"Xu Wenwan, what are you doing? Are you trying to steal my man?"

Gu Jiaojiao remembered that Xu Wenwan had a system and was constantly coveting her man’s fortune. She immediately stepped forward, shielding Leng Yuan behind her as she glared furiously at Xu Wenwan.

Xu Wenwan had originally intended to forcibly grab Leng Yuan’s hand and absorb his fortune.

’This place is pretty remote, anyway. Few people ever pass by.’

But unexpectedly, not only did Leng Yuan dodge her, but Gu Jiaojiao also witnessed the entire thing.

Xu Wenwan raised her head, her gaze falling on Gu Jiaojiao’s face.

The girl had stunning features, a refined sort of beauty that made it obvious she had been pampered her whole life.

’I based this face on my cousin’s; you could say she’s her spitting image.’

’But because I was jealous of Gu Jiaojiao, I gave her a tragic backstory. While her mother was pregnant with her, her father had an affair. After her mother died, he moved his mistress and their own daughter into the family home.’

’With a stepmother in the picture, her life became miserable.’

’Then she was sent to the countryside, where her life continued to be miserable. She was supposed to fall in love with a man she could never have—a man who was meant for me.’

’But the Gu Jiaojiao in front of me shows no signs of the pathetic state that should come from unrequited love in the countryside. Instead, she seems even more precious and pampered.’

The thought that Gu Jiaojiao wasn’t suffering as intended, all because of Leng Yuan’s fortune, made Xu Wenwan’s chest tighten with frustration.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Who’s stealing your man?"

Gu Jiaojiao knew Xu Wenwan was still after her man’s fortune, but she hadn’t found a way to deal with the system yet, so she hadn’t made a move against her.

’I can’t believe Xu Wenwan is still this stupid, even after transmigrating into the book. She’s just handing me leverage on a silver platter!’

She deliberately spoke up.

"If you weren’t trying to steal my man, then why did you just run at him and try to grab his hand? If my man hadn’t been quick to dodge, you would have actually caught him."

With that said, Gu Jiaojiao turned to Leng Yuan, her voice laced with concern. "Did she touch you just now?"

Leng Yuan shook his head.

Gu Jiaojiao was instantly relieved.

’Good, she didn’t touch him.’

’Otherwise, his fortune might have really been absorbed.’ At that thought, Gu Jiaojiao said fiercely, "From now on, stay far away from Xu Wenwan. Don’t go near her."

Leng Yuan’s usually cold eyes softened with a hint of a smile as he watched her fierce expression. Then, he answered in earnest.

"Okay."

Xu Wenwan was speechless.

’What is wrong with these two?!’

’As if I’m that desperate for her man. If it weren’t for his fortune, I’d be avoiding him at all costs after that murderous glare he just gave me.’

Xu Wenwan was practically fuming.

Gu Jiaojiao, however, let out a sigh of relief.

’I know that once Leng Yuan makes a promise, he’ll keep it.’

’He’ll stay away from Xu Wenwan from now on.’

’If his fortune really got absorbed, that would be a huge problem!’

’This system keeps demanding fortune, and I have no idea why. But throughout history, anything that grows stronger by feeding on others has never been a good thing.’

’The problem is, I’ve never dealt with a system before, so I don’t know how to fight it.’

Gu Jiaojiao’s eyes scanned the surroundings. Spotting a few villagers walking past behind Xu Wenwan, she immediately raised her voice.

"Xu Wenwan, you stay away from my man from now on! Stop pestering him, or I won’t be so nice anymore."

She shielded her man, her face a picture of indignation.

Xu Wenwan thought Gu Jiaojiao was insane, but seeing how much Gu Jiaojiao seemed to care for Leng Yuan also made her secretly pleased.

’Could Gu Jiaojiao have actually fallen for Leng Yuan?’

’If so, when Leng Yuan divorces her later, won’t she just die from heartbreak!’

A smug expression appeared on Xu Wenwan’s face at the thought. "Gu Jiaojiao, Leng Yuan isn’t your man at all."

A few villagers who were just about to head home heard the shout. Their eyes lit up, and they immediately changed course, walking toward the commotion.