"Are you okay?"
Gu Luo couldn't help but curve his lips into a faint smile, watching Luo Shuhe with amused interest.
Who would’ve thought the little devil would have her day of being thoroughly tormented?
Though she’d supposedly reformed, he couldn’t deny how much he’d love to see the little sun bully her again.
The thought of twin beauties wrestling on the bed—just imagining it was thrilling.
"I’m fine, just my arm feels a bit sore."
Luo Shuhe’s voice was soft as she spoke, rubbing her arm in an exaggerated manner, looking every bit like a wronged kitten.
Beside her, Luo Shuling quietly observed the scene before blinking and adding,
"Brother, I accidentally pressed on Shuhe’s arm earlier. Could you massage it for her?"
"Sure."
Without much thought, Gu Luo reached out and gently placed his hand on Luo Shuhe’s porcelain-like shoulder, beginning to knead slowly.
The moment his fingertips touched her skin, a silky smooth sensation spread through his fingers, making it impossible not to indulge in the feeling.
For some reason, it reminded him of that night in the living room—the same delicate texture and warmth when he’d bitten Luo Shuning’s shoulder.
Cough…
Damn it.
Why was it that when he was with Luo Shuning, his thoughts would drift to Luo Shuhe, and when he was with Luo Shuhe, he’d recall Luo Shuning?
He’d already resolved to clarify things with Luo Shuhe, but after seeing how pitifully she’d lowered herself for the sake of their ambiguous relationship, his heart softened.
Looking back now, not only had he failed to cut off the ambiguity, but he’d even taken the initiative to hold her hand, peel shrimp for her, and embrace her.
Like trying to cut water with a blade—it only flows stronger.
Tangled and messy, impossible to sort out.
Gu Luo didn’t care if Luo Shuhe was faking it. Even if she was, seeing her like this still made him reluctant to push her away.
"I’m fine. You just finished cutting fruit—you should sit and rest for a bit."
As she spoke, Luo Shuhe subtly shifted her hips backward, moving just enough to dislodge Gu Luo’s hand and stop the massage.
Though she relished his touch, savoring the warmth from his fingertips…
She absolutely refused to let Luo Shuling interfere.
As she’d always said—her feelings were hers to control.
She would never accept Luo Shuling’s wild ideas.
Her and her sister were already the limit of what this complicated relationship could handle.
If Gu Luo tried to take everyone under his wing—it would be a dead end.
Besides, her sister Luo Shuning was stubborn and prone to overthinking—far less accommodating than her.
If things spiraled out of control, she might revert to her old ways, even contemplating…
Not every time would they be able to save her.
This was why Luo Shuhe had always held back, yielding to Luo Shuning—even willingly sharing the same man.
Truthfully, she’d long since resigned herself to a secret affair.
Everything she’d told Gu Luo today was sincere—
"I just want to be with you. I don’t need any formal commitment."
But if she’d approached him with that from the start, he never would’ve agreed.
So she’d used the pretense of an open relationship, only to "compromise" later and achieve her real goal.
It was just like negotiating a deal—start with a high offer, let the other party haggle, then "reluctantly" settle at the price you’d wanted all along.
Gu Luo was momentarily stunned.
He hadn’t expected Luo Shuhe to refuse his massage.
In the past, she’d practically devoured him with her eyes.
Was she afraid Luo Shuning would see?
Had she really conceded this much?
Sigh…
Just as he was about to say something, the door suddenly swung open.
"Ximan’s hair is so soft—you take such good care of it."
"Ah, it’s nothing special."
Luo Shuning and Gu Ximan walked into the bedroom side by side, chatting.
Seeing a potential ally finally arrive on the battlefield, Luo Shuhe immediately spoke up:
"Ximan, Shuning just suggested we all stay tonight to keep Gu Luo company—said it’d be nice for us sisters to chat. What do you think?"
As she spoke, she subtly emphasized the words "keep Gu Luo company"—
And shifted the proposal’s origin from Luo Shuling to Luo Shuning.
This was the art of language.
The same meaning, phrased differently, could highlight entirely different points—while obscuring key details.
She knew Gu Ximan had practically become Luo Shuling’s little follower lately.
The way she called her "Ling-jie" so sweetly and earnestly was proof enough.
Now that war had been declared—it was every girl for herself.
Shuling—my sister’s blade is no less sharp.
Stay… to keep Gu Luo company… to sleep?!
And it was Shuning-jie’s idea?!
Remembering how close Luo Shuning had been to Gu Luo earlier—even rushing to help blow-dry her hair like some overprotective guardian—Gu Ximan’s alarm bells blared.
What is Shuning-jie planning?
Does she actually have feelings for Gu Luo?!
Worst of all—this was happening right under her nose.
If they all stayed the night, wouldn’t her privilege as the "real" little sister vanish completely?
No way.
Absolutely not.
