Chapter 104: Chapter 103: Affection

Lin Youning encountered Xu Kuan on this side and hadn’t replied yet when she saw him asking questions one after another. She noticed that the guards in the distance had also spotted them and were pushing through the crowd towards them.

However, because Xu Kuan was the one approaching, Lin Youning wasn’t afraid, though Shanmoi was on guard against him with a wary look.

Before Shanmoi reached Lin Youning, the crowd suddenly became chaotic. Everyone looked over as someone shouted “murder” from within the crowd, causing panic.

As the crowd surged, Lin Youning only heard Shanmoi shout “Miss” before she disappeared from sight, and Lin Youning was pushed forward by the people.

This was the first time she had encountered such a situation. There were cries of children, pleas for help from adults, and Lin Youning couldn’t control her own body. The feeling made her afraid.

The next moment, she felt a strength pull her out of the crowd. Her vision shifted, and her body was pressed against a wall, shielded by a wall of flesh in front of her.

The sounds of crying and yelling continued outside, but Lin Youning felt she had found a quiet place. It was as if she had suddenly shifted from being a performer to a spectator.

She couldn’t see anything clearly in front of her, but there was a blue in front of her, Xu Kuan’s blue robe.

“It’s okay.” The words came from above her, clearly reaching Lin Youning’s ears despite being quiet amidst the noise.

Lin Youning looked up and met a pair of eyes—eyes that seemed able to see into her heart. Unlike the domineering gaze of her elder brother, this look could make her heart race with just a single glance.

Lin Youning quickly lowered her head and whispered, almost inaudible, “Thank you.”

However, Xu Kuan thought the young girl beneath him was frightened. But when he caught her gaze, he smiled, realizing she wasn’t quite as he had imagined.

It was unclear how long this lasted, but the crowd on the street grew increasingly noisy. Lin Youning didn’t know how much longer it would take, and being alone with Xu Kuan like this was inconvenient.

If Mrs. Kong really used her to marry Xu Kuan, it wouldn’t be bad, though she feared ending up a concubine instead of a wife.

The person seemed to understand what she was thinking.

“I suppose the crowd won’t clear up for a while. If we cut through here, there’s a small house owned by one of my subordinates. We can hide there for a bit, and I’ll send someone to send a message to the manor, bringing you back when it’s safe.”

Hearing no response, Xu Kuan smiled again, “Scared?”

He couldn’t help but recall the time he had stumbled upon her bathing. She hadn’t seemed frightened then, either.

“Then many thanks, General Xu.” Lin Youning didn’t raise her head, yet she could imagine the smugness on Xu Kuan’s face at this moment.

It was like the time in her past life when he secretly entered her boudoir at night, claiming he wanted to marry her, while she hurried him to leave, saying Gu Er would not come, and everyone in the Capital knew.

At that time, she wished she could bite this man to death.

Was it because everyone in the Capital knew Gu Er wouldn’t enter her chamber that he dared to break in at night?

Now, living another life with an older heart, Lin Youning suddenly realized that there was actually no enmity between her and Xu Kuan.

Truthfully, Xu Kuan, as an outsider, always helped her and was infatuated with her. He was genuinely good to her.

With this in mind, why should she fear him?

Having figured it all out, Lin Youning felt more at ease when facing Xu Kuan.

For a moment, Xu Kuan was dazed by the smile on the woman’s face.

Amid the thousands of colors, he seemed to have found the answer here.

The alley was also packed with people scattering, but Xu Kuan, being tall and from the battlefield, easily shielded Lin Youning along the wall to the small house at the back.

Once inside the house, with the door closed, the noise from outside quieted down.

Lin Youning straightened her hair and clothes and made a bow to Xu Kuan, “Thank you, General Xu.”

“No need to be polite.” Xu Kuan glanced at his hand.

His hand had held a sword, but it was the first time it had held something so soft and boneless, and he couldn’t forget the feeling of holding that small hand.

“General Xu?” Seeing him silent, Lin Youning called him again.

Xu Kuan raised his head, the night concealing the blush on his face. Looking at the stunning beauty in front of him, Xu Kuan turned away, placing his hands behind him.

“I’ll go in and check if anyone’s home and ask for a cup of hot tea.”

Lin Youning was puzzled, “The courtyard gate wasn’t locked earlier, there should be someone, right?”

“I picked the lock in the heat of the moment.” Xu Kuan seemed a bit embarrassed and walked forward in large strides.

Lin Youning was initially stunned, then her face turned red, not from shyness, but from anger.

This man, bringing her into someone else’s house, entering like a thief.

Now, it was obvious to guess. The gate was locked, and on such a holiday, how could anyone be here?

Thinking back to the last life, when this man never played by the rules, Lin Youning called to him, “Never mind, no one’s there even if you go. Let’s check outside again and leave.”

Now Lin Youning started suspecting if this was really one of his subordinate’s houses.

Chances are it’s just a lie he made up.

Now Lin Youning just wanted to leave the house quickly, to avoid any embarrassment if someone came back and saw them.

With a smile on his lips, Xu Kuan returned, “You seem not to be afraid of me?”

“Why should I be afraid of General Xu?” Lin Youning didn’t look at him, initially intending to walk outside, but stopped as she heard people knocking and asking for help, stopping her steps.

It seemed that they really couldn’t leave soon now.

Observing her actions, Xu Kuan said with a gentle smile, “Rest assured, I might not have the key, but this is indeed my subordinate’s house. He earned it as a reward from me.”

Thus explained, it made sense.

Lin Youning was satisfied with this explanation, her face, however, uncontrollably turned red. This man surely had sharp eyes, discerning at once that she suspected he was lying.

Seeing the little girl’s face gradually turn bright red, Xu Kuan couldn’t help but smile even wider.

This beautiful little girl was also amusing, truly endearing.

Especially the soft and boneless hand; he wondered if he could touch it again.

Xu Kuan wasn’t someone who restrained himself. Whatever he thought of, he would just do. Thinking of the hand, he reached out directly.

Lin Youning didn’t know his intentions, nor what he wanted to do. Trusting him, she didn’t dodge. Until she watched him lift her hand, looking at it back and forth in front of her, her ears began to flush.

“Xu Kuan.” Lin Youning withdrew her hand, her almond eyes glaring at him.

Xu Kuan, seeing no fault in his actions, softly laughed, truly handsome and mature, “You addressed me by my given name?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep