Chapter 44: Gu Si: I’ve Already Reached a State of Desirelessness

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The simple and cold statement, “I am straight,” carried a dual message. It was a gentle rejection of any affection Ning Qingyan might harbor for him, signaling that he could not reciprocate her feelings. At the same time, it was a self-reminder, warning himself not to develop improper thoughts about his youngest “little brother.”

On the side, Ning Qingyan, who had turned to boil noodles after seeing Huo Qi press his lips together in silence, was caught off guard by his abrupt declaration of, “I am straight.”

Ning Qingyan: …

“Oh,” she replied, unsure of how else to respond.

She even began to wonder if he was talking to himself. After all, her last sentence was about Gu Si arriving, and his follow-up was a random “I am straight.”

Was this the extent of a boss’s thought process? A mental leap that was truly astonishing.

Huo Qi had expected Ning Qingyan to react differently, though he couldn’t quite imagine how. He assumed she would say something unusual, but all she offered was a simple “Oh.”

Could she be heartbroken, rendered speechless?

Huo Qi glanced at her through the steam, watching her look despondent, head bowed as she distractedly tended to the noodles. His heart grew heavy with an indistinct emotion.

He felt a pang of guilt.

Knowing that his sexual orientation leaned toward men, he still accepted her warmth and concern, fully aware of her special care for him. Her kindness was surely born of affection.

Faced with her sunshine-like warmth, he selfishly extended his hand to take it, even though he couldn’t return her feelings.

Today, what he said must have hurt her deeply. While he couldn’t offer her love, he resolved to do whatever he could for her in other ways if she ever needed him.

Green Tea System: “Huo Qi’s Favorability +5.”

Meanwhile, Ning Qingyan, oblivious to Huo Qi’s self-reflective thoughts and sudden boost in favorability, was left utterly confused.

To ease the awkward atmosphere, she busied herself with small talk as she finished cooking the noodles.

As Huo Qi savored the peaceful moment and nearly finished his meal, the sound of the front door creaking open announced Gu Si’s arrival.

Having left with almost nothing and returning empty-handed, Gu Si walked straight to the kitchen, knowing Ning Qingyan would be there.

After four days of sessions with the nation’s top psychologists for therapy and hypnosis, he believed himself completely healed. He even felt as though he had shed all worldly desires.

Though they hadn’t seen each other for four days, he wasn’t eager to see Ning Qingyan. His hurried steps to the kitchen were merely to evaluate the effects of his therapy.

Before entering, his voice reached the room first: “Xiao Yan, where’s my food?”

When he finally stepped into the kitchen, he noticed Huo Qi sitting at the small table.

Ning Qingyan placed a plate of egg noodles on the table, pointed to it, and said, “Eat up.”

Gu Si frowned. Why was Huo Qi here eating? The last time he stumbled upon them, they were together too. Could it be that these two were sneaking off to the kitchen every night to eat?

Glancing at Huo Qi’s nearly finished meal, which still looked rich and hearty, Gu Si couldn’t help but feel a twinge of grievance as he compared it to his simple bowl of egg noodles.

He quickly tamped down his emotions, reminding himself that Ning Qingyan had already done well by preparing noodles on such short notice.

He shouldn’t feel anything else—he was above that now. He had reached a state of desirelessness.

To be fair, Ning Qingyan’s cooking was excellent. The noodles suited his taste perfectly, and Gu Si’s mood lightened as he ate.

Green Tea System: “Gu Si’s Favorability +1.”

Huo Qi, seeing Gu Si arrive, finished his meal in a few bites, swiftly cleaned up, and left the kitchen after a brief word to Ning Qingyan. Clearly, he disliked lingering in the company of others besides her.

As Ning Qingyan yawned while watching Gu Si enjoy his noodles, she asked, “Should I head to my room now?”

Her words suggested leaving, but she stayed put, recalling how Gu Si had refused to let her go last time with all sorts of shameless excuses.

However, Gu Si remained composed. He raised an eyebrow and lazily replied, “Go ahead.”

Ning Qingyan blinked in disbelief. “Really? Not afraid of the dark anymore?”

Gu Si nodded, his tone indifferent yet resolute, “Really.”

Suspicious, she studied him for a moment before rising. “Alright, I’m going then.”

But as she passed him, he caught her wrist with his large hand.

“Wait. I brought you something.”

With his lazy, deep voice, he dropped a warm, smooth object into her palm.

Looking down, she found a piece of white jade carved into the shape of a small rabbit. It was soft and glossy, exuding a faint pink hue under the light—a piece of exquisite craftsmanship worth a fortune.

Before she could refuse, Gu Si declared, “If you don’t want it, I’ll throw it away.”

She hesitated. Knowing his decisive personality, she believed he wasn’t joking.

Plopping back into her seat, she beamed at him. “It’s beautiful. Why’d you suddenly think of giving me this?”

Gu Si smirked, his tone casual. “Bought it on a whim. Doesn’t suit my vibe—matches you better. Do whatever you want with it.”

“What do you mean by ‘matches me better’?”

Ning Qingyan frowned at the rabbit. She wasn’t pleased.

Gu Si glanced at the innocent, adorable youth and felt even more justified.

He couldn’t resist teasing, “You can even sell it for a good price.”

“Really? How much would it fetch on the market?” she asked earnestly.

Gu Si’s face darkened instantly, his tone biting. “Is money all you think about? Do you even know who carved this?”

Before he could finish his rant, Ning Qingyan cut him off, “Didn’t you say I could do whatever I want with it?”

Gu Si: …

“Fine, it’s worthless. A fake. Try selling it, and you might get arrested,” he said, quickly backtracking.

Ning Qingyan: …

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Later that night, while Ning Qingyan prepared for bed, she pulled up her Green Tea System:

Huo Qi Favorability: 40
Wen Shijin Favorability: 33
Gu Si Favorability: 43
Total Favorability Gained: 116
Days Added to Ning Group’s Survival: 116

Smiling at Huo Qi’s high favorability, Ning Qingyan congratulated herself. Meanwhile, Gu Si, lying in bed, sent her a message:

Gu Si: “Miss me, little brother?”

After receiving no reply, he sent another message:

Gu Si: “Been busy exploring the capital, exhausted every day.”

The next morning, Ning Qingyan finally replied: “Missed you to death.”

Satisfied, Gu Si descended the stairs, grinning confidently. “Did you miss me that much?”

“Your shirt is on backward,” Ning Qingyan replied flatly.