Chapter 31

Qiao An was amused by Gu Ze's words, her beautiful oval face lighting up with a bright smile. But as soon as she remembered what Gu Ze had done to Gu Ting, her expression faded. She cleared her throat lightly, avoiding his comment, and continued patiently teaching Gu Ting: "Eat. Say it with me: Eat!"
Gu Ting was very obedient today. Whatever Qiao An said, he did, though speaking seemed difficult for him. He struggled for a long time with each unfamiliar word, but every time he spoke, his pronunciation was clear and precise, and his voice was pleasant.
The two of them went back and forth, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
In contrast, Gu Ze, who had eagerly approached, seemed completely out of place.
His eyes were fixed intently on the two of them, and one lemon after another seemed to burst in his heart, souring his mood until he felt utterly miserable.
Just then, Qiao An finally coughed twice from talking too much.
Gu Ting paused in his speech practice, closed his mouth, and looked at her with some concern.
As Qiao An was about to ask Gu Ting to bring her some water, a glass of water appeared in front of her, as if someone had been waiting for this moment.
She looked at the person holding the water.
The young man with phoenix eyes still carried a trace of arrogance in his brow, but more than that, there was a mix of embarrassment and a hint of defensiveness as she looked at him. He tilted his chin up slightly and deliberately used a teasing tone to say, "Sister Qiao An, what? Do you hate me that much?"
Qiao An politely curved her lips, took the glass, and noticed the water was warm, she didn't know when it had been poured. She shook her head and said, "Thank you."
Gu Ze curled the corner of his mouth into a grin and sat back down, his eyelids drooping and long lashes fluttering, hiding the disappointment in his eyes.
The way she treated him and Gu Ting was completely different.
After moistening her throat, Qiao An continued patiently teaching Gu Ting to speak. She seemed to sense something and glanced over to see Gu Ze sitting there with noticeably low spirits, playing with his fingers, lost in thought.
The young man wasn't particularly plump; in fact, he was somewhat slender. Sitting there alone, he looked rather pitiful, almost like a lonely Gu Ting.
Qiao An's eyes flickered slightly as she remembered that today was Gu Ze's birthday. Though she somewhat disliked how he treated Gu Ting, in this appearance-obsessed world, his current demeanor softened her heart just a little. She called out, "Gu Ze."
Gu Ze immediately lifted his head, his phoenix-like eyes brightening as he looked at her, the silver earring on his ear cartilage gleaming.
Qiao An smiled faintly, pressing her lips together. "Happy birthday. Sorry, I don't have a gift for you."
She spread her hands, indicating her current helplessness.
Gu Ze's lips curved into a smile, different from his usual grins, and his voice rose with excitement. "Thank you. Could, could you give me one later?" As if afraid she might misunderstand, he coughed twice, his gaze shifting nervously. "It doesn't have to be anything expensive, just a bowl of longevity noodles, okay?"
Every time he saw the snacks Qiao An specially made for Gu Ting, he felt envious. Though he could have some too, they weren't made specifically for him.
He wanted something made just for him.
It was a small request, so Qiao An nodded. "Okay."
Gu Ze's face lit up with joy, and he was about to say more when a large hand suddenly appeared, turning Qiao An's face in another direction.
Gu Ze: “...” Damn!
Qiao An: “...” She felt a bit awkward, noticing Gu Ting's hand still cupping her cheek as he stared straight at her. It was as if she had neglected him earlier, and he was silently expressing his grievance.
"Alright, I'm sorry. Shall we continue learning to talk?"
"Okay." Gu Ting nodded obediently and replied.

After completing another task to protect Gu Ting, Qiao An earned another 10,000 points.
Her total points had now reached over 110,000, unlocking many items in the system mall due to her accumulated earnings.
It was only then that Qiao An realized how much of a bargain the 200-point Muscle Regeneration Pill had been, its original price was 100,000 points.
Qiao An felt that the inflation in the system mall was too severe. She decided against purchasing it and instead turned her attention to other items.
Her height had now reached 163 cm, which wasn't particularly tall but placed her on the higher end of average for girls. With shoes on, she'd be around 165 cm, a standard figure. Qiao An had no plans to change it further.
Thus, she focused on two items in the mall: one was a 20,000-point recipe book, ranked according to her personal favorite foods. Purchasing it would embed the top 100 recipes directly into her mind.
These recipes differed from those commonly available, they were system-enhanced versions. Even something as simple as fried rice could be transformed into a unique delicacy.
The only drawback was that the knowledge wasn't directly instilled in her; she still had to practice and master the precision herself. However, the theoretical foundation was unparalleled.
Seeing her ample points, Qiao An decisively made the purchase.
