"I just want to become stronger!"
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head and whispered, looking at Ye Qiu's back.
She hugged her knees, looking at the boundless stone platform in front of her, her thoughts drifting somewhere unknown.
'Sister! I might be able to beat you now! And Dai Mubai… our ridiculous engagement.'
Thinking of the engagement, Ye Qiu's figure suddenly flashed through her mind.
For the past half month, she had been meticulously cared for by Ye Qiu, but she could clearly feel an invisible distance he maintained from her. Perhaps… this was also her own doing!
Her mind replayed every movement of Ye Qiu when he healed and saved her… Remembering that accidental kiss, it didn't seem to displease her much.
Burying her flushed face in her knees, 'What should I do?'
As she was feeling sorrowful alone, she suddenly felt a warmth.
Ye Qiu had returned and was standing beside her; a blanket had appeared over her.
"If there's anything to think about, save it for tomorrow. It's better to rest early now, lest you develop an illness. Otherwise, I'd feel very guilty!"
"Thank you! But I still want to… Hey! What are you doing?!" She clenched her fists, repeatedly hitting Ye Qiu's chest.
Suddenly, Ye Qiu picked her up, his left arm supporting her shoulders, and his right hand cupped under her knees. "Nothing. If you want to think, you can do it just as well in bed, can't you? Just lie down and think slowly. The most important thing is to heal your injuries quickly!"
After settling her into bed, Ye Qiu went to rest alone.
Watching his retreating figure, Zhu Zhuqing felt that she already had an answer in her heart. It might be difficult, but she truly wanted to live for herself!
The night passed without a word!
…
Over the next few days, Ye Qiu felt that Zhu Zhuqing beside him seemed to have changed slightly.
She kept asking him to tease the Spirit Beasts with her, riding wolves, snakes, and spiders together.
"Here, try the fish I grilled for you!"
Beside a small stream, two large white wolves were drinking water. Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Qiu sat cross-legged on the bank, with a fire burning between them.
Zhu Zhuqing handed the grilled fish to Ye Qiu, a smile on her face.
"It tastes good~ Very delicious!" Ye Qiu hadn't expected much from her cooking skills, as she was a young lady from a prominent family. But after a small bite, he found the taste genuinely good!
"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking!" She glared at Ye Qiu, then took another skewered fish and started grilling it. "At home, I often do things myself!"
Ye Qiu naturally understood her situation in the Zhu family. Her age difference with her elder sister was quite significant, making it impossible for her to compete with her. Who would have thought that a young lady from a noble family would have to do some chores herself!
"Your Zhu family is truly abnormal!" Ye Qiu first complained, then tapped his head with his index finger, adding, "Oh, right, and the Star Luo Empire too!"
"Hmm, it is indeed very abnormal!" Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement, her mood starting to become a bit downcast again. "After all, which family's siblings are destined… born to be mortal enemies!"
Ye Qiu's words caused the atmosphere to chill, and the grilled fish in his hand suddenly tasted bland.
Zhu Zhuqing dropped the grilled fish in her hand and leaned towards Ye Qiu, knocking the grilled fish from his hand onto the ground.
"You…" Ye Qiu was about to flare up.
But her sleeve was already at Ye Qiu's mouth, meticulously wiping away the stains from his lips.
"You… what are you doing?" Ye Qiu pushed her hand away and moved his butt back a bit.
Her own face was also a bit flushed. "What's wrong? Didn't you take care of me like this when I was bedridden?"
"You know you were bedridden then. I'm perfectly fine!" Ye Qiu looked at her, speechless.
"Alright, let's go! Let's take another stroll together." She then pulled Ye Qiu's hand and walked towards the two wolves by the stream.
The two mounted the white wolves, shoulder to shoulder, slowly moving along the stream.
"By the way, Ye Qiu, what exactly is the favor you wanted me to help with?" Zhu Zhuqing turned her head to look at his profile.
"Hmm, I want you to help me protect someone!" Thinking of that rabbit, Ye Qiu still smiled faintly.
Zhu Zhuqing, seeing this, had a bad premonition. "Who is it? Where are they?"
"Her name is Xiao Wu, her Spirit is the Soft Bones Demon Rabbit. As for where? Hmm, you'll meet her if you go to Soto City in the future."
