Shu Bei looked around to make sure no one else was home before sitting next to Shu An and saying mysteriously, "Do you know who Father and the others have been looking for as a thief lately?"
"Who?"
"It's Hei Ting! Hei Ting from the West Sea, he's come to the East Sea. I just heard from Long Rui that he's been to Warrior City at least twice. Do you think he's looking for you? No wonder Father is patrolling the tribe all day, he's guarding against Hei Ting..."
Shu Bei chattered on, and when Shu An heard the name Hei Ting, her calm heart felt like a boulder had been dropped into it, stirring up monstrous waves. The most immediate consequence was her heart beating uncontrollably faster.
It felt like it was about to leap out of her chest. She thought she would be calm upon hearing news of Hei Ting, but the reality was the opposite. She felt flustered, even unsure of how to react to the unfamiliarity.
"So, so, did Father catch him?" Her voice carried a tension she herself didn't notice.
Shu Bei didn't pick up on it. "He definitely didn't catch him. If he had, Father would have been home by now."
Shu An took a deep breath and asked again, "Why is Father trying to catch him?"
Hearing this, Shu Bei looked at her teasingly. "What do you think? Do you think our dear Father would let an outsider male snatch away his precious daughter?"
Under her sister's gaze, Shu An's face instantly flushed. "Sister, don't talk nonsense. He might not be doing it because of me!"
"Oh? You're blushing. An'an, could it be that you actually like Hei Ting?" Shu Bei finally noticed her own sister's shy eyes and flushed cheeks. If this wasn't shyness, she didn't know what could be defined as such.
Shu An vehemently denied it. "I don't! Sister, don't speak carelessly!"
Shu Bei said no more, just quietly watching her blush until Shu An couldn't take it anymore and buried her face in her arms, like a self-deceiving ostrich.
"You still say you have no feelings for him. What is this reaction of yours?" Shu Bei stroked her chin, her sister's little secret couldn't escape her eyes.
"I heard that Hei Ting is very powerful. He beat up Uncle a few days ago. I guess that's why Father and Uncle want to settle the score with him."
Shu An's heart leaped. "Could it be that Uncle can't beat Hei Ting?"
Shu Bei nodded. "Probably not. Long Rui told me this. An'an, next time Hei Ting comes, Father and Uncle won't let him go. They might even kill him. What do you think? Should I go tell Father to go easy on him?"
Shu An blurted out instinctively, "Don't tell Father. I'm not sure if I like Hei Ting, and Father wouldn't agree." She could sense her father's rejection of Hei Ting.
"Since Father isn't telling us, it means he doesn't want us to know. So, let's just pretend we don't know."
Don't ask her what to do, she didn't know either!
Shu Bei: "...Alright, then we'll pretend we don't know. But An'an, if Hei Ting really gets beaten to death by Father, what will you do?"
Shu An inwardly resisted this assumption. "Father won't. Hei Ting hasn't done anything excessive. At most, he'll be beaten and driven out."
Shu Bei didn't think so, shaking her head and sighing. "An'an, you're too optimistic. I think if Father catches him, he'll really kill him."
The other party was a fallen beast, powerful, and from the West Sea. How could Warrior City allow such a beastman to threaten them?
Both publicly and privately, Hei Ting had a greater chance of being killed.
Shu An didn't speak again after hearing this, falling into an unusual silence.
Seeing her like this, Shu Bei knew her sister definitely liked Hei Ting. She didn't say anything more, keeping it in mind to pay more attention to this matter. When Hei Ting arrived, she would tell her sister.
Then she thought, her ears weren't that sensitive. If Hei Ting came and a fight broke out, she might not even hear it. So, she needed a helper.
Brother Da Bao wouldn't work; he had the same idea as Father. If Hei Ting came, it would be better to keep it a secret than to notify them.
Long Yang, as a cousin, it wasn't easy to say.
After much thought, only Ruan Ruan and Long Rui were suitable. But Ruan Ruan wouldn't work either; that girl couldn't keep secrets from her brother. As soon as there was any news, she'd spill it all. She couldn't be trusted.
It seemed only Long Rui was left...
Shu Bei didn't want to ask him for help the most, but seeing An'an's worried expression, she, as an elder sister, decided to go for it!
"An'an, if you're tired, go back to your room and sleep for a while. I'm going to the medical hall."
"Mm, Sister, you go ahead." Shu An was absent-minded.
...
Arriving at A'man's house, she happened to see the brother and sister sparring in the yard. Long Rui noticed her first and said with surprise, "Xiao Bei, are you looking for me?"
Shu Bei nodded. "I need to talk to you about something."
Ruan Ruan, that clever girl, it was rare for Sister Xiao Bei to look for her brother, so she, the third wheel, immediately withdrew. "The fight is over. I'm going out to find Brother Shu Ke. Goodbye~"
Long Rui gave his sister a look of approval. She must get extra chicken legs tonight!
Shu Bei watched Ruan Ruan leave with a smile. If she hadn't left, this matter would have been difficult to discuss.
With the irrelevant people gone, Long Rui closed the main door and asked curiously, "Xiao Bei, what are you looking for me for?"
Shu Bei leaned closer and whispered, "I need you to do me a favor..."
The two chattered for a while. When Shu Bei left, she was smiling, and Long Rui, who agreed to help, was also smiling. Although this matter carried the risk of being beaten by Uncle Wen Te, it was worth it to get a smile from Xiao Bei!
As soon as dinner was over, Wen Te went on patrol. Shu Yue went to the kitchen to clean up the dishes, and her two elder daughters helped. After everything was cleaned up, Shu Bei invited her sister for a post-meal walk. "An'an, shall we go for a walk to aid digestion?"
"I don't want to. You go ahead." Shu An was feeling down and didn't want to go out.
Shu Yue noticed her second daughter's lack of enthusiasm and asked worriedly, "What's wrong, An'an? Are you feeling unwell?"
Shu An shook her head. "I'm fine, I just don't want to go out..."
"Go on, go on. You'll get silly staying cooped up at home every day. Go get some fresh air. I looked in the yard, there are many stars today. Come with me to see them." Shu Bei interrupted her and linked her arm.
Shu An didn't want her mother to notice anything amiss, and she couldn't refuse her sister, so she agreed to go for a walk.
Her sister was right, the stars in the sky were numerous and beautiful, and the cool breeze blowing also dissipated some of the gloom in her heart.
The sisters strolled and chatted. Shu An felt her mood improve again, but it didn't last long before she saw Long Rui flying over. He was about to say something but hesitated when he saw her there.
As soon as Shu Bei saw Long Rui approaching, she knew he had news of Hei Ting. She asked, "Did Hei Ting come? You can tell me, it's okay, An'an already knows!"
Hearing this, Long Rui glanced at An'an before nodding. "Yes, he's here again. He was discovered by Uncle Wen Te and the others as soon as he appeared. They should be fighting by now."