"No... no," Lu Xiaodie's heart pounded when Gu Luotang directly asked her this question. Her expression became extremely unnatural, and she didn't dare to meet Gu Luotang's gaze.
Gu Luotang looked at her and smiled gently. "Sister Lu, your reaction has confirmed that I was right. You are already together, aren't you?"
Lu Xiaodie, having recovered, quickly said, "Luotang, it's not what you think. Wan and I are just... just in a simple relationship to improve our martial arts together. It's... um, how should I explain it...?"
Lu Xiaodie was flustered and didn't know how to explain her relationship with Wan Yunting to Gu Luotang. After all, she truly didn't want her actions to affect the relationship between Gu Luotang and Wan Yunting.
"You've dual-cultivated, haven't you?"
Gu Luotang knew that men could dual-cultivate to rapidly improve their internal energy. Her own current internal energy was cultivated through dual cultivation with a man.
In fact, Gu Luotang had noticed hints of Lu Xiaodie and a man a long time ago but had kept it to herself without pointing it out.
Only when Wan Yunting said he would also bring Lu Xiaodie for closed-door training this time did Gu Luotang confirm this, believing Lu Xiaodie had a relationship with a man!
Lu Xiaodie's face was filled with embarrassment. She looked at Gu Luotang and said cautiously, "Luotang, if I say that Wan and I are only in a dual-cultivation relationship, would you believe me?"
Gu Luotang smiled gently and nodded.
"Hoo..."
Seeing that she believed her, Lu Xiaodie finally breathed a sigh of relief. She then took the initiative to say, "Sister Luotang, I'm sorry. I was the one who proposed dual cultivation with Yunting. At that time, I was so eager to break through. Upon learning that he knew dual cultivation techniques, I pestered him and dual-cultivated with him."
"But don't misunderstand. It was me who shamelessly pestered him. Please don't blame him. If anyone is to blame, it's me for being shameless. I've wronged you..."
"Sister Lu, please don't say that."
Gu Luotang got up, took Lu Xiaodie's hand, and smiled gently, shaking her head. "I know Yunting's character very well. I also believe that your relationship is pure and that you wouldn't harbor malicious intentions to disrupt my relationship with Yunting!"
Lu Xiaodie's expression froze. She understood that Gu Luotang's words had a hidden meaning, a warning not to have other thoughts about Wan Yunting!
But Gu Luotang continued, "When Yunting arranged for you and Sister Zheng to go to the valley for closed-door training this time, he had his reasons. If he still wants to dual-cultivate with you, I don't object!"
These words made Lu Xiaodie look at Gu Luotang in surprise, and she couldn't help but ask, "Luotang, aren't you angry?"
Gu Luotang shook her head slightly and smiled, "No matter what Yunting does, I will unconditionally support him!"
This time, Lu Xiaodie was completely astonished. She stared blankly at Gu Luotang, and after a long time, she sighed, "Luotang, you're truly foolish, but I must say your feelings for Yunting are very deep!"
Gu Luotang, who had sat down again, smiled. "Fang Yanxi is Yunting's rightful woman, and I don't want to compete for those things. As long as Yunting has me in his heart, I'll be happy."
Lu Xiaodie looked at her, marveling at how deeply this girl loved Wan Yunting, supporting him so wholeheartedly, even at the cost of not having a formal title.
For a normal person, Gu Luotang's thoughts were simply too foolish.
But this also reflected the extent of Gu Luotang's infatuation with Wan Yunting.
This made Lu Xiaodie feel deeply ashamed. Although she also liked Wan Yunting, and their initial encounter was solely for her own martial arts breakthrough through dual cultivation, it was only after Wan Yunting went to the Hengshan Sect and desperately saved her that Lu Xiaodie truly fell in love with him.
However, at this moment, compared to Gu Luotang, Lu Xiaodie felt her love was so insignificant, because she couldn't do what Gu Luotang was doing...
"Sister, Sister Lu, what are you two talking about?"
At this moment, Qi Miaomiao came out after her bath. Seeing Lu Xiaodie's dazed expression and Sister Gu Luotang sitting on a chair reading a book, she turned her head to look at the approaching Qi Miaomiao and smiled, "We're not talking about anything."
"By the way, hasn't Yunting returned yet?" Qi Miaomiao asked.
"No," Lu Xiaodie, having recovered, stopped the topic with Gu Luotang.
Qi Miaomiao adjusted her skirt and sat down, crossing her legs. While tidying her long hair, she hummed, "Yunting must be with that Duan Yingying!"
