Chapter 15

In the blink of an eye, the year had turned.

Since winter arrived, the two demons’ mouse-catching business had dwindled compared to before. It was unclear whether all the mice had been exterminated or if the cold weather simply kept them hidden. They would receive only one order every few days, and their income had sharply declined compared to a few months earlier.

Hu Yuanfei was not fond of saving money. Coupled with his love of indulgent eating and drinking, his belly grew round while the money in his pocket rapidly vanished.

Wolf Xiao, on the other hand, was becoming increasingly prosperous, but she absolutely refused to pay on Hu Yuanfei’s behalf. No one could expect to get a single coin from her.

Hu Yuanfei lay on the balcony, sighing once, then sighing again.

Qing Yao wobbled as she steadied herself against the wall and approached him. Recently, she hadn’t been climbing much. It was unclear when she had first managed to stand holding onto something, but from then on, she had begun trying to take steps forward.

By the time the second snowfall settled, she could stand holding the wall and take a step.

The two demons were uncertain if this growth trajectory was normal. Having only raised animal cubs before, they were unfamiliar with human infant development. Regardless, whether before or now, the cub had to learn to walk on her own, so they never actively helped her. They let her fall and get back up by the wall.

Qing Yao fell into a sitting squat but did not cry. She quickly crawled back to the wall and tried cautiously to lift her leg using both hands. Despite falling repeatedly, she managed to inch forward bit by bit.

When she finally reached Hu Yuanfei, she let go and collapsed onto the fluffy fox fur of his belly.

After resting there for a moment, she grabbed at the fur to climb onto his back.

“Pa pa, high high.”

She was able to mumble a few words, but not form sentences.

The fox swayed as he stood, carrying her on his back, making two loops inside the house.

Unfortunately, the house was too small. If they were on the mountain, he could have sprinted with the cub on his back.

Thinking of the mountain, Hu Yuanfei’s mind turned to money. He had indeed been too extravagant and lacked restraint these past few months, never imagining that the grand plan to earn money would be influenced by the weather.

In truth, this year’s winter was the happiest one in many years—no cold or hunger.

Hu Yuanfei pondered whether to develop a new line of business to get through winter, but nothing came to mind immediately.

Wolf Xiao ignored his worries. She had calculated that the money she had on hand was enough to last through winter until spring, so she was in no hurry.

She handed the prepared milk to Qing Yao, who immediately hugged the bottle with both hands and drank eagerly. After she finished, Wolf Xiao put a lace-trimmed plush hat on her head, with long strings connected to a small plush mitten. Wolf Xiao also gave her a small backpack before lifting her down from the fox’s back.

“Let’s go. We’re going to the supermarket to buy some things.” With that, she headed for the door with the child.

Hu Yuanfei, still lost in sad thoughts, jumped up at once: “Why aren’t you taking me along?”

Wolf Xiao glanced at him coldly. “What would I take you to buy? Do you have money?”

Hu Yuanfei: “...I’m just going to look, I won’t buy anything.”

“I won’t pay for you.”

“I don’t need you to!”

Qing Yao came over and grabbed his hand: “Pa pa, let’s go.”

Hu Yuanfei smugly raised an eyebrow at Wolf Xiao. “The little one wants me to come along, so it’s not just me deciding to go.”

Wolf Xiao was too lazy to respond. She took Qing Yao’s other hand, swung her like a swing, and strolled outside.

A heavy snowstorm had fallen for a day and a night before ceasing. Now, the entire world was blanketed in white, with snow knee-deep. The news reported this as the most severe snowstorm in Xinghuan City in a decade.

As soon as Qing Yao stepped out of the building, she nearly went wild, breaking free from the two adults’ hands. She rushed forward on all fours and dove headfirst into a snowdrift.

Despite her young age, her strength was considerable. The two adults hadn’t anticipated such a sudden move, and watched helplessly as she plunged like a hunting fox.

Wolf Xiao hurried forward and pulled her out.

Qing Yao, her face covered in snow, smiled with a crescent-moon grin. She wiped the snow from her face and tasted it.

Cool and refreshing, it melted in her mouth as if she had eaten nothing.

She smacked her lips and licked her fingers, which still bore the milky scent from drinking formula.

So the snow had a cool milky fragrance.

Wolf Xiao, fearing she would jump back into the snow, glanced sideways at the fox beside her, whose eyes were shining as if he was about to leap into the snow too. She quickly placed the cub on his shoulder.

“Hold on tight.”

Hu Yuanfei grabbed the cub’s legs and sighed regretfully. “This snow looks pretty good.” He even wanted to jump in himself.

“There’s no prey down there for you to catch.”

“I know. Back on our mountain, the winter snow was even deeper, covering my back. My ears were sharp; no matter where rabbits or pheasants hid, I could find them precisely. Once I pounced, they couldn’t escape.”