The other item was the Slimming Pill.
By conventional standards, her figure was already excellent, curvaceous with a slim waist. But given her love for food, if she kept eating like this, she'd eventually become a slightly plump beauty.
She had always enjoyed delicious food. In the past, she hadn't had the means, but now, even as a second-year high school student on the brink of the daunting senior year, her circumstances allowed her to indulge without worry, especially with her culinary skills.
While occasionally feeding Gu Ting, she had also been eating continuously herself. Her weight had increased in a short period, and without exercise, aside from the occasional stroll, the extra fat had accumulated on her belly.
Though it wasn’t much, a closer look would reveal it.
However, the system’s description stated that this slimming pill, once taken, would maintain her figure at a perfect standard. It might not be as strikingly thin as some, but under ordinary circumstances, it would be just right.
Qiao An stared at the price tag below the slimming pill and swallowed hard with longing.
Luckily, it wasn’t too late yet, she could still wait a while. If she got up at midnight every day, perhaps the midnight discount might come her way!
Even though it hadn’t happened the last few times.
Of course, the reason she was being so frugal was that the intelligence pill was too expensive, one million points. She wanted to see if she could manage to get it.

In the kitchen.
Qiao An brought the freshly made double-layer milk pudding to the dining table.
Gu Ting followed closely behind her.
After being injured a few days ago, he had rested at home for a week. The leg bone that had been too painful to walk on still showed some bruising, but as long as it wasn’t touched, it no longer hurt and didn’t affect his daily life. Eager to test out the good things she had bought with her points, Qiao An had started experimenting.
Gu Ze and the Grandpa Gu were already seated at the dining table, waiting. When they saw Qiao An come out, they both gave identical faint smiles. The Grandpa Gu said gently, "Thank you, An An."
"As long as you like it," Qiao An replied cheerfully.
Double-layer milk pudding was a dessert she had practiced many times over the past couple of days. Now that she had perfected it, she wanted to make some for everyone.
It was also a way to check whether the system’s items were authentic.
She had made it herself and tasted each batch. She could indeed tell that it was getting better and better, but she didn’t have the palate of a gourmet. After eating so much and progressing gradually, she couldn’t detect much of a difference anymore.
After setting down the pudding, Qiao An turned and patted Gu Ting, who had followed her out again. "Yours is in the kitchen. Go get it yourself."
Gu Ting didn’t move until Qiao An headed back to the kitchen herself, then he followed and picked up his own portion.
Under her guidance during this time, Gu Ting no longer needed Qiao An to test his food for poison. He seemed to trust her completely, anything she gave him, he could eat directly.
Gu Ze glanced toward the kitchen with a thoughtful expression. Seeing that they hadn’t come out yet, he frowned slightly but still picked up his spoon and took a bite.
Sweet but not cloying, with a smooth and delicate texture.
Gu Ze had tasted desserts from many top-tier restaurants, but this one surprised him pleasantly.
The Grandpa Gu also nodded in approval. Being older, he couldn’t handle overly strong flavors, and his sense of taste had dulled somewhat, so the sweetness he perceived was much milder. Still, overall, it was enough to astonish him.
Qiao An pulled Gu Ting out to eat and, seeing they had all tasted it, immediately leaned in with sparkling eyes. "So? How is it? Is it worse or better than the ones sold in dessert shops outside?"
Grandpa Gu pondered for a moment, noticing Qiao An nervously biting her lip before he smiled and said, "It's delicious, the best I've ever had!"
Qiao An was overjoyed. Beside her, Gu Ting, seeing her gaze fixed on the other two, spoke slowly, word by word: "Tasty!"
Qiao An grew even happier, her eyes curving into little crescents. She then looked toward the kitchen, where Qiao Yi and Xu Hui had finished eating. The former, dressed in a sharp black suit that made him look like an elegant butler, gave Qiao An a thumbs-up. "It's really delicious, An An. You're amazing."
Xu Hui nodded in agreement. "An An's cooking skills are even better than mine!"
Qiao An said eagerly, "I think my future is set! Mom, I want to start a food blogger account!"
Xu Hui hesitated. "Won't that interfere with your studies?"
Qiao An shook her head, clearly having thought it through already, and replied with a grin, "No, no. I'll just do one episode a week, just filming a cooking video is enough."
She had wanted to do this before but lacked the energy and focus. Back then, her academic performance wasn't stable, so she didn't feel qualified to take on other activities. But now, she had everything under control, and with her past experience of having taken the college entrance exam once before, she handled her current studies with ease.
So, setting aside a little time for herself seemed like a good idea.
Xu Hui wanted to say more but was nudged by Qiao Yi beside her and closed her mouth.
