Can We Be Friends?

"Pfft!"

Gu Yunshen burst out laughing at her remarks and glanced at the corner of Aotian's eye. Well, now that she mentioned it, the mole beneath his eye really did look like eye gunk.

Sensing Gu Yunshen's gaze, Seventh Prince Chu Aotian's face fell. He knew the other man had already heard Ning Sang-sang's thoughts about the tear mole beneath his eye looking like eye gunk.

Gu Yunshen showed not the slightest fear. He looked straight into Seventh Prince Chu Aotian's eyes, his own gleaming with undisguised amusement. "Aotian, I suddenly noticed today that the mole beneath your eye looks a bit like eye gunk."

Seventh Prince Chu Aotian's expression instantly darkened. He was just about to retort that Gu Yunshen looked like a purple-skinned scallion today when Ning Sang-sang's thoughts rang in his ears again, like a demonic voice drilling into his head.

[Great minds think alike! This purple-skinned scallion has pretty sharp eyes today.]

Gu Yunshen's face clouded over. "..."

Seriously, could someone tell me why I've become a purple-skinned scallion?! Where did that bizarre nickname even come from?

Just as Gu Yunshen was about to open his mouth to explain, Ning Sang-sang's inner voice beat him to it.

[I'm so bored. Let's dig into this purple-skinned scallion's gossip.]

A vein bulged on Gu Yunshen's forehead. "..."

Could she please stop calling me a purple-skinned scallion?! That name really grates on my nerves!

Before he could respond, however, Ning Sang-sang's thoughts reached them again.

[Oh my god, this Gu Yunshen actually has such a bizarre habit.]

Hua Liuli: "..."

What kind of bizarre habit? Stop keeping us in suspense and tell us already! Leaving it halfway like this is absolutely killing me!

Beside them, Seventh Prince Chu Aotian knitted his brows. He hated people who said only half of something and deliberately left everyone hanging.

At Ning Sang-sang's words, Gu Yunshen's heart gave a sudden jolt, and a sense of foreboding welled up inside him. He hurriedly opened his mouth to change the subject, but it was already too late. Ning Sang-sang's thoughts rang out:

[Gu Yunshen looks perfectly respectable, but he actually has a habit of sniffing his own armpits every day.]

After hearing Ning Sang-sang's thoughts, Gu Yunshen's expression froze. Shock and bewilderment filled him. How had this girl learned about that strange habit of his...?

Ning Sang-sang's inner remarks made Hua Liuli's and Seventh Prince Chu Aotian's expressions turn exceedingly peculiar. In perfect unison, they both directed their gazes toward Gu Yunshen's armpits, an indescribable oddness in their eyes.

Noticing the strange looks they were giving his armpits, Gu Yunshen's face darkened. Just as he was about to say something, Ning Sang-sang's inner voice sounded again.

[Gu Yunshen also...]

"Ahem." Hearing Ning Sang-sang discussing him again, Gu Yunshen's heart tightened. Afraid she would reveal more of his embarrassing secrets, he hurriedly gave a few quiet coughs, trying to interrupt her thoughts.

Hearing Gu Yunshen cough, Ning Sang-sang stopped gossiping about him in her head.

Seventh Prince Chu Aotian: "!!"

Hua Liuli: "??"

Neither of them had heard enough yet, and both desperately wanted to know what other strange habits Gu Yunshen had. Hua Liuli, in particular, stared straight at Ning Sang-sang, waiting for her to continue sharing gossip about Gu Yunshen in her thoughts.

Seeing Hua Liuli staring fixedly at her, Ning Sang-sang blinked and muttered inwardly:

[Why is Hua Liuli staring at me? Has her intelligence been forcibly lowered again, making her hostile toward every woman because she's terrified someone will steal her dear Aotian?]

Hua Liuli: "..."

Dear Aotian, my ass!

I'm not interested in Seventh Prince Chu Aotian at all!

After those two inward grumbles, Hua Liuli gave Ning Sang-sang a friendly smile. "Miss Ning, I really like you. Can we be friends?"

Ning Sang-sang had the ability to know all sorts of things about other people, and Hua Liuli could hear her thoughts. She wanted to become her friend so she could get more interesting gossip from her.

Ning Sang-sang froze.

[What's going on? Hua Liuli is actually telling me she likes me and wants to be my friend? Am I so lovable that, even though we've only just met, she can't wait to befriend me?]

[I quite like Hua Liuli's personality when her intelligence hasn't been lowered. She has the script of a wish-fulfillment novel's heroine, yet she turns into a hopeless doormat for a man and meets a miserable end. That really shouldn't happen. She deserves a wonderful life. Since she wants to be my friend, let's be friends. I'll instill ideas like "the wise never fall into the river of love" and "men only slow down your sword draw," so she can live for herself.]

Hearing this, Hua Liuli was taken aback, and something stirred faintly in her heart. She thought to herself, This girl is sincere. I should treat her sincerely too.

Hua Liuli's expression softened. The corners of her lips lifted, and she looked at Ning Sang-sang with an increasingly radiant smile. "If you're willing to be my friend, I'll give you lots of beautiful gems and jade."

Hua Liuli thought to herself that most women in the Capital liked gems and jade. Surely giving these gifts would win Ning Sang-sang's affection. Just as she was pondering this, Ning Sang-sang's voice suddenly rang out-