City: I Started As A Rich Second Generation Villain - Chapter 23 – Gu Junqing the Simp, Taking Lin Qingzhu Home

“A licking dog licks until he has nothing left.”

But sometimes, not all licking dogs are the same; different people have different fates. Gu Junqing sighed deeply.

Lin Qingzhu, who had been quietly following behind the three of them, blinked her eyes.

To be honest, she somewhat regretted following Gu Junqing.

She was a little afraid that her small face might also get a couple of licks from him—It’s not tasty at all!

“This big brother looks noble and handsome, but maybe he’s not quite what he seems?” Lin Qingzhu thought to herself.

In the end, it was Luo Ningyu who stepped forward.

“Alright, alright, stop flirting in front of the kid. Be mindful of the influence!”

Luo Ningyu watched as her best friend was teased by Gu Junqing and couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

Normally, Murong Wan was quite composed; only Gu Junqing could stir such strong emotions in her.

“I’m not a kid! You’re only a few years older than me!” Lin Qingzhu muttered softly.

“Anyone underage is still a child.”

Luo Ningyu pulled Lin Qingzhu into a hug, holding her close.

Seeing Lin Qingzhu’s adorable attempt to act mature made Luo Ningyu realize just how much she liked her.

But for Lin Qingzhu, the tight embrace felt almost overwhelming—yet the warmth was something she rarely experienced.

Eventually, Gu Junqing pulled Lin Qingzhu out of Luo Ningyu’s arms.

“Alright, enough fooling around. You two aren’t that young either. Your combined ages are well over thirty—why are you acting like children?”

Hearing this, both Murong Wan and Luo Ningyu grew annoyed, feeling that Gu Junqing was being deliberately mean.

So they chased after him, playfully hitting him.

After the laughter and teasing, the four of them felt completely at ease with one another, and Lin Qingzhu gradually melted into the lighthearted, joyful atmosphere.

Later, Gu Junqing escorted Murong Wan and Luo Ningyu home. Before leaving, they reminded him repeatedly to take good care of Lin Qingzhu.

Gu Junqing readily agreed. He certainly didn’t want Lin Qingzhu to leave because of any negligence on his part.

Lin Qingzhu then returned home with Gu Junqing to pack her belongings.

Looking at the shabby house before him, Gu Junqing gently patted her head, his heart aching slightly.

Although Lin Qingzhu’s body had not fully matured, she was already quite tall, nearly 1.7 meters.

After all, it wasn’t easy for a girl to reach that height.

Fortunately, Gu Junqing was tall enough to pat her head comfortably.

Lin Qingzhu still hesitated about leaving. She worried that if her brother returned, there would be no one to cook for him—even though he hadn’t come home in a long time.

“Don’t worry. Your brother has been staying at school recently. If you don’t believe me, call and ask him,” Gu Junqing said.

Lin Qingzhu nodded and dialed Lin Tian’s number.

“Brother, are you coming home these days?” she asked softly.

“Qingzhu, I won’t be back for a few days. Take care of yourself, okay? I’ve got things to do here, so I’ll hang up now. Bye.”

Lin Tian sounded rushed and ended the call after only a few words, not even asking how she had been.

After all, he hadn’t seen his sister for so long—didn’t he miss her at all?

All Lin Qingzhu heard in the background was loud noise, people shouting, and someone urging him on. She had no idea where he actually was.

Gu Junqing sneered inwardly. Of course he knew—Lin Tian was at a gambling den.

He had even arranged for people to keep Lin Tian occupied, letting him win small amounts occasionally so he would remain distracted and busy.

With the Golden Eyes, it was difficult for Lin Tian not to make money. But Gu Junqing could easily control his profits—or simply use methods teachers liked to call confiscation.

Lin Qingzhu lowered her phone, disappointment filling her heart. Her brother suddenly felt unfamiliar.

In the past, even when Lin Tian didn’t come home, he would always call to check on her and comfort her.

Now, when she called him, he hung up abruptly. She didn’t understand what she had done wrong.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt wronged.

Gu Junqing gently stroked her cheek, wiping away her tears.

Although he was the one orchestrating everything, he felt no guilt.

If he allowed Lin Tian to grow wealthy and rise to power, the one who would eventually die would be Gu Junqing himself.

Even though Lin Qingzhu was an incredibly caring sister, he had no intention of sparing Lin Tian.

In that case, wouldn’t it be better if he became Lin Qingzhu’s brother instead?

Lin Qingzhu felt the warmth of his hand and unconsciously leaned her cheek fully into his palm, tilting her head with innocent trust.

Gu Junqing, who had just considered becoming her brother, was nearly overwhelmed by her cuteness and immediately abandoned that idea.

“I might as well become Lin Qingzhu’s sweetheart in a few years. Wouldn’t that be even better?” he thought.

His heart softened.

Lin Qingzhu felt that the big brother before her was warm and reliable—someone she could truly trust.

So she agreed to move into Gu Junqing’s home and discussed her job responsibilities with him.

Essentially, she would help take care of Gu Junqing’s daily life while also focusing on maintaining her own health.

After years of scrimping and saving, Lin Qingzhu was somewhat undernourished, lacking fullness where she should have had more.

Although Gu Junqing couldn’t “eat,” he could at least look, right?

If anyone heard his thoughts, he would probably be handcuffed and taken away by the police.

Lin Qingzhu was very happy with this job. The salary was high, and she was admittedly a little money lover.

The work wasn’t tiring, and she wouldn’t have to worry about harassment from customers anymore. Of course, she didn’t know whether Gu Junqing might behave like that—she could only trust his character.

She could also commute to school with him, since her middle school was close to his high school.

Life suddenly felt hopeful again.

She secretly glanced at Gu Junqing.

Moreover, she finally had someone to accompany her in life. That thought brought her quiet comfort and joy.

The two went inside to pack the belongings she would bring with her.

Gu Junqing noticed that Lin Qingzhu’s clothes were old and worn, so he suggested she go to his house first while he bought her new ones.

Naturally, Lin Qingzhu refused. She already owed him 100,000 yuan—how could she let him spend more money on her?

Gu Junqing could only say he would deduct it from her salary, finally persuading her to agree.

Lin Qingzhu followed Gu Junqing back to his villa.

Looking at the luxurious estate spanning thousands of square meters, built like a medieval castle, she finally understood just how wealthy his family was. No wonder Luo Ningyu had told her not to worry about the hundred thousand yuan.

“The house is so big…” Lin Qingzhu murmured, feeling a little inferior.

“But there are downsides too. My housekeeper and security guard recently broke up after dating. Do you know why?” Gu Junqing asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Ah… why?” she asked, puzzled.

“Because they found long-distance relationships too painful.”

“Hahaha.”

Only someone as innocent as Lin Qingzhu would laugh at such an old joke.

Still, seeing her mood lift and her sense of inferiority fade, Gu Junqing felt relieved—and a little proud of his quick thinking.