Hearing Qianran's words, Huo Yuhao was on the verge of exploding.
Qianran had brazenly appeared here, no less! No wonder Meng Hongchen's attire today was so seductive—it was for Qianran.
In that moment, Huo Yuhao acutely felt the disparity between people.
Even with the support of Jing Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen, winning over Meng Hongchen was an uphill battle for him. Yet Qianran seemed to achieve it effortlessly, with a mere wave of his hand.
What made it unbearable was Qianran's casual insult. What did he mean by that? Huo Yuhao had never betrayed his family and never would.
Meng Hongchen, meanwhile, was puzzled. "What do you mean, Qianran?" She tugged on his sleeve, her curiosity piqued. It was clear there was some history between Huo Yuhao and Qianran.
Huo Yuhao's face turned livid at her question.
To him, this was an unspeakable humiliation.
The idea that his mother, Huo Yun'er, might have been brainwashed or manipulated by Qianran was a truth he couldn't admit to anyone. How could he tell Meng Hongchen that his own mother had willingly stayed by Qianran's side, even serving him?
If Meng Hongchen learned this, what would she think? She'd surely lose all respect for him—how could she like a man who couldn't even protect his own mother?
Huo Yuhao's feelings of shame and anger swirled together. He was furious, but he was also desperate to know about his mother's current situation. Blood ties were not so easily severed; despite everything, he couldn't hate her. Instead, he blamed Qianran for his mother's actions.
"Qianran, must you stoop so low?" Huo Yuhao's voice trembled with rage, his fists clenched tightly.
Why is it so hard for me to find a woman who matches my own status and potential? Why does Qianran have to take everything?
"Low? Me?" Qianran tilted his head, his expression one of mock innocence.
"Dreamy, do you know something? Even in your academy, Qianran isn't exactly a saint. That so-called 'study buddy' policy has turned into nothing more than his personal playground!" Huo Yuhao practically spat the words, his body trembling.
At the mention of the study buddy system, Huo Yuhao's frustration boiled over.
The system had been touted as a benefit for all Shrek Academy exchange students. Yet, somehow, Huo Yuhao ended up with burly men as his assigned buddies, while Qianran was surrounded by delicate, beautiful girls.
What kind of favoritism is this?
In truth, Huo Yuhao misunderstood the situation.
Initially, Mingde Hall had indeed arranged the study buddy system to support Qianran, hoping to form alliances. However, it quickly evolved as female students voluntarily joined in. Many realized that forming a connection with Qianran—even a casual one—often resulted in receiving valuable cultivation resources.
Qianran's wealth of resources was excessive, to the point of wastefulness. On the Douluo Continent, most cultivation resources were limited in use; even top-tier treasures could only be consumed once or twice before becoming harmful to the body. As a result, even Qianran's closest companions couldn't make use of everything he had.
Qianran categorized his resources into four levels: supreme (system-provided), top-tier, high-tier, and mid-tier. Low-tier resources were simply beneath him.
Faced with a surplus, Qianran didn't mind sharing. Watching the girls around him compete for his attention was entertaining, and rewarding them with a little of his surplus cost him nothing. To these girls, even his mid-tier resources were akin to divine treasures.
On the Douluo Continent, high-quality cultivation resources were exceedingly rare. The pills produced by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy couldn't hold a candle to Qianran's offerings.
Over time, word spread about Qianran's generosity and the abundance of his resources. More and more students flocked to him, volunteering to be his study buddies.
Despite the rumors, Qianran didn't take advantage of most of them.
In the beginning, he might host parties with seven or eight of them for fun. But as his relationships with Ju Zi, Ke Ke, and Nana deepened, his interactions with the others diminished. For many, their role was merely to beautify his dormitory as ornamental NPCs, yet their compensation remained substantial.
In this context, who wouldn't want to join?
"What's that supposed to mean?" Meng Hongchen's eyebrows knitted together. She was well aware of these rumors, but she didn't care.
Having personally experienced Qianran's strength, Meng Hongchen had no illusions about her own limits. Just the weight of his body pressed against hers was enough to leave her breathless. If she were to truly engage with him, she wasn't sure she could endure it.
Her feelings mirrored those of Ju Zi and Ke Ke. Initially, they had been uneasy about Qianran's flirtatious nature, but they had come to terms with it out of love. Now, having felt the immense physical pressure he brought, they found peace with his need for multiple partners.
For them, Qianran's body was akin to iron.
"Don't you get it? Qianran's nothing but a scoundrel!" Huo Yuhao snapped, glaring daggers at Qianran. Not only did Qianran enjoy the company of young girls, but he also seemed to have a penchant for older women—even his…
Meng Hongchen, however, rolled her eyes. "So what? I think it's great. It proves how popular Qianran is with women, which means I made the right choice. Unlike you—no girl would ever like someone like you."
Her words cut deeply, and even Meng Hongchen herself began to believe them. If Qianran weren't so desirable, how could so many women gravitate toward him? His popularity was a testament to his excellence.
Being with someone as exceptional as Qianran—what could be better?
Yes, this logic made perfect sense.
And now, the loop was complete.
(End of Chapter)