Having made up her mind, Gu Ximan quickly spoke:
"Actually… let’s not. Men and—"
She’d been about to spout some cliché like "men and women shouldn’t be too intimate," but then remembered how often she’d been sneaking into Gu Luo’s bed lately—making her the least qualified to say such things.
She hastily rephrased:
"Ahem… I toss and turn a lot in my sleep, and I kick. I’d just keep everyone up."
Hearing this, Luo Shuning immediately smiled warmly and coaxed,
"It’s fine, Ximan! It’s not like we have school tomorrow."
"You can sleep on the edge, and I’ll stay next to you—that way you won’t disturb the others."
No way was she backing down.
She’d just promised Gu Luo she’d cling to him all night.
This was their first time sharing a bed—it was special.
(Last time on the sofa didn’t count.)
Hearing Luo Shuning relegate her to the "edge," Gu Ximan nearly puffed up her cheeks in outrage.
What kind of arrangement is this?!
You shove me to the side while you cozy up to Gu Luo?!
And she had the nerve to act like she was making some grand sacrifice!
Just then, Luo Shuhe spoke again:
"Sister, if Ximan isn’t comfortable with it, we shouldn’t force her. Let’s just play some games and then go back to our own rooms."
"We can always chat as sisters another time—maybe in the garden after school starts."
Internally, she was quite pleased.
As expected, Ximan the airhead makes a good ally.
Finally, it’s not 1v2 anymore.
She didn’t see Gu Ximan as a real threat anyway.
At most, it was just teenage restlessness—nothing would come of it.
Even a scumbag like Gu Luo wouldn’t cross the line with someone who shared his surname.
At worst, she’d stay by his side as a little sister.
That much, I can allow.
Seeing Luo Shuhe back her up, Gu Ximan quickly nodded in agreement.
"Yes, Sister Shuning, let’s chat more when we go back to school the day after tomorrow. I really don’t sleep well at night—I kick around a lot. Poor Gu Luo has been on the receiving end of my kicks since we were kids."
Hearing this, Luo Shuning opened her mouth but couldn’t find a reason to insist further.
She couldn’t actually force Ximan, could she?
But if neither Ximan nor Shuhe stayed, then she and Shuling would have no reason to stay either.
After all, the original excuse was—sisterly bonding time.
What should she do now?
"Ximan, stay. Sister Ling will hold you while you sleep," Luo Shuling chimed in with a playful grin.
"Chatting together in the same bed at night is so much cozier. We sisters have never even shared a bed before."
"......"
Now that Luo Shuling had spoken, Gu Ximan, just like Luo Shuning, opened her mouth but couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
She adored and respected Luo Shuling the most.
After being looked after so much by her, she couldn’t just brush her off.
"Alright, everyone, settle down."
Seeing that the silly Ximan was about to be swayed by Shuling, Luo Shuhe quickly interjected.
"No matter what, this is still Brother’s room. We should ask for his opinion."
With that, she turned to Gu Luo, who had been quietly enjoying the drama, and said softly,
"Brother, Shuning and Shuling want all of us to stay overnight, but Ximan and I aren’t really comfortable with that. What do you think?"
In an instant, four pairs of eyes locked onto Gu Luo.
"Huh?"
Gu Luo, who had been munching on watermelon, froze mid-bite and hurriedly swallowed the red flesh.
How should he answer this?
On one side—his sweet angel Shuning and radiant sunshine Shuling.
On the other—his mischievous little devil Shuhe and tsundere Ximan.
Neither side could be offended.
Everything had been peaceful just a moment ago—how had it suddenly turned into a battlefield?
"L-Little Brother, what do you think?" Luo Shuning asked gently, giving him a subtle, meaningful blink.
The message was clear—they had already agreed to snuggle up together tonight.
"Well, I think... sleeping..."
Gu Luo was about to side with Shuning when he caught Gu Ximan’s resentful glare.
His words died in his throat.
Seriously?
Why is it always me who suffers when the gods fight?
Gu Luo wasn’t stupid—he understood both Ximan and Shuning’s intentions.
Ximan was obviously jealous and didn’t want the other girls sharing a bed with him.
Meanwhile, Shuning wanted to take this chance to experience sleeping beside him in advance.
Neither side could be crossed.
People, do you get it?
Protecting men’s safety is an urgent matter.
"Ahem..."
Gu Luo racked his brain but couldn’t come up with a perfect solution. Tentatively, he suggested,
"How about... all of you stay the night?"
The moment he said it, Luo Shuning’s smile brightened, while Gu Ximan puffed up her cheeks, ready to throttle him on the spot.
But then, he quickly added,
"I’ll sleep in the living room—freeing up space for you four lovely ladies."
"That way, everyone can rest comfortably."
............
............
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
nto another world, I bought a slave for the first time, never expecting the silver wolf girl to be so cute... Lin Feng: I know it's cold, but you don't have to sneak into my bed! Yuna: Just sharing body warmth, if you dare do anything naughty, I'll definitely...
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
