"Do I really need to?" Li Qi scoffed. "You think I have nothing better to do than entertain your games."

Su Xue and Ouyang Qian spun around, demanding of me, "Zhao Qian! Is all this true! Don't you dare lie!"

I had no intention of hiding it, so I admitted, "Yes, they are all my girlfriends. Therefore, they count as members of the Zhao family."

With the admission made, Su Xue and Ouyang Qian were struck speechless. After a long silence, they finally said to Xu Chen, "Chen-chen, there are so many men in this world. You don't need to fixate on this one. Don't be sad, don't grieve; you will find someone who truly loves you."

Xu Chen managed a wry smile. "You two have really beaten me. When was I ever sad or grieving? My relationship with Brother Zhao is completely clean; it’s not what you two imagine."

Li Qi turned to Xu Chen and said, "I believe you."

Xu Chen was visibly touched. "Thank you, Chairman Li. Brother Zhao is a good man, so it’s only natural that so many older sisters like him."

Li Qi, however, sighed and shot me a look filled with melancholic reproach. "But don't you think it’s a bit too many? You're already sprinting toward the single digits!"

Xu Chen replied with slight awkwardness, "Perhaps, perhaps Brother Zhao couldn't help it. But I trust he will eventually find his true love. I sincerely wish him well."

I was genuinely moved by Xu Chen's blessing. "Xu Chen, thank you. Keep working hard; you will definitely succeed. If you face any difficulties, Brother Zhao will help you."

Su Xue and Ouyang Qian chimed in, "Junior Brother Zhao Qian, if you help Chen-chen, what about us? We're poor students too."

I inwardly grumbled, You two can afford fancy lingerie and underpants, yet Xu Chen only has two sets to alternate!

But I dared not voice that thought. "What are you two good at? I need to know first, otherwise, I can't help."

Li Qi secretly chuckled; she had a vague idea what these two were good at. Su Xue didn't seem bothered. She declared, "Qianqian is an expert at seducing men. As for me, I honestly can't think of anything I excel at right now."

Seducing men doesn't count as a skill, I thought. "Seduction is out. You need to pick something else."

Ouyang Qian quickly offered, "I'm studying marketing, and Su Xue is studying tourism management. Could we start there?"

I nodded. "We’ll wait for the right opportunity; there has to be a suitable job. But Ouyang Qian, since you study marketing, you could try the Baixing Shopping Group. Just remember to prioritize your studies; don't let making money ruin your education—that would be a net loss."

Ouyang Qian gasped. "Baixing Shopping Group! That's a hugely famous and hot major corporation lately. Many classmates in our department aim to work there. Junior Brother Zhao Qian, are you joking with me?"

Li Qi interjected. "Earlier, didn't you see that very simple and delicate-looking girl? Her name is Xu Jing. Baixing Shopping Group is managed entirely by her."

Ouyang Qian and Su Xue were astounded, their mouths agape. "She’s that young! And she’s the boss of Baixing Shopping Group!"

Li Qi scoffed dismissively. "Zhao Fang, whom you saw earlier, was only 15. Do you know what she does? She’s a senior researcher at the Naval Research Institute, enjoying a high national subsidy. Not even a few of our nation's top white-haired scientists receive such treatment."

Ouyang Qian and Su Xue let out deep sighs. "Alas, comparing yourself to others only breeds anger. We should just focus on our studies."

Li Qi deliberately tried to knock them down a peg. "Do you know who that female military officer from earlier was? She’s an academician at the Dragon Country High-End Weapons Research Institute. And that girl with the most... ample bosom? She’s Cheng Susu from Yuejin Construction Engineering Company! In short, several others have very unique identities, and for security reasons, I can't tell you who they are."

After a long pause, Ouyang Qian and Su Xue exclaimed in unison, "Junior Brother Zhao Qian, you are not human!"

Li Qi looked slightly annoyed at their bluntness, but after glancing at me, she said nothing. I gave her a look of approval and encouragement, hoping she would continue to work on tempering her fiery temper.

Ouyang Qian and Su Xue suddenly blurted out another question: "What exactly are you?"

