Writing a Diary in Douluo: All the Heroines Fell for Me

Qian Renxue met a polite rebuff, but rather than getting annoyed, she raised the corners of her lips slightly.

She knew that beneath this man's icy exterior, his heart might well be churning like an overturned sea.

Sure enough, a moment later, golden words appeared simultaneously in the three women's minds.

Holding his teacup, Xiong Shaoqing maintained his aloof God King image while frantically putting on a show in his Sea of Consciousness:

[I never expected Xue'er to be so interested in ordinary storybooks.]

[Seeing her sitting across from me, looking like a curious child eager to hear what happened next, I almost couldn't resist telling her the entire ending.]

[But I can't. Once a wonderful story is spoiled, it loses its most heart-shaking power. I want to leave the best mysteries for her to unravel herself.]

[Actually, avoiding spoilers is just an excuse. What's more tormenting is having the person I yearn for day and night right before my eyes, yet having to speak coldly to her as though we were strangers.]

[In our past lives, there was too much helplessness and regret. Heaven knows how badly I want to reach out and hold her right now, to tell her that I'm here, and she doesn't have to work so hard to keep up her disguise anymore.]

[But I can't. I'm only level twenty-nine now. If we acknowledged each other at this moment, with my current strength, not only would I fail to protect her, I would implicate her and expose her identity.]

[I'll endure for now. Once I climb back to the pinnacle, I will make up for every regret I owed her from our past lives.]

Once the words settled, Xiong Shaoqing cut off the connection.

He let out a long breath inwardly. Perfect. He had explained why he wouldn't spoil the story while also portraying, with penetrating vividness, the deep affection of wanting to reach out only to draw his hand back.

This round of pulling away to draw her closer couldn't have been more on point.

Sitting beside him, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu ate while following the juicy drama live in their minds.

Unexpectedly, as they looked at the gentle, jade-like "Xue Qinghe" across from them, they couldn't muster the slightest jealousy.

A note on going premium

Time flies. My second harem novel is about to go premium. Special thanks to my editor Qiuye for giving me so much guidance.

I'm the kind of person who won't abandon a novel once I've started it. Even if the results aren't ideal, I still want to be responsible to you wonderful readers, and stay true to why I began.

Because I started out as a reader too. In the past, I'd find a good novel and follow it eagerly, only to discover in the end that it had been abandoned. My feelings back then were truly beyond words.

Even now, I still remember very clearly exactly what that felt like.

Precisely because I've experienced that feeling myself, after becoming a writer, I didn't want my readers to experience the pain I once went through.

I hope you wonderful readers will keep supporting me. You can tell me in the comments what plotlines you'd like to see, and I'll work them in as appropriate.

Thank you so much to everyone reading my work. If you choose to keep subscribing, I have nothing to repay you with except working hard at writing to return your enthusiasm. I'm kowtowing to all you wonderful readers ▄█?█● down on my knees.

If you choose to stop here, I'm still grateful for your company up to this point.

In this vast sea of people, meeting is fate. Finding my novel among an ocean of books and clicking on it is already no easy thing. I wouldn't dare ask for anything more.

I'll just timidly ask for subscriptions and set three bonus-chapter targets.

First, within the first 24 hours after going premium, from January 1 to January 2, if first-chapter subscriptions exceed 100, I'll add one bonus chapter; over 150, two bonus chapters; over 200, three bonus chapters... and so on, with no upper limit.

Second, every day after going premium, counted from midnight to midnight, for every 10 monthly votes received, I'll add one bonus chapter, capped at five chapters.

A few words off topic: I watched Douluo Continent quite a while ago. I remember it must have been 2020, when I was following the animation.

Back then, I didn't know any better and thought Tang San was a good person. But the more I watched afterward, the more things felt wrong.

Still, I have to say, Sparkly Key's animation is very well done, with gems like The Legend of Qin and Nine Songs of the Moving Heavens preceding it, followed by works like Douluo Continent.

I really hope I'll live to see updates to The Legend of Qin and Nine Songs of the Moving Heavens. All right, I'll stop here. I'm wandering further and further off topic. Thanks again to every reader who's kept me company. May wealth flow your way and everything go smoothly!~

Chapter 51: Unexpected closeness

Love the house, and love the crow upon its roof.

They knew very well that Big Brother was a man who valued affection and loyalty. His diary had made it perfectly clear that this girl named Xue'er had sacrificed and shouldered far too much for him in their past lives.

They were all unfortunate souls. What was there to be jealous of?

Xiao Wu even boldly raised her head and gave Qian Renxue across the table a friendly, innocent, sweet smile.

At the sight of Xiao Wu's smile, Xiong Shaoqing's heart suddenly trembled, and profound heartache flashed in the depths of his dark eyes.

