Hei Xiao pretended not to notice Lin Shuang's shyness and embarrassment, and said indifferently, "With the prince here, you don't need to worry about the princess. The situation is complicated right now. Being outside is not the same as being at home. As a young lady, you shouldn't go out at night. Go back to sleep."

The words were spoken with genuine concern, yet the tone was remarkably flat.

In addition, given Black Owl's usual nonchalant and unrestrained demeanor in public, the conversation sounded very perfunctory, devoid of any genuine feeling, and was just something he said offhand.

But Lin Shuang was not disappointed, because the Black Hawk she knew had always been this kind of person.

If he were someone who didn't care at all, he wouldn't even mention it casually;

So, he still cares about her.

“Brother Xiao, actually, I…” Lin Shuang lowered her head and twisted the ribbon on her clothes, speaking softly.

Seeing her like this and speaking like that, Hei Xiao felt a chill run down his spine: "Lin Shuang, it's late. We still have to travel tomorrow. Go back to sleep. I'm going back to sleep too."

With that, Black Owl got up to leave.

"Brother Xiao!" Seeing him about to leave, Lin Shuang was anxious and quickly stepped forward to block his way. Her face flushed, she said hurriedly, "Brother Xiao, wait a moment, I have something to tell you."

Black Owl clenched his fist secretly, a roguish and wicked smile spreading across his face. He extended a finger and lifted Lin Shuang's chin, his tone light and teasing: "Lin Shuang, you're a young lady, and you've cornered me here in the middle of the night to talk. You're not thinking of saying you like me, are you?"

"I……"

Lin Shuang was so embarrassed by his teasing that her heart pounded like a drum.

But just as she was about to say "yes," she heard Black Owl say again, "I'm only telling you this because you're a good girl and we're acquaintances; when you look for a man in the future, keep your eyes open and never like someone like me. People like me have a heart full of temptations, which a gentle and virtuous girl like you can't fill."

Lin Shuang: "..."

Was she rejected?

"You're scared already?" Hei Xiao waved his hand in front of Lin Shuang's blank eyes, laughing as nonchalantly as ever: "You silly girl, alright, people like me are just a minority. There are still many good men in the world. Don't be so silly that you won't dare to get married in the future; if that doesn't work, there's still the Princess. She loves you all so much, she will definitely help you choose a good one."

After saying that, Black Owl covered his lips with his hand and yawned widely. As he walked back, he said listlessly and wearily, "The night wind is so cold. Coming out to sober up was definitely a bad idea. I'd better go back to my warm bed!"

Lin Shuang watched as Hei Xiao leisurely departed from Bei Ying, tears welling up in her eyes;

After standing there blankly for a long time, Lin Shuang finally pouted and cried out softly, "Brother Xiao, I just like you the way you are."

Black Owl stood at the corner of the inn, quietly watching Lin Shuang's exceptionally frail figure in the night. It wasn't that he didn't feel sorry for her, nor that he didn't pity her.

Instead, he suddenly realized that in the world of love, liking is liking, and disliking is disliking, regardless of being moved or having anything to do with being good to someone.

Then why did he have feelings for the young female bandit?

Why did I suddenly feel relieved later?

Black Owl silently returned to his room.

Under the candlelight, Ji Fengming lay fast asleep, drunk.

Ji Fengming's phoenix eyes, slightly closed, with a hint of upturned corners and a faint blush from drinking, were incredibly alluring.

Suddenly, a pair of eyes flashed through Black Owl's mind!