Any normal person would feel puzzled hearing Gu Qinghan’s question.

Who even brings up *that* topic right after meeting someone?

True to expectation, Richard froze on the spot, dazed for a long moment.

After a brief silence, his cheeks flushed slightly. He scratched the back of his head shyly.

“Mr. Hohenheim truly has a gift for foresight.”

Gu Qinghan: ?

The man’s unexpected reaction left *him* stunned instead.

“To be honest,” Richard continued, “I moved to the City of Devoted Love just to reunite with my fiancée.”

“Over a decade passed in the blink of an eye—but today’s finally here.”

“It’s the day we agreed to meet. Next month, we’ll marry.”

“Come on, quickly greet Mr. Hohenheim.”

As he spoke, Richard slowly turned and gently led out the beautiful girl hidden behind him.

Gu Qinghan stood rooted. Watching the blushing girl step forward with light footsteps, his face visibly paled.

Clad in a simple white gown, her cheeks burned like ripe apples. Her gaze locked onto him—intense, unwavering.

Within her reddened eyes swirled a tangled storm:

Shyness. Nervousness. And…

Hatred.

Events unfolded too fast. Gu Qinghan’s The Cortex momentarily crashed.

*Liana.*

He recognized her instantly.

The same girl who’d fought him to the death that very morning now stood before him.

So *Richard* was the fiancé Liana mentioned?

And they were now his *neighbors*??

A dull buzz filled his ears.

This was far worse than he’d imagined.

But it wasn’t over.

Katarina stood nearby, watching him with a faint, knowing smile.

And Mr. Richard pressed on:

“Meeting Mr. Hohenheim today feels like fate. I’m sure Liana feels the same.”

“How about we become friends? What do you think?”

Gu Qinghan stared blankly at the girl. A strange surge of magic stirred within him.

*It’s happening.*

[Passive Effect: Golden-haired Affinity Activated!]

[Directly ahead (~1.5m): Loyalty from Liana +20]

Richard’s “Declaration of Friendship” delivered the final trigger.

Watching Richard’s sunny grin, Gu Qinghan swallowed a sharp retort.

He took a deep breath, forced a smile, and shook Richard’s hand.

“Hello. I’m Hohenheim. Please look after me.”

After the strained words, his gaze turned icy. His eyes flicked subtly over Liana’s figure.

*Hypnotic Perception.*

Magic drained from him. Beneath her snow-pale skin, a faint blush betrayed her turmoil.

Feedback arrived:

Hypnosis Depth (Loyalty): 40 points.

[Complex emotions toward you: abyssal hatred intertwined with inexplicable infatuation and tension.]

Golden text etched itself into his mind.

Gu Qinghan’s expression darkened. *Worst outcome.*

But something felt off. *Why 40?* Shouldn’t Golden-haired Affinity only grant +20?

Then he remembered.

*Hypnotic Powder.*

That morning, he’d used Hohenheim’s powder for a half-hypnosis—just to evade Katarina’s inspection.

The effect should’ve faded if they avoided contact for three days.

Instead, it doubled.

Originally needing five triggers… now under three would break her completely.

His face stiffened.

With a sigh, he wrapped up the conversation, saw the trio off, and locked himself in his room.

Alone in the dark, he stood motionless.

*What even is this…?*

…

Moonlight streamed through the window, silvering the wooden floor like flowing water.

This tangled mess drained him.

Later, he pieced together Richard’s three goals:

First—use Katarina to meet him.

Second—after she left, Richard privately asked:

“I just moved here… need a job.”

Awkward smile.

To stop the nuisance, Gu Qinghan secured him work (thanks to game lore).

Third—the Kingdom of Pure Love’s rule:

*Pure Love Edict: Unmarried couples may not cohabit.*

Legally, Richard and Liana couldn’t live together until marriage registration next month.

So Richard asked Inspector Katarina for help: find someone trustworthy to host Liana.

“Anyone the Inspection Team trusts, I trust.”

Katarina chose Hohenheim.

*After all,* she’d reasoned, *a guy who’d rather hoard lewd books than talk to real girls?*

*He’d never touch another man’s fiancée.*

Perfect match. Hence this meeting.

Gu Qinghan pressed a hand to his temple.

*This Kingdom of Pure Love… what’s the deal?*

“Unmarried couples can’t share a room”? “Strict adherence to edicts”?

*Do Inspectors even use their brains?!*

He almost yelled it—until Katarina, cheeks faintly pink, cut in:

“It’s *only* for accompanying Miss Liana *outside*! At home?! What are you *thinking*?!”

Ah. *That’s* what she meant.

—I’ll believe that when pigs fly!

Come *on*! They’re childhood betrothed! Marriage next month!

Still utterly unreasonable!

Headache intensifying.

Worse—Katarina’s smug smirk at the end screamed:

*“Thanks to me, you’re making neighbor friends! Aren’t you grateful, reclusive kid?”*

Ten thousand alpacas stampeded through Gu Qinghan’s soul.

*Oh, I’m SO thankful.*

He muttered inwardly.

The situation was visibly sliding toward chaos.

A chilling thought struck him: *What if Katarina set this up?*

Testing his trustworthiness.

He sighed again.

From now on: keep distance. Maintain surface-level friendship with Richard.

And *stop* Liana’s hypnosis depth from climbing further.

Hypnosis twists personalities. And he couldn’t afford that.