He wore only the coarsest dark hemp clothing, unadorned in any way, yet he somehow carried it with a wild, untamable sense of menace.
He stood with his arms crossed, his posture languid, yet he inexplicably radiated danger.
What drew the most attention was the faint pink scar on his left cheek, aged with time.
The scar stretched from the corner of his eye all the way to his jaw. Though it had faded, one could still imagine how deep and agonizing the wound must have been.
Far from marring his handsomeness, the scar lent him an indescribable ferocity and wildness.
Looking at him, four words instantly surfaced in Song Luo's mind: vicious and ruthless.
This fit her stereotype of mountain bandits perfectly.
No—he was even more perfect than the bandits she had imagined, more dangerous, and more capable of driving Song Nian up the wall.
A gift from heaven, ah, ah, ah!!
Song Luo suddenly stood up and waved in Li Rongshang's direction. "Brave sir, I wish to discuss a business deal with you."
The man raised an eyebrow. He had been racking his brain for an excuse to approach Song Luo.
He hadn't expected this little girl to be so bold as to propose a deal with him.
The people around them thought Song Luo had lost her mind.
They deliberately moved their tables away from Song Luo, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
In an instant, Song Luo stood alone in an empty space.
Li Rongshang walked over slowly, stopping before her and looking down at her from his height.
Only then did Song Luo realize he was even taller than she had imagined.
An immense pressure washed over her, making her think—he really did have a bandit's aura.
The man asked with a playful look in his eyes, "What kind of deal?"
"Sit." Song Luo immediately pulled out the stool beside her and said grandly, "What would the brave sir like to eat?"
"Whatever." Li Rongshang sat down with an imposing air.
Once the dishes arrived, the waiter immediately scurried away.
Song Luo urged Li Rongshang to eat, but he didn't touch a single bite—he just stared at her.
Song Luo couldn't be bothered with that. These were all her favorites; she'd fill her stomach first.
The girl before him was petite and adorable, her pink dress making her look like a peach blossom just blooming in spring.
Her skin was fair and porcelain-smooth, as if a pinch would draw water.
Especially her eyes—large, round, and sparkling. When she occasionally looked up at him, there was no fear in them, but rather… excitement?
That gaze was so bright it was almost unsettling.
Watching her look so obedient and cute while clearly plotting something mischievous, Li Rongshang felt a strange sensation stir within him.
He truly wanted to pinch that face, soft as tofu, just to see if she would cry.
After Song Luo finished eating, she took a deep breath and made the bravest decision of her life.
Meeting the man's gaze, she asked seriously:
"Are you a mountain bandit?"
Li Rongshang was stunned. He thought it over—the intelligence reports said General Song intended to collude with Wu Qishan. Was she asking this because she wanted to make contact directly?
Li Rongshang's brows furrowed tightly. The General's household was truly cunning.
He had followed Song Nian for days, watching him circle around that Jiang Mingyue day in and day out.
Without finding a single useful lead.
So this was the General's household's sleight of hand.
They had actually sent this little girl as the contact person. Such an unexpected arrangement was something Li Rongshang had never anticipated.
He slowly lowered his head, leaning closer to Song Luo.
His sudden proximity brought the faint scent of fresh grass to her nose.
Li Rongshang lowered his voice and said, "I am."
He expected that upon hearing this, Song Luo would directly make contact with him or produce a secret letter to hand over.
He was just waiting to get that letter, to see how General Song had nurtured treacherous intentions and how he planned to rebel.
When the time came, he would surely lead his army and wipe out Wu Qishan's vicious bandits and General Song together.
When Song Luo heard Li Rongshang say he was, her almond-shaped eyes sparkled as she fixed her gaze on him, like a hunter eyeing the most satisfying prey.
Song Luo took a deep breath, suppressing the wild joy in her heart, and blurted out: "Stop being a bandit."
Li Rongshang was stunned. "Then what should I be?"
A spy?
An informant?
Or something else?
"Be my lover."