Chapter 2

In Li Luo's memory, the first time he met Jiang Qing'e should have been when he was around three years old.

That time, his parents seemed to have gone on a long trip. When they returned, they brought back a girl who was about five years old, Jiang Qing'e.

Later, they took Jiang Qing'e in as a disciple.

From this perspective, Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e could be considered true childhood sweethearts, and his parents were extremely fond of her.

However, the relationship between Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e in their childhood was rather delicate, as Jiang Qing'e was exceptionally outstanding from a young age. Moreover, being two years older than Li Luo, most of their childhood disputes ended with Li Luo being coldly beaten by Jiang Qing'e.

It was simply a nightmare.

The reason Jiang Qing'e became his fiancée, it was said, was when she was around ten years old. That time, his father had drunk too much and said, "If Xiaoe were to be my daughter-in-law, how wonderful that would be."

The next day, ten-year-old Jiang Qing'e wrote a marriage contract herself and handed it to her stunned father.

That time, his father was almost beaten senseless by his mother when she returned home.

Most importantly, even he, who had been watching the drama with a smile, was beaten by his mother in a fit of anger.

Afterward, his mother asked Jiang Qing'e to take back the marriage contract, but no one expected her to show such stubbornness. She simply knelt quietly in front of his parents.

In the end, his helpless parents had no choice but to let her have her way, but they kept the marriage contract and never mentioned it again, as if it never existed.

As time passed, the matter seemed to fade away, and even Li Luo himself had forgotten about it.

However, a few years ago, while Jiang Qing'e was at the Nanfeng Academy, due to a persistent and crazy suitor, she directly announced that she was already engaged to Li Luo.

The shock this caused at the time was felt throughout the entire Tian Shu County.

Fortunately, Li Luo had not yet entered the Nanfeng Academy at that time, or he might have been attacked by a mob. Even though several years have passed, the aftermath still made Li Luo, who was now at the Nanfeng Academy, deeply feel Jiang Qing'e's charm.

"Father, you really are a pit to your son," Li Luo sighed inwardly.

"Li Luo, do you enjoy the envious looks from others every day you stay here?" Just as Li Luo was sighing, a girl's voice suddenly sounded behind him.

Li Luo turned around and saw a pretty girl standing behind him. The girl had long hair that reached her waist. Although her beauty did not match Jiang Qing'e's, she was still a beauty. Her tight school uniform wrapped around her developing figure, which had a noticeable curve.

At that moment, the girl was crossing her arms, looking at Li Luo with a mocking gaze.

However, Li Luo remained calm in the face of her gaze. The girl was named Tifa Qing, a student in the First Academy. In the Nanfeng Academy, she was also considered a golden flower, and she came from the Tifa family, one of the three major families in Tian Shu County.

Tifa Qing had no grudge against Li Luo, but she was a die-hard supporter of Jiang Qing'e, and an extremely crazy and irrational one at that.

In her eyes, Jiang Qing'e was like a celestial being, flawless and unmatched by any man in this world, including Li Luo.

Even though Tifa Qing admitted that Li Luo's appearance was top-notch, she felt that judging by appearance alone was too shallow.

A person like Jiang Qing'e must be a dragon both inside and out to match her.

Li Luo, using his parents' advantages, had somehow obtained a marriage contract with Jiang Qing'e, which Tifa Qing saw as a desecration of her goddess.

Therefore, ever since Li Luo entered the Nanfeng Academy, whenever he met Tifa Qing, he would inevitably be met with a barrage of ridicule and the same persistent question.

"Li Luo, when are you going to dissolve your engagement with Senior Jiang?"

As expected, hearing this question repeated countless times, Li Luo couldn't help but rub his temples and said irritably, "What's it got to do with you?"

Then he turned and walked away.

Seeing this, Tifa Qing's face turned red with anger, and she followed him, saying, "Li Luo, do you really want to be a toad lusting after a swan?"

However, Li Luo ignored her, which made her face turn ashen with anger. She quickly caught up and said, "Li Luo, if you don't dissolve the engagement, it will only cause trouble for you. The more outstanding and excellent Senior Jiang is, the more trouble you will have. Your parents have been missing for years, and the Luo Lan Manor is now in turmoil. So your position as the young lord has no real power."

"You don't know how many young geniuses with powerful backgrounds and exceptional talent are infatuated with Senior Jiang."

"You can't force her to repay you in this way just because your parents have done her a favor!"

"Li Luo, if you don't dissolve your engagement with Senior Jiang, not only will you have trouble elsewhere, but even within the Nanfeng Academy, people will come after you."

Li Luo finally stopped and said, "Oh? Who wants to cause me trouble?"

