"They say I'm disobedient. Disobedient children aren't good children, and naturally, they shouldn't play with me."
"That's funny, my father often says I'm disobedient too." This reminded him of his time among the Tuoba tribe. Whenever he showed curiosity about things from the Central Plains, his father would say this, and his brothers would laugh and mimic him. He sighed softly.
"Why do people always want others to listen to them?" Ruyin felt a sense of closeness seeing him like this. Her eyes darted around, and she confidently said, "They must be under the influence of a powerful Gu. When I grow up, I'll definitely develop an antidote for it."
Hearing this, the person before her forgot his earlier displeasure and looked at Ruyin with wide-eyed curiosity.
"Don't you believe me? Come again tomorrow, and I'll show you the Gu I raise," Ruyin announced loudly.
She jumped up, brushed the grass off her hands, and patted the boy's shoulder. He smelled a scent that was both bitter and sweet.
"I, I can't come..." The Tuoba tribe was negotiating with the Yeli tribe, and he wanted to explain that he had sneaked out, but the other party wouldn't listen.
Ruyin smiled mischievously: "You've been affected by the Gu now! If you don't come tomorrow, you'll turn into a big bug!" Before she finished speaking, she ran off quickly. After a few steps, she remembered something, turned back, cupped her hands around her mouth, and shouted:
"Hey what's your name ?!"
The wind picked up. Tuoba Chong had to raise his voice to send his answer back to Ruyin's ears:
"Tuoba Chong "
He saw Ruyin smile again, her dimples faintly visible, as if saying she understood.
Tuoba Chong realized he didn't know the girl's name.
"I haven't promised her I'd come tomorrow..." he murmured, encountering such an unreasonable person for the first time.
The slanting sun sank westward, dyeing the evening clouds gold. Tuoba Chong squinted to look. Ruyin's figure gradually shrank at the horizon, soon disappearing into the radiance.