This statement made Gu Luotang and Lu Xiaodie freeze. They exchanged glances and looked at Qi Miaomiao together. She said, "Sister, Sister Lu, don't you see it? That Duan Yingying must have feelings for Yunting!"
Just then, Zheng Rong, also wearing pajamas, came in and said with a smile, "What gossip are you guys talking about now?"
"Sister Zheng, tell us, wasn't there something unusual between Yunting and Duan Yingying at the dinner table before?"
Qi Miaomiao immediately asked Zheng Rong to comment. Zheng Rong was taken aback for a moment, but after thinking carefully, she nodded and smiled, "They were indeed exchanging meaningful glances."
"See? Sister Zheng even said they were acting strangely," Qi Miaomiao turned back to Gu Luotang and Lu Xiaodie.
"Don't say it, now that Miaomiao mentions it, I also feel like there might be something genuinely wrong with them."
Suddenly, Lu Xiaodie's bright eyes widened and she said, "Back then, when Wan brought that Duan Yingying to the Hengshan Sect, I didn't observe carefully. But now that I think about it, it seemed like they already had some secret relationship!"
"It's over, they must be together," Qi Miaomiao slapped her thigh, concluding the matter.
Lu Xiaodie immediately looked at Gu Luotang, who remained calm. "Alright Miaomiao, this is just your speculation. Don't jump to conclusions so quickly."
"Sister, if you don't believe it, you can interrogate him yourself when Yunting returns later," Qi Miaomiao said huffily, seeing that her sister still didn't believe her.
Lu Xiaodie, having just witnessed Gu Luotang's devotion, sighed helplessly. Even if Gu Luotang found out about Yun Ting and Duan Yingying being together, what could she do?
"Sister Lu, Sister Zheng, it's getting late. You should rest early," Gu Luotang said with a smile.
"Okay, you two rest early too."
Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong nodded and left to rest.
Qi Miaomiao sat aside and began applying a face mask. "Sister, we'll just sit here and wait for Yunting to return. Hmph, I want to interrogate him and find out if he's involved with that Duan Yingying..."
Gu Luotang, holding a book, smiled and shook her head. Even if she knew the man was with another woman, although she would feel a little uncomfortable, she wouldn't blame him...
They waited until half-past midnight. It was then that Wan Yunting returned from outside. Seeing the lights still on in the front hall and the room on the left, Zheng Rong opened the door and happened to see Wan Yunting, who had just returned to the courtyard. She quickly said, "Yunting, you're back."
"Yeah, Sister Zheng, you're not asleep yet?"
Wan Yunting looked at Zheng Rong in her pajamas, her dark hair cascading down. Although she wasn't exceptionally beautiful, she had a good temperament, giving the impression of a gentle and virtuous woman. Zheng Rong shook her head and smiled, "No."
Wan Yunting walked over and saw Lu Xiaodie also in the room, looking at her phone. Noticing Wan Yunting at the door, she quickly got up and ran over, pressing herself against Wan Yunting's chest. She sniffed his chest vigorously with her nose. Instantly, Lu Xiaodie's bright eyes widened, and she pointed at Wan Yunting's nose, "Did you really go fooling around?"
Wan Yunting couldn't dodge. Caught red-handed, he smiled unnaturally and lied, "No..."
"Don't argue. You smell of another woman!"
Lu Xiaodie glared at him with her deep eyes, then abruptly pulled Wan Yunting into the room and motioned for Zheng Rong to come in as well...
Qi Miaomiao, who was in the front hall, came out and saw Zheng Rong at her room door. She asked, "Sister Zheng, is that Yunting's voice?"
Zheng Rong was taken aback. Seeing Lu Xiaodie vigorously shaking her head at her from the room, Zheng Rong smiled at Qi Miaomiao, "Not yet."
Qi Miaomiao, standing at the front hall doorway, scratched her head and said curiously, "Then why did I hear a noise just now?"
Zheng Rong smiled, "Oh, I just saw a cat and came out to take a look."
"A cat? Where?"
"Um, it ran away already."
"Okay, then Sister Zheng, you should get some rest."
Qi Miaomiao, without thinking further, turned and went back to sit on the living room chair to wait for Wan Yunting...
"Sister Lu, what are you doing? Sister Zheng is still here..."
Pulled into the room by Lu Xiaodie, Wan Yunting was hugged and pressed against her chest, making Wan Yunting's old face flush. He quickly pushed Lu Xiaodie away, looking embarrassed at the entering Zheng Rong, feeling very awkward...
