Love Rival Turned Lover - Chapter 10

When Ling Qiao’er stepped into the study and saw those photos, you could imagine just how terrifying her expression became.

One photo after another, as she flipped through them, her face grew tighter and tighter. Her fingers pinching the glossy prints turned stark white, as if she meant to snap them in half.

Finally, Ling Qiao’er’s gaze stopped on the very first photo.

It was taken inside a classroom. A strikingly handsome boy and an equally beautiful girl sat by the window. The graceful, refined-looking boy had one arm wrapped firmly around the girl, who seemed to be dozing off on the desk. Letting him kiss the soft strands of her hair, she slept peacefully, unaware.

Ye. Qian. Xun. Ye Qian Xun!

Ling Qiao’er pronounced each syllable of Qian Xun’s name one by one. She traced a fingertip along Qian Xun’s profile, then slid it over to Gongliang Bingyi’s face.

Her nails dug viciously into his smiling, blissfully gentle expression. Ling Qiao’er pressed her lips into a thin line, hatred in her eyes sharpening with every second.

Damn Gongliang Bingyi. Damn him—he deserves to die!

“Ling Qiao’er! That’s enough! Get a grip! Look at yourself—what do you think you’ve become?”

Seeing his precious little sister spiraling, her crazed look no longer concealable, Ling Aoleng’s eyebrows twitched sharply. He slammed a hand on the desk and shouted at her.

“B-big brother?”

Startled, Ling Qiao’er halted her movements instantly. She stared at Ling Aoleng in confusion, as if she couldn’t understand why he was yelling at her.

“Give me the pictures.”

Faced with her brother’s darkened, tightly knit brows, Ling Qiao’er reluctantly handed the photos over. Ling Aoleng took them, then slapped them face-down onto the desk. Looking at the sister he had spoiled since childhood, he spoke earnestly:

“Being born into the Ling family, it’s good to have a bit of strategy. But, Qiao’er.”

“That behavior just now will only make Gongliang Bingyi hate you even more.”

Ling Aoleng was a man; naturally, he understood the mind of another man. Someone like Gongliang Bingyi—anyone could tell at a glance that he preferred gentle, kind-hearted, obedient girls. Ling Qiao’er was exactly the type he would detest.

“I’ll allow you to transfer schools. But Qiao’er, if you want to win Gongliang Bingyi over, you need to curb that spoiled temper of yours. Gongliang Bingyi isn’t your brother—he won’t indulge you unconditionally. Do you understand?”

Ling Qiao’er’s lips twitched as she forced a nod.

Honestly—who wanted to pursue Gongliang Bingyi? She wanted nothing more than to kill him immediately. But she also knew that while her brothers would tolerate her chasing after him, they would never accept her falling for another girl.

So, this humiliation—she had no choice but to swallow it first.

Seeing his sister’s reluctant expression, Ling Aoleng’s tone softened slightly. “Qiao’er, I know changing your personality is difficult. But trust your brother—my judgment isn’t wrong. Gongliang Bingyi simply doesn’t like your type. If you just adjust a little.”

“The rest, leave to me.”

Leave it to him.

Ordinarily, Ling Aoleng tearing down her ego like this would have made Ling Qiao’er furious. But right now, her thoughts were stuck on his final sentence.

“Big brother, what do you mean?”

Could it be what she was thinking?

“Qiao’er, whatever you want, your brother will give you.” Ling Aoleng looked at her with the fondness of a father gazing at a mischievous child. “If you want to marry Gongliang Bingyi, then your brother will clear the obstacles for you.”

To understand what Ling Qiao’er meant to Ling Aoleng, she was probably equivalent to a piece of driftwood he clung to while drowning in darkness.

When Ling Aoleng was young, he didn’t cry or laugh; nothing interested him. He was practically a little emotionless doll. It wasn’t until Qiao’er was born that, in the process of caring for her, he finally developed emotions a person ought to have. In other words, because of Qiao’er, he found a reason and purpose to live.

Thus, the way he treated her was entirely different from how he treated Ling Junqing. Whatever Ling Qiao’er wanted, he would find a way to obtain for her, even if the means were less than clean.

Clear obstacles?

Qian Xun?

A chill ran through Ling Qiao’er’s heart. She quickly waved her hands at him. “Big brother, don’t get involved in this. The person I like—I’ll get him back myself.”

If her brother truly intervened, Qian Xun would definitely get hurt.

“Hm?”

Ling Aoleng looked at her in puzzlement.

This wasn’t at all how Ling Qiao’er normally behaved.

“Oh my god, big brother!”

Qiao’er stomped her foot anxiously. “Just hurry and promise me!”

Seeing her usually composed little sister looking this anxious was truly a rare sight. A faint smile flashed through Ling Aoleng’s eyes before disappearing just as quickly. After pondering for a moment, he finally nodded in agreement.

In any case, he would send people to protect Ling Qiao’er.

Given Ling Qiao’er’s personality, she was hardly the type to suffer losses.

“Thank you, big brother! I’ll go pack right now.”

Overflowing with excitement, Ling Qiao’er could barely keep her joy in check. The moment she stepped out of the study, she let out a tiny, suppressed squeal—then belatedly slapped a hand over her mouth.

“This girl gets more and more unruly by the day.”

Shaking his head with a soft sigh, Ling Aoleng reached out to put the photos back into the drawer—but suddenly, his expression hardened. His deep gaze lingered on a faint mark on one of the photos. His brows slowly drew together.

This girl, how could she.

Haicheng — Yuhai High School, Class 2-A.

Class A was the school’s honors class, so even during break time, almost no one left the room except for bathroom trips.

The entire classroom was filled with the soft rustle of pens scraping across paper. Even those who whispered to each other were discussing problems.

Except for Qian Xun.

“Hey, hey.”

Gongliang Bingyi looked at Qian Xun—who became sleepy the second the bell rang—with a helpless laugh. He tugged lightly at her ear. “Come on, Qian Xun. Don’t sleep anymore. Get up and study.”

The last thing he wanted was for her to get bumped down to another class after the monthly exams.

Qian Xun, drowsy and stubborn, didn’t bother responding.

These days, she had become less and less intimidated by Gongliang Bingyi.

“Qian Xun.”

His fingers gently rubbed her soft, almost translucent ear tip. His voice was full of exasperation. “You really defeat me.”

Despite his tone, the corners of his lips remained curved. Realizing he definitely wouldn’t wake her this time, Gongliang Bingyi silently surrendered. He carefully pulled out the notebook trapped under her arm, planning to copy down the notes from the previous class for her. As for the upcoming monthly exam, he’d test her himself before the exam anyway.

Wherever she went, he would go too.

His pen moved swiftly across the page, beautiful characters forming one after another. Suddenly, Gongliang Bingyi froze, his delicate features tightening. He tilted his head slightly, gaze drifting toward the window.

There was nothing there.

But.

Author’s Note:

Do you know why the gong (top) acts like such a lovesick stalker?

Why he enjoys ruining other people’s pretty faces?

Because he’s not human at all, and he’s been in love with Qian Xun for so long.

Watching all those people hover around her drives him mad with jealousy.

He wishes he could scratch up every one of their faces.