“Hmph, I don’t need your comfort. I’m not a child; I obviously understand that!”
Ling Xiaoyou recovered from her feelings of defeat and huffed after listening to Bai Shuanglian’s somewhat clumsy attempts at consolation.
After all, it was only a practical test.
Even if she lost, it wouldn’t ruin Ling Xiaoyou’s mood; at most, she just felt a bit frustrated.
Hearing Ling Xiaoyou’s tsundere words, Bai Shuanglian smiled.
She reached into her Space Ring and pulled out an object that looked like a thermos.
‘Is that… a thermos?’
Ling Xiaoyou watched blankly as Bai Shuanglian unscrewed the lid.
She poured tea that emitted a refreshing, heart-soothing aroma into the cap and held it out to her.
She stared at the steaming tea for a moment, not quite reacting.
She did not understand why Bai Shuanglian would bring such a thing with her.
“Yeah, I brought it from home.”
Seeing that Ling Xiaoyou was still dazed, Bai Shuanglian took the girl’s small hand and placed the cap into it.
“I thought you might be tired after your trial, so I brought something delicious for you to rest with.”
“As for why it’s tea, when you came to my home last time, I noticed you seemed to like it. That is why I brought this.”
Listening to Bai Shuanglian’s words and feeling the warmth in her hands, Ling Xiaoyou stared blankly at the rising steam.
After a long silence, she looked at Bai Shuanglian.
Her lips curled into a slight smile as she said, “I didn’t think you would be so unexpectedly considerate, Bai Shuanglian.”
Ling Xiaoyou took a sip of the hot tea, feeling the warm current spread through her limbs and bones before finally gathering in her heart.
Feeling the warmth within her, she could not tell for a moment if it was because of the hot tea or because she felt touched by Bai Shuanglian’s actions.
However, she preferred to believe it was the latter.
“I am glad you like it,” Bai Shuanglian said with a smile, quietly watching Ling Xiaoyou take small sips of the hot tea.
Once Ling Xiaoyou finished the tea, she let out a long breath.
She felt much better; the frustration of her previous failure had long since vanished with that cup of tea.
“Do you want more?”
Bai Shuanglian took the empty cap from Ling Xiaoyou’s hand and asked.
“No thanks,” Ling Xiaoyou said, shaking her head with a giggle.
“Tea is delicious, but drinking too much makes me feel like an old person.”
“What’s wrong with liking tea?”
Bai Shuanglian smiled and screwed the cap back on.
She placed it back into the Space Ring, then reached out to pinch Ling Xiaoyou’s face playfully.
“Mmm-ph, then you’re Old Lady Bai!”
Under Bai Shuanglian’s rubbing, Ling Xiaoyou made a muffled grumbling sound, making Bai Shuanglian unable to help but laugh.
“If I’m an old lady, then what are you?”
She asked, looking at the girl with a smile.
“I am, of course, a youthful, radiant, and incomparably cute beautiful girl!”
Ling Xiaoyou raised her chin slightly and spoke with pride.
“Yes, yes. Then, would the cute girl like to continue the practical combat with this old lady?”
Bai Shuanglian asked, amused as she pinched Ling Xiaoyou’s cheek.
“Um, let’s forget it. It’s already this late; it’s time to clock out.”
Ling Xiaoyou glanced at the sky, then pulled out her mobile phone to check the time.
“Alright.”
Bai Shuanglian nodded understandingly.
Then, as if she had thought of something, she extended an invitation to Ling Xiaoyou.
“Then should we get a late-night snack before we head back?”
“That works for me!”
Upon hearing they could eat, Ling Xiaoyou’s large, crimson eyes immediately began to sparkle.
“Then let’s go. We’ll head to that Elder’s shop from last time.”
“Mhm! Let’s go, let’s go, or it’ll be dawn soon! Bai Shuanglian, you lead the way, I’ll probably get lost!”
“Okay, get on the Flying Sword. Remember to hold on tight.”
“I know!”
Under the night sky, the girls laughed and joked, leaving the sound of their silver-bell-like voices drifting across the horizon.
***
“What did Little Lian say?”
Inside a courtyard with an ancient charm, Bai’s Mother, who had a beautiful face and a gentle temperament, put down the book in her hand.
She looked at her husband, who had just returned home and was already impatiently asking for news of their daughter.
She spoke helplessly.
“Are you really in that much of a hurry? You haven’t even changed out of your shoes.”
Hearing this, Father Bai instinctively looked at his feet.
Seeing his boots, he scratched his head awkwardly and said, “I was just too anxious.”
Despite his words, he obediently returned to the entryway to put on his slippers before properly walking into the house.
“So, what is the situation?”
As soon as he sat on the sofa, Father Bai’s first question was about their daughter’s status.
“Little Lian said she will return home in a while. She’ll be back in time for the Xuantian Martial Tournament anyway, so there is no need to worry.”
Bai’s Mother flipped through her ancient book, speaking unhurriedly.
“Returning in a while…”
Father Bai seemed dissatisfied with this result.
He said with some regret, “Then won’t she have to leave again shortly after she stays at home?”
“What, you’re not satisfied? Why don’t you rush to New Sea City right now and drag Little Lian back?”
Bai’s Mother glanced at her husband.
“Ah, haha… that won’t be necessary.”
Father Bai scratched his head sheepishly.
Then, as if remembering something, he asked again, “In that case, I heard earlier about a girl who is very close to Little Lian…”
“It is true. Little Lian has already clearly stated that she likes her.”
Bai’s Mother closed her book.
With Father Bai disturbing her, she was no longer in the mood to read.
“Sigh, as expected.”
Father Bai seemed somewhat surprised, yet it did not seem entirely outside his expectations.
He let out a long, melancholy sigh.
“I had my suspicions when Team Leader Lin from the Regulatory Division mentioned this matter.”
“Isn’t this a good thing? At least it shows that the child’s heart is no longer closed off.”
Bai’s Mother could not understand why her husband looked so dejected.
“It is indeed a good thing, but I feel like Little Lian was just a toddler yesterday. How can she already be saying she likes a girl today?”
The old father was very distressed and let out another long sigh.
“I’m satisfied regardless, as long as Little Lian likes it.”
A gentle smile appeared on Bai’s Mother’s lips as she said, “Besides, two girls being together is better than Little Lian being lured away by some brat from who-knows-where, isn’t it?”
“THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN! IF ANYTHING LIKE THAT WERE TO OCCUR, I WOULD DEFINITELY BLAST THAT BRAT INTO DUST!!”
Upon hearing this, the old father’s demeanor changed as if he had stepped out of a classic action comic.
Spirit Power gathered in his hands at some unknown point, emitting a terrifying pressure.
Bai’s Mother only glanced at the middle-aged man and his dramatic outburst before ignoring him.
“Let’s stop talking about that. That is Little Lian’s own business; we only need to give her our blessings.”
“Let us instead discuss the matter of Little Lian becoming involved in those Devils’ conspiracies.”
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