Not long ago, their daughter had been in a rebellious phase, rarely communicating with them and often shutting them down with "You don't understand." Now that she was finally being cooperative, it was better not to upset her.
Qiao Yi said gently, "Alright, you can arrange it yourself."
Grandpa Gu, having finished his portion, chimed in cheerfully, "Don't hesitate to ask for any ingredients you need. After all, we'll get to enjoy the treats too."
"Okay, thank you, Grandpa." Qiao An replied brightly.
Grandpa Gu went upstairs, and Qiao Yi promptly followed.
Seeing her daughter so happy, Xu Hui smiled and said nothing more before heading into the kitchen.
Well, their daughter had her own ideas. As parents, it was best not to interfere.
Only Gu Ze, Qiao An, and Gu Ting remained in the dining room.
Qiao An asked curiously, "Why haven't you left yet?"
Gu Ze usually left after dinner every Sunday, but this time, it was already Wednesday, and he was still staying at the old house, waking up early every day to commute to school. Why put himself through that?
Gu Ze's heart skipped a beat, and he glanced at Qiao An nervously. Seeing only genuine curiosity in her expression, he relaxed, then put on a cold face and said, "I don't feel like leaving."
Qiao An shrugged and took Gu Ting out for a walk in the backyard, using the opportunity to teach him to speak.
He could already say some simple sentences, though he spoke very little, usually opting to stay silent whenever possible.
But Qiao An couldn't shake the feeling that he was different from the suddenly enlightened Gu Ting in the storyline.
Maybe it really took the female lead to flip his switch?
Still, she held onto a sliver of hope, perhaps with gradual teaching, Gu Ting could awaken on his own?
As the two stepped outside, they turned to see Gu Ze following them at a distance.
Noticing Qiao An's gaze, Gu Ze smirked, brushed back his hair to reveal his handsome face, raised an eyebrow, and his roguish charm resurfaced. "What? Are you the only ones allowed to walk here?"
"No." Qiao An shook her head, turned to look at Gu Ting, and pointed at the trees by the roadside, speaking gently, "I asked you to memorize it yesterday. Could you now help me explain it, Gu Ting?"
Gu Ting pursed his lips, his brow slightly furrowed as if somewhat troubled.
His expressions had become much more varied than before, but even though he seemed a bit hesitant, he still took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking unhurriedly, "This is…"
Gu Ting’s tone was calm and devoid of much emotion, his words deliberate and measured, somewhat resembling an AI, though with a slightly more polished delivery.
Qiao An listened patiently and realized that his explanation was exactly the same as what she had said the day before, even the awkward pauses and filler words she had used were included.
For example: "Um, wait, let me see Oh, the leaves here"
Qiao An: “...”
It was just plain awkward.
She had been reading from an online search about the landscaping trees.
"Pfft!" A soft chuckle escaped, making Qiao An glance over in embarrassment.
Gu Ze, whose handsome face held a slightly more delicate charm than Gu Ting’s, couldn’t hold back his laughter. Noticing Qiao An’s glare, he nudged a small stone on the roadside with his foot and turned away nonchalantly.
Gu Ting blinked in confusion, looking from Qiao An to Gu Ze, thinking he had made a mistake. He shrank back nervously, tugged at the hem of her clothes, and silently pleaded for forgiveness.
As he tugged, he suddenly noticed a flash of red at the edge of his vision.
His eyes widened instantly. He pulled at her clothes, and his face immediately turned pale, his voice trembling, "You’re bleeding! An An, you’re bleeding!!!"
Gu Ze was startled and quickly looked over, only for his face to flush bright red the next second as he hurriedly turned away.
Qiao An also glanced down and realized what Gu Ting was staring at. She quickly moved away, but he anxiously followed her, still exclaiming, "An An, you’re ble, Mph, "
Qiao An covered his mouth and snapped fiercely, "Shut up!"
Gu Ting flinched in fear, giving her a pitiful and frightened look before obediently falling silent.
 
Chapter 32

When did her period start?
Qiao An hadn’t noticed at all. Gu Ting had insisted she lie down in bed, handed her a cup of warm water, and was watching her nervously. Suddenly, a wave of warmth washed over her heart.
It felt like watching a child she had raised finally understanding the hardships of a mother and beginning to repay her.
Gu Ze watched sourly as Qiao An drank plain water while gazing tenderly at Gu Ting. He pursed his lips and handed over the brown sugar water he had asked Xu Hui for, "Drink this instead."
Qiao An took it, thanked him, and took a sip. The sweet, warm brown sugar water flowed down her throat, warming her stomach, though she didn’t feel particularly affected by it.
