Separation

Ning Rongrong chased after him until she was out of breath, her pink skirt fluttering, yet she could never catch even a glimpse of Lin Fan. This Guy moved like a cat, nimble and swift, darting through streets and alleys before finally slipping into a secluded lane.

She refused to let up. The moment she turned into the alley, however, there was nothing in sight.

"Where did he go?" she asked, warily looking around.

"I'm up here." A calm voice came from overhead.

Ning Rongrong abruptly looked up to see Lin Fan sitting leisurely on the eaves, curling his lips into a smile at her.

The next second, he leaped down as lightly as a swallow and landed steadily behind her. With a casual shove, he sent several wooden crates at the alley entrance tumbling down with a bang, sealing off the exit.

Just like that, the Little Witch was trapped inside.

"Jie Jie Jie." Lin Fan let out a strange laugh. "Now you've fallen into my hands. You chased me across three streets. Do you really not know how to get tired?"

"Y-You... What do you want?" Ning Rongrong backed away and fell to the ground, covering her chest with both hands. "You can rob me of money... but you're not allowed to rob me of my virtue!"

Lin Fan: ???

"Are you sick or something?!" He rolled his eyes speechlessly. "I don't have a thing for kids!"

Lin Fan really was a sucker for looks, and grown-up Ning Rongrong did have some charm that barely suited his tastes. But they were both only six years old right now—he truly did not have that kind of fetish!

He directly released the Soul Power pressure of a Soul Elder. Ning Rongrong was instantly pinned in place, her little face flushing red. "Y-You dare bully me? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect won't let you get away with this!"

"Heh, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Lin Fan sneered. "You came out without even a guard, and you still dare threaten me?"

Ning Rongrong was speechless, but she quickly gritted her teeth. "What exactly do you want?"

"I can let you go." Lin Fan withdrew his pressure, crossed his arms, and looked down at her. "But you have to carry things for me for one day. No using a Storage Soul Tool."

"What?!" Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. "You want me to be your laborer?!"

"Why should I?"

"Because you chased me across three streets and called me shameless." Lin Fan crouched with a smile and looked at her. "If you don't agree, I'll tie you up until dark."

Ning Rongrong's little face turned crimson with anger. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Want to test that?"

"Or I can tie you up right now and send you back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so your father can find out you sneaked out."

"By then, Sect Master Ning might even thank me."

Ning Rongrong immediately deflated. She feared neither heaven nor earth, but she was terrified of being locked in confinement.

"...Fine!" she agreed through gritted teeth.

Thus, a strange sight appeared on the streets of Heaven Dou City—a boy strolling leisurely in front, followed by a girl in a pink dress carrying a huge pile of snacks, toys, and even several heavy chunks of ore. Her little face was flushed from exhaustion.

"Hey! You did this on purpose, didn't you?!" Ning Rongrong stamped her foot furiously. "You bought so much stuff. Can you even finish it all?!"

"If I can't finish it, that's my business." Lin Fan took a bite from an apple, turned back, and flashed her a wicked smile. "Keep moving. Don't stop."

"Walk faster."

"Then stop shaking the bags around."

"Y-You... Just wait! I, Ning Rongrong, won't let you off!"

Ning Rongrong was so angry she wanted to bite him, yet she could do nothing about him.

But as they walked, she suddenly realized—although This Guy was detestable, at least he was not like everyone else. He did not fear her, avoid her, or hesitate to go against her.

For some reason, she actually found it... kind of interesting?

Ning Rongrong hugged the pile of things with gritted teeth, strange emotions churning in her heart. Ever since she was little, everyone had treated her with utmost respect. Even the two Titled Douluo grandfathers in her family had not dared speak harshly to her.

But this boy was not only unafraid of her—he dared tease her, punish her, and even make her do manual labor in public!

"Hey, what's your name, anyway?" she asked between breaths.

Lin Fan glanced back at her and smiled. "Why do you ask? Planning to kidnap me?"

"Hmph, don't get smug!" Ning Rongrong glared at him. "When I get back, I'll have my father investigate you! Then you'll suffer!"

Lin Fan shrugged, unconcerned. "Go ahead. Once you're done investigating, remember to treat me to a meal."

The sun gradually sank westward, staining the horizon orange-red. Lin Fan stopped, looked at the panting Ning Rongrong, and took the pile of items that had long since turned her little face red from the strain.

"It's getting late." He smiled faintly, his tone unusually gentler. "You can go."

Ning Rongrong froze, not expecting him to suddenly let her go. But she immediately puffed up her cheeks and glared at him. "You toyed with me all day, and that's it?"

Lin Fan raised an eyebrow. "What, do you want to keep being a laborer?"

"Who wants to be a laborer?!" Ning Rongrong stamped her foot angrily, but when she saw the half-smiling look in his eyes, her face inexplicably turned red.

After a long while, she bit her lip and suddenly asked, "Hey, what's your name? Next time... where can I find you?"

"Lin Fan." He answered casually. "At the Martial Soul Sacred Hall in Heaven Dou City. Come find me anytime."

"The Martial Soul Sacred Hall?" Ning Rongrong was stunned, then quickly understood. "You're from Spirit Hall?"

Lin Fan did not answer. He merely took a bright red apple from his robes and casually tossed it to her. "Take it. Eat it on the way."

Ning Rongrong caught it instinctively. Before she could say anything else, Lin Fan had already turned and disappeared into the crowd, his back looking so carefree that she wanted to punch it.

She looked down at the apple in her hand, then raised her head in the direction he had gone. Her teeth itched with anger, yet the corners of her lips unconsciously lifted slightly.

"Bastard... Don't let me catch you next time!" she muttered softly, but the name "Lin Fan" had somehow lodged itself in her heart.

Meanwhile, Lin Fan had already turned into another street when three Titled Douluo appeared soundlessly at his side.

Chrysanthemum Douluo teased, "Young Master, how did you end up provoking the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Lin Fan bit into another apple and replied carelessly, "Just having some fun. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can't do anything to me in the end."

Ning Rongrong came looking for Lin Fan almost every day. At first, it was for the sake of "revenge," but gradually, she discovered that she had begun looking forward to bickering with him and being teased by him.

The streets and alleys of Heaven Dou City became the two of their playground.

Lin Fan took her over walls and up trees, had her steal fruit, and even sneaked into the Soul Beast Market to touch the fur of young beasts.

Ning Rongrong had never played so wildly before. Every time she returned home, she was covered in bits of grass, yet she smiled more happily than anyone.

Lin Fan had now become the first person in her life who dared face her temper head-on and did not fear her status. He was also her only true friend.

"Hey, why didn't you call me Little Witch today?" Ning Rongrong asked one day as she kicked pebbles along the road.

Lin Fan was carving a wooden figure without even lifting his head. "Because you are one."

"Then why aren't you afraid of me?"

"Afraid of you?" He sneered and casually tossed the finished Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda carving to her. "Other than glaring and stamping your feet, what else can you do?"

Ning Rongrong caught the wooden carving, and her heart inexplicably warmed.

More than twenty days later.

Lin Fan also came clean to Ning Rongrong that he was going back to Spirit City.

Leaning against the city wall, Lin Fan suddenly spoke. "I'm going back to Spirit City tomorrow."

Ning Rongrong had been eating the candied hawthorn skewer he bought for her. At his words, she froze. "...Why?"

"I came here to play with the extra time I had after finishing a mission." He shrugged. "Besides, your father has probably already noticed that you sneak out every day."

Ning Rongrong clenched the corner of her clothes, and the sweetness of the candied hawthorn suddenly turned bitter. She abruptly raised her head. "Then where can I find you in the future?"