As the year draws to a close, it’s time to collect debts, settle accounts, and close the books.
Merchant households are always busy during this season, and the Gu family, being the wealthiest in the region, is even more so.
Uncle Gu and Gu Xuanjing leave early and return late every day, making them scarcely seen.
Luo Li couldn’t help either—much to her regret, she didn’t know how.
So, all she could do was rely on her modest culinary skills to make her presence felt each day.
However, the Favorability Value for Gu Xuanjing remained stuck at 35%, showing no further increase.
Watching the stagnant Progress Bar, Little Cabbage grew a bit worried.
No way, no way—could it be that it, too, was doomed to fail like its predecessors?
Please, no…
“Ah!”
Just as it was thinking this, it suddenly heard its Host exclaim, followed by a clumsy stumble that sent her tumbling straight toward Gu Xuanjing beside her.
The warm, soft young girl fell into his arms, her smooth hair brushing past his cheek as a sweet fragrance enveloped him.
Instinctively reaching out to steady her, his hands met a gentle softness.
Gu Xuanjing stiffened, momentarily frozen in place.
Luo Li quickly pushed herself up from his chest, standing upright with an apologetic expression. Her captivating peach-blossom eyes shimmered with a watery gleam, appearing even more alluring under the dim corridor lights.
“I’m sorry.”
The girl tilted her head slightly, her sweet, soft apology carrying a hint of playfulness.
It was as if she were saying, “Oops, sorry—but yes, I did it on purpose.”
Gu Xuanjing fell silent for a moment before withdrawing his rigid hand. The lingering warmth and softness on his fingertips made him unconsciously clench his fist.
His heart pounded wildly, beating so fast it felt almost uncontrollable.
“It’s fine.”
Despite his calm tone, the tips of his ears had turned completely red.
With his martial arts skills, he could have easily avoided her just now. He was well aware of her deliberate little scheme, yet for some reason, he hadn’t moved.
“So adorable.”
Only after watching him walk away with slightly unnatural steps did Luo Li finally burst into laughter.
[Ding, Favorability Value +10.]
Hearing the System Broadcast, her smile widened even more.
Although her flirting technique had been a bit clumsy, it had worked—and that was all that mattered.
Like Little Cabbage, Luo Li had also grown somewhat concerned after spending so much time at the Gu family without making progress in her Strategy.
After all, the System had mentioned that many previous attempts had failed.
But the One Hundred Percent Compatibility mentioned by Caicai gave her a glimmer of hope.
After careful consideration, she guessed that the non-contact Strategy had reached its limit, so she decided to try a Physical Contact Strategy instead.
Well, it turned out to be a success.
[Ding, Favorability Value +5.]
As a Martial Artist, his hearing was sharp.
Hearing the young girl’s delightful laughter behind him, Gu Xuanjing found himself unconsciously curling the corners of his lips into a faint smile.
Recalling the earlier scene, his ears still burned with warmth.
Meanwhile, both the girl and the System in the corridor paused in surprise, glancing in his direction.
Haha, an unexpected delight.
But there was still a way to go—the current progress had only just reached the halfway mark.
A 50% Favorability Value was merely a fleeting infatuation.
(65% marks the stage of liking without realizing it, while 85% is the peak of affection.
86% is the starting point of love, and 95% signifies deep devotion…)And 100% is a love that is unforgettable, willing to pay with life, and follows through life and death.
Only when it reaches 100% can they take him away.
100% is just a numerical limit, not the upper bound of emotion.)
A hundred percent love is indeed a bit hard to imagine.
Quite shocking.
Sensing Luo Li’s thoughts, Little Cabbage raised her head proudly: “Hmph, the Host deserves it~”
“Haha…”
… Knowing that Gu Xuanjing had already seen through her thoughts, Luo Li no longer bothered with her acting.
She flirted openly, and the food she prepared clearly favored him.
Not too biased, but his portion was always a bit more refined.
Now even Uncle Gu and her Grandma and Grandpa understood.
However, the elders had no objections; in fact, they were quite supportive.
Children grow up and must eventually start families.
Although they weren’t planning to worry about Luo Li’s marriage so early, it was ultimately unavoidable.
Rather than later having to meet young men of unknown sincerity, it would be better to keep it within the family.
They knew the character of their own child, and they could even live together in the future.
Why not?
Although they agreed, they wouldn’t interfere in the slightest.
This was the children’s matter, and naturally, they should handle and plan it themselves.
Too much is as bad as too little.