"Ruoru, hello. I know my sudden appearance might seem presumptuous, but I also understand that this might be my only chance. I'm no longer young—already past forty. Over the years, I've dedicated all my energy to Wuhun research. I'm aware that my cultivation level isn't high and I might not be worthy of you. But pursuing happiness isn't something to be ashamed of. So, I've decided to take this step forward and express the admiration I feel for you."
"It was about three years ago, wasn't it? I had just led the team back from the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Battle Tournament. While conducting research on Wuhun, I encountered some challenges and sought Dean Yan's advice to see if any inner court students could assist me. The student he sent was you. We worked together on Wuhun research for two months. You might laugh at this, but those two months were the least focused I've ever been in my entire research career."
"I found myself unknowingly drawn to your gentle yet confident demeanor. Yet, despite all my years of life, I didn't recognize that feeling as love."
"Two months passed, and you left. When you walked away, I felt as though you took something with you. It wasn't until later that I realized—it was my heart that you carried off."
"..."
Qian Ran, overhearing Wang Yan's confession to Han Ruoru, was stunned.
What a master!
Don't be fooled by Wang Yan's introverted nature—this level of sincerity hits straight to the heart.
Especially for someone like Han Ruoru.
When dealing with women, you can be genuine but never fawning. Even in a situation where the man is weaker, sincerity triumphs over obsequiousness. That's the key difference between Wang Yan and Qian Duoduo.
True sincerity touches the heart; flattery does not.
Wang Yan, forty years old and at the sixty-fourth rank...
He's really bold to confess.
The most remarkable thing is that Wang Yan isn't even an inner court student—he's a teacher from the outer court!
The Sea God's Fate gathering typically includes not just the inner court disciples but also the upper echelons of Shrek Academy, and sometimes a few teachers join the festivities. Wang Yan was one such teacher who decided to make his move boldly.
After such an earnest confession, Han Ruoru actually agreed. Perhaps no one had ever confessed to her so directly before.
"Wang Yan is a talent indeed—he's playing for keeps. It's true: one must always have dreams," Qian Ran thought as he gazed at the courageous Wang Yan confessing to Han Ruoru. He couldn't help but feel a little admiration.
But if Wang Yan had chosen someone else, Qian Ran might have offered his blessings.
When it came to Han Ruoru, though? Apologies—she was off-limits.
Qian Ran had always been selfish. When it came to choosing between helping others or helping himself, he always chose the latter.
Xian Liner, understanding Qian Ran's intentions, took the chance to pinch him when no one was looking.
This guy is simply insufferable.
Did Qian Ran intend to empty out the entire inner court for himself?
This year's batch of female inner court participants at the Sea God's Fate had already seen a significant drop in quality due to Qian Ran's interference. Now, he even had his eyes on the most exceptional Han Ruoru!
Why is this bad guy so bad? And why does his badness excite me so much? Why do I like him more because of it?
"An academic, huh? Teacher Wang Yan is truly formidable in this field. With his knowledge, he could even become a teacher in the inner court," Qian Ran mused aloud.
For someone focused on theoretical research, cultivation levels weren't as restrictive.
Moreover, Wang Yan's expertise in this domain was undeniable—his knowledge was systematic and comprehensive, far surpassing that of the petty thief Yu Xiaogang from 10,000 years ago.
"If you'd like, I could help you," Cai Meier whispered to Qian Ran, not wanting to let Xian Liner have all the glory.
Cai Meier was now the Dean of Shrek Academy, managing most of the inner court affairs.
"You have a plan?" Qian Ran's heart leapt. Meier truly cared for him—she knew his desires and was even proactive in helping him.
"I could make an excuse to send Ruoru to your Soul Tool Department for an internship, to assist you with administrative work. You're naturally lazy and can't keep leaving everything to Qian Duoduo. Ruoru's capabilities are beyond question—she's the perfect candidate to help manage your affairs."
"With Ruoru around, you can confidently be a hands-off leader, and no one would dare gossip." Cai Meier smiled as she spoke.
"You're suggesting that Han Ruoru becomes my secretary?" Qian Ran's eyes lit up. He'd been racking his brain for ways to win over Han Ruoru, and now an opportunity was being handed to him on a silver platter.
"Yes. In fact, even if you weren't interested in Ruoru, I'd planned to find a couple of suitable people to assist you anyway. Your primary focus right now should be on cultivation and achieving the rank of a ninth-level Soul Engineer. The academy's mundane affairs are a burden for you. The Sea God Pavilion's decision was clear: you can report your progress, but you're not required to personally handle the Soul Tool Department's affairs."
"I've got no objections. Let's do that—have Ruoru assigned to me," Qian Ran agreed readily.
The Sea God's Fate gathering concluded quickly.
Aside from Han Ruoru, there wasn't much else worth noting.
Anything noteworthy had already been intercepted by Qian Ran in advance. The remaining prospects weren't of high quality.
As Qian Ran left the gathering, Ma Xiaotao and Wu Ming, two stunning beauties, immediately approached him.
Both women wore Shrek Academy's inner court uniforms in red, their fiery energy matched only by their explosive figures. Their loose uniforms were filled to bursting, creating dramatic curves.
The two women standing there were like breathtaking scenery, captivating all who saw them.
Ma Xiaotao and Wu Ming had the most outstanding figures in the inner court, ranking among the best across the academy. Even Zhu Lu couldn't match them in sheer presence due to her younger age. Zhu Lu's figure was already impressive but lacked the fullness these two women possessed.
In terms of potential, Zhu Lu showed the most promise. At her young age, there was a chance her figure could improve by a size or two. Meanwhile, Ma Xiaotao's development was likely complete—having been with Qian Ran for some time, her body had already passed its growth phase.
Wu Ming, on the other hand, might still become even more voluptuous, especially since she was still a virgin.
As Qian Ran thought about this, his hands casually traced gentle circles on the hips of the two women, his palms feeling the softness beneath.
Having gathered the three most stunningly voluptuous women in the academy, Qian Ran couldn't help but feel a swell of achievement.
(End of Chapter)