"Roxy..." Quentin Hua gazed at Roxy Shangguan, his eyes deep and unreadable.
Roxy Shangguan looked back at him. Seeing him silent for so long, she finally spoke up, "Flower?"
Quentin Hua gently rubbed her head and smiled, "It's nothing." He picked up the teacup to hide his awkwardness. Suddenly, he felt a bit worried—Roxy was only two years old and didn't understand feelings yet. Maybe her attachment to him was just a passing novelty. What if, when she grew up, she loved someone else? Matters of the heart were always complicated, and now he wasn't so sure he could be the only one in Roxy's eyes.
A faint ache throbbed in his chest, born from that sliver of uncertainty. Roxy Shangguan was what he wanted most, and the one he least wished to lose. The world was dull; he had once lived only to save Mason Ma, but after that, it was for Roxy. When Mason Ma died, he'd lost all will to live, but at that moment, he saw her—and that kept him going. If he lost her...
Roxy Shangguan watched Quentin Hua absentmindedly sipping his tea and shook her head inwardly. Silly! Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him and said, "Flower, you don't have to be shy. I know you love me very much!"
"Pfft... cough, cough..." Quentin Hua spat out his tea, choking and coughing violently.
Roxy Shangguan quickly reached out her small hand and patted his back, saying, "Don't get so worked up. Don't worry, I'll take responsibility for you!" Her eyes gleamed with mischievous laughter.
"Cough, cough..." Quentin Hua coughed even harder.
When he finally caught his breath, Quentin Hua just stared quietly at Roxy Shangguan. Roxy stared back, then suddenly said, "Flower, you really are a little demon!"
His brows furrowed slightly, and from the fit of coughing, his eyes glistened with a trace of moisture. He was enchanting—his eyes sultry, his beauty dazzling and impossible to ignore. Roxy Shangguan swallowed, staring at him with a gaze that burned hot.
Quentin Hua curled his lips into a seductive smile, pinched Roxy Shangguan's little chin, and sighed, "Looks like I need to train even harder!" If he didn't want to lose her, then he'd just keep her tied to his side. He wouldn't let anyone take her away—but her crazy parents were truly a handful!
Quentin Hua's moments of despair never lasted long—otherwise, how could he have made it this far?
Roxy Shangguan was still lost in her gaze, swallowing unconsciously, momentarily dazed. "What?" she asked, confused.
Quentin Hua patted her little butt and teased, "You little flirt!" That lustful look really didn't fit the child of Damien Gray and Morgan Shangguan—but he liked it!
Just then, Irene Yi walked in, a hint of puzzlement on her face. "Sect Master, someone delivered an invitation." She'd never seen anything like this before—inviting the Sect Master, but sending a little beggar to deliver it. The beggar even managed to climb to the top of the mountain—unbelievable.
Quentin Hua raised an eyebrow, picked up Roxy Shangguan with one arm, and took the invitation with the other. He opened it, frowned, then looked at Roxy and asked, "Roxy, how about I take you down the mountain for some fun?"
Roxy Shangguan rolled her eyes inwardly. Did he really think she was just a child? But it looked like Flower was planning to go down the mountain, so of course she'd go with him. She nodded, and couldn't resist taking advantage: "I want candied hawthorn, roasted chestnuts, sweet and sour ribs..." She rattled off a long list of snacks—anyone else would think Quentin Hua was starving her!
Quentin Hua shook his head, eyes filled with indulgence. Holding her, he headed out, laughing, "We'll go eat now."
Roxy Shangguan thought he'd have the kitchen prepare the food, but Quentin Hua actually ordered everyone to get ready to go down the mountain. Watching this, Roxy felt a little embarrassed, even a bit sorry for Irene Yi and Luna Ying. Flower really was an irresponsible Sect Master—but she forgot she was just as irresponsible!
Irene Yi and Luna Ying seemed used to it. Quentin Hua looked completely at ease, giving no instructions at all, just carrying Roxy Shangguan onto the sedan, and they were carried down the mountain.
Pink gauze curtains fluttered in the wind. The sedan carriers were all stunning women, their lightness skill so refined that they seemed to float down the mountain like immortals descending to earth.
A few days later, they finally arrived at Magnolia Town, and Quentin Hua decisively stopped traveling.
"Flower, wasn't that person inviting you to Sunflower Town?" Roxy Shangguan had wanted to ask for a while. She'd glimpsed the location on the invitation as Sunflower Town, but now they were in Magnolia Town, heading in the opposite direction.
Quentin Hua kept walking with her in his arms, raising an eyebrow, "Did I ever say I was going to meet him?"
"Huh?" Roxy Shangguan twitched her lips, "Then what are we doing here?"
Quentin Hua bought her a stick of candied hawthorn and handed it over, smiling. "Didn't you want to see flowers? In a couple of days, this town will host a Flower Viewing Festival."
Magnolia Town was no small place—sprawling and prosperous thanks to its jade production. It was also famed for its flowers, with countless rare and exotic blooms, especially orchids. Many precious varieties originated here.
Roxy Shangguan held the candied hawthorn, her eyes sparkling. She stopped worrying about their location, took a bite, and squinted with satisfaction. She was so cute, anyone would want to pinch her cheeks.
Quentin Hua smiled, a wave of contentment rising in his heart. But he seemed to forget his own charm—smiling so wickedly, it was almost like he was deliberately tempting the little girl!
Quentin Hua paid no attention to the shy, love-struck girls around him, but Roxy Shangguan noticed—and she was not happy about it.
She snorted inwardly, tossed away her candied hawthorn, grabbed Quentin Hua's chest, and burst into tears, "Daddy, I'll be good from now on—please don't sell me to a brothel, okay?" Roxy sobbed pitifully, her tears falling like rain.
Quentin Hua felt the strange looks from those around them, twitched his lips, ignored the whispers, and quickly ducked into a deserted alley with Roxy Shangguan in his arms, gritting his teeth, "Roxy Shangguan!"