“Eh? Why do I feel full all of a sudden?”
“It’s not good to eat too much for dinner. Uh, let me get ready first…”
“Ugh, my mount’s about to run away! I better go ahead!”
Dinner was still underway, but many of the brothers hadn’t even picked up their chopsticks before claiming they were done, and then they quietly slipped away, moving with a remarkably smooth style.
When they left, they couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
They had all been worried about Little Ke.
After all, it’s common knowledge that he’s wealthy and has great skills, he’s the top of the Qianlong List and is a ‘wife-doting’ type – who can handle that? What if he accidentally ends up ensnared in a ‘wife-doting soul duel’ for life? What were they even here for, really to help??
Now their anxious hearts were finally at ease.
When the Cold Fairy stood there, it was as if she was the ultimate limit of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
Such an unattainable peak should have stifled any thoughts of challenge, and the question rattling around in their heads would shift from “Can I catch a wife-doting soul?” to “What merits does the God Hammer Little Overlord have?”
“Ice Chunk, this candied sweet potato is delicious… Hmm? This vinegar…”
“I love sweet and sour!”
Ying Bing’s expression was blank, her gaze piercing.
Little Ke’s scalp went numb, and he could only press the sweet potato into the vinegar under her watchful eye, producing a squeak of terrified delight.
“I want more.”
“….”
The sugar strands on the sweet potato melted, and the vinegar quickly covered it, turning it into a pitch-black hue, which was soon popped into Ice Chunk’s mouth, leaving her lips looking purplish and shiny.
Just like the dramatic make-up from soap operas…
“Ice Chunk, actually, I have another purpose for hosting this event,” Ke Mo said, his expression suddenly serious.
“Oh?”
“Think about it, when we were in the South Border, the King of South Border’s army was lacking supplies. I had wealth but couldn’t help because I was funding him inappropriately, but as long as we host the Blossom Grand Meeting, we’ll have room to maneuver.”
Ke Mo was quite dissatisfied with the return on his investments.
So Little Ke’s genius brain sparked an idea.
Why not find a reason to pull in the King of South Border’s manor too?
After all, those adults just wanted money; they had zero interest in supplies…
Ke Mo elaborated on his plans, and Ying Bing listened quietly.
Uh-huh, not far off, Shang Qin Qing was also eavesdropping.
“Little Ice Girl and that Little Ke kid seem to be having a spat; what’s the big deal?” Qin Yuzhi said, sweeping her gaze over the empty sunflower seed shells on the table, seeming a bit resigned.
“No, you just don’t understand the fun of the ‘wife-chasing funeral’…” Shang Qin Qing listened with great enthusiasm.
Qin Yuzhi: “…..”
She suspected that if Shang Qin Qing ever took the reins of the dream world, she would probably dramatically commit harakiri the very next day…
“So it’s like that,” Ying Bing’s furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
“And you’re ranked first on the Blossom List, so of course, I’ll be the one to handle this grand event.”
Ke Mo suddenly became serious again.
Uh-huh, that was probably the main reason.
Ying Bing’s gaze shifted to the side: “I got it.”
“Hey, Ice Chunk, if you’re going to attend the grand event, you should pick out an outfit, right?”
“Are you hoping to see black and white together again?”
“Just give me a separate event instead.”
…
As summer approached, the Imperial Capital seemed to maintain a steady temperature. Thanks to the grand map of the nation, the imperial city and inner city always enjoyed spring-like weather, while the outer city had a slightly better climate than elsewhere.
At this moment, the streets were bustling with activity.
The Blossom Grand Meeting hadn’t even started yet, but the atmosphere had already infected the entire Imperial Capital, with lantern markets sprawling like an ocean, and giant portraits hanging everywhere.
The fairies listed on the rankings were about to attract a ton of admirers in the Imperial Capital, and the vibe was even better than the Qianlong Conference.
After all, this was the first Blossom Grand Meeting and was drawing more attention than the Qianlong List.
Atop Biyun Tower.
The hustle and bustle of human life seemed to ebb away here, stopping in front of a figure illuminated by moonlight.
She was pulled to sit in someone’s lap, arms wrapped around her waist, and her legs found a cozy resting place…
Little Ke was becoming increasingly skilled at this.
Slightly striking a pose, it perfectly matched Ice Chunk’s ergonomic shape.
If there was one flaw, it was probably the position of the Hammer Treasure, which always poked Ying Bing and made her frown.
“You liked those clothes earlier, didn’t you?”
“What? I think those completely fail to highlight your temperament.”
“But I heard you!”
“??”
Li Mo was taken aback.
When Ice Chunk tried on those clothes earlier, he was covering his nose, indignantly vocalizing his opinions.
When did he ever say that??
“The Hammer Treasure said so.”
Li Mo: “……”
The Hammer Treasure was always a troublemaker; everyone knew that.
Darn it, no acting could overcome such a weak point!
Ying Bing lowered her pretty face, assessing him with narrowed eyes for a while.
She discovered that Little Li had a righteous demeanor, breathing warm and gentle; upon seeing him, no one would think he had any bad intentions.
Um…
It seemed he didn’t even want others to look at him.
“You’re not really thinking of hiding me under the pretense of funding, are you?”
“!”
Little Li’s heart skipped a beat.
How did Ice Chunk figure it out? Was it that obvious?
He looked up and locked eyes with her.
The night breeze swept through the bustling lights of the Imperial Capital, lifting her black hair and making Li Mo’s neck itch a little. He saw on her otherwise exquisite and cold face a smile, like a sister discovering her younger brother sneaking a treat.
Her subtly contrasting features made people want to stare at her constantly; looking away for even a second felt like losing a fortune, and her smiling eyes left people feeling empty inside, too intimidated to meet her gaze.
Her stunning beauty clashed brilliantly with the playful scrutiny, a blend of allure and entanglement seeping into the depths of one’s heart…
Little Li suddenly realized.
Oh no, it seemed this time he was completely under Ice Chunk’s grasp!
Holding a soft Ice Chunk? Where did this overwhelming pressure come from?!
Li Mo could only nod:
“Yes, I don’t want others to look. The Queen’s also on the list but hasn’t danced or anything.”
“That’s because His Majesty disapproves.”
“He’s just an emperor; if he doesn’t like it, I have even less reason to.”
Li Mo let out a rebellious statement.
If he said this in front of the high-ranking officials, it would seem like an impressive show of strength.
But right now, this boldness was only visible to Ice Chunk.
Ying Bing pursed her lips and fell silent.
She realized that she couldn’t even harden her resolve anymore and had no idea where this domineering behavior came from.
If Little Li were to propose next, she found herself unable to refuse.
The icy walls in her heart? What ice?
This wasn’t a question of soft or hard.
The water was almost boiling; they could cook rice with it already.