Tifa Qing huffed and said, "Bei Kun from the Bei family, you should be familiar with him. He has already said that he hopes you won't use your status to get close to Senior Jiang. Additionally, he wants you to meet him at the Qingfeng Pavilion in two days to talk."

Li Luo smiled and said, "Of course, I'm familiar with him. Back then, he used to like to hang around me a lot."

When his parents were still around, the Luo Lan Manor in Tian Shu County had as much influence as the County Governor's Manor. As for Bei Kun, he would often come to seek him out. Who would have thought that after a few years, the Luo Lan Manor would change so much, and this former friend would be the first to cause him trouble?

Back then, Bei Kun's favorite thing to do was to set up a banquet at the Qingfeng Pavilion and invite him warmly. Now, he actually wanted Li Luo to invite him? This guy was really straightforward.

Tifa Qing said, "Li Luo, don't think it's ridiculous. The world is like this. When your family is powerful, people will flatter you. Now that the Luo Lan Manor has lost its power, why should anyone give you face? After all, the respect you received before was earned by your parents, not you."

Li Luo nodded and agreed, "You're right."

He had personally experienced the coldness of the world over the past two years.

So he didn't say much more and quickened his pace toward the academy's exit.

Tifa Qing, however, persisted, nagging him all the way, her words all centered on the hope that Li Luo would give Jiang Qing'e her freedom.

Li Luo knew the best way to deal with such people was to ignore them, so he didn't bother to respond, walking through the corridors and finally out of the academy.

As he stepped out of the academy, he suddenly felt the surrounding sounds become much quieter, even the annoying Tifa Qing seemed to have been silenced.

Li Luo turned to look at her and saw that Tifa Qing's face was flushed with excitement, staring at the bottom of the academy's stone steps.

Li Luo followed her gaze and saw a carriage parked at the bottom of the steps. The carriage was ancient and elegant, spacious and luxurious, pulled by four dark red, strong lion-horses. On the carriage, there was a familiar emblem, the emblem of the Luo Lan Manor.

What caused Tifa Qing's flushed face and the excitement of the nearby students, of course, was not just the carriage of the Luo Lan Manor, but the girl standing in front of it.

The girl had her long hair casually tied into a ponytail, her face delicate and calm, reflecting an alluring glow in the sunset. She wore a deep blue short cloak, slender boots, and a battle skirt that revealed her long, straight, and fair legs, almost making one's mouth dry.

Of course, the most eye-catching were her golden eyes, as bright and pure as the sun.

That was... Jiang Qing'e?!

There was a stir and excitement outside the academy, with countless students looking at the tall and graceful figure with excitement. They never expected to see this legend from the Nanfeng Academy today.

Li Luo walked down the stone steps in the midst of the excited and heated gazes, coming to stand in front of Jiang Qing'e, somewhat surprised, "Sister Qing'e, when did you return to Nanfeng City?"

Although the Luo Lan Manor originated in Nanfeng City, after becoming one of the four major manors of the Daxia Kingdom, its focus had shifted to the capital, Daxia City.

Jiang Qing'e, after entering the top Saint Xuan Star Academy of the Daxia Kingdom, also went to Daxia City. Additionally, over the past two years, she had to manage the Luo Lan Manor, so it was rare to see her return to Nanfeng City. Li Luo hadn't seen her for a long time.

Jiang Qing'e glanced at Li Luo and said coolly, "Tomorrow is your seventeenth birthday, and the Luo Lan Manor has some important matters to discuss here tomorrow."

"I just arrived in Nanfeng City today and came to pick you up on the way."

Her voice was extremely pleasant, cold and clear, like the sound of a mountain spring hitting jade.

Li Luo nodded. He wasn't surprised by Jiang Qing'e's attitude, as he had known her for many years and was familiar with her personality.

"Let's go," he said. Jiang Qing'e was too popular at the Nanfeng Academy, and standing here made him feel the sharp gazes from all around.

Jiang Qing'e nodded slightly but didn't turn immediately. Instead, she looked at Tifa Qing, who was standing behind Li Luo with an excited face, and said, "You're Tifa Qing, right?"

Tifa Qing nodded excitedly, her face flushed, "Senior Jiang, you actually remember me?"

Jiang Qing'e said calmly, "I hope you won't harass Li Luo anymore. Otherwise, I might 'take special care' of your brother at the Saint Xuan Star Academy."

Tifa Qing's excitement immediately froze. After a moment, under the gaze of Jiang Qing'e's pure golden eyes, she could only timidly nod, losing all the arrogance and defiance she had shown in front of Li Luo.

Jiang Qing'e then turned, her deep blue cloak fluttering, and entered the carriage with Li Luo. The lion-horses neighed and the carriage smoothly moved away in a mist.

Tifa Qing watched the carriage go, and after a long while, she rubbed her face, completely entranced.

"Senior Jiang... is really too cool, I love her so much!"