The laughter in the side tent gradually faded, leaving only the soft crackle of burning candles. Xiao Wu watched Lin Zhixia rub her cheeks sore from laughing, then tilted her head with a sly glint in her eyes. Her tone carried deliberate mystery. "Zhi Xia, laughed enough? Shouldn't you tell everyone something serious now?"
Lin Zhixia was taking small sips of hot tea when she froze at Xiao Wu's words. Her eyes, still crinkled with laughter, widened at once as she looked at Xiao Wu in confusion. "Huh? Something serious? What serious thing do I have to tell everyone?" The embarrassment of having laughed herself hoarse still lingered in her mind, and she failed to grasp what Xiao Wu meant. Her cheeks began to heat up again as she instinctively glanced at Gu Zhinian beside her. He was gently brushing stray hairs from her shoulder, a hint of amusement hidden in his eyes.
Seeing her so muddled, Xiao Wu could not help clapping her hands with a laugh. Her voice rang clear. "When you were at the Clear Sky Sect, Brother Gu brought betrothal gifts to ask for your hand. Your engagement!"
With a boom, the words were like a pebble dropped into a still lake, instantly stirring up waves throughout the tent. Ning Rongrong nearly dropped her teacup. Her eyes went round as she stared at Lin Zhixia and Gu Zhinian in disbelief. "What? Engaged?! No wonder Brother Gu suddenly left the Tang Sect for several days a while back. When I asked what he was doing, he only said he had personal matters to handle. So he went to propose? You two are unbelievable! How could you hide something this huge from us?"
Oscar also leaned in, nudging Gu Zhinian's arm with his elbow as he teased, "Not