She had already asked the system, it was because of the Muscle Regeneration Pill she bought with the previous 200 points that she truly felt no discomfort at all.
Moreover, the original owner’s body was quite healthy to begin with. Though she was a bit thin, she hadn’t starved to the point of health issues. Even during her period, the pain wasn’t particularly severe, much better than the female protagonist in novels who would turn pale as soon as her period arrived.
Perhaps that was also why Qiao An wasn’t the female protagonist.
Out of ten female protagonists, nine suffered from dysmenorrhea, and the tenth was a cultivator who had severed her menstrual cycle.
Since she wasn’t in pain, Xu Hui didn’t worry after asking about it and called them down for dinner when it was time.
Just as Qiao An was about to throw off the covers and get up, a pair of large hands firmly pressed her back down. She looked at Gu Ting in confusion. “It’s fine, I’m really not in pain.”
Gu Ting shook his head decisively. “Rest!”
Qiao An’s lips twitched. Was he not even going to let her eat?
And he wasn’t going either?
Watching Gu Ting as if he intended to take root by her bedside, Qiao An rolled her eyes inwardly.
The only sensible person, Gu Ze, had to step up. “I’ll bring the food up.”
Qiao An wanted to go down and eat herself. After all, her mom and the other chef in the kitchen were quite skilled, and she could also keep Grandpa Gu company. But the moment she moved, Gu Ting pressed her back down.
Looking at his sharp little chin and his stubbornly pursed lips, Qiao An helplessly reached out and ruffled his freshly trimmed, slightly prickly short hair. She said to Gu Ze, “Sorry for the trouble. If there are any small dried fish, bring some up.”
To coax this kid.
Her motherly heart was melting because of him. After all, he was the child she had painstakingly raised over these past days.
Gu Ting’s lips moved slightly, his eyes narrowing as he rubbed his head against her hand.
For a moment, Qiao An had the illusion that he was a cat.
But she quickly dismissed the thought. Qiao An had never kept a cat and had only heard about them online, so she wasn’t particularly sensitive to such behaviors.
Gu Ze paused as he stood up, glanced at the two who seemed to only have eyes for each other, and pressed his lips together.
She didn’t need to be so polite.

The next day, Qiao An had to go to school.
As soon as she opened the door, she found Gu Ting sitting by her doorway, as if he had spent the entire night there. Her movement startled him awake, and he nearly toppled onto her feet before quickly regaining his balance. Rubbing his eyes, he looked behind her.
Qiao An’s face flushed, and she quickly stepped aside, pressing a hand to her forehead. “You didn’t stay here all night, did you?”
Gu Ting blinked and nodded. “Mm.”
He wanted to guard her, she was bleeding.
Qiao An helped him up, somewhat relieved that he had at least brought his own blanket and sat on the rug in front of her door. One night probably wouldn’t cause any harm.
Gu Ting scrambled to his feet, rubbing his lower back. His clear eyes showed a hint of discomfort, and his pale lips puckered slightly.
But after rubbing his back a couple of times, he tugged at Qiao An, wanting to check behind her.
Qiao An had no choice but to endure the awkwardness and let him look.
It was clean, no trace of the bloodstains that had frightened him so much the day before. The tension in the young man’s expression eased, and he released her, gazing at her.
Qiao An smiled. “I’m fine now, not uncomfortable. I’m going to school later. Shall we go eat now?”
“Mm! Eat.” Gu Ting nodded, mimicking her last two words, and started heading toward the dining room.
Qiao An quickly pulled him back. “Go back to your room and wash up first.”
"Oh." Gu Ting obediently nodded, his little nose wrinkling secretly as he stole another glance at her. Seeing that she wasn't following, his brows furrowed, and he headed back to his room with three backward glances for every step.
Qiao An covered her mouth, quietly giggling behind him.
When she arrived at school, Lei Xiao noticed the natural smile on her face and asked in surprise, "An An, you seem really happy today?"
Qiao An's eyes curved into crescents. "Yes, I'm very happy."
"Why?" Lei Xiao asked curiously. "Did something good happen?"
Qiao An thought for a moment and said, "The little one I've been raising for so long has finally learned to care for his old mother. I finally understand why adults pour their hearts into raising children."
The moment she saw the child reciprocate her care, even if it was just a small gesture, she felt incredibly happy and satisfied, thinking all the previous efforts were truly worth it.
Of course, she hadn't invested that much in Gu Ting's growth journey.
She hadn't expected to receive a little payback so quickly.
Lei Xiao said enviously, "So you've been keeping a pet? Is it a cat or a dog? My mom won't let me have one, worried it'll distract me. Plus, they're both too busy to take care of it, saying that looking after me alone is already tough enough."
