Chapter 1122: Premeditated Infidelity

Shi Ran was better than her in every way.

Liu Min, however, had an unyielding personality and just wanted to win against her once; before she could wait for an opportunity, Shi Ran had already transferred away.

The next time she saw Shi Ran was when Shi Ran came to L Country as a student representative from Jiangzhou; she spoke eloquently, elegant and poised.

The gap between the two not only failed to shrink, but instead widened, and it kept growing, making it very hard to catch up.

Later, when she learned that the Vice President did not approve of Qi Heng marrying Shi Ran and wanted to find a suitable girl in L Country, she believed her chance had come.

This was an opportunity to defeat Shi Ran, surpass her, and be better than her!

Thus, she logically "fell in love" with Qi Heng.

Whether it was love from the heart didn't matter; what mattered was the desire to win from the heart.

"You are very cute," Yun Qitian suddenly interjected.

"What?"

Her face flushed, and it grew redder and redder.

Yun Qitian: "I said you are very cute; I have never seen a girl like you."

"Stop it."

"Mm."

The atmosphere between the two was a bit different.

Hotel, Shi Ran's room.

Qi Heng worried: "You don't know how stubborn that woman is. Once she sets her mind on something, she won't turn back even if she hits a southern wall. That woman's personality is such that she will definitely knock the wall down and keep charging forward."

"Ranran, let's hurry and escape. Let's leave here immediately, the sooner the better."

Shi Ran shook her head: "No, I believe in Qi Tian. He said he has a way, so he definitely has a way."

Qi Heng:...

The girl he loved was praising another boy in front of him; even though that boy was helping them, he still felt uncomfortable in his heart.

"You trust him that much?"

Shi Ran: "Are you jealous again?"

Qi Heng did not deny it this time, but admitted it generously: "Yes, you are right, I am jealous. You came to L Country to save me, yet he is by your side acting as a protector of flowers. I am envious."

Shi Ran rested her chin on her hands, looked at him calmly, and asked: "Why don't you say he came for you?"

"You don't have the right to speak if you don't understand the situation, you know? When I said I wanted to come to L Country to save you, Qi Tian was terrified but still gritted his teeth and insisted on coming along. He is even more nervous about you than I am; in fact, he was the one who initiated coming here to save you."

Qi Heng:...

His expression was very hurt: "Ranran, speaking like that hurts me."

Shi Ran: "You need to learn to adapt. I have always spoken this way, and there is no probability that I will change in the future. Think it over; Liu Min is in a room not far away, it's not too late for you to go back on your word now."

She would never change her personality just to please anyone.

"I'm not going back on my word. I was just joking with you; of course I won't go back on it."

As the two were chatting, someone knocked on the door outside.

Shi Ran went to open the door, and Yun Qitian entered—speak of the devil.

He walked in and lunged directly at Qi Heng, exactly the same as before, hugging him and refusing to let go, saying some mushy things: "I've been worried to death these past few days, unable to sleep every night with worry, terrified that you might meet with some misfortune and die a hero's death early..."

"Can you shut up?"

Qi Heng interrupted him: "Are you uncomfortable all over if you don't add to my troubles for one day? Can't you say normal things normally? Are you worried about me or cursing me? Explain yourself clearly."

Yun Qitian looked earnest: "I am worried about you, very worried. If you aren't well, I won't be able to live either."

Ugh!

Qi Heng had goosebumps all over, and so did Shi Ran.

She protested: "Qi Tian, can you not be so mushy?"

Qi Heng's expression was serious, and he said directly: "Qi Tian, I don't discriminate against the same sex. I will understand and am willing to get along in a friendly way, but I am not one, so please don't influence me."

Shi Ran: "Yes, don't worry, before you want to come out of the closet, we won't tell the Yun Family uncle and aunt."

The two looked at Yun Qitian with a complex expression that said they were best brothers for life, but could only ever be brothers.

Yun Qitian:...

He looked bewildered.

Reacting from his confusion and shock, he finally understood what the two meant.

"You two!"

Yun Qitian bared his fangs and brandished his claws as he lunged: "I'll just strangle you to silence you! I'm not gay, I'm not!" The end was a roar.

"Help!"

"Don't!"

The two laughed and ran away in different directions.

They ran around the sofa and the table, their mouths not idle either.

Shi Ran: "Don't be embarrassed into anger. This kind of thing is very normal. I promise neither of us will look at you through colored glasses, and if you don't want it to get out, we will keep our mouths shut."

Qi Heng: "Yes, we will manage not to tell anyone, as long as you don't like me."

"Pah!"

Yun Qitian chased for a while, but didn't catch either of them, and ended up panting for breath himself.

This was all his own fault, caused by not valuing exercise enough in his daily life.

"You two!"

He pointed his finger at them, furious: "We're through! You misunderstood me."

The three of them finally made things clear.

It turned out that Yun Qitian liked being with Qi Heng, not because he had feelings for Qi Heng that went beyond friendship.

Rather, he had gone to have his fortune told, and the fortune-teller said he had a hurdle to overcome this year; he needed to spend more time and build a good relationship with a boy born in the southeast whose zodiac sign was compatible with his, so that he could safely pass through this tribulation.

However, the secrets of heaven must not be leaked, and this matter could not be told to anyone.

As a result, he was repeatedly misunderstood, and in his anger, he blurted out the truth.

Yun Qitian slumped onto the sofa, complaining with a mournful face: "It's all your fault for forcing me to leak the secrets of heaven. If anything happens to me and I die young, my parents will be your parents; you two will have to provide for them in their old age, see them to their graves, and wear mourning clothes for them..."

So that was it.

With the misunderstanding cleared up, Qi Heng immediately became enthusiastic toward Yun Qitian; he put his arm around Yun Qitian's shoulder and patted his chest, promising: "Don't worry, until the end of this year, I will never leave your side, acting as your lucky charm to ensure you turn bad luck into good and find safety in times of danger!"

"That's what you said! You must keep your word."

"Yes, I said it. I, Qi Heng, keep my word; what is said cannot be unsaid, and I will never go back on it."

Yun Qitian was happy now, but before he could be happy for too long, Qi Heng put forward a new request.

"Qi Tian, will you do me a favor?"

"No."

Before he could even say it, he was flatly refused.

Qi Heng: "Don't be like this. You just said we were good brothers; don't forget I'm your benefactor. Why won't you even help with such a small favor? Besides, it won't do you any harm."

"How is there no harm? Of course there is harm."

Yun Qitian said: "Isn't it just that you want me to pursue Liu Min to divert her attention away from you? I'm warning you not to go too far. I only helped you just now as an expedient measure; don't think I fell in love with her at first sight."

Shi Ran sat quietly on the sofa, watching the two of them bickering back and forth.

It didn't matter who won between them; she decided not to get involved and would just watch.

Qi Heng did not give up and continued to persuade: "Look, it's like this: the Liu Family holds real power here, and even my father doesn't dare to provoke their family; they are the ones who truly hold real power."

"Although your family isn't the richest in Jiangzhou, you are still wealthy merchants. Real power paired with wealthy merchants—it's a perfect match made in heaven."