"Hmm."

Gu Lan didn’t quite understand, "Why give a man grooming tools?"

Fu Manman sat down, pouting slightly, "Of course, it’s so he can learn more about helping women with their hair and makeup, to help me out. I’ve hinted at it many times, but he never helps me."

Behind them, Jiang Sha looked at Fan Wubing and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Fan Wubing awkwardly dug his toes into the ground while feeling quite displeased with Jiang Sha’s attitude. He thought, I’ve never even helped my own Man’Er with her grooming, but I seriously helped you, and you still thought it was just okay!

Fu Manman felt wronged, but in Gu Lan’s heart, there was a bit of envy. Because she had never experienced even such a trivial thing. However, she wasn’t aware of her own envy and comforted her, "There will definitely be a chance someday. But what’s more important to consider now is why the grooming box you gave him ended up here."

Fu Manman calmed down and, after thinking seriously, frowned and speculated:

"Did he give away what I gifted him to another girl?" She then contemplated an even more horrifying possibility, "Or worse, maybe he used the grooming tools I gave him to help another girl with her grooming!"

Jiang Sha found it even more amusing, trying hard to suppress a loud laugh.

Fan Wubing was anxious, wishing he could stand before Fu Manman right then and explain everything clearly.

Gu Lan widened her eyes, "No way. Junior Brother Wubing isn’t that kind of person, right?"

Fu Manman felt a well of resentment, unable to help but exclaim angrily, "He is! He never considers what I think. He was like this as a child too, promising to teach me how to fold little rabbits the next time we met, but he completely forgot! Even when I’m right beside him, he still flirts with other girls. He always looks ahead, never turning his head to spare me a glance."

Gu Lan felt a bit guilty for no reason and asked, "Why don’t you just tell him directly?"

Fu Manman’s brows softened a bit, "I can’t be willful. Even though he’s never said it, I actually know he bears a lot of pressure. How can I add to his burden?" Her eyes carried a hint of sadness, "I’ve worked hard in my cultivation, trying to catch up to him, thinking that maybe I could help relieve some of his burdens. But in the end, I haven’t been able to help him at all. Sometimes, I can’t help wondering...maybe someone like me isn’t worthy of him."

"That’s not true." Gu Lan reassured her, patting her shoulder, "You’re already very, very outstanding. In my opinion, you don’t really need to overthink things. Thinking too much can create unnecessary distance. I believe Junior Brother Wubing surely loves you dearly."

Hiding on the side, Fan Wubing nodded vigorously.

Fu Manman took a deep breath and smiled, "Thank you, Senior Sister Gu, for being willing to listen to me vent. I can understand why he likes you, Senior Sister Gu."

Gu Lan was taken aback, having been a confidant listener one moment, only to become flustered the next, unsure where to put her hands, her eyes darting nervously, a hint of red on her sun-kissed face.

"How could that be! Junior Brother Wubing and I are completely innocent!"

It would have been better not to say that.

Fu Manman wasn’t even aware of the subtle relationship between Gu Lan and Fan Wubing. Hearing this, the usually perceptive and insightful her immediately realized something. Her face first froze, then quickly turned into a natural, ordinary smile, giving Gu Lan a way out,

"Senior Sister Gu is so gentle and kind, who wouldn’t like her? I also like you very much, and Qingyao still has you on his mind."

Gu Lan regained her composure, breathed a sigh of relief, and smiled, "So that’s how it is. Still, being liked by junior brothers and sisters should be an honor for a senior sister."

"Of course." Fu Manman said this with a smile on her face, but she felt saddened inside...Even though I came first, am I really falling so far behind...

Beside her, Fan Wubing had become numb, wearing an expression of utter despair.

Jiang Sha chuckled and said, "Gravely sinful."

"You should speak less. You’re the truly sinful one." Fan Wubing rolled his eyes, "If I hadn’t helped you with your grooming, none of this would have happened."

Jiang Sha laughed and asked, "Ask yourself, if you hadn’t helped me with my grooming, would these things truly not have happened?"

Fan Wubing was suddenly at a loss for words.

Jiang Sha continued, "Besides, it was you who accidentally left the grooming box on the dressing table."

In front of the dressing table,

Gu Lan asked, "Do you think there are any other possibilities for why this grooming box appeared here?"

Fu Manman, setting aside her emotions and grievances, calmly analyzed, "One possibility is that when he vanished in the Sea of Eternal Life, his belongings were lost to the sea, and this grooming box was picked up by someone, passing through many hands over twenty-something years, finally ending up here."

"This place should be the palace of the Slaughter Demon Lord, Jiang Sha. Does he even know how to do hair and makeup?"

They both didn’t really understand Jiang Sha, unable to say for certain.

Fan Wubing muttered nearby, "Not only does he know, but he has high standards too."

Jiang Sha looked at him without a word.

Fan Wubing didn’t shy away, glaring right back. You look at me? I’ll look at you!

Jiang Sha smiled, "Childish."

Fu Manman continued, "The second possibility is he’s still alive and has been here, often enough to have left the grooming box behind. Perhaps he used it at this dressing table to help someone with their grooming."

Woman!

Fu Manman’s intuition was so spot-on it scared Fan Wubing, leading him to suspect she might have already discovered him and was intentionally speaking for him to hear.