"Uh" Qiao An hesitated for a moment, instinctively following Lei Xiao's line of thought as she searched her memory, then said firmly, "It's a cat."
[Task 19: Help the antagonist Gu Ting resolve his issues with his grandfather, gain Gu Ting's favorability points, and obtain clues. Task reward: 500,000 points.]
Qiao An: “!!!”
So many points!
It seems this is a major task!
Qiao An had completed several small tasks worth two or three thousand points over these days, but since the rewards were so meager, she had been frugal each time. To this day, she hadn't bought anything from the system mall, nor had she encountered any appealing midnight discounts. She had been saving up all her points and now had over two hundred thousand.
Then this task came along.
Qiao An even felt that the Intelligence Pill wasn't so hard to obtain anymore.
After all, it only cost a million points. Completing Task 12 would give her over seven hundred thousand, and with a little more waiting, she could probably get it.
What surprised Qiao An even more was,
The task wasn't finished yet.
System: [Task 20: Long-term task. Gain favorability points from the antagonist Gu Ting. Reward for each point increase: 1,000 points (Task duration: indefinite).]
Qiao An gasped, feeling a bit dizzy. Was she hallucinating from drinking too much?
But she wasn't even of legal age to drink!
Could it be a side effect of the fermented rice dumplings she made yesterday?
Qiao An thought with a mix of amusement and bewilderment.
The system comforted her: [Host, this is not a dream. Please work hard to complete tasks and earn points. The Intelligence Pill you want will be yours.]
Qiao An asked doubtfully: [How much intelligence can the Intelligence Pill increase?]
After so many tasks with high point rewards, the Intelligence Pill wasn’t hard to obtain anymore. Once something became cheap, Qiao An couldn’t help but suspect it might be counterfeit or of poor quality.
The system choked on her sincere doubt, its voice tinged with helplessness: [System products are guaranteed to be worthwhile. Currently, the host’s intelligence is at a normal level. The Intelligence Pill can raise it to a good level, two pills to excellent, and three pills to genius. Beyond that, there’s no further effect.]
Qiao An’s small mouth opened slightly, suddenly feeling it was still a loss.
Just a little better than normal?
The system detected her thoughts and said seriously: [Host, rest assured. Even a slight increase in intelligence will have a very noticeable effect.]
Qiao An sheepishly stuck out her tongue and took another look at the two tasks.
Increasing favorability could unlock clues to resolving the emotional knots between Gu Ting and Grandpa Gu.
[So how much favorability do I need to increase?]
The system replied: [The host will need to figure that out on her own.]
Qiao An: “...”
She forced a helpless smile. Just then, as the car passed the school’s turning point, the area with the most students after school in the afternoon, where stalls weren’t allowed near the school, many small vendors had already set up shop at the bend.
Lots of students were gathered there, eating snacks.
Food stalls!
Qiao An swallowed hard. It had been quite some time since she arrived here, and she hadn’t visited a night market in ages. There were so many delicious foods at the night market. When she didn’t think about it, she felt nothing, but now that she remembered, she couldn’t wait to go.
Lately, Qiao An had noticed that Gu Ting’s tastes were similar to hers, he liked spicy food and sweets alike.
As long as she ate it, he could eat it too.
He’d probably enjoy the food stalls, right?
Qiao An’s eyes lit up. She took out her phone and asked Lei Xiao: [Where are the best snacks?]
Lei Xiao replied instantly: [I know! I’ll take you!!!]
Holding her phone, Lei Xiao smiled happily, Qiao An was going on a date with her!

Back home, Qiao An noticed that Gu Ze, who had been staying at the old residence these past few days, had left.
She couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Although Gu Ze had never harmed her, he had hurt Gu Ting. So, as long as he was home, no matter how well-behaved he seemed, Qiao An’s heart remained on edge, afraid he might suddenly have a psychotic episode, pushing someone down the stairs or deliberately pulling away a chair, and so on.
Now that Gu Ze was gone, she no longer had to be on tenterhooks.
Hearing the car, Gu Ting hurried downstairs to greet her, naturally taking the heavy backpack from her shoulders and using the language Qiao An had taught him to welcome her: “You’re back.”
The young man’s voice was gentle, the corners of his eyes slightly upturned, carrying a hint of coquettishness.
Qiao An returned a smile and asked as usual: “Mm, I’m back. Did you eat enough at noon?”
Qiao An didn’t want others to know that Gu Ting needed someone to test his food for poison, so she had told Xu Hui that Gu Ting had to watch her cook, only under such circumstances would he be willing to eat. With Qiao An feeding him a couple of times, he no longer resisted eating food prepared by others.
