"Huh?! What's going on?"
Li Xing looked at Lucy in confusion.
Lucy turned helplessly to Aniekra and tried to dissuade her from her naive idea.
"Think this through. Are you sure you want a young man in the prime of his life to accompany us to the river to wash up? What if he can't control himself and does something to us? What then?"
Faced with Lucy's misgivings, Aniekra glanced aside and whispered, "I thought of that too! In that case, couldn't we just have him bring Little Jerry along?
You told me before that Mr. Li Xing was very respectful and protective of the children. I don't think he'd dare do anything inappropriate with Little Jerry beside him!"
Hearing this, Lucy looked thoughtfully down at Aniekra in her arms.
"Did you plan this all along? Otherwise, how could you have thought it through so thoroughly?"
"Lucy, you're so annoying. I only thought of it when I saw Mr. Li Xing just now. How did it become something I planned all along?"
Lucy thought it over and looked at Aniekra.
"True! If you'd planned it beforehand, you wouldn't have come to me first. You would have brought Li Xing to my door to talk about it."
"You agree?"
Aniekra hugged Lucy and asked happily. Lucy only nodded helplessly and explained.
"You're right. With Little Jerry watching, I don't think any of the young men in town would dare misbehave. After all, if anyone were to lead Little Jerry astray, neither Old Turner nor Uncle Angie Turner would forgive them."
Hearing Lucy agree to her proposal, Aniekra suddenly hugged her tight.
"That's wonderful! I knew you'd agree, Lucy! You're so good to me."
After hearing Aniekra's flattery, Lucy promptly pushed her away.
"All right! Hurry up and get ready! We still have to pick up Little Jerry at my house afterward!"
"Okay, I know!"
With that, Aniekra turned and ran into the house.
Li Xing, who had already walked over and was standing not far from the two, voiced his question.
"By the way, although I don't know what you're planning to do, it sounds like it involves me. Shouldn't you at least explain it to me?"
Facing Li Xing, who stood not far from her, Lucy gave an awkward laugh and explained what had happened.
"So, you and Aniekra are going to bathe at the river outside town, but you're worried it isn't safe, so you want me to protect you.
But at the same time, you're worried I might try something improper with you, so you want me to bring Little Jerry along and have him keep an eye on me?"
Li Xing sat on a stump by the door, holding his forehead and lamenting his helplessness.
"That's right. What, you're not willing? Or is it because Little Jerry's presence has put a damper on the urges you were already eager to act on?"
As soon as Lucy delivered that highly prejudiced retort, Li Xing sprang to his feet and rebuked her.
"That's slander! It's defamation! Defamation, I tell you~~"
"Pfft! Stop pretending. Can you honestly say you didn't feel even the slightest stirring when you heard?"
As she spoke, Lucy walked over to the stump Li Xing had just vacated and sat down.
"I... I did feel... a little stirring~~" Li Xing admitted he was tempted, his face full of shame and indignation.
Clap, clap, clap! A sound rang out.
Li Xing turned toward the sound and saw Lucy sitting on the stump he had occupied, applauding as she looked at him approvingly.
"Good! Good. That's why I agreed to Aniekra's idea!"
Li Xing asked in confusion.
"Why? What did I do?"
Lucy stopped clapping, crossed her legs, and propped her chin on one hand, her elbow resting on her knee. Watching Li Xing, she said,
"Because you can face what's in your own heart and speak of it. That's something most of the young men in town I've met don't have."
Hearing this explanation, Li Xing said, speechless,
"You judge how reliable someone is that easily?! Isn't that a bit too arbitrary?"
Lucy watched Li Xing walk to the door and lean against it. Looking at the sword at his waist, she said,
"Of course, there's more to consider than that. It's only one aspect.
But among the people I've met, there aren't many who are capable and can face their own thoughts. So when it comes to choosing someone for this kind of guard duty, someone like you is actually the most reliable."
Hearing Lucy's mildly complimentary words, Li Xing was naturally a little pleased.
