Held in Xu Ran's arms, Zhu Zhuqing's cool face flushed, and her heart could not help fluttering like a startled fawn.
Growing up, she had barely had any contact with boys, much less been held so intimately.
"Let go already." Zhu Zhuqing pushed hard against Xu Ran's chest with her delicate hands. When she found she could not push him away, her pretty face grew even redder. Hearing the gossip around them made her so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
After today, there might be plenty of rumors about her and Xu Ran in the Zhu Family.
Unfortunately, he and Zhu Zhuqing did not have that sort of relationship yet. Only once he had truly won her over could he hold her without any reservations.
Then he could do more than hold Zhu Zhuqing. Once he had won her over, he could do whatever he wanted. Though Zhu Zhuqing looked cold, she had a cold exterior and a warm heart. She was also utterly devoted; winning her heart meant winning all of her.
"Be more careful next time. If I hadn't been here, you would have fallen today." Xu Ran gave her a gentle smile and released her slender waist.
"You don't seem to have much actual combat experience. Don't you have a sparring instructor in the family?" Xu Ran asked in puzzlement. He could tell that Zhu Zhuqing lacked actual combat experience. She had not even mastered the simplest techniques for dissipating force perfectly. In the original story, Zhu Zhuqing had only gradually risen through constant training at Shrek.
"I do have combat instructors. It's just that they're all very stern." Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head and looked at her beautiful legs as she spoke softly. She was a little afraid to look at Xu Ran. Even now, she could still sense his masculine scent lingering on her, making her feel hot all over.
With her head lowered, she tapped her dainty toes against the ground, somewhat at a loss. A breeze blew past, sending her ink-black hair drifting in the wind.
Her position in the Zhu Family was unusual. Even the instructors who taught her cultivation would find ways to make their relationship with her appear as poor as possible, keeping their distance from her.
Thinking of this, Xu Ran felt a slight ache in his heart.
Zhu Zhuqing had always silently endured grievances in the Zhu Family, and he had seen it all. Just now, so many people in the square had been sparring and cultivating, yet Zhu Zhuqing had been alone. If he had not come, who knew how many more grievances she would have had to endure?
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai was enjoying himself at Shrek Academy. Running away was one thing, but he had even betrayed Zhu Zhuqing, taking twin beauties to do that sort of thing.
For someone like that to end up having his name cleared was simply the greatest joke under heaven.
If becoming powerful meant being able to write history, then from this moment onward, he, Xu Ran, would write that history.
In the original story, Zhu Zhuqing had ultimately accepted everything and ended up with Dai Mubai. But now that he had come to this world, he would not allow that to happen.
From now on, he would be the one to protect Zhu Zhuqing.
Xu Ran slowly stepped forward, looking at the girl before him, wanting to stroke her hair.
"With me here from now on, no one will dare bully you," Xu Ran said, sincerity in his voice. In a few days, he would submit a request to the family head to annul Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai's engagement. Under all of heaven, only he, Xu Ran, could have such a precious girl.
Zhu Zhuqing moved a step aside, keeping Xu Ran's hand from landing on her.
Hearing Xu Ran's bold words, Zhu Zhuqing could not help feeling flustered. No girl could remain composed when faced with something like this. Even she, Zhu Zhuqing, was only an ordinary girl.
"I can protect myself. You don't need to worry about me," Zhu Zhuqing said. She still did not dare look at Xu Ran, but her voice had softened a little.
"I already have a fiancé. It would be better if we kept our distance from now on." Zhu Zhuqing withdrew her Martial Soul, her beautiful eyes turning toward the distance.
A wave of resentment also stirred in her heart.
Why had she been betrothed to someone else from the moment she was born?
Other girls could choose the person they liked, but she could not. Her fiancé had been decided from her birth.
Why?
And Dai Mubai's character was so poor. He chased women everywhere and had even abandoned her to flee on his own. Why should she have to marry someone like that?
But what else could she do?
The Dai and Zhu families had intermarried for generations. That would not change because of her wishes. Moreover, Dai Mubai was a prince. His marriage represented the dignity of the imperial family. How could she resist?
"I can help you," Xu Ran said softly, looking at Zhu Zhuqing. At this moment, he felt only an intense desire to protect her. He knew that the girl before him had borne far too much alone.
"My affairs are none of your concern. You don't need to come looking for me anymore, either. I have my own combat instructors. I don't need you to spar with me," Zhu Zhuqing said, a faint mist gathering in her eyes. Her fate had long since been decided. It would not change.
She could sense that Xu Ran might have those sorts of feelings for her, but she would not accept them, much less drag him down with her.
Xu Ran did not understand the relationship between the Dai and Zhu families. He still did not know what sort of danger he would face if he became involved. She would not allow herself to implicate someone else.
After all these years, even her older sister, who had always cared about her, no longer liked her.
Like someone drinking water, only the drinker knew whether it was cold or warm. Only she knew the grievances she had suffered in the family. No one kept her company or talked with her, much less listened to her pour out her heart.
But things were better now. Xu Ran was here. Knowing that someone still cared about her was enough.
Nothing else mattered, and she would not let Xu Ran's feelings for her develop any further. Only that way could she keep him safe.
"Let's end today's spar here. I'm leaving. Don't come looking for me again," Zhu Zhuqing said, running off into the distance, tears welling in her eyes. This was how she lived in the Zhu Family, always alone. Even if someone truly wanted to treat her a little better, she would take the initiative to keep her distance. She did not want those who treated her well to suffer any harm, not even the slightest bit.
Watching Zhu Zhuqing's retreating figure, Xu Ran could not help sighing.
He knew Zhu Zhuqing's heart was in turmoil, and she could not possibly accept him for now. Still, he had never expected to win her over so quickly. There was plenty of time ahead. Sooner or later, Zhu Zhuqing would belong to him.
Watching Zhu Zhuqing gradually disappear into the distance, Xu Ran also left the square directly. He knew that only when he truly proved his strength and proved he could protect her would Zhu Zhuqing stop pushing him away. Only then would she be willing to grow a little closer to him.
Dear readers, please send some votes my way! I'll be back to two updates a day soon, and I already have thirteen or fourteen chapters saved up. It'll definitely be exciting and turn the usual tropes on their heads. It won't be too bad, brothers.