Hongdou remained silent, wanting to refute the question that felt off in an indescribable way, but her mouth was slow to open.
Clearly, her little brain couldn't answer.
So, Yun Ming shook his head and said again.
"Love also comes in many forms. In this broken world, just being alive is good enough. I didn't expect you to think so much… Go to bed early, I'll tell you one more story, and then I still have to cultivate…"
"Why do you cultivate in the middle of the night?"
"Because there are many people I want to protect, so when I can work hard, I work a little harder, so I don't regret it later."
The boy was young but acted old, speaking like an antique.
Strange.
Hongdou found it a bit funny, and wanting to get revenge for being speechless earlier, she mocked him.
"Oh, then you'll definitely be one of those bad men in the future. Everything you say is twisted logic, I don't believe it…"
Oh my!
Yun Ming's temper flared.
He really wanted to teach this somewhat annoying girl a lesson.
I saved you from distress, and in the middle of the night, to coax you to sleep, I didn't cultivate but told stories instead.
And this is how you talk about me?
A hint of malevolence appeared on his young face, and his eyes gradually became fierce, somewhat scary.
"Yes, you're right, men are all big pig trotters…"
"I am a bad man, now do you still dare to sleep with me?"
"You, don't come over…"
"If you come any closer, I'll call for help!"
Hongdou shrank into the corner; a good woman doesn't fight with a man.
She definitely couldn't beat him, and her anger had subsided, so she decided to just go to sleep early and settle accounts with her father, that big pig trotter, tomorrow!
She burrowed back into the covers.
She was a little afraid that Yun Ming would pull her out and bully her, but how could Yun Ming bother with this little girl? He just found her a bit cute.
The room quickly fell silent… "Thank you…"
The girl said this, but no one answered.
Was that brother cultivating again? Hongdou didn't understand, what child her age doesn't sleep in the middle of the night?
He couldn't have already fallen asleep, could he?
She peeked out, quietly crawled to Yun Ming's side, and poked the boy's cheek, no reaction.
See, I told you, he must have fallen asleep.
Still cultivating, big liar~
However, being able to fall asleep while sitting was quite impressive… "Hmph, even though you're the one who kidnapped me, I still thank you… Also, I'm not without parents."
"My mother died…"
"Those people this morning were all uncles, how could you be so stupid, not even asking clearly, you dummy."
"But, the story you told was very interesting."
"Thank you for accompanying me."
Hongdou spoke a lot in one breath, talking about how good her mother was to her, how powerful the Chen family was, and how she was a little princess.
She talked about inheriting the family business in the future, earning lots and lots of money, finding very strong agents, like the sect master of Yun Kui Mountain, and the Void Hunting-level figures of Ailidu.
To suppress the Lemnian Hollow and avenge her mother!
She spoke for a long time.
She treated it all as if she were talking to a tree hollow, pouring out the words repressed in her heart.
She thought Yun Ming was asleep.
But Yun Ming just couldn't bear to interrupt the girl who was pretending to be strong; after all, it was his fault for accidentally tying her up and bringing her back.
So, he might as well pretend to be asleep.
Until the morning light spilled through the door, the little girl was asleep, curled up by Yun Ming's leg, and Bai Xian was leisurely winking at him.
With her there, no one could step half a foot into Sui Bian Temple.
Good nephew, our future pastry freedom depends on you!
As for Hongdou, she slept until noon.
The sun was on her backside.
She shyly bid farewell to Yun Ming, then hurried back to Yin Cha Xian, and from then on… Hongdou would often come here to find Yun Ming.
She knew he heard everything.
Because when she hadn't spoken for a long time, she wasn't asleep, just tired, and the boy gently rubbed her head.
And there was a warm, liquid-like substance that entered her body; could this be the legendary true qi?
Hongdou didn't know, she was a little shy… all those things she just said were heard, it was too embarrassing.
The spiritual energy relieved the girl's fatigue, it was very comfortable, and it also made her increasingly sleepy.
So, she could only truly fall asleep, her consciousness gradually sinking, but in her mind, the boy's handsome face appeared.
Young but mature, with a deep sense like her father.
Is his name Yun Ming? What a dummy.
Why be so gentle?
He and she had only just met, so kind… no wonder he would say such things about wanting to protect many people.
Unlike her, she only wanted to protect her father and mother… "Next time, you're not allowed to bring other people back so casually, you dummy Yun Ming! Goodbye—"
This was the last thing the girl intended to say before leaving.
Yun Ming yawned, very sleepy.
"If I knew you were this troublesome, I definitely wouldn't have brought you back, farewell—"
So the farewell was not smooth, Hongdou angrily ran back from the temple gate, chasing Yun Ming to hit him.
Of course, she knew she couldn't win.
But Yun Ming wouldn't fight back, what a dummy, with such gentlemanly spirit, prepare to be bullied by this young lady!
"I'll come find you again, just you wait!"
"Oh, by the way, my name is Chen Zhiyi, Hongdou is a nickname!"
"Got it, got it, Hongdou…"
"It's Chen Zhiyi!"
"Alright, alright, Hongdou… er, Chen Zhiyi."
Yun Ming's young face was filled with disdain and trouble, as if he was trying to quickly send away a plague god, it couldn't have been more obvious.
Young Lady Hongdou was very unhappy, but there was nothing she could do.
Was she really that unlikable?
"Goodbye, dummy Yun Ming…"
"Oh, leaving? Alright, alright, bye, bye~"
His words revealed excitement, which was infuriating.
"I said goodbye! Yun Ming…"
"Sigh, fine, little kids are just troublesome."
This mumble was very soft, Hongdou didn't hear it clearly, only catching the latter half, "Got it, goodbye… Young Lady Chen Zhiyi of our Chen family, you're welcome to visit anytime~"
He rubbed Hongdou's head, which at the time had two small buns, and they bounced twice.
Hongdou was very magnanimous, not bothering to argue with him.
"That's more like it, I'll come find you to play… I'll bring you delicious food, hmm, you have to prepare a gift for me too!"
She was a bit too verbose, clearly about to leave but still forcing conversation, which made Bai Xian on the side laugh non-stop, this destined marriage was truly fated.
After one meeting, it had taken such deep root.
In due time…