A faint, pleased smile of pride appeared on his face.
Lucy, who had been watching Li Xing all along, naturally noticed his reactions.
He smiled without even realizing it after a couple of compliments. It really is more reassuring to deal with someone whose feelings show on his face, Lucy thought.
Li Xing, meanwhile, was recalling what Lucy had just said. The smile on his face grew even more obvious. Every now and then, he even grinned foolishly at Lucy, who sat nearby watching him.
Watching this, Lucy had a complicated mix of feelings for a moment. I didn't expect Li Xing to be the type who responds to kindness, not force!
Birds chirped and twittered in the woods,
while Li Xing and Lucy waited in front of Aniekra's house as its owner got ready.
With two taps, Aniekra emerged through the newly opened door.
Aniekra had changed out of her usual attire. She wore a loose purple-blue cloak with a hood attached.
The cloak seemed to conceal Lucy's figure completely, but it brought her fair, gentle face into prominence.
Only now did Li Xing realize that Aniekra, with her voluptuous figure and gentle temperament, was also a rare beauty.
"What? Are you staring in a daze?"
Lucy teased from the side.
Li Xing immediately turned his head away and changed the subject.
"Ah! The weather really is nice today. Aniekra, there are quite a few big trees near your house. They block most of the sunlight that shines here during the day. Hahahaha~~~"
Watching Li Xing forcefully change the subject, Lucy rolled her eyes and walked over to Aniekra.
Seeing that Aniekra's hands were empty, she asked,
"What's going on? Where did you put the things you prepared?"
In response to Lucy's question, Aniekra quietly told her what she had decided.
"Lucy, we've been at it for so long this time. I thought we should have a good wash, so I put everything in the carriage. Lucy, let's take the carriage this time!"
Aniekra's sudden decision gave Lucy a headache.
"But even if we go find a horse and come back now, think about it. By the time we've washed and returned, what time will it be?"
Hearing Lucy object, Aniekra, who had been rather excited, was somewhat disappointed.
Li Xing, who was standing nearby, chimed in with a question.
"Um, didn't you say we were bringing Little Jerry? How about I go to Lucy's place and bring Little Jerry here now?
On my way back, I can borrow a horse. What do you think?"
Li Xing's suggestion instantly lifted Aniekra's spirits.
"Really?! Mr. Li Xing, if you bring a horse back, how about I make your custom shoes for free?"
Lucy, who had been troubled, also recovered her spirits after hearing this.
But she slapped Aniekra on the backside and complained, "Easy for you to say. Don't ask me to help when the time comes!"
Seeing Lucy's reproachful gaze, Aniekra lowered her head guiltily.
Lucy said nothing more at this, merely turning to thank Li Xing.
"Sorry for the trouble, Li Xing. I'll get everything ready as quickly as I can. Just go straight to my house and bring Little Jerry out. As for the other children at my house, they're all very sensible, so you don't need to worry too much about them.
As for a horse, I recommend going near the lumber mill. Some of the coachmen there rent out their horses."
With that, Lucy took out her purse and checked how much was inside. Steeling herself, she prepared to take out five gold coins and give them to Li Xing.
But Li Xing had noticed that Lucy was not well-off to begin with. Before she could do so, he smiled at Aniekra, who stood nearby, and entered Gale State. In a flash, he was gone.
Just as Lucy had made up her mind and was looking down, ready to hand Li Xing the gold coins, Aniekra said, "All right! Mr. Li Xing has already left."
"What?"
When she raised her head, Li Xing was already nowhere in sight.
Seeing the stunned look on her Lucy's face, Aniekra teased her.
"Looks like even if someone doesn't let you help this time, he won't agree!"
Hearing Aniekra's words, Lucy turned and grabbed her in a hug.
"And whose fault is that, young lady?! And on top of that, you dare laugh at me. Take this!!!"
Soon, more playful cries rang out in front of Aniekra's house.