The Suncreek Villa had no more business at this fair, because the fourth and fifth-grade rounds were beyond their level.
It had taken all of the stars to align for them to even compete at the third-grade level. Without all of those conditions met, there was no way they could even begin to contest.
For now, it was enough. With the Budding Butterfly Spirit Liquid, they could take a large share of the third-grade spirit liquid market.
That was enough to shoot them up to a good standing.
Li Luo returned to the Suncreek Villa's zone, where he received a hero's welcome. Tang Yun and the others regarded him with burning passion.
They would have brought out the drums and gongs in celebration, but they had to take where they were into consideration.
"Well, Cai Wei? Any comments on this blackhole of spirit liquids?" Li Luo asked smugly.
Cai Wei was all charm now, her fan framing her face at her most favorable angle. "Young Lord, you were amazing," she said, large eyes glowing.
"From now on, the Suncreek Villa will definitely need much more secret watersource, so we're counting on you to produce at full capacity. If the artificers riot because we're out of watersource, that would be a disaster."
There was a teasing look in her eyes.
Li Luo's smugness evaporated. Cai Wei was not one to mess with. She had gone straight for his jugular.
Before he could reply, Yan Lingqing had grabbed him by the lapels. "Oh, well done, Li Luo!" she said with fake anger. "Well done not telling us and worrying us sick! Do you even trust us at all?"
Li Luo looked straight into her eyes. "Sister Lingqing," he said sincerely, "your words wound me. Without you, the Suncreek Villa would have closed its doors a long time ago. If I didn't trust you, who would I trust?"
"Pretty words," she said, mollified. He was very handsome, and his face was very close.
She flushed a little and pushed him away.
"Your seduction skills are growing by the day," Cai Wei ribbed him. "Even Lingqing's affected now."
Yan Lingqing huffed, then beat Li Luo's chest with a small fist. "I'll let you go this time, but if you hide anything from me again, I'll make sure you regret it," she pretended to threaten.
Li Luo quickly nodded. "It will be as you say. But for now can you go list those students interested in joining us? You're a Resonance Artificers Hall student as well, so you know them best. See who's a good fit in both ability and character."
"You sure know how to think of me... when there's work to be done," she grumbled.
"Hey, this should be a happy task. I’m giving it especially to you, so you can take all the revenge you want. Remember all those who were mocking you about a crater? Now's your chance to show them!" Li Luo said, cleverly flipping it around.
"Your foot must be itching to deliver two good kicks to that Mei Xuan'er. What better time to do it?"
Yan Lingqing's eyes lit up at the prospect. Indeed, now that they had won, the task should be pretty sweet.
"Alright, I'll do it for Qing'e's sake," she said huffily.
Li Luo grinned and gave her a thumbs up. The girl's fake-angry look was quite cute.
Recruitment delegated, Li Luo turned to Jiang Qing'e. "Well, what did you think of my performance?"
Jiang Qing'e looked at her fiance, puffed up like a peacock, and could barely hold her smile down. "Perfect. I couldn't have done it better myself.
"Like I told you before, Li Luo, you're as good as anyone else around, myself included. Actually, I think you've done more for House Luolan in the last half a year than me.
"Those are all my most sincere words. Feel good?" She smiled.
Li Luo breathed in deeply, his face ecstatic. "Feels terrific."
Hearing those glowing words of praise from the proud and reticent plump swan was a rare treat indeed. It made all that hard work feel worth it.
She was just too brilliant herself. Besides spirit liquids and purifying lights, Li Luo was still behind her in every other aspect.
"That's all you need to be satisfied?"
"Keep at it," she said with another small smile. "If we can steer House Luolan clear of the troubles half a year from now, those few words of praise will be nothing compared to what you'll get."
"Ah, and what is it I will be getting?" Li Luo asked.
Jiang Qing'e gave it a quick think, then she lowered her voice. "We could even get married on the spot."
Li Luo's head almost blew up from the excitement, but he calmed himself down quickly. "No."
"Why?" she asked, surprised.
"The steps are not right. Like I said before, we have to cancel the engagement first. And then you can write me another one. That's a proper engagement," Li Luo said seriously.
To anyone else, it might have sounded as unnecessary as taking off one's pants to fart, but both Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e understood the difference.
And the significance.
"Must we really?" she asked softly. "In my heart, you will always be the most important person, Li Luo. I would even die to protect you."
"And I you, Qing'e," he replied with a tender smile.
The two locked eyes, then Jiang Qing'e felt a sudden surge of irritation. She reached out a hand to pinch Li Luo's ear.
He did not avoid it, but he felt a little uncertain. He remembered how she always went for the ear during their childhood squabbles.
But now there was only a warm caress, and no pain. She gently rubbed his ear, the gesture incredibly intimate.
Angry jealous hisses came from the students around them.
Damn, if they had known this would happen, they wouldn't have cheered for the guy!
Lu Qing'er was grinding her teeth flat as well. “Sly Senior Jiang, using your position to take advantage of Li Luo!”
Bai Mengmeng propped her elbows on her knees, and her chin on her hands. "They're really adorable. You know what Leader and Senior Jiang look like?"
Lu Qing'er stared frostily at her.
"Brother and sister, yes."