181 To Stand By Your Side (2/2)

”Unfortunately, bruises cannot be recovered. But, is it still not beautiful?”

Yun Ting looked at the flower for a moment before she nodded. Rin chuckled and twirled the flower in her hand.

”This is a jasmine flower.” Her voice was soft and kind. ”Do you know what they symbolize?”

Yun Ting shook her head, but her eyes seemed fascinated. Rin stared at her clear almond-shaped eyes and smiled.

”It's symbolic of purity and modesty. In some areas, it means long-lasting love or…” Lifting the flower in her hands, she places tucks it behind the little girl's ear. Rin looked into her eyes softly. ”Eternal beauty.”

The little girl's face was glowing from within and she had a healthy blush on her cheeks. She lowered her gaze, concealing the flustered emotions in her eyes. Then, she suddenly shook her head.

”Hmm? What's wrong?” Rin tilted her head.

As expected, the little girl didn't respond and simply used her actions to explain. Taking the flower from behind her ear, she stretched her stubby hand out and carefully set it behind Rin's ear.

A rare smile appeared on Yun Ting's face as she backed away as if to admire a work of art. Rin blinked and raised a hand to stroke the flower behind her ear.

”You're giving it to me?”

Yun Ting nodded. Rin was stunned for a moment. She couldn't hold back the smile tugging up the corners of her lips.

”Thank you.” She laughed while patting the little girl's head.

Yun Ting's shy demeanor returned as she nodded her head with flushed cheeks.

Occurring at the same time, a figure observed the two's interaction with a silent gaze. Arms crossed over his chest, An Sun watched as Rin laughed at the blushing Yun Ting, her gaze soft and warm.

An Sun's face noticeably eased as he observed their interactions. Even so, a trace of conflict surfaced in his eyes. He slowly shut his eyes. When he opened them again, they were back to his usual clear gaze.

”Rin.”

Startled by the sudden voice, Rin looked up to see An Sun peering down at her. She was momentarily stunned.

An Sun had just called her by her first name…

However, these thoughts quickly went away when she met his clear, earnest expression. Understanding the meaning of his gaze, she nodded. Looking back at Yun Ting, she smiled and patted the girl's head.

”I'll take good care of this flower.”

Yun Ting looked up and bobbed her head. Rin smiled before she turned back to An Sun and walked over.

…

”It's a shame to see you leaving so soon.” Elder Cai sighed pitifully after hearing of their departure.

”I know it's sudden, but there are some things we need to settle back home.” Bai Han explained.

Elder Cai nodded. ”I understand. However, it's just a shame my young miss and your grandson couldn't make it work.”

Bai Han tried his hardest to hold back the twitching of his face. As if he would allow that to happen! With that girl's endless chattering, he'd go mute within a month!

Forcing a smile, Bai Han simply nodded his head through gritted teeth. When he noticed Rin and An Sun coming out of the inn, he breathed a sigh of relief.

”Are you ready?” He looked at her with an apprehensive gaze.

Rin sensed his agitation. The corners of her lips couldn't help but curve into a helpless smile. ”Let's go home.”

The last bit of uneasiness disappeared from Bai Han's face as he beamed in return. He puffed out his chest and laughed.

”Then let's get going!”

Rin nodded with a smile and limped toward the horse. Shifting her eyes behind her, she frowned a bit before looking at An Sun.

”Miss Yun isn't going to say goodbye?”

An Sun raised his head and looked in the direction of the inn. Besides Elder Cai and Yun Ting, no one else was present. The girl was nowhere to be seen.

He sighed. ”Apparently not.”

Rin's brows furrowed. She stole one last glance in the inn's direction before she sighed as well.

”I see.”

Mounting onto their horses, the four bid farewell to Elder Cai and Yun Ting before ushering forward. Already halfway away from the village, they heard a sudden commotion behind them.

In the next instant, they could hear a girl's shout.

”Wang Sun!”

Rin's brows furrowed together. Her expression turned grave and she immediately turned to look behind her. Her pupils abruptly shrunk and she was stunned for a moment as saw a chestnut horse was galloping wildly toward them.

A small figure was sprawled over its back. The girl clutched the back of the horse tightly as she approached them.

It was Yun Suyin!

Bai Han felt the urge to spit up blood; he barely managed to rein in his frustrations.

What the hell was she doing here?!

He looked in a certain young man's direction and glared accusingly. Meanwhile, that certain young man wasn't doing any better himself.

”That idiot,” An Sun gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath. His expression was as dark as it could get.

When Yun Suyin managed to arrive in front of them, she was already out of breath.

An Sun had a grim expression on his face, and his voice had a sense of anger, ”What are you doing here?”

Hearing An Sun's cold voice, Yun Suyin seemed to have returned to her senses and looked up with a determined gaze.

”I want to follow you!”

Everyone was stunned upon hearing her words. Rin stole a glance at An Sun to see his expression. While he seemed unaffected, the twitch in his mouth was enough to show he was suppressing his irritation.

Truthfully, Rin was surprised by Yun Suyin's intense infatuation for An Sun. She didn't think a small girl such as herself would be so aggressively forward.

An Sun clenched his fist and finally restrained his erupting emotions. He asked in a cold voice, ”Are you insane?”

Yun Suyin nodded her head with bright eyes. ”Yes.”

Again, everyone was stunned into silence. Yun Suyin hadn't seemed to notice their expression and spoke up again.

”If you say you're not suitable to stand someone such as myself, then I'll become the person to stand by your side!”

An Sun cast his gaze at her, scanning Yun Suyin's young features with unreadable depths. After a while, he clicked his tongue and coldly turned his horse away.

”Do what you want. If you can't catch up, then return.” There was a bone-chilling quality within his voice when he spoke.

Yun Suyin hadn't seemed to mind as her eyes lit up brightly. She glanced at Rin and her mouth tilted upwards into a mocking smirk. The inner radiance on her beautiful face dimmed slightly.

Rin blinked her eyes a bit before inwardly sighing.

This was going to be a long journey.

_______

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