I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

"It's supposed to hurt."

Gu Yan looked at her and said, "If you ever have this thought again that it's all my fault, I'll flick you, and it will hurt even more than this."

"Shen Youyao, listen carefully."

"Don't always look for the reasons within yourself."

"You did nothing wrong with all the mess you encountered today."

"The ones who are wrong are those who bullied you, those scumbags, understand?"

Shen Youyao opened her mouth: "But...Brother Huaheng said..."

"That's enough!"

"All you do is call him Huaheng-ge, Huaheng-ge!"

"Is what he said correct?"

"He told you to jump into the river, and you jumped?"

"If he asks you to warm my bed, will you come too?!"

Gu Yan interrupted her, her brows furrowed; she was genuinely getting annoyed.

The moment the words "warm bed" were uttered, Shen Youyao froze, forgetting even to cry.

Behind the black-rimmed glasses, a pair of large eyes, still brimming with tears, stared blankly at Gu Yan.

Is Gu Yan jealous?

Want her to help warm the bed?

Isn't this something that only boyfriends/girlfriends or married couples can do?

Shen Youyao herself was well aware of the overwhelming allure of her body to men; she had endured countless teasings and stares since childhood.

So, does Gu Yan also like his own body?

Gu Yan really gripped me really hard just now; my panda is still a little numb.

If it's Gu Yan...

A thought, which she herself was unaware of, quietly crept out from the depths of her heart, carrying a hint of inexplicable obsession.

Seeing that she was keeping her head down and not saying anything, Gu Yan thought that she had said something too harsh and scared her.

"Youyao".

"You are first and foremost yourself."

"Secondly is secondary."

"Do you understand?"

He softened his tone, placed his hands on her shoulders, looked into her eyes, and spoke each word carefully.

Hearing Gu Yan's words, Shen Youyao felt as if something had gently poked her heart.

No one had ever... ever said that to her before.

Everyone told her to endure, to accept, and to obey.

"Is oneself the most important thing, and only secondarily the other?"

The girl silently repeated the sentence in her heart.

Her little head unconsciously leaned closer to Gu Yan's chest again.

It was warm and reassuring there, a feeling she had never experienced before.

Gu Yan felt the girl in his arms getting closer and smiled helplessly.

In fact, when he was in a wheelchair in his past life, he especially hoped to have a soft and sweet little sister who he could protect and pamper.

It's a pity that Shen Youyao is the female lead.

According to the book, her redemption and ending are destined not to be her own.

Gu Yan felt a headache coming on just thinking about Hua Heng.

Judging from the way he looked away when I said something to that kid downstairs, he completely ignored me.

Feeling that Shen Youyao's body was still trembling slightly, Gu Yan raised her hand again and gently rubbed her hair.

Let's just say it's...

Let me make up for the regret of not having a younger sister in my past life.

Just then, footsteps came from the stairwell.

Hua Heng came up.

He spotted his childhood sweetheart immediately – the one who always kept her head down and was timid.

At this moment, it was nestled in Master Gu Yan's arms, like a kitten that had found a place to stay, and it gently rubbed its head against Gu Yan's chest.

Hua Heng clenched his fists instinctively.

But soon, he relaxed again.

Does he like Shen Youyao?

The answer is yes.

For so many years, they had been neighbors, and he had always regarded her as a younger sister who needed protection, and he had long harbored a vague affection for her.

but……

Just now downstairs, when facing Wang Hu and his group, Master Gu Yan stood in front of You Yao, but what about me?

He saw the cold, disappointed look in Master Gu Yan's eyes.

At that moment, he felt extremely ashamed and hated himself for being afraid.

But he didn't know why, as soon as he saw Wang Hu's fierce face...

Hearing those foul words, his legs went weak and he wanted to run away.

Perhaps... Master Gu Yan and You Yao really do look like a perfect match standing together.

With Master Gu Yan's abilities and status, he can definitely take good care of You Yao and protect her well, giving her a sense of security that he himself cannot provide.

The moment Hua Heng saw Gu Yan, he felt utterly defeated.

He neither had the courage nor the qualifications to compete with Master Gu Yan.

Even though she was the girl he had wanted to protect since he was a child.

Gu Yan caught a glimpse of a figure at the corner of the stairs.

He looked up and saw Hua Heng standing there, his face pale.

Hua Heng had actually arrived long ago. He heard Wang Hu's voice downstairs, as well as his adoptive mother's grating laughter.

He clenched and unclenched his fists, his feet seemingly nailed to the ground.

He didn't dare to come up until it was completely quiet upstairs.

Gu Yan gently patted Shen Youyao's back.

"Okay, it's alright now."

His voice was gentle. "Relax first."

Shen Youyao then realized that she was still tightly hugging Gu Yan's waist.

Her face flushed, and she quickly let go, taking a small step back.

As soon as she turned around, she saw Hua Heng standing not far away.

Shen Youyao's heart skipped a beat.

For some reason, she suddenly felt a little flustered, as if she had done something she shouldn't have and been seen.

But then, another emotion welled up inside.

Brother Huaheng... was just downstairs.

He heard it, and he knew there was trouble above.

But he didn't come up.

This thought transformed the slight panic in Shen Youyao's heart into something else entirely.

She lowered her head, her fingers clutching the hem of her clothes.

Hua Heng opened his mouth, his face burning. He didn't dare look at Shen Youyao, turning his gaze to Gu Yan, his voice dry and hoarse.

"Master Gu... Master Gu."

After shouting that, he didn't know what to say next, so he could only bury his head even lower.

Gu Yan looked at Hua Heng.

The boy was full of energy when he was practicing his knife skills downstairs, but now he looks like a wilted blade of grass.

Putting everything else aside, Hua Heng is actually a very gentle person.

A typical yass male protagonist.

Gu Yan knew that in the original story, he was the medicine that could help Shen Youyao regain her spirits.

But the prerequisite is that he must first have the courage to hand over the medicine.

"Huaheng".

"Did you not hear a thing I said to you downstairs?"

Gu Yan spoke, her voice calm, but her words were very direct.

Hua Heng's body stiffened.

"Youyao is doing well."

"She's like the little sister I should have."

Gu Yan continued, glancing sideways at the girl beside him who was keeping her head down and silent.

"I hope that where I can't see her, at least here with you, she won't suffer any injustice."

"Can you tell me what you're afraid of?"

Gu Yan paused for a moment, then asked the question she most wanted to ask.

His tone wasn't harsh, but the meaning behind his words was clear.

An ancient martial artist at the early stage of the Innate Realm was so frightened by Wang Hu, who was at the Acquired Realm, that he dared not go upstairs.

This sounds absolutely absurd.

Hua Heng's mind went completely blank.

Gu Yan's every word was like a small hammer, striking his heart.

His ears were ringing, but the word "sister" was exceptionally clear.

younger sister……

A thought suddenly popped into Hua Heng's mind.

My sister is still a sister, right?

Master Gu Yan's words are quite... romantic.