Chapter 77 Main Character Story

Jun Xiangbei looked at him, and his indifferent eyes revealed a significant change in his emotions.

He nodded slightly, formally accepting this "collaborator" who had voluntarily joined his wing but clearly harbored secrets.

The plan is progressing more smoothly than expected.

At Jun Xiangbei's behest, Gu Yunqing quickly requested to move out temporarily, citing the reason that "I am fortunate to have been appreciated by Young Master Jun and invited to discuss the details of the business project so that I can consult him at any time."

This reason sounds grand and respectable, but behind it lies the unquestionable will of the monarchical family.

The news caused an immediate uproar in high society circles.

Mr. Gu smashed his teacup on the spot, his face turning ashen, and scolded him for "forgetting his roots after climbing up the social ladder."

Gu's mother was in tears, her words filled with disappointment and accusation that "I raised you for so many years in vain" and "you have no regard for the family's reputation."

Lin Bufan, the true young master, was filled with mixed emotions as he watched this scene unfold.

He felt a sense of relief that an "obstacle" had been removed, but he also had a vague feeling that the reason for the departure of this "fake brother" was not so simple.

Faced with the storm from the Gu family and the outside world, accusations of "clinging to the Jun family" and "being ungrateful" were incessant. Gu Yunqing perfectly played the role of a young man who was under tremendous pressure, suffering inner torment, yet had no choice but to seize the opportunity.

When he appeared in public occasions he couldn't avoid, his face always carried just the right amount of grievance and resilience. Facing those who "well-meaning" came to inquire or criticize, his eyes reddened, and his voice, though not loud, was clear:

"I just don't want to live in someone else's shadow forever. I want to rely on myself... and find a path for personal development. I will never forget the kindness of the Gu family in raising me, but I also have the right to pursue a better future..."

This statement placed him in a helpless position of "pursuing independence but being forced to bear the blame," neither completely denying his feelings for the Gu family nor emphasizing his motivation of "seeking a better way out."

The viewers in the live stream were amazed.

Yun Qing's strategy of feigning retreat to advance was brilliant.

[They put "I want to latch onto someone's coattails" in such a fresh and elegant way!]

[The Gu family must be furious, right? The fake young master they raised (?) turned around and joined a stronger faction.]

[OOC reached 35%, thank goodness!]

His OOC index in the corner of his vision once climbed to the yellow warning zone of 35% because of his blatant "betrayal" of his family and his seeking external support.

This certainly goes beyond the typical behavior pattern of a "vicious fake young master" who tends to engage in internal family struggles.

Gu Yunqing's heart was in her throat as she closely sensed the subtle changes in the surrounding rules, ready to adjust her strategy at any moment.

Fortunately, the rule monster did not appear.

The system seems to determine the behavioral logic of "seeking stronger external protection after feeling unfairness and threats to one's status within the family".

Although it deviates from the expected path, it is still within the spectrum of reasonable evolution of the character's behavior, especially given the existence of Jun Xiangbei as a powerful "temptation".

Gu Yunqing has successfully taken the crucial first step in breaking free from the control of the Gu family and turning her own situation around.

When he stepped into Jun Xiangbei's villa, which was as deserted as a typical apartment, carrying only simple luggage, he felt a strange sense of relaxation.

Here, although he still had to play a role, at least he was temporarily free from the suffocating gaze of the Gu family, which constantly nailed him to the pillar of shame as a "fake young master."

He and Jun Xiangbei began living under the same roof.

Jun Xiangbei's life is extremely regular, even rigid.

His wake-up time, mealtime, official business hours, and rest time were almost always the same.

His preferences were also extremely simple: light food, comfortable and high-quality clothing, and books in his study mostly on economics, history, and some obscure scientific and technological documents.

Gu Yunqing was like the most patient observer, carefully recording everything. He did not make any rash changes, but started from the details.

He discovered that Jun Xiangbei suffered from mild chronic headaches and would occasionally press his brow while working late at night.

So, Gu Yunqing "casually" mentioned that she had specially learned some massage techniques in order to please some difficult elders, and tentatively asked if she needed any help.

Jun Xiangbei initially refused, but Gu Yunqing was not discouraged. She simply handed him a cup of herbal tea, which was supposedly calming, at just the right temperature, as he massaged his temples again.

After a few times, Jun Xiangbei tacitly allowed him to stand behind him and massage his head with just the right amount of force after he finished his intense work.

Gu Yunqing's fingers were slightly cool, and her movements were gentle and precise, possessing a magical power that could relax one's nerves.

Jun Xiangbei usually closes his eyes, and his tense shoulders and neck slowly relax under the delicate pressure.

The viewers in Gu Yunqing's live stream started teasing her:

Wow, our cohabitation routine has begun.

[Yun Qing is so thoughtful; she even learned massage.]

[Brother Bei actually accepted? He used to be so unapproachable.]

Is this the epitome of a virtuous and devoted wife?

Gu Yunqing also "inadvertently" revealed her excellent cooking skills.

He explained that he had learned to curry favor and ingratiate himself with others since he was a child.

Upon hearing this, Jun Xiangbei found it amusing; he had never seen anyone belittle themselves like this.

Gu Yunqing's dishes were simple yet exquisite, with a light flavor that perfectly suited Jun Xiangbei's preferences.

