young Master gain such perception?
Gu Yan had already sensed that presence back at the Leng house.
Cold. Familiar.
Perhaps because of the Universe Pure Love Technique, his physique—and perception—had both grown stronger.
Besides, the other party wasn't an enemy.
From the original story, Gu Yan could guess her identity.
Mei Xue.
One of Leng Qingqiu's subordinates.
A member of the ancient martial organization—Night.
Ghost-pale complexion. Exceptional skills. Expert at merging into shadows.
In the original story, she was Leng Qingqiu's most capable aide.
Her ending, too, was tragic.
First, the younger brother she searched for all her life was killed.
Later, Xiao Lin found a way to restrain shadow techniques—and killed her as well.
What Gu Yan hadn't expected…
Was that she was already by Leng Qingqiu's side.
Dagger. Night. Dark circles. Mei Xue.
…Wait.
Gu Yan suddenly sucked in a sharp breath.
No way.
The original novel never explained how Leng Qingqiu cultivated.
Gu Yan had always assumed she was still weak at this stage.
But now—
So that means…
Leng Qingqiu has already inherited Night?
She's already started cultivating?
Gu Yan suddenly understood.
Thinking of her evasive behavior, he couldn't help but smile softly.
So that's it.
His eyes gentled.
Even without proof, he could guess her thoughts.
She didn't want to drag him into the Leng family's annihilation.
She planned to uncover the truth alone.
To destroy her enemies by herself.
"Idiot."
Gu Yan chuckled quietly and closed his eyes.
…Then I'll just have to speed things up.
So that both of us can live—peacefully, and happily—together.