Li Qi took the initiative to answer with playful triumph. "Oh, him? He’s a retired soldier. Don't let him fool you. He’s actually 24 this year, quite an old man, not suitable for either of you. After retiring, he worked at the Huashi Group's Traditional Chinese Medicine factory, but he wasn't focused, so the manager demoted him to collect medicinal herbs in some desolate little town. He quit on the spot out of anger and just messed around at home. Later, his parents were fed up, forced him to review and retake the college entrance exams, and by sheer luck, he got into Longteng University."

I corrected Li Qi’s somewhat fabricated story. "Let me clarify. It wasn't that I was unfocused at work; it was because I couldn't stand the manager bullying female employees. Also, I wasn't just messing around at home; during that time, I churned tofu with Zhu Da and the village chief. I sold tofu on the street for a long time, peddling it daily while biking through wind and rain—was that easy?"

Xu Chen looked up, moved. "Brother Zhao, so your journey has also been so arduous. I will certainly take you as my role model and study hard."

Su Xue and Ouyang Qian were surprised again. "Junior Brother Zhao Qian, so you also come from humble beginnings. We thought you were some kind of unknown young master from a powerful family."

I chuckled. "No young master at all. My dad watches construction sites for a building company, and my mom has always been a standard homemaker."

Li Qi confirmed it with a giggle. "I can testify. The area of his family home is pitifully small. Hee hee, the living room in my house is ten times the size of his entire place. You should go see it yourselves sometime."

Li Qi must have visited my home during the time after I fell into the fish pond, otherwise, she wouldn't have become close enough with the women to exchange photos. Given her own special status, the other women would naturally be cautious around her for my sake. Plus, Li Qi genuinely tried to win them over. I suspected that only Fang Yanmeng held reservations about her; the others likely felt reasonably well about her.

Ouyang Qian and Su Xue were astonished once more. "Really? How is that possible? You... you are like that, yet every one of them has an extraordinary background. How... how can you..."

Li Qi glanced at me before replying. "I investigated him. In truth, he is also quite poor. This rules out the possibility that those girls are being tempted by money. Furthermore, given their status, money has become almost meaningless. As for his looks? He is handsome, certainly, but it’s not impossible—and there would be quite a few—to find men in Dragon Country more handsome than him. And those women are hardly the type to be swayed by a man’s appearance. So, after much consideration, I believe they must share a truly profound, unforgettable love with Zhao Qian. Their affection transcends all material foundations—it's that sublime state we strive for but can never attain."

I strongly agreed with Li Qi's sentiment that love transcends materialism. While it might sound ridiculous in today's society, the feelings I share with those women will not fade with time or age. I am willing to care for them with all my heart for my entire life, right until we grow old together.

Ouyang Qian seemed to resonate with the idea. "Exactly. How many men today truly love us women? They care more about your body, your looks, your family background. As long as your breasts are large enough and your face pretty enough, they will love you. But what they love isn't our heart at all, merely a shell. Once that foundation crumbles, they’ll probably just dust off their behinds and leave."

Su Xue agreed. "Who doesn't say that? That’s why I don't even want a boyfriend. Who knows if he'll trick me out of my virginity and then disappear? It’s terrifying."

Having eaten their fill, Li Qi stood up. "Thank you all for coming today. This has been the most I’ve ever conversed with my schoolmates. Although we've had our differences, I hope we can communicate more and coexist peacefully from now on. Zhao Qian, don't argue with me. I’m treating today. After all, I am the leader of the Five Golden Flowers; it’s only right that I treat my sisters to a meal."

I nodded. While Li Qi went to pay the bill, Su Xue quietly asked me, "Junior Brother, be honest. Is there something going on between you and Li Qi?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? We’re friends."

Su Xue insisted, "She's more than just a friend. I think I’ll add a picture of her to that pile of photos on your phone."

I teased back, "Fine by me. If you give me a photo, I'll add yours too."

Su Xue glared at me playfully. "Dream on. I wouldn't be foolish enough to fall for you."

This meal ultimately concluded without the dramatic scenes I had anticipated. Li Qi's performance was quite commendable. It seems I need to continue her... no, her indoctrination.