Chapter Twenty-Two: An Unexpected Engagement
The years passed quickly, and Su Ling reached the age of five, while Su Mi was three. At this age, the two began receiving basic education in reading and writing, along with simple physical training.
One day, a young woman with a noble and extremely beautiful appearance stood in the Su family's training yard.
She wore a simple yet elegant robe that matched her status as an elder of the Turtle Clan.
Her long, midnight-colored hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes carried a wise look despite her young age.
Ling Xuan said, "Alright, little ones, I will be your teacher from now on. My name is Ling Xuan, and you may call me Teacher Xuan."
Su Mi took small steps forward, her black eyes shining with childlike excitement.
Su Mi said, "Teacher Xuan! Will you teach us how to become strong?"
Ling Xuan gently smiled as she responded, "Everything comes in its time. First, you must learn the basics of reading and writing. Knowledge is the foundation upon which true strength is built."
As she taught them, Teacher Xuan couldn't help but feel a strange sense of comfort whenever she looked at Su Ling. From the moment their eyes met, she felt an inexplicable attraction toward him. He was just a child, yet she couldn't deny that there was something special about his presence.
At times, she would find herself unconsciously staring at him or feeling an unexplainable urge to protect and care for him. It didn't make sense, but it was real.
On the other hand, the family's maids showed Su Ling special treatment. Even though he was just a child, they were noticeably kinder to him than to other children. They smiled at him for no reason and hurried to fulfill his requests with unusual eagerness.
Su Mi sometimes noticed this and would pout in childish annoyance.
Su Mi said, "Hmph! Why does everyone treat my brother this way?! He's just my dumb brother!"
Teacher Xuan chuckled softly, but she couldn't deny that Su Ling was no ordinary child…
And so, the days continued, and as Su Ling grew older, the influence of the "Aura of Desire" began to spread even further among those around him—without him even realizing what was happening.
The years passed, and Su Ling grew a little older, while Su Mi became more attached to him than ever before. Since childhood, she had relied on him a lot, but he noticed something strange— the older she got, the more unnaturally clingy she became.
She followed him wherever he went, held his hand all the time, and refused to be away from him even for a moment. If he sat down, she sat beside him. If he slept, she would sneak into his bed and hug him as if he were a warm pillow. At first, he thought this was just normal childish behavior, but she never did this with anyone else… only with him.
One day, while they were sitting in the family courtyard, Su Mi approached him and sat beside him, then rested her head on his shoulder with complete ease.
Su Mi whispered softly, "Brother, why do I feel like I never want to be away from you?" Her black eyes shimmered with emotions she couldn't understand.
Su Ling felt confused, but he couldn't answer. He didn't understand the reason, yet he wasn't bothered by her closeness.
As for the maids, they behaved similarly, but in a different way. Ever since he started growing up, they began treating him strangely. They always smiled at him with excessive gentleness and competed to fulfill his needs even when he didn't ask for anything.
If he needed something, a maid would immediately appear to offer it before he could even open his mouth. If the weather was cold, one of them would bring him a warm blanket without him asking. Even during training, if he sweated, a maid would suddenly appear to wipe his forehead with tenderness, as if she were caring for the most precious person in the world.
Everyone treated him as if he were someone special… despite the fact that he had done nothing to make them act this way.
Teacher Xuan noticed this too, but she couldn't explain it. She felt an odd attraction toward Su Ling, yet he was just a child… wasn't he?
And yet, she couldn't stop herself from treating him with excessive kindness. She explained lessons to him with extra patience, watched him closely during training, and even when she had to punish him for a mistake, her heart hesitated for some inexplicable reason.
But Su Mi was the most affected by the Aura of Desire without even realizing it. Being his younger sister, she was with him all the time, which made the aura's effect on her stronger than on anyone else. She felt absolute comfort when she was by his side, and when he was away, she became restless and uneasy, as if something was missing from her life.
Sometimes, she would stare at him for long periods, not understanding why, but enjoying the sight of him. And when he spoke to her, she felt overwhelming happiness, as if his voice carried a magic she couldn't resist.
No one realized that all these emotions were not natural… but a direct effect of the Aura of Desire, working in the shadows without anyone noticing— not even Su Ling himself.
At the age of eight, Su Ling received an unexpected piece of news.
One day, his father summoned both him and Su Mi to the main meeting hall of the family mansion. When he entered, he found several important figures seated there, among them a dignified-looking man sitting beside a young girl with silver hair and cold blue eyes.
This man was the head of the Gu Family, one of the powerful clans that had long-standing ties with the Su Family.
Su Tian called out in a calm voice, "Su Ling, come here."
Su Ling stepped forward, casting a brief glance at the girl sitting beside her father. She was staring at him with an unwavering gaze, her expression completely devoid of emotion.
Su Tian then announced, "Today, we are formally declaring your engagement to Gu Yue, the eldest daughter of the Gu Clan."
Su Ling's expression froze for a moment, while the silver-haired girl showed no reaction whatsoever.
Fiancée? He had never expected this.
Su Mi, on the other hand, jolted in place, her black eyes widening in shock.
"Father! Why does my brother have to be engaged to some strange girl?!" she protested.
Their father chuckled lightly but did not give a direct answer, while the head of the Gu Clan sighed.
"This marriage was arranged years ago, when both children were born," the Gu Family head explained. "It is an alliance between our families to secure our strength in the future."
Gu Yue remained completely silent, but she kept staring at Su Ling with a strange intensity, as if she were analyzing him.
After the formal meeting concluded, Su Ling decided to speak with her privately. He met her in one of the palace's back gardens, where they sat together on a stone bench.
"So, you're my fiancée?" Su Ling asked calmly, trying to get a sense of her personality.
Gu Yue looked at him for a moment before nodding.
"That's what my father said," she replied.
She was incredibly cold, yet there was something strange in her eyes. It wasn't rejection… but it wasn't enthusiasm either.
"Are you okay with this marriage?" Su Ling asked.
Gu Yue paused for a moment.
Then, she answered indifferently, "It doesn't matter to me. But since we'll be together in the future, I'll be watching you… to see if you're worthy of me."
Su Ling couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. ('What an arrogant girl,') he thought to himself.
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To my dear readers,
I would like to offer my sincerest apologies for the delay in posting the recent chapters. I am a high school student, and right now we are in exam season, which makes it difficult for me to write.
(Number of words in this chapter: 1,319 words)
I know that writing is tiring and difficult, but reading is easy and enjoyable. Your support through ratings and comments will ignite my passion for writing, and I will work harder to entertain you even more.
I truly appreciate your continuous patience, and I promise that I will return stronger soon. Thank you for your understanding and loyalty. Your support means a lot to me, and I hope you will continue to stay with me on this literary journey, encouraging me to keep writing.
Best regards,
[Ss1000101]
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