“So?” Hu Lingxuan asked, looking straight at her.
She tilted her head, confused by what he meant.
“Do you want Bai Xichen to leave?” he explained impatiently.
Isn’t she supposed to be your first love, your pure white rose? Su Mingyue thought to herself, still unsure exactly where Hu Lingxuan stood with this childhood friend.
“Me… make her leave?” she asked uncertainly.
“It’s simple. If you say right now that Bai Xichen deliberately abandoned you on the main street, Mother will never let her stay in our clan again. The White Tiger Clan was originally taken in by us out of kindness. Strictly speaking, they are not even the same race as usat most, distant relatives.”
There was not a trace of affection or softness in Hu Lingxuan’s face as he spoke.
Still, Su Mingyue dared not take such a risk. Besides…
Bai Xichen was a character she remembered from the novel, but how the story would unfold from here was no longer certain. If she forced her to leave now, it might trigger unexpected changes in the plot. The fewer surprises she had to deal with, the better.
“She didn’t abandon me. I just got lost on my own.”
That was her carefully considered answer. She had no intention of telling the full truth.
Watching the little white bundle in his arms lie so plainly, Hu Lingxuan assumed she was just afraidbut he could not find even a hint of fear on her round, chubby face.
Strange indeed. This little creature was growing more and more interesting by the minute.
“Very well. We’ll go with your story.”
Soon after, word spread that the Fourth Young Lady had been found safe and sound.
Hu Lingye and Hu Lingze hurried back as well. Seeing Su Mingyue sitting comfortably in their mother’s arms, both let out long sighs of relief.
Hu Lingye had already taken a liking to this new little sister; as for Hu Lingze, he was mostly relieved that their motherwho rarely lost her temperwould not be furious enough to make the whole clan walk on eggshells.
“Lingye, Lingze, come quickly! This is truly remarkable! Though Little Four looks barely three years old, she already speaks clearly and understands everything! Just now, she spoke a full sentence to mefourteen words in all!”
Hu Lingxuan, who was sitting to the side sipping tea, nearly choked and spat it out.
“Mother, isn’t that being a little too biased? When my sister, brother, and I were small, did we ever give you trouble learning to speak? Aside from our first year, we were communicating perfectly well by the time we turned one! It wasn’t until we shifted into human form at six that we learned proper speech, and even then it took us two whole years! But Little Four is still only the size of a three-year-oldno matter what kind of beast she is, mastering human language this well is far from normal.”
Su Mingyue felt her cheeks grow warm, like a student caught cheating yet still being praised. She could feel Hu Lingxuan’s sharp, probing gaze fixed on her, but she simply pretended not to notice.
As long as she stayed close to Hu Zhiyue, Hu Lingxuanno matter how powerful he might become laterwould not dare lay a finger on her.
“Mother speaks the truth,” Hu Lingye added. “When Little Four stood atop the statue disguised as a wolf, she even pulled a whisker right off its head. I knew then that this little sister is no ordinary child.”
Hu Lingye spoke with complete sincerity. She was the youngest and most accomplished female leader of the Tiger Clan, as well as one of its most beautiful. Her three partners were all exceptionally handsome and powerful men, each renowned across the continent.
Originally, all three had refused to consider anyone but Hu Lingye, even going so far as to swear oaths to duel one another for the right to claim her. They fought for three days and three nights, yet none could gain the upper hand. In the end, they agreed to live together peacefully, sharing Hu Lingye as their mate.
Having multiple partners was not unusual among beastkind, but having three such outstanding mates at once made Hu Lingye something of a legend across the entire Continent of Shapeshifters.
And she was, without a doubt, Su Mingyue’s favorite character from the novel.
Seeing her idol standing right in front of her, Su Mingyue stared wide-eyed, looking as if she were gazing at a goddess.
Hu Lingxuan: …
Hu Lingze leaned over and whispered, “Elder Sister… I have a strange feelingdoes Little Four look like she wants to eat you?”
“Nonsense!” Hu Zhiyue scolded lightly. “She’s not hungryshe simply adores you! Come, hold her. Ever since you walked in, she hasn’t taken her eyes off you. Clearly, she feels close to you already!”
Hu Lingye looked taken aback. “Really…?”
She knew herself well: she was not the soft, gentle type that children usually warmed up to. As the future heir to the clan, she had to maintain an air of authority and dignity, so she usually carried herself with an imposing presence.
Besides, she had no plans to bear children yet and did not fully understand what maternal affection felt like.
But looking down at this small, white, fluffy bundle, she felt something soft and tender deep inside her heart being gently touched.
Her expression softened. “Well… then… I suppose I’ll hold her.”
Hu Zhiyue smiled and moved to pass Su Mingyue over.
But Hu Lingye suddenly hesitated, remembering how newborn cubs usually cried and trembled whenever they saw her. “She… won’t start crying, will she?”
Hu Zhiyue knew her daughter had never raised children and carried heavy responsibilities, so it was only natural that she felt unsure. She was ready to take Su Mingyue back if Hu Lingye felt too nervous.
But just as she began to pull away, she noticed that Little Four’s small hand had somehow quietly reached out and grabbed hold of Hu Lingye’s sleeve.
With her big, bright, glistening eyes and plump, rosy cheeks, the child looked utterly adorable.
“Sister… hold me!”
The soft, sweet voice paired with a beaming smile struck Hu Lingye right in the heart.
She quickly scooped Su Mingyue up into her arms, feeling as if she were holding a ball of warm, soft cotton. “Why are you so light? Even a three-year-old tiger cub weighs more than this.”
She frowned, looking puzzled.
Su Mingyue suddenly remembered what Hu Lingxuan had said about her weight earlier. Her eyes twinkled, and she quickly changed her expression. “Little Four is not light! Little Four is heavy! Little Four is too fat!”
Everyone in the room stared in surprise. For a child so young to speak so clearly and directlysomeone must have been saying such things to her.
Hu Lingye, who was used to being treated with respect and deference, felt a little annoyed at being corrected. “Nonsense! Who dared tell you that you are fat?”
Su Mingyue tightened her small fist around Hu Lingye’s collar, then pointed straight at Hu Lingxuan.
“Brother said it when he carried me back today! He said Little Four is too heavy, and I must lose weight and eat less!”
She spoke with utmost seriousness.
Instantly, every pair of eyes in the hall turned toward Hu Lingxuan.
Hu Lingxuan: …
Even Hu Lingze, who usually tried to stand up for his younger brother, could not defend him this time. “Third Brother, I know you may feel that Little Four has taken your place as the youngest and most favored child in the family… but you have no right to say such things to a three-year-old!”
“Second Brother, if I told you she is not even three years old” Hu Lingxuan felt like he could throttle the little troublemaker right then and there. But he knew his elder sister was far stronger than he was, and right now that little brat was sitting smugly in her arms.
“HU LINGXUAN!”
Hu Lingye’s voice rang out like thunder.
Hu Lingxuan’s whole body stiffened. He snapped to attention. “Present!”
“Go to the training grounds and shoot one thousand arrows, then spar in fifty bouts. If you don’t finish by nightfall, you shall have no dinner!”
Hu Lingxuan: “…Yes, Elder Sister.”
As he turned to leave, he caught sight of the little rascal in Hu Lingye’s arms, wearing a look of pure triumph. Just you wait, he thought. Tonight I will tear you into a thousand pieces to calm my rage.
But just then, Su Mingyue leaned her head against Hu Lingye’s chest and spoke in her sweetest, most innocent voice: “Sister… can I sleep with you tonight?”
Hu Lingxuan’s heart sank. He was now absolutely certain: this little imp was definitely no ordinary three-year-old child!