Love Rival Turned Lover - Chapter 7

Although Qian Xun hadn’t grown up in a wealthy, aristocratic family, she had never worried about material things. So, when faced with her current living conditions, she couldn’t pretend she didn’t feel a pang of disappointment.

Still, disappointment was disappointment—she had tasks to complete. After lying in bed for a while to collect herself, Qian Xun headed out to buy a stack of posters and wallpaper. She planned to take advantage of the weekend to spruce up the place.

She changed clothes, tied on a headscarf, and began cleaning.

Even the dust hidden in the corners didn’t escape her.

She sorted what needed sorting and threw out what needed to be thrown out. After more than an hour of hard work, the tiny, run-down room finally had a hint of “newness.”

Well, not really.

The place was still just as dreary and gray as before, okay?

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Qian Xun tugged off her headscarf. She was just about to haul the trash outside when the old wooden door suddenly creaked.

Someone was pushing it—but not opening it.

“Who’s there?”

Her voice carried a trace of fear as she quietly pressed her back against the wall.

“Qian Xun, it’s me—Gongliang. Come on, open the door.”

After a few seconds of silence, a gentle voice sounded from outside.

The clear, warm tone of the boy made Qian Xun exhale in relief. But why was the male lead here? And how did he know the original body lived in this place? As far as she remembered, the original Qian Xun had never given Gongliang Bingyi her address.

Looking at the now-even-more chaotic mess she had created, Qian Xun pursed her lips. She really didn’t want to open the door. After all—even though she had never been in a relationship, she knew appearances mattered. If the male lead saw both the state of the room and her current disheveled self, her points would definitely drop.

“Qian Xun? Qian Xun? Are you okay? Hurry and open the door!”

When she didn’t respond, Gongliang Bingyi grew anxious and began pounding on the door.

The already rickety door shuddered under the impact, brown splinters falling to the ground. Qian Xun clutched her hair in frustration and shouted, “Wait! Just wait! I’ll open it right now!”

She kicked the garbage bag under the bed, hurriedly straightened the sheets, placed the posters and wallpaper neatly on the table, and then rushed to the mirror to adjust her appearance. Her frantic little expression was chaotic—yet oddly adorable.

Outside, hearing the noises from within, Gongliang Bingyi frowned. His slender, fair hand pressed against the weathered brown door—a stark contrast.

“I’m telling you, Gongliang, the place your little girlfriend lives in isn’t even as good as a slum. Don’t you find it, well, if the others found out, they’d laugh themselves sick. So Gongliang, play around if you want, but don’t take it seriously.”

“People like us would never marry someone from the slums.”

Rubbing the goosebumps on his arms, Lu Yun spoke with a grimace. The “others” he mentioned were their mutual friends—playmates from similarly privileged backgrounds. They had all been shocked when Gongliang lowered himself to attend an ordinary high school.

Seeing Gongliang’s faint frown, Lu Yun glanced at the filthy little alley behind them, then at the dilapidated brick building in front of them.

“With all due respect, Gongliang, you and your little girlfriend are from completely different worlds.” Seeing his friend look over, Lu Yun continued bluntly, “Isn’t it obvious? One button on your shirt is worth more than this entire place. I know you don’t want to—”

“Lu Yun.”

Gongliang Bingyi’s voice cut him off.

“I didn’t bring you here to give me a lecture..”

When Lu Yun stared at him in surprise, Gongliang lowered his gaze to his own finely crafted shirt and cropped trousers. “I like Qian Xun. I really like her. I know everything you just said. But, as long as she’s willing, I’ll hold her hand for the rest of my life. I won’t let go.”

“Gongliang, you.”

Was he actually being serious?

Just as Lu Yun was about to ask more, the old, weather-beaten door suddenly creaked open from the inside. A round little head peeked out.

“What shouldn’t be let go?”

The girl’s soft, sweet voice immediately drew the attention of Gongliang and Lu Yun. They both turned their heads—and met the girl’s clear, lake-bright eyes.

A flash of surprise flickered through Lu Yun’s gaze. The girl’s skin was fair, her features delicate. She wasn’t quite a devastating beauty, but she had a quiet, unmistakable charm—like an unpolished piece of jade that, with a little shaping, would surely gleam brilliantly.

“What shouldn’t be let go?” she repeated.

Seeing that no one answered, Qian Xun looked directly at Gongliang Bingyi and asked again.

But staring at the impossibly handsome male lead, Qian Xun suddenly felt a strange sense of dissonance. In the story, Gongliang Bingyi’s character setting was a classic domineering CEO. Why did he look gentle?

Even in the original host’s memories, Gongliang had always been a cool, aloof, slightly edgy teenage tsundere.

Her voice snapped him back to himself. Gongliang Bingyi’s gaze darkened slightly. He wrapped an arm around Qian Xun’s waist, drew her into the room, and shut the door with a sharp bang—leaving Lu Yun outside.

“Blue shirt. Denim shorts.” He frowned, his tone displeased. “Why did you come out dressed like this, hmm?”

He gently set Qian Xun down on the bed, leaned over her, and used two fingers to lightly rub her chin, his voice low and unhappy.

“Like this?” Qian Xun tilted her head away from his touch. She looked down at herself. “Isn’t this normal?”

Gongliang’s eyes fell to her pale, slender legs exposed to the warm air. He didn’t reply.

Bang, bang. “Hey, hey! Gongliang—what’s your problem?”

Lu Yun had started pounding on the door outside.

“You’re cleaning the room?” Gongliang ignored Lu Yun completely. His gaze swept the room and landed on the bucket and rag in the center.

Qian Xun nodded. “Just need to put up the posters.”

“I’ll help you. For now,” he poked her cheek with a fingertip, smiling gently. “You go take a shower and change into something clean. Once everything’s done, I’ll take you out to play.”

Qian Xun didn’t respond. She wasn’t quite convinced.

Gongliang chuckled. “Come on, little Qian Xun. You have to trust me. If I can’t even handle something this small, how am I supposed to be your boyfriend, hmm?”

Well, he had a point.

Holding her clean clothes, Qian Xun stepped into the tiny bathroom, then peeked back out anxiously. “You really can do it? You won’t paste everything crooked?”

Gongliang held back a laugh and nodded. “Trust my taste.”

“Then I’m going in. Don’t rummage around.”

“Mhm, I won’t.”