This time, it was Gu Ximan’s turn to be hit by a nuclear bomb of shock.
What had she just heard?
What tradition?
Being the "smaller one"? What did that even mean?
A mistress?
A second wife?
Were they even living in the same era?
"Wait... wait a minute... Xuexue, what did you just say?" Gu Ximan wondered if the sheer embarrassment from earlier had caused her to hallucinate.
After all, even if the two of them were inseparable best friends, sharing the same man was beyond the pale.
"I said... Sister Ximan... I’m actually quite traditional. I’m willing to be the smaller one," Lu Xuexue forced out, doubling down despite the awkwardness.
Her white-stocking-clad legs curled into adorable question marks under the table.
"I... you..."
Gu Ximan’s brain was buzzing like a beehive.
She noticed the sunlight gilding the tips of Lu Xuexue’s hair, the hum of the air conditioner suddenly deafening, even the cloyingly sweet scent of lemon-scented hand cream on the nightstand—every sensory detail amplified tenfold by her shock.
Gu Ximan had imagined countless scenarios for today’s meeting with Lu Xuexue.
They might have a calm heart-to-heart, sharing their feelings. They might part on bad terms over irreconcilable differences. She’d even braced herself for accusations, for their friendship to shatter beyond repair.
But out of all possibilities, she’d never anticipated things taking such a bizarre turn.
"Sister Ximan, as long as you let me stay close to Brother Gu Luo, I’ll listen to you in everything. Really. You take the lead, I’ll follow," Lu Xuexue declared, her tone a mix of determination and pleading.
Right now, her priority was to stabilize Ximan.
No matter what, she couldn’t afford to compete with her.
The odds were stacked hopelessly against her.
Better to retreat strategically and aim for a happy ending for all.
As for Brother Gu Luo, Lu Xuexue would never willingly share him with another girl—unless that girl was her best friend, Gu Ximan. In that case, she could make an exception.
Worst-case scenario, the three of them could just live happily ever after together.
"Xuexue, do you even hear yourself right now?"
Gu Ximan was at her limit. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined her sweet, innocent best friend being this "traditional."
Willing to share a man.
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry—or just cry some more.
Hearing this, Lu Xuexue nodded earnestly. "I know what I’m saying. It’s not illegal, you know."
"......"
Gu Ximan’s lips twitched violently, rendered speechless.
Oh Xuexue, if your lawyer parents knew you were applying legal knowledge like this, they’d be so proud... not!
"Please, Sister Ximan? Pretty please?"
Seeing Gu Ximan’s silence, Lu Xuexue grabbed her arm and started shaking it, dialing up the puppy-dog eyes to maximum.
She looked downright pitiful.
"This... this..."
Gu Ximan squirmed, wishing Lu Xuexue would just yell at her instead of subjecting her to this torture.
As the saying goes, you don’t hit someone who’s smiling at you.
Add guilt to the mix, and outright refusal became impossible.
Noticing Gu Ximan’s hesitation, Lu Xuexue’s eyes lit up. She pressed her advantage:
"Ximan, the line of girls who like Brother Gu Luo could stretch across Caizhou. If we team up, it’d be a classic case of one plus one being greater than two."
"Honestly, what guy would say no to having both of us, right?"
"Besides, we’re best friends."
With every word, Gu Ximan’s already sluggish brain short-circuited further.
At first glance, it almost made sense.
But upon closer inspection—
No.
No no no!
Gu Ximan shook her head, her expression a masterpiece of conflicted emotions.
"Let me think about this..."
Lu Xuexue immediately stood up, circled behind her, and started massaging her shoulders. "No rush, Ximan. Take your time. We’ve got all the time in the world."
"A week, a month—I’ll wait however long it takes."
This strategic retreat worked like a charm.
Gu Ximan, who’d planned to delay briefly before outright refusing, found herself tongue-tied again.
How could she say no when Xuexue was being this accommodating?
Aaaaaaaaaah—!
This wasn’t how the script was supposed to go!
After an internal struggle of epic proportions, Gu Ximan collapsed weakly into Lu Xuexue’s arms, murmuring with closed eyes:
"Just call me Ximan from now on."
Lu Xuexue’s heart plummeted. She panicked, thinking this was a rejection.
But then Gu Ximan added:
"As for what you proposed... I need time to consider it."
"But until I give my answer, you’re not allowed near Gu Luo without my permission."
Against all odds, the path forward suddenly cleared.
"Ximan, you’re the best!" Lu Xuexue squealed, her cheeks flushing with excitement as she planted a loud "Mwah!" on Gu Ximan’s face.
The hardest part was getting started.
But now that the first step was taken, the rest would follow naturally.
Lu Xuexue knew that in this game of love, securing Ximan meant securing Brother Gu Luo.
This was a strategy only she had discovered.
A masterstroke she dubbed—Leverage Ximan to Control Brother Gu!
............
............
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
or! A blessing for those who struggle with love, a guidebook for dating novices. Quickly match with your dream goddess! Complete walkthroughs earn rewards, and perfect walkthroughs unlock limited achievements!】 Shen Yi, an ordinary office worker, accidentally downloads a mini-game called Dating Simulator. The mini-game is simple: randomly search for dating targets, simulate dates, and receive rewards upon successful confession. Rewards include but are not limited to money, attributes, and skills. The higher the evaluation, the better the rewards, with perfect ratings unlocking mysterious achievements. Shen Yi plans to use this mysterious mini-game to continuously pursue targets and improve himself, making his life better and better. ...... However, after several successful walkthroughs, Shen Yi suddenly notices something strange - the targets he previously simulated dating seem to be searching for him in real life?
iaobai: "Councilor Dad, front me some funds. I want to hire ten thousand professional miners for a project!" [Five-Star Mission Issued: Capture the leader of the Blood Heaven Pirate Gang, who is on the run in the Radiant Star Sector. It is said the gang has over a hundred members. Proceed with caution.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, lend me the family's hundred-thousand-strong Lu Army!" [Seven-Star Mission Issued: Subdue a juvenile Void Dragon Beast.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, I'm taking your tamed Void Dragon Beast King out for a family reunion!" I said, System, don't you have any slightly more challenging missions? You're just not up to par! [Nine-Star Mission Issued: Become the Human Councilor.] Lu Xiaobai: "Dad, there's a small matter I'd like to discuss with you..."
with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!
