"Follow me?"
"Aren't you already following me now?" Qian Ran touched his nose, slightly embarrassed.
"That's different! We want to stay by Master's side. Wherever you are, we'll be there too, okay?" A-Jiao pouted, her lips trembling in a pitiful expression that seemed on the verge of tears.
"Huh?" Qian Ran hesitated, unable to make such a promise.
He was already overwhelmed at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Bringing along A-Jiao and You-You, two stunning beauties, would turn everything upside down! And if he agreed to them, what about everyone else who would also want to follow him? He was only one man.
"Please, Master? We promise not to cause any trouble. Whatever you want us to do, we'll do it. We won't ever disobey…" A-Jiao tugged at Qian Ran's arm as she pleaded.
Her words sent a wave of warmth through Qian Ran's heart. He did have a fondness for A-Jiao and You-You, each beautiful in their own unique way. A-Jiao's lively personality was quite similar to Ke-Ke's—outgoing and quick to adapt to new things.
"If it really doesn't work out, then we'll move to the other side," A-Jiao added when she noticed Qian Ran's troubled expression.
She was referring to the palace where Huo Yun'er and the others lived.
For plant-type soul beasts like A-Jiao and You-You, the closer they were to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the better. However, even if they were farther away, they could still enjoy a tenfold growth rate buff.
With Snow Empress and Ice Empress, two of the strongest beings, residing nearby, the two women naturally didn't want to remain here as junior subordinates. Additionally, they were curious about human life.
They often ventured over to play and would blush furiously at the sight of human women's clothing. Sometimes, A-Jiao, who considered herself daring, felt she was no match for the boldness of those human women.
Training in bikinis? Who are they trying to impress?
"That's fine. If you want to go, go ahead. I'll talk to Yun'er. If you're bored, you can hang out with them."
Qian Ran understood that these soul beasts had already begun integrating into human society. Expecting them to maintain their previous solitary and lonely lives as soul beasts was impossible.
If they suppressed their desires for too long, it could lead to psychological issues. Human life, compared to that of soul beasts, offered much more entertainment.
Still, Qian Ran hadn't entirely grasped A-Jiao and You-You's intentions. They weren't just curious; they wanted to learn from Huo Yun'er and the others, who had a deeper understanding of Qian Ran. This way, they could glean valuable lessons and…
…also see Qian Ran more often, so they could…
They frequently noticed how Snow Empress and Ice Empress returned from their meetings with Qian Ran glowing with joy. Naturally, they were envious.
A-Jiao especially longed to transition from being a subordinate to becoming the "master's wife." That way, she wouldn't have to fear Ice Empress anymore.
After a brief inspection within his storage ring, Qian Ran emerged.
Having many beauties around could bring happiness but also unique troubles.
He had lost count of how many people had expressed feelings similar to A-Jiao and You-You's. Everyone wanted to stay by his side. But Qian Ran dared not make any promises. If he agreed to one, he'd have to agree to all.
After all, Qian Ran wasn't a heartless tyrant like King Zhou of Shang. This might just be the bittersweet dilemma of someone with a soft heart.
Returning to Shrek Academy, though? That would be even more of a headache.
The hardest thing to repay is the affection of a beauty.
He couldn't just spend the night with someone and then pretend nothing had happened the next day. But keeping everyone satisfied was no easy task.
Thankfully, Qian Ran had the system. Without it, he wouldn't have been able to handle such a large harem.
The best solution was to provide cultivation opportunities for them, so they could focus on training. Otherwise, if they idled away their days pining for him, it would inevitably lead to resentment.
For now, Snow Empress and Ice Empress were both entering a prolonged period of cultivation, which gave Qian Ran time to accompany others. Otherwise, if all the women crowded around him at once, even listening to their chatter would exhaust him.
If the women had too much free time, Qian Ran would be in trouble.
Women with idle minds are prone to overthinking.
"Managing a harem is truly a skill," Qian Ran muttered in exasperation. Without the system's rewards, he figured he could only handle three or four relationships at most.
Dating wasn't like playing games. Spending time with someone required real effort.
Orange, watching Qian Ran return looking fatigued, couldn't help but laugh.
"That's what you get for hoarding beauties. You'll work yourself to death. Not that your body can't handle it—no fear of being drained dry."
Qian Ran was speechless. Physically, he wasn't tired. It was his mind that felt drained. He didn't want to be the type of man who messaged someone when it suited him, shared a night at a hotel, and then ghosted them afterward. Yet maintaining warm relationships with everyone wasn't easy either.
"You're getting bold, teasing your husband like that," Qian Ran said, pulling Orange into his arms and delivering a few firm smacks to her round bottom.
Ah… fully recharged!
The familiar sensation reinvigorated Qian Ran's spirits.
Harem troubles? Even Qian Ran had to admit he was being a bit indulgent. How many men reached middle age without ever touching a woman? As for beautiful women, perhaps less than one percent of men ever experienced such a life.
Qian Ran's current lifestyle was a dream for countless old perverts.
He was still the same incorrigible rogue. No change at all, he thought with a wicked grin.
He even entertained the idea of hosting a no-holds-barred party with all his wives. Of course, this was another world—no one could stop him here.
"You're awful!" Orange covered her reddened bottom, giving Qian Ran a fierce glare. Why did he always target that part of her?
Oddly enough, Ke-Ke had mentioned Qian Ran didn't seem as interested in her behind.
"Yours is more shapely," Qian Ran replied with a mischievous grin, as if reading her thoughts. It wasn't entirely true, though. It was more of a systemic issue. Factoring in curves, softness, and compatibility, Orange's figure had a unique charm.
It was normal. Everyone had their distinctive traits. Some had beautiful eyes, others an elegant nose…
For Orange, it was her figure; for Na-Na, her legs; for Meng Hongchen, her dainty feet. As for Ke-Ke, while she wasn't the best in any one aspect, her lively personality stood out. Qian Ran appreciated her adventurous spirit and willingness to try new things.
"Stop spouting nonsense," Orange retorted, her cheeks turning crimson. Every time Qian Ran said such things, she felt flustered. Who even talks like that…?
(End of Chapter)
Notes-You can read advanced chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X