As soon as Ye Lingling heard Dugu Yan ask that, she immediately grew nervous.
Su Chen looked at Ye Lingling, finding the cool, beautiful girl more and more attractive.
"This might sound a little forward, but I'm the kind of person who values honesty. I'm talking marriage!"
"Ye Lingling, would you be interested in marrying me?"
Ye Lingling: ???
The moment Dugu Yan heard this, she pulled Ye Lingling closer and eyed Su Chen warily.
"Is this how you court girls?"
Dugu Bo also gave Su Chen a strange look. Young people these days really were direct!
Seeing Ye Lingling's pretty face slowly turn red, Su Chen spoke with complete seriousness.
"My Soul Power may not be high right now, but I can raise it quickly. In less than three years, I'll be a Titled Douluo, and I'm already quite strong."
"I'm not exaggerating when I say that in terms of strength, looks, and talent, if I'm second, no young person would dare claim to be first."
"It's just a shame! The Su Family used to be one of the four great families in Su Province, but now I'm the only one left. I'm the Su Family's sole hope, and it's my responsibility to make sure our family flourishes."
Dugu Bo mused, "That's true. No matter how strong one person is, they're still just one person."
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were both a little dumbfounded.
Bro.
Aren't you a transmigrator?
Weren't you on your own from the start?
Dugu Yan gave him a strange look. She remembered that Su Chen had already gotten together with Hu Liena on the way here.
Ye Lingling was flustered. She was just a young woman—when had she ever faced a marriage proposal that skipped straight to the point?
"Um... I hope you don't mind me asking, but do you already have a girlfriend?"
Dugu Yan perked up at Ye Lingling's question and stared intently at Su Chen, thinking, Let's see if you can keep being honest this time, you little punk.
And yet...
Su Chen was all about being honest.
"I only have one girlfriend right now. She's Hu Liena, Bibi Dong of Spirit Hall's disciple. If you're willing to be with me, you'll be my second girlfriend."
"Pfft!"
Dugu Yan had just taken a sip of tea, ready to enjoy the show, when she was so shocked she spat it all over Dugu Bo's face.
What the heck?
Bro, you really weren't holding anything back!
Ye Lingling was completely stunned too.
"Um... Su Chen... I..."
You weren't even going to try to hide it from me? You're just telling me straight out?
Even Dugu Bo was dumbfounded. Holy crap! Young people these days were impossible to understand!
He was getting old. So old.
Su Chen didn't think there was anything wrong with it. In Douluo Continent, strength reigned supreme. Instead of slowly courting women one by one, he'd rather get together first and fall in love afterward.
Seeing that Ye Lingling was too shocked to speak, Su Chen continued.
"I'm serious. You don't have to worry that I'll play with your feelings and abandon you. I'll marry every girlfriend of mine properly, and I'll treat each one sincerely."
"If we get together, I can't give you an exclusive love, but I can give you anything else. I can teach you Soul Skills, help you grow stronger, and find a way to break the limits of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul."
"If you're willing, you can spend some time with me first. If you decide you're not happy with me later, you can just leave."
The room fell silent.
Ye Lingling had come along to keep Dugu Yan company and help her deal with Su Chen. Somehow, she'd ended up on a blind date with him instead.
Su Chen...
Ye Lingling had to admit that, based on her impression of him so far, she was pleased with him in every way—except for the fact that he already had a girlfriend.
And because of the Diary Copy, Ye Lingling didn't think Su Chen was exaggerating. If anything, his promise was rather modest.
Ye Lingling looked at Su Chen with a serious expression.
"Could you give me some time to think about it?"
Su Chen nodded emphatically. "Of course. And since I was so forward, you can take your time—not only to think it over, but also to test my strength and character."
Ye Lingling nodded, her face so red she could barely speak.
Dugu Yan felt a little sour inside and muttered to Ye Lingling, "You're not actually taking him seriously, are you?"
Ye Lingling only glanced quietly at Dugu Yan without answering, though she was thrilled inside.
The Nine Heart Begonia could only have one inheritor in each generation. At the same time, only two Nine Heart Begonia Soul Masters could be alive. Only when one died could another possibly appear among their descendants.
Being passed down through a single line wouldn't have been a problem on its own. But with the second restriction as well, the Nine Heart Begonia's fate had become tragic, and Ye Lingling's life was burdened with an indescribable pain.
Su Chen's strength and appearance were already to her liking, and his promise was something no one else could offer.
Children from poor families grew up early!
Ye Lingling understood what it meant. If she could break through the Martial Soul's limits, she could live a normal life in the future—and so could her descendants.
Dugu Bo didn't know what to say. He gave an awkward laugh. "I really am getting old. You young people fall in love so fast these days!"
Su Chen smiled and shook his head. "That's not quite right. Love still takes time to grow. I just want Lingling by my side. Otherwise, how would we get the chance to grow closer?"
"That's what you call love growing over time!"
Ye Lingling had already made up her mind. She was just holding back a little, worried that if she agreed too quickly, Su Chen might think she was an easy girl.
Dugu Yan pursed her lips, feeling more and more sour inside. You damned jerk! You clearly came for me, so why are you acting like you came to find Lingling?
Dugu Yan had lost her appetite completely. Su Chen and Ye Lingling, on the other hand, had already started growing closer.
They served each other food, chatting and laughing.
It only made Dugu Yan more furious.
Damn it!
I'm really so upset!
I was here first!
Finally.
After a difficult meal, Dugu Yan looked at Su Chen and asked, "Su Chen, when are you going to help us detoxify?"
Su Chen looked at Dugu Bo. "We'll go to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well now, then the two of us can spar. After that, I'll detoxify you and then pull some weeds."
Dugu Bo nodded. They left the restaurant, and he said, "It's still some distance from Heaven Dou City. Come back with me first, and I'll arrange a carriage."
Ye Lingling turned to Su Chen and said softly, "I'll head back to the academy for now. Remember to come find me there when you get back."
"Make sure you come!"
She added that with firm resolve.
Su Chen took Ye Lingling's hand. "No need. Come with me. I need you to see how strong I am anyway."
Ye Lingling froze for a moment, then hurriedly said, "You don't have to. I believe you."
Just as Su Chen was about to speak, a voice came from the distance.
"Which bastard dared bully my nephew?"
Su Chen turned around and saw a curvy, beautiful woman with delicate features and picturesque brows. Her large black eyes were bright, and she had a particularly voluptuous figure.
She completely outclassed Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.
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