Watching Yun Ling'er run back to her home and close the door, Wang Haoran shook his head helplessly, turned around, and walked back into the house.
Inside, the girls were clearing the dining table, but when they saw Wang Haoran coming back, they stopped what they were doing and looked at him eagerly, wanting to know how Yun Ling'er was doing.
Wang Haoran simply said, "I won't be back tonight, so you don't have to wait for me."
After a brief silence, Luoluo spoke up, raising her hand, "Go on, go!"
"Alright, goodnight everyone!" Wang Haoran said, then headed to Yun Ling'er's home, opened the door, and went to her bedroom.
When he turned on the light, he saw Yun Ling'er lying on the table, sobbing. Wang Haoran walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Okay, don't cry anymore."
"Wuwu…why…did you…come…" Yun Ling'er cried, burying her face down, even sniffing.
"When you left just now, you'd cried so much that your face was a mess. Could I not come over?"
Seeing Yun Ling'er continue lying down, Wang Haoran gently lifted her by the arms and placed her on his lap, then turned her slightly.
"Stop crying. I know I made you angry. Can't you be generous and forgive me?"
"Why should I…why should I…forgive you?" Yun Ling'er muttered, wiping away her tears.
"Because…you like me, you love me, right? Then forgive me, please?" Wang Haoran said softly.
Yun Ling'er looked up. "What…are you talking about?"
"I'm saying I know you love me," he replied, gently wiping her tears.
"No! You don't know me. What do you know?" she argued.
"I don't know you?" Wang Haoran countered. "But your grandma knows you, right? She came to see me two days ago and said that you didn't think about food or tea, that you were thinking of me all along without saying anything. Your grandma sees it, I see it—are you still saying you don't like me?"
Yun Ling'er hesitated, finally looking up. "I missed you because of the Love Gu in my body! Those aren't my real feelings, and you know that!"
Wang Haoran immediately replied, "I have the Love Gu in my body too. Why don't I feel this way? And even before the Love Gu was complete, didn't you come to me first? Yun Ling'er, you love me."
Seeing his unwavering expression, Yun Ling'er's tears flowed more, turning her quiet sobs into a loud cry. She hit his chest lightly with her pink fist.
"Wooo... You know! You just know! You finally know!"
"It's all your fault! They said I was with you only because of the Love Gu. They said my love isn't real, that it's just part of the Gu!"
"They can all say they love you boldly, but I don't dare! I'm afraid you'd think it's only because of the Love Gu!"
"I kept acting like I hated you, hoping you'd figure it out yourself!"
"I was scared! What if you, this big jerk, never realized and actually left?"
"It's all your fault I'm so tired all the time! It's all your fault, wuwu…"
Seeing Yun Ling'er like this, Wang Haoran could only agree with her.
"Okay, okay, it's all my fault!"
"Now that Lin Ming is out of the picture, we can be together forever. You'll always stay by my side to punish me, okay? Good Ling'er, forgive me?"
"Hmph! I'm not that easy!" Yun Ling'er huffed, her voice muffled as she leaned into his chest.
"Haoran…I wasn't mad at you. I was mad at myself…"
"If I completely left, I wouldn't have been this exhausted…but I never thought about getting rid of the Love Gu…"
"As soon as I remembered everything, I ran to see you right away…making excuses just to be around you…"
"Am I…too cheap…even worse than an old woman…"
Wang Haoran was taken aback. If she wants to scold herself, fine, but why bring Luoluo into it? And even if she's a bit older than you, she's still as youthful as any eighteen-year-old! Still, he comforted her softly.
"No, no, Ling'er, that's the cutest part about you. I like it very much!"
Holding her tightly, he stroked her hair until she finally calmed down. After a while, she perked up and hugged him with a small laugh.
"Hm…you're so nice…hiss—wait, are you wiping your nose on my shirt?"
"It's your punishment for making me worry."
Then, she looked at him with slight embarrassment and mumbled, "...If you kiss me enough times now…I might consider forgiving you."
Of course, Wang Haoran didn't hesitate.
After some time, the two lay on the bed, breathing heavily. Suddenly, Yun Ling'er's expression changed, and she lightly slapped his chest.
"You said Grandma saw you two days ago—why did you wait until now to come coax me? You're terrible!"
"Haha, isn't it because Ling'er loves to make trouble? If I hadn't let you stew a bit, you wouldn't have confessed, and you'd still be mad at me!"
Wang Haoran stood up and said, "Alright, let's go take a shower and change clothes! We've got a long night ahead."
"Hmph! Fine! But I'm going first, and don't you dare peek!"