Qian Ran was a kind person.
He saw no need to let Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo continue tormenting themselves. If they could open their hearts and let go of their obsessions, perhaps everyone would be better off.
Both men were talented enough to have reached the rank of Titled Douluo, and their martial souls, while not the strongest, were still remarkable. Even Qian Duoduo, often considered the weaker of the two, was still an exceptional soul master by the continent's standards.
For men with such potential to let their bloodlines go to waste would truly be a tragedy.
"You're suggesting we let go? That's impossible. Absolutely not!" Qian Duoduo shook his head fervently.
He had spent decades devoted to Xian Lin'er, enduring rejection after rejection, but he had grown accustomed to this one-sided affection. To give up now would be to lose a part of himself.
Besides, Qian Duoduo genuinely loved Xian Lin'er. His devotion wasn't just an act of desperation or obsession—it was his truth.
"If Lin'er gave me one of her worn socks, I'd treasure it forever," Qian Duoduo admitted with no small amount of self-awareness.
Naturally, Qian Ran wasn't about to let that happen. He had already persuaded Xian Lin'er to lock away her personal belongings and ensure that even her home was well-ventilated to leave nothing for Qian Duoduo to fixate on.
This was Qian Ran's idea of damage control.
In truth, Qian Duoduo's devotion bordered on pathological. Most people who were rejected would give up within a year. A select few might persist for a decade, earning themselves the title of "ultimate simp."
But Qian Duoduo? He had been at this for over a century.
The most remarkable part was that Xian Lin'er had never encouraged him. Unlike other women who might playfully flirt or tease their admirers to keep them hooked, Xian Lin'er was consistently cold. This wasn't Qian Ran's influence—she had been this way long before Qian Ran entered the picture.
To remain unwaveringly devoted without even a shred of reciprocation? That was something beyond "simping." It was an enigma of human emotion.
Qian Ran couldn't understand it, but he couldn't help but be awed by it.
"Duoduo, you should try. You still have time to find a kind woman to settle down with. You could live a good life," Yan Shaozhe suggested.
As a soul master, Qian Duoduo's physical vitality would allow him to have children well into old age. There was still hope for him to leave behind a legacy.
Yan Shaozhe, who had once clashed with Qian Duoduo over their feelings for Xian Lin'er, now saw him as a kindred spirit. Their shared struggles had brought them closer, and they had long since resolved their past disagreements.
"No way. Even if Lin'er divorces me someday, I won't leave her. I'll stay by her side," Qian Duoduo said, his teeth clenched.
His devotion had become his life's purpose. Without Xian Lin'er, his life felt meaningless.
"I didn't realize your feelings for Lin'er ran so deep. I can't compare," Yan Shaozhe admitted with a sigh.
Every man had his weaknesses. Even the most rational among them couldn't deny their physical desires. Yet Qian Duoduo remained utterly loyal, in both heart and body, to Xian Lin'er.
Such pure devotion was almost unheard of.
"Vice Dean Yan, if even you can't compare, I'm leagues behind," Qian Ran said with a wry smile.
Standing between these two hopeless romantics, Qian Ran felt completely out of place.
He couldn't fathom their mindset. As someone who openly embraced the idea of building a harem, Qian Ran found himself at odds with their unwavering monogamy.
Maybe Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo valued emotional connections more deeply than he did. But Qian Ran valued his relationships too!
The difference was urgency.
When Qian Ran thought of women like Han Ruoruo or Wu Ming potentially being claimed by someone else, his sense of time became acute. He felt compelled to act quickly.
There was always time to develop emotional bonds later. But if someone else stepped in first, that regret would haunt him forever.
"Let me put it this way. Even if Lin'er chooses someone else in the future, as long as I can stay near her, I'd be happy. Even if I could only see her from a distance, that would be enough for me," Qian Duoduo said, gazing at Xian Lin'er with a mixture of admiration and longing.
Xian Lin'er, who had been rejuvenated by the Icefire Yin Yang Well and Qian Ran's care, was more stunning than ever. Her mature beauty, enhanced by her youthful vigor, was nothing short of mesmerizing.
For Qian Duoduo, this only deepened his obsession.
Yan Shaozhe was visibly stunned.
Qian Ran, however, was utterly speechless.
Did Qian Duoduo just admit he'd accept being a glorified bystander in Xian Lin'er's life?
This was beyond anything he'd ever encountered. Was this the pinnacle of simping? He had thought such people only existed in absurd online stories from his past life.
Yet here, in the flesh, was a real-life embodiment of it.
"I'm not joking, Qian Ran. That's really how I feel. As long as I can stay near Lin'er, I don't care if I'm just her bodyguard or housekeeper." Qian Duoduo's smile was bitter but earnest.
"Ideally, of course, I'd like to be with her. Qian Ran, you'll help me, won't you? If you speak to Lin'er on my behalf, I'm sure she'll listen.
"After all, you're her prized student. I've never seen her care for anyone the way she cares for you. If you tell her to give me a chance, she'll at least consider it."
Qian Duoduo's eyes were filled with hope.
He wasn't wrong—any teacher would be fond of a prodigy like Qian Ran.
(End of Chapter)