"Bug? You call this a bug? This is a feature. Otherwise, go fix it yourself." You really underestimate us Chinese players.
Of course, the system could not possibly patch the rules of Heaven, so it vanished again. Gu Qianran did not bother chasing after the system's mysterious comings and goings. Nor did she want to return home to clash with those monsters. Instead, she detoured, bought herself a milk tea, and went back to the dormitory.
As soon as she opened the door, the scent of instant noodles rushed at her. The familiar aroma tugged her back to the short but warm memories of her university dorm life from her previous life.
Everyone happened to be in the dorm at the moment, each busy with their own tasks, quiet and harmonious. When Bai Ziyuan saw Gu Qianran return, she rushed over immediately: "Ran Ran, welcome home! Tell us what you did today?" Ever since Gu Qianran had entered the Li family, her experiences had been more dramatic than a serialized novel.
The other two also had curiosity glittering in their eyes. Three pairs of faces looked at her with synchronized eagerness. Gu Qianran could not help but laugh. She split the milk tea among them, then deliberately kept them hanging: "No rush. Drink first, it's so hot outside."
Home. Listen to that. The little one really knew how to talk. Golden nests, silver nests, nothing beats one's own doghouse. The ancients did not deceive me!
"Ah, Ran Ran, just tell us already!" Bai Ziyuan shook Gu Qianran lightly, acting spoiled with soft, sweet persistence. Ever since she had developed this tactic, it had never failed her.
The others thought: Here she goes again, here she goes again! Only this pampered fool dared dance on the edge of receiving Gu Qianran's iron fist of discipline.
Hearing her daily dose of spoiled sweetness, Gu Qianran's mood lifted. So she began her storytelling with dramatic flair: "It really was nothing. I just went with my father to negotiate a cooperation." She would never admit she had only kept them waiting because she wanted to hear the little one act spoiled.
Some people never say it aloud, but their face alone screams the words: proud tsundere.
"Huh? That's it?" Bai Ziyuan's face fell in disappointment. She had thought it would be something fun and exciting.
"What else did you expect?" Gu Qianran could only laugh helplessly at the little one's downcast look. She lowered her voice and asked, "Little cutie, are you maybe overestimating me?"
The moment Bai Ziyuan heard that line, her heart melted. She immediately launched into over-the-top praise: "No way, no way! You really are amazing! Even if it's just negotiating a cooperation, with you it must be something extraordinary!"
Gu Qianran: That is a bit much, my dear. It works, but really not necessary.
She naturally sat down on Bai Ziyuan's bed, and Bai Ziyuan just as naturally leaned against her lap. Gu Qianran could not get enough of this little cutie's soft, warm presence. Across two lifetimes she had never grown used to anyone's closeness except Bai Ziyuan's. That alone said everything about Bai Ziyuan's charm.
Smiling, Gu Qianran added, "Honestly, there was nothing to it. Just put a gun to my own head and pulled the trigger a few dozen times. My head's still buzzing."
Ji Tang, in the middle of eating noodles: "!!! Cough!" Damn it, she nearly choked! What in the world?!
Bai Zilu: "???" She knew the Hu family was extreme, but this? Was this really the world of the strong? She silently mourned her foolish little sister's future married life. Could her silly sister possibly manage to attack and conquer someone like this?
Bai Ziyuan: "Wow! Ran Ran, you're amazing! But… did you really not cheat?" Everyone else was in shock. She alone basked in admiration.
Gu Qianran looked down at the little flatterer sprawled across her lap, helpless yet indulgent. This child was getting more and more spoiled. If she were not Gu Qianran, she suspected this child's next question would probably be, "Why didn't you die?"
Bai Zilu and Ji Tang stuffed down another bite of dog food, quickly clearing space for the two of them, retreating into quiet self-isolation.
Helpless as she was, Gu Qianran still gave a proper answer: "This is a matter of both mysticism and gambling lore. Let me tell you a gambler's legend."
"Once upon a time there was a man surnamed Lu…"
She told Bai Ziyuan the tale of Lu Muwei's legendary exploits, leaving the little one wide-eyed and completely convinced. Gu Qianran finally breathed in relief.
She could hardly tell them she had just exploited a bug in the rules.
