Gu Yuan heaved a deep sigh. His serious expression made me feel uneasy. I wondered, "What did I say wrong to offend him?"
"It's okay. If you think the part I've bitten is dirty, you can eat the other side. I've washed it clean. It's not dirty at all. Or you can pick one yourself."
I turned the uneaten side of the pear towards him, forcing a flattering smile on my face.
Gu Yuan looked at my greedy eating expression, raised his eyebrows slightly, took the pear from my hand with one hand, and gently brushed the corner of my mouth with the other.
He wiped away the pear juice oozing from the corner of my mouth. Oh my god, was this the Gu Yuan I knew?
"Little glutton, don't you know that pears shouldn't be shared?"
I stared blankly at Gu Yuan's fair face, completely captivated by his good looks.
"You're a god. Do you still believe in such things?" I was so infatuated with him that I didn't even think before I spoke.
"It's better to believe than not to." Gu Yuan's hand didn't move away after wiping the pear juice from the corner of my mouth. He held my face with one hand and looked into my eyes affectionately.
"But... you didn't believe in the Kongming lantern."
"Do you like Kongming lanterns?"
Thinking of the Kongming lantern Gu Yuan released for me in the Nine Nether Hells, my heart felt as sweet as if I had eaten honey. A sweet smile appeared on my face. This smile said it all.
"Then I'll leave a Kongming lantern for us."
Gu Yuan's eyes were full of affection, making me feel all shy and flustered.
No way. In this kind of eye - to - eye contact, I would surely be the loser. I immediately lowered my head and asked, "What do you want to eat? I'll go pick it for you."
I turned around and was about to leave when Gu Yuan's other hand encircled my waist and pulled me into his arms.
"I want to eat you. Is that okay?"
He was truly a young man in love. Although his way of speaking was the same as the Gu Yuan I knew.
One was extremely domineering, while the other still asked for my opinion.
But no matter which Gu Yuan it was, I was crazy about him and couldn't help myself.
I nestled in his arms coquettishly, nodded gently, and my face blushed instantly.
Gu Yuan hooked the corner of his mouth, gently held my face, and his handsome face slowly approached mine.
Just as I was about to kiss Gu Yuan, Hu Xuanfeng's voice came from not far away in the garden.
"Master San, the banquet is about to start. Please do me the honor of moving to the reception hall."
Our emotions had been well - brewed. We were just one step away from success.
I was so annoyed. Why did he come at this exact moment? He must have done it on purpose.
There was nothing I could do. I had to push Gu Yuan's chest away before Hu Xuanfeng got closer. I tidied my slightly messy hair and stood obediently behind Gu Yuan.
Gu Yuan also looked displeased. But since the moment had been interrupted, he couldn't get angry with the man because of this.
"Master San, you've made me search so hard. Please." Hu Xuanfeng rushed into the orchard and said with a beaming smile on his face.
Gu Yuan lowered his eyes and licked his lips. Without saying a word, he strode towards the reception hall.
I trotted all the way behind Gu Yuan into the reception hall.
Goodness! Was this really just a simple family dinner? It seemed way too grand!
They said foxes had a strong reproductive ability. Sure enough, the room was filled with fox fairies. In addition, all the leaders of the Five Immortals were present.
Looking at these people and then at Hu San Taiye sitting in the middle of the hall, I had a bad feeling in my heart.
"Gu Yuan, I feel like this is a feast with hidden dangers. Are you sure you want to attend?" I tilted my head slightly towards him and squeezed out these words through my teeth.
"You've just realized it."
"Oh, so you're looking down on me. Since you've realized it, why did you come?"
"I'd like to see what they're up to." Gu Yuan's voice was not loud. Only the two of us could hear it.
"I've already guessed it."
"You've guessed it?" Gu Yuan seemed to have some doubts about my intelligence.
"Surely he wants to betroth Hu Qingluan to you as your wife." I didn't even need to guess this. It was a well - known fact. I heard that Hu San Taiye had even accepted the marriage certificate on her behalf.
"He's looking for a son - in - law from the Liu family. I'm not from the Liu family."
Maybe Gu Yuan was too eye - catching. Wherever he went, he was the center of attention. As soon as we stepped into the reception hall, all the young and pretty girls here looked at him.
"This must be the legendary Master Liu San! He really lives up to his reputation. He's so handsome."
"Indeed. Such a handsome man always belongs to someone else. I'm so envious, jealous, and hateful."
"You can be envious and jealous, but don't be hateful. If the young lady from the Hu family hears you, you'll be whipped."
Gu Yuan rarely met so many people. He felt a bit uncomfortable with so many girls looking at him with admiration.
At the same time, Hu Qingluan's injury had improved a lot. Supported by a servant, she followed Hu Fujin and sat at the side table below Hu San Taiye.
Seeing Gu Yuan standing far away, Hu San Taiye quickly greeted him to come and sit in the seat beside him.
For some reason, Hu Fujin suddenly seemed to get an idea.
She waved at Gu Yuan from afar, swayed her snake - like waist, and walked towards him.
"Oh, benefactor, how can you sit at the side table? You should surely sit in the main seat. Look, our Qingluan is here too. Her body hasn't fully recovered yet, but she insisted on coming to thank you for saving her."
"You're welcome. I was just fulfilling my promise at the request of others."
"I also advised Qingluan to rest well. There will be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future. But she just wouldn't listen. She said she must thank you in person today."
Hu Fujin was smiling so obsequiously. It seemed like she was personally looking for a son - in - law for her daughter.
I felt so out of place standing there.
"Come quickly, come quickly. Please take the main seat."
After saying that, she squeezed between me and Gu Yuan and pushed me to one side.
With her push, I almost lost my balance. Gu Yuan turned around and wanted to hold my hand.
But Hu Fujin blocked him.
I stood there, not knowing whether I should follow or not.
"Ah! I'm sorry, girl. Since there are only a few seats in the front, I'm afraid you'll have to..."
It was obvious that she didn't want me to follow.
If I still followed shamelessly, I would be so unwise.
"It's okay. I'm fine sitting here. It's more comfortable."
Hu Fujin smiled at me, and her smile was so full of schemes.
"She'll follow me."
Gu Yuan turned around and wanted to hold my hand.
"Don't worry. We won't treat her badly. Look at the snacks on that table. They're even more sumptuous than ours. Xuanfeng prepared them for her. With Xuanfeng taking care of her, I guarantee she'll eat and drink well."
As she spoke, Hu Xuanfeng placed a plate of fresh peaches on my table.
"You go. I can eat more freely here." I smiled sweetly at Gu Yuan.
Only then did he nod and go to the front row, sitting beside Hu Qingluan.
Hu Qingluan immediately stood up and bowed to Gu Yuan. When she looked up and saw Gu Yuan, her face blushed shyly.
Hu Fujin, beside them, was like a matchmaker, getting really excited about bringing them together. Hu Qingluan picked up the wine cup on the table with a loving look in her eyes and said to Gu Yuan:
"I can't hold my liquor well. I can only take a small sip to show my respect."
Watching Hu Qingluan's actions, I felt so sour in my stomach as if I was watching some drama.
To be honest, maybe I had read too many novels about scheming girls. I could already guess what she was going to do next.