It was indeed that heartfelt hug in the herbal garden that marked a significant shift in Qian Renxue's focus. While her yearning for her mother's affection hadn't completely vanished, her attention now seemed to be primarily drawn towards the young man who had shown her such unexpected kindness and understanding.
Pulling back slightly from the embrace, Qian Renxue looked at Song Qing, her purple eyes filled with a newfound warmth. "Song Qing," she said softly, a hint of a smile gracing her lips, "after everything… after you understanding something so personal… you don't have to call me 'Your Highness' anymore."
Song Qing blinked, a little surprised by her sudden informality. "Oh? Then… what should I call you?"
"Renxue," she replied, her smile widening slightly. "My name is Renxue. And since we're being informal… you can call me that."
Song Qing grinned. "Alright, Renxue. Then you can call me Qing, like all my friends do."
From that day onwards, Qian Renxue became a regular fixture in Song Qing's herbal garden. She would seek him out every day, seemingly no longer as concerned about whether her mother would join them or not.
Her primary intention now seemed to be spending quality time alone with Song Qing.
They would talk for hours, about everything and nothing. She would sometimes join him in tending to the herbs, asking him questions about their properties with genuine interest.
And every so often, she would simply hug him, a gesture that Song Qing found both comforting and a little perplexing.
'Both mother and daughter really do like hugging me and… smelling me, it seems,' he thought to himself one afternoon as Qian Renxue lingered in an embrace a little longer than usual.
Inevitably, there were times when Qian Renxue would be in the garden when Song Qing's other female friends arrived.
And while Song Qing himself might not have immediately noticed, Qian Renxue harbored a growing sense of jealousy in her heart.
She had begun to subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, try to be more physically intimate with him when his other friends were around, seemingly in an attempt to claim his attention.
One sunny morning, Zhu Zhuqing arrived with Song Qing's lunch, only to find Qian Renxue already there, sitting very close to him on the stone bench.
Qian Renxue had her hand resting on Song Qing's arm, and they were chatting animatedly. Zhu Zhuqing's usually calm demeanor flickered with annoyance.
"Qing," Zhu Zhuqing said, her tone a little sharper than usual as she approached. "Lunch is here."
Qian Renxue looked up, her purple eyes meeting Zhu Zhuqing's. A subtle tension filled the air. "Oh, hello," Qian Renxue said, her voice polite but with a hint of coolness. She didn't remove her hand from Song Qing's arm.
Zhu Zhuqing, never one to back down, especially when it came to Song Qing, placed the lunch basket down with a bit more force than necessary.
"Yes, hello." She then turned her attention to Song Qing, pointedly ignoring Qian Renxue's hand on his arm. "Qing, are you hungry?" She then leaned in close, her large breasts, noticeably fuller than Qian Renxue's, brushing against his other arm as she spoke.
Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed slightly. She finally removed her hand from Song Qing's arm. "We were just having a very interesting conversation," she said, her tone now a bit more defensive.
Zhu Zhuqing smirked, her gaze flicking towards Qian Renxue's chest before returning to Song Qing. "Well, I'm sure it was fascinating. But Qing needs to eat. He's still recovering."
She then proceeded to sit down very close to Song Qing on his other side, effectively sandwiching him between herself and Qian Renxue. Song Qing, feeling the sudden close proximity to both beautiful women, couldn't help but blush furiously.
With Ning Rongrong, the encounters were even more volatile. Both were used to being the center of attention, and their proud and somewhat spoiled natures often clashed.
"Qing! I brought you some new spirit candies!" Rongrong would announce, bursting into the garden, only to find Qian Renxue already there, perhaps even hugging Song Qing. "Oh," she'd say, her voice dripping with thinly veiled sarcasm. "Look who's here. Still bothering Qing, Your Highness?"
Qian Renxue would raise a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, her elegant demeanor unwavering. "I am merely enjoying the tranquility of the garden and the pleasant company, Miss Ning Rongrong."
"Pleasant company?" Rongrong would scoff, crossing her arms. "I'm sure Qing would rather spend time with his real friends."
"Real friends?" Qian Renxue would retort, a hint of ice in her voice. "Are you implying I am not his friend?"
This would often escalate into a full-blown verbal sparring match, with Rongrong's sharp wit clashing against Qian Renxue's cool and condescending remarks. Song Qing would often find himself caught in the middle, trying to mediate between the two fiery young women.
Rongrong, despite her pride, appeared rather cute in her anger, while Qian Renxue maintained an air of regal elegance even when trading barbs.
Hu Liena, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling were generally more reserved in their interactions with Qian Renxue.
While they remained close to Song Qing, they were also aware of Qian Renxue's higher status and didn't dare to offend her too openly. They would usually offer polite greetings but mostly focused their attention on Song Qing when Qian Renxue was present.
Song Qing, despite the occasional awkwardness, found himself somewhat amused by these interactions. It was like watching a silent, and sometimes not so silent, competition for his attention. However, he knew he had to step in whenever things threatened to get out of hand.
One afternoon, when Rongrong and Qian Renxue were particularly heated in their argument, their voices rising in the peaceful garden, Song Qing stood up. He walked over to Rongrong and gently took her hand. Then, he turned to Qian Renxue and took her hand as well. He pulled both of them into a hug, holding them close.
"Hey," he whispered, his voice soft but firm. "I don't like it when you two fight. You're both my friends, and I would be very angry and wouldn't talk to either of you if this continues."
