The next day, when Qiu Yuanxi got up, she saw Ling Luoyi reading by the window. Curious, she walked over and asked, "Little Luo'er, you're up so early?"
Seeing her awake, Ling Luoyi put down her book and asked, "A Yuan, have you decided what you're going to do?"
Hearing this, Qiu Yuanxi was stunned. Then she sat down beside her and, after a moment of thought, said, "Little Luo'er, I've decided. I can't give up on your brother. Actually, I didn't have these feelings for your brother at first, but he's always around me, and he's very good to me. Moreover, your elder brother is incredibly talented, polite, and kind-hearted. I don't think I have any reason not to like him."
Seeing her infatuated look, Ling Luoyi was speechless. Although she had said they should decide their own matters, she couldn't truly ignore it. So she asked, "When did things happen between you and my brother?"
"It's been about half a year." Speaking of Ling Luochen, Qiu Yuanxi was very excited. But seeing Ling Luoyi's expression darken, Qiu Yuanxi quickly said, "Little Luo'er, don't worry. I won't let your elder brother bear the reputation of abducting someone else's fiancée."
Although the direct descendants of the Qiu family and the Lei family knew that she and the third master Lei didn't see eye to eye, others didn't know. If her engagement with the third master Lei were truly broken, people would inevitably gossip about Ling Luochen. She couldn't bear for him to carry such a reputation.
"A Yuan, your problem with him is more than just this."
"I know. I'm prepared for the long haul. Besides, your elder brother won't be able to go to the Canglan Continent in a short time. I'll handle everything during this period. If your elder brother still likes me then, Little Luo'er, you'll have to change how you address me."
Ling Luoyi rolled her eyes at her and said, "You succeed first. Since he's outside, you should clarify things with him."
"Okay." Hearing that the person she cared about was outside, Qiu Yuanxi quickly washed up, changed her clothes and styled her hair, then rushed out.
Ling Luoyi watched, feeling a pang of sourness. However, she decided to let them be; she would be there to support them.
Qiu Yuanxi ran all the way to the main hall and saw Ling Luochen sitting there, with a maid serving him tea. The maid, seeing Qiu Yuanxi approach, tactfully withdrew.
Qiu Yuanxi walked up to Ling Luochen and cast a barrier. Ling Luochen frowned upon seeing this.
"Ling Luochen, I have something to tell you."
Ling Luochen was startled. This was the first time he had heard Qiu Yuanxi call him by his name. She used to call him "Little Luo'er's elder brother." He hadn't expected his name to sound so pleasant coming from her mouth, making him want to get lost in it. But he couldn't indulge. He forced a distant demeanor and said, "Miss Qiu, if you have something to say, please sit down."
Seeing Ling Luochen's distant attitude, Qiu Yuanxi was also taken aback. Ling Luochen had always addressed her as "Miss Qiu," but he had never been this distant. She knew he was keeping his distance.
Qiu Yuanxi didn't sit down. Instead, she took another step forward and said, "Ling Luochen, I know what Little Luo'er told you yesterday, and I admit it's true."
Qiu Yuanxi stood while Ling Luochen sat, his head lowered. Therefore, Qiu Yuanxi couldn't see the pain in Ling Luochen's eyes. Ling Luochen had learned from Ling Luoyi the previous night that Qiu Yuanxi had a fiancé, which was a blow. But her admitting it was another blow. He felt he couldn't listen anymore.
"Little Luo'er told you I have a fiancé, right? But she didn't tell you that my fiancé and I don't see eye to eye and are looking for an opportunity to break off the engagement, right?"
Hearing Qiu Yuanxi say this, Ling Luochen looked up at her in disbelief. Had he misheard? What had she just said?
Seeing this, Qiu Yuanxi nodded and said, "You didn't mishear. We don't like each other, and this engagement will be broken off sooner or later."
Without giving Ling Luochen time to react, Qiu Yuanxi leaned her face close to his, meeting his eyes. Ling Luochen's mind went blank. He could only hear Qiu Yuanxi ask him, "Ling Luochen, you like me, don't you?"
Seeing her discover his feelings, Ling Luochen lowered his head in a panic. He, who was always calm, now seemed like a young boy whose thoughts had been exposed.
Qiu Yuanxi couldn't see his expression, but she saw his earlobes turn slightly red. A mischievous thought crossed her mind, and she leaned close to Ling Luochen's ear and whispered, "Ling Luochen, what if I said I like you too?"
Hearing this, Ling Luochen's mind exploded. His thoughts were filled with Qiu Yuanxi's smiling face.
Seeing Ling Luochen's reaction, Qiu Yuanxi smiled triumphantly, then composed herself and said to Ling Luochen with a serious expression, "Ling Luochen, I don't want to give up on you, nor do I want you to marry someone else. So, will you marry me?"
Hearing Qiu Yuanxi's question, Ling Luochen was stunned. An overwhelming joy filled his mind, his heart, everywhere, threatening to consume his reason.
Yes, he was willing! He was willing!
Looking at Qiu Yuanxi's expectant eyes, Ling Luochen desperately wanted to blurt out his answer without considering the consequences. However, his remaining reason told him that she was still someone else's fiancée, and his upbringing wouldn't allow him to covet another's betrothed. Yet, he couldn't go against his own heart, so he could only respond in his mind.
Not receiving Ling Luochen's response, Qiu Yuanxi understood his concerns. If he had said yes now, she might not have liked him. But she wanted to know his choice, so Qiu Yuanxi asked again, "Ling Luochen, if my engagement is broken off, are you willing to do everything you can to marry me?"
This time, Ling Luochen looked directly into Qiu Yuanxi's eyes and slowly nodded, "I am willing. Even if it means risking my life, I am willing."
Hearing Ling Luochen's answer, Qiu Yuanxi couldn't help but smile happily. Seeing her smile, Ling Luochen couldn't help but smile along.
Actually, Ling Luochen didn't know when he started liking Qiu Yuanxi. From the moment he first saw her, the woman who appeared through the thunder, he had a good impression of her. However, after learning she was Ling Luoyi's friend, he suppressed this feeling. As they interacted, he discovered she was a very kind girl who had traveled thousands of miles to this unfamiliar continent just to help a friend.
Later, when Ling Luoyi went into seclusion, the medicinal pills she left behind were consumed too quickly. Qiu Yuanxi fulfilled her purpose for coming and helped refine medicinal pills. Although she had no connection to the Ling family, she was willing to help just for Ling Luoyi's sake. He had seen her looking exhausted from refining pills, and his feelings for her deepened. Unknowingly, that hidden good impression had turned into an uncontrollable liking.
As for Qiu Yuanxi, she was initially interested in Ling Luochen because his face resembled Ling Luoyi's. She had always been curious what Ling Luoyi would look like if he were a man. So, the moment she saw Ling Luochen, she developed a good feeling towards him. Later, Ling Luochen took good care of her, showing her the scenery and introducing her to the local customs. Gradually, she fell in love with him. As for the reason, she couldn't quite explain it. Love is love; there aren't that many reasons.
Before, they hadn't revealed their feelings, and they could pretend certain things didn't exist. Now that their hearts were connected, some matters had to be faced.
"Ling Luochen, in three months, Little Luo'er will be returning to the Sacred Domain, and I will also return to the Canglan Continent. Even with the small world, I won't be able to visit you often." Seeing the happiness on Ling Luochen's face gradually replaced by sadness, Qiu Yuanxi solemnly asked, "Ling Luochen, are you willing to come to the Canglan Continent to find me?"