"A girl?"
"Yes! Preferably close protection! Of course, not when you need to cultivate!" Ye Qiu nodded, taking the opportunity to state his request.
'Ye Qiu! I really should thank you!' Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth. Giving her an external Spirit Bone was to make her protect a girl he had an ambiguous relationship with?
What did her own decision count for then? Had all her actions these past few days become a joke? Had her body been shown and touched for nothing? Was her first kiss also given in vain?
Zhu Zhuqing smiled bitterly. The step she had so difficultly taken had ended just like that. She patiently continued walking.
"Hmm? By the way, why do you say I will definitely go to Soto City?"
"Because your third prince fiancé is there! Haven't you always wanted to surpass your sister and brother-in-law? I think you'll still go look for him later! Actually, this isn't called changing your fate at all, you're still living within a fate prescribed by others."
Ye Qiu spoke to himself, completely unaware of Zhu Zhuqing's increasingly ugly expression.
"Enough! Ye Qiu!" She roared, "How dare you dictate other people's destinies! Do you think you understand me so well? You don't understand anything at all!"
Her roar left Ye Qiu stunned. 'Did I say something wrong?'
Her eyes red, she stared at Ye Qiu. Already upset because of the girl named Xiao Wu, and then hearing Ye Qiu negate all her efforts and even assume she would still seek out Dai Mubai, she finally couldn't hold back!
"Ye Qiu! You're a jerk!"
While Ye Qiu was utterly bewildered, she cursed again, then squeezed her legs, and the wolf beneath her shot out.
"Hey, hey! You haven't agreed yet! Don't go too far from me! It'll be bad if the Spirit Beast loses control!" With no time to think, Ye Qiu shouted twice, then quickly followed.
…
In a wide grassy area, Zhu Zhuqing stopped.
"Hey! What was wrong with you just now? If I said anything wrong, I apologize…"
Ye Qiu approached from behind her. "Zhuqing?"
Zhu Zhuqing ignored him, staring fixedly at the distant sky, unmoving. Ye Qiu could only accompany her.
After a long time, she finally spoke, "What you said is right, and also not right!"
Turning her head to look at him, she smiled self-deprecatingly. "I am indeed very foolish. My efforts to become stronger and compete with my sister are indeed what others wish for, but only this way can I survive! Isn't that right?"
"Actually, you have other choices too!"
"Oh? Then tell me!" Zhu Zhuqing sat down and patted the spot next to her, signaling Ye Qiu to sit down as well.
"You could choose to join a few major powers, for example, Spirit Hall! They have always coveted the two Empires. As a direct descendant of the Zhu family, if you are willing to join, they would certainly be happy to accept you and use you as a benchmark to recruit other noble members. After all, there are always losers in the power struggles within the nobility!"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at him with interest. "And what else?"
"And the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School! As long as your talent is sufficient, I think they would be very willing to accept you. After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has already reached a critical juncture…"
Ye Qiu finished speaking and quietly looked at her.
"Haha… What about my parents then? And aren't you overestimating my importance a bit? My innate spirit power is only rank seven…"
Zhu Zhuqing hadn't expected Ye Qiu to be so naive. The Star Luo Empire was not the Heaven Dou Empire; they had their own Titled Douluo!
Ye Qiu also fell silent. This was indeed a bit presumptuous of him.
"Sorry… I didn't think it through…"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "It's fine! Thank you~" The last three words were as soft as a mosquito's buzz, so quiet that even Ye Qiu didn't hear them.
Looking at the red clouds hanging in the distant sky, she started to laugh as she watched.
"Haha…" With a self-deprecating smile, when did she, Zhu Zhuqing, become so easily willing to give up?
Turning to look at the surprised Ye Qiu beside her, she gave him a brilliant smile. Regardless of how bewildered he was, she mounted the white wolf beside her again and galloped away.
"Hey! What's wrong with you again?!" Ye Qiu was truly going crazy. How could this girl be so fickle? He quickly mounted his own ride and chased after her!
Zhu Zhuqing fully enjoyed the cool evening breeze on her face. She felt very relaxed; she had figured things out.
She wanted to thank Ye Qiu's appearance, which gave her a new choice, a new direction for her efforts—a choice that truly broke free from her fate, a choice she was willing to devote her life to!