An Yiqing turned her head, looking at him with puzzlement.
"Ahem! Well... Uh..." Ah Yi was a bit embarrassed, struggling for words, before finally managing to say, "Stay for a quick meal!"
An Yiqing gave a slight smile and shook her head, "No, thanks. Today is the first New Year’s Day since I reunited with my family, and I need to hurry back to be with them. Thank you for your kindness."
The twelve boys were taken aback— of course! This New Year’s Day was her first festival reunited with her family. Yet even so, she had still kept her promise and come here today.
A chord was gently struck, and the eyes of the twelve boys gradually changed.
"Right! Right! Being with family!" Ah Yi quickly nodded his head, apologizing for his earlier rashness, "Miss, you should hurry home then, or you’ll miss dinner. We really troubled you to make the trip today."
"Don’t mention it. I’m leaving. Farewell."
After seeing An Yiqing off, the twelve boys sat quietly in the hall, lost in thought.
"Ah Yi brother, why didn’t you agree to the lady’s request from yesterday?" asked the youngest of the twelve, Ah Shi, as he fiddled with his nimble fingers in a soft voice.
Ah Yi sighed and said gloomily, "I haven’t made up my mind yet. Let’s wait a few more days."
"Ah Yi brother, what are you worried about?" Ah Shi pushed up his glasses and slightly pursed his somewhat pale lips.
"You few brats!" Before Ah Yi could respond, Ah Er stood up, his strong arms swinging, and said in a low voice, "Isn’t Ah Yi brother worried about you guys? The lady is a good person, and the job she talked about is indeed the kind of thing we dream about. But the danger involved is far too great. Ah Yi brother fears that you are too young and impulsive! What if you rashly agree now and regret it later? Would you want the lady’s efforts to go to waste?"
"That’s right, Ah Er has it right," Ah Yi nodded and said in a low voice, "I know, you all aspire to be more than ordinary, craving comradeship and passion. But the job the lady mentioned is incredibly risky, requiring killing and daring feats. One careless move and you might even lose your life. I hope you’ll think it over carefully and not make a blind decision."
Ah Yi’s words silenced everyone; they looked at each other, their eyes brimming with uncertainty.
"Ah Yi brother, Ah Er brother, have you two made a decision?" the astute Ah Shi pushed up his glasses, asking calmly.
"Indeed. Ah Er and I decided yesterday; we’ve made up our minds to join the lady’s team. However, I hope that you will have your own thoughts and not just blindly follow what Ah Er and I do," Ah Yi said, worried he’d inadvertently ruin his brothers’ paths.
For a moment, the hall fell into a silent reverie, with everyone deep in thought.
As time ticked by, after a full forty minutes, Ah Shi was the first to speak.
"I’ve decided to join. I trust the lady and General Gu. They are not bad people. Besides, the lady genuinely treats us as friends. Like General Gu said, this path is a difficult one; we have to put in thousands of times more effort than others. I want to have a brilliant life, I want to forge bonds with friends who would die for each other, I want to ease the life of my younger siblings, and I also want to repay the lady’s life-saving grace with whatever little strength I have," said Ah Shi.
Ah Shi’s speech acted as a spark, igniting the flame in everyone’s hearts.
"Yes! Ah Yi brother, Ah Er brother! I’ve been wanting to join! Even though I’m young, I know what’s right and what’s wrong! The lady is a good person; she saved Mother Huang, saved Ah Shi. She gave us a new life! Following her can’t be wrong! I’m in!" said Ah San, the strongest of them, as he patted his chest and declared loudly.