If Gu Jiaojiao wanted to change, she had to genuinely build a life with Leng Yuan and stay far away from the novel's hero and heroine.
Seeing that it was getting late, she forced herself to get out of bed despite the discomfort in her body, ready to make lunch.
But her legs were sore and her back ached, so she had to support her waist as she walked. Just as she stepped outside, she ran right into a man walking in.
She had only caught a fleeting glimpse of him yesterday and hadn't seen him clearly, but she knew one thing: he was exactly her type.
Looking at him closely today, she saw his features were as elegant as a stroke of ink—subtle yet deep, like a mountain spring or a piece of jade, noble and seemingly untouchable.
His posture was ramrod straight, and he carried himself with the cool elegance of green bamboo.
He didn't look like a villager at all. Then Gu Jiaojiao remembered his ancestors had come from a prominent family, and it all made sense.
Even though the times had changed, the things instilled in a person from birth never really do.
The man possessed an elegance cultivated from a young age, but mixed within that refinement was a dangerous aura that warned others not to cross him. Coupled with a pair of sharp, ruthless eyes, he was an intimidating sight.
But Gu Jiaojiao wasn't afraid.
She adored this kind of man.
This was the man her cousin had practically gift-wrapped for her.
When Gu Jiaojiao saw Leng Yuan look her way, a sweet smile immediately blossomed on her face.
Although it was early autumn, the midday sun was still intense. A warm halo of light fell upon the young woman, making her skin seem to glow.
The corners of her mouth turned up into a brilliant smile, one that seemed even more dazzling than the sunlight.
The man's eyes wavered for a moment. Then, remembering her personality, his expression immediately darkened.
"I was the one who was with you yesterday," he said. "You can go to the commune and report me."
Leng Yuan knew that what happened yesterday was just a ploy by Gu Jiaojiao to provoke Yun Hao, and he knew he should have refused.
But the young woman yesterday had been so soft and captivating that he'd lost his head. Even though drugs were involved, what was done was done. He would accept the consequences.
After saying this, Leng Yuan looked away. Everyone in the Qingshan Team knew that Gu Jiaojiao was infatuated with Yun Hao. Losing her innocence meant losing any chance of being with him. He figured that even if he didn't bring it up, she would report him to the commune anyway.
Gu Jiaojiao nearly choked on her own spit at Leng Yuan's words.
'This man is smarter than he looks,' she thought. 'He even knew the original Jiaojiao planned to report him.'
But she wasn't the original owner of this body. She widened her eyes innocently, her voice laced with grievance. "I'm already yours, and you don't want to take responsibility?"
"Responsibility?" Leng Yuan's gaze fell on her stunningly beautiful face, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Gu Jiaojiao, are you joking? Your heart and soul belong to Yun Hao. Everything you do is for him. You think you'd be willing to marry me?"
"Did you hear that from someone? Was it Li Hongmei?" Gu Jiaojiao was no longer angry, and her counter-question was calm.
'As for how the original Jiaojiao could have been so foolish, her 'best friend' Li Hongmei certainly played a big part.'
Leng Yuan didn't answer, but the mocking smile on his face only grew more pronounced.
'Gu Jiaojiao always did whatever Li Hongmei said, as if she didn't have a brain in her head. All Li Hongmei had to do was open her mouth, and Gu Jiaojiao would obey without question.'
Gu Jiaojiao knew the original owner's reputation was deeply ingrained, so she began to explain in a soft voice.
"Don't listen to her nonsense," she said. "I only drugged you because I like you so much. I frantically pursued Mr. Yun to make you jealous. Everything I've done has been for you." Gu Jiaojiao spouted a stream of shameless lies, attributing all her past actions to her supposed feelings for Leng Yuan.
Her voice carried a flirtatious pout, and her already sweet tone took on a wheedling quality that made Leng Yuan's expression turn exceptionally odd.
'If he didn't already know everything she'd done, he might have actually believed her.'
But Gu Jiaojiao had never paid him any mind before. To now claim she had pursued Yun Hao for his sake... He let out a laugh of pure disbelief. "Gu Jiaojiao, what are you playing at?"
'This woman wants to marry him? Leng Yuan didn't believe it for a second. She had to be scheming something else.'
Leng Yuan grew impatient, but his expression only became colder and more severe.