Tea-flavored Romance

Think about it again?

So incredibly cool!

The onlookers and Jiang Xihua all seemed to have bright futures, but things were clearly not so bright for Ning Yuan. Thanks to this unexpected event, Xiao Ling'er, who had just received the little shark pillow, suddenly started staring at him with an unfriendly expression, and even Lu Hanhan looked at him in shock, as if he had discovered some shocking truth.

Master Ning: Would you believe me if I said that I was actually a victim as well?

"Actually, I can explain..."

10: Stare...

99: Stare...

Alright, stop explaining... Let's think about why things turned out this way... Didn't I take Jiang Xihua to the dressing room? Could it be that she saw Gu Guanxue, who arrived late, in the dressing room?

The two great emperors, sworn enemies, were filled with intense hatred upon meeting, which led to a massive and devastating battle that even obliterated the Great Dao.

Where's Xiao Zhao? Why didn't Xiao Zhao and the others stop them? Did they just vanish as soon as the fight started?

Hmm, that seems to fit the strength level of Xiao Zhao and his team quite well...

Ning Yuan was puzzled and was about to ask Jiang or Gu, the most beautiful girl in the department, when a regretful sigh suddenly came from ahead. Everyone saw that the stunningly beautiful swordswoman had come down from the stage, found Ning Yuan, and then returned without going back up. She carried her sword and walked step by step into the backstage passage, completely unconcerned about what the people behind her were thinking.

Netizens commented: Was this arranged by the organizers on purpose? How can there be such a capricious cosplayer?

"Why did she leave...? Wasn't this girl a cosplayer we hired?"

"That's such a shame, I wanted their contact information."

"Is anyone from the organizers here? Could you please keep this cosplayer from leaving? I'll give you 648 RMB in-game currency!"

The photographers, each holding their camera, chimed in with expressions of regret. Turning around, they saw Master Ning still standing there, and both were momentarily stunned.

Ning Yuan's expression changed slightly. He grabbed the two little girls' wrists, turned around, and quickly left this place of trouble. Behind him followed a horde of onlookers who swarmed around him like zombies.

"Hey buddy, don't run away, I just want to ask you a question."

"That guy looks a lot like the Dragon King who was all the rage a while ago..."

"No way? It really is the Dragon King? Please, he's already ruined one pretty girl into a complete idiot, is he planning to do it again? My sister can't stand this!"

……

Just as everyone's attention turned to Master Ning, who was making a hasty escape, Gu Xihua leaned against a wall in the backstage passage, looking at the newcomer with a half-smile.

"That's amazing! I told you you'd look great in this outfit."

"You lost." Jiang Manyue walked towards her without slowing down even a bit because of the girl's appearance: "A bet is a bet."

"Of course, a bet is a bet~ But speaking of which, now that you're back, what about the cosplay performance on stage outside?" Gu Guanxue's expression remained cheerful, as if she didn't care at all about the impact of losing the bet on her.

“That’s something the loser has to worry about. I won, so you handle it,” Jiang Manyue said calmly. “Changing your clothes now might still make it in time. Do you want to change?”

Gu Xihua pouted: "Forget it... so be it if we breach the contract~ it's not like we're short of money anyway."

Jiang Manyue looked slightly taken aback, her eyes seeming somewhat subtle: "Ask your family for it?"

She knew, of course, that the girl in front of her had never asked her family for any money for food, clothing, or living expenses since she gained the freedom she wanted... This seemed like a price to pay for freedom, or perhaps a way for the girl to prove herself.

If one day she no longer needs to insist on maintaining this proof... does that mean she is completely free, or... quite the opposite?

Because he realized that his so-called freedom was just a bigger cage, he was so disappointed that he simply stopped struggling.

Gu Guanxue was silent for a moment, then looked up and chuckled, "It's because the penalty for breach of contract was too low. We were lucky this time; we met a kind capitalist."

(A certain foolish capitalist: ? Are you talking about me?)

Jiang Xihua gave a noncommittal reply, seemingly unconcerned by the girl's silence. She gazed at Gu Guanxue's face and slowly began to speak:

"Let's keep our promise from the bet we just made. You yourself said you'd honor the bet you made."

"Of course." The girl stretched and yawned, her eyes narrowing like a lazy kitten. "Ask me anything you want to know. I won't go back on my word."

The two of them did indeed make a bet in the dressing room for some reason. There were many reasons for this bet, including Gu Guanxue's provocation and the competitive spirit and desire to win that are unique to girls. However, the main reason was that both of them wanted to get the answers they wanted or get what they wanted through this matter.

But now Gu Guanxue has lost.

I felt resentful at the loss, yet also relieved.

"Do you like him now?" Jiang Manyue asked.

This was a straightforward question, without any concealment or hiding, as if it were meant to leave her with no way to avoid it. Gu Guanxue remained silent for a moment, then gently shook her head.

"do not like."

Jiang Manyue didn't bother to ask if it was true. Gu Guanxue was Gu Guanxue; after so many years of knowing her, Jiang Manyue had the confidence to judge people. She nodded in agreement, then turned to leave, stepping aside from the girl, when Gu Guanxue suddenly called out to her from behind.

"Can't we not tell him...? You know what I'm talking about."

Her gaze was complex yet resolute. Jiang Manyue remained silent for a moment, then asked again, as if to confirm:

"dislike?"

"Hmm, I don't like it."

"it is good."

She didn't linger and turned to walk towards the passageway door. Gu Guanxue stood there for a moment, watching her back.

The passageway was completely silent.

