Fang Ren got up promptly to settle the bill as her voice ca out muffled.
By the ti he returned, Bai Qi had already climbed up from the table, her little hands cupping her flushed face, elbows propped on the table, her face dazed as she looked at Fang Ren.
"Let's head back," Fang Ren said.
"We agreed that I would treat you to dinner... why did you pay the bill?" Bai Qi asked.
"You can just treat to two more als in the future, can't you?"
"Then... okay then."
"Can you get up by yourself?"
"Don't rush off, I haven't finished what I was saying yet." Bai Qi frowned slightly as she spoke to him.
"It's just a eting with Song Mobei, just et him then, there's nothing to worry about. I don't feel disrespected by you over this kind of thing either," Fang Ren said.
"But... if I et Brother Song during the Alchemy competition, many people will gossip about you," Bai Qi said.
Fang Ren nodded after listening, understanding what Bai Qi was saying.
Now, his existence as the Young Master Fang was starting to beco known to many large families in Tianjiang, and he was being introduced to Tianjiang as Bai Qi's fiance, so he would definitely attract attention in the eyes of so families.
But the majority of Tianjiang's impression of him was, "lacking Spiritual Root," "incapable of Cultivation," "just an ordinary person," "lucky to ride on the princess's coattails"...
If Bai Qi were to et Song Mobei during the crucial finals of the Alchemy competition, looking delighted in their conversation, and considering the fact that Bai Qi's liking Song Mobei was quite clear among so of the younger generation of geniuses,
he would definitely beco the laughingstock, and labels like "can't even keep his own woman," "toad wanting to eat swan at," would appear.
It might even worse get spun into: "a piece of trash who dares not to fight back even when cuckolded by a princess," such spiteful mocking remarks.
This was indeed troubling for Fang Ren; after all, as the husband of the Xuan Nv, how could he be labeled like this? Even if he didn't mind the mockery, it concerned the reputation of Mu Huanqing's husband, and he couldn't allow this to happen.
"It's fine, go ahead and et him, I'll have a way to deal with it when the ti cos," Fang Ren said with a smile.
If he were truly soone with poor Cultivational Talent and incompetent at Alchemy, he would indeed beco a disgraceful laughingstock, but the key now was that his Cultivational Talent was faster than that of Xuan Nv, and his Alchemy skills stronger than the master of the first district.
In the face of Bai Qi, who was noble by birth and had supre Cultivation Ability, who was deed a perfect woman, without sufficient strength, any association he had with Bai Qi would beco the object of ridicule by so people.
Only if he had the credentials to stand as an equal to Bai Qi would people be left speechless. No matter what Bai Qi did with Song Mobei, he could just say he didn't like Bai Qi either, and people would only talk about how there was no affection between Young Master Fang and the princess, and that they just peacefully dissolved the engagent.
On the other hand, if he didn't have the power to stand shoulder to shoulder, even if he spoke his true feelings, saying that he didn't like Bai Qi, it would seem feeble and powerless.
Everyone would say He's just a toad who failed to eat swan at and now finding excuses to save face.
Having the ability to stand on equal footing is crucial; without it, even the truth he speaks is deed false, seen as a pretext to cover up embarrassnt.
Bai Qi furrowed her brows as she looked at the table, her cheeks puffing out as she said, "But it really will cause you a lot of trouble... I hadn't planned to tell you this... but I kind of wanted to say it."
"I've already said it's okay, don't overthink it," Fang Ren said.
Bai Qi's large eyes gazed at Fang Ren, and after a few seconds, she spoke, "Fang Ren."
"Hmm?"
"You're really silly."
"You're the silly one."
"You're just too nice, and that's going to make you suffer a lot."
Fang Ren chuckled, "This ti you go et Song Mobei, next ti I'll go et the Xuan Nv, how about that?"
"There you go talking nonsense again, you don't even like her... you're just trying to find an excuse to comfort , to put my mind at ease..." Bai Qi said with a worried look.
Fang Ren didn't know what to say; this girl had a kind heart, but her mind was a bit off. Before he could speak, she had already started making assumptions.
"I've already agreed to this, whether you go or not is up to you," Fang Ren said.
"I'll go," Bai Qi nodded, but her expression was still fraught with worry.
"If there's anything else, just speak up. Don't hold it in, or should I get you a few more bottles?" Fang Ren said.
"Great! Boss, two more bottles!"
"Hey, don't take that seriously."
"No, I want to drink!"
…
Gulp, gulp—
After two more small bottles of beer, Bai Qi felt like she was floating, but the troubled look on her face had eased significantly.
She looked directly at Fang Ren and began, "Actually, I have a favor to ask of you."
