NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 13 - First Meeting
Su Yu really wanted to blurt out: He didn’t want to marry, not ever. But when he calmed down and thought it over…
Did he really want to stay a lone dog his whole life?
In his past life, he couldn’t win anyone over—fine. But now, with this peerless beauty…
“If I can’t refuse, then I’ll just agree.”
After days of deep reflection, Su Yu came around. What was pride? Could you eat it? Could it fill your stomach?
Men had to marry eventually—staying holed up at home forever wasn’t an option.
Besides, his parents had already approved the engagement. What reason did he have to say no?
He’d thought he’d resist marrying, fight to the death, maybe even run away. But in the end, he didn’t.
As long as he looked good, it wasn’t that big a deal.
Really, abandoning a life of luxury to run off and suffer like some novel protagonist—that’d be true idiocy.
What era was this? Marriage wasn’t up to him—it was his parents’ call.
And his fiancée was beautiful and rich…
“Since she’s a cultivator, she must have plenty of spirit stones, right?”
“…It’s not like I have a choice.”
Su Yu needed resources to activate the system.
Thinking of system functions from novels in his past life—how could he not use it? That’d be sheer stupidity.
Check-in systems, instant power-ups, one-slash-999 damage… The more Su Yu thought, the more excited he got.
“Whatever, I’ll take it slow.”
“I don’t know what the system does yet, but it won’t let me down, I’m sure.”
Looking at the progress bar on the system panel, Su Yu felt a spark of anticipation.
Youth doesn’t know the sweetness of a kept life, wasting it toiling in the fields!
This body had a weak stomach—hard food was out, so soft living it was.
A rich, beautiful Immortal Lady—sure, they weren’t close yet, and he felt nothing for her, but with time, feelings would grow.
All he had to do was “communicate more, connect more.” Over time, affection would come naturally.
But that childhood sweetheart…
…
Gu Yanran gazed at the sky thick with dark clouds, her crimson eyes glinting with a faint, cold light.
As the date drew closer, the anticipation in her heart swelled.
An indescribable emotion flooded her chest.
As a child, she’d looked at the world with indifference, unable to understand it, never imagining she’d care so much—crave someone so fiercely.
Maybe this was the legendary pull of fate.
From a young age, Gu Yanran knew she was different.
Joy, anger, sorrow, delight… She could hear others’ inner voices. What was this? She didn’t know.
She just stayed silent, hiding her peculiarity.
But as she grew older, it became unbearable.
On the surface, they pitied her orphan status, showering her with care. But their real thoughts?
Adults put on kind faces, but Gu Yanran saw through them.
“Her father was trash—good riddance he died early. Her mother’s no better; she’ll grow up a menace too.”
“Why isn’t this little wretch dead yet? If she were, I could take her house, and even the village chief couldn’t say a word.”
“So pretty at such a young age—just like her mother. She’ll be a man-seducing vixen for sure.”
“…”
She didn’t want to hear it, but it poured into her ears.
Gu Yanran couldn’t fathom it.
Curses, hatred, venom—had she done something wrong? Had she hurt anyone?
She’d done nothing, just barely survived.
Filthy bodies, filthy hearts!
But her acting was flawless. No matter how much she despised them inside, her face never betrayed a hint.
She knew how to make others happy, what they wanted her to be.
She was innocent, kind, harmless.
When she was young and powerless, she played the clueless fool, but…
A scarlet gleam flashed in her blood-red eyes.
The pure, guileless persona was a necessary mask for Gu Yanran.
Only then could she spark others’ protective instincts, barely scraping by.
She’d thought she’d grow up like that forever—until that day, when everything changed.
That boy.
Pure, innocent, beautiful…
So clean, so untainted—like a flawless snow lotus, untouched by the slightest speck of dust.
A warm, heart-melting smile she could never mimic, no matter how she tried.
Gu Yanran vaguely recalled that day—the sunlight blinding, the boy’s face beaming.
“Can I know your name? You’re really pretty.”
His voice was clear and bright, gentle and flowing, pleasing to the ear—like a breeze brushing her cheek. Her heart skipped, words failing her.
A faint flush crept across her usually cool, delicate face.
Staring into those clear, pristine eyes, she shyly let out a soft hum, neither yes nor no.
For the first time, Gu Yanran was glad for her near-perfect looks.
Her small hand reached out, wanting to touch him, talk to him…
The seed in her heart hadn’t even sprouted before it withered under the sun.
He was innocent, good—darkness had no place beside him.
She could perfectly suppress herself against nauseating, disdainful, contemptuous things.
No doubt about it—even from that brief encounter, Gu Yanran realized something crucial.
To her, this boy was special—someone she could never let go of, no matter what!
She’d train hard to be worthy of him, to protect him, to keep him by her side forever.
Just picturing his adorable face eased her weary body and soul, filling her with lightness and joy.
At that thought, Gu Yanran’s lips curved slightly, a faint smile breaking through.
“I won’t let you leave me. Never.”