Chapter 165: We can't afford to be reckless.

"What kind of trouble do you think Sister Jiang and Sister Xue will cause?"

In the backstage dressing room, Xiao Zhao, Chen Ling, and their group of four were chatting while sitting around their respective dressing tables.

Makeup artist Xu Yi had already finished her task and was off taking pictures of cosplayers with her camera. The four of them weren't particularly interested in these anime and manga things; they were only there because of Gu Guanxue's request. With nowhere else to go, the four of them gathered together to gossip about what had happened earlier.

"I don't know... I only know that Sister Manyue looked amazing in that outfit." Jingjing said with longing, "I really want to find a chance to take a picture and show it to those guys in our circle..."

"To be honest, that's true."

"It has that flavor..."

"It's a shame she doesn't have a bust," Chen Ling chimed in. "I've seen Xiaoxue wear the same outfit. Although she didn't look as aloof and arrogant as Jiang Manyue, at least she had a nice bust."

"Is it true or false? Do you have any photos? Let us see them."

"It's this..." Chen Ling tapped her phone and uploaded the photo to the group chat: "Hey, speaking of which, did you guys overhear what Xiaoxue and Jiang Manyue were talking about? Why did she suddenly agree to go on stage in Xiaoxue's place?"

"I don't know, maybe it's for Sister Jiang to sleep in for one night?"

"Go to hell!" Chen Ling laughed and punched Xiao Zhao: "What are you guys thinking... Don't tell me you all secretly think Xiaoxue and Jiang Manyue are a couple."

"Of course, the Lily Party is fearless."

"That's right, the yuri (lesbian) shippers will never lose out!"

"Ugh, that's disgusting..." Jingjing said disdainfully, "You guys have such weird tastes... Why don't you two form your own couple? I think that would be quite interesting."

Xiao Zhao and Xiao Liu exchanged a glance, their expressions both changing: "You girls have even weirder tastes!"

As the four were chatting, the door to the dressing room was suddenly pushed open, and someone peeked in.

No photographer?

Dude, you've got it!

Ning Yuan opened the door with satisfaction and walked in, greeting the four people as he went: "Long time no see~"

With two little girls, they couldn't go far. In order to travel light and avoid attracting too much attention, Ning Yuan handed Xiao Ling'er and Lu Jiujiu over to Xu Yi, the runner-up director whom he met along the way, while he himself attracted the attention of onlookers and hid furtively.

Being famous is really tiring!

"Yuanzi...?" Xiao Zhao couldn't help but ask when he saw Master Ning's furtive appearance, "Who's chasing you?"

"It's a long story..." Ning Yuan sighed, sat down, unscrewed a bottle of unopened soda water, took a sip, and said slightly out of breath, "What are you all doing here? Where's Gu... Xiaoxue? Why didn't she go on stage to cosplay?"

"It's a long story..." Xiao Zhao sighed, and the two stared at each other for a while before Chen Ling couldn't help but speak up: "Because of a small problem, another friend of Xiao Xue's went on stage instead... You should have met her before, right?"

"Hmm...I've met her..." Ning Yuan hesitated for a moment, seemingly considering whether to tell them about his acquaintance with Jiang Manyue...

Tell me... I have a bad feeling about this...

If they don't say anything... on the surface, they don't seem particularly afraid of Jiang Xihua...

How about... we test the waters?

"You guys...are you also very close to that girl?"

Xiao Zhao's expression changed drastically: "I dare not make any rash decisions."

“Yuanzi, take it back quickly! If that person hears you say that, you’ll be in trouble!” Xiao Liu said with a mysterious expression, “This matter is very complicated and cannot be discussed further. Just remember to stay away from Sister Xue as much as possible when you are with her in the future.”

Master Ning slowly typed out a question mark.

?

What kind of powerhouse is this? The peerless Jiang Tiandi, right?

He turned his gaze to the two girls, thinking that since Xiao Zhao and Xiao Liu were such cowards, surely the two older girls wouldn't be so afraid of Jiang Xihua, right? But as he looked over, Chen Ling and Jing Jing also tacitly looked away, not wanting to meet his eyes.

Although they weren't as terrified as the previous two, they were clearly still quite traumatized by Jiang Manyue. Ning Yuan couldn't help but be puzzled by this, thinking to himself, "Isn't Jiang Manyue supposed to be quite kind? I've never seen her scheme against me before. Why are you all acting like you've encountered an ominous sign, so cowardly?"

Does she even prey on girls?

"Okay... then I won't ask anymore. I'll just be more careful from now on..."

"Of course you have to be careful! You haven't experienced that dark and hopeless time..." Xiao Zhao said seriously, "You have to be extremely careful!"

"Good brother, since you and Xiaoxue get along so well, your brothers have repeatedly reminded you that if you get tricked by Jiang Manyue in the future, don't blame us for not speaking up."

"Understood!" Ning Yuan clasped his hands in a fist salute. "I've remembered all my brothers' instructions! From now on, I promise to sever all ties with that Jiang Manyue and never get too close to her."

"We're so glad you think that way... Come on, let's have a few drinks at the celebration banquet later!"

"There's such a thing as a victory celebration banquet?" Master Ning was pleasantly surprised. "Who organized this?"

"Me?" Chen Ling pointed to herself. "We'll find a nice bar room later, and we'll drink until we drop."

Ning Yuan was about to say something with a smile on his face when a sound came from the door behind him. He didn't even turn around, but he knew who it was from the sudden change in the expressions of Xiao Zhao and the others.

Jiang Manyue?

Damn it!! This is it, we're doomed!