Li Rongshang nodded calmly, then naturally wrapped his arms around himself, leaning lazily against the old tree trunk behind him, striking a pose that suggested he was all ears.
Song Luo cleared her throat and introduced herself earnestly: "My name is Song Luo. I'm almost sixteen. My mother passed away early, and my father is often away at war. I was raised by my elder brother."
She paused for a moment, then her tone lightened: "I don't have any particular hobbies, but my favorite thing is the steamed curd cheese from the shop on the south side of town."
"Also, I love reading storybooks, especially those legendary tales of talented scholars and beautiful ladies, or down-on-their-luck young masters meeting wealthy young misses. Those are the most entertaining."
She finished in one breath, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the man leaning against the tree, full of expectation: "I'm done introducing myself. Your turn. What about you?"
Li Rongshang looked at her expectant gaze, his heart utterly unmoved.
Naturally, he couldn't reveal his true name to her, even though his name had never been known to outsiders all these years.
He parted his thin lips slightly and gave his alias: "Yan Xiao."
"That's my name. Twenty this year."
"Yan Xiao?" Song Luo repeated softly, feeling that the name carried an inexplicable air of menace.
She asked curiously, "Which 'xiao' is it?"
Li Rongshang didn't speak. He straightened up and casually snapped off a dry branch from a nearby tree.
He bent slightly and, with swift, clean movements, traced a few strokes on the soft, loose earth.
A powerful, vigorous character "枭" that exuded sharpness and edge appeared on the ground.
Song Luo looked down at the character, nodded in sudden realization, and said, "Oh… so it's the 'xiao' from 'xiaoxiong' (heroic leader)."
She looked at the character, then at the man's tall, cold, and imposing figure, thinking to herself that the name suited him well enough.
"Then do you have any family?" Song Luo continued her interrogation like she was checking a household registry. This was the key point.
If trouble arose, she'd need to know his background. "If my brother breaks your legs in the future because you helped me, I'll need to know where to send the compensation money to your family, right?"
When Li Rongshang heard the words "break your legs," the corner of his eye twitched almost imperceptibly.
In all the world, the person who could break Li Rongshang's legs probably hadn't been born yet.
But his expression remained calm as he pretended to think for a moment before answering, "My father is still alive."
At these words, Song Luo's previously radiant little face instantly fell.
She looked at Li Rongshang: "So, you're just as pitiful as me. Your mother is gone too."
She sighed, empathizing with the days she'd spent without a mother's love since childhood.
Her tone carried a rare gentleness and compassion: "It's alright. If you're ever treated unfairly in the General's residence in the future, I'll try my best to look out for you."
Li Rongshang looked at her, so moved by her own sympathy that her eyes were about to turn red, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words.
He really couldn't bear to—and truly didn't want to—accept this inexplicable pity.
He sighed and, somewhat helplessly, interrupted the young girl's overactive imagination: "…My mother is also still alive."
Song Luo: "…"
The air suddenly fell silent.
The sympathy on Song Luo's face froze. She blinked awkwardly, wishing she could crawl into a crack in the ground.
Song Luo stammered, "That's great, that's great. Both parents alive—what good fortune, hehe…"
Li Rongshang watched her flustered, not knowing where to put her hands or feet, and the smile he'd been suppressing in his eyes finally bloomed fully.
This little girl seemed far more interesting than he'd expected.
This man was someone she'd hired halfway with silver.
He was tall and imposing, with a hint of indescribable sharpness in his brows and eyes. He did look like he could intimidate people.
But since this was a big undertaking, she still felt somewhat uncertain.
Song Luo thought for a moment, then couldn't help asking him, "Do you know martial arts?"
Li Rongshang lowered his eyes, concealing the dark glint that flashed through them.
He was proficient in every weapon under heaven, but naturally, he wouldn't tell her the truth.
Li Rongshang shook his head very naturally: "No, I only know a bit of qinggong. I can run fast."
Song Luo's eyes had still held a glimmer of hope, but at these words, her little face instantly fell.
She let out a long, helpless sigh.
Great. The silver was wasted.
Song Luo grumbled inwardly. It seemed this man wouldn't be of much use in a pinch—he couldn't protect her at all.
When they ran into her overprotective brother, and if he pulled out his horsewhip to break the man's legs, he'd probably only survive by relying on his speed.
But then she thought again—being able to run… was at least a merit.
At the very least, it could save his life in a critical moment.
Song Luo looked him up and down again.
He was extremely tall, but his frame looked rather thin.
She pursed her lips, then suddenly leaned in closer, lowering her voice, and asked him mysteriously, "So, do you have a good physique?"
At these words, Li Rongshang's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.