Su Chen brought Ye Lingling inside.
The backyard.
Su Chen clearly sensed two powerful auras—it must be Porcupinefish Douluo and Serpent Lance Douluo, the ones responsible for protecting Qian Renxue.
"Your Highness."
Su Chen and Ye Lingling arrived outside the house. Since no one else was around, he didn't want to just walk in directly, so he called out softly.
Qian Renxue walked out from inside, still looking like Xue Qinghe, and greeted him with elegance and courtesy:
"An honored guest graces us. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."
Su Chen looked her up and down and couldn't help but admire the soul bone disguise—flawless!
"I just went back to the Spirit Hall branch. They said Nana has been with you the whole time?"
Qian Renxue nodded slightly and gestured for them to enter.
As Su Chen followed her inside, he casually asked:
"Everyone in the back is trustworthy, right?"
"Of course."
Qian Renxue replied, then hesitated a moment before saying:
"May I make a request?"
Su Chen looked puzzled for a second, then replied:
"I'm happy you came out to greet me, but I really don't like your current appearance, so... no!"
Qian Renxue was speechless.
What's wrong with my appearance? What's the difference?
Inside the room—
Hu Liena was wearing Qian Renxue's pajamas and lying in Qian Renxue's bed. When she saw Su Chen, she got up and ran into his arms:
"How did it go at Lingling's house? Everything okay?"
Su Chen ruffled her hair:
"Her family is really nice. But why are you sleeping here? And why did you bring your pajamas?"
Hu Liena pouted:
"I came here early this morning and didn't feel like going back, so I just waited for you here."
"I'm wearing Xue'er's pajamas."
What?
You're wearing Pinru's clothes?!
Su Chen was suddenly thrilled—Hu Liena, you wild little fox! Never expected you to be this bold!
Sure enough—
Hu Liena even spun in front of Su Chen, showing off her alluring figure and the lacy pajama dress that belonged to Qian Renxue.
"Pretty?"
Su Chen nodded with a smile:
"Very pretty!"
Tonight's reward—you wear that all night long.
Hu Liena giggled and asked again:
"So, am I pretty, or is Xue'er's pajama prettier?"
???
Su Chen was momentarily speechless, and Ye Lingling covered her mouth and laughed.
Qian Renxue, standing nearby, had a blackened expression and was mentally kicking Hu Liena out the door.
Sigh!
Qian Renxue sighed internally. These pajamas are ruined now. They smell like seductive fox spirit all over!
Su Chen changed the topic, turning toward Qian Renxue seriously:
"Since there's no one else here, can you switch back to your real self—Qian Renxue?"
"Right now, you're in a man's form, while my girlfriend is lying in your bed, wearing your pajamas. That just feels really weird!"
Uh.
Qian Renxue was speechless again. What does that have to do with me?! It's not like I made her sleep here! And I didn't sleep with her!
Besides—
When we were little, I slept with her many times!
Hu Liena looked at Qian Renxue and chimed in:
"Right, right! Su Chen is jealous. Xue, change back quickly!"
Qian Renxue didn't speak. A flash of light surrounded her as she reverted to her true appearance:
Her skin was fairer than snow, her nose sharp, her phoenix eyes slender yet powerful. Her beauty was stunning. She wore a long golden court dress made of shimmering gold thread. The gown was seamless, with no excessive decoration—simple yet elegant.
Su Chen silently admired her. No wonder she's called the most beautiful blonde angel.
Gorgeous!
Qian Renxue, noticing his gaze, blushed slightly.
Ye Lingling, standing silently to the side, couldn't help but think—this Qian Renxue is so beautiful! Such an amazing figure and graceful aura!
Hu Liena, holding Qian Renxue's hand with a foxy smile, said:
"Xue is definitely prettier!"
"Su Chen, didn't you say you came to guide Xue today? Go ahead and teach her! Lingling and I will learn too."**
Qian Renxue snapped back to attention, gestured at Su Chen, and said:
"Sir, please take a seat."
She invited Su Chen to sit at the table, poured tea for the three of them, and humbly stood to the side, waiting for his teaching.
Although being criticized in person is awkward, it's better than having her secrets exposed in the diary.
Su Chen found this odd. Even if Hu Liena had told her something, Qian Renxue was still the Spirit Hall's heir and the Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince. Shouldn't she have more pride?
So she's playing the long game!
Of course—
If there were no diary entries, Qian Renxue wouldn't be this obedient. But after reading Su Chen's diary, she had grown truly respectful.
Su Chen, recalling something, couldn't help asking:
"Can I ask you something first?"
"If you knew your father forced my mother to her death, and my father killed your father, would you put aside that hatred just to recruit me?"
Qian Renxue froze, staring at Su Chen in confusion... then it hit her. Was this a hypothetical question—from Tang San's perspective?
Qian Renxue shook her head, answering seriously:
"A father's death is an irreconcilable blood feud. Even if you were willing, I could never accept you!"
But that's exactly what you did!
Ridiculous!
Su Chen grumbled in his head, then asked again:
"Which is more important—your grand ambition or a man you truly love?"
What?
As soon as Su Chen said that, Qian Renxue, Hu Liena, and Ye Lingling were all stunned.
What did he mean?
Could it be…
Qian Renxue—is she a hopeless romantic too?
Hu Liena and Ye Lingling looked at Qian Renxue with mixed emotions. They truly hadn't expected such a cold, noble woman to also be a love-struck fool!
Qian Renxue herself was flustered. Her eyes on Su Chen, full of emotion. She was one step away from saying, "Just tell me—is it Tang San?"
"Between a man and my ambition, I, Qian Renxue, will always choose my ambition. I've worked too hard for too long—I can't fail now!"
But you still softened your heart... multiple times.
Su Chen thought a moment and asked:
"What do you think makes someone truly capable of great accomplishments?"
"I..."
Qian Renxue was mentally exhausted. Su Chen's questions, each word hitting the truth she'd learned from his diary, left her unable to answer.
Su Chen looked slightly awkward and said:
"Honestly, I'm only eighteen, and you're older than me. It feels a bit weird for me to teach you."
"But then again—"
"In learning, age doesn't matter. The accomplished are the teachers."
Su Chen, now serious, said:
"A kind man can't do business. A righteous man can't hoard wealth. A sentimental man can't command authority. A good man shouldn't govern. A merciful one can't lead soldiers. And a soft-hearted one can't rule a nation."
"To achieve great things, one must be ruthless—cut weeds and eliminate roots, leaving no room for future trouble."
"Do you think you've done that?"
Qian Renxue wanted to answer, but lowered her head.
If Hu Liena hadn't told her what she knew, she would've said yes.
But the truth was—she hadn't.
And worse—
All of Su Chen's questions directly hit on the exact reasons for her failure in the future. That only made Qian Renxue's heart clench even more.
....