Chapter 3: Little Girls Are the Best After All!
“Oh no!”
Xu Bai panicked, immediately pulling her hood back up and nervously glancing around.
Strangely, the passing crowd seemed oblivious, none paying attention to the incident.
Xu Bai’s face flickered with confusion, but she was also relieved.
If her non-human features were discovered, things would become very troublesome.
And Xu Bai hated trouble.
“Wow, so cute!”
A girl’s excited voice suddenly rang out beside her. Xu Bai looked up instinctively, meeting a pair of sparkling eyes inches from her own. A faint, sweet fragrance drifted around her.
“Huh?”
Xu Bai startled, taking a step back.
But the other girl relentlessly closed the distance, swiftly scooping Xu Bai into a hug.
A slender, pale hand reached out, gently pinching Xu Bai’s cheek beneath the hood. The girl sighed contentedly,
“Mmm, soft and sweet. Little girls are the best after all!”
Before the assailant could pinch her again, Xu Bai wriggled free, retreating several steps and warning in a low voice, “Don’t come near me!”
Despite her usual stern tone, Xu Bai’s current delicate voice made the warning sound oddly incongruous.
The girl froze, then straightened up, lowering her head slightly and apologizing,
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve never seen such a cute little girl before. I couldn’t help myself… I’m really sorry!”
Xu Bai’s heart sank. She pulled her hood tighter, lowering her eyes,
“…You saw, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I saw. You’re very cute.” The girl nodded repeatedly.
“Cute?”
Xu Bai frowned.
At that distance, the girl couldn’t have just seen her silver hair; she must have also seen her face and her unusual golden, vertically-slitted eyes.
Those weren’t features typically described as “cute”…
Ignoring Xu Bai’s wariness, the girl’s eyes continued to sparkle. Seeing Xu Bai’s lack of response, she extended a hand. “By the way, my name is Sasha. What’s yours?”
Sasha looked at Xu Bai, a faint smile on her face, revealing two shallow dimples.
Xu Bai finally took a proper look at the girl. Besides herself, this girl was probably the prettiest Xu Bai had ever seen.
Her flaxen hair was neatly tied in a ponytail. Her features seemed ordinary at first glance, but the more Xu Bai looked, the more captivating they became.
Especially her bright smile, which was as refreshing as a spring breeze.
Her only flaw was her plain clothing, a simple, undyed, grayish-brown dress.
But more noticeable than her dress was the large backpack she carried, almost as tall as herself… Was she moving?
Xu Bai hesitated, but didn’t take Sasha’s hand or offer her name.
Sasha’s hand hung in the air, the awkwardness palpable. Yet, she continued to look at Xu Bai with interest.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the direction Sasha had come from, followed by several loud shouts,
“Make way! City Guard on official business!”
…City Guard?
The Empire hadn’t had a City Guard before. It seemed that after the war, the regular garrison knights had taken over city patrol duties.
Xu Bai looked curiously towards the source of the commotion, spotting several fully-equipped knights in light armor rushing against the flow of the crowd.
Wait, were they… coming this way?
“Haven’t shaken them off yet?”
Sasha muttered under her breath, tightening her grip on the large bag.
Xu Bai stiffly turned to look at the nonchalant Sasha, her eyelid twitching uncontrollably.
So that’s why she had been running…
“There’s the thief! Stop her!”
The City Guard spotted the conspicuous large bag in the crowd and shouted, drawing everyone’s attention.
For some reason, Sasha’s expression suddenly became conflicted. Instead of running immediately, she looked at Xu Bai with reluctance and asked shyly,
“Little girl, tell me your name quickly, or I won’t be able to find you later!”
Xu Bai: “…”
You’re still running away!
Xu Bai had a sudden premonition: she absolutely couldn’t get involved with Sasha. This girl was a walking disaster.
Under Sasha’s expectant gaze, Xu Bai remained silent, pulling her hood lower and seamlessly backing away into the crowd without hesitation.
It felt a little heartless, but Xu Bai desperately wanted to avoid trouble.
“That thief seems to have an accomplice! The one in black trying to run away! Don’t let them escape!”
The City Guard shouted again. The crowd around Xu Bai instantly parted, exposing her concealed figure.
“…Damn it.”
Despite the impeccable manners instilled in her by Sister Neily, Xu Bai couldn’t help but curse.
Unlike Xu Bai, Sasha’s eyes lit up again.
“Little girl, it looks like they’re after you too!”
You think?!
Sasha scratched her head, then, before Xu Bai could react, rushed forward, scooped her up, and declared,
“Little girl, let’s go!”
Once again, Xu Bai found herself unexpectedly in Sasha’s arms, her small body enveloped in a warm, soft embrace. The girl’s unique fragrance filled her senses, and for some reason, she couldn’t muster the strength to struggle.
“Miss Sasha, what are you doing?”
Xu Bai forced herself to calm down, asking as steadily as she could.
“Taking you with me!”
Xu Bai couldn’t see Sasha’s expression, but her voice sounded even more excited than before. “You’re so light! What’s your secret?”
…Is now really the time to ask that?
Xu Bai sighed inwardly, turning to look back.
The pursuing City Guards were far behind, struggling to navigate the dense crowd.
Meanwhile, Sasha moved through the throng like a deer in the forest, finding every foothold with nimble grace.
She was skilled, far more than she appeared…
“Little girl, actually…”
Sasha suddenly lowered her head, looking at Xu Bai’s face beneath the hood, a smile playing on her lips. “You’re not human, are you?”
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