The He Shi Bi is a priceless treasure.
When you possess one, you treasure it dearly, marveling at its rarity and value.
But what if you owned a hundred such treasures and knew you could obtain an endless supply in the future? Would you still cherish them with the same fervor as you did at the start?
Perhaps beauties are the same way. Those philanderers blessed with incredible luck in love may have undergone this very shift in perspective, gradually becoming indifferent.
Qian Ran still remembered the excitement he felt the first time he met Tang Ya.
But as more people gathered around him, his feelings seemed to grow increasingly casual.
Fortunately, he had been shaped by the lessons of his past life. Qian Ran believed that if he'd been born a native prodigal son in the Douluo Continent, he wouldn't have been much better than the corrupt nobles he disdained.
"Which room is Yu Mengdi's?"
"It's over there," Yan'er said, pointing ahead.
Qian Ran knocked on the door, and Yu Mengdi quickly appeared. Seeing him, her eyes sparkled with delight as she eagerly pulled him into the room. She also noticed Yan'er standing nearby and immediately understood what was happening.
Yu Mengdi had never dared to hope that she held an irreplaceable place in Qian Ran's heart. In fact, she had already prepared herself for the possibility that he might forget about her altogether and never seek her out again.
Even if Yan'er ended up with Qian Ran, Yu Mengdi would simply offer her blessings. At the very least, she'd gain a companion by her side.
"You've made great progress recently," Qian Ran remarked, immediately noticing that Yu Mengdi had just broken through a bottleneck in her cultivation.
"It's all thanks to the resources you gave me," Yu Mengdi replied modestly, a little embarrassed. Without Qian Ran's support, her breakthrough would have taken much longer.
"Good. Here's a spirit bone for you," Qian Ran said, taking out a gleaming spirit bone and handing it to her.
Yan'er, standing to the side, was utterly stunned. She hadn't expected Qian Ran to treat Yu Mengdi so well.
After their outing, Qian Ran hadn't visited Yu Mengdi again, leading even Yu Mengdi herself to assume he only viewed her as a passing amusement. Yet now, he was generously gifting her a spirit bone.
For students of Shrek Academy, spirit bones were rare treasures.
For those from Zhengtian Academy like Yan'er, they were even more elusive. Not even their teachers possessed spirit bones—only the headmaster and a select few top-tier fighters could claim such treasures.
"Thank you."
Yu Mengdi accepted the spirit bone, her heart brimming with gratitude. She couldn't help the sting of emotion that welled up.
Who would have thought that the person who treated her the best would be the man she found so difficult to reach?
"Thank me for what? You're my woman; naturally, I won't let you suffer. I may not have much time to spend with you, but I'll make up for it in other ways."
"A true man's ambitions lie beyond the horizon. I'm not greedy," Yu Mengdi murmured, leaning softly into his embrace.
Yan'er stood awkwardly to the side, unsure of what to do. She felt caught between staying and leaving. However, seeing Qian Ran treat Yu Mengdi so well reassured her. If he cared for Yu Mengdi this much, her own position likely wouldn't be too awkward in the future.
Yu Mengdi's slender, elegant figure was perfectly proportioned, with alluring curves and not a hint of excess fat. Her long, shapely legs were straight and graceful. Even in her Zhengtian team uniform, her round hips were prominently displayed.
With Qian Ran visiting so rarely, Yu Mengdi knew better than to waste the fleeting opportunity to win his favor.
Lifting her head, she gazed at him with affectionate eyes. Even someone as daring as Yu Mengdi blushed deeply, her heart pounding so wildly it felt ready to burst from her chest.
Before Qian Ran's arrival, she had rehearsed countless scenarios in her mind about how to hold his attention.
Despite her overwhelming shyness, she pressed on.
Even with Yan'er watching from the sidelines, Yu Mengdi didn't care anymore.
She knew Qian Ran had many women around him, and her connection with him was among the shallowest. The others were no less beautiful than she was—some might even surpass her.
Their brief encounters meant that if she didn't fight for his attention now, she might be entirely forgotten.
After the Advanced Soul Master Tournament, there was a real chance Qian Ran's memory of her would fade away.
She had never dreamed of being cherished by him for a lifetime, but that didn't mean she wouldn't fight for a little more time. At the very least, she hoped he would visit her once every month or two.
Seeing Yu Mengdi take the initiative, Yan'er's face grew even redder than hers.
If Yu Mengdi barely knew Qian Ran, Yan'er's relationship with him was even more tenuous.
Lowering her head, Yan'er turned away, too embarrassed to meet their gaze. Who knew what thoughts were running through her mind?
(End of Chapter)