Gu Ting nodded: “I ate enough at noon. Now I’m hungry.”
Qiao An chuckled and led him upstairs, saying, "Tomorrow is Friday. In the evening, come with Uncle Zhang to pick me up, and we'll go to the food stalls to eat some delicious snacks!"
At the mention of delicious food, Gu Ting's eyes lit up.
Since she had informed them in advance, after school on Friday afternoon, Qiao An spotted Gu Ting in the car. The young man was beaming with excitement and anticipation, his eyes sparkling brightly.
Even before school ended, she had heard the system's notification: Gu Ting's favorability had increased by 2 points, clearly showing how thrilled he was to have this chance to go out.
As soon as she got into the car, the young man, who had been leaning against the door, immediately relaxed, shifted his position, and moved closer to Qiao An, about to say something.
Suddenly, his smile froze, his expression turned serious, and he warily eyed the girl who had just entered the car behind them. His brows furrowed, and an aura of irritation radiated from him.
Qiao An quickly patted his head, soothing him, "This is my classmate, not a bad person!"
She turned to Lei Xiao, pulling her to sit beside her, and said softly, "This is Gu Ting."
Lei Xiao leaned over Qiao An's shoulder, curiously looking at the young man on the other side. Her eyes then lit up, and she nearly screamed but held back, quickly covering her mouth, her cheeks flushing pink.
Sure enough, those who hang out with beautiful people are also beautiful!
By extension, did that mean she was pretty too?!
Qiao An didn't understand why Lei Xiao was suddenly so excited and was about to ask when she heard the system's voice in her mind: [Mission 21: Due to encountering a stranger, antagonist Gu Ting's favorability has decreased by 2 points. Double points deducted. Current Gu Ting's emotion, disappointment. Please comfort the host as soon as possible. Reward: 1,500 points.]
Qiao An stared blankly at the young man who had retreated: ???
What was the big deal? Did his favorability really just drop?
 
Chapter 33

A man's heart is as deep as the ocean.
Qiao An looked at Gu Ting, who now seemed slightly resentful, with downcast eyes, the faint joy and excitement from earlier completely gone. She scratched her head in confusion.
Lei Xiao also felt a bit awkward, after all, she was a stranger.
But since Qiao An had already explained Gu Ting's situation to her, she didn't try to greet him and focused on leading the way.
They encountered some traffic on the road, and by the time they reached their destination, the sky had darkened slightly, looking as if it might rain. The lights had already been turned on early.
Lei Xiao pointed to the area around a fountain square behind a shopping mall, where stalls were being set up, and said proudly, "This is a food square. I used to come here often, but I've been so busy with studying lately that I haven't been here in a while. Just thinking about it makes me crave it!"
The original host had come from a small town and, dazzled by the Gu family's status, had truly believed she was a young lady from a wealthy family, so she never went to such places.
This was also the reason why it had never been exposed all these years.
Qiao An had just arrived not long ago and had never been to this place before. Seeing such a large square, she was utterly amazed. There were still some subtle differences between the two worlds. In her original world, street vendors didn’t have such a good place to set up their stalls.
Often, small vendors would push their carts and stealthily operate at intersections or street corners, having to hide when city inspectors showed up. If they couldn’t avoid them, they might face punishments, big or small.
But here, around the fountain, there was a nearly 200-meter circle with two rows of vendors facing each other. They sold all kinds of food, as well as small accessories.
Each spot was marked with a designated space, much like a parking lot. Streetlights were placed every three meters, perfectly illuminating the entire area.
"So many!" Qiao An exclaimed as she held Gu Ting’s hand and walked over, astonished by the steadily filling circle of vendors.
Lei Xiao knew that Qiao An had genuinely never been to such places before and said proudly, "Outsiders don’t know about this, but this is the largest and most delicious food square in our city. I’ve heard that these stalls aren’t assigned to fixed people, whoever arrives early gets the spot. When they leave, they’re responsible for cleaning up their area, or they’ll be blacklisted."
Qiao An nodded repeatedly. Even though it wasn’t yet the peak time for the stalls, there were already many people around. Besides the vendors, the square was surrounded by shops, two stories high, neatly enclosing the area.
Behind it stood a commercial building, where people shopped for clothes.
Seeing that there was still time, Qiao An suggested, "Let’s go buy some things and do some shopping first. We can come back in an hour to get food!"
"Sure, sure!" Lei Xiao nodded eagerly.
Qiao An was overjoyed and had another idea in mind: to win Gu Ting’s favor, she would combine delicious food, clothes, and toys.
She had already taken out the original host’s savings.
