Being polyamory was a sin, and Su Tao knew that he had violated common sense by falling for multiple women. However, he wasn't promiscuous. So many outstanding women appeared in his life, so how could he not be tempted by them?
He could swear on behalf of his life that he was attracted to something unique about every single one of their temperaments.
The dominant Yan Jing; the pitiful Lu Shimiao; the girl-next-door Cai Yan; the mysterious Vera; the sweet-tempered Shui Junzhuo…
In the end, he could only push the blame on creators for creating so many women that attracted him.
Since Shui Junzhuo suggested taking a stroll around to boost the digestive system, Su Tao followed her down, and they passed by a man selling sugar-coated hawthorn.
As Su Tao picked a skewer, he chose the biggest one, which the man immediately promoted, "Young lad, why don't you get two? My sugar-coated hawthorn is the best around here!"
"I'm only getting some for my girlfriend. I can't eat anything sweet or sour due to my teeth." Su Tao smiled as he brushed the man off.
After he paid for the skewer, Su Tao watched as Shui Junzhuo ate and suddenly snatched the skewer over to take a bite. Surprisingly, it wasn't as sour as he had imagined.
Rolling her eyes, Shui Junzhuo rebuked, "Don't you have an issue with your teeth?"
"I lied to him! I wasn't stingy, but it's more interesting to share a skewer with someone." Su Tao softly replied.
Going into tsundere mode, Shui Junzhuo snapped, "I don't like sharing with someone!"
"We've already kissed, are you finding me unhygienic?" Su Tao smiled in embarrassment.
Seeing that Su Tao ate another one, Shui Junzhuo immediately snatched it over and shoved it all into her mouth and unhappily said with her mouth full, "You're really hathful! Ish mine and no one can haf them!"
When a woman truly hates someone, they wouldn't be declaring it out loud. But when they were, they're generally a tsundere.
"Hate me all you want. Regardless of anything, I'm not letting you go, and you won't be able to chase me away!" Su Tao stood firm.
All of a sudden, Shui Junzhuo's face sank and sighed, "I really hope that time can slow down."
Recalling that she would be leaving for Russia, Su Tao suggested, "You want me to go with you?"
Hearing his words, splendor zapped through Shui Junzhuo's eyes briefly before she firmly shook her head. "China is your stage!"
"You're wrong!" Su Tao shook his head before he confidently declared, "The world is my stage!"
Bursting out into laughter, Shui Junzhuo replied, "Then please conquer China first!"
"That… true!" Su Tao awkwardly sighed before he promised, "Wait for me in Russia. Have your trust in me that I will soon conquer China before heading to Russia for my conquest."
Knowing that he wasn't joking around, Shui Junzhuo replied, "Then, I'll be waiting for you!"
Thereafter, she took out a box from her pocket. After opening it, a silver ring laid in the box that had a dazzling gem embedded in it.
"For you!" Shui Junzhuo said.
"So, what does it signify?" Su Tao curiously asked.
"A blessing before my departure!" Shui Junzhuo did not tell Su Tao that the ring was something that her grandmother left to her, and it had accompanied her for years. If Sire Shui knew that she had given it to Su Tao, he would definitely feel a sting in his heart, even if he had already treated the latter as his grandson-in-law.
Accepting the ring, Su Tao replied, "I will put it on for you when you return from Russia. Before that, I will be safekeeping it for you."
"That's a promise, then!" Shui Junzhuo nodded.
Despite this promise seeming casual, the two of them trusted each other that neither of them would break the promise.
As the two of them ate the sugar-coated hawthorn, Shui Junzhuo suddenly stopped and looked at Su Tao. "I've already told Big Brother Jingyu about you."
"About what?" Su Tao pretended to seem unhappy as if he was jealous.
"I told him not to bully you!" Shui Junzhuo smiled.
Hearing those words, Su Tao became even more furious as he asked, "Do I seem like a pushover to you?"
"You're just a fragile egg that can be easily crushed in his eyes. I know that many things that happened recently are related to him since he wanted to make you back off." Shui Junzhuo sighed.
"Then I will only be more courageous as we fight. Don't try to scare me, I will fight to the end with him!" Su Tao replied solemnly.
Although Su Tao's tone didn't seem happy, Shui Junzhuo felt extremely happy in her heart for some reason.
Women were all the same, they would feel satisfied to see two men fighting for them.
Then again, Shui Junzhuo wasn't that complicated. She's only in love with Su Tao, and she only enjoyed seeing Su Tao being jealous because of her. As for Qin Jingyu, he had never taken a position in her heart.
"You've nurtured the style of a Beijinger despite being here for a short time." Shui Junzhuo rolled her eyes and continued, "Big Brother Jingyu has already promised me that he will not make things difficult for you anymore."
"Why did he agree to that?" Su Tao became curious.
"Because I told him that I would put him in my consideration for my marriage when I return from Russia!" Shui Junzhuo playfully replied.
