We're only eight, we can't!

"Go on then, but don't wander around inside Skywater Academy. After all, it's an all-female academy, and there are many places where it's not convenient for you to enter."

Lan Ruyue still wore a gentle smile.

"Then... then I'm off, okay?"

Shui Bing'er tentatively shuffled toward Yu Tianchen.

Seeing that Lan Ruyue truly had no intention of lecturing her, she didn't hesitate for even a fraction of a second.

Shui Bing'er immediately grabbed Yu Tianchen's hand and quickly departed from the area.

"This girl, she certainly knows how to slip away fast."

Watching Shui Bing'er bolt without looking back, Lan Ruyue couldn't help but smile helplessly.

But then, her smile vanished.

Her gaze locked onto Shui Yue'er, who was currently attempting to inch toward the door.

"Yue'er."

Her voice carried a note of severity.

"Mo... Mother..."

Shui Yue'er forced a smile that looked worse than crying.

At the same time, she had already begun mentally stabbing Yu Tianchen and Shui Bing'er with needles.

So unprincipled!

The two of you ran off so quickly!

Did you even think about whether I'd survive?!

At this moment, Shui Bing'er had indeed completely forgotten about Shui Yue'er.

She pulled Yu Tianchen's hand, sprinting rapidly through the academy.

"Slow down, don't trip."

Yu Tianchen spoke up helplessly.

Didn't the original work say that Shui Bing'er was calm and intelligent?

He truly couldn't see a trace of it.

It wasn't until they reached the gate of Skywater Academy that Shui Bing'er finally stopped, panting heavily.

"Phew! Survived!"

She looked up at the sun in the sky; although she was out of breath, she didn't look tired at all.

Instead, she felt more like someone who had just escaped a disaster.

"You don't have to be that afraid of your mother, do you?"

Watching Shui Bing'er's look of relief, Yu Tianchen said, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry.

"Oh, you don't understand."

Shui Bing'er looked at Yu Tianchen.

She was just about to vent to him about Lan Ruyue when she realized she was still holding his hand.

Her pretty face suddenly flushed red, and she hurriedly let go.

"So, um."

Shui Bing'er didn't look at Yu Tianchen's face, pointing toward the street to change the subject.

"I'll take you for a tour around the city."

"Let's go, let's go."

As she spoke, she took the lead and started walking.

Yu Tianchen looked at Shui Bing'er's incoherent behavior, completely baffled and unable to make sense of it.

Why did she suddenly blush?

Could it be that she was shy because she was holding his hand?

Thinking of this possibility, Yu Tianchen felt the urge to tease Shui Bing'er.

He stepped forward, came to her side, and asked:

"Where are you planning to take me?"

As he spoke, he reached out his wicked hand again, tentatively trying to hook his fingers around her fair, soft, and tender hand.

Shui Bing'er was just about to say something when her delicate body suddenly trembled.

She looked down and saw that Yu Tianchen's hand had somehow taken hold of hers again.

Instantly, her already rosy, pretty face flushed an even deeper shade of red.

"L-let's go to the plaza."

She did not resist, letting Yu Tianchen hold her hand, though her voice carried a hint of shyness.

Yu Tianchen watched as Shui Bing'er merely acted shy, showing no intention of pulling away.

The smile that had been on his face instantly froze.

Wait, no!

How is this completely different from what I imagined?

Aren't you supposed to shyly shake off my hand and then walk away even faster?!

What is this "shy but not resisting" supposed to mean??

We're only eight years old, this isn't allowed!!

Yu Tianchen felt a sudden urge to let go of Shui Bing'er's hand.

But since it was his own teasing intent that had led him to reach out in the first place, letting go now would not only embarrass Shui Bing'er, but land him in an awkward spot as well.

Helpless, Yu Tianchen could only put on a thick-skinned facade, holding Shui Bing'er's hand as they walked along the street together.

What he didn't know, however, was that in a tree not far away, Yu Yuanzhen was half-reclining on a branch, watching the scene with a chuckle.

"Oh my, youth... tsk tsk."

"How wonderful."

Yu Tianchen and Shui Bing'er spent the entire day playing in the city.

As the daughter of the Skywater City lord, Shui Bing'er knew exactly where all the fun spots in Skywater City were.

It wasn't until the sun was about to set that the two of them finished their outing.

"Tianchen, why don't you and your grandfather come stay at my house tonight!"

Walking down the street, Shui Bing'er said to Yu Tianchen.

"No thanks."

Yu Tianchen shook his head and said with a smile:

"My grandfather and I are planning to leave here in a little while."

The whole point of this trip was simply to come and visit Shui Bing'er. Neither Yu Tianchen nor Yu Yuanzhen had any intention of staying the night in Skywater City.

"Ah? But it's almost nightfall already; won't it be dangerous for you to leave at this hour?"

Hearing that Yu Tianchen didn't plan to stay, a clear look of disappointment appeared on Shui Bing'er's face.

"Dangerous? Don't forget, my grandfather is a Titled Douluo."

Yu Tianchen smiled and pinched Shui Bing'er's cheek.

After a full day of playing, the affection between the two had climbed rapidly. Not only had Yu Tianchen's actions become bolder, but Shui Bing'er was no longer resisting these obviously intimate gestures.

"I suppose that's true..."

Shui Bing'er's voice was noticeably dejected.

"Alright, Bing'er, don't be so disappointed."

Yu Tianchen said with a smile:

"My grandfather and I have serious business to attend to on this trip, so we can't stay."

"We're both still too young; there's plenty of time in the future."

"What's more important for you right now is to cultivate diligently."

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Shui Bing'er nodded gently, though the disappointment on her face showed no signs of fading.

The two walked all the way until they reached the city gates.

Yu Yuanzhen had already been waiting by the carriage for quite some time.

"Alright, this is as far as we go."

Yu Tianchen stopped in his tracks and said to Shui Bing'er with a smile:

"By the time I come back, I might even have a surprise for you."

Having walked the whole way, Shui Bing'er's mood had clearly eased significantly.

She looked at Yu Tianchen and said earnestly:

"When you come back next time, I will definitely have caught up to your level."

"Then I shall wait and see."

"I'm off."

Yu Tianchen waved at Shui Bing'er, then headed toward Yu Yuanzhen.

"Yu Tianchen!"

He had barely taken two steps when Shui Bing'er's voice suddenly rang out.

Just as Yu Tianchen was about to turn around.

He felt a weight on his body, followed by a soft, warm sensation pressed against his cheek.

"Stay safe on the road, I'll be waiting for you."

Shui Bing'er's voice whispered in Yu Tianchen's ear, and by the time he reacted, she had already run far away.

He stared blankly at her retreating figure, gently touched his cheek, and suddenly chuckled.

Had he just been ambushed?

"Little Chen, you really don't intend to stay the night?"

At this moment, Yu Yuanzhen's amused voice sounded from beside him.

It was clear that Yu Yuanzhen had witnessed the entire scene.

"No."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Yu Tianchen's face, but he ultimately shook his head and looked at Yu Yuanzhen:

"Let's go, Grandfather."