Everyone has different idols at different stages of life; as children, our idols are our parents.
As we grow and our experience broadens, worship for our parents transforms into respect and familial affection.
Now, seeing Han Chi and numerous Elders hold Xu Ran in such high regard, he has become the most incredible man she has ever seen in her life. Even her grievances with him in other aspects couldn't mask her envy and admiration for Xu Ran.
Worshipping the strong is a natural instinct for humans and even most animals.
When Han Xue stepped out of the hall, her mind was still in a mess.
She realized she didn't understand the man named Xu Ran at all. Had she developed a prejudice against him, someone she had known for only a day? Could someone who is so respected by almost everyone really be as unworthy as she imagined? Could she have misunderstood something?
"Misunderstood, my foot. Han Xue, oh Han Xue, the guy did take advantage of you, touching you here and there—even surreptitiously touching your butt." Xu Ran naturally took his interest while carrying her through the crowd.
At the time, she didn't think Xu Ran could defeat those Douhuangs, so she just thought she was about to die and didn't fuss over it. Moreover, where could she have known then that this bastard Xu Ran had such a special identity, was so fickle in love, and that she was quite taken with him, so deep down she did not feel any resistance.
"Hey. What are you thinking about? You couldn't possibly be thinking of me, could you?"
Xu Ran's languid voice startled the daydreaming Han Xue, who then glared at him in annoyance.
"Who would think about you? Don't flatter yourself!"
Han Xue raised her pale, proud neck like a peacock, feigning calmness as she spoke. Of course, she had been thinking of Xu Ran, but not in that sense, just curious about the things concerning him.
Her sister praised Xu Ran to the skies and down to the earth.
Her father went even further, and the other uncles and aunts in the family were all aglow because of Xu Ran's visit.
Was Xu Ran really that incredible?
"Why do I feel like you're trying to hide something?" Xu Ran's lips curled upward. He was all too familiar with that forced composure of a girl.
"I'm not! And you better stop bothering me; I haven't settled the score with you for your past rudeness!" Han Xue knew this bastard Xu Ran definitely harbored ulterior motives towards her.
She wasn't going to fall for Xu Ran's tricks as foolishly as her sister did.
As long as she convinced herself that Xu Ran was a bad man, she would never be swayed by his sweet nothings.
She was no lovestruck fool!
"Hmm? Wasn't it you who said that you would give everything if someone came to save you? Are you going back on your word now?" Xu Ran folded his arms across his chest and leaned against a pillar, looking quite content.
"I, I, I…"
"You and my sister are already together, what else do you want? If there wasn't that relationship between you and my sister, I would definitely have agreed to you. But... Humph. You know full well who I am, yet you still flirt with me; you truly deserve death!" Han Xue, furious like a little tabby cat, stamped her foot, and glanced around worriedly in case someone would pass by at this moment.
Everyone knew about the relationship between Xu Ran and her sister, and she didn't want to stir up any scandal with Xu Ran.
At the same time, she felt a twinge of distress. Back then, she had seen Xu Ran as her Prince Charming and was ready to fulfill her promise. Clearly, all the fault lay with Xu Ran.
The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, and before she knew it, tiny tears were streaming down her face.
"Don't cry, I really can't handle women crying," Xu Ran said, clearly getting nervous as he saw Han Xue weeping. He had always been soft-hearted and couldn't stand to see a girl cry. He took Han Xue into his arms and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"You big liar, I hate you so much," she cried.
Han Xue raised her fists and pounded on Xu Ran with all her might, channeling her Dou Qi, clearly with no intention of letting him off easy. Xu Ran, however, just held Han Xue without moving, letting her fists pound on him.
To him, her punches felt no different than a massage.
"Let go of me. Don't you dare hold me!"
Han Xue gradually grew weary and seemed to realize the closeness between her and Xu Ran was somewhat ambiguous. Especially now that she was in Xu Ran's embrace, she even found herself enjoying it a bit.
"I heard from sister that you are a master of the arts and there's nothing you can't do?" Han Xue escaped from Xu Ran's embrace, then took several steps back, staring him down, afraid she'd fall prey to this bad seed's advantage again.
She realized that Xu Ran was the type to take any advantage he could get.
He had even taken the opportunity to hold her!!!
Other than her father holding her when she was a child, Xu Ran was the only one. Last time was an accident, and now she had let her guard down again and let Xu Ran take advantage.
It was a relief that Xu Ran hadn't tried anything else just now, or Han Yue would have absolutely lost it.
"Oh? Is that what your sister said?" Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, feeling quite pleased. Compliments from his wife undoubtedly delighted him the most. Praises from others honestly didn't thrill him much, but adoration from his wives, like comments about his staying power or how impressive he was, could instantly fill him with passion.
"Hmph. Answer me, and don't try to distract me with other tricks," Han Xue snorted lightly. She felt like she had suddenly found a weak point in Xu Ran and was quite happy about it.
If Xu Ran turned out to be underwhelming after all the hype from her sister, it would be embarrassingly awkward.
She didn't believe anyone could be exceptional in every aspect. Such a person couldn't possibly exist.
"The big truths about me your sister told you—are you really doubting your sister? In the outside world, I'm known as the greatest talent from astronomy to geography," he claimed.
"Pfft. The greatest talent under the heavens?"
Han Xue couldn't help but burst into laughter, then quickly covered her mouth and chuckled quietly, realizing it wasn't very ladylike.
The greatest talent under the heavens?
Weren't all the real talented men known for their noble aspirations and impeccable interests? Which of them could be as unserious as Xu Ran?
A man as lascivious and shameless as he was didn't fit the image of the talented scholars in her mind at all.
To say that Xu Ran was the world's number one genius, she might have believed it, given his absolute strength in "Cultivation Level" alone. But the number one scholar? That was impossible. Talent cannot simply be ranked first or second—unless Xu Ran's talents were so superior that they left everyone else far behind. Even if Xu Ran was slightly more talented, that wouldn't make him the greatest under the heavens.
Convincing her was virtually impossible.
And she didn't think that Xu Ran had any talent beyond "Cultivation".