"Hehe… interesting," Qin Su murmured lazily from beneath the peach tree."The mother and daughter duo have arrived."
His eyes half-closed, but his spiritual sense drifted like a lazy breeze toward the main hall.
"Feng Rou… and little Lian. Let's see how this unfolds."
The grand doors of the hall opened with a soft groan.
Feng Rou entered first—an ocean-haired enchantress whose presence carried the poise of a woman who had walked through storms and taught the storms to behave. Her long tide-blue hair flowed behind her like water blessed with moonlight, and the lanterns flickered as if bowing to her serenity. Her graceful curve of waist and refined steps drew quiet gasps from Qin retainers outside.
Behind her, Feng Lian followed—shy, reserved, and stunning in the gentle way spring sunlight warms snow. Her gaze held a sword-like clarity, a reflection of her mother's strength in softer form.
Inside awaited Qin Cai, the steady clan head…
…and Yuan Ai.
Yuan Ai, in her phoenix-white dress, stood like a blazing, beautiful contradiction—golden hair cascading, fiery eyes sharp as dawn, aura noble and ancient… while simultaneously wrestling with the oversized, ridiculously fashionable bag hanging from her shoulder. A jade hairpin was slightly crooked from her earlier stumble, which she pretended absolutely did not happen.
Her elegant sleeve caught briefly on the table corner—she yanked it free with a dignified sniff.
"So these are the famed ocean-haired fairies," she muttered, leaning slightly closer. "Great. They float in like calm water… and I trip on a lantern the moment they walk in."
She straightened herself, resuming phoenix-level grace.
Qin Cai rose and greeted the pair warmly.Feng Rou returned a refined bow.
"As for our purpose," she said, eyes sweeping the room with measured confidence, "we seek to integrate the Feng household into the Qin Clan."
Yuan Ai raised a brow, folding her arms across her chest with elegant annoyance—then accidentally hitting her own bag, which spilled a pair of jade talismans. She kicked them discreetly under the table.
"Oh? So sudden?" she asked sweetly. The smile she wore could cut steel.
Feng Rou did not blink.
"Not sudden at all. After witnessing the tournament… and sensing the hidden power supporting your clan… one would be unwise not to ally."
Qin Cai's cough was the cough of a man pleading silently for peace.
Yuan Ai tilted her head.
"So, you came because someone powerful is protecting us?"
"Yes," Feng Rou replied calmly.
"And because my daughter's fate seems aligned with someone here."
Silence fell faster than a collapsing realm.
Yuan Ai's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Oh? Don't tell me that 'someone' is Qin Su."
Feng Lian blushed violently.
Feng Rou nodded with serene boldness.
"I would like to propose a marriage between my daughter—Feng Lian—and Young Master Qin Su."
Qin Cai almost inhaled his tea into his lungs.
Yuan Ai's jaw twitched.
In Yuan Ai mind "You mean my man!"
"So, why Qin Su?"
Feng Rou, who noticed Yuan Ai mood change smirks.
"You carry yourself with the confidence of a woman who stands close to Qin Su," she said lightly, her gaze calm and assessing.
"Close? Who said anything about close?" Yuan Ai shot back too fast, too sharp—sharp enough that half the courtyard winced. Her face stayed composed, but the way her fingers tightened around her sleeve gave her away.
Feng Rou tilted her head, unbothered."It is in the way you watch him. The way your breath shifts when he moves. Women don't look at men like that unless there is something… interesting."
Yuan Ai took one step closer, intending to radiate threat.Her heel caught the edge of her robe.She recovered immediately—chin high, expression frosty—pretending the stumble was part of her intimidation technique.
"Your eyes must be faulty, ocean-hair," she said, voice low. "I don't 'watch' men. I evaluate them. Strategically."
In her mind: "this woman is dangerous, she is able to pick up the small things"
Feng Rou's smile curved like a blade freshly sharpened.
"And is Qin Su worth… strategic evaluation?"
Across the courtyard, Qin Cai whispered, "Oh heavens, she's provoking her on purpose."Qin Wei simply cowered behind a pillar.
Yuan Ai narrowed her eyes."Why? Are you evaluating him?"
