Lan Ling Yan didn't deny or confirm, merely handing her a cup of warm water and attempting to feed it to her. When he saw she took the cup herself, his lashes lowered with faint regret, a shadow of coldness curling around his sharp, handsome face as he murmured, "I warned you before."

Ning Yun Huan suddenly recalled in the morning when Lan Ling Yan had reminded her to be cautious about that Gu surname. But who could possibly think back then? Who would believe even though this lifetime saw Gu Ying Xi first entangle with Xie Zhuo Yin, the plot still twisted and returned to its original path. Without her help, she managed to enter Ning's company, seduce Ning Yun Cheng in just a year, and even convinced the playboy to take her home to meet his parents!

"I didn't know then!" Ning Yun Huan regretfully admitted, aware Lan Ling Yan had deliberately done this. Yet he truly did warn her, so who could she blame when she failed to understand?

She'd long known that Lan Ling Yan's fox-like nature would be displeased after she refused him when returning to her parents' home in the morning. She hadn't expected him to wait here. Ning Yun Huan was deeply (depressed). Fortunately, she returned today; otherwise if Gu Ying Xi truly charmed Mr. and Mrs. Ning, it might already be too late for her to return—her parents might even develop resentment toward her.

"Now you know." Lan Ling Yan cast a detached glance at her, hearing the mournful note in her voice but showing no intention of apologizing now. First, Master Lan had never apologized or acknowledged mistakes in his life. Second, he understood Ning Yun Huan's fear—her parents being ensnared by that woman from the Gu family. But these things were already arranged to not happen. Even if she hadn't returned this month, even if she hadn't come back today, some other incident would make Mr. and Mrs. Ning resent Gu Ying Xi.

His plans were merely delayed. Originally, he was about to handle it today. But when Ning Yun Huan refused him from visiting her mother's home, Lan Ling Yan only gave a few warnings before keeping quiet. Now seeing Ning Yun Huan angry, he remained silent, stretching his arms on the chair back. Though not touching her physically, his presence enclosed her within his embrace.

Ning Yun Huan knew she was indeed being hasty just now. But Lan Ling Yan didn't even comfort her! Her heart ached with (depression). She understood his nature well—he might be angry, but after over a year together, instead of trembling in fear as before, she instinctively leaned closer, placing her hand on his chest while biting her lip silently. The submissive posture already showed her yielding.

Waiting for the small prey to voluntarily fall into his net, Lan Ling Yan finally wrapped an arm around her, giving her a faint look: "You know you're wrong?"

"Wrong," Ning Yun Huan admitted genuinely. Originally, Lan Ling Yan had no obligation to help her. Their beginning wasn't some mythical love story. It was already great of him to assign someone to monitor Gu Ying Xi and provide information—he probably did even more behind the scenes. With his cold nature, helping this far was truly generous.

Yet something in his gaze held many meanings; Ning Yun Huan couldn't bear to look further, lowering her head while playing with their son. Her heart beat faster.

Since the plot's irrevocable change, Gu Ying Xi had lost her first time but still entangled with Ning Yun Cheng. This made Ning Yun Huan more cautious about future outcomes. Even if everything between Gu Ying Xi and Ning Yun Cheng was fated to meet as written in the book, both this life and past life endings showed her inevitable death. Though her steps were different now after rebirth, she still couldn't be too confident.

School would resume soon; Ning Yun Huan returned to campus again. After over a year's absence, many classmates looked unfamiliar. Fu Yuan immediately noticed her among the changed faces in class. Though many female students had signed with entertainment companies and become much more glamorous since last year, Fu Yuan hadn't expected Ning Yun Huan's transformation! Not only had she aged little, but an inexplicable allure now surrounded her.

Thinking of how she was sent to Britain as an exchange student, Fu Yuan's eyes turned green. Only three British exchange spots were available annually at the Imperial Capital University. While many wealthy students here weren't interested in the opportunity itself, everyone coveted the prestige it brought.

Originally jealous enough from their similar backgrounds and Ning Yun Huan's distance after university began, Fu Yuan's resentment grew further when Xie Zhuo Yin started visiting Ning repeatedly despite their comparable family situations. Both had brothers but Ning's parents doted on her while hers prioritized their son. These things she'd swallowed before, but now seeing Ning return seemingly more successful and with the coveted British exchange spot...

"Yun Huan! You've finally returned," Fu Yuan exclaimed, rushing over after disengaging from a girl she was arm-in-arm with. "I missed you so much! How was Britain? So many big events happened this year!" The pure-looking girl beside her simply observed curiously.

As if afraid Ning would escape, Fu Yuan nearly draped herself entirely onto her. The softness of the girl's body felt like a snake coiling around Ning. Used to only Lan Ling Yan's embraces for over a year, Ning instinctively shivered before carefully extricating herself: "It was alright."

Seeing this cold response, Fu Yuan clenched her fists in anger. She couldn't accept it—Ning had the same family background and similar personality as her. But since university began, Ning first distanced themselves, then attracted Xie Zhuo Yin repeatedly despite their equal status. Both families had sons but Ning's parents adored her while hers prioritized theirs. Though she'd endured all before, when Ning seemed to flourish more than ever with that British exchange...

"Why have you grown so cold toward me after a year?" Fu Yuan asked dramatically, adopting an injured expression: "Are we not still best friends? Did going to Britain make you look down on me now?" As she said this, some book-carrying classmates nearby turned their attention toward them.