This scent made Zhi Yao freeze in ce instantly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She sniffed the air sharply, trying to catch that Wolf Tribe scent again, but it had already vanished. The scent disappeared so quickly, as if it had never been there at all.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
While Zhi Yao was still in a daze, Little Lychee couldn''t contain her excitement. She grabbed Zhi Yao''s hand and said enthusiastically, "Mommy, mommy, look! This is my good friend. His name is Ling Xiao."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Zhi Yao snapped back to reality and looked at the little dumpling standing beside her. Unable to resist, she reached out and pinched the little boy''s cheek. The feeling was better than she had expected.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She couldn''t help but rub his cheek several more times until the little dumpling in front of her showed a very displeased expression. Only then did Zhi Yao withdraw her hand.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She crouched down to Ling Xiao''s level and asked, "Little one, where are your parents? Didn''t theye to pick you up?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Ling Xiao looked aloof, or rather, he wasn''t just looking aloof—he truly was aloof.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He gave Zhi Yao a once-over and said, "Miss, your behavior just now was very impolite."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As he spoke, he took two steps back, as if trying to distance himself from Zhi Yao.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Seeing this, Zhi Yao couldn''t help butugh.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
What an adorable little fellow.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I''m sorry, I apologize to you. You''re just so cute that I couldn''t help myself. I hope you can forgive me."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Little Lychee, standing nearby, quickly corrected Ling Xiao, "Ling Xiao, this isn''t just some ''miss,'' this is my mommy. You should call her auntie, though I wouldn''t mind if you called her mommy too."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Ling Xiao red at Little Lychee and said, "Nonsense. I''m leaving now, stop bothering me."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
With that, he shook off Little Lychee''s hand and turned to leave.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Little Lychee was about to chase after him, but to her surprise, Zhi Yao was faster. She grabbed Ling Xiao''s hand and said, "Little one, if your parents haven''te, are you sure you''ll be okay going home alone?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But what Zhi Yao never expected was Ling Xiao''s response. He rolled his eyes and said, "Only weaklings need their parents to pick them up."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He said this quite loudly, and the parents around who hade to pick up their children all turned to look at Ling Xiao. But not only was Ling Xiao unafraid, he stared right back at them and said in an adorably fierce tone, "What are you looking at?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His temper was truly awful.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But no matter what Ling Xiao said, Zhi Yao wasn''t going to let him go home alone.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After all, he was only four years old. Such a young child going home alone could potentially be kidnapped or encounter other dangers.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Don''t go," Zhi Yao said soothingly. "How about this: I''ll wait with you for a while for your parents, okay? Or you can tell me where you live, and I''ll take you home."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Ling Xiao was about to refuse, but then his gaze met a pair of golden eyes. Those eyes were exceptionally beautiful and gentle.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
They were like ake sparkling under the sunlight, capable of embracing and epting all the darkness in the world.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Ling Xiao was startled by his own thoughts.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Then Little Lychee came running up, grabbing Ling Xiao''s other hand, and said, "Ling Xiao, don''t go! Why don''t youe to our house as a guest? We have delicious desserts and afternoon tea at home."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Little Lychee''s hand was warm and soft.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He looked at Little Lychee, this little shadow who had been following him all day, refusing to give up on him no matter what he said.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He really hated these humans.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But as Ling Xiao watched all the other human children being picked up by their parents, while he alone had no one, he suddenly found himself craving that warmth.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Please, Ling Xiao? I''m begging you," Little Lychee''s soft voice interrupted Ling Xiao''s thoughts.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
ncing at Little Lychee, Ling Xiao raised his chin and said, "Fine then, but remember, I''m only going because you begged me."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His tsundere attitude nearly made Zhi Yaough out loud.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
How could there be such a tsundere little boy?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Zhi Yao held back herughter and asked, "Are you sure your parents won''te to pick you up? I''m worried they might get anxious if theye and don''t see you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Zhi Yao didn''t dare to take Ling Xiao away rashly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Ling Xiao shook his head, and Little Lychee chimed in, "Mommy, mommy! It''s okay! Ling Xiao has been going home by himself every day since he started school."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
What? He''s been going home alone every day?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
How could his family be so careless?!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Even though Zhi Yao knew her daughter wasn''t an ordinary human and wouldn''t really be in danger from kidnappers, she still wouldn''t dare let her child take such a big risk alone. After all, Little Lychee was the apple of her eye, and even the slightest injury would worry Zhi Yao for half a day, let alone the possibility of being kidnapped.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She looked at this little boy and, for some reason, saw a hint of stubborn strength in his eyes. It was this stubborn strength that made Zhi Yao feel even more sorry for him, especially since he had such an adorable and handsome face.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Then why don''t youe to our house as a guest first? After your visit, I''ll have the driver take you home, okay?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Ling Xiao didn''t say anything, which Zhi Yao took as agreement.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The car was parked quite far from the school. Because it was Friday, there were an unusuallyrge number of cars at the entrance, so there were no parking spots nearby.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Little Lychee was incredibly pampered. After just a few steps, she startedining that her legs were tired and wanted Zhi Yao to carry her.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But this time, Zhi Yao didn''t indulge Little Lychee. Instead, she said, "Can''t you learn from Ling Xiao? He''s notining about being unable to walk after just a few steps. Little Lychee, you need to learn to do things for yourself, okay?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It wasn''t that she didn''t want to carry her daughter; she was worried that Ling Xiao might feel sad if he saw it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Although she wanted to carry both children, unfortunately, she didn''t have that much strength.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Little Lychee pouted, her dark eyes filled with disappointment.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But in the next moment, a childish voice spoke up between them, "I''ll carry you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
These four words stunned both Zhi Yao and Little Lychee.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I''ll carry you. We''ll move faster that way. You''re walking so slowly that by the time we reach the car and get to your house at this pace, I estimate it''ll be dark."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Ling Xiao''s tone was filled with disdain. Before either of them could react, he swiftly scooped Little Lychee into his arms.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He was a head taller than Little Lychee, but his strength was unexpectedly immense. This action startled Zhi Yao, who hurriedly eximed, "Ling Xiao, quick! Put Little Lychee down before you hurt yourself!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
However, to her surprise, Ling Xiao nonchntly replied, "This weight? It''s as light as a block of tofu."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He carried Little Lychee steadily, striding forward with ease.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Come on, big sister, you should pick up the pace too," he said.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Facing Zhi Yao''s beautiful visage, he simply couldn''t bring himself to call her "auntie."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Zhi Yao was dumbfounded. Was this... was this even real?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Even Fifteen wouldn''t be able to carry Little Lychee!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0