Brother Xu Ran, Don't Go

"Brother Xu Ran?"

Zhu Zhuqing froze, blinking her beautiful eyes in surprise.

Utterly bewildered, she tilted her little head and looked at Xu Ran with some doubt. Since when had she had a Brother Xu Ran? Why couldn't she remember?

She wondered if Xu Ran was lying to her.

"So you really don't remember. I once saved you at Da Ming Lake Shore in Star Luo City. Back then, you called me Brother Xu Ran. But that was a long time ago, so it's normal that you don't remember," Xu Ran hurriedly said, preparing to end the subject. He felt that if they kept discussing it, he would definitely give himself away.

"Oh." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, though her pretty face still wore a puzzled expression. Still, she asked no more questions. Six years ago, she had only been a little child. Who could remember what had happened back then?

Besides, she wasn't a woman with big breasts and no brains. She had her own way of judging people, and all she saw in Xu Ran's eyes was sincerity. Everything Xu Ran said was true; he wasn't lying to her. Xu Ran wouldn't lie to her. Otherwise, why would he have returned to the Zhu Family for her?

At that thought, Zhu Zhuqing felt a little guilty. Xu Ran had saved her, yet she had forgotten him. Wasn't that rather unkind? If Xu Ran found out, would he be very disappointed?

"Then could I hear you call me Brother Xu Ran again? It's been so long since I heard you call me that." Xu Ran smiled faintly, his gaze settling on Zhu Zhuqing. He rather looked forward to hearing her call him that. Even Dai Mubai, as Zhu Zhuqing's fiancé, had never received such treatment.

In the original story, Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai's relationship had always been strained. He remembered that their relationship had only truly begun to improve when Tang San distributed immortal herbs to the Shrek Seven Monsters. Back then, Zhu Zhuqing had even worried that Dai Mubai might encounter problems absorbing his immortal herb.

It was also then that their dramatic increase in strength had allowed Zhu Zhuqing to find hope. Dai Mubai had finally emerged from his dejection as well, eventually defeating Dai Weisi and beginning to whitewash his image.

Even a piece of trash could become strong after obtaining a supreme treasure, but trash was still trash. In this life, he could forget about getting even a single immortal herb.

And once Xu Ran had won Zhu Zhuqing over, he would go give him a beating. He would let him learn what it felt like to have his fiancée held and doted on in another man's arms.

Then he could also reveal Dai Mubai's location to Dai Weisi and have Dai Weisi go after him too. Dai Weisi didn't know Dai Mubai was in Suotuo City, but he did. Dai Mubai had fled to the Heaven Dou Empire precisely to hide from Dai Weisi. If he were exposed, he would be done for.

"Brother Xu Ran." Under Xu Ran's undisguised gaze, Zhu Zhuqing immediately lowered her head, parted her cherry lips, and spoke.

She didn't know whether she had ever had a Brother Xu Ran, either, but if Xu Ran said she had, then she had. Xu Ran was very nice. Although his gaze was sometimes a little shameless, always lingering on those places, for some reason she couldn't bring herself to dislike him. Especially after learning that he had come to the Zhu Family for her, even disregarding danger, her fondness for him had deepened considerably.

"In a few days, I'll ask the family head to dissolve your engagement to Dai Mubai. Dai Mubai doesn't deserve you. I won't stand by and watch you jump into a pit of fire."

"You can fall in love with anyone in the future, but not that piece of trash Dai Mubai." Xu Ran stood, gently stroking Zhu Zhuqing's long hair as he spoke firmly.

"Xu Ran, don't." Zhu Zhuqing's expression shifted slightly, and she seized his arm in both arms. If Xu Ran made that request of her father, he would be beaten to death.

"I won't stand by and watch the girl I like jump into a pit of fire. Even if she doesn't like me, I still won't." With his arm held against her, Xu Ran couldn't help glancing at Zhu Zhuqing as he spoke.

"You-don't look where you shouldn't."

"And you're not allowed to go to Father and the others. I won't let you." Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face flushed. Noticing Xu Ran's gaze, she couldn't help feeling embarrassed and annoyed. She was old enough to know exactly where he was looking.

But she didn't dare let go of Xu Ran, either. What if he did something foolish and went off to his death?

Her father and the elders were so fierce. What would happen if they learned that Xu Ran had feelings for her?

If her father learned that Xu Ran liked her, what punishment would Xu Ran receive?

She could hardly imagine it. Even without thinking about it, she knew the punishment would be severe.

Worried, Zhu Zhuqing clung tightly to Xu Ran, her voluptuous figure pressing against his arm and making his heart stir despite himself.

Still, Xu Ran knew that in the original story, Xiao Wu's legs were the most beautiful.

But Xiao Wu wouldn't be easy to win over. Zhu Zhuqing was a little easier to pursue because she hadn't liked Dai Mubai to begin with, whereas Xiao Wu still had Tang San by her side. Without a sufficiently dazzling performance, he wouldn't be able to win her over.

"Brother Xu Ran, I'm begging you. Please don't go, all right? I don't want you to get hurt." Seeing that Xu Ran still hadn't spoken, Zhu Zhuqing pleaded.

She wasn't sure whether she had any other feelings for Xu Ran. But she knew she couldn't let him get hurt for her sake.

"All right, I won't go for now." Xu Ran nodded and reached out to draw Zhu Zhuqing into his arms. Her body was soft, and her delicate fragrance smelled lovely.

Zhu Zhuqing blushed. How had Xu Ran gone from talking to taking liberties with her, even holding her? Didn't he know a girl wasn't someone he could just casually embrace?

"It's late today. I'll head back first. Xu Ran, you should go back and get some sleep too." Zhu Zhuqing broke free of his embrace and ran off, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Her heart couldn't help pounding wildly. She didn't know why she felt no aversion to Xu Ran at all, or why even being held in his arms didn't make her uncomfortable.

She was still holding Xu Ran's clothes, which he had used to cover her legs earlier. Zhu Zhuqing hugged the garment to her chest. The scent of Xu Ran's hands on it rushed into her nose, making her heart beat even faster.

She hurried toward her bedroom on her long legs. Only when Xu Ran was completely out of sight did her heart settle down.