Qian Renxue Wants Revenge: "After we get married, I'll have ten or eight children for you, and you can raise them all by yourself."

Bo Saixi stood quietly to the side, taking in every subtle change in Qian Renxue's expression, the determination in her tone, and the inner turmoil of Li Qing.

A flicker of understanding passed through her deep blue eyes, followed by a trace of complex emotion that even she herself had not perceived.

Bo Saixi sighed inwardly.

Given Qian Renxue's pride and intelligence, it was only natural that upon learning of her potentially tragic future—and realizing Li Qing held the key information to change that fate—she would decide to strike first and bind him to her side.

After all, if it were her, she would likely make a similar choice.

Ultimately, nothing helped one avoid risks and secure a better future more than a partner who could foresee what was to come.

This was not merely a marriage; it was an investment and a gamble concerning destiny itself.

However...

Bo Saixi's gaze drifted involuntarily toward the black-haired youth standing nearby, his face a mask of confusion and bewilderment.

Watching him caught off guard by Qian Renxue's sudden proposal, the shock Bo Saixi had felt upon hearing the prophecy was strangely diluted by a subtle, slightly schadenfreude-tinged amusement.

[So, you spend all day complaining about others in your head, and now you've finally hit a wall?] Bo Saixi thought with a touch of malice, the corners of her mouth twitching upward before she quickly pressed them tight.

Yet, this sense of schadenfreude did not last long. Another, more subtle and unfamiliar emotion quietly welled up from the depths of her heart, causing her lips to slowly settle back into a straight line.

It was a faint sense of loss.

It felt as if something that had belonged to her, or something she had subconsciously expected, was quietly slipping away, gripped tightly in someone else's hands.

Why... did she feel so unhappy?

Bo Saixi frowned slightly, puzzled by this sudden surge of emotion.

Wasn't it a good thing that Li Qing and Qian Renxue were getting engaged?

They were a perfect match in status and appearance, it would forge an alliance between two great powers, and it might even alter certain tragic futures—it was clearly a win-win situation.

As the High Priestess of Sea God Island, she should be happy to see it happen.

But then, what was this lingering, sour, and empty feeling in her heart?

Was it because that boy wouldn't be able to hover around her all day, making those irreverent jokes anymore?

Or was it because she was unaccustomed to the idea that the little guy who always looked at her with such sparkling eyes, and who occasionally said such shocking things, was about to become someone else's fiancé?

Bo Saixi was startled by her own thought and quickly reined in her mind, not daring to dwell on it any further.

It must be because she had been so unsettled by that boy lately that she was having these messy, nonsensical thoughts!

Yes, that had to be it!

Just then, Qian Renxue shifted her gaze from Li Qing to her grandfather and Bo Saixi.

Her beautiful face resumed a proper, inquiring smile, as if her earlier ultimatum had been nothing more than an ordinary suggestion:

"Grandfather, Lady Bo Saixi, what do you think of my proposal? Let us set the engagement now to give each other a status and a reason to spend time together. As for feelings, they can be cultivated slowly over time."

Qian Daoliu had fully recovered by now. Though he didn't understand why his granddaughter had suddenly had such a breakthrough, this was undoubtedly a magnificent event!

A brilliant smile bloomed on his face as he nodded repeatedly, his tone brimming with irrepressible joy: "Haha, good! I am very happy that you think this way, Xiao Xue! I naturally have no objections! It is entirely up to you to decide!"

As he spoke, he looked expectantly at Bo Saixi. As long as she nodded, this marriage would be all but settled!

Bo Saixi suppressed the inexplicable emotion in her heart, her beautiful face returning to its customary, elegant smile.

She looked at Qian Renxue, then at the despairing Li Qing, and nodded gently, her voice ethereal and calm:

"Since you are so sensible, my Sea God Island naturally has no objections. Let it be as you say."

With the two elders having made the decision, the matter seemed set in stone.

"W-wait!"

A weak voice, carrying a final struggle, rang out. Li Qing raised his hand cautiously, like a student asking a question in class. His face was a portrait of weakness, pity, and helplessness as he looked imploringly at Bo Saixi and Qian Daoliu, finally letting his gaze land on the culprit, Qian Renxue:

"Um... could you... not ask for my opinion?"

His voice grew smaller and smaller, laced with clear grievance.

What happened to democracy?

What happened to freedom?

How did it turn into an arranged marriage by the parents and matchmakers in the blink of an eye?

He was still just a child!

Qian Renxue let out a soft huff at his words, a sound possessing the unique, coquettish charm of a young girl, yet it felt incredibly oppressive given her current stance of forcing a marriage.

She lifted her chin slightly, her violet eyes glancing sideways at Li Qing, her tone carrying a hint of arrogance and provocation:

"What? Little Brother Li Qing, do you think... this lady is not good enough for you?"

Qian Renxue's words carried a hint of satisfaction, a form of revenge for his earlier inner complaints.

Li Qing was so choked by Qian Renxue's domineering question that he nearly lost his breath.

He waved his hands frantically, shaking his head like a rattle: "No, no! Absolutely not! Sister Qian Renxue, you are as beautiful as a fairy, possess peerless talent, and have a heaven-defying background—how could you possibly not be good enough for me?!"

He was being sincere; objectively speaking, Qian Renxue was indeed beyond reproach.

However, he couldn't help but habitually grumble in his heart:

"She's definitely a match... it's just that brain of hers... what if it glitches at a critical moment, or she suddenly loses her head and makes some bizarre decision? We'd both be screwed then..."

Bo Saixi: "!!!"

Bo Saixi nearly failed to hold it in and burst out laughing!

She hurriedly covered her mouth with her wide sleeve, her shoulders trembling suspiciously as she fought back the laughter that threatened to erupt from her chest.

Good heavens!

This kid!

Even at a time like this, he didn't forget to mock her intelligence in his head!

He was simply... a master of courting death!

She suddenly felt a bit of sympathy for Qian Renxue; with such a sharp-tongued fiancé, her future days would likely be incredibly eventful.

And Qian Renxue...

Hearing Li Qing's merciless jab in his thoughts, her pretty face, which had softened slightly at his comment about her being a match, instantly darkened again at a speed visible to the naked eye!

It was even darker than before, a shade of black flushed with red—the ultimate expression of shame and fury!

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!!!

This bastard! Every other word out of his mouth was about her having a bad brain, glitching, or losing her head!

In the twenty-one years Qian Renxue had lived, she hadn't suffered as much frustration as she had in this single half-day!

And it was all thanks to this brat who called her "sister" to her face while calling her an idiot in his heart!

Consumed by rage, a vicious thought of retaliation uncontrollably sprang into Qian Renxue's mind:

[Fine! You say my brain is bad, right? Once we're married, I'll have eight or ten kids! I'll make you take care of them all by yourself! I'll work you to death! Let's see if you dare call me stupid again!]

As soon as this thought emerged, Qian Renxue froze.

Immediately, a shocking wave of heat rushed to her head, sweeping through her entire body in an instant!

Her pretty face, which had been dark with anger, turned bright red in the blink of an eye, like a ripe tomato, with even the tips of her ears and her neck stained a seductive shade of pink!