Han Ruoruo was different from Wu Ming.
Wu Ming was outgoing, passionate, and drawn to strength. She admired powerful men, and Qian Ran, with his overwhelming might and presence, fit her ideal perfectly.
Han Ruoruo, however, didn't care about superficial qualities in a partner. She had spent years avoiding romantic entanglements, simply wanting someone dependable to build a life with.
That's why, during the Sea God Fate Matchmaking Festival, she ultimately chose Wang Yan.
If Qian Ran were to intervene now, the timing would be off.
Girls like Han Ruoruo, grounded and slow to warm up, were ideal partners for a stable marriage. But for someone like Qian Ran, often seen as a "playboy," such women were the hardest to win over.
"Great, am I really going to do Wang Yan dirty again?" Qian Ran muttered, coughing awkwardly. It seemed like his track record with his teachers wasn't improving.
Beautiful female teachers often ended up becoming his lovers, while male teachers...
Whether it was Fan Yu, Qian Duoduo, or Yan Shaozhe, they all seemed to suffer the same fate.
Apparently, Wang Yan wouldn't escape this trend either.
If Wang Yan didn't choose Han Ruoruo at this year's festival, there might still be a chance for Qian Ran to step in. If he did, though, Qian Ran wasn't going to hold back.
After all, the Sea God Fate Festival wasn't a binding contract. Matches made there were just a starting point—many couples broke up later when their personalities clashed.
As night fell, the romantic atmosphere around Sea God Island began to thicken. The glow of the Sea God Lake reflected the shimmering lights of the island, setting the mood for the upcoming matchmaking event.
Small groups of inner court disciples in their distinctive red uniforms began gathering near the lake.
Although Shrek Academy had been developing its Soul Engineering Department in recent years, the inner court still consisted mainly of Martial Soul Department disciples. The crowd soon converged by the water's edge.
A large ferry lit with dazzling lights approached from the distance. This was the biggest ferry on Sea God Lake, and it was packed with people.
Among them were at least six or seven elders from the Sea God Pavilion, as well as other key figures like Yan Shaozhe, Cai Meier, Xian Lin'er, and Qian Ran himself.
Standing among these influential figures, Qian Ran had already earned his place.
Several of the Sea God Pavilion elders studied Qian Ran with curiosity.
From the moment he stepped aboard, Qian Ran could feel the probing of their spiritual and soul power. With a faint smile, he released his own spiritual and soul power to block their attempts.
Just then, beams of golden light shot up from the lake, revealing about ten glowing platforms.
On each platform stood a young woman dressed in a white gown, their faces veiled under broad hats with draping white silk.
The shimmering golden light, combined with the women's ethereal appearance, made them look like heavenly maidens floating on the water.
"Shrek Academy really knows how to put on a show," Qian Ran thought, smiling to himself.
"These past few years, the Sea God Fate Festival has been struggling to maintain its appeal," Yan Shaozhe commented with a touch of irony. "In the past, we had twenty or so inner court girls participate each year. Now it's down to this. All the talented girls get snatched up in the outer court."
If not for Qian Ran's influence, there would have been six or seven more participants tonight. Many of the girls from his generation who had advanced to the inner court were already part of his life.
"Qian Ran is a lucky one," one of the elders remarked with a playful smile.
The elders didn't concern themselves with Qian Ran's private life. As long as he treated the women willingly by his side with respect, they had no objections to his relationships.
On this continent, there were as many devoted couples as there were men with harems. If someone had the strength and charm to support multiple partners, no one would bat an eye.
After all, a man with Qian Ran's abilities could marry a hundred women, and no one would object.
"What's this I hear about you and Wu Ming? Don't bully the poor girl," Yan Shaozhe said, though his tone carried a teasing edge.
Smiling outwardly, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance.
Another one?
Wu Ming, the Golden Crow Saintess and one of the Inner Court's most unattainable women, had been single for years. Yet Qian Ran, fresh from his time at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, had already managed to woo her.
How does he do it?
Some of the other elders also looked at Qian Ran with thinly veiled envy.
It wasn't that they couldn't have multiple partners if they wanted to. But finding exceptional women who accepted such arrangements was almost impossible. For most men, the best they could hope for was to marry one suitable partner.
But Qian Ran? He didn't just find women—he found the best ones.
Even more infuriating, these women seemed utterly devoted to him.
"I wouldn't dare bully her. With her temper, you know it'd be the other way around," Qian Ran said with a shrug.
"You're unbelievable."
"Say, are you hiding something from us? Why is it that the techniques you taught me don't work on Mei'er at all?" Yan Shaozhe leaned in close, whispering to Qian Ran. Seeing how effortlessly Qian Ran managed his relationships, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but feel intrigued.
It wasn't Wu Ming or any of Qian Ran's other flames that interested him—it was Qian Ran's uncanny ability to win people over.
He'd seen it with his own eyes. Even Xue Lingxun, the noble princess, had become one of Qian Ran's women.
"How does he do it?"
"Qian Ran, you have to share your secrets. No holding back," Qian Duoduo added, joining the conversation. He, too, was desperate for answers. Winning a woman's heart had proven almost impossible for him.
Qian Ran chuckled, shaking his head. "Sometimes, the harder you try to force something, the less likely you are to get it."
"Tell me, Researcher Qian, Dean Yan," Qian Ran continued, his tone turning serious. "If you can't win over the hearts of the women you love, would you consider letting go?"
Seeing how poorly Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo were faring, Qian Ran decided to offer some guidance.
At their age, there might still be time for them to start families. Qian Ran didn't want to see the lineages of the Yan and Qian families come to an end.
(End of Chapter)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X