After Lin Qing and the others parted ways with Tang San, they traveled down the street, asking at one hotel after another. In the end, none had any rooms available, until the three of them arrived before the largest hotel in Suotuo City.
The hotel stood three stories tall, its exterior entirely decorated in rose red. The whole building was styled like a massive rose, making it instantly eye-catching.
"Rose Hotel! Lin Qing, let's check this one out!" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up at the sight of the Rose Hotel's decor, and she pointed inside.
Lin Qing felt a little awkward. Xiao Wu might not have known what kind of establishment the Rose Hotel was, but he certainly did.
Zhu Zhuqing, who was following beside them, also changed expression slightly. She lowered her head, looking somewhat uncomfortable.
Although the Rose Hotel was a couples' hotel, regular lodging was still available.
The three entered the Rose Hotel and approached the front desk.
The receptionist checking guests in was a girl who looked seventeen or eighteen. She was quite pretty, but Lin Qing could sense almost no Soul Power from her.
"Hello, we need two rooms," Lin Qing said directly to the receptionist.
"Certainly, sir. I'll check right away." With that, the receptionist compared the information on a registration sheet, then said, "Hello, sir. Your rooms have been arranged. Here are your room keys. Please keep them safe."
"Zhu Qing, this is your room key. Take it." Lin Qing handed one of the keys to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Thank you," Zhu Zhuqing said. Then, as if she had suddenly realized something, she looked at the two of them, who were arm in arm, and asked, "Are you and Xiao Wu staying in the same room?"
"Of course! Lin Qing and I are boyfriend and girlfriend, so naturally we should stay in the same room!" Before Lin Qing could answer, Xiao Wu had already settled the matter for him. Though Lin Qing would have said the same thing anyway.
"Oh, I see." A complicated expression flickered across Zhu Zhuqing's face at the answer, and a trace of disappointment rose within her. Still, she forced a smile. "Then you two rest well tonight."
"You too. Get some good rest tonight and recover properly over the next couple of days," Lin Qing said with concern.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, and the three prepared to head to their rooms.
"Hey, I say, doesn't that room belong to me?" At that moment, a young man's voice rang out, sounding somewhat blustering but lacking real confidence.
"No way, what a coincidence?" Lin Qing's mouth twitched as he vaguely guessed who had arrived.
All three turned to look. A man around six feet tall, with golden hair and expensive-looking white clothes, was walking toward the counter with a pair of twin girls in his arms.
"Just as I thought!" Seeing those distinctive features, Lin Qing immediately confirmed the man's identity. Dai Mubai, the third prince of the Star Luo Empire and Zhu Zhuqing's fiancé.
Seeing Dai Mubai with the twins in his arms, Lin Qing revealed a teasing smile, his gaze unconsciously shifting toward Zhu Zhuqing beside him.
Before leaving the Star Luo Empire, Zhu Zhuqing had seen Dai Mubai's portrait. So the instant she looked over, she recognized him.
Zhu Zhuqing's face darkened at the sight. Her fists clenched so tightly they seemed ready to draw blood, and her breathing grew uneven. Anger, confusion, disappointment, disgust, and a hint of relief radiated from her.
When she had left the Star Luo Empire, she had always imagined that although Dai Mubai had fled the empire, perhaps he had gone somewhere to cultivate diligently.
But what lay before her now had completely shattered that fantasy.
Dai Mubai arrogantly swept his gaze over Lin Qing, then turned to the receptionist. "Are you new here? Don't you know this place is supposed to keep a room reserved for me at all times?"
"And you are?" The receptionist really was new, so she did not recognize Dai Mubai.
"Call your manager!" Dai Mubai shouted at her.
Startled by his roar, the receptionist hurried off to fetch the manager.
While she was gone, Lin Qing spoke up. "I got this room first. Surely there should be a first come, first served rule?"
"What first come, first served? Why don't you ask around Suotuo City about who Young Master Dai is? You think you're worthy of staying in my room?" Dai Mubai said, only then beginning to seriously examine Lin Qing and the other two.
When his gaze landed on Zhu Zhuqing, his eyes immediately lit up. He shoved the twins away from him, ran a hand through his hair, and said to Zhu Zhuqing, "Beautiful lady, may I have the honor of spending the night with you?"
Dai Mubai did not recognize Zhu Zhuqing. They had never met, and he had never bothered to learn about his fiancée, only knowing that she existed. Besides, even though they possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, that faint connection was beyond Dai Mubai's current senses unless Zhu Zhuqing summoned her Martial Soul.
"Disgusting!" Zhu Zhuqing spat lightly, her face full of contempt.
"Tch, aren't you just selling yourself too? Who are you trying to act pure for? Just name your price per night. Young Master Dai has plenty of money!" Dai Mubai could not bear being looked down upon by Zhu Zhuqing, so he loudly made a scene.
Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Zhu Zhuqing's expression turned so dark it seemed as though water could drip from it. If she had still held even the slightest hope for Dai Mubai before, believing that it would not be too late as long as he began cultivating seriously now, then that hope was now completely gone.
She could never defeat her older sister by working with someone like Dai Mubai. Rather than entrusting herself to him, she would be better off striking out on her own, or perhaps... Lin Qing's figure appeared in Zhu Zhuqing's mind once more.
Thinking of Lin Qing, Zhu Zhuqing could not help comparing him with the so-called fiancé before her. When she had been in danger, Lin Qing had stepped forward to help her. When she had fainted, he had cared for her wholeheartedly. And though he had accidentally seen certain things during that time, he had never taken advantage of her in the slightest. He was a true gentleman.
And what about Dai Mubai? Not only had he abandoned his fiancée and fled on his own, but he had practically neglected his cultivation over the years. All he did was play with women, one after another. And now, upon seeing her, his first reaction had been to ask how much she charged per night?
After briefly comparing Dai Mubai and Lin Qing in her heart, Zhu Zhuqing realized that Dai Mubai truly was unworthy. How could he possibly compare to Lin Qing?
If Lin Qing had known Zhu Zhuqing was thinking of him this way, he would definitely have complained, "Hey, hey, hey, don't say that about me. I'm no gentleman!"
Before you continue