Under everyone's watchful eyes, Shen Qing slowly approached and gently placed her hand on Li Xian's.
Feeling the warmth from the fingertips, Shen Qing blushed and didn't dare to look Li Xian straight in the eye.
Li Xian's eyes never left Shen Qing. It was not until Shen Qing placed her hand on his that he secretly tightened his grip on her hand.
Master Honghua and Master Yuxu smiled kindly. Looking at this well - matched pair of young people in front of them, they felt that they had made the right decision.
They led the newly - engaged couple towards the hall, beaming with joy.
Shen Qing didn't inform her biased parents in Xiaolin Village, and Li Xian's parents had already passed away. So Master Honghua and Master Yuxu acted as their elders, sitting on the high platform to accept the toasts from the couple.
Shen Qing took a deep breath and followed step by step, slowly entering the main hall.
Li Xian noticed Shen Qing's stiffness and whispered, "Don't be nervous. Walk slowly."
Shen Qing looked up at Li Xian. Seeing the sincere smile on his face and the affection in his eyes, she couldn't help but immerse herself in the role.
In this lively scene, wearing the gorgeous wedding dress, as the protagonist, although she kept reminding herself not to fall in, she still couldn't help but be deeply involved.
Li Xian continued, "This engagement banquet is not a fake... It's real. From now on, you are the partner I've recognized. I will surely treat you well."
Shen Qing was a bit surprised. "Didn't you say it was just a show for others?"
Li Xian laughed. "You're the real fool..."
These words left Shen Qing utterly confused, as if floating in the clouds.
Was all this real and not a show to deceive the Main God's Temple and others? It was actually an engagement banquet that Li Xian had carefully prepared.
Shen Qing's heart was in a complete mess.
She had no idea when Li Xian had developed such feelings for her.
The two of them hadn't met many times, so there surely wasn't a deep - seated affection. Shen Qing thought it must be because she was good - looking and Li Xian had taken a fancy to her at first sight.
The more Shen Qing thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
Last night, Ling Zhou had cried his heart out in the space, saying that his big disciple was going to get engaged after such a short time. He even cursed Li Xian for being too sly.
Shen Qing had stupidly comforted Ling Zhou, saying that it was all fake.
Ling Zhou had scolded her for being thick - headed, saying that she was being taken advantage of without even knowing it.
It turned out that everyone knew Li Xian had impure intentions towards her, except herself.
"When... did you start having such feelings?"
Li Xian whispered, "Originally, I planned to follow Master's instructions and put on a show. But when I was making the wedding dress for you, I realized that I had already been deeply involved in the play and become a part of it."
"I know this way may seem a bit underhanded, but Shen Qing, this is the first time I've been so emotionally moved. If you really don't want to get along with me in the future, then after we've dealt with the Main God's Temple as Master said, we can dissolve the engagement."
Li Xian held Shen Qing's hand firmly and walked steadily. His voice was calm when he spoke, but the slight tremor in his voice betrayed his inner unease.
Shen Qing looked back at the flower - lined path and heard the congratulations from the guests.
She felt a bit complicated, but she didn't resent Li Xian's actions. She just thought it was a bit sudden.
Although Li Xian was looking straight ahead, he was always observing Shen Qing's expression from the corner of his eye.
Seeing that there was no disgust on Shen Qing's face, the knot in his heart slowly loosened.
He originally didn't want to make it clear so soon, but he was afraid that if he didn't, Shen Qing would always misunderstand and only treat him as a friend.
Only by breaking this layer of ambiguity could they have a clear direction in getting along in the future.
Of course, this was what Xiao Jinglan had said last night while pulling his ear.
Li Xian thought Xiao Jinglan had a point. If Shen Qing thought he was only being nice to her because of the engagement, a seed of doubt would be planted in her heart.
Even if he explained later that he had already fallen in love with her, Shen Qing would still doubt whether he was just acting because of the engagement.
He didn't want Shen Qing to misunderstand.
So he might as well make things clear now. He had always had impure intentions towards Shen Qing. Once it was out in the open, he wouldn't hold back in the future.
Master was right. Once you set your sights on a goal, you should spare no effort to overcome difficulties until you achieve it.
Although he didn't fully understand what the feelings between a man and a woman were, his special treatment of Shen Qing and his constant yearning for her told him that he had already been deeply involved and couldn't get out.
Shen Qing didn't know what was on Li Xian's mind. She was just shocked by what he said.
She had once suspected that Li Xian's kindness to her was just that of a friend.
But then she thought that Li Xian was always cold and distant to others, but at least he had a bit of a smile for her. This special treatment was enough for Shen Qing to wonder if she held a special place in Li Xian's heart.
Shen Qing could clearly feel that the hand holding hers was slightly trembling, and there was a warm, damp feeling in the palm.
It turned out that she wasn't the only one who was nervous.
"Thank you... for this engagement banquet."
Shen Qing whispered. Her voice was a bit shy. Although she didn't give a clear answer, these few words were enough to dispel the shadow in Li Xian's heart.
Shen Qing could feel that the person holding her hand tightened his grip even more.
Shen Qing turned her head and just met Li Xian's moist eyes. At that moment of eye - contact, both of them burst into laughter.
Their conversation was so quiet that it was drowned out by the music and the drums. Others couldn't hear what they were saying. They only saw the well - matched couple looking at each other affectionately.
Xiao Jinglan saw this scene among the guests. He thought it was all thanks to the novels he had given Li Xian.
In other words, he should also take some credit for this good match.
Li Xian... finally owed him a favor.
Xiao Jinglan was holding an image - stone, looking for the best angle among the guests to capture more beautiful memories.
He stepped backward without noticing that there was someone standing behind him. He accidentally stepped on that person's foot.
"Ah! My newly - made boots!"
Hong Chaoyang was also holding an image - stone, trying to find the most beautiful angle to capture Shen Qing's image. In the crowded space, she was suddenly stepped on and couldn't help but cry out.
These boots were a gift from Master Hongdie. Usually, she was reluctant to wear them when going on missions. She had put them on today because it was Shen Qing's happy day. But unexpectedly, someone had stepped on them.
Xiao Jinglan turned around with full apology and said, "Sorry, sorry! I didn't see you just now."
"How many spirit stones are these shoes? I'll compensate you..."
Xiao Jinglan was saying, but he met a pair of slightly angry but lively eyes.
The owner of those eyes was nervously wiping her shoes. Xiao Jinglan had never thought that there could be such a lively girl in the world.
At that moment, he knew he was smitten.