Chapter 64: The Gift of the Best Selves
Qin Chuan narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had underestimated Zhu Zhuqing. She had actually become the head of the Zhu family so quickly?
Sure enough, although these girls might be a little love-brained at times…
Once they regained clarity, none of them were easy to deal with.
"She used a self-torture strategy," Qian Renxue said with a complicated expression, "Then stabbed the poisoned dagger you gave her straight into her father's chest."
"Before that, she even sought out Zhu Jiuxie—the previous family head who lost the succession battle. The two joined forces and completely took control of the Netherworld Zhu family."
"Zhu Jiuxie?" Qin Chuan frowned slightly. "With such a big commotion, what about the royal family? They can't have just turned a blind eye, right?"
"What I told you just now is only the version passed along by Zhu Zhuqing," Qian Renxue replied. "The version reported by the outside world—and the results of the Xingluo royal family's investigation—are completely different."
That piqued Qin Chuan's interest.
"Including the head of the Netherworld Zhu Mansion, Zhu Jiunian, a total of 32 people were killed. The murderer was said to be Zhu Jiuxie, the defeated contender for the family head position," Qian Renxue continued.
"When the royal family received the news and dispatched people, Zhu Jiuxie and his group, knowing they had committed capital crimes, were all found dead in the courtyard of the Zhu Mansion. They had supposedly committed suicide."
"The only one left was the unconscious orphan, Zhu Zhuqing."
"Some surviving members of the Zhu family suspected Zhu Zhuqing was behind the entire incident and demanded that the royal family punish her severely."
"But for some reason, after detaining her for two days without any results, the royal family released Zhu Zhuqing."
After listening to both versions, Qin Chuan fell into deep thought.
"So… the Netherworld Zhu family is in chaos right now?"
"Exactly," Qian Renxue nodded. "During this trip to Xingluo, you should drop by the Zhu family. Help her gain a firm foothold."
"Regardless of whether we plan to bring Xingluo into our territory in the future or not, it's good to have one of our own inside. Who knows what surprises might come from it?"
At this point, how could Qin Chuan not understand?
Qian Renxue had just subtly told him that she didn't fully believe in the so-called Xingluo mission, and he shouldn't either.
He didn't argue.
"I understand. I'll visit when I get the chance."
Suddenly, Qian Renxue raised her finger and pointed seriously at his nose.
"I'm warning you."
"It's enough to have Ye Lingling. You're not allowed to bring me back another Zhu Zhuqing, got it?"
Qin Chuan was momentarily stunned, then chuckled helplessly.
"Don't worry."
"Hmph."
Qian Renxue pouted.
"Of course, I trust you—but I don't trust the other women out there."
Qin Chuan seized the opportunity and pulled her into his arms.
Amid Qian Renxue's flustered cries, he lowered his head to her shoulder, gently inhaling the fragrance of her hair.
"If I wanted other women, would I have traveled across the universe just to find you?"
The warmth of his breath and voice brushed against Qian Renxue's ear.
Her legs immediately weakened. She almost collapsed but quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Then… when are you leaving?" she asked softly, her eyes glistening with mist.
"Tomorrow. I'll go early and come back early," Qin Chuan whispered. "When I return, I should head to Poseidon Island."
Hearing the words Poseidon Island, Qian Renxue's expression visibly darkened.
"…I see."
She murmured, then gently tightened her hold around his neck.
"Brother Qin Chuan, I'm a little tired. Carry me inside. I want to rest for a while."
Her tone was soft, her body lightly trembling.
"Hm?" Qin Chuan paused in surprise.
He looked down—Qian Renxue had returned to her original form. Her cheeks were flushed like peach blossoms, her eyes gleaming with longing. Her breathing and heartbeat were visibly rapid.
"Xue'er doesn't know how long it'll take for you to return this time…"
Seeing her true thoughts exposed, Qian Renxue buried her face in his chest, blushing furiously.
"So I think…"
"Xue'er wants to give herself to you today…"
Qin Chuan's body trembled.
"Xue'er, you…"
Her words were like a spell, stirring a restlessness in his heart.
Tens of millions of years of searching.
Tens of millions of years of waiting.
How could Qin Chuan not desire to truly possess her?
"Brother Qin Chuan, carry me in…"
Qian Renxue whispered, her face buried deeper in his chest.
Her voice trembled with both shyness and expectation.
Qin Chuan didn't hesitate.
He swept her up into his arms and carried her toward the temporary bedroom they had built inside.
Qian Renxue stayed nestled in his embrace.
Sometimes, her expression was shy.
Sometimes, expectant.
Sometimes, it blossomed into a soft, joyful smile.
"Brother Qin Chuan…" she murmured, just as he was about to unbutton her clothing, "…I suddenly don't hate Bibi Dong anymore."
"Don't bring her up right now," Qin Chuan muttered, annoyed, his breathing already heavy.
No matter how long he had searched for Qian Renxue in his past life, his tangled relationship with Bibi Dong in this life had always felt like a thorn in his throat. Mentioning her at this moment made him even more uncomfortable.
"Hehe."
Qian Renxue giggled and lay on the bed.
Her slender legs stretched slightly, causing the beaded curtains surrounding the bed to sway gently.
But then, her smile faded.
She reached up, held his neck again, and said softly,
"I'm thankful… thankful that she rejected you for more than ten years."
"Because of that, both of us could grow and become our best selves. Only then could we offer the best versions of ourselves to each other."
Qin Chuan paused in surprise, then smiled gently.
He slowly lowered her onto the bed again.
"I've been… waiting for you…"
"Me too…" Qian Renxue's eyes lit up, "I've been waiting for you too…"
At that moment, her memory drifted back to a snowy day more than ten years ago.
Back then, Brother Qin Chuan had only seen her back as she walked away…
While she… only saw her own tears.
Seeing the tears glistening in her eyes now, Qin Chuan felt a stab of pain in his heart.
He leaned down and kissed her.
Kissed the corners of her teary eyes…
"…Salty."
Qin Chuan's voice was soft as he murmured. His hands gently wrapped around her waist.
Qian Renxue laughed quietly.
"I have something sweet here, Brother Qin Chuan. Want to taste it?"
She pointed to her lips playfully.
Plump. Moist. Tempting.
"Of course."
Qin Chuan smiled.
At this moment, their thoughts drifted together.
Qin Chuan's consciousness seemed to float away from his body, sinking into a deep, warm quagmire.
The deeper he sank, the sweeter it became.
Even when he tried to pull away…
He was pulled back in again.
The sunlight shone outside the window.
The yard was filled with floral fragrance.
As the saying goes—
Mandarin ducks slumber under a single quilt, while pear blossoms quietly overshadow the beauty of crabapple flowers.