"I'm helping you. Why are you embarrassed?"
Lu Xiaodie's cheeks also turned red. She gave the fortunate guy a charming glance with her bright eyes and said, "Besides, Sister Zheng knows about our relationship, so why are you embarrassed..."
Zheng Rong, standing to the side, covered her mouth and chuckled. Wan Yunting was speechless. He looked at Lu Xiaodie, who was heading to the vanity to get something, and urged, "Sister Lu, you really don't hide anything, can't you be more reserved and ladylike?"
Lu Xiaodie, returning with her perfume, gave him a glare and sprayed it on him. "Do you think I'm like Sister Luotang, who obeys your every word?"
Wan Yunting broke out in a sweat, knowing that Lu Xiaodie was using her perfume to mask the scent of Duan Yingying on him. He said, "But if you do this, won't Luotang know I was with you?"
Lu Xiaodie glared at him speechlessly again and tapped his forehead with her delicate finger. "Don't think Sister Luotang is just a simple and reserved young girl. She's very smart."
Wan Yunting froze, realizing that Gu Luotang might already know about his relationship with Sister Lu.
Zheng Rong, standing beside them, smiled without comment. Facing this amorous Sect Master Wan, she truly didn't know how to evaluate him.
"Hurry back..."
Lu Xiaodie pushed him out. Wan Yunting scratched his head and then headed towards the front hall...
Lu Xiaodie shook her head helplessly, closed the door, and turned around. Zheng Rong looked at her and smiled, "Xiaodie, I don't quite understand you. Do you really like Yunting that much?"
Lu Xiaodie, getting back into bed, shrugged her shoulders and said, "Why wouldn't I like him?"
"Although in your eyes, he's just a philandering scumbag, in our eyes, Yunting is a deeply affectionate man. Have you ever seen him being promiscuous or playing with other people's feelings?"
Zheng Rong listened to her words and, after thinking carefully, shook her head. "I've seen a lot of his news, and it seems there haven't been any reports of him betraying or toying with anyone's feelings."
"So, that's the difference between him and those scumbags!"
Lu Xiaodie looked at Zheng Rong and smiled. "He's very affectionate, but he's sincere to every woman. Look at Sister Luotang; she's infatuated with him to death."
"And his first girlfriend, Fang Yanxi, is also unwavering in her devotion to him. This is enough to show that Wan Yunting is an affectionate and righteous man."
"Furthermore, his character is righteous, and he punishes evil and promotes good. In ancient times, he would have been a great hero. Although he's a bit of a flirt, his nature is not bad. Who wouldn't like such a man?"
"Well, what you're saying makes some sense."
Zheng Rong nodded and smiled. "When I called him and mentioned you were in trouble, he rushed over immediately. From this, you can tell he values you highly!"
"So, I really like him."
Lu Xiaodie's cheeks turned slightly red as she unreservedly expressed her love for Wan Yunting.
This made Zheng Rong amused. "You're truly someone who dares to love and dares to hate, and doesn't hide your feelings."
Lu Xiaodie smiled, "But I'm only telling you this. Yunting and I are just in a dual-cultivation relationship. I wouldn't dare to compete for any status with his other girlfriends. I just need him to remember me and look at me when he thinks of me."
Zheng Rong was taken aback and asked, "Then you don't consider your own future?"
Lu Xiaodie waved her hand and smiled. "Sister, you don't understand. Once you're with Yunting, you won't be able to look at any other man!"
Zheng Rong's expression was astonished, and her cheeks turned slightly red. She playfully hit Lu Xiaodie's arm. "What are you saying?"
"Hehe..."
Lu Xiaodie realized the implication of her words and covered her mouth, laughing. Seeing Zheng Rong's shyness, she continued to tease, "How about I tell him and let you dual-cultivate with him?"
Zheng Rong's face turned bright red, and she quickly shook her head. "Don't talk nonsense. How could I dual-cultivate with him? Besides, I don't have your beauty, and my figure is not as good as yours. I'm already old, why would he want to dual-cultivate with me..."
"Hehe..."
Seeing that she could say such a thing, Lu Xiaodie knew Zheng Rong was moved. She pulled her and smiled, "Sister, you look good! Besides, your... are bigger than mine..."
"Stop touching..."
Zheng Rong shyly pushed away her hand, but Lu Xiaodie's words made her heart flutter, creating ripples of longing, and a trace of expectation could not be hidden in her eyes...