98: How could I lose?

Huh!?

Xi Nian blinked after hearing this, a strange feeling welling up in her heart.

Wait, you... how did you fall for Gu Yuan?

Although Tian Mei didn't explicitly say she liked Gu Yuan.

But, judging by the reactions and feelings she described, she must have fallen for him!

Because that's exactly how I went through it... Huh...!

She was clearly so afraid of Gu Yuan before, yet now... how did she fall in love with him?

Xi Nian blinked her eyes, feeling utterly confused.

Tian Mei didn't notice Xi Nian's strange look; she was still talking to herself:

"Xi Nian, you are an origin incarnation, and you are close to Gu Yuan, so I wanted to talk to you about this. Tell me, what is wrong with me?"

By the end of her sentence, a look of confusion appeared on Tian Mei's pretty face.

As the former heavenly dao incarnation, she had never experienced the emotions of the Human Race.

It could be said that before meeting Gu Yuan, she was a blank slate in this regard.

After meeting Gu Yuan, she gradually began to experience the emotions of the Human Race.

However, as time went on, she found that she understood less and less about emotions.

Gu Yuan had done such outrageous things to her back then; logically, she should hate him.

But... for some reason, whenever Tian Mei sees Gu Yuan or stays by his side now, she always has a strange feeling in her heart.

And... well... she also finds herself secretly glancing at him.

All of this left Tian Mei completely bewildered.

She even occasionally wondered if Gu Yuan had secretly given her another Medicinal Pill... Xi Nian sighed helplessly, feeling a little resentful toward Gu Yuan.

That bad fellow really knows how to flirt with women.

Flirting is one thing, but now he expects me to clean up his mess. I really owe him nothing.

Hmm... Xi Nian mentally organized her thoughts, settled on her wording, and then took Tian Mei's small hand and said:

"Then tell me... well... let's put it this way: imagine I am Gu Yuan right now. When you look straight at me, does your heart pound?"

Huh...?

Tian Mei looked up at Xi Nian, blinked, then lowered her head and whispered:

"Yes, I think so... That's why I don't look at him now, unless he calls me."

Uh... Xi Nian rubbed her forehead, finding it a bit funny. How could this former heavenly dao incarnation be so adorable?

"Ahem, I won't say anything else, I'll just tell you the reason directly."

Xi Nian said after lightly clearing her throat.

Tian Mei nodded quickly upon hearing this.

"Yes, I came tonight precisely for the answer, Xi Nian. If you know, please tell me quickly."

Xi Nian smiled and shook her head, then reached out and gently poked her forehead.

"Oh, you! You've just fallen in love with Gu Yuan. I was in the exact same state back then, so there's absolutely no mistake!"

"After all, look..."

Although Xi Nian continued speaking, Tian Mei was completely frozen on the spot and didn't hear anything Xi Nian said afterward.

Right now, only the few words Xi Nian had just spoken were echoing in her mind.

Fallen in love with Gu Yuan, fallen in love with Gu Yuan... No, impossible!

How could I, how could I possibly like that hateful man!?

Tian Mei shot up to her feet, her pretty face filled with panic.

"I, I am not, I didn't! You, don't talk nonsense! I, wait, I, I have something else to do, so, so I'll be leaving now. Um, good, goodbye!"

With that, Tian Mei, her face completely red, stumbled and ran out of Xi Nian's room.

Xi Nian blinked her eyes. She still had so much more to say! However, seeing her panicked retreating figure, she couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Sure enough, everyone is the same, Xi Nian giggled.

Wasn't I exactly the same back then?

..."Gu Yuan, how did you sleep last night? My little courtyard is quite nice, right~"

The next morning, Yun Qingci saw Gu Yuan walk out of his room yawning and asked him with a grin.

Gu Yuan couldn't help but sigh upon hearing this.

How should he put it? Originally, he could have slept soundly while holding Xi Nian.

But because of Tian Mei, he ended up sleeping alone. Alas... "It was alright, alright. Ahem, should we head to the Sword Pool now?"

Not receiving Gu Yuan's praise, Yun Qingci pouted, but still nodded and said:

"That's right. Revered Master is probably already at the Sword Pool. Let's head over now. Hey, Xi Nian, Tian Mei, since you two are awake too, let's all go together."

Yun Qingci saw Xi Nian and Tian Mei also emerge from their rooms, so she spoke to them.

Xi Nian replied and then looked toward Tian Mei.

Hmm... sure enough, she was still secretly watching Gu Yuan. That look of a maiden in love was just too obvious!

Xi Nian shook her head, feeling both amused and helpless.

"Let's go, Tian Mei. Why are you spacing out? Let's head over together."

As Gu Yuan walked past Tian Mei, he waved his finger in front of her eyes and asked, sounding confused.

"Huh...? Oh... okay, alright, mm..."

Tian Mei finally snapped out of it.

However, when she saw Gu Yuan's eyes, she remembered what Xi Nian had told her last night.

Seeing his gaze makes her heart pound... Listening to her own rapid heartbeat right now, Tian Mei felt momentarily dazed again.

The reaction Xi Nian described matched perfectly... Could she really have...? Tian Mei bit her lip, looking at Gu Yuan's back ahead of her, feeling utterly lost for a moment.

Xi Nian, who saw this scene from the side, shook her head.

It looks like she's fallen deeply, yet unfortunately, a certain philanderer hasn't realized it yet~

"Gu Yuan, you remember the bet between us, right? Hehe, after today, you'll be my servant~"

Yun Qingci walked beside Gu Yuan, reminding him with a cheeky smile.

She was so excited about this that she barely slept last night.

After all, just thinking that she could bully Gu Yuan to her heart's content after today made her incredibly happy.

A thousand years... uh, no, it wasn't that serious, but this long-held wish was finally going to be fulfilled today!

Looking at Little Noodle's joyful, goofy expression, Gu Yuan couldn't help but smile too.

"Little Noodle, have you ever considered what would happen if you lost this bet again?"

Uh... Yun Qingci froze for a moment, but quickly shook her head, convincing herself.

"How could I possibly lose? Gu Yuan, you must be pretending to be calm, haha! How could I lose? I won't lose! Hmph, stop trying to mess with my mind!"

Seeing that the girl had entered a state of deep self-hypnosis, Gu Yuan just shook his head, finding it amusing.

What a pathetic Little Noodle~