Chapter 13
Hearing Hao Ren's question, Zhao Yanzi glared at Hao Ren and said, "I am not in love like those kiddos!"
Hao Ren looked at her, "You're not exactly mature yourself either."
"Of course, I am not as mature as you, uncle!" She emphasized the word "uncle" on purpose.
Hao Ren smiled and stopped arguing with her. He turned around and looked at Zhao Guang who was busy reviewing doc.u.ments in his study room. He then looked at the Zhao Hongyu who was busy cooking in the kitchen. Lastly, he looked at Zhao Yanzi who looked like the pretty girl next door. He had a cozy feeling about this scene.
This family of three looked like a normal and well-off family. "I suddenly became a member of their family?"
Hao Ren felt confused.
"Dinner time!" Zhao Hongyu brought the last two dishes out from the kitchen and said loudly.
Zhao Yanzi's father, Zhao Guang, put down the doc.u.ments in his hand and walked out from the study room.
"Hao Ren, come eat with us," Zhao Hongyu said to Hao Ren gently.
Zhao Yanzi stared at Hao Ren and looked unsatisfied.
"Don't make that face. Even if Hao Ren isn't your fiancé, he's still our guest," Zhao Hongyu patted Zhao Yanzi's head and scolded her.
Hao Ren's brain froze again when he heard the word "fiancé".
"Sit down and eat," Zhao Guang sat down firmly and said to Hao Ren.
Hao Ren felt a little awkward, but he couldn't resist their invitation. He could only find a seat and sit down.
The table was just big enough for the four of them.
"Are you busy at school?" Zhao Hongyu pa.s.sed Hao Ren a pair of chopsticks and asked.
"Uh, it's alright," Hao Ren answered and felt weird. He just met them. Why was he eat at their house and interact with them like a family?
He thought for a while and finally remembered that he was here to ask about the information regarding the "Dragon Clan".
"I know that you have a lot of questions about us, but I believe you will get used to it gradually," Zhao Hongyu said as if she knew what Hao Ren was thinking.
"Zi is just in her second year of middle school. Normally speaking, it's too early to talk about marriage at this age. However, these type of things could also be settled in our circle at an early age. I must say that Zi's life is in your hands."
Hao Ren was stunned. Then he became serious.
"You swallowed Zi's internal core. In fact, we can take it out by force from your body, but it will definitely cause you a severe injury. Zi is actually a kind-hearted person, and she doesn't want to solve this violently. From my perspective, I don't want another person to bear the consequences of Zi's mistake."
Zhao Hongyu paused a bit here. Hao Ren couldn't
"So, we've decided to keep Zi's internal core in your body and make you start cultivating. However, I must mention that this is not entirely safe either. If you can't reach a certain level in a certain amount of time... in other words, if your body can't suppress the overflowing energy of the internal core, the aftermath will be dangerous as well," Zhao Hongyu said.
Hao Ren became nervous when the elegant and gentle Zhao Hongyu suddenly turned so serious.
"I don't mind telling you more," Zhao Guang suddenly said, "Actually, there won't be any negative effects for Zi if we take it out of your body and return it to her. Yet, in order to have other elders believe in us, I asked Elder Lu to lie. He told them that Zi wouldn't be able to adjust to the dragon core after it has stayed in your body. It was for them to not take away your life."
After hearing his words, Hao Ren felt like he was amongst countless dangers. He was half a step to heaven so many times a few days ago.
Zhao Guang looked at Hao Ren. "You have two options now. First, let us take out the core by force. This is a huge risk. Second, cultivate according to what we give you. There will still be a risk, but it would be way smaller."
"What I want to know is…" Hao Ren looked at Zhao Yanzi, "How will Zi be affected after losing it?"
Hearing Hao Ren called her "Zi", Zhao Yanzi pouted her lips and didn't comment on it.
"There isn't any danger at the moment. However, three years later when Zi turns eighteen, if you can't open up the all the openings of the dragon core and transfer half of the Connate Dragon Essence back to her, she won't be able to live for more than two years," Zhao Guang said.
Silence suddenly struck the dining table.
"In other words, if we follow the second option, everybody has to take risks. Zi won't have to take any risks with the first option, but it will be very dangerous for me. Is that right?" Hao Ren asked.
"Indeed." Zhao Guang nodded.
The dining table was silent once again..
"What's going on with the fiancé thing?" Hao Ren asked
"That was the condition of the second option. If everyone chooses the second option, you guys could only accomplish required rituals by marrying each other," Zhao Guang said slowly.
"Marrying each other?" Hao Ren thought about it and suddenly understood. He looked at Zhao Yanzi's face, which was as red as a tomato at the moment.
"Is there any other options?" Hao Ren thought and asked.
"Temporarily no," Zhao Guang answered straight away.
Silence struck the dining table once again.
"This little girl, Zhao Yanzi, betted her life on me. What else is there to hesitate about?" Hao Ren thought to himself.
"Don't kill him, but I don't want to marry him either," Zhao Yanzi suddenly spoke.
"These two conditions can't coexist," Zhao Hongyu reminded her.
"Anyhow, I won't marry him." Zhao Yanzi pouted her lips as her face turned red.
"Then kill him?" Zhao Hongyu asked.
"Eh… we don't have to." Zhao Yanzi bit her lips as she was put into a dilemma. After all, it was her mistake, and Hao Ren was innocent.
"Since you guys don't have any objections, let's follow the second option," Zhao Guang hit the table and said, "Let's eat!"
"Daddy…" Yanzi still wanted to protest, but she was stopped by the expression on Zhao Guang's face.
"Zi, you have to take responsibility for your mistake…" Zhao Hongyu comforted Zhao Yanzi, "I've done some research on Hao Ren. He's a great kid who is considerate and respectful towards elders. Your dad and I are very satisfied, or why else would we agree to this? As long as you are not willful, he will treat you nicely for sure."
Hearing Zhao Hongyu's words, Hao Ren who sat on the opposite side of her, stiffened his body awkwardly and didn't know how to respond. He never thought about having a little girl as a fiancée.
"How's your English, Ren?" Zhao Hongyu asked Hao Ren suddenly. After confirming that Hao Ren would be Zi's fiancé, she addressed him differently.
"Hmm, it's alright," Hao Ren responded and thought that they would've known how good his English was better than himself since they already investigated him.
"Well, Zi is pretty good at all subjects but English. Come tutor Zi in English every day for the time being and get to know her better," Zhao Hongyu said.
"Who wants to get to know him better…" Zhao Yanzi pouted her lips and said quietly.
"Uh…" Hao Ren wasn't sure about coming here every night. Besides, he never had experience as a tutor before.
"At the same time, Zi can also teach you about cultivation. I think it'll be great for everyone that you guys help each other out," Zhao Hongyu said.
Thinking that his cultivation was related to Zhao Yanzi's life, Hao Ren wouldn't dare to be careless even though he couldn't accept her being his fiancée. He thought about it and said, "Fine, but you guys don't need to send the car to pick me up. I'll come on my own."
"Sure. It's not too far from your campus. If you take the bus, route 767 would be able to get you here directly." Zhao Hongyu smiled when Hao Ren agreed to her plan. It was a very sweet smile.
Hao Ren turned around and looked at Zhao Yanzi. He thought that this little girl's facial features and body shape were very similar to her mom's. Once she grows up, she would be an exceedingly beautiful woman.
"Humph!" Zhao Yanzi snorted and avoided Hao Ren's eyes.