After chatting for a while, the shopkeeperâs gaze started shifting between Gu Sheng and Lan Hua, then she smiled and said, "Gu Sheng, this is the first time Lan Hua has brought a guest for me. It seems youâre someone special to her."
At her words, Lan Hua couldnât help but blush.
"Stop talking nonsense."
She playfully scolded, glancing upward at Gu Sheng. After taking one look, she quickly averted her gaze, looking every bit the shy maiden.
"Wow, did I hit a nerve with just one comment? Lan Hua, I didnât expect you to like this type. Gu Sheng, our Lan Hua has never shown interest in anyone before, so youâd better make the most of it."
In an instant, Lan Huaâs face turned a deep red, as she kept tugging at her friendâs sleeve, but couldnât stop her from speaking.
As the two of them laughed and joked, Hong Meiâs expression had turned extremely dark.
Lan Yao and the others sensed the tense atmosphere here, breaking out in cold sweat. Lan Yao kept nudging Gu Sheng, signaling him to speak up.
"Youâve misunderstood. Lan Hua and I arenât in the kind of relationship youâre thinking of. We are just purely friends."
As soon as Gu Sheng spoke, the redness on Lan Huaâs face faded quite a bit, turning into a look of awkwardness.
"Exactly, Iâve been saying all along, we arenât that kind of relationship."
Looking at Gu Sheng, Lan Huaâs friend frowned.
"How can you not be interested in someone as outstanding as our Lan Hua? Are you even a man?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Sheng furrowed his brows.
"Who I like doesnât have anything to do with whether Iâm a man. I already have someone in my heart, and sheâs right here, so I canât joke about this."
Instinctively, Lan Huaâs gaze fell on Hong Meiâs face. She pressed her lips tightly, a clear hint of reluctance in her eyes.
Hong Mei also didnât expect Gu Sheng to be so blunt, leaving her at a loss for what to do.
Seeing neither side speaking, Gu Sheng turned to look at Hong Mei.
"Even though Iâve never said it, you should know how I feel, right?"
Looking at him, Hong Mei nodded forcefully.
He wanted to use up all his spiritual energy to heal her; how could she not know his feelings? Itâs just that neither of them wanted to break the unspoken understanding, so she endured it all.
Seeing Hong Mei nod, Gu Sheng curved his lips into a smile.
"My beloved said she knows."
When Gu Sheng said this, Lan Huaâs friendâs face turned dark.
"You have someone in your heart but still flirt with our Lan Hua? Are you insane? If youâre sick, go get treated early, donât mess around here! Get lost, get lost, youâre not welcome at our inn!"
As she spoke, she raised her hand, and a wave of divine power shot from her hand, heading straight for Gu Sheng.
Feeling her divine power, Gu Shengâs expression changed. He raised his hand to grasp it, instantly dispelling it.
Seeing Gu Sheng easily dissipate her divine power, she sneered, "So what if youâre strong? Having someone in your heart already makes you impure; youâre not worthy of our Lan Hua!"
Raising his gaze to her, Gu Shengâs expression also darkened.
"I already said, Lan Hua and I are just ordinary friends. Itâs you who assumed our relationship was something else. Now that you know the truth, you speak so rudely. Itâs pitiful for Lan Hua to have a friend like you!"
"Nonsense! Itâs Lan Hua knowing someone like you thatâs pitiful!"
Seeing her furious and embarrassed, Gu Sheng let out a cold laugh.
"We met because we have common goals and can support each other. If you hadnât said these things today making us awkward, we could have interacted smoothly, even becoming the best of friends. But now that youâve said this, youâve already estranged our relationship. If anyone took it seriously, how would we interact in the future?"
Gu Shengâs words were clever, seemingly addressing Lan Huaâs friend, but also letting Lan Hua know he didnât take her friendâs words to heart and that it was just someone elseâs interference, not affecting their friendship.
Lan Hua naturally understood Gu Shengâs words and let out a heavy sigh of relief.
When her friend wanted to speak again, she quickly stepped forward.
"Okay, stop it. Itâs not what you think. We havenât known each other long and are indeed just friends. Hong Mei has always been with Gu Sheng, so itâs fine if sheâs his beloved. Stop making everyone uncomfortable."
After Lan Hua finished speaking, her friendâs eyes widened in anger.
"You fool, weâve known each other for years, do you think I canât see what youâre thinking? I was clearly helping you, and instead, youâre pushing people away. Are you stupid?"
Having her feelings exposed again, Lan Hua felt utterly embarrassed.
Before knowing Gu Sheng liked Hong Mei, she wanted her friend to help express her feelings, letting Gu Sheng know her intentions, hoping it might bring them closer. But now that Gu Sheng had been open, saying anything more would just make her more embarrassed.
"Enough! Stop it! Iâve never had such thoughts, donât joke about our relationship anymore!"
Lan Hua was clearly angry, her face flushed with anger, looking entirely different from before.
To maintain her remaining dignity, she reached out to grab the keys next to her.
Seeing her action, her friend grabbed her hand.
"He already has someone in his heart and you still want him to stay here? Tell him to get lost! He can come back when his heart is clear! Otherwise, I wonât accommodate him here!"
"Stop fooling around!"
"Iâm not fooling around! Everyone except you, get lost!"
Hearing these repeated demands to leave, Gu Sheng gave her a cold glance, then said to Lan Hua, "There are plenty of inns in the Southern City, weâll just find another one. You stay here, and weâll see each other tomorrow."