**Screech--!**

"Niannian~ Daddy will treat you well from now on!"

Lin Ao put on an earnest act, even managing to squeeze his eyes red.

What he didn't know was what Liu Nian looked like right now.

Gu Wanqing, the eldest daughter of the Gu Family. Liu Nian knew this woman. Though she wasn't on Ye Chen's side, she'd crossed paths with her during a few operations.

She was engaged to Uncle Lin Ao. Later, Xiao Fan had made a high-profile move to steal her away, and Uncle Lin Ao had died at their hands more than once.

What shocked Liu Nian wasn't that Gu Wanqing had shown up here. It was the line of information she saw above her.

[Destiny Path: Escaped]

That was the only information displayed. Unlike Lin Ao's panel, it revealed almost everything.

So Gu Wanqing stared at me in shock—because she'd seen the same information above me.

Liu Nian had guessed right. Gu Wanqing really had seen the same information above her.

Gu Wanqing stared at the little girl in shock. Who was she?

Why was the same message from the first time the panel appeared showing up again?

Neither of them made a move. Now wasn't the right time.

They silently understood each other and continued watching Lin Ao's performance.

Lin Ao was still delivering his heartfelt lines.

The corner of Liu Nian's mouth twitched. Uncle Lin Ao, she can see your panel just like I can. Why did you go to all that trouble to get me to play along...

Liu Nian sighed.

Gu Wanqing nearly lost it when she saw Liu Nian's expression, almost bursting out laughing.

"So~ Wanqing, I hope you can understand! You can understand, right?"

Lin Ao was still acting his heart out, completely unaware that Gu Wanqing had seen through his tricks from the very beginning thanks to the panel.

Even without the panel, Gu Wanqing had other ways to expose him.

"I understand. I understand completely. I can take my time getting to know Lin Nian. I'll do my best to be a good stepmother. Feelings can grow."

Gu Wanqing decided to indulge him a little longer. This was the first time she'd seen Lin Ao like this, too.

"But there's no room in my heart for anyone else."

Lin Ao lowered his head, sneaking a glance at Gu Wanqing to see how she'd react.

Who could've guessed that Gu Wanqing would act so differently? She let go of Lin Ao's arm, her slender fingers slowly sliding down to her thigh.

Lin Ao's lowered gaze was drawn to her fingers.

Gu Wanqing lightly flicked her fingers, hiking her already short skirt up a little higher.

"Is there really~ no room even for a pair of black stockings?"

Her voice was alluring, with a hint of helpless innocence.

[Character's current state/thoughts: I get it now. You can't give in to a mere pair of black stockings, Lin Ao. You have to hold firm!]

[Character's heartbeat: 120.]

[Current objective: Break off the engagement.]

[H-Index: 85.]

Liu Nian rolled her eyes at Lin Ao and went off to watch from the sidelines. You lost fair and square, Uncle Lin Ao.

The only difference between the information Gu Wanqing and Liu Nian saw was the [Current objective] section. In Liu Nian's eyes, Lin Ao's [Current objective] for her was still to help her find her parents. Everything else was exactly the same.

"Is there really no room?"

Gu Wanqing slowly took Lin Ao's hand and placed it on her thigh.

Lin Ao felt a smooth softness beneath his palm and snatched his hand back as if electrocuted. He sat bolt upright, his posture stiff.

[Character's current state/thoughts: S-screech----!]

[Character's heartbeat: 130.]

[H-Index: 90.]

"N-no..."

Lin Ao's heart raced. What's gotten into this woman? I almost blew my cover.

"Then what about a little lace?"

Gu Wanqing leaned in again, placing a finger on her neckline and gently tugging it down.

"Pfft!!"

Lin Ao glanced sideways. The black stockings hugged her ample curves, and he couldn't take it. He covered his nose and turned away.

[Character's current state/thoughts: S-screech-screech-screech-screech-!]

[Character's heartbeat: 140.]

[H-Index: 100.]

Looking at how adorable Lin Ao was, Gu Wanqing stood up and laughed like silver bells.

Liu Nian held her forehead with one hand and shook her head with a sigh.

"All right, I'll stop teasing you. With an excuse this flimsy, who did you think you'd fool?"

"Lin Ao. Born in XXXX. Age: 24 years, 9 months, 18 days, and 8 hours!"

Gu Wanqing decided to show Lin Ao something real. She took a notebook from her bag and softly read out his information.

Lin Ao turned to look at Gu Wanqing curiously. What was this woman up to now?

"Age one... age two... first trip to the amusement park at age four, age five..."

"At age seven, you got into a fight with Liu Jialin and Aunt Li kept you home watching educational videos for a whole week. Eight... nine..."

Gu Wanqing smiled at Lin Ao's stunned expression. Liu Nian's mouth had fallen open, too.

"At eighteen, you spent seven months and twelve days recovering at home from a fracture. Do you want me to keep reading?"

Gu Wanqing regarded Lin Ao with a playful smile. She had gathered such detailed information because she was worried that the changes she'd made this time might cause problems. So she'd investigated Lin Ao's past and present to see whether it matched her memories, and whether anything had changed.

She'd also investigated Xiao Fan. She wanted to compare their information.

She was afraid that if Lin Ao's path and Xiao Fan's path had already changed, then the events to come would become even less predictable—and even more dangerous.

Lin Ao would be in even greater danger. Fortunately, up to now, everything had been just as she remembered.

Except that she'd fired Xiao Fan this time, and the panel had appeared.

Every hair on Lin Ao's body stood on end. This woman was dangerous.

[Character's current state/thoughts: Terrified. Wants to run. Danger! Danger! Danger!]

"You~ can't escape~"

Gu Wanqing narrowed her eyes and braced both hands on Lin Ao's shoulders, then leaned close to his ear and softly blew a breath.

"Ah--!"

Lin Ao let out a strange cry and collapsed against the sofa.

Gu Wanqing laughed again, her laughter like silver bells.

Liu Nian saw a scene of a monster and a little white rabbit. Lin Ao was the little white rabbit.

In the car

Gu Wanqing watched Lin Ao sulk. This little man acts so aloof most of the time. It's one thing that he can't take a joke, but how can he be so petty?

[Character's current state/thoughts: Angry! So angry!]

Liu Nian sat between them and secretly slipped Gu Wanqing a note.

Gu Wanqing knowingly took it and opened it.

"Let's find somewhere to talk in a bit."

Gu Wanqing quietly read it to herself.

Soon, they arrived at a large shopping mall. Lin Ao was dragged along, unwillingly.

"Come on~ Don't be mad anymore~"

Gu Wanqing pouted sweetly at Lin Ao, drawing strange looks from the people around them.

The alluring Gu Wanqing, the cold-faced Lin Ao, and the cute little girl holding their hands.

They all silently exclaimed, What a perfect couple, with an adorable kid, too. An unbeatable combination.

Some of the men even glared at Lin Ao with red eyes. Damn it, he has a perfect wife like that and still keeps a straight face. What a freaking man.

"Tonight, I'll show you something you'll like~"

Seeing that Lin Ao remained unmoved, Gu Wanqing leaned close to his ear and dropped a bombshell.

[Character's current state/thoughts: S-screech--!]