Overthinking

"..."

"Bai Hu?"

"No, I'm not talking about it."

"Bai Hu, if you don't tell us we will keep pestering until you do." Zhu Que said with a glint of determination in his eyes.

"..."

Bai Hu knew that Zhu Que would do as he said he would since he did this once. That time, he pestered him for 3 days 3 nights without rest and he couldn't shake him off no matter what. He is a very stubborn fellow and a very sly one at that too. Bai Hu unconsciously shivered slightly before sighing.

"..Fine. That plum tree was there because it was the vision my mother showed me when I was still a cub."

"Wait hold on. You have a mother?" Xun Ying interrupted.

Bai Hu gave her a look.

"Cough. Cough. Sorry, you may continue."

"As I was saying. It was in a vision that my mother showed me. It was a figure with its back towards me, my mother told me that the one I'm looking at is my fated one."

"Oh~! So our proud Bai Hu actually has a girl living inside his heart."

Bai Hu turned his head away from them, grumbling, "Shut up."

And under his breath, he let out a whisper, "Who said it's a girl."

His ears turn a little bit red.

"So who is she?"

"I don't know."

"Che!" Zhu Que lost interesting in questioning Bai Hu.

Bai Hu mumbled, "I'll never tell them who it is, I'll rather die. I'll never admit that it's-."

No one but Baobao and Xun Ying heard Bai Hu's mumbling, especially the last faint whisper, barely detectable. The other three are chattering among themselves.

Xun Ying looked at the four divine beasts in front of her, she let out a little chuckle with a glint of mischief in her eyes.

[Looks like it's going to be fun!]

{???}

[Matchmaking~]

{But they are all- oh! Okay. Ask me if there is anything I can help with.}

[Ah~ Baobao you are the best~]

Xun Ying rubbed Baobao on the head, fondly.

{Mhm.}

The four divine beasts looked at their interactions, feeling a bit grumpy inside.

"I want head pats too!" Zhu Que declared as he moved closer to Xun Ying.

With her free hand, she pats Zhu Que on the head.

She looks up to see the other three also looking at her with expectations and interest.

Bai Hu turned away after noticing that Xun Ying was looking at him.

Xuan Wu said, "Interactions with each other increase affection with one another even small things that usually tend to go unnoticed."

[Even the way Xuan Wu requests things is unique.]

She pats the little tortoise on the head.

"It feels warm, how interesting."

Qing Long transformed into his small dragon form and wrapped himself on Xun Ying's wrist, as Xun Ying rubbed Qing Long's head.

[Hm. The initiative one. A gong?]

Xun Ying rubbed Bai Hu on the head, having a feeling that the little cub is sulking.

Bai Hu pats Xun Ying's head with his paws, "Humph! This one doesn't ask for it."

Even though he said so, his head leans towards Xun Ying and his pats are very soft...

Xun Ying's mouth curls up in amusement.

[He's like a grumpy kitten. Well, technically tigers are big cats.]

Knock. Knock.

"Hm?"

"Ah Ying! It's me!"

"It's that annoying brat." Bai Hu grumbled.

Bai Hu and Zhu Que went inside the painting, Xuan Wu also followed them, only Qing Ling stayed where he was.

"Hm? Qing Long?"

"Don't worry he wouldn't notice. He'll just think that I'm a unique jade bracelet."

"...okay. But wouldn't you be disturbed?"

"It's okay."

Qing Long snuggled close to Xun Ying's wrist, making himself comfortable.

Xun Ying felt cool where Qing Long is, so she doesn't really mind. It was rather comfortable.

[Is it because some dragons are cold-blooded? Dragons and snakes are quite similar.]

"Mhm..so warm." Qing Long mumbled, closing his eyes.

[Hm. Qing Long is acting a bit strange today. Did he have a cold?]

Before Xun Ying can ponder farther, Zhao Baixue knocks again.

"Ah Ying? Are you in there?"

"Hm. Come in."

Zhao Baixue opened the door and peeked his head in.

"I'm coming in~"

"Hm."

Zhao Baixue bounces towards Xun Ying.

"Grandfather Tian is really too much. He is keeping me busy. I wonder why."

Zhao Baixue sat on the chair.

[Hm. He's up to something. Is he having weird thoughts again?]

In Tian Ming's courtyard...

"Ah-achoo! Ah-achoo!"

"Dear, did you get a cold?"

"No. Someone must be talking about me. Must be that brat. He is complaining. Humph."

"I heard that you are keeping Ah Xue busy this afternoon."

"Humph. Of course. He must have some ideas on our Xun Ying."

"How could that be. He is still a child. You must be overthinking."

"I'll rather be safe than sorry. Humph. Xun Ying is such a good girl beside her attitude why would no one like her. Humph. If they really don't, then they must be blind. Humph."

"Yes, yes. Ah Ying is very pretty and smart as well as adorable and obedient so of course, no one would dislike."

"Exactly my point! That's why he must have an ulterior intention."

"..."

"Humph!"

"My dear, you are overthinking. Besides they are cousins."

"So? People used to marry their cousins in the past just like that whatever group that keeps to themselves and marries their cousins for keeping their bloodline pure."

Zhao Ziyang sighed.

[Poor child. He just wants to play with Ah Ying since there are not many people his age here. I'm sure Ah Ming is just overthinking again.]

Back in Xun Ying's room…

"So what are you doing here?"

"What? Can't I visit you?"

"..."

[In the evening?]

"Anyway, I found this thing near your courtyard."

Zhao Baixue held up a small snow-white fox.

"Near my courtyard? What's it doing here?"

"I don't know. Cheng ge usually said that this type only exists in the Estervale Forest."

[Estervale Forest?]

{Yup. We met Lin Huan there.]

[I see. Could this fox cling onto me when I was leaving? Interesting.]