Seeing Wolf Xiao’s indifferent response, Hu Yuanfei grunted. “You don’t understand the joy and sense of accomplishment in hunting. I still retain the wild instincts from my bloodline. Even though I’ve become a spirit, I can’t forget my roots.”

Wolf Xiao looked at him in surprise. “I thought you’d gotten used to being human.”

“That will take another few decades, maybe centuries. Besides, I haven’t fully experienced the pleasures of being human yet.”

Wolf Xiao was puzzled. “Besides eating, what pleasure is there?”

Just then, they approached the community gate, where the surrounding facilities were well-equipped. A row of shops stood at the entrance. Hu Yuanfei pointed to a tall, grand establishment ahead.

“I haven’t been there yet. People who’ve been say it’s especially good and comfortable, and once you go, you want to go again.”

Wolf Xiao looked up and saw large characters reading “Foot Bath, Health Care, Massage.”

Hu Yuanfei said, “Once I earn some money again, I’ll definitely go.”

Qing Yao, holding onto his head, babbled, “Go, go.”

Wolf Xiao didn’t understand what was so appealing about that place. “Suit yourself.”

Nearby was a chain supermarket. From the start, the two demons had liked supermarkets; even if they didn’t buy anything, they enjoyed wandering inside. Later, they settled into a weekly shopping routine for vegetables, fruits, and daily necessities.

Qing Yao was nearly ten months old. The doctor said she could start eating some human complementary foods; drinking only milk wasn’t good.

Wolf Xiao had been free recently, so she spent her time on her phone researching baby food recipes.

After coming into some money, they bought another phone, so each had one and no longer had to compete over it.

Qing Yao loved sitting in the supermarket cart as if on a throne, waving her fingers to direct where things should go, babbling nonstop.

This time, Hu Yuanfei wasn’t allowed to buy anything, so he dutifully helped Wolf Xiao by putting items she picked up into the cart, as if he were the buyer.

“This apple is good; it smells sweet.”

“Bananas are good too—I love them the most.”

“Carrots, carrots are also delicious. Look at how perfect they are.”

“Buy some more meat? The cub can eat more meat; it helps her grow taller and stronger.”

Qing Yao echoed, “Meat!”

Wolf Xiao had just reached for an item, undecided whether to buy it, when Hu Yuanfei snatched it and tossed it into the cart. She endured it once or twice, but after several times, she could no longer tolerate it.

Finally, she blurted out a curt command.

Hu Yuanfei was pushed behind the cart.

“Say one more word and you’re out.”

Hu Yuanfei zipped his lips.

Qing Yao looked up at Wolf Xiao, then back at Hu Yuanfei, stretched out her hand, and beckoned him over. When he bent down, she planted a wet kiss on his face. “Pa pa.”

Startled by the sudden drool on his face, Hu Yuanfei couldn’t help but kiss the cub’s forehead in return.

Seeing the affectionate scene, Wolf Xiao wanted to roll her eyes.

After over an hour in the supermarket, the three returned home laden with bags.

Though the sky was clearing, the temperature was bitterly cold. The streets were sparse with people, and the supermarket entrance was quiet.

As they walked slowly, they suddenly noticed a woman sweating profusely, pasting sheets of paper on the wall and columns by the roadside.

Whenever someone passed, the woman handed out a flyer and spoke excitedly.

Hu Yuanfei glanced curiously. As the woman finished posting one flyer and moved forward, she ran up to them and pressed a sheet into their hands.

“Hello, have you seen my cat? It ran away last night and hasn’t been found. If you see it, please contact me immediately. Thank you so much!”

Hu Yuanfei saw a picture of a rather beautiful Ragdoll cat printed on the flyer, with a line of text and contact details below.

What caught his attention wasn’t whether the cat was truly beautiful, but the line about a two-thousand-yuan reward for finding it—equivalent to catching mice twice.

Short on money, Hu Yuanfei naturally wanted to seize any opportunity to earn. Clutching the flyer, he hurried after the woman as she moved to post notices elsewhere.

“Wait a moment.”

“Hm?”

The woman turned.

Hu Yuanfei waved the flyer. “Is it true there’s a two-thousand-yuan reward for finding the cat?”

She nodded. “Yes. Have you seen my cat?”

“No, but I can help find it.”

The woman frowned. “Are you from a pet-finding company?”

Hearing about such a company for the first time, Hu Yuanfei was confused. “No, but I have a way to find it. I just need something related to the cat, like hair or claws.”

It sounded mystical. The woman had tried scissors and other methods but nothing worked. At this point, she was desperate—any means were good if it would bring her cat home. The heavy snow last night made her fear the cat, unused to outdoor life, might freeze.

Luckily, she had a small felt ball made from her cat’s fur with her. “I carry cat hair with me. Do you think this will work?”

Hu Yuanfei took the felt ball and sniffed it. A sneeze escaped him, but then his nose twitched finely, sniffing the air.

Though the fresh snow had covered most lingering scents, Hu Yuanfei detected a faint trace.

Got it. In that direction!