78: staggered thoughts

"Do you know who took you away from home?" Tu Nan asked the Two Children via mental link.

"Huh? ... An uncle." Miao Miao looked at the sky and thought for a long time, giving a vague answer.

"It was two uncles. One of them said that Young Miss Ranran sent him. Uncle Gaia went with us." Ao Ao's answer was much more specific.

So, Sheng Ranran really had sent someone.

"Thank you very much for your help with the Children."

Tu Nan thanked Sheng Ranran with a serious expression.

Regardless of what Sheng Ranran was thinking, she had indeed sent people to take the Children to a safe place. For this alone, she deserved Tu Nan's thanks.

Seeing that Tu Nan understood, Li breathed a sigh of relief; he could finally be at ease.

"I'll take my leave now." Sheng Ranran didn't care about Tu Nan at all. She said to Li with a sweet smile, "My father and I are sincerely waiting for your decision."

"We'll see." Li answered vaguely.

Sheng Ranran didn't pester him any further and left gracefully.

Tu Nan felt something was wrong.

"What decision?" She asked Li.

Li hesitated, but thinking of how much importance Tu Nan placed on the Children, he figured she might understand his decision.

"She told me today that if I can fight to the end in the Sheng Family's Family tournament, the Sheng Family can guarantee the Children noble status."

Tu Nan held the Children tighter. She drew energy from their chubby little bodies.

"So... the Family Karl introduced that Li mentioned last time, it's the Sheng Family?"

Tu Nan had found it strange last time and even asked Gaia to inquire about it.

"It wasn't introduced by Karl; Sheng Ranran just sought you out herself, right?"

Li, this straightforward Male Beast, had finally started using his brain, and then he used that bit of intelligence on her?

Tu Nan's tone was calm.

Even though Li could see Tu Nan standing right in front of him, he felt her expression was blurred, making it impossible for him to see clearly.

"Tu Nan..."

Li felt an indescribable panic, but more than that, a discomfort from not being understood.

He didn't know how to express his sense of powerlessness to Tu Nan.

Since Tu Nan came to his side, Li felt he had gained an extra responsibility: at first, he just wanted to support Tu Nan and have the Children.

But gradually, he had more and more thoughts.

He wanted to take good care of Tu Nan so she wouldn't live any worse than anyone else.

He once thought he had succeeded.

But everything that happened last night shattered his self-righteousness completely.

He and his comrades followed the trail of the Star Worms to that courtyard.

That small courtyard was so similar to his home and had been decorated so warmly. But it was useless; when danger came, everything came to an abrupt end.

Star Worms were tearing at a Female Beast; even though her body had already been torn to pieces by the Star Worms, she didn't let go of the Child she was clutching tightly in her arms.

But even so, the Child in its infancy wasn't saved; it died all the same, its head half-bitten off by the Star Worms.

The Male Beast in the courtyard had lost his legs and was roaring in the corner, sounding nothing like a human.

They rushed in to kill the rampaging Star Worms, but they couldn't restore that warm home to what it was.

In his eyes, the appearance of that Female Beast turned into Tu Nan, and that Child... turned into Miao Miao and Ao Ao.

He almost became a deserter, wanting only to rush back to Tu Nan's side.

The person sent by Sheng Ranran appeared at that moment.

He told Li that Tu Nan was safe in the banquet hall, and the Two Children... had already been settled in a shelter by people sent by Sheng Ranran.

At that moment, Li's thoughts changed.

"I was still a bit hesitant, but today..."

His expression was cold.

"You see, once something happens, those nobles can have guard teams for protection, or at the very least go to a shelter. But commoners... can only rely on themselves."

"You didn't see it, there are already casualties outside," he said coldly, "they are all commoners."

He was afraid of scaring Tu Nan, so he didn't recount the tragedy he saw, but he was determined to get Tu Nan and the Children a higher status.

He recalled Tu Nan's story about her wandering in the desert. He didn't want her to face any life-threatening danger; he wanted Tu Nan to be able to live safely and without worries.

Didn't Tu Nan want to move to a planet in the inner circle?

He had calculated before that as long as he helped Sheng Ranran win five consecutive matches, the money would be enough to buy a house on Ming Shan Star.

It was a more livable planet and also safer.

He hoped to give Tu Nan a surprise, but who knew that plans couldn't keep up with changes.

Sheng Ranran helped the Children, and he owed her a favor.

Then Sheng Ranran told him that this tournament was actually an internal competition within the Sheng Family, and he couldn't withdraw.

And... it actually required him and Sheng Ranran... for his final victory to have meaning.

"You see, I was just afraid you would overthink things. I am also doing this for the Children."

He didn't dare to look at Tu Nan and also swallowed back the real demands that the Sheng Family and Sheng Ranran had made.

"For the Children..."

Tu Nan smiled lightly.

Li still had things unsaid; what was he hiding that he couldn't let her know?

A Female Beast inexplicably starting to care about a Male Beast and his Children?

What else could that be for?

Moreover, she was too familiar with Sheng Ranran's methods. That Female Beast's target from beginning to end was Li.

A real noble Young Miss, really interested in a rough guy like Li?

No... the ambition and calculation in that woman's eyes when she looked at Li were full, without a shred of affection.

Exactly the same as Tu Nan herself.

And in the gaze Sheng Ranran turned towards her, there was only disgust and killing intent.

So... even if she didn't look at the life countdown marked by the System, and was willing to give up the mission and ignore the passage of precious time.

Could she really stay by Li's side and accompany the Children as they grew up in peace?

Tu Nan expressed doubt.

She had originally planned to tell Li that she had found a backer, the McCoy in Sand City.

McCoy was a noble and also a military man. His status was high enough, but he wasn't Li's direct superior. This would give Li a lot of room to maneuver.

Li could climb up based on his own ability, and he wouldn't be constrained by authority.

Although this was a solution she thought of in the moment when she was forced yesterday, the more she thought about it later, the more she realized it was truly a perfect plan.

But now she didn't plan to tell Li.

She needed to reconsider the path ahead... she had to think about whether she could survive with the Children without Li.

McCoy... would be her own trump card. She didn't plan to reveal this card for the time being.

Li was still waiting—waiting for Tu Nan's reaction.

The Two Children returned to their mother's side, and once they were at ease, they became sleepy.

Tu Nan looked at the Two Children who were about to fall asleep, sighed, shook her head helplessly, and chided Li, "Alright, do you really think I would be angry at you?"

"Of course I know Li is doing this for the sake of the Children, for my sake."

Tu Nan left these words, turned around, and carried the two little ones back to the room.

Li didn't quite believe Tu Nan's words; he still felt that Tu Nan was angry, and he didn't know how to coax her, so he could only stand in the courtyard hesitantly.

The door opened once again.

Tu Nan stood at the doorway and asked him gently.

"You've been busy all night, Li, you must be tired..."

"Why are you still standing there blankly now that you're home? Go wash up. You don't need to return to the camp today, right?"

Li's eyes lit up.

Tu Nan was smiling; was she really not angry?

This was great!