The young lady had just finished speaking when suddenly she felt a powerful force lifting her up.
She... she... she was flung onto Ling Si's back!
"Hold on tight!" Zhi Yao clung to Ling Si's head, her little paws grasping tightly onto the fur, looking around anxiously.
With a "whoosh" sound, Ling Si began running at breakneck speed!
The wind roared past her ears, he ran so swiftly, like riding a rocket. The wind battered Zhi Yao's face, nearly forcing her eyes shut.
After who knows how long, Ling Si finally ran back inside from outside.
He shook his head proudly and said, "How about that, Yao? Isn't your fourth brother cool?"
But after waiting for a long while, there was no response from Zhi Yao.
"Yao? Yao?"
With a "thump", Zhi Yao completely rolled off Ling Si's head, seeing nothing but stars!
Just as Zhi Yao felt she was slipping into a daze, a patch of white suddenly appeared before her eyes.
"Yao? Yao?" That deep male voice called out. Zhi Yao opened her eyes in a confused haze, only to see a vast expanse of white.
Incredibly soft fur gently brushed against Zhi Yao's cheek, tickling her.
Before her stood a snow-white wolf, far larger than Ling Si and Ling Er.
A pair of emerald eyes gazed unblinkingly at Zhi Yao, full of concern.
So... so handsome...
Just standing there, his commanding aura and pride could be felt.
Ling Jue shot Ling Si a stern glare. "You little rascal, what did you do to your sister?!"
Ling Si shrank his neck in fear of the angry Ling Jue. "Father, I... I just wanted to take my sister out for some wind."
Who knew Yao was so frail...
With a shake of their bodies, Ling Si and Ling Er transformed back into their human forms. Not daring to linger, afraid Ling Jue would confront them, they hastily pretended to have some errand and left.
In an instant, only Ling Jue and Zhi Yao remained in the living room.
Ling Jue gazed affectionately at Zhi Yao. By now, she was feeling much better.
She rolled around briskly on the floor, then got up and shook out her fur, curiously observing Ling Jue.
His fur was as snow-white as hers! And so soft and fluffy...
It turned out she resembled him quite a bit.
"Yao." Ling Jue lowered his head and nuzzled Zhi Yao affectionately.
He was the most formidable and venerated Wolf King of the Wolf Tribe, yet at this moment he was willing to bow before Zhi Yao in apology. "Earlier, it was father's mistake. Foolish father failed to recognize you as my daughter. If you resent father, I understand. From now on, father will make it up to you properly, alright?"
He should have known long ago. His Yao looked so much like him.
Zhi Yao was utterly infatuated with this magnificent, dashing snow wolf before her.
He was so handsome, so handsome! And he was her father!
That her father was a wolf was just too cool!! She could barely register what Ling Jue was saying, her heart and mind full of this exceptionally dashing wolf!
After her initial excitement, Zhi Yao eagerly pawed at Ling Jue's legs, trying to climb onto his back.
This would be far more exhilarating than having Ling Si take her out for a run!
After all, to be honest, Ling Si was simply not as good-looking as Ling Jue!
The little fox kit struggled mightily, clawing at the wolf's legs, but for some reason kept slipping off halfway up.
The little vixen felt deflated for a moment, lowering her fox head dejectedly.
But then a shadow loomed before her eyes as Ling Jue lay down.
"Come up."
Those emerald wolf eyes brimmed with tenderness and careful consideration.
Zhi Yao backed up a few steps, took a running start, and with all her might leapt forward, her front and hind paws propelling her up onto Ling Jue's back in one bound.
Overjoyed, she tumbled and rolled around happily atop Ling Jue's broad, soft, furry back, burying her face in the warmth and rubbing it back and forth in utter bliss.
Zhi Yao even scampered up onto Ling Jue's head, her little paws curiously pawing at his large wolf ears.
Had it been anyone else daring to touch his ears, he would have torn them to shreds long ago. But this was Zhi Yao.
Ling Jue remained calmly lying there, allowing Zhi Yao to scamper and frolic all over him, utterly silent, gentle beyond belief.
Where was that razor-sharp ferocity from before?
After quite some time, Ling Jue noticed the little fox had grown still on his back. Turning his head slightly, out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed the vixen sleeping sprawled out, her lips gently moving as if murmuring something.
He went completely rigid, not daring to move an inch for fear of disturbing Zhi Yao's slumber.
Zhi Yao shifted, muttering indistinctly, "Father... father... so fun..."
Ling Jue heard those few words loud and clear.
His heart swelled with warmth...
This was Zhi Yao, his and Yi's one and only daughter.
...
When Pei Chiyao returned to the Ling residence, this was the scene that greeted him.
An enormous wolf lay on the living room floor, vigilantly scanning his surroundings with sharp, alert eyes. And sleeping on his back was a little fox the size of a palm, paws akimbo, revealing plump pink paw pads and emitting soft snores if one listened closely.
Pei Chiyao immediately trod more lightly. "Mr. Ling."
Seeing it was Pei Chiyao, Ling Jue's wary gaze eased somewhat.
He was worried one of his hapless sons had returned and would wake Zhi Yao with their ruckus.
Pei Chiyao bent down to pick up Zhi Yao, but Ling Jue spoke up, "No need. Let her sleep until she wakes naturally."
After all, he had been lying here all afternoon already, so waiting a while longer was no issue.
Pei Chiyao nodded slightly, then recalled his reason for coming back. "Mr. Ling, how has Yao been feeling today?"
He was concerned the little lady might have seen those online comments, hence his hurried return.
"Fairly... good, I'd say?" After all, she had played so happily on his back.
As the two conversed, Zhi Yao stirred awake.
She raised a paw, instinctively wanting to rub her eyes, but caught sight of the white fur and simply gave it a couple licks instead.
Only after finishing did Zhi Yao notice Pei Chiyao's burning gaze upon her.
"Pei Chiyao? When did you get back?"
Pei Chiyao scooped up the little fox, cradling her in his arms. "You're awake? You really made your father work hard."
With a white flash, the handsome white wolf rose to his feet, his legs numb.
Zhi Yao stared unblinkingly at him as the white wolf vanished, a pang of inexplicable loss welling up in her heart.
