Mu Anxiao clutched the bundle in her arms and glanced at the girl. "Why do your words sound so strange to me? It's as if we're taking you away to elope."
"No, I mean, if it weren't for you, I might have died of thirst and hunger," the girl said, lowering her gaze with a strange shyness.
Mu Anxiao didn't notice her change. "It's no use telling me. Our young master is the one who decides where we stay."
The girl glanced at Mu Anxiao, pursed her lips, and smiled slightly as she looked at Shen Yan, calling out, "Young Master."
Shen Yan's body stiffened. He stopped and turned to the girl. "There are wild beasts here at night. You'd best go home quickly, or you'll be eaten, and no one will care for you."
"You..." The girl started to speak but stopped, then turned and put on a pitiful expression. "Young master..."
"Go away, don't call me young master," Mu Anxiao said, rubbing her arm. "That one word from you is giving me goosebumps."
"Then what should I call you?" the girl asked aggrievedly.
"You don't need to call me anything. My young master wants you to go back where you came from. Don't follow us." Mu Anxiao stepped aside, deliberately keeping her distance from the girl.
The girl thought of what the man in the pale blue robe had said and wasn't willing to give up. She stepped closer to Mu Anxiao. "My household cook makes delicious food, much better than these rations of yours. Besides," she glanced at the bundle in Mu Anxiao's arms, "these rations won't last until tomorrow, and it's all woods ahead. If you keep going, you'll starve to death."
"Mu Anxiao, let's go," Shen Yan said coldly.
Mu Anxiao ignored Shen Yan, looked down at her bundle, and touched her easily hungry stomach. After much internal debate, she looked up at Shen Yan. "She's right. I can't starve."
"You go yourself."
"You're not going?" Mu Anxiao asked in surprise.
Shen Yan glanced at the girl and sighed. "Fine, go ahead."
Mu Anxiao was surprised that Shen Yan would break his usual habit and listen to her. Looking at Shen Yan's face, she smiled. "Young master is so easy to talk to. From now on, I will definitely..."
"Be quiet," Shen Yan interrupted.
Mu Anxiao swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue, smiled, and turned to the girl. "Do you want another piece?"
The girl didn't dare to savor the taste of the rations again and quickly waved her hand. "No, thank you."
"Alright," Mu Anxiao nodded and took out a piece of dry ration from the bundle, starting to eat.
Shen Yan watched Mu Anxiao's behavior helplessly and said, "You're eating now, will you still eat later?"
"Yes," Mu Anxiao said as she ate, pointing at the girl. "Lead the way."
"Okay," the girl smiled and turned to lead the way.
Mu Anxiao followed behind the girl, feeling the temperature gradually drop. "How far is your home?" she asked, shivering slightly.
"It's just past this forest," the girl said, panting slightly.
Mu Anxiao took out her water flask from the bundle. Just as she was about to twist open the lid, the girl said, "I'm so thirsty."
Mu Anxiao licked her noticeably dry lips, recalling the girl's astonishing capacity for water, and hesitated.
"Young master, you..." the girl started, and as she turned, her gaze locked onto the water flask in Mu Anxiao's hand. "You're truly too kind." She then reached out her hand.
Mu Anxiao pursed her lips and deliberately moved the water flask a little further away. "I can give it to you, but you have to leave some for me. I'm thirsty too."