"You're two-timing!" Su Tao frowned.
"Well, I can't help it since the one I love is in a disadvantageous position. Within two years, you must grow stronger than him; that way, I won't have to think about that promise." Shui Junzhuo realised that Su Tao looked especially dashing when he was furious. "This is also a motivation for you."
Letting out a sigh, Su Tao bitterly smiled, "Since ancient times, heroes have always been weak to the charm of beauties! It looks like there's no reason for me to refuse."
Grabbing onto Su Tao's arm, Shui Junzhuo rested her head on his shoulder and said, "Actually, you know that even if you have no accomplishment, my heart is still with you."
Being caught unexpected by Shui Junzhuo's silly words, Su Tao found himself degenerated as he answered, "I promise you!"
After that, he realised that he has underestimated Shui Junzhuo. Without him knowing, she has already set up a grand goal for him — surpass Qin Jingyu within two years!
And for some reason, he actually agreed to it without much consideration!
But recalling his journey so far, it had only been half a year since he took over the Three Flavour Hall from his grandfather and came this far. Thus, he also felt the need for someone to motivate him.
Qin Jingyu was truly an opponent worthy for him to treat seriously.
"Oh, right. When are you leaving?" Su Tao suddenly felt reluctant to part with her and asked before adding, "I want to prepare a gift for you!"
"Oh? What present?" Shui Junzhuo looked at Su Tao with interest.
"Hmm… I'll keep that a secret for now!" Su Tao kept her in suspense.
"You must not have thought of one, and you're just brushing me off!" Shui Junzhuo felt a bucket of water pouring down on her as she glared at Su Tao. "If you don't have it now, then you don't have to trouble yourself, since I will be leaving tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow?" Su Tao was shocked and finally understood the reason why Shui Junzhuo was so desperate to meet him today.
So it turned out that she's departing tomorrow!
If he had gone fooling around with Liu Jianwei and Xia Yu, then he would've missed Shui Junzhuo!
"The farewell ceremony was pretty good. I ate noodles cooked by you, and we shared a skewer of sugar-coated hawthorn." Shui Junzhuo smiled. "Don't cry. Instead, wish me a smooth journey!"
Although she was smiling, tears welled up in her eyes in contrast to her words.
In the end, Su Tao couldn't accept that answer and shook his head. "It's too rushed! Too rushed!"
Wiping the tears off the corner of her eyes, Shui Junzhuo still tried her best to maintain a smile on her face. "If I want something, then I will have to pay the price for it!"
Thereafter, the two of them no longer spoke and fell into silence.
All of a sudden, a black vehicle drove out from the roadside and stopped up ahead.
When Shui Junzhuo stopped walking, she turned to Su Tao and sweetly smiled. "Alright, I have to go now! Furthermore, you don't have to send me off tomorrow since I will be leaving on a special flight!"
However, Su Tao couldn't hear her words since he was still wondering why she had to leave so abruptly.
Seeing Su Tao falling into a daze, Shui Junzhuo jabbed his forehead before she tiptoed and kissed him on his lips.
While Su Tao was still in a daze, Shui Junzhuo was already ten-odd meters away as she headed for the vehicle and said, "When I settle down in Russia, I will send you my contact details and address. Bye!"
All of a sudden, Su Tao abruptly raised his head.
"Don't go to Russia! I'll take care of you for your entire life!"
That was what wanted to yell; he wanted to stop her from leaving. But for some reason, those words were stuck at the back of his throat.
He could say that if Shui Junzhuo was an ordinary woman. But right now, he could only try to improve himself and close up their distance.
He suddenly realised that he's still too weak, and he couldn't have everything going according to his wishes.
As the window wound down, Shui Junzhuo stretched her head out. When she could no longer see Su Tao in her sights, she suddenly held onto her mouth and sobbed. Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped down on her legs.
She had reached an agreement with her father that the Shui Family would do their best to help Su Tao three times, and as the price for it, she had to leave for Russia immediately.
Although her parents did not obstruct her relationship with Su Tao because of her grandfather, her father still hinted to her that Su Tao still needed to be tested.
Seated with her was an elegant woman. Although her voice sounded somewhat coarse, it was magnetic.
"That's a pretty handsome lad!" The woman waited for her daughter's emotions to calm down before she smiled. "When I was young, these types of handsome lads were also my type. But when you're at my age, you will know that appearance isn't the only standard you have to look for when searching for a husband. You're the princess of the Shui Family. Although I have no idea why the old man places such great importance on him, he still needs to be tested if he wants to be the son-in-law of our Shui Family."
Taking the napkin over from her mother, Shui Junzhuo wiped her tears and replied, "Mom, cut it out! Allow me to be willful, and I will only marry him in my life!"
Shaking her head, her mother bitterly smiled. "There are no parents in the world that are more stubborn than their children. You head for Russia first, and if time and distance fails to grind down your relationship with him, then I will handle your father."