Feng Rou stepped in—slow, graceful, each movement too elegant to be trusted."I am evaluating the Qin Clan," she answered. "And the people around Qin Su tell me much."
Her gaze drifted over Yuan Ai with undisguised amusement."You, for example… react very personally."
"I do NOT react personally."Yuan Ai's voice cracked. She cleared her throat, re-fired her dignity."What I react to is nonsense. And presumptions. And—your hair. It's too shiny. It's suspicious."
Feng Rou's smile widened, warm and devastating.
"You are amusing. But I am not here to steal anything from you, Madam Yuan."
Yuan Ai's eyebrow twitched so hard it nearly flew off her face."And what exactly do you think I have to steal?"
Feng Rou met her glare with calm, confident serenity.
"Influence. Proximity. Importance," she said. "Any man—or clan—would be lucky to have a woman like you stand beside them."
Yuan Ai opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
The silence stretched, heavy and charged.
Qin Cai quietly whispered, "Why do I feel like the air is about to explode?"
And between the two women, the tension thickened into something alive—prickling, crackling, the kind of dangerous energy that made grown cultivators consider evacuating the courtyard entirely.
Under the peach tree, Qin Su bit into his apple.
He heard the rising notes of feminine tension.He smirked.
"So the mother wants her daughter to marry me… and Yuan Ai is losing her mind."
Another bite.
"As for the mother herself… Feng Rou… hehe…"
He flicked a petal into the air, listening to two mature beauties clash like celestial beasts squeezing themselves into mortal etiquette.
"Well… this is fun."
Back in the hall, the women circled one another like phoenix and sea serpent.
"Let Qin Su decide," Feng Rou suggested casually.
"Oh no," Yuan Ai snapped. "I am deciding—"
"But he is a grown man," Feng Rou countered.
"He's my man!" in her mind
Qin Cai sank deeper into despair.
Feng Lian shrank behind her mother."...Mother… please…"
Yuan Ai's aura flared—lanterns rattled.
Her sleeve swished regally—though it nearly caught the tea tray again. She glared at the tray as if it were the problem.
A servant burst in, breathless.
"Clan Head! Lady Rei Hanxiang has arrived! With her entire family!"
The room froze.
A moment later:
The doors opened.
A soft lotus-scented breeze entered, followed by Rei Hanxiang—white-robed, silver-embroidered, smiling with warm sunrise charm. A direct contrast to Yuan Ai's smoldering phoenix heat and Feng Rou's ocean-calm authority.
Hanxiang spotted Feng Rou and brightened."Oh! Your presence was unforgettable at the tournament!"
Feng Rou smiled gracefully."As was yours."
Yuan Ai muttered, "Of course you two like each other."
Then Rei Hanxiang turned to Yuan Ai."And you too! You were glowing with power—I noticed you immediately."
Yuan Ai blinked, flustered despite herself."W-well… naturally."
Feng Lian bowed shyly.Hanxiang's eyes sparkled."How lovely! Such gentle beauty!"
Feng Lian turned pink enough to melt a sword.
Feng Rou assessed the girls silently."Different types… but equal in beauty," she decided.
Meanwhile, Yuan Ai internally screamed:
WHY IS EVERY BEAUTY IN THE REGION SUDDENLY LINKED TO QIN SU ?
Hanxiang stepped forward.
"I am Rei Hanxiang… and Qin Su's fiancée."
Feng Rou blinked. "His fiancée? You?"
Rei nodded brightly. "An arranged engagement—years in the making."
The temperature in the hall dropped.
Yuan Ai jabbed a finger at Feng Rou. "DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT. YES, I KNOW HE HAD ONE."
Hanxiang continued, glowing with innocence.
"I came to formalize the engagement."
Feng Rou raised a brow. "So you intend to marry Qin Su as well."
"As WELL?!" Yuan Ai yelped. "This isn't a bridal parade!"
Hanxiang giggled. "Oh, but I might cling to him."
Yuan Ai nearly combusted on the spot.
Qin Wei finally snapped.
"EVERYONE! Let's call Qin Su! PLEASE! BEFORE YOU KILL ME!"
Silence.
Then four dangerous nods.
Under the tree, Qin Su spat out his apple bite.
"WHY ARE YOU DRAGGING ME INTO THIS?!"