Time passed quickly. Beneath the blue sky and white clouds, a beautiful young girl lay sprawled in the flowerbed, sighing without a care for her image.
Luna Ying approached, smiling as she said, "Roxy, the Sect Master is looking for you!"
Roxy Shangguan blinked, then sat up. Her snow-white skin glistened under the warm sunlight, making her appear even more radiant. Frowning, she said, "Sister Luna, don't you think Quentin is just too much? He actually won't let me leave the mountain!"
Her large, watery eyes held a hint of grievance, and her pink lips were pursed in dissatisfaction. Such a charming sight—if anyone saw her now, who knows how many hearts would be stirred. Luna Ying could fully understand why the Sect Master forbade Roxy from leaving the mountain; if she were in his place, she would want to keep Roxy hidden away too!
Luna Ying shook her head and reminded, "Roxy, you and the Sect Master have only been back for three days!" Although the Sect Master always wanted to keep Roxy hidden, he inevitably gave in each time and took her down the mountain, only to bring her back in a fit of anger. Luna Ying was already used to this routine.
She knew a bit about these matters herself. Roxy was simply too captivating, but she was also rather oblivious, never sensing the covetous looks others cast her way. This always left the Sect Master fuming.
Luna Ying couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Quentin Hua. Watching Roxy Shangguan's indignant expression, Luna Ying smiled and said, "Roxy, you're just too stunning. The Sect Master is only afraid someone might steal you away!" She couldn't help but sigh inwardly; being too beautiful truly had its inconveniences.
Hearing this, Roxy Shangguan suddenly jumped up and huffed, "I'm too stunning? I haven't even complained about how devilishly handsome he is!" She was always slow to notice the attention from other men, but when other women tried to get close to Quentin Hua, she was exceptionally sensitive!
Luna Ying couldn't help but laugh—how true! The Sect Master had been famous for his beauty since his youth. After all these years, he was still so striking; it was no wonder he attracted so much attention. Clearly, Roxy had her own grievances too!
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly sensed a chill emanating from Roxy Shangguan. Luna Ying turned to follow her gaze and silently thought, "Oh no." When she looked back, Roxy's figure had already vanished.
Roxy Shangguan appeared before the two, speaking slowly, "Master, you have such refined taste!"
Quentin Hua had already pushed away the woman clinging to him. Hearing Roxy's words, his face darkened, "What did you just call me?"
Roxy Shangguan ignored him, replying coldly, "I'm going home!" With that, she prepared to leap down the mountain.
Quentin Hua quickly grabbed her, his face grim as he dragged her toward the back courtyard. Roxy shouted angrily, "Let go of me! If you don't, I'll chop off your hand!"
Quentin Hua glanced at her, unmoved. "If you really dare."
"You..." Roxy was furious. She opened her mouth and bit his arm with such ferocity that anyone watching might think she and Quentin Hua were bitter enemies!
But in truth, if she really wanted to run away, she wouldn't need to struggle so much, and Quentin Hua wasn't putting much effort into restraining her either.
Quentin Hua patted her head and said, "I didn't expect her martial arts to be so good!" This was his explanation for what had just happened.
That woman seemed to have been brought up the mountain just yesterday. He hadn't paid her any mind, thinking she'd already been sent away. But when he'd gone to look for Roxy Shangguan earlier, the woman suddenly lunged at him. He managed to dodge, but she changed direction midway and was so fast that she caught him off guard.
Quentin Hua's eyes flickered. The woman's actions seemed deliberately designed to make Roxy Shangguan misunderstand. He quickly concluded that someone must be targeting Roxy, sending this woman to cause trouble. If he found out who was behind it, he certainly wouldn't let them off lightly!
From this, it was clear that Quentin Hua was on high alert, seeing danger everywhere. Why didn't he consider that the woman might be after him too?
Quentin Hua seriously pondered how to deal with his rival in love, completely ignoring the dull ache on his arm.
Roxy Shangguan lifted her chin and said, "An explanation is just a cover-up!"
Quentin Hua carried her into the room, snorting, "Don't think this means you can leave the mountain! As if I don't know what you're plotting."
She even called him 'Master.' Although he'd once given Roxy Shangguan that title, wasn't it a bit late for her to use it now?
Roxy Shangguan pouted in grievance, tears welling in her eyes. "You're so domineering!"
Feeling a pang of heartache, Quentin Hua pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips. His eyes flashed as he said, "You can leave the mountain, but only if we get married first!"
Upon hearing this, Roxy Shangguan began to seriously consider it. In fact, getting married or not seemed much the same—she wouldn't be losing out either way!
Roxy snapped back to reality, glanced at the large hand on her chest, and calmly asked, "What are you doing?" Before Quentin Hua could scheme further, she continued, "My brother said, before marriage, you can't take advantage of me!"
Quentin Hua snorted, "Since when do you listen to him so much?"
Roxy Shangguan replied solemnly, "I've always listened to him!"
Hearing this, Quentin Hua's face darkened. Of course! She listened to Ethan Gray far too much; otherwise, why would they still not be married?
He must have offended Ethan Gray in a past life; that's the only explanation for his current misfortune!
What Quentin Hua didn't know was that the reason Ethan Gray always succeeded was because every time Quentin Hua forbade Roxy Shangguan from leaving the mountain, she would hold it against him. So, in the end, it wasn't Ethan Gray's meddling—it was Quentin Hua's own fault for offending the grudge-holding Roxy Shangguan.
Roxy Shangguan threw herself into his arms, kissed him, and blinked, "It's not impossible, but I want to leave the mountain!"
Quentin Hua frowned at her, struggled for a moment, then decisively said, "No! Marriage first, then you can leave the mountain!" He couldn't afford to be shortsighted; marriage was the best solution. After all, he'd waited so many years already!