The two sisters went out to deliver gifts after receiving the festive offerings.
A’Man’s home was closer, so they would naturally go there first.
Carrying their gifts, the sisters found that every household had their doors wide open that day, welcoming friends and relatives.
Long Rui was practicing in the courtyard. Before the sisters even reached the entrance, he sensed their presence and was already waiting at the door.
Seeing him standing at the entrance, Shu Bei suddenly felt uneasy and wanted to switch places with her sister. However, he had already walked past her. "Xiao Rui, Happy New Year."
Long Rui flashed a wide, toothy grin. "An’an, Happy New Year."
With no other choice, Shu Bei slowly walked over and handed him the gift. "Long Rui, Happy New Year."
Long Rui accepted the gift and, intentionally or unintentionally, squeezed her fingers. "Xiao Bei, Happy New Year~"
The same words, yet spoken with a different feeling. Shu An's gossipy eyes swept between Long Rui and her sister. Oh my, this clearly different treatment, and they were acting as if no one else was around!
Shu An consciously stood a little further away.
Shu Bei blushed from his teasing and said with a mix of shyness and annoyance, "Call me sister!"
Long Rui grinned and complied, "Okay, Xiao Bei… Sister~"
Shu Bei: "..." Why did she feel even more uncomfortable!
The commotion outside did not escape A’Man and Ya. Ya came out, interrupting her son’s teasing, and warmly invited Xiao Bei and the others to stay. "Xiao Bei, An’an, you're here. Come in and sit. Auntie Ya has prepared some food."
Shu An politely declined, "No thank you, Auntie Ya. I still have gifts to deliver." As she spoke, she jiggled the gift bag in her hand.
Shu Bei quickly stood with her sister. "Yes, Auntie Ya, we still have gifts to deliver. We’ll come back after we’re done."
Ya asked, "An’an, who is this gift for?"
Shu An replied, "This is for Brother Yin Chuan."
Ya gave an "Oh" and smiled, "That won't delay you. Why don't I have Ruan Ruan accompany An’an to deliver it? Xiao Bei, you don't have Ruan Ruan's stamina, and Yin Chuan lives far away. You can wait at my house."
Without further ado, she pulled Shu Bei into the house. Shu Bei was on the verge of tears. "I'm fine. Exercising more is good for my health..."
Ya enthusiastically pulled her inside. Meanwhile, Ruan Ruan walked to Shu An's side. "Sister An, I'll go with you. With me here, no bad guys will dare to quietly kidnap you!"
Shu An: "..."
Long Rui smiled. "Let Ruan Ruan accompany you." His eyes even held a hint of 'please.'
Shu An: "..." Is it really okay to openly snatch someone like this!
Watching her sister being pulled inside, she called out from outside, "Then, Sister, you wait here for a bit. Ruan Ruan and I will be back after delivering this!"
Shu Bei called from inside, "No, I'll go with you..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ya brought over a plate of food and pressed it down. "Xiao Bei, try this. Auntie made it fresh this morning."
A’Man chimed in, "It's just been made. You're the first to taste it."
Shu Bei: "..."
Since she didn't come out for a long time, Shu An had no choice but to go deliver the items with Ruan Ruan.
Who was A’Man? Although his foolish son was adhering to that so-called five-year pact, he couldn't just let his foolish son run wild. He had watched Xiao Bei grow up and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he treated her like a daughter.
The family’s fortune should stay within the family. Xiao Bei must be his daughter-in-law. Ya had the same idea. Although Ya initially favored An’an, and An’an was practically delivered by her own hands, the two children just didn't click, and she gradually gave up on that idea. Xiao Bei was also very good.
Shu Bei could see their intentions. When they made an excuse to leave, leaving Long Rui and her alone, she understood!
Long Rui served tea and poured water, his fawning demeanor making it impossible for Shu Bei to get angry.
"Long Rui, you're still young..." Shu Bei was about to launch into a long speech when Long Rui interrupted her.
"Xiao Bei, let's become mates in five years."
This sudden statement caught Shu Bei off guard. "What?"
Long Rui dropped his playful smile and said seriously, "Xiao Bei, can you truly not see it, or are you pretending not to? Your future mate can only be me. Weak males won't even get past Uncle Wen Te, let alone protect you well."
"And among the companions we grew up with, only I am suitable for you. So Xiao Bei, please stop resisting my advances, okay? I'm really not young anymore!"
Long Rui really wanted to strip naked and let her see him properly. From head to toe, inside and out, there was nothing small about him. Age was simply not important!
His father was right, one could bet on anything except a mate. What if Little Si took some potent medicine and actually defeated him? Would he truly be willing to give up Xiao Bei?
He was unwilling, so he had to win this fight. At the same time, he couldn't neglect Xiao Bei. Who won or lost was not important; what mattered was whose heart Xiao Bei belonged to!
Therefore, Little Si, I apologize, but I cannot give up my mate.
Shu Bei was stunned by this speech. She had never considered this issue, or rather, she hadn't considered the issue of becoming mates. Why should she become mates with someone else? Wouldn't it be better to stay with her parents forever?
She composed herself and said, "Long Rui, no matter what you say, I'm not considering finding a mate right now. It's also uncertain whether I'll find a mate in the future. So, it's not that I'm resisting you, it's that I have no intention of developing a closer relationship with any male. Since Auntie Ya has gone out, I'll head home now."
Hmph, there was nothing to talk about with him!
As she got up, she was pulled back by a strong force. Long Rui said with a dark expression, "You can't leave! Eat the food before you go."
Shu Bei: "..."
She realized that Long Rui seemed different from before. He used to only try to please and act cute, but now he was so forceful with her. It was too much!
If he said to eat before leaving, then she would eat before leaving. Xiao Bei endured a gaze that was hard to ignore and finished a plate of pastries made by Ya, and also drank a cup of honey water before fleeing.
Fortunately, Long Rui did not follow her out, and Shu Bei breathed a sigh of relief and went home.
The reason Long Rui didn't follow her out was because of his father's words: when pursuing a female, one shouldn't be too pushy; there should be a balance.
At that moment, he was holding the cup she had drunk from, accurately aiming for the spot she had used to drink. Indeed, water that had added Xiao Bei's flavor tasted better.
Before long, A’Man and his wife returned. The father and son started again, one teaching and one learning how to make a female fall for them wholeheartedly.
When Ya heard about "balance," she couldn't help but laugh. Someone was teaching eloquently, but why didn't he think about how he himself had acted back then?
He had followed her everywhere, making her so annoyed. Wasn't that also disregarding balance at the time?
If she hadn't found raising the young Shu Yue amusing, she wouldn't have impulsively forced him. However, mating was indeed quite fun~
A’Man, who was currently instructing his son, suddenly felt his mate's intense gaze. He turned around, and the couple exchanged a knowing look. A’Man concealed the excitement in his eyes and said seriously to his son, "I'll only teach you this much today, so you don't forget. You stay home and look after your younger brother. Your mother and I are going out for something."