His words had an immediate effect. Both Rongrong and Qian Renxue visibly paled. The thought of Song Qing being angry with them and refusing to speak to them was clearly unbearable.
They both instantly stopped their arguing, their animosity seemingly melting away in the face of his gentle reprimand.
They leaned into his embrace, a silent truce forming between them, at least for the moment. Song Qing sighed inwardly. Managing these girls was proving to be more complicated than tending to his immortal herbs.
~~
As more months drifted by, the rhythm of Song Qing's life settled into a comfortable routine. He would spend his days in the herbal garden, the vibrant greenery a constant source of solace and satisfaction.
While tending to the ever-growing collection of immortal herbs, he also made it a point to delve into the vast library within the Spirit Hall.
He devoured books on spirit beast lore, cultivation techniques, and the history of the Douluo Continent, expanding his knowledge and understanding of the world around him.
And in the quiet moments, when the sun dipped below the horizon and the garden was bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, Song Qing would often engage in mental conversations with A'Rou, her presence a constant, gentle hum within his Crimson Soul Emperor's Crown.
It was during these months of quiet contemplation and learning that a profound realization began to dawn on Song Qing.
He found himself reflecting on his interactions with Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Hu Liena, Qian Renxue, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Yan.
Each of them held a special place in his heart, and as he examined his feelings more closely, he began to understand the unique reasons why he cared for each of them.
'Zhuqing,' he'd think, a soft smile touching his lips, 'her unwavering loyalty and quiet strength… the way she looks at me with such devotion… it's truly heartwarming.' He'd recall her gentle touch, the way she took care of him, and the subtle, yet undeniable, attraction that simmered between them.
Then his thoughts would shift to Ning Rongrong. 'Rongrong… her vibrant energy and playful teasing… she always knows how to make me laugh. And despite her spoiled nature, she has a genuinely kind heart.' He'd remember her bright smile, her attempts to kiss him, and the way she always made him feel special.
His mind would then wander to Hu Liena. 'Senior Sister Liena… her warmth and her… well, her boldness. She's always been so supportive, and there's a certain allure to her confidence and playful teasing.' He'd chuckle, recalling her deliberate attempts to fluster him.
And then there was Qian Renxue. 'Renxue… her quiet dignity and the vulnerability she showed me. The fact that she trusts me enough to share such a painful secret… and the way she looks at me now… with a mixture of gratitude and something more…' He'd feel a sense of protectiveness towards her, a desire to help her find happiness.
Even Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan would occupy his thoughts. 'Lingling's gentle nature and her healing abilities… she's always been so kind and supportive. And Yan… her fiery spirit and her loyalty to our group… there's a certain strength and dependability about her that I admire.'
As these thoughts swirled within him, a sense of unease began to creep into Song Qing's mind. He realized that he didn't just care for these girls as friends. His feelings ran deeper, tinged with affection and even… dare he admit it… attraction.
'I'm such a scumbag,' he thought, a wave of guilt washing over him. 'Liking so many girls, each one for a different reason, all at the same time… and not being able to choose any one of them. What's wrong with me?'
He felt a pang of shame, a sense of being greedy and indecisive. He knew that in the human world, such feelings towards multiple individuals were often frowned upon.
It was during one of his quiet evenings that he voiced his turmoil to A'Rou. 'Madam A'Rou,' he projected mentally, his thoughts heavy with self-reproach. 'I… I've been thinking a lot lately about my feelings for my friends… the girls… and I feel… terrible.'
A'Rou's gentle mental presence immediately responded, radiating a sense of calm and understanding. 'Terrible, young man? Why?'
'Because… because I realize I like them all,' Song Qing confessed mentally, his thoughts filled with a mixture of embarrassment and guilt. 'Zhuqing, Rongrong, Senior Sister Liena, Renxue, even Lingling and Yan… I care for them all, in different ways. It's wrong, isn't it? I should be able to choose one… but I can't.'
A soft, comforting mental chuckle echoed in his mind. 'Young man, you humans certainly make things complicated for yourselves. Among us spirit beasts, such feelings are not so… unusual. It is not uncommon to have affection for multiple individuals.'
Song Qing frowned mentally. 'But we're not spirit beasts, Madam A'Rou. We're human. It's different for us.'
'Is it truly so different?' A'Rou's mental voice was gentle, filled with a wisdom born of her long existence. 'You are young, Song Qing. Your heart is open and full of life. You have formed deep connections with these young women, and it is natural to feel affection for them. Do not be so quick to judge yourself so harshly.'
'But… it feels wrong,' Song Qing persisted, his guilt still weighing heavily on him. 'I feel like I'm leading them on, or that I should be able to choose. It's not fair to them.'
'Perhaps,' A'Rou conceded gently. 'But perhaps you are also overthinking things. Allow your feelings to develop naturally. Do not force yourself to make choices before you are ready. And more importantly, be honest with yourself and with them. Your sincerity and genuine care will likely be more important than any immediate decision.'
Her words offered a measure of comfort, a gentle balm to his troubled thoughts. Song Qing knew that the situation was complex and that he didn't have all the answers. But A'Rou's perspective, coming from someone with a different understanding of relationships and emotions, helped to ease his self-condemnation.
He still felt a sense of unease, a knowledge that he would eventually have to confront his feelings and make difficult choices, but for now, he decided to heed A'Rou's advice and allow his relationships to unfold naturally, while always striving to be honest and caring towards each of the remarkable young women who had come to hold a special place in his heart.