"Silly girl..." Xiong Shaoqing sighed inwardly, his fingers tightening slightly around his teacup.

Little did Xiao Wu know that the blood flowing through this gentle, jade-like Sister Xue'er before her was that of Bibi Dong, the Pope of Spirit Hall.

And Bibi Dong was the chief culprit who had hunted down and killed Xiao Wu's mother all those years ago.

Xiong Shaoqing knew very well that, because of the system's absolute rule that "Instance holders are strictly forbidden from harming one another," even if Xiao Wu and Qian Renxue fell out completely, they could never turn their blades on each other. Neither could kill the other.

Yet that very rule made it all the crueler.

Letting Xiao Wu learn now that Xue'er was Bibi Dong's daughter would be no different from pushing her into an endless hell.

The daughter of her mother's murderer would be right before her, yet she wouldn't even have the right to take revenge, forcibly restrained by the rule.

The frustration and mental torment of staring at an enemy while being powerless to act would be enough to drive the girl mad.

He couldn't forget Xiao Wu's expression when she saw Bibi Dong in the Star Dou Great Forest. He didn't want Xiao Wu to experience that kind of pain a second time.

Xiong Shaoqing's thoughts raced, his heart unbearably heavy.

This blood-deep vendetta was not something a few words could resolve.

That thin paper window separating them from the truth absolutely couldn't be pierced now, nor could he mention a single word of it in the diary.

He took a deep breath and settled on a plan.

The only way was to let them first spend time together as equals while Xiao Wu remained unaware.

As long as they built a sufficiently deep bond, when the truth came out someday, that relationship might cushion the blow in Xiao Wu's heart.

He had to try every possible means to help her resolve this agonizing obsession.

Thinking of the painful struggle Xiao Wu was destined to face in the future, Xiong Shaoqing felt a fine, lingering ache in his heart.

For once, he picked up the serving chopsticks, took a piece of the tenderest fish belly, and placed it in Xiao Wu's bowl.

"Eat more. You're too thin." Xiong Shaoqing's voice was as icy as ever, and he didn't even glance at her, as though he were merely issuing a stiff command.

Overwhelmed by the unexpected attention, Xiao Wu's large eyes instantly lit up. The little shadow in her heart vanished, and she said in a sweet, soft voice, "Thank you, Big Brother."

On his other side, Zhu Zhuqing lowered her lashes slightly.

How could Xiong Shaoqing, a master at keeping the scales balanced, favor one over the other? His chopsticks turned, and another piece of crisp spare rib landed steadily in Zhu Zhuqing's dish.

"You too. Agility-attack types burn through a lot. Don't be picky."

An almost imperceptible smile rippled across Zhu Zhuqing's lips, and she softly answered, "Okay."

Sitting opposite them, Qian Renxue watched the seemingly indifferent yet deeply warm interaction between the three. Recalling that diary entry brimming with restraint and affection, her golden eyes shimmered with complicated light.

His heart is clearly bleeding, and he's forcing himself to endure because he worries he can't protect me, yet on the surface, he still has to pretend nothing is wrong and care for the people beside him...

Qian Renxue tightened her grip on her teacup, her heartbeat quickening somewhat beyond her control. Didn't Xiong Shaoqing get tired living like this?

Looking at the man whose exterior was as cold and hard as iron, yet whose heart was gentle to the utmost, Qian Renxue suddenly felt this meal had left her chest burning.

The feeling of being hidden deep in someone's heart and silently favored was like spring rain, soundlessly melting an opening in the hard barrier within her called "Crown Prince Xue Qinghe."

With their hunger and thirst satisfied, the meal was over.

Xiong Shaoqing called a waiter over, settled the bill, and stood, preparing to bid farewell like an unfeeling iceberg.

But Qian Renxue rose first from across the table. With a swish, she elegantly opened her folding fan and smiled gently. "Brother Xiong, since you've treated us to such a sumptuous lunch, Qinghe would feel rather bad simply parting ways here."

"I hear the annual Ice Crystal Soul Sculpture Exhibition is being held today at Cold Moon Lake outside Suotuo City. The lake has frozen over, and the city's high-ranking Soul Masters have carved all sorts of marvelous scenes from ice and snow, with glowing spirit stones embedded inside. Glittering and translucent amid the snowfall on a winter night, they're breathtakingly beautiful."

"I happen to have booked a lakeside pavilion with an excellent view. Would Brother Xiong and the two young ladies do me the honor of viewing the ice sculptures together?"

In this world, the immense ice-crystal wonderlands that Soul Masters carved by manipulating ice and snow with Soul Power were Suotuo City's foremost winter spectacle.

Hearing that there were ice sculptures to see, Xiao Wu's eyes already shone like two little stars, and she tugged Xiong Shaoqing's sleeve with an expectant face.

