"Idiot!"
With a single dismissive word, Su Chen turned and strode off, holding Chu Yanran's hand.
The crowd around them, eager for gossip, instinctively made way for the pair.
"It's all my fault... I was just jealous. Su Chen must be mad at me for trying to stop him from taking a concubine. He's using this to settle things with me."
"Tomorrow... tomorrow, everything will be back to normal."
Watching Su Chen's figure retreat, Xia Qingxue muttered to herself, her voice trailing off as she slumped to the ground, deflated like a punctured balloon.
"Miss, Miss!" Her maid rushed forward, helping Xia Qingxue up.
Xia Qingxue's face had gone ghostly pale, cold sweat beading on her forehead. She was clearly shaken to her core.
Around them, onlookers exchanged sympathetic glances, knowing full well that the Xia family was finished. In this cutthroat province, survival without the Su family's protection was unthinkable.
"Donghua Province is about to experience a major upheaval," was the collective thought in everyone's mind.
"How did the situation turn around so quickly today?"
"Did the Young Master of the Su family really just break things off with Xia Qingxue?"
"I need to hurry back and inform our clan leader so we can prepare."
"I'm taking this juicy news straight to the sect!"
After a moment of stunned silence, the crowd erupted into murmurs, each person buzzing with the latest revelation.
---
Not long after, the calm in Donghua Province was shattered, causing a stir unseen for over a decade.
"Su Chen publicly declared that he's breaking off his engagement with Xia Qingxue and severing all ties with the Xia family."
The news spread like wildfire, and by the afternoon, top-tier and middle-tier families alike flocked to the Xia family's doorstep.
The Xia family's main hall was packed to the brim with people.
Faced with the situation, Xia Zhentian, the head of the Xia family, looked as pale as death. Nearby, many Xia family members were visibly trembling, some even struggling to stand upright.
"Patriarch Xia, the Lin family is here today to end our partnership with your family in the auction business. And we also need to have a serious discussion regarding compensation."
"Patriarch Xia, back when we sought to ally with the Su family, our Sun family ceded a 30% stake in the spirit stone mining project. Now, how do you plan to resolve this?"
"The Liu family as well."
"And the Wang family."
"Count me in."
The representatives from various families filled the hall, each voicing their demands. The cacophony of complaints made Xia Zhentian's head throb.
If he'd known things would spiral so disastrously, he would never have allowed his daughter to end the engagement with the Young Master of the Su family.
But regret was pointless at this stage.
"Ah, Su Chen, you ruthless fiend!"
Listening to the bitter accusations, Xia Zhentian finally couldn't hold back his fury and roared, "Are you trying to ruin the Xia family entirely?"
---
At the Su Residence.
When Su Chen heard about the chaos unfolding at the Xia household, his expression remained as calm as ever.
"What's this? Feeling sorry for that little girl?" Chu Yanran teased, handing Su Chen a cup of tea brewed with red dates and goji berries.
She knew that Su Chen had been exhausting himself these past few days and needed something nourishing. After all, the stronger Su Chen's body was, the sooner she could accomplish the mission given to her by her mother-in-law, Qin Xinran.
Su Chen took the cup and drank it in one gulp, a warm, soothing sensation spreading through him.
"I have no interest in that girl," he said dismissively, setting down the cup.
Xia Qingxue had dared to defy his will, so he had expected her to face the consequences. This time, he wouldn't disappoint her.
Tomorrow, he would personally pay the Xia family a visit to break off the engagement—a grand spectacle was about to unfold.
"Some people need a harsh awakening to realize they're not some lofty princess," Su Chen remarked, his gaze growing cold. The chilling light in his eyes made Chu Yanran's heart skip a beat.
She knew exactly what he meant.
Back when Su Chen had insisted on taking her as a concubine, she had displayed the same haughty attitude as Xia Qingxue. She, too, had once looked down on him, thinking a mere mortal unworthy of her.
But Su Chen had shown her, in no uncertain terms, the meaning of absolute strength.
In the end, her resistance had proven utterly futile.
"Alright, let's not talk about that girl anymore. Yanran, you've worked hard these past few days. You're still recovering, so have some tonic as well."
Su Chen smiled, pulling her gently into his arms.
In that moment, a strange warmth blossomed in Chu Yanran's heart, sweet as honey. She glanced up at Su Chen, meeting his deep, penetrating gaze.
Her heart skipped, her cheeks turning as red as an apple. Her pulse quickened, but she made no move to pull away.
She felt a sense of gratitude that Su Chen had chosen her.
The Su family's wealth and power ran deep, and with Su Chen awakening the family's ancestral bloodline, his cultivation progressed at a breathtaking pace.
Chu Yanran was certain that before long, Su Chen would step into the Divine Arts realm. At that point, he would be regarded as a prodigy even among the younger generation on the vast Tianxuan Continent.
By then, their dual cultivation would benefit her tremendously as well.
So, instead of resisting Su Chen's affection, Chu Yanran found herself enjoying the warmth of his embrace.
"Mhm."
Su Chen gave a slight nod, tightening his grip as he held her closer.
Lowering his head, he kissed Chu Yanran's soft, delicate lips.
Their kiss grew increasingly intense, neither willing to let go.
A tingling sensation swept over Chu Yanran, and her body grew soft as she melted into Su Chen's embrace, allowing him to kiss her freely.
His kiss transformed, going from gentle to passionate, filled with a possessive fervor, as if he wanted to devour the beauty in his arms.
Chu Yanran's body grew hotter, her arms instinctively wrapping around Su Chen's neck.
They clung to each other, as if trying to meld into one.
No one knew how long they were lost in each other's embrace.
"Mmph…"
Out of breath, Chu Yanran finally managed to break free, gasping for air. "Young Master, you're so naughty... I almost suffocated."
"I've missed you, Yanran," Su Chen murmured, pulling her close again and kissing her passionately.
His breathing grew heavier, his restraint fraying.
Just then, the door flew open.
A graceful figure stepped in.
Su Chen looked up, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of the familiar face.
The woman wore a stunning, fiery red dress, her silky black hair cascading over her shoulders.
Her face was exquisitely beautiful, each smile and glance holding an allure that was utterly captivating.
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