"Speak," he said.
"My abilities have been restricted right now, and the butler grandfather is watching over ... If I don't follow you, he definitely won't let go to the Alchemy competition," Bai Qi said with a frown and a pout, "And to get into the finals scene of the Alchemy competition, you must either be a qualified finalist or a specially invited guest..."
After listening to her, Fang Ren was puzzled by what she wanted because, in Bai Qi's eyes, he was at best a dical student who learns quickly but knows nothing about Alchemy.
She had no idea he was qualified to enter the finals.
"Be more straightforward," Fang Ren said.
"It's just... I want you to cheat... to compete in the finals." Bai Qi's gaze fell, and her face showed loss: "I'm sorry, my request is too capricious..."
"So you want to cheat, to gain the qualification to compete in the finals, and then claim that you are my companion, so as to bring you into the finals venue?" Fang Ren asked.
"Roughly like that..." Bai Qi frowned and said, "But there are great risks to cheating in the alchemy competition... and if soone of your status cheats, it will definitely impact the entire Fang Family's image, I..."
"Let's do it then," Fang Ren said.
"Ah?"
Bai Qi stared at him with wide eyes, her entire flushed face full of surprise: "Hey, did you listen to what I'm saying? The consequences of cheating can be very serious."
"I understand the consequences better than you."
"Then why do you agree..."
"It won't be a big problem, trust ," Fang Ren said.
Bai Qi watched him for a long ti, then lowered her head and muttered softly, "You're just a silly nice guy..."
"If you're willing to go through fire and water for , can't I do this little thing for you?" Fang Ren joked.
With Bai Qi, he indeed was a nice guy, but that didn't an he was a good person through and through.
One must distinguish when dealing with people. For a girl as silly and naive as Bai Qi, he was very willing to help her, just as he had wanted to help Liu Qianqian in the past.
"Yes!"
Bai Qi suddenly slamd her palm on the table and shouted, "For Fang Ren, I won't hesitate to go through fire and water!"
As she yelled out, all the eyes in the restaurant imdiately turned towards them, and Fang Ren quickly pressed down her duckbill cap to prevent her face from being seen.
"What's with that girl, what did she say her na was? Bai Xi? Why doesn't she call herself Bai Nen (tender)?"
"Young girls who drink a bit of liquor, they all end up like this."
"Guess another pure-hearted little miss got tricked by a scumbag."
...
Fang Ren stayed sitting with his usual face and spoke, "Can we leave this place now?"
"Sure, let's go," Bai Qi shouted again.
"My gosh, can you not be noisy?"
Fang Ren imdiately released True Qi from his body, wrapped it around her, and ran towards the outside of the restaurant to avoid being stared at by others for any longer.
On the main road, Fang Ren used True Qi to carry Bai Qi towards the school, attracting the attention of many people along the way.
And now, Bai Qi's brain had entered a semi-sleep state, and her speech beca even more slurred.
"Fang Ren..."
"What now?"
"Do you... like ?"
Bai Qi suddenly asked.
"Huh? Why would I like you all of a sudden?" Fang Ren was completely baffled.
"Because you... couldn't possibly like Sister Hui Qing... and you're willing to do so many things for ... you like , right?" Bai Qi mumbled incoherently.
"You're wrong," Fang Ren said.
"No... you definitely like ..." Bai Qi said, "But I don't like you... I'm sorry..."
"Why apologize?"
"I don't know... I'm sorry... I can't accept you... sorry, sorry..."
After listening, Fang Ren sighed softly. It seed in her eyes, she believed that offering herself in return for his help was sothing she ought to do, otherwise, she wouldn't be apologizing so earnestly.
The gratitude she felt for his saving her life always held a very heavy place in her heart. When she talked about going through fire and water... she probably ant it.
"I hope you can et a girl... whom you'll like more, and she will treat you very well... I hope you are happy," Bai Qi said.
"Stop fantasizing," Fang Ren said.
But Bai Qi was not listening to his words, continuing to talk to herself: "Stop liking ... I'll make you sad..."
Listening to her words, Fang Ren suddenly rembered what Liu Qianqian had said when she rejected him not long ago. She had also told him, "Stop liking ." How could such a thing be resolved with just a few words?
Fang Ren spoke, "You're wrong there. When you fall for soone, it's not possible to just stop liking them because you say so."
"See... you do like ..."
"Huh?" Fang Ren was stunned: "I was just explaining the principles of emotions to you!"
"I don't understand. All I know is that I'm sorry... I'm sorry... If only I had t you sooner..."
Fang Ren was at his wits' end and stopped talking to her, imdiately speeding up toward the school.
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