Though Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, a trace of girlish curiosity showed in her cool eyes as well.

Xiong Shaoqing regarded the cross-dressing "Xue Qinghe" before him coldly, while the lecherous soul inside him had long since started wildly banging gongs and drums.

Well, well, she's inviting us to see ice sculptures by the lake herself?

In the dead of winter, one man and three women sharing a pavilion, ice and snow outside and a little red-clay stove within-this classical, flirtatious atmosphere of ice and fire is practically Heaven spoon-feeding me.

Xue'er, you really are my thoughtful little quilted jacket.

Though he was already soaring with delight inside, Xiong Shaoqing's face remained deep and unruffled.

He frowned slightly, seemingly uninterested in such worldly entertainment, but when his peripheral vision caught Xiao Wu's pitiful gaze, he finally "reluctantly" uttered a single cold word: "Fine."

Half an hour later.

By Cold Moon Lake, the north wind cut bitterly, and heavy snow swirled.

A thick layer of ice had already formed across the entire lake. Ice and snow statues several dozen feet tall stood upon it, refracting dreamlike, multicolored glimmers under the light of the spirit stones embedded within.

The lakeside pavilion Qian Renxue had booked stood on an island in the lake's center, requiring them to cross a long white-jade bridge.

The winter night's cold wind carried snowflakes, and a thick layer of black ice coated the stone bridge's steps.

Qian Renxue and Xiong Shaoqing walked side by side in front.

Perhaps the wind and snow had blurred her vision. Disguised as she was, Qian Renxue absolutely didn't dare casually use her Six-Winged Angel Soul Power to melt the ice and snow and steady herself.

Her official boot suddenly slipped, and her entire body lost its balance, falling straight backward.

At that critical instant.

"Careful."

A low, cold voice rang out through the wind and snow.

Sharp-eyed and quick-handed, Xiong Shaoqing shot out his right hand like lightning, caught Qian Renxue's slender waist, and drew her gently into his arms.

Qian Renxue crashed straight into a broad, solid chest, her nose instantly filled with the clean, slightly chilly scent of the man.

Through the thin brocade robe, she could even clearly feel the powerful heartbeat coming from Xiong Shaoqing's chest, as well as the astonishingly hot, large hand clasped tightly around her waist.

Chapter 52: Qian Renxue's heart stirs

In that instant, Qian Renxue's mind went utterly blank.

In all her life, she had never had such intimate physical contact with a man.

More devastatingly, the man's naturally commanding presence actually sent an indescribable shiver through the Angel Soul Power within her.

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

On the surface, Xiong Shaoqing's brows were tightly knitted, as though reproaching "him" for not watching where he was going, but inside, waves surged and crashed.

This waist is far too soft and slender. How could this be a man's waist? That faint fragrance when she crashed into my arms just now nearly did me in.

Hold it together. I'm a respectable God King now. I absolutely can't let a lecher's expression show.

Xiong Shaoqing released her as quickly as though he'd been shocked and retreated half a step. With his hands behind his back, he looked coldly toward the giant ice sculptures in the distance, as though he had merely steadied a piece of wood in passing. "Young Master Xue, the black ice on the bridge is slippery. Don't let your mind wander while walking."

Qian Renxue came to her senses, her fair ears instantly turning scarlet as her heart thundered like a drum.

She hastily straightened her lapels, using her clouding breath to conceal her inner turmoil. "Th-thank you, Brother Xiong."

They entered the pavilion. Though a charcoal fire burned inside, wind blew in from all sides, and the winter chill remained undiminished.

Xiong Shaoqing knew well that iron had to be struck while hot, and the scales had to be kept balanced.

He closed his eyes, summoned the Destiny Diary in his Sea of Consciousness, and began today's peak performance.

This time, his focus was a natural inner voice that "seemed to complain, but actually doted":

[The winter wind at Cold Moon Lake really cuts to the bone. Those glowing lumps of ice are quite something to look at, though.]

[Just now on the bridge, Xue'er slipped. The moment I caught her waist, I almost couldn't resist pulling her straight into my arms.]

[This silly girl. She's clearly a delicate young woman, with such a soft waist, yet she has to bind her chest flat in this ice and snow and put on the manner of a young gentleman who handles everything with ease. Just how badly have the royal family's power struggles crushed the breath out of her?]

[I truly hope that one day, she can shed all these disguises before me, put on the most beautiful women's clothes, and no longer concern herself with Heaven Dou's and Spirit Hall's schemes.]

[The snow outside is falling harder. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing are leaning against the railing on the other side of the pavilion, pointing at the distant ice sculptures and chattering away. Xiao Wu smiles like a snow sprite unafraid of the cold, and Zhu Zhuqing's cool eyes finally hold a trace of the warmth and softness befitting her age.]