Chapter 34 Tang Hui Begins to Suspect Everyone Around Her

The matchmaking pavilion remained unusable for nearly twenty minutes after Gu Beichen’s comment.

Not because anything catastrophic happened physically.

Emotionally, however, the disciples completely collapsed.

“He agreed with Senior Sister Qin!”

“They both chose the same robes!”

“Senior Sister Tang truly influences the entire inner sect now!”

Tang Hui sat behind the consultation table with the exhausted expression of someone watching rumors evolve into independent lifeforms.

“No one is allowed to interpret fabric choices politically,” she declared firmly.

Nobody listened.

Outside the pavilion, passing disciples had already started slowing down after hearing fragments of the conversation. Several people openly pretended to browse nearby stalls while very obviously eavesdropping instead.

Old Chen had stopped selling artifacts entirely and now watched the situation like premium entertainment.

Traitor.

Meanwhile, the female disciples surrounding the robe bundles looked more determined than ever.

“Senior Sister Tang, please just try them once.”

“No.”

“You’re attending Moonheart Peak!”

“I’m attending unwillingly.”

“That doesn’t reduce the need for proper robes.”

Tang Hui pointed toward Gu Beichen accusingly.

“This is his fault.”

Gu Beichen looked genuinely confused. “Why?”

“Because you keep saying socially devastating things calmly.”

Lin Qingyue quietly covered her face beside him.

Honestly, Tang Hui respected her survival instincts.

Gu Beichen frowned slightly as though analyzing the accusation seriously.

“I only answered honestly.”

“That’s the problem.”

The surrounding disciples dissolved into laughter again.

Luo Ming leaned casually against one of the pavilion pillars watching the entire scene with infuriating enjoyment.

Qin Yue, meanwhile, stood nearby with complete composure despite accidentally starting this disaster herself.

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes suspiciously at both of them.

Actually—

the atmosphere between those two had become stranger lately.

Not obvious.

Nothing dramatic.

But Tang Hui noticed patterns instinctively now.

Luo Ming drifted toward Qin Yue constantly during gatherings without seeming aware of it.

Qin Yue claimed annoyance repeatedly yet never actually left.

And most suspiciously—

their conversations flowed too naturally.

Ah.

Dangerous territory.

Tang Hui immediately stopped herself mentally.

Professional observation only.

Absolutely nothing else.

One of the female disciples interrupted her thoughts by shoving the blue robes directly into her arms.

“Please.”

Tang Hui looked down at the fabric helplessly.

Unfortunately, it really was beautiful.

The deep blue silk shifted softly beneath the lantern light spilling through the pavilion windows, subtle silver embroidery tracing elegant patterns along the sleeves without becoming excessive.

Tasteful.

Annoyingly tasteful.

Tang Hui hated that.

Lin Qingyue smiled gently after noticing her hesitation.

“You should at least see how it fits.”

Traitor number two.

Tang Hui looked around the pavilion slowly.

Every single person present appeared united against her.

Even Old Chen gave a supportive thumbs-up from outside.

Unbelievable.

“This sect has become hostile,” Tang Hui muttered darkly.

Luo Ming laughed immediately. “That sounds dramatic coming from someone who mediates public confessions daily.”

“Those are different forms of suffering.”

Still—

despite all her complaints—

Tang Hui eventually allowed herself to be dragged behind the pavilion screen with the robe bundles.

Mostly because resisting further would probably create additional gossip.

Several terrifyingly enthusiastic female disciples assisted while speaking rapidly around her.

“The sleeves need adjusting slightly—”

“No, leave the silver trim there—”

“Her hair ornaments should remain simple—”

Tang Hui stood motionless while enduring the process with the numb acceptance of someone facing unavoidable fate.

Cultivation truly prepared people for many hardships.

Unfortunately, none involved aggressive social styling.

Several minutes later, one of the disciples finally stepped back with satisfaction.

“All right.”

Tang Hui eyed them suspiciously.

“…Why are you smiling like that?”

“Come out and see.”

Dangerous sentence.

Tang Hui reluctantly stepped from behind the screen into the pavilion again.

Silence greeted her instantly.

Complete silence.

Tang Hui immediately became uncomfortable.

“…Why is everyone quiet?”

No answer.

The pavilion itself seemed oddly still now. Afternoon light filtered through the hanging lantern decorations while disciples throughout the room stared openly.

Even Old Chen looked startled.

Tang Hui frowned slightly.

The robes felt lighter than expected. Comfortable, surprisingly. The deep blue fabric contrasted softly against her dark hair while silver embroidery caught the light subtly whenever she moved.

Elegant.

But not overly formal.

She hated that it suited her.

Lin Qingyue smiled first.

“You look beautiful.”

Several disciples nodded frantically in agreement afterward.

Tang Hui became more suspicious instead of reassured.

Luo Ming’s expression shifted briefly into something quieter than amusement.

Interesting—

No.

Not that word.

Different.

More observant.

Better.

Then Tang Hui noticed Gu Beichen.

Or more specifically—

noticed that Gu Beichen had gone completely silent.

The man stood near the pavilion entrance holding untouched tea cups while staring directly at her with unusual focus.

Ah.

That reaction looked familiar.

Tang Hui recognized it immediately because she had seen similar expressions from countless disciples recently.

Someone nearby coughed awkwardly.

Lin Qingyue noticed too.

And judging by the growing color in her face—

she definitely understood the situation before Gu Beichen himself did.

Tang Hui almost laughed.

Because truly, this sect remained emotionally hopeless.

Gu Beichen eventually spoke after several long seconds.

“…The robes suit you.”

The pavilion instantly lost emotional stability again.

Tang Hui pointed at the surrounding disciples before they could start screaming.

“No one reacts.”

Several people reacted anyway.

Qin Yue quietly pinched the bridge of her nose nearby.

Possibly from secondhand embarrassment.

Possibly because this entire pavilion resembled an uncontrolled spiritual phenomenon now.

Reasonable either way.

Tang Hui exhaled slowly before looking down at the sleeves again.

Annoyingly enough—

the robes really did feel right.

Not like someone pretending to belong among inner sect gatherings.

Just…

comfortable.

The realization unsettled her more than expected.

Because a small part of her still anticipated feeling out of place everywhere eventually.

Yet lately—

that feeling had started fading without her noticing.