After returning to the hotel, Qian Ran didn't immediately head to the room where the Shrek team was staying. Instead, he made his way to the area designated for the Zhengtian team.
Ever since he'd taken control of Yu Mengdi last time and then disappeared without a trace, he had no doubt left the impression of a top-tier scoundrel in her eyes.
Even Qian Ran himself felt a little embarrassed upon reflection.
He had always prided himself on being a "scoundrel in thought, gentleman in action."
"Qian Ran?"
Just as he was walking down the corridor, preparing to ask someone for Yu Mengdi's room number, a melodious, ethereal voice called out to him from behind.
"Qian Ran, are you here to see Yu Mengdi?"
Turning around, Qian Ran saw a voluptuous young woman standing there, her lips curling into an enigmatic smile.
Her long, fiery red hair cascaded down her back, framing a delicate and youthful face that exuded charm and vitality. Her figure was impressively developed, with a striking voluptuousness that was hard to ignore.
To be honest, aside from Zhu Zhu, Qian Ran had rarely encountered someone so young yet so curvaceous.
The girl before him seemed a few years older than Zhu Zhu, likely around eighteen, and though her hips weren't as prominent, her figure was still nothing short of excellent. Particularly her chest—it could only be described as voluptuously inviting.
"Yan'er?"
Qian Ran recognized her immediately.
Yan'er from the Zhengtian team. During the matches, she had caught Qian Ran's eye as one of the two standout members of her team, alongside Yu Mengdi. Back then, he had noted her captivating figure, which had held his gaze for a moment longer than usual.
Qian Ran's certainty grew—fire-element soul masters seemed to have a certain… abundance about them.
"You remember me?" Yan'er practically bounced with excitement, as though being remembered by Qian Ran was a monumental achievement.
After all, Qian Ran now carried the title of the most talented young prodigy of the current generation. Though he had only participated in one match, it was clear to anyone with eyes how formidable he was.
Even ordinary people understood that Qian Ran's talent far surpassed that of any other current competitors.
To be remembered by such a prodigy? It was undoubtedly a badge of honor.
"Of course. I noticed you right away because of your… striking presence," Qian Ran remarked with a playful glint in his eyes, allowing his gaze to linger briefly on her chest.
"What are you saying?"
Yan'er stomped her foot in feigned outrage, her cheeks tinged with a mixture of shyness and delight.
She hadn't expected that Qian Ran's impression of her would center around those. Did she have no other redeeming qualities?
But then, thinking back to her performance on the battlefield, her confidence wavered.
Against Qian Ran's supreme ice-based abilities, she, a fire-element soul master, had been rendered almost entirely insignificant. In their match, she and Shangguan Can had been the least impactful members of the Zhengtian team.
"You have a fantastic figure—my kind of ideal," Qian Ran stated bluntly.
Yan'er's alluring figure, with its narrow waist and curvaceous hips, was accentuated by her well-fitted school uniform jacket. The forced closure of the zipper only served to emphasize her ample chest.
"You're such a scoundrel. You already have Yu Mengdi, and now you're saying these things to me?" Yan'er huffed, her voice a mixture of indignation and bashfulness.
If anyone else had flirted with her in this way, she would have ignored them, walked away, or even taught the insolent fool a harsh lesson.
But this was Qian Ran…
His words left her flustered, her heart racing with a peculiar thrill.
"You don't like it?" Qian Ran teased, wrapping his arm around her slender waist. From his wealth of experience, he knew exactly how to handle someone like Yan'er.
He didn't even need to push too hard—he could already sense her teetering on the edge of giving him her all.
"I…"
Yan'er stammered, her face flushed as she struggled to form a coherent response.
Should she refuse Qian Ran? Deep down, she didn't want to.
The moment he held her, she didn't want to let go. Who would want to walk away from such an extraordinary young man?
But if she agreed, wouldn't that make her seem too easy?
After all, she and Qian Ran had only just met. Falling for him so quickly felt reckless and impulsive.
And yet, she couldn't shake the fear that Qian Ran was only interested in her body.
Men really were all the same, she thought bitterly, even geniuses like Qian Ran.
"There's no need to overthink it. As long as you nod, you'll be mine," Qian Ran said softly, his hand gently caressing her waist. He inhaled the faint fragrance wafting from her, savoring the moment.
Since Yu Mengdi was already his, bringing Yan'er into the fold would only give her a companion.
Qian Ran knew he wouldn't be able to spend much time with both women. But having them together, familiar with one another, would ensure they could keep each other company when he wasn't around.
It was true—Qian Ran had a habit of collecting beautiful women. Judging by looks alone, both Yu Mengdi and Yan'er were among the finest in this year's Advanced Soul Master Tournament.
"Alright." Yan'er finally gave in, her cheeks burning as she nodded.
Even if Qian Ran was only drawn to her for her figure, she had no reason to refuse. She was confident that, over time, he would grow to truly love her.
And even if their relationship never progressed beyond being his lover, so what?
Being associated with Qian Ran was a privilege in itself. Once his fame spread further, even the mere title of "Qian Ran's woman" would bring her immense prestige and elevate her status within the Zhengtian team.
"Good girl."
Qian Ran planted a doting kiss on Yan'er's forehead.
With his current standing, over ninety percent of women would find it hard to resist him.
Yan'er and Yu Mengdi were untouchable goddesses to many within the Zhengtian Academy, yet Qian Ran had effortlessly won them over with a few words and gestures.
It was a sobering reality.
Just like in his past life, where expensive sports cars would draw countless women eager to write their own romantic tale, Yan'er and Yu Mengdi weren't immune to the allure of opportunity.
Though neither was overly vain, when someone like Qian Ran offered them a chance, they wouldn't dare refuse.
The first lesson every soul master learned was to seize every opportunity. From academy assessments to class elections and tournament preparations, every moment presented a potential stepping stone. Missing out could spell failure for a soul master's life.
For Yu Mengdi and Yan'er, Qian Ran was the ultimate opportunity laid before them.
"Men grow corrupt with wealth; women with wealth grow corrupt—truly a timeless truth," Qian Ran mused, chuckling at his self-awareness.
He had thought he wouldn't change, but reality proved otherwise. Especially as the number of women around him grew, it was impossible for his mindset to remain unchanged.