This scent made Zhi Yao freeze in place instantly.
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.
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."
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.
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.
She crouched down to Ling Xiao's level and asked, "Little one, where are your parents? Didn't they come to pick you up?"
Ling Xiao looked aloof, or rather, he wasn't just looking aloof—he truly was aloof.
He gave Zhi Yao a once-over and said, "Miss, your behavior just now was very impolite."
As he spoke, he took two steps back, as if trying to distance himself from Zhi Yao.
Seeing this, Zhi Yao couldn't help but laugh.
What an adorable little fellow.
"I'm sorry, I apologize to you. You're just so cute that I couldn't help myself. I hope you can forgive me."
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."
Ling Xiao glared at Little Lychee and said, "Nonsense. I'm leaving now, stop bothering me."
With that, he shook off Little Lychee's hand and turned to leave.
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't come, are you sure you'll be okay going home alone?"
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."
He said this quite loudly, and the parents around who had come 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?"
His temper was truly awful.
But no matter what Ling Xiao said, Zhi Yao wasn't going to let him go home alone.
After all, he was only four years old. Such a young child going home alone could potentially be kidnapped or encounter other dangers.
"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."
Ling Xiao was about to refuse, but then his gaze met a pair of golden eyes. Those eyes were exceptionally beautiful and gentle.
They were like a lake sparkling under the sunlight, capable of embracing and accepting all the darkness in the world.
Ling Xiao was startled by his own thoughts.
Then Little Lychee came running up, grabbing Ling Xiao's other hand, and said, "Ling Xiao, don't go! Why don't you come to our house as a guest? We have delicious desserts and afternoon tea at home."
Little Lychee's hand was warm and soft.
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.
He really hated these humans.
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.
"Please, Ling Xiao? I'm begging you," Little Lychee's soft voice interrupted Ling Xiao's thoughts.
Glancing at Little Lychee, Ling Xiao raised his chin and said, "Fine then, but remember, I'm only going because you begged me."
His tsundere attitude nearly made Zhi Yao laugh out loud.
How could there be such a tsundere little boy?
Zhi Yao held back her laughter and asked, "Are you sure your parents won't come to pick you up? I'm worried they might get anxious if they come and don't see you."
Zhi Yao didn't dare to take Ling Xiao away rashly.
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."
What? He's been going home alone every day?
How could his family be so careless?!
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.
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.
"Then why don't you come to our house as a guest first? After your visit, I'll have the driver take you home, okay?"
Ling Xiao didn't say anything, which Zhi Yao took as agreement.
The car was parked quite far from the school. Because it was Friday, there were an unusually large number of cars at the entrance, so there were no parking spots nearby.
Little Lychee was incredibly pampered. After just a few steps, she started complaining that her legs were tired and wanted Zhi Yao to carry her.
But this time, Zhi Yao didn't indulge Little Lychee. Instead, she said, "Can't you learn from Ling Xiao? He's not complaining about being unable to walk after just a few steps. Little Lychee, you need to learn to do things for yourself, okay?"
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.
Although she wanted to carry both children, unfortunately, she didn't have that much strength.
Little Lychee pouted, her dark eyes filled with disappointment.
But in the next moment, a childish voice spoke up between them, "I'll carry you."
These four words stunned both Zhi Yao and Little Lychee.
"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."
Ling Xiao's tone was filled with disdain. Before either of them could react, he swiftly scooped Little Lychee into his arms.
He was a head taller than Little Lychee, but his strength was unexpectedly immense. This action startled Zhi Yao, who hurriedly exclaimed, "Ling Xiao, quick! Put Little Lychee down before you hurt yourself!"
However, to her surprise, Ling Xiao nonchalantly replied, "This weight? It's as light as a block of tofu."
He carried Little Lychee steadily, striding forward with ease.
"Come on, big sister, you should pick up the pace too," he said.
Facing Zhi Yao's beautiful visage, he simply couldn't bring himself to call her "auntie."
Zhi Yao was dumbfounded. Was this... was this even real?
Even Fifteen wouldn't be able to carry Little Lychee!
