บท 20: Chapter 20: Invitation to the Auction with Xiao Ruoyu
[🎉 Shoutout to Justin_Avalos for joining patreon. Thank you very much.🤗]
Xiao Ruoyu, currently basking in bliss, was sitting cozily in Xia Qingxue's warm, inviting room. The two of them chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere between them was harmonious and lively.
"Qingxue, I heard that you've become the concubine of Su Chen, the young master of the Su family?" Xiao Ruoyu lifted her delicate brows and asked with a hint of curiosity. "You weren't interested in him before, were you? I heard he forced you into it?"
Hearing this, Xia Qingxue's cheeks reddened, and she nodded shyly. "Yes, I did reject him at first. But, as I got to know him, I realized he's not at all like the rumors make him out to be. He's actually quite wonderful. I'm truly happy and content with him."
Her voice softened, and her expression turned dreamy, her eyes half-closing as though lost in fond memories. Su Chen's unique Yang Flame Physique had brought her an unforgettable happiness and comfort, creating a deep attachment to him that grew stronger every day.
"Look at you, you silly girl!" Xiao Ruoyu huffed in mock annoyance as she saw her friend's love-struck expression. "He's just a man, and you're acting as if you've lost all sense."
With a teasing smile, Xiao Ruoyu reached out and playfully tapped Xia Qingxue's forehead.
"I'm not!" Xia Qingxue blushed even deeper and pouted. "You misunderstand, Sister Ruoyu. This isn't some foolish infatuation; this is what love feels like!"
Fixing her gaze on Xiao Ruoyu, she added mischievously, "Sister, you've never been in love, so naturally, you wouldn't understand. But I'm really happy now."
Sliding closer, Xia Qingxue wrapped her arm around Xiao Ruoyu's. "Dear sister, we're like family now. I've married Su Chen... how about you marry him too? That way, we sisters would never be separated."
Xiao Ruoyu froze for a second, her fair forehead furrowing with lines of exasperation, her cheeks tinged pink as she scolded, "Qingxue, what nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean by 'never be separated'?"
Though Xiao Ruoyu had a typically aloof temperament, she wasn't dense. She could easily catch the underlying meaning in Xia Qingxue's words.
"Aiya, Sister, you're blushing..." Xia Qingxue couldn't resist teasing her. "It seems like you're not familiar with love either. But don't worry! I can teach you, hehe..."
"I'm not going to indulge this nonsense!" Embarrassed, Xiao Ruoyu turned away, deciding to ignore her mischievous friend.
Giggling, Xia Qingxue slipped her arm around Xiao Ruoyu's waist and whispered in her ear with a grin, "If you won't play along, then I'll just stick with you anyway."
"Oh, stop it! Let go of me!"
Xiao Ruoyu squirmed as a ticklish sensation prickled at her ear. She tried to evade but ultimately surrendered, muttering, "Alright, alright, I give in!"
"Gotcha!" Xia Qingxue's eyes sparkled with victory as she playfully stuck out her tongue.
Looking at her, Xiao Ruoyu sighed helplessly and shook her head. "You're really something, you know that? You're such a handful..."
Reaching out, she gave Xia Qingxue's nose a gentle squeeze.
But Xia Qingxue wasn't fazed in the slightest, sitting down beside Xiao Ruoyu with a grin. "Sister Ruoyu, do you want to know why I ended up falling for Su Chen?"
Xiao Ruoyu shook her head. "I'm just worried you'll regret it someday."
"Haha, you don't need to worry, Sister. After the crisis my family went through, I realized how genuine Su Chen's feelings for me are. I was the one who took him for granted before. But he gave me another chance, didn't he?"
Xia Qingxue smiled, her face radiating happiness.
Even if she couldn't become Su Chen's main wife, she had become his woman. And to her, that was more than enough.
Xiao Ruoyu looked at Xia Qingxue thoughtfully, feeling uncertain about her friend's all-consuming love. She couldn't bring herself to approve of it entirely. Yet, knowing Xia Qingxue's steadfast nature, she understood that her friend's heart was set, and nothing would change her mind.
———
Destiny's favored son, a bearer of heavenly fortune.
In just a few short days, Ye Fan and Xiao Ruoyu had already struck up a deep friendship.
Following the original trajectory of the story, Ye Fan, using his mystical "Heavenly Eyes," discovered that Xiao Ruoyu possessed the divine Phoenix Martial Soul, which left him astonished. Secretly, he vowed to make Xiao Ruoyu his own.
He knew well the power of the Phoenix Martial Soul; to every cultivator, Xiao Ruoyu was the ideal companion.
Three days later.
On Su Chen's orders, Xia Qingxue arrived to invite Xiao Ruoyu to attend the upcoming auction at the Celestial Sky Auction House.
As she reached the gate of Xiao Ruoyu's small courtyard, she saw Xiao Ruoyu conversing with a young man.
The young man wore a robe of a cultivator, his sharp brows and clear eyes lending him an elegant air, and his demeanor was refined. He exuded a quiet, scholarly charm that made him hard to ignore.
The sight of him caused Xia Qingxue's heart to skip a beat, and her expression grew complicated.
This was her first time meeting this young man, yet a sense of familiarity and intimacy stirred deep within her soul—a strange sensation she couldn't quite explain.
Little did she know that, had it not been for Su Chen's interference, her fate would have led her to eventually join this young man's harem, just as the original story had intended.
Xia Qingxue shook her head slightly, reminding herself that she now belonged to Su Chen. The idea of this man held no allure for her.
However, as she watched the two speaking so animatedly, a frown creased her brow.
Who was this man? And why was he here with Xiao Ruoyu?
She knew better than anyone that Xiao Ruoyu was proud and aloof, rarely taking an interest in men. Yet, this young man seemed to have captured her attention, and there was a certain spark in Xiao Ruoyu's eyes when she looked at him.
Keeping her task firmly in mind—helping Su Chen win Xiao Ruoyu's heart—Xia Qingxue didn't dare waste a moment. She strode forward, interrupting the two with a bright greeting. "Sister Ruoyu!"
Hearing her, Xiao Ruoyu turned and looked at her in surprise. "Qingxue, what brings you here?"
Xia Qingxue cast a quick glance at the young man before turning to Xiao Ruoyu with a slight smile. "Sister Ruoyu, the Celestial Sky Auction House is holding a grand auction today at noon. I've heard there will be some rare treasures for cultivators up for bid. Would you come with me?"
"The Celestial Sky Auction House?"
Xiao Ruoyu's eyes flickered with interest. She knew the reputation of the Celestial Sky Auction House; it was the most formidable auction house in the Tianxuan Continent.
Rumor had it that several hidden sects of the Central Continent had come together to create it, auctioning off rare and precious items collected from all over the continent.
Their collections were extensive and diverse, even rumored to include some of the Tianxuan Continent's most legendary artifacts.
The Celestial Sky Auction House rarely hosted events, but every one of its auctions sent waves across the realm, drawing countless powerful figures and prodigies.
Backed by powerful and influential forces, no one dared to provoke the branch of the auction house, even in the heart of Donghua Prefecture.
Beside Xiao Ruoyu, the young man's eyes also lit up at the mention of the Celestial Sky Auction House. But he seemed far more intrigued by Xia Qingxue herself, his gaze lingering on her with a strange intensity.
His eyes roved over Xia Qingxue, who felt a chill run down her spine under his penetrating gaze.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥰 Support the translation and help me grow.🤓
Read upto 20 Extra chapter in Patreon
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง