TRWSB – Chapter 34 So-Called Love Rival

Zhuang Hao and Zhuang Qian chatted with Qi Shaorong for a while, then took their leave.

Qi Heng looked at Zhuang Hao’s departing figure and asked, “Young master, are you really planning to check on that little tiger?”

“More friends mean more options. If this goes well, even the royal family will have to take notice of me,” Qi Shaorong replied.

Qi Heng nodded. “True.”

“Young master, Zhuang Hao is actually quite decent. Have you really never considered him?” Qi Heng asked.

Qi Shaorong laughed coldly. “Affections may be unreciprocated. Haven’t you heard he has a heart of stone? He absolutely doesn’t regret breaking off the engagement.”

Qi Heng remained silent.

As Zhuang Qian walked beside Zhuang Hao, he asked, “Big brother, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“Ah, life is unpredictable,” Zhuang Qian sighed.

Zhuang Hao looked at him and asked, “What are you sighing about?”

“I’m just lamenting how fate plays with people. I used to think Qi Shaorong would become my sister-in-law. Then, when you broke off the engagement, I thought perhaps you’d become enemies or maybe even make peace and become friends. But never did I imagine you’d end up as love rivals,” Zhuang Qian mused.

Zhuang Hao fell silent.

“Big brother, the way the Evil Doctor looks at you is like an elder looking at a junior. I don’t think you stand a chance,” Zhuang Qian teased, clearly amused.

Zhuang Hao flicked Zhuang Qian on the head. “Enough. What do you know?”

…

When Zhuang Hao returned to the Zhuang family, he was summoned by Zhuang Renxian.

“Father, did you need something?”

Zhuang Renxian took a deep breath. “Qi Yao from the Qi family and Yi Xun from the Yi family were just here.”

Zhuang Qian frowned. “Father, what did those old men want?”

“Mind your words! They are not ‘old men’,” Zhuang Renxian replied gruffly. He was of the same generation as Qi Yao and Yi Xun; they were all still in their prime.

Zhuang Qian stuck out his tongue, a bit embarrassed.

“They came to mediate. Qi Yao proposed that, since you aren’t interested in Qi Shaorong, the engagement should be transferred to Qi Shaoru, so our families could still be bound by marriage. Yi Xun, on the other hand, mentioned that Yi Chuxue is deeply infatuated with you. She went through the trouble of traveling so far to break off the engagement, so you can’t disappoint her. He wants you to marry Yi Chuxue.”

“These are both families we don’t want to offend. It’s a bit tricky to handle,” Zhuang Renxian said, shaking his head.

Zhuang Qian shrugged. “It’s not that difficult. Just let big brother marry them both.”

Zhuang Hao shot him a glare. “What kind of ridiculous idea is that?”

Zhuang Qian chuckled awkwardly. “I was just joking.”

“What do you think, Ah Hao?” Zhuang Renxian asked Zhuang Hao.

Frowning, Zhuang Hao replied, “I’m not interested in Qi Shaoru, nor in Yi Chuxue. Father, please turn down both proposals. I’m still young; there’s no rush.”

“Is it because the person isn’t right? If the right one came along, you wouldn’t be claiming youth as an excuse,” Zhuang Qian teased with a smirk.

Zhuang Hao shot him a sharp look. “Stop talking nonsense.”

Zhuang Qian quickly fell silent.

Zhuang Renxian studied Zhuang Hao for a moment. “Not marrying is also fine. Your reputation has soared these past few years, overshadowing the royal princes. If you were to marry someone from another powerful family, the royal family would feel uneasy.”

The four major families in the capital wield significant power, but they still fall short compared to the royal family. The royal family needs a balance of power. If these four major families were to unite, it would indeed unsettle the royals.

Zhuang Hao nodded calmly. “I understand.”

“Ah Hao, do you have someone in mind?” Zhuang Renxian asked.

Zhuang Hao nodded. “Yes.”

“Who?” Zhuang Renxian asked.

“The Evil Doctor,” Zhuang Hao replied bluntly.

Zhuang Renxian frowned. “You…you’re not serious, are you?”

Furrowing his brow, Zhuang Hao replied, “I’m serious.”

Supporting his forehead, Zhuang Renxian tried to reason, “Serious? Do you know what he looks like? Do you know his age? Do you know his background?”

Zhuang Hao was silent; the Evil Doctor’s origins were indeed a mystery, and he had never revealed his true face.

“That’s not important!”

“It’s not important? Then what do you think is important?” Zhuang Renxian asked, exasperated.

“The feeling is what matters most,” Zhuang Hao insisted confidently.

Zhuang Renxian took a deep breath. “You may have feelings for him, but does he have any for you?”

Zhuang Hao frowned, then answered coldly, “No.”

“So it’s a one-sided infatuation? You’re still young, son; someone like the Evil Doctor, with all his life experience, won’t take an interest in you. Just focus on your cultivation. I’ll handle the Qi and Yi families’ requests.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “Alright.”

“Wait.”

Zhuang Hao, who was about to leave, turned back to look at Zhuang Renxian. “Father, is there something else?”

Zhuang Renxian shook his head. “Nothing, just…think carefully about the Evil Doctor. You don’t want to risk not even remaining friends.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “I will.”