Compared to the mature beauty of Zhu Ying, Xu Jiujiu had a slimmer frame, and her stockings were a size smaller. Zhu Ying's curvy hips made pulling the stockings up a struggle, but the elasticity of the fabric allowed her to eventually get them on.
The sheer black stockings clung tightly to Zhu Ying's voluptuous legs, stretched so thin that the pale skin of her thighs was visible beneath.
Caught under the gaze of both Qian Ran and Xu Jiujiu, Zhu Ying felt utterly humiliated. If she could have vanished into the floor, she would have. Yet, as someone accustomed to the pressures of nobility, she managed to maintain a composed exterior.
Feeling that one layer of stockings looked odd, Zhu Ying added another pair on top. The double layer darkened the color, making the appearance more natural. No one would suspect she was wearing two pairs.
"Thanks, my darling Jiujiu, for helping me out," Qian Ran said with a chuckle, pulling Xu Jiujiu into his arms and planting a kiss on her cheek.
That simple gesture eased much of Xu Jiujiu's indignation.
She knew she could never monopolize Qian Ran, nor did she have the right to interfere in his personal affairs. What frustrated her was his audacity—how dare he lay hands on the Duchess with both the Emperor and Duke waiting outside?
One had to admit, Qian Ran had nerves of steel.
"High stakes, high rewards," as the saying went. Ordinary men could never fathom the thrill Qian Ran experienced. Though he hadn't confronted Dai Hao directly, doing it in the next room was nearly the same.
And who would believe that Dai Yueheng would wake up and thank Qian Ran afterward?
"Alright, time to wake up Dai Yueheng," Qian Ran announced.
In truth, putting Dai Yueheng to sleep wasn't strictly necessary for the treatment. It was an excuse for Qian Ran to indulge in mischief with Zhu Ying.
As Qian Ran's eyes flashed with power, Dai Yueheng's consciousness began to stir.
"I…"
Dai Yueheng opened his mouth, his expression groggy. He glanced around and saw Qian Ran standing before him, then shook his head forcefully.
In his subconscious, he thought he had heard strange noises while asleep, but he couldn't remember them clearly. Still, Qian Ran's voice was unmistakable.
Seeing Qian Ran in front of him gave Dai Yueheng an inexplicable feeling of unease.
"How do you feel now, Yueheng?" Zhu Ying asked with concern.
"My body feels completely healed," Dai Yueheng replied, shifting his focus. He sat up on the bed and swung his legs over the edge, standing barefoot on the ground. Other than a faint fatigue, he felt no discomfort at all.
As for his martial soul…
After his injury, his White Tiger martial soul had been severely damaged. But now, he could feel it again, whole and intact.
"My martial soul is… it's…" Dai Yueheng stammered in astonishment, overwhelmed by joy. He had resigned himself to a life of mediocrity, but now, having regained what he thought lost, his outlook transformed completely.
"Qian Ran, thank you," Dai Yueheng said sincerely, bowing deeply.
Without Qian Ran's help, his life would never have recovered.
All past grievances seemed insignificant now. Dai Yueheng realized how foolish it was to have held a grudge against Qian Ran over Dai Huabin. Now, in his eyes, Qian Ran was nothing less than a benefactor.
For a man destined to stand at the pinnacle of the continent, swallowing his pride was a small price to pay.
Zhu Ying, seeing Dai Yueheng let go of his resentment, felt a wave of relief. She had no desire for conflict between the two, especially after her intimate involvement with Qian Ran.
"There's no need to thank me. You should be thanking the Duchess. If she hadn't pleaded on your behalf, I might not have agreed to help," Qian Ran said with a casual wave of his hand.
Gratitude without substance held no value in Qian Ran's eyes. What he appreciated was Zhu Ying's tangible efforts.
Xu Jiujiu, listening from the side, turned red with embarrassment. She knew exactly what had transpired between Qian Ran and Zhu Ying, and his words made their subtext all too clear. Zhu Ying's broken stockings, her need to borrow from Xu Jiujiu—it was obvious how things had unfolded.
Watching Dai Yueheng earnestly thank Qian Ran for saving him, oblivious to the underlying irony, only made the scene more amusing to Xu Jiujiu. Unable to hold back, she pinched Qian Ran's waist hard, grumbling internally at his audacity.
Though Dai Yueheng was older than Qian Ran, the way things stood now, their roles and statuses felt reversed.
Qian Ran's face twitched slightly, worried that Xu Jiujiu might laugh out loud. Was it really that funny? Then again, even he found the situation absurdly satisfying.
Zhu Ying, for her part, burned with shame but maintained her composure. Only the faintest tremor in her body betrayed her emotions.
"You silly child. You're my everything—of course I'd do this for you. Let me call your father in," Zhu Ying said quickly, using the excuse to leave the room and calm her turbulent thoughts.
She was overwhelmed with guilt. Her actions weighed heavily on her, but an unsettling part of her had begun to enjoy the thrill. Was this who she truly was?
When Dai Hao and Xu Jiawei heard that Dai Yueheng could walk again, they entered the room in shock.
How could such severe injuries be nearly healed in just a few hours? The speed defied reason.
"Qian Ran… is he a monster?"
Or perhaps not a monster—but certainly a prodigy.
After a few words with Dai Yueheng to confirm his recovery, Dai Hao's demeanor softened. He had approached Qian Ran with little hope, yet the young man had delivered results beyond expectations.
As Zhu Ying whispered something to Dai Hao outside, she then returned, her expression calm but her gaze lingering on Qian Ran.
"Since Yueheng has recovered, he'll return to the Duke's Mansion for rest. I'll trouble you to provide a few more sessions of treatment later," Zhu Ying said, her tone warm as she threw Qian Ran a coquettish look.
Having tasted forbidden fruit, she now found herself reluctant to part ways.
"No problem," Qian Ran replied with a grin.
Dai Hao remained silent but gave Qian Ran a small nod of approval.
"No matter what, thank you for this. Let's put past grievances behind us. If you ever need my help, don't hesitate to ask. I owe you my son's future," Dai Yueheng said earnestly as he prepared to leave.
"You're too kind, Brother Dai. They say conflict breeds friendship, and I think we've reached that point," Qian Ran said, clapping Dai Yueheng on the shoulder.
Having been with Zhu Ying, Qian Ran found himself viewing Dai Yueheng in a much more favorable light. Such an accommodating attitude deserved acknowledgment.
(Chapter End)
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