Upon hearing this, Zanxing couldn’t help but laugh silently, thinking that indeed, asking such an obvious question was truly a waste of opportunity. After all, Gu Baiying was currently young and vigorous, seemingly clueless about romance, practically having “Romance Declined” written across his face.

However, Gu Baiying didn’t immediately answer Putao’s question.

One moment, two moments, three moments.

Countless moments passed like fireflies, silently flowing away from the pavilions and waterside gazebos, transforming into evening breeze that kissed the crimson flowers in Changchun Pool.

The young man lowered his eyelashes, his eyes surging like turbulent tides.

This wasn’t a very difficult question to answer—the answer was simply “yes” or “no.” If Gu Baiying had no one he was fond of, naturally, there was no need to hide it; he could straightforwardly say no instead of remaining silent like this.

Mendong couldn’t contain himself and called out dramatically: “Martial Uncle, no way, you do have someone you’re fond of?”

The next moment, Gu Baiying picked up the Floating Dream wine on the table and tilted his head back to pour it down.

He swallowed it all in one gulp, set the empty bowl on the table, glared at Mendong, and said coldly: “Shut up.”

Mendong didn’t dare ask any more questions, but his face couldn’t hide his astonishment.

Naturally, Mendong wasn’t the only one surprised—everyone at the table was shocked, and Putao’s expression looked particularly unpleasant. Zi Luo muttered: “If he has someone he’s fond of, how come we’ve never heard the Jiexin Bell ring…”

Zanxing’s heart stirred. Gu Baiying carried Qinghua Xianzi’s magical artifact, the Jiexin Bell. If he became enamored, the Jiexin Bell would make a sound. Now that the Jiexin Bell on Gu Baiying remained completely still, it was clear that no one at this table made his heart flutter.

Gu Baiying’s beloved wasn’t here, so who exactly did he like?

Zanxing was thinking in a daze, not noticing that the spoon had started spinning again until Liu Yunxin’s reminder came from beside her: “Miss Yang, it’s your turn.”

The silver handle pointed at her.

It was Gu Baiying’s turn to ask her a question.

Zanxing looked up at Gu Baiying. In the lamplight, the young man’s features were clean and clear, his bright eyes staring at her, seeming somehow different from usual.

When she looked more carefully, it seemed no different from normal.

Zanxing felt inexplicably nervous.

In the silence, Gu Baiying spoke. He asked: “Yang Zanxing, do you like eating scallions or not?”

Zanxing: “Huh?”

Before she could answer, Mendong was already chattering loudly: “Martial Uncle, what kind of question is that? If you can’t think of a question, you don’t have to ask one—no need to be so perfunctory! Why don’t you give me this opportunity? I can help you ask!”

Zanxing also found it incomprehensible, but still answered honestly: “I hate eating scallions the most.”

Gu Baiying made an “mm” sound and said nothing more.

This question was truly puzzling. Looking at Gu Baiying’s inscrutable expression, Zanxing couldn’t guess the intention behind his question at all.

The spoon continued spinning.

This time, it pointed to Meng Ying.

Meng Ying looked at Zanxing, indicating she could ask her question.

Zanxing hesitated for a moment. Although she was quite interested in the gossip between Taiyan Sect disciples, Meng Ying’s daily life didn’t have much to gossip about. At most, there was an ambiguous relationship between her and Mu Cengxiao. She had originally wanted to ask how far things had developed between Meng Ying and Mu Cengxiao, but Liu Yunxin was sitting right beside Mu Cengxiao. If she asked this question, the harmonious atmosphere they’d finally achieved would probably become awkward again.

She was an adult and couldn’t speak without restraint like Mendong. After thinking for a long time, Zanxing looked at Meng Ying and asked earnestly: “Senior Sister, would you mind if your future dao companion had affairs with multiple partners?”

Tian Fangfang gasped.

Gu Baiying’s face immediately turned ashen.

Zanxing thought this was quite a good question. Since she couldn’t directly ask about the relationship with Mu Cengxiao, she’d ask about Meng Ying’s views on love. In the original “Nine Heaven Summit,” Mu Cengxiao eventually married eight wives, and the proud daughter of heaven, Meng Ying, accepted this as something that greatly puzzled Zanxing as a reader.

Now that the plot had long been disrupted, Mu Cengxiao’s third wife hadn’t yet appeared, and the current situation between the remaining red and white roses and Mu Cengxiao was still unclear. What if Meng Ying’s choice was different from the original story?

Meng Ying stared at Zanxing blankly, seemingly not expecting Zanxing to ask such a question. Only after Zanxing asked again did she come to her senses, nod, and say: “Of course.”

Of course—these two words were spoken with complete naturalness.

Mendong said indignantly, “Yang Zanxing, what kind of question is that? You’re asking something you already know the answer to! What woman in the world wouldn’t mind her dao companion having multiple affairs? Never mind women—men would be the same. Even the most magnanimous person couldn’t possibly not mind such things!”

Zanxing retorted: “That’s not necessarily true.”

At least in the original story, there were eight who didn’t mind.

Just as she finished saying this, she saw Gu Baiying suddenly stand up with a “whoosh,” startling her. The young man looked coldly at everyone and said, “Boring. I’m going back.”

That anger could be smelled from eight hundred li away.

His rage was truly inexplicable. Before everyone could react, he had already stood up and left. Putao hesitated for a moment, then also stood up and said: “I also have matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave first.” With that, she took a few quick steps to catch up with Gu Baiying and disappeared from Duoluo Terrace.

Suddenly, there were two fewer people.

Zanxing asked in bewilderment: “What’s wrong with him?”

Tian Fangfang gave a dry laugh, and Zi Luo sighed: “Forget it, don’t mind them. Let’s continue.”

……

The bustle was gradually left behind.

The night breeze of early summer was slightly cool, dispersing some of the intensity of the Floating Dream wine. In the distance, lotus shadows swayed gently under the lamplight—originally a peaceful scene, yet it inexplicably made one’s mood even more irritated.

And he didn’t know what he was irritated about.

“Fellow Cultivator Gu… Fellow Cultivator Gu… Gu Baiying!” The girl chased after him breathlessly, grabbing his sleeve and calling out his name loudly.

The young man stopped impatiently: “Why are you following me?”

Putao was momentarily speechless.

His brows were slightly furrowed, showing that this person was truly in a foul mood at the moment, and the way he looked at her held not a trace of patience. This made Putao feel somewhat wronged and rather dejected.

She was the most beloved little junior sister in the Xiangling Sect, with an innocent and naive temperament, well-protected by her aunt. Fellow disciples all treated her kindly and gently. Only this young man before her had mercilessly clashed with her in Li’er Kingdom, not taking her seriously at all.

She should have hated this person, should have considered him a mortal enemy. But when she learned that Gu Baiying might perish in the secret realm, when she saw Gu Baiying fall into danger, she couldn’t help but worry for him.

Putao wasn’t a child—naturally, she understood what this meant.

She liked Gu Baiying.

“I like you.” She raised her head to look at the young man before her.