Chapter 70 Fireworks Are Cold, The First Time_1

In the room, Davis gazed at his fiancée, who was endlessly charming in front of him. Her voluptuous figure made him exclaim with love and adoration.

In the sunlight, "Zhu Zhuyun"'s figure was extremely eye-catching, making Davis couldn't help but admire. Having her in his life was more than enough.

"Zhu Zhuyun" was not only extremely beautiful but would also be his wise and virtuous consort. As the future queen of the Xingluo Empire, she would be a mother to the nation, assisting him in securing his throne.

"What's the matter? Why aren't you speaking?" Davis smiled as he looked at "Zhu Zhuyun". Zhu Zhuqing was the sister of "Zhu Zhuyun", and thus she was also Xu Ran's great aunt by marriage. It was because of the relationship between Zhu Zhuqing and "Zhu Zhuyun" that she could get closer to Xu Ran and learn everything about him. Although he was the fiancé of "Zhu Zhuyun", after all, he was the Great Crown Prince.

As a prince, even "Zhu Zhuyun" couldn't be completely frank with him, let alone outsiders.

"Hmm. I will go back to the Zhu Clan in the next few days and try to communicate more with Xu Ran. With a genius like Xu Ran on your side, your position will be unshakable in the future," "Zhu Zhuyun" said, her face showing a hint of unusual emotion.

After sensing that subtle hint of affection for Xu Ran in her heart, her instinct was to escape and avoid any in-depth interaction with Xu Ran. She was well aware of how outstanding Xu Ran was. Once she fully understood him, once she had too deep a connection with him, she feared that she wouldn't be able to resist falling in love with him.

However, Davis wanted her to go back to the Zhu Clan and interact more with Xu Ran, which left her unsure what to say.

She found it difficult to refuse Davis's words; if she showed too strong a desire to avoid Xu Ran, she might give Davis the wrong impression about her relationship with Xu Ran. That would not be good for either her or Xu Ran.

"Then you will have to work hard these next few days."

"A genius like Xu Ran will definitely go to a place like the Tiandou Empire, where Soul Masters congregate, to prove himself. And the fact that he left Xingluo City for the Tiandou Empire these few days proves it. So we must firmly establish our relationship with Xu Ran before he leaves," Davis said, his eyes warmed by the sight of the beautiful woman before him.

"Zhu Zhuyun" was perfect in every way, but she was too conservative, not even tolerating a touch. However, that was also good; if he couldn't touch her, then no one else could.

When he became the Crown Prince, "Zhu Zhuyun" would be his Crown Princess Consort. By then, she would present herself to him, pure and untouched.

At that time, he would also be able to savor the beauty of "Zhu Zhuyun".

...

Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuqing walked down the bustling streets of the Xingluo Empire, both in high spirits, holding a Golden Soul Currency Card given by Davis, naturally not needing to worry about money and buying whatever they desired.

"Xu Ran, you're really great," Zhu Zhuqing cooed as she nestled in Xu Ran's embrace, wearing the new dress he had just bought for her, feeling an intense sense of happiness. Ever since Xu Ran appeared, she no longer needed to worry about anything. Xu Ran would handle everything, and all she had to do was to close her eyes and wait, and he would surely take care of everything.

"What's the matter?" Xu Ran asked, stroking Zhu Zhuqing's long hair, unable to help but smile after feeling her dependence on him. In the future, Zhu Zhuqing would lie in his arms, and regardless of what happened, he would take care of it.

If he couldn't handle things and let his woman be wronged, what would be the use of being a man?

A man's duty is to protect his wife and children from being wronged, but right now, he didn't have children or a wife. Considering they hadn't reached that point yet, she probably couldn't be called his wife.

"By the way, Xu Ran, can you play the zither? You even bought these things," Zhu Zhuqing asked, blinking her lovely eyes. Music and such arts were only played with by nobility who lacked cultivation talent.

