Chapter 97: Cheng Yuan, We Can Take Things Further
Hu Shishi had a very proactive personality. Now that she had confirmed her own feelings, she went on the offensive, extending her hand to Cheng Yuan.
"Cheng Yuan, it’s a pleasure to meet you."
"It’s an honor for me to meet you too, Sister Shishi."
Cheng Yuan quickly extended his hand. He had intended to give her a light, proper handshake, but Hu Shishi seized his large hand firmly.
Hu Shishi took great care of herself. Although she trained every day, making her palms tough and resilient, they felt exceptionally soft to the touch.
"Cheng Yuan, we’re both people of the Jianghu, so I won’t beat around the bush. I’m very interested in you, and I think we could take things further."
Hu Duoduo and Hu Jingjing looked disappointed. ’Big Sister really has her eye on Cheng Yuan. We don’t have a chance anymore. Might as well give up.’
Shen Manwen, however, was a little excited. ’I hope Sister Shishi can win Cheng Yuan over. If she does, then my chance will come.’
Huh?
Cheng Yuan was completely floored!
’You can’t be serious?’
’Isn’t Hu Shishi a bit too intense?’
’This is our first time meeting, and she already wants to take things further?’
Seeing Cheng Yuan in a daze, Hu Shishi became a little unhappy. "What? Are you not willing? Do you look down on me?"
Cheng Yuan quickly shook his head. "No, no, Sister Shishi is so outstanding, how could I possibly look down on you? But, unfortunately, I just got married two days ago. So, I can only be friends with you, Sister Shishi. Or, I could be like a younger brother to you, if you’d like."
Married?
Hu Shishi was very disappointed. ’I finally find a man I’m interested in, and he’s already married!’
Hu Shishi shot her father an annoyed glare. "Dad, are you messing with me? Cheng Yuan is already married, so why did you call me all the way back here for a matchmaking meeting? I’m very busy. I’m leaving!"
With that, Hu Shishi stood up to leave.
Hu Yidao quickly grabbed her. "Shishi, don’t be so hasty. Listen to me! Xiaoyuan got his marriage certificate with Lin Ruoxi!"
Lin Ruoxi?
Hu Shishi’s expression darkened. "Dad, do you take me for a three-year-old? Didn’t the Lin Family arrange an engagement with the Gu Family? How could Lin Ruoxi possibly marry Cheng Yuan?"
"I’ve already looked into it. To escape the marriage, Lin Ruoxi left the Provincial City all by herself and went to Luocheng. She and Xiaoyuan only met by chance. She married him just to use him as a shield."
’Just a shield, huh?’
’With Lin Ruoxi’s personality, she would definitely do something like that! If he’s just a shield, then this will be easy to handle. I can just help Lin Ruoxi break off her engagement!’
Hu Shishi’s expression softened slightly. She sat back down with an imposing air and said with domineering confidence, "Cheng Yuan, don’t you worry. Leave Lin Ruoxi’s troubles to me! You just go back, divorce her, and then come find me in the Provincial City!"
Cheng Yuan felt a massive headache coming on.
’Hu Shishi is unbelievably blunt!’
Cheng Yuan gave a wry smile. "Sister Shishi, I’d be very grateful if you’re willing to help Ruoxi solve her problem, but... we’ve only just met for the first time..."
Hu Shishi seemed to have no concept of the word "restraint." "Am I pushing things a bit too fast? That’s fine. If you prefer to take things slow, I can cultivate our relationship gradually."
Cheng Yuan’s head was buzzing. ’Hu Shishi is just too much. I can’t handle this!’
Frankly, Cheng Yuan had a good impression of a straightforward girl like Hu Shishi. But fate was a cruel mistress, and timing was everything.
He was already married to Lin Ruoxi, which meant he and Hu Shishi were fated to meet but not to be together.
"Sister Shishi, it’s like this... after spending these past few days together, Ruoxi and I have started to develop some feelings for each other. I don’t plan on divorcing her right now. If possible, I’d like to turn our marriage into a real one."
Cheng Yuan thought that by saying this, Hu Shishi would see the difficulty and back down.
However, Hu Shishi showed no signs of retreating. Instead, she advanced another step.
"So, you’re saying your marriage to Lin Ruoxi isn’t a real one yet? Since you’ve developed feelings for her, then I’ll just have to compete with her fairly!"
Cheng Yuan was so thrown by Hu Shishi’s response that he didn’t know what to do but offer another wry smile.
Beside them, Hu Yidao laughed and tried to smooth things over. "Xiaoyuan, even if you and Lin Ruoxi were in a real marriage, it wouldn’t matter. With your aptitude, you are destined to become an Innate Grandmaster in the future, and perhaps even a Martial King! By then, your bloodline will be so noble that, to a certain extent, you’ll experience reproductive isolation with ordinary girls. You’ll need to take several concubines to produce heirs. It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but I have three concubines myself, and only one daughter, Shishi."
"Huh? Reproductive isolation? That can’t be right, can it? We’re all human. Only humans and apes or monkeys have reproductive isolation, right?!"
Hu Yidao patiently explained, "For us martial artists, our pursuit is to develop the body to its absolute limit, which is in itself an act of defying nature. During this process, one must constantly evolve to continuously break through one’s own potential. Once you become a Grandmaster or even a Martial King, your genes will change to a certain degree! As your Cultivation continues to rise, you will become a higher form of life, a lofty God or Immortal. That’s why I don’t care whether your marriage to Lin Ruoxi is real or not. To ensure your line continues, you will definitely need to take several concubines."
"This..."
Hu Yidao’s words shattered Cheng Yuan’s understanding of the world, leaving him at a loss for how to respond.
Hu Shishi was extremely proud; there was no way she would be willing to be a concubine!
"Cheng Yuan, my father’s opinion does not represent my own. I, Hu Shishi, am not willing to share a man with other women! If your marriage to Lin Ruoxi becomes real, you must tell me. I, Hu Shishi, will absolutely not pester you!"
"Okay!"
Hu Yidao was getting anxious. ’Shishi is just too proud! So what if Xiaoyuan and Lin Ruoxi get together for real? With the Hu Family’s power and status, Shishi would surely be the primary wife!’
’You can’t seriously expect an Innate Grandmaster, or even a future Martial King, to spend his life with only one woman, can you?’
’What if he never produces an heir his entire life?’
But Hu Yidao knew his daughter’s personality. He knew persuading her was useless, so he could only sigh.
’When it comes to the children’s affairs, I suppose we’ll just have to leave it to fate.’
For a moment, the table fell silent. Everyone focused on eating and made small talk about unimportant things.
Soon, Cheng Yuan had eaten and drunk his fill. He turned to Hu Sanqiang. "Third Uncle, get ready. I’m going to perform a small operation on you."
Hu Sanqiang’s expression turned serious. "I’ve already contacted the Provincial City First Hospital. We can go over anytime."
Cheng Yuan smiled. "No need to go to a hospital. Just find me a quiet room and get me a Bone-Cutting Blade."
A Bone-Cutting Blade...
The corner of Hu Sanqiang’s mouth twitched. ’Is this little bastard treating me like a pig for slaughter?’
However, Hu Sanqiang didn’t question him. After all, he still had faith in Cheng Yuan’s medical skills.
Soon, Niu Fu returned with a set of blades and various surgical instruments. He had also brought an anesthesiologist along.
The anesthesiologist asked respectfully, "Third Master, I’ve brought top-quality imported anesthetic with minimal effects on the nervous system. Would you like local or general anesthesia?"
Hu Sanqiang looked to Cheng Yuan for an answer. Cheng Yuan shook his head without hesitation. "No anesthetic!"