Oscar Confesses to Ning Rongrong? Gu Qing Intervenes!

Watching the soft, unguarded expression on her face, the corners of Gu Qing's mouth curled upward.

He reached out and plucked the most vibrant red rose from the bush beside him.

Rising to his feet, he walked across the soft turf until he stood before her.

Gu Qing held out the rose.

His movements were entirely natural, without a hint of hesitation or awkwardness.

"There is a Lantern Festival in Heaven Dou Imperial City tonight."

"Will you accompany me to see it?"

Hearing Gu Qing's voice, Qian Renxue snapped back to reality.

She reached out instinctively and took the red rose offered to her.

The moment her fingertips brushed the stem, the unpleasantness from last night and this morning's breakfast flooded back into her mind.

That handsome face, now reflected in her eyes, instantly became detestable once more.

The softness on Qian Renxue's face vanished without a trace.

With a frown, she tossed the rose she had just received carelessly into the dirt at her feet.

She then adopted a cold, distant expression, pushing him away.

"Boring."

"I'm busy. I won't go."

Faced with this ruthless rejection, Gu Qing did not show a flicker of annoyance.

He simply shrugged his shoulders, looking completely indifferent.

"Suit yourself."

Leaving those words behind, Gu Qing didn't even spare her another glance.

With his hands tucked casually into his pockets, he walked straight past Qian Renxue.

He strode out of the courtyard gate, leaving her standing there all alone.

Watching Gu Qing's retreating figure, Qian Renxue stood amidst the flowers, her chest heaving with suppressed anger.

It was only when his figure disappeared around the corner that she finally looked away.

Her gaze drifted downward, landing on the rose she had discarded in the dirt.

The surroundings were so quiet that only the rustling of the wind through the leaves could be heard.

Qian Renxue hesitated for a moment.

In the end, she bent down and picked up the flower, which was now stained with a bit of soil.

Her fingertips gently brushed against the soft petals.

In her mind, she kept replaying the calm, composed way Gu Qing had offered her the flower.

Thinking about it carefully, aside from his sharp tongue and arrogant behavior, this man didn't seem quite so hateful.

There was a certain breezy, nonchalant air about him, even a touch of indescribable charisma.

Qian Renxue brought the flower to her nose and took a light sniff.

She knew very well that the reason she was so repulsed by him was, at its core, because she was deeply resentful of her mother, Bibi Dong, for forcing this engagement upon her.

It was that sense of powerlessness, of having her fate controlled by another, that had fueled such a strong rebellious streak against Gu Qing.

But looking at the courtyard full of flowers now, that hard shell of defense seemed to have loosened just a fraction.

Night fell as scheduled.

Heaven Dou Imperial City welcomed the lively and bustling Lantern Festival.

The wide streets were hung on both sides with all manner of colorful lanterns.

Crowds of people bustled through the streets and alleys, their laughter and cheers merging into an ocean of joy.

Inside the inner chamber of the Crown Prince Mansion, Qian Renxue sat before her vanity, idly toying with the rose.

She had initially made up her mind not to step a single foot outside the mansion.

She wanted to spite Gu Qing and make him lose face.

Yet, an entire afternoon had passed, and that fellow hadn't come to invite her a second time.

He hadn't even shown his face.

Watching the sky darken outside the window and hearing the faint sounds of the bustling market, Qian Renxue felt a sudden, intense surge of curiosity and a strange sense of contrast clawing at her heart.

What on earth did that guy go to the market alone for?

In the end, she could not suppress the curiosity in her heart.

She rose and walked to the wardrobe, shedding the python-embroidered robes of the crown prince that belonged to Xue Qinghe.

She changed into a simple, elegant dress suitable for a common woman.

To avoid attracting attention, she specifically used a thin veil to cover that peerless, nation-toppling face.

Only a pair of cold, clear eyes remained visible.

After completing her disguise, Qian Renxue silently vaulted over the courtyard wall and headed toward the Lantern Festival alone.

The night market in Heaven Dou City was massive in scale.

Qian Renxue followed the flow of the crowd for two streets, her gaze constantly searching the throng for that familiar figure.

Just as she reached an arched bridge near the water.

A rhythmic burst of cheering suddenly erupted from an open space not far away.

"Say yes!"

"Say yes!"

The boisterous jeering immediately drew the attention of nearby pedestrians, who gathered around to watch the spectacle.

Qian Renxue also stopped in her tracks, standing on the periphery to watch with curiosity.

In the center of the crowd, a space had been cleared.

Oscar held an exquisitely crafted, custom-made lantern in his hands, kneeling nervously on one knee.

His gaze was fixed on the young girl in the green dress standing before him.

Standing opposite him was none other than the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong.

Oscar took a deep breath, summoned all the courage of his life, and shouted the lines he had prepared for so long.

"Rongrong, I like you!"

"This lantern represents my sincere heart."

"Be my girlfriend!"

This bold confession instantly ignited the atmosphere of the entire scene.

Not far behind Oscar stood a group of Shrek Academy students wearing matching uniforms.

Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others were all mixed into the crowd.

They had come out today specifically to act as extras and support Oscar.

Seeing his brother finally kneel to confess, Dai Mubai immediately took the lead in cheering loudly.

"Rongrong, Little Ao is sincere about you, hurry up and say yes!"

Driven by the Shrek group, the surrounding passersby who were unaware of the truth joined in the clamor, shouting for Ning Rongrong to accept.

Ning Rongrong, at the center of the focus, wore an expression of embarrassment.

She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, her palms slick with cold sweat.

Facing Oscar's expectant gaze, she felt not a shred of joy, only deep resistance.

She did not like Oscar at all.

Whether it was his background or that somewhat wretched food-type martial soul, he was far from meeting her standards for a partner.

But now, surrounded by so many people, everyone was using their words to pressure her into nodding.

This left her in a dilemma.

If she refused directly in public, it would certainly cause Oscar to lose face, and even the people from Shrek Academy would be left in an awkward position.

But if she agreed against her will for the sake of the big picture, she would be ruining her own life.

Ning Rongrong bit her lip, her eyes turning slightly red with anxiety.

Just at this moment of extreme difficulty.

A casual sound of footsteps suddenly came from behind the crowd.

The onlookers seemed to be parted to both sides by an invisible force.

Gu Qing walked in from outside the crowd with his hands in his pockets, his posture extremely leisurely.

He walked straight to Oscar's side and looked down at the boy kneeling on the ground.

Then, he reached out and patted Oscar's shoulder heavily and unceremoniously twice.

"My friend, you have to choose the right occasion for a confession."

A playful smile hung on the corners of Gu Qing's mouth; his voice was not loud, yet it reached every person's ears with perfect clarity.

"Using the pressure of the crowd to coerce someone in public—that is hardly the act of a gentleman."