At first, it was just an occasional late-night snack or breakfast, but it gradually became a regular occurrence.

The cold kitchen began to feel warm and lively, and the large dining room was no longer always filled with Jun Xiangbei eating alone in silence at the long dining table.

Gu Yunqing knew how to be tactful and never tried to please anyone. He simply did these things naturally, as if it were the "price" or "appreciation" that he, as a "seeker of refuge," should pay.

Jun Xiangbei consistently maintained a tacitly acquiescing or even indulgent attitude towards this.

He remained taciturn, and his expression was mostly aloof. However, Gu Yunqing keenly noticed that when he served him food that suited his taste, or handed him a cup of hot tea after his headache subsided, a fleeting, almost imperceptible tenderness would quickly pass through Jun Xiangbei's icy eyes.

Those eyes, which were always calm and still, seemed to hold something more when they looked at him.

This change was extremely subtle, yet it greatly reassured Gu Yunqing.

He knew that he was gradually, in a way that didn't attract attention, integrating himself into Jun Xiangbei's life and becoming a part of his habits.

Habits are often the hardest to break.

What surprised Gu Yunqing even more was that he seemed to have found the true rules of this instance.

When his behavior can be reasonably explained by an "external force," especially when this external force is strong enough to "distort" the original plot logic to a certain extent, the judgment of OOC will become relatively lenient.

In Jun Xiangbei's villa, within this "safe zone" dominated by Jun Xiangbei's will, Gu Yunqing began to try to release some of her true nature more boldly.

He no longer maintained that timid or ingratiating expression all the time; when the two of them were alone, he regained more composure and sharpness.

When discussing business projects with Jun Xiangbei, his insights became more direct and bold. Although they were still disguised as opinions seen online, the precision and insight at the core were approaching his own level.

He would even casually chat about international current events or cutting-edge technologies during breaks from work at Junxiangbei, offering novel perspectives and clear logic.

On one occasion, he even argued with Jun Xiangbei about the details of a merger and acquisition deal. Although it ended with him "realizing he had overstepped his bounds" and admitting his mistake, some of his views surprised Jun Xiangbei.

Jun Xiangbei wasn't angry; he just gave him a deep look and said, "You know a lot."

Gu Yunqing's face showed a hint of panic and embarrassment at being "seen through," and she lowered her head: "...It's just that I like to read random books when I have nothing to do."

Surprisingly, the OOC index did not soar because of his more casual and natural words and actions. Instead, it slowly declined from 35% and stabilized at around 33%.

The system seems to have determined that, in the specific environment of "Jun Xiangbei Shelter" and in interactions with Jun Xiangbei, a "high-ranking figure," the character exhibits some abilities and personality traits that exceed the original settings. This can be interpreted as "environmental influence," "potential activation," or "adaptive adjustments made to better survive in the face of the strong."

In other words, Jun Xiangbei's existence itself, to some extent, "rationalizes" Gu Yunqing's "character deviation".

Although Gu Yunqing was still curious as to why Jun Xiangbei had come to this instance, he had received real benefits and no longer cared too much.

Jun Xiangbei will not harm him in the end.

After witnessing all of this in Gu Yunqing's live stream, viewers also felt that Gu Yunqing was practically cheating:

Wow, the OOC (Out of Character) rating has dropped! It was definitely the right decision to stick close to Brother Bei.

[Is Brother Bei Yunqing's cheat code in this dungeon?]

[I remember Bei Shen didn't participate in this instance, so how come he's here?]

[Perhaps they are randomly generated NPCs in the dungeon? And there are also similar high-ranking figures among other players participating.]

[I've watched other live streams; this instance assigns roles based on individual characteristics, and then players generate various protagonist storylines.]

Some are heterosexual romance (BG), some are BL (Boys' Love), and some are purely male-centric. A less common type is the gay romance (GB).

Gu Yunqing did not see these comments discussing the dungeon; they were all blocked by the system.

He simply enjoyed the feeling of cautiously exploring the dual boundaries of rules and human nature.

Like a skilled dancer, he gracefully moved within the "safe zone" that Jun Xiangbei had invisibly drawn for him, testing the other party's bottom line little by little, and also testing the flexibility of the world's rules.

He knew this was just the beginning.

The Gu family will not let this go easily, and Lin Bufan, as the "true protagonist," will certainly have more tricks up his sleeve. The "story segments" where the other aliases are located are also progressing in sync, and it remains to be seen what challenges they will encounter.

But at this moment, in this cold villa, Gu Yunqing looked at the aloof and handsome man opposite her, and her expression softened slightly as he handed her a cup of hot tea.

Gu Yunqing felt that the start of this "battle for glory" was much more interesting and smoother than he had expected.

He picked up the teacup in front of him, took a small sip, and the rising steam blurred the calculation and ambition deep in his eyes, leaving only a gentle and peaceful appearance.

“Brother Bei,” he said softly, with just the right amount of dependence, “what would you like to eat tomorrow? I learned a new soup recipe that’s said to be good for the stomach.”

Jun looked up at him, his gaze lingering for a moment on the slightly flushed cheeks from the heat, before replying indifferently, "Whatever you say."

The two simple words brought a barely perceptible curve to Gu Yunqing's lips.

See, forming a habit is that simple.

And he was happy to become that indispensable "habit" in Jun Xiangbei's life.