As Zhao Qingyue's questioning intensified, Lu Qingli's smile gradually became perfunctory. Her gaze shifted, and she suddenly caught sight of a figure huddled behind a pile of books at the edge of the crowd. Xiang Fan was trying to curl himself up into a seemingly inconspicuous form, like a small turtle trying to avoid a predator.
Lu Qingli raised the corner of her mouth, and the smile on her face brightened a little. She said in a gentle but firm tone: "This junior brother is the one I admire."
As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a thunderclap exploding at the boat's docking station, and the entire scene froze in an instant. The disciples' eyes widened in disbelief, and even the sound of breathing seemed to disappear in the air.
Xiang Fan was trying to slip away when he felt a soft hand grip his arm. He froze, motionless as if struck by lightning. He slowly looked up and saw Lu Qingli's beautiful face, with a faint smile.
"This...this...Senior Sister?" Xiang Fan stuttered, his mind a mess, and he couldn't even speak clearly.
Lu Qingli didn't give him any time to react, but looked directly at Zhao Qingyue, her tone still calm but with a hint of unquestionableness: "Brother Zhao, please forgive me."
Xiang Fan felt the entire audience's gaze suddenly focused on him, and the pressure, like a thorn in his back, made his face suddenly burn. He lowered his head, wishing there was a hole in the ground for him to crawl into.
"Senior Sister...you, are you mistaken?" He lowered his voice and whispered, trying to break free from Lu Qingli's hand. However, the other party held on tighter.
"That's right." Lu Qingli's voice was gentle and firm, even carrying a bit of soothing power. "Don't be nervous, cooperate with me."
"Cooperate... cooperate?" Xiang Fan's eyes widened like bells, completely stunned. His ears were as red as boiled shrimp, and his head felt like a million waves of spiritual energy were whirling. He tried to explain, but was drowned out by the surging chatter around him.
"Xiang Fan? The Xiang Fan who holds a theory book every day?"
"Is he the one who has been practicing basic sword techniques for three years without making any progress?"
"This is impossible! How could Senior Sister Qingli like him? Is there something wrong?"
Every word of these words sank into Xiang Fan's ears, leaving him feeling even more lost. He shrank his neck, trying to shrink even smaller, and stammered, "But... I... I really can't..."
Lu Qingli still smiled, her tone soft but firm: "It's okay, you can do it."
Xiang Fan's face flushed red, his lips trembling slightly. He tried to explain something, but Lu Qingli's hand patted hiss gently. Her eyes were gentle and resolute, as if telling him to "trust me," and his chaotic mind suddenly became clearer.
Zhao Qingyue stood there, his smile completely frozen. He glanced at Xiang Fan, his eyes filled with suppressed disbelief and anger. "He? Is he the one Junior Sister mentioned?"
Lu Qingli didn't look at Zhao Qingyue again, but nodded lightly and smiled: "That's right."
This scene completely ignited the crowd of onlookers. Exclamations and discussions arose one after another, and everyone wondered if they were dreaming.
"What's going on? How could Senior Sister Qingli possibly like Xiang Fan?"
"A useless cultivator and a fairy princess? Isn't this just a fantasy?"
"Could he have used some kind of evil magic?"
As Xiang Fan listened to these voices, his head lowered further and further, wishing he could bury himself in the pile of books. He followed Lu Qingli stiffly, his steps unsteady, as if he were treading on clouds and threatened to fall at any moment. Deep down, he knew he didn't belong in this situation, but Lu Qingli's grip on his hand made him afraid to move, as if even the slightest struggle would lead to greater trouble.
Only Lu Qingli could hear his whispered complaints: "Senior Sister, isn't this a bit too much of a joke..."
Zhao Qingyue's confident smile froze completely after Lu Qingli's words. His hand, gripping the spirit flower, trembled slightly. He tried to remain calm, but a hint of anger lingered in his tone. "Junior Sister Qingli, is he... more worthy of your lifelong trust than me?"
Lu Qingli continued to smile, her demeanor composed. She nodded gently, her tone gentle but firm, "Brother Zhao, each of us makes different choices. He may not be outstanding in your eyes, but he has qualities that I admire."
Zhao Qingyue's expression darkened completely. His gaze pierced Xiang Fan like a knife, and his voice was so cold that the air around him seemed to drop several degrees. "Tell me, what exactly makes you better than me?"
Xiang Fan's heart skipped a beat at the question. He opened his mouth, but found himself speechless. He nervously took a half step back, waving his hands wildly, as if trying to distance himself from the matter. "No, no, no, Senior Brother Zhao, I'm not better than you! I really can't compare to you in any way... Actually, I don't know why..."
His voice gradually became smaller and smaller, and finally it was almost a mosquito's hum. He looked at the ground with an embarrassed expression, and beads of cold sweat were about to drip down his forehead.
Seeing this, Lu Qingli glanced at Zhao Qingyue with a half-smile, then gently patted Xiang Fan's arm and said in a soft voice: "Junior brother, don't be nervous."
Xiang Fan's ears turned red like boiled shrimp. He lowered his head, wishing he could bury himself in the ground. He stammered, "But... I really can't do this... Senior Sister, is this a mistake?"
The surrounding discussions were one after another, directly crushing Xiang Fan's self-esteem:
"Xiang Fan can't even speak clearly, how can he possibly win the heart of Senior Sister Lu Qingli?"
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