Flashback
...
That day was clear and sunny.
Under the bright sun in a private courtyard, Yun Ling'er stood before Wang Haoran, reluctantly putting on a strange outfit he'd given her. He called it a "jk suit" and had coaxed her into wearing it, saying it would make her look as cute as a cat.
Initially shy and refusing, Yun Ling'er had eventually given in when Wang Haoran insisted it would suit her perfectly. Once she was dressed, she felt secretly pleased when she noticed his admiring gaze.
Although Wang Haoran often seemed self-centered and indifferent to her feelings, she still believed he loved her. It wasn't due to any odd syndrome, but because of her faith in the Love Gu—a powerful enchantment binding him to her. If Wang Haoran truly had no feelings for her or intended to abandon her, the Love Gu would bite his heart, causing unbearable pain until he died. Since it had shown no reaction, she assumed he genuinely loved her.
His strange behavior was easy to explain: he simply wanted to play little games between lovers.
In her village, they had phones and internet access. By chance, Yun Ling'er had stumbled onto a strange website that opened her eyes to new ideas.
So, no matter what Wang Haoran did, she was able to push down her shyness and go along with it. Just like today, when the two of them were enjoying themselves thoroughly.
Afterwards, Yun Ling'er lay in Wang Haoran's arms, looking up at his face, unable to resist giving him a gentle kiss. But, just as she was becoming lost in the moment, Wang Haoran suddenly pushed her away and sighed, as though helpless.
"Ling'er, I think this Love Gu needs a new name."
"?" Yun Ling'er looked at him, puzzled.
Wang Haoran continued, "Whoever invented this Gu should've called it the 'free-for-nothing Gu.' Whoever practices it is the real fool!"
"Haoran, what do you mean by that?" For the first time, Yun Ling'er felt her anger flare. Love Gu held a sacred place in her clan, and though she'd never been upset about him finding other "sisters," she couldn't suppress her anger now.
"You can't say things like that! Otherwise, I'll be angry!"
Seeing her about to lose her temper, Wang Haoran's eyes showed a glimmer of interest.
"I'm not joking. Just think: we practice Love Gu together, right? What would happen if you fell for someone else or even married another man?"
"My heart would be bitten by the Gu…"
"And what about me? Nothing would happen to me!"
"But you have to love me in your heart and can't let me go…"
"Exactly. You can only have me, but I can have many women. You're the one putting in all the hard work with this Gu, and yet I'm the one who benefits!"
"True…" Yun Ling'er hesitated, then said, "But, Haoran, I don't mind…"
"Hold on, I'm not finished! This Love Gu makes me stronger, right? And it helps to slow down your aging, too?"
"Um…"
Recalling their time together, Yun Ling'er's blush deepened, and she couldn't help but nod.
Wang Haoran grinned. "So you go through all the effort of practicing, but not only do I benefit, even your love rivals benefit from it too. Isn't this 'free-for-nothing Gu'? You're the best girl in your clan, enduring all these trials and hardships just to be part of someone else's harem?"
Of course, Wang Haoran knew the original author's intent was to enable the male protagonist to have a harem, but he couldn't help but complain about it.
"...No..." Yun Ling'er felt her thoughts spinning from his words.
"Love Gu is powerful! We can command hundreds of Gu with it now; no poison can harm you, and it gives you immunity."
"Times have changed! Immunity to poisons won't stop a fifty-dollar bullet, will it?"
"Love Gu lets us feel each other's presence!"
"GPS tracking can do the same thing."
"Love Gu makes you stronger—you can take on ten opponents! Even our sisters can't resist together!"
"That's only because I'm strong. And in the end, even this so-called Love Gu is like a common enhancement potion—just with no side effects!"
"You…" Yun Ling'er was furious, but then a thought crossed her mind, and she gave a proud smile.
"With the Love Gu, you can't help but like me!"
"Oh?" Wang Haoran lifted her chin, holding her gaze. "When did you get the impression that I like you?"
"But the Love Gu hasn't caused you pain…" Yun Ling'er stammered.
"Oh, let me clarify…"
"I'm only interested in your body!"
"Of course, this so-called Gu didn't react."
At these words, Yun Ling'er's resolve shattered. She began to cry.
---
Recalling this scene in the fifth cycle, Yun Ling'er was still furious.
She had been too young at the time and was... outmatched by Wang Haoran's cunning. He had asked all the questions and answered them himself—of course she couldn't outwit him!
The despicable Wang Haoran had deliberately used her own beliefs about the Love Gu to make it seem worthless. Could it really be so useless? And why couldn't she have simply brought him back to her village?
According to tradition, a saintly daughter could only take one husband and couldn't marry outside. If he wanted to start a harem, she would have broken his legs!
Since the Love Gu had been lost for so long, the rules had become less strict, and Yun Ling'er no longer cared about her past mistakes or the countless cycles before. All she wanted was for Wang Haoran to admit he was wrong.
"Hehehe… Haoran… you were right about one thing… I'm greedy for you…"
"Then if Ling'er brings you back, breaks your legs, and locks you in a room, there's no issue…"
"Because… Ling'er is also greedy for your body…"
"Hehe… hehe…"