Gu Qianran picked up her phone to begin remotely guiding Li Junze, while Bai Ziyuan, after studying all morning, also pulled out her phone to scroll through short videos. Gu Qianran casually pulled her into her arms, and Bai Ziyuan obediently settled into a comfortable position.
Gu Qianran: Hugging such a soft, cuddly little cutie who throws herself into my arms—success, flawless plan!
Gu Qianran's body carried a faint cool fragrance, and to the little one who had only recently recognized her feelings, it was intoxicating. She restrained herself from squirming in Gu Qianran's embrace, but inside her heart was surging: Ahhh, Ran Ran smells so good!!!
Blushing uncontrollably from her own shyness, Bai Ziyuan decided to watch some silly videos to calm herself. But as soon as she opened the homepage, a video expanded and began playing automatically.
"Hello, this is Xiao Zhang's Worldview. There are many kinds of sexual orientation: heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual. Today, a foreign young man bravely came out after realizing he was gay. What are your thoughts on this? Leave a comment below!"
The other three in the dorm all turned their heads toward Bai Ziyuan at once. Bai Ziyuan nearly exploded. She stared in horror at her phone. "Why did auto-play even exist? What kind of inhumane feature was this? Save me, this is mortifying!"
And why was her homepage full of this stuff?! What on earth had she been watching all this time…
She peeked nervously at Gu Qianran's face. Gu Qianran's gaze remained gentle, her eyes showing no disgust, only mild puzzlement.
Suddenly Bai Ziyuan grew bold. Blushing furiously, she asked, "Ran Ran, what do you think of homosexuality?"
Gu Qianran studied the little one's face nestled against her, seeing three parts expectation, four parts unease, and three parts… fear? Could it be…
Gu Qianran answered with full seriousness: "Whether heterosexual, homosexual, or otherwise, it is all perfectly normal. We do not need to overanalyze it. Just treat it as any other kind of love. Love has nothing to do with gender."
Perhaps her tone was too serious, or perhaps her breath brushed against the little one's sensitive earlobe as she spoke, but Bai Ziyuan's face turned even redder—clearly from excitement.
Bai Ziyuan could hardly contain her joy. Her Ran Ran did not reject homosexuality! This was a huge breakthrough! Praise auto-play! Praise happy accidents!
So she dared to push further. Avoiding Gu Qianran's eyes, she asked in a tiny voice, "Then… Ran Ran, what kind of partner would you want in the future?"
Gu Qianran immediately understood. "Someone I feel comfortable with. As long as we get along, male or female does not matter." Then she shifted the topic sharply: "Little cutie, your crush is a girl, isn't she?"
The tone was not a question but a statement. Bai Ziyuan trembled, then after a long moment, nodded shakily. "Not only a girl—but the one holding me right now!"
Gu Qianran stroked her head gently, her voice soft and warm: "Little cutie, homosexuality is not something shameful. If you like someone, pursue them. I understand why you did not tell me her name, but we will all support you, right?" These men of this world, hardly any of them were good. Little cutie had good taste.
She glanced toward Bai Zilu and Ji Tang, only to see them both nodding with complicated expressions. Gu Qianran, did you perhaps just misunderstand something rather crucial?
Bai Ziyuan's heart was bursting with joy. "Did you hear that? If you like someone, go for it! Yes! Bai Ziyuan, charge forward! You can do it!"
Gu Qianran had warm, soft jade in her arms, yet her mind drifted. For the first time, she actually pondered the matter of relationships. What kind of person did she like? Since childhood, men had been drawn to her like moths, yet she had never looked seriously at a single pursuer.
Was she gay? Women had confessed to her as well, and she had ignored them just the same. As for those she could tolerate close to her…
She glanced down at Bai Ziyuan in her arms, then quickly pulled herself away from that dangerous thought. Tch, Gu Qianran, Gu Qianran, how could you have such ideas about a pure, innocent child who only leaned on you out of trust?
Forget it. If she could not figure it out, then she would stop thinking about it. At most, Bai Ziyuan's feelings toward her were dependency. How could it possibly be love?
But why, then, when she thought of Bai Ziyuan having a crush on someone else—and that someone being a girl—did her heart ache with such sour jealousy?
No matter how much she thought about it, by bedtime she still had no answer. This time, the one tossing sleepless was not Bai Ziyuan, but Gu Qianran. For the first time since entering this world, Gu Qianran felt as though she had been struck by the most incomprehensible question of all.