There was actually quite a bit of money in there, enough to buy a bathroom in the city center. Most of it was New Year’s money given by Grandma Gu and Grandpa Gu.
The money from her parents wasn’t as much, so it was used as her usual pocket money.
Gu Ting usually wore casual clothes, mostly in white.
If you didn’t pay close attention, it was hard to tell that these weren’t the same outfit.
So, Qiao An took him to a men’s clothing store.
Unfortunately, he shook his head at everything, not liking any of them. As he shook his head, his eyes dimmed, as if he had lost all enthusiasm.
Qiao An had no choice but to give up and move on to the next store. She pointed at a pile of children’s toys, Transformers, and asked expectantly, "How about this?"
If he wasn’t interested in clothes, surely toys would work, right?
Sure enough, Gu Ting’s eyes brightened slightly. He pursed his lips shyly, glanced at Qiao An, and then looked back at the toy.
Qiao An smiled knowingly, picked up the toy, and grabbed a few others. "Do you want this one?"
Gu Ting’s eyes grew even brighter.
Qiao An understood and picked up each one, letting Gu Ting hold them himself. She teased, "I’m buying all of these for you. You must be happy now, right?"
Gu Ting nodded, the corners of his beautiful peach-blossom eyes lifting with excitement. "Mm."
The system promptly announced: [Gu Ting’s favorability increased by 2 points. Points increased by 2000.]
Qiao An felt a pang of distress. Earlier, when his favorability dropped by 2 points, she had lost 4,000 points. Now, she had only recovered half. Just as she was about to go pay, she noticed Gu Ting’s eyes fixed on a pure white kitten plush toy.
Lei Xiao wasn't interested in the toys boys usually liked, instead staring longingly at the Barbie doll.
Qiao An tentatively asked, "Do you want this?"
"I want it," Gu Ting's lips moved, his tone resolute, eyes filled with desire.
This was the first time she had heard Gu Ting speak like this.
The sales assistant approached with a smile, "This plush cat is made to a 1:1 scale of a real cat, using the finest materials"
Qiao An waved her hand, "We'll take it!"
Gu Ting, with his long legs, strode over in a few steps and picked up the cat, skillfully cradling the plush toy in a way one would hold a real cat, his slender fingers gently stroking its back.
Qiao An was momentarily stunned. Turning around, she saw Lei Xiao, having noticed they were done, reluctantly leaving the Barbie doll behind.
Although high school students had pocket money, they still couldn't afford to buy it, otherwise, they wouldn't have money for snacks.
Qiao An smiled, walked over, picked up the Barbie doll as well, and headed to the checkout counter together.
Just as she was about to pull out her own card, a pale hand holding a black card reached over.
"Wow!" Lei Xiao gasped softly at the unexpected turn of events.
Qiao An followed the hand and slowly looked up to see its owner smiling at her, clearly in high spirits, his eyes brimming with joy.
Wearing shoes with a bit of a heel, Qiao An barely reached Gu Ting's shoulder. Her gaze lingered on his fair, striking Adam's apple, and as it bobbed, the young man's voice remained as steady as ever: "I'll buy it for An An!"
Qiao An's heart instantly warmed, and she smiled with a touch of maternal affection, "Alright, you pay!"
It was a black card, money was no issue at all!
Qiao An didn't hesitate.
The moment the payment went through, all the toys were handed to Gu Ting. The rest were packed in bags, but the white cat plush remained in his arms, as if he were holding a real cat.
Qiao An heard the system's crisp voice: [Villain Gu Ting's favorability increased by 10, 10,000 points added, and the first clue unlocked.]
Already unlocked?
Her eyes scanned the surroundings and settled on the plush toy: A cat?
And the first clue?
That meant there was more than one clue.
It seemed this outing was the right move.
Qiao An watched the tall, slender young man, his arms laden with a large bag, his eyes practically glued to the plush cat, and felt a wave of confusion.
What exactly was the source of his inner turmoil?
Was there more to the story of how his insistence on going to the amusement park led to his parents' deaths?
Sensing her gaze, Gu Ting suddenly turned his head, in high spirits, and unexpectedly broke into a radiant smile, his peach-blossom eyes crinkling, his brows soft and gentle.
Qiao An's breath hitched, her ears growing warm.
An eleven- or twelve-year-old girl passed by them, her little face flushed with awe at that smile. She tugged excitedly at her mother's sleeve, pointing and saying, "Mom, look at that boy! He's so handsome!"
"Even better-looking than a celebrity!"
The girl's mother glanced over curiously and froze for a moment. His aura was clean and fresh, completely overshadowing most male celebrities. If this young man were placed among stars, even the most handsome would appear greasy in comparison.
