Chapter 47: Three Beauties Meet

Shi Ran touched her cheek, rarely showing a hint of sorrow: "You… you can also see it? Then am I truly beyond cure?"

Ruan Xinli shook her head, speaking softly: "You needn't worry too much; my master's medical skill is the best in the world—there's no illness she can't cure. I'm surprised because this is actually a Gu!"

Ruan Xinli reached out to touch Shi Ran's brows and eyes, about to speak in detail, when she heard Mei Ruoxue and Gu Yusheng's voices.

"Junior sister, have you awakened?"

"Ha!" Wei Yuzhu gave a disdainful laugh, sprang up energetically: "These past few days you've been busy being lovey-dovey with Gu Yusheng, and now you suddenly remember this junior sister of yours! If I were you, I'd shut the door and listen to her bark!"

"Ah?" Shi Ran had no idea how Wei Yuzhu could be even angrier than her: "Fellow sect senior sister, it's not proper to lock you out, is it?"

"You really are!" Wei Yuzhu said, exasperated: "These past few days when Shi Ran was unconscious, Mei Ruoxue was nowhere by her side; only after Shi Ran woke did she come striding on the spring breeze—who knows if it was intentional or not."

Wei Yuzhu shoved Shi Ran's forehead hard: "You're just a brainless idiot!"

A buzz rang in Shi Ran's head—she was such an idiot, how could she only now realize this isn't the "Three Beauties Meeting" described in the book?

But the trigger wasn't Gu Yusheng, was it? Yet looking at the situation, it seems to be her? Shi Ran patted her head, a bit unable to recall…

Just as she was racking her brains, the door was flung open—Mei Ruoxue and Gu Yusheng appeared like a golden boy and jade girl, backlit, before her and the other two beauties.

"Junior sister!" Mei Ruoxue's smile quickly fell: "Both of you junior sisters are here too!" Her gaze lingered especially on Wei Yuzhu, carrying a barely perceptible scrutiny and rejection.

Ruan Xinli made a timid bow: "Senior Sister Mei, Junior Brother Gu!" She half-raised her eyes, seeing Gu Yusheng looking right back, then shyly lowered her gaze—everything was unfolding quietly.

Shi Ran watched with relish, having learned from the sisters: when you see the one you love, never stare directly—look at the sky or the ground, anything but him; then he'll nervously watch you, observe you, anticipating this game.

Shi Ran focused on the subtle interaction between Ruan Xinli and Gu Yusheng, not expecting Mei Ruoxue and Wei Yuzhu to explode first.

One in red, one in white, in this cramped side room, they were opposites, the air seeming to freeze into icy shards.

Mei Ruoxue moved with light lotus steps, seemingly trying to go around Wei Yuzhu to look at Shi Ran, her tone still gentle but carrying an indisputable senior sister aura: "Junior Sister Wei, it's been a few days—your temper has only grown fiercer. I'm concerned about our junior sister; how did it turn into this when it reaches your lips?"

"Our junior sister?" Wei Yuzhu snorted, arms crossed, her fiery red sleeves like blazing flames, firmly blocking Mei Ruoxue and Shi Ran's bedside: "When she was unconscious you weren't seen, but the moment she could sit up you 'coincidentally' appear? Senior Sister Mei, your concern is truly timely. Could it be that Junior Brother Gu inquired, prompting you to rush over here just to 'show concern'?"

"You!" Mei Ruoxue's face paled at the blatant mockery, her gentle mask cracking a slit, her voice turning cold: "Wei Yuzhu, stop spouting nonsense here, slandering people! I came with Junior Brother Gu only because he told me Shi Ran had awakened! As for you, stirring up trouble here—what's your motive?"

"Stirring up trouble?" Wei Yuzhu's eyebrows shot up, her voice rising sharply: "I, Wei Yuzhu, act openly and aboveboard! Unlike some people who put on a white lotus facade while secretly doing shameful deeds! When Shi Ran lay here unconscious, where were you? Off enjoying moonlit strolls with your Junior Brother Gu? Now you come running to pretend sisterly affection!"

"Enough!" Gu Yusheng finally spoke in a low voice, his brows knit, his handsome face showing a hint of fatigue and annoyance. Standing between the two women, he tried to separate this invisible smoke: "Senior Sister Mei is genuinely concerned for Junior Sister Shi; Senior Sister Wei, you should also say less. Junior Sister Shi has just awakened and needs rest—what's the point of all this noise?"

His gaze swept over Mei Ruoxue's red-rimmed, wronged eyes, then over Wei Yuzhu's unyielding anger, finally landing on Shi Ran, carrying a hint of helplessness and apology.

Shi Ran widened her eyes, the little person in her heart shouting wildly: "Here it comes! The classic 'stop fighting, it's all for me' shura showdown! Gu Yusheng is holding that bowl of water……tsk tsk, maybe he's tired himself? And what apology is he giving me? They barely know each other—please, keep your distance!"

She instinctively looked toward Ruan Xinli. Only to see Ruan Xinli slightly lowering her head, as if startled by the sudden quarrel, her long lashes faintly trembling, a pitiful sight. But when Gu Yusheng spoke up to defend Mei Ruoxue, Shi Ran clearly saw, beneath her lowered lids, a fleeting trace of extremely faint, icy mockery.

Interesting. Shi Ran licked her slightly dry lips. These three beauties… oh no, counting myself as this gossip‑onlooker makes four beauties? This scene is far more exciting than what the book wrote! Mei Ruoxue's tea fragrance pervades, Wei Yuzhu's firecracker temper, Ruan Xinli's fragile exterior hides a needle……and Gu Yusheng's words that seem conciliatory but actually pour oil on the fire.

"Cough… cough cough…" Shi Ran let out a timely weak cough, successfully drawing everyone's attention. She clutched her chest, her petite face deathly pale (half from real discomfort, half from acting), her voice a whisper: "Senior sisters……Gu Yusheng……don't……don't argue because of me……I……my wound hurts……" She timely shook her head, her gaze hazy as she looked at Mei Ruoxue: "Senior Sister Mei……you……you came to see me……I'm truly happy……"

Mei Ruoxue instantly put away her anger toward Wei Yuzhu, an anxious, worried expression on her face, about to step forward: "Junior sister, how are you? Quickly lie down……"

"Hold on!" Wei Yuzhu wouldn't budge, coldly saying: "She's been hit by a Gu and stabbed by a demonic cultivator—what help could you possibly offer, just stirring up trouble here!"

Mei Ruoxue and Gu Yusheng exchanged a glance, both faces showing disbelief. Mei Ruoxue's sharp gaze shot toward the quietly standing Ruan Xinli at the side.

Shi Ran had been afflicted with the Red Silk Entwine—something everyone in the Floating Dream Sect knows—but I never expected Ruan Xinli and Wei Yuzhu to know as well! Was it someone else who told them, or was it Shi Ran….

In the tiny room, the atmosphere instantly grew more eerie. The argument paused, but deeper suspicion, shock, and undercurrents began to surge in everyone's hearts.

"Master!" Shi Ran cried in her heart, "Hurry back—I can't bear this alone!"

As if hearing Shi Ran's inner voice, Ling Xiao entered carrying a white porcelain soup bowl; seeing so many people crammed into Shi Ran's room, he couldn't help but frown, then look at Shi Ran……her petite face showed bewilderment and helplessness.

Ling Xiao said nothing, placed the white porcelain soup bowl on the table with a bang, then quietly regarded the few people, especially Gu Yusheng.

Gu Yusheng's heart gave a jolt—was the master angry?