With Xu Ran's strong talent, he shouldn't have time for these things. Could it be that he was also skilled in this area?

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Xu Ran with anticipation. No woman dislikes having a man who excels in every aspect, and Zhu Zhuqing was no exception.

"Of course, I can. I'll play for you in a bit," Xu Ran said as he walked with the woman in his arms towards the Zhu Clan.

Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuqing had just arrived home when they were led by the steward into a large and elegant separate courtyard. The courtyard was a scenic spot with clear streams, chirping birds, fragrant flowers, and three or four guest rooms.

Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuqing entered a pavilion within the courtyard.

Placing the harp he had purchased on the stone table, Xu Ran's fingers gently plucked the strings. During the graceful movement, a series of clear notes with a touch of sorrowful melody began to fill the air.

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned and gazed at Xu Ran with infatuation. The guqin has always been elegant, and Xu Ran, who had mastered skills like the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, plucked the strings with a grace not usually seen in him. Xu Ran, already handsome and unrestrained, with his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, seemed at that moment like a celestial being descended to earth.

After a short prelude, Xu Ran slowly opened his mouth to reveal the lyrics.

"The noise of prosperity fades away, shattering the worldly dreams of men"

"Dreams turn cold; how many debts of affection do we carry through life?"

"... "

"Rain falls incessantly on the old hometown, shrouding the deep vegetation"

"I heard you are still guarding the lonely city"

"Beyond the city, the sound of a shepherd's flute falls upon that wild village"

"It is our fate that has taken root"

Xu Ran thought about it and felt that only this ancient-style song from his previous life, played on the guqin, might offer some solace. The song also depicted the love between a man and a woman and seemed just right for the occasion.

Zhu Zhuqing quietly immersed herself in Xu Ran's guqin music, the tenderness in her heart completely aroused. Although she wasn't exactly sure what the song was about, she could feel that it must tell a heartrendingly beautiful love story.

It suddenly made her feel somewhat fearful of loss.

Her relationship with Xu Ran was similar; although they were betrothed, they were caught in the entangled interests of the Zhu and Dai families. If Xu Ran could not bring significant benefits to them, they would be directly cast into the abyss.

She was not afraid of death.

But she did not want to die. She wanted to be with Xu Ran every day.

As the song ended, Xu Ran put away the guqin.

Zhu Zhuqing, her eyes brimming with emotion, looked at Xu Ran, her feelings laid bare for him to see.

"Xu Ran, what are the lyrics about?" Zhu Zhuqing asked softly, lying in Xu Ran's arms, resting on his shoulder.

"In the past, a city-guarding general was ordered to defend a border city, where he met a local woman. They instantly connected and soon pledged themselves to each other in secret. Later, when enemy forces invaded, the general was ordered to go to war. Before leaving, he took the woman's hand and said, 'Once I return victorious, I will surely come back to marry you...'. But the general died in battle and never returned. The woman went to the nearby Cyan Blue Temple to pray for him, hoping he would come back safely. Yet day by day, she aged, and the general never returned. Her pain was immense, for she had been too conservative, failing to give herself to him before he left." Xu Ran sighed lightly as he narrated the story, visibly moved by it.

And Zhu Zhuqing listened quietly to Xu Ran's tale, unable to snap out of it for a long time. The conservative girl in the story seemed no different from her.

"Xu Ran." Zhu Zhuqing wrapped her arms around Xu Ran's neck, her eyes turning into pools of spring water as she looked directly into his.

"Hmm?"

"Take me. I am yours, always and only yours." Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed, voicing her innocent yet resolute words of love.

"Okay." Xu Ran lifted Zhu Zhuqing to stand, and she clung to him like an octopus.

Xu Ran carried Zhu Zhuqing towards the room ahead. The sky had just begun to darken, still touched by the last trace of sunlight, turning neither completely dark nor clear—this hazy twilight was the most enticing.