But then she noticed the boy gazing intently at a pretty girl beside him, the tenderness in his eyes directed solely at her. The mother couldn't help but smile and shake her head.

Aside from toys, Qiao An bought a few things for herself.
After half an hour of shopping, they found the restroom in the mall. She asked Gu Ting to wait outside, keeping an eye on their purchases while she used the toilet.
Before leaving, Qiao An repeatedly reminded him, "Don't go anywhere with anyone else. Wait right here for me. Don't leave until I come out, understand?"
She repeated it several times, and each time Gu Ting nodded earnestly, his thin lips pressed together as he looked at her seriously to show he understood.
Only then did Qiao An head into the restroom, glancing back every few steps.
Unfortunately, the mall was crowded at this hour, and there was a line for the restroom. She could only wait anxiously.
Although the mall's central air conditioning was on, Qiao An was so anxious she broke into a sweat.
Sadly, the women's restroom never seemed to move quickly.
A girl in a floral-print dress emerged from the restroom, drying her damp hands, when she caught a glimpse of a tall figure out of the corner of her eye. She immediately turned to look.
Leaning against the wall to the right of the women's restroom entrance, with his back to the door, stood a slender, tall young man.
Dressed in a white shirt, gray pants, and white shoes, his exposed skin was fair, his hair short, and he wore no accessories. His clean, fresh aura was evident even from behind.
The girl's eyes lit up instantly, but the next moment, noticing the shopping bags at his feet, her excitement faded.
A short-haired girl who came out after the floral-dress girl hurried over, tapped her shoulder, and asked curiously, "What are you looking at?"
The floral-dress girl winked and gestured, afraid that speaking too loudly would draw his attention.
The short-haired girl followed her gaze and immediately lit up with the same expression, as if she'd stumbled upon a rare gem. She whispered, "Damn, that waist, those hands, that skin, those legs incredible!"
But then she too noticed the shopping bags at his feet, and her eyes dimmed.
The two girls exchanged a look and said in unison, "Sigh, handsome guys always belong to someone else."
Even so, neither could bring themselves to leave. They tried to act natural as they walked past to get a better look at his face, something they'd done many times before. True appearance enthusiasts were just like that.
The floral-dress girl quickened her pace. After passing the boy by a few meters, she heard a loud call from behind: "Zhang Tiantian!"
The girl stopped and turned, complaining, "What took you so long?"
Then the short-haired girl caught up, and the two openly stole glances while pretending to chat quietly, secretly expressing their excitement to each other.
"This guy is so aloof! He doesn't show any expression at all!"
"That face is absolutely perfect! No disappointment here, I'm thrilled! It's such a waste he's not acting. My novel's male lead finally has a face!"
Gu Ting sensed he was being watched and sharply lifted his gaze to scan the surroundings. After confirming there was no ill intent, he lowered his eyes again. Yet, that brief glance alone sent two young girls into a hushed frenzy: "So handsome, wuwu"
While the two were lost in their excitement, the short-haired girl suddenly froze and murmured, "Another top-tier guy is coming over."
They both looked and saw a striking young man with a studded neck accessory and slightly roguish phoenix eyes. Even without smoky makeup, he exuded the edgy vibe of someone who frequented clubs and dance floors. Standing next to the aloof youth, the contrast between them was stark, one dark, one light.
"Handsome guys really do have handsome friends!" the two silently concluded.
Unnoticed by them, Gu Ting’s clean, handsome face was slightly furrowed, and he took a subtle step back, a full centimeter, making his clear rejection obvious.
The boy in the black short sleeves didn’t seem to mind at all. Still smiling, he suddenly reached out and grabbed Gu Ting’s wrist, raising an eyebrow as he said, "What’s the point of staying here? How about I take you out for some fun?"
As he spoke, he tightened his grip, attempting to pull Gu Ting away.
A clear malice flickered in his eyes, one that had only surfaced as he approached Gu Ting.
Gu Ze couldn’t help but want to shove him into the bustling crowd and make him disappear.
Just as Gu Ze made a move, the faint resistance in Gu Ting’s eyes wavered, as if he remembered something. Slowly, it transformed into fear and helplessness. He shook his head slightly, resisting the force pulling him.
He didn’t want to leave, and he couldn’t leave.
An An had told him to wait right here!
Gu Ting’s face tightened, a mix of youthful stubbornness and determination in his voice as he insisted, "I’m not going!"
Qiao An rushed over as fast as she could and was horrified by the scene. She hurried forward, slapped away the hand holding Gu Ting, and said coldly, "What are you doing?"
[Ding! Antagonist Gu Ting’s favorability has increased by 10! 10,000 points have been added! The second clue has been unlocked. Host, keep up the good work!]