Chapter 222: Chapter 228: Getting Things Clear_Part 1
"Wasn't there someone who said this afternoon that the Princess and Young Master Fang had a great relationship? But now it seems like that's not quite the case."
"You shouldn't listen to those nobles' nonsense. I heard that today, the Princess and Young Master Fang had a falling-out right there at the venue."
"Exactly, I heard about that too. However, I'm not quite clear on the details."
…
Bai Qi, standing on the second floor and spacing out, faintly heard some voices. It seemed like the staff on the first floor were gossiping about her and Fang Ren."
She quietly stepped down a few stairs and leaned against the stairwell, listening to their whispered conversations.
"What else could be the reason? The Princess has always fancied cultivation geniuses like Song Mobei, not Alchemy prodigies. Although Young Master Fang's achievements in alchemy are unprecedented, the Princess just doesn't like him," said a female receptionist in a low, frowning voice.
"Yes, just think about it. As the world's current top female with the highest cultivational talent, even with the potential to surpass Madame Xuan, how could such an exceptional person fall for a man with no cultivation level who can only do alchemy? Of course, I'm not trying to put down Young Master Fang—it's just that those two are simply mismatched..."
"It looks like the Princess's decision to transfer schools and break off the engagement must be true. I originally thought they were as in love as everyone said, but it turns out it was just one-sided affection from Young Master Fang, while the Princess has eyes only for Song Mobei."
"No wonder the Princess was so angry just now. After all, if a man I didn't like wanted to share a room with me while he did like me, I definitely wouldn't agree to it either."
"Sigh, even someone as outstanding as Young Master Fang can't move the Princess's heart; it just shows how deep her feelings for Song Mobei are."
"Young Master Fang really does have a tough lot in life~"
…
Listeing to the waitstaff's words, Bai Qi leaned against the wall and suddenly clenched her fists, her expression complex. This was exactly what she had wanted to avoid—her original intention was to protect Fang Ren from being belittled by the gossip of Tianjiang...
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Yet, the very thing she feared had happened. She blamed herself for acting impulsively just now.
After a few seconds, she gradually unclenched her fists and let out a small sigh before going to her room.
Lying on the bed, she stared blankly at the ceiling, unable to calm the turmoil in her heart.
She resolved that in the Alchemy competition, she would definitely avoid further contact with Song Mobei, lest Fang Ren end up branded by Tianjiang's rumors as "the man who can't even keep his own fiancée."
After all, in the Great Cultivation Era, power reigned supreme. In everyone's eyes, he might be a talented alchemist, but it was concluded that he was not a match for her—the world's number one in cultivational talent.
Any hint of closeness with Song Mobei would spawn various narratives, each version portraying Fang Ren pining after her while she disdainfully snubbed him.
"Has that guy gotten upset?"
Bai Qi pondered as she picked up her phone and dialed Fang Ren's number.
"We're sorry, the number you have dialed is switched off..."
Bai Qi tossed aside his cellphone, and his mood began to grow even more melancholic and complex. Indeed, that guy was really angry, he actually turned off his phone the moment he left the house.
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In Tianjiang's largest park, Fang Ren was lying on a lounge chair waiting for Mu Huanqing to arrive.
He had turned off his phone, and he had done so intentionally. It was not because he was so angry that Bai Qi had asked him to leave, but because he really didn't want that girl to disturb them during his alone time with Mu Huanqing.
As he lay waiting on the lounge chair, a woman wearing a white dress and a straw hat appeared in his line of sight, walking toward him.
Just by the way the woman pulled down her straw hat to cover her face, Fang Ren could somewhat guess who she was.
At this moment, there was no need for him to worry about Chen Cheng seeing him and Mu Huanqing, as this was Tianjiang, where there was basically no danger when traveling outside, and besides, Chen Cheng would have to stay with Bai Qi, so Fang Ren could completely relax and be with Mu Huanqing without any concerns.
Even if Lin Bozhong was watching from above, he would surely know to leave after a while.
In fact, according to Fang Ren's own speculation, he believed that the Family Head of the Bai Family must be well aware that he and Mu Huanqing had been together in the past, and even Chen Cheng might know about it.
But why keep avoiding Chen Cheng?
That was because Fang Ren felt that Old Master Bai, at most, only knew about his past relationship with Mu Huanqing and did not know that Mu Huanqing was already pregnant or that they had been meeting privately so frequently. None of this was known to Old Master Bai.
Why did Old Master Bai know about his relationship with Mu Huanqing, yet had not cooperated with the Central Area to take any coercive measures?
Fang Ren thought that it probably had to do with Bai Qi. There must be something (perhaps related to an experiment) that Bai Qi had to complete and for which the Central Area's coercive measures would backfire, as the issue had to be dealt with voluntarily by Bai Qi.
Therefore, Old Master Bai had refrained from forcibly separating him and Mu Huanqing; the goal was to allow him to willingly assist Bai Qi with certain matters. However, after this, the Central Area and Old Master Bai would unabashedly separate them, because Fang Ren's obligation that couldn't be forced would have been completed.
By then, he would be a fish on the chopping board, at the mercy of others.
However, regardless of the situation, the less people here knew about his meetings with Mu Huanqing, the better, especially the pregnancy, which absolutely could not be disclosed.
Otherwise, there was no telling what sort of cruel methods the Central Area would use to separate them, and even the life of their child might be at risk.
"Is Xiao Xi asleep?" Mu Huanqing arrived at Fang Ren's side and asked softly.
Fang Ren smiled: "I don't know, they only gave us one room, and that girl kicked me out."
"Isn't that just perfect?" Mu Huanqing smiled. "Tonight you can keep me company properly, and I don't have to worry about being discovered by her."
Fang Ren was startled: "The way you're talking... it feels like we're having an affair. Please, let's be clear here, you are my wife, not some secret mistress, okay?"
Mu Huanqing held onto his arm and gave him a sweet smile: "Frequent sneaking around to meet has made it a bit of a subconscious habit."