Qiao Xixi stumbled, nearly falling into the water.

’That voice... Why does it sound so familiar?’ But she couldn’t quite place it.

Xiya glanced at Qiao Xixi with her big eyes and quickly said, "Father, she’s not my mother."

The ethereally beautiful face turned in Qiao Xixi’s direction. "She’s not?"

Qiao Xixi shook her head frantically, but he didn’t seem to react.

A little surprised, Qiao Xixi tugged on Xiya’s arm and whispered, "Your father... can’t see?"

Xiya hummed in affirmation. "Father injured his eyes before."

Qiao Xixi felt a pang of regret. ’With such a handsome face, his eyes must have been stunning.’

"Father, she’s not my mother. She’s a Land Beast I met on the beach. Her name is Qiao Xixi, and she wants to stay with us for a while."

Qiao Xixi wanted to object, but after looking around the cave, she had to admit that staying here was indeed safer than staying on the beach. So, she said nothing, tacitly agreeing.

"Will I be intruding?"

When Xijing heard that Qiao Xixi wasn’t Xiya’s mother, a trace of melancholy colored his features. "You’re a Land Beast?"

"Yes, I’m from the Silver Frost White Wolf tribe, and I have a tiger cub with me."

"A tiger cub... Is that your cub?"

"Mhm."

Xijing turned his face away from her. "You can stay."

"Thank you. As thanks, I’ll provide food for you."

"Oh, right! Father, this is the food the female Qiao Xixi gave us. It’s roasted fish beast meat. You should try some."

Xiya placed the leaf-wrapped package in Xijing’s hands, but he didn’t open it right away. Instead, he asked softly, "Has Xiya eaten?"

"I’m already full, Father. Feel my tummy, isn’t it round and full?"

Xijing let out a soft chuckle. A sliver of gentle light caught the smile on his lips, making it look like a flower blooming in the depths of the ocean—mysterious and splendid.

Xiya opened the leaves, and the faint, sweet scent of fruit jam wafted out. Xijing looked a little surprised. His long, slender fingertips fumbled for a piece of fish meat, and he took a bite, eating slowly and deliberately.

’He’s truly elegant,’ Qiao Xixi thought. ’Not a single trace of wildness about him.’

"Did you make this?"

Qiao Xixi was just about to find a place to sit when his question reached her ears.

"Yes. How does it taste?"

"It’s good. Very delicious."

"I’m glad you like it."

’When you’re a guest in someone’s home, it’s best to be polite.’

Xijing only ate two pieces before placing the remaining fish beast meat in Xiya’s hands.

"Xiya, Father is full. You can have the rest."

Xiya pouted. "But Father, you barely ate anything."

"Mhm, I’m full."

Qiao Xixi spread a beast-hide blanket on a flat, empty spot and placed the soundly sleeping tiger cub on it.

Xiya re-wrapped the leftover fish beast meat and placed it on the large rock behind Xijing. Then, she turned and walked over to Qiao Xixi, staring at her with pleading eyes.

Qiao Xixi found herself pitying the little merman cub. It made her think of her own cubs; a child without a mother always has something missing in their heart.

"Do you want to rest with me?"

Xiya nodded and sat down, leaning against Qiao Xixi. She seemed to really like Qiao Xixi’s scent.

Qiao Xixi saw the exhaustion on the little girl’s face. ’Her father is blind, so she probably has to take care of him all the time. What a sensible cub.’

Leaning against Qiao Xixi, a wave of drowsiness washed over Xiya. In the blink of an eye, she had flopped down next to the tiger cub and fallen asleep.

"Why did you leave me?"

Huh?

Qiao Xixi looked up in astonishment, realizing Xijing had indeed turned his face in her direction.

She pointed at herself, bewildered.

’Seriously? We’ve only just met! Why is he acting like I’m some heartless female who abandoned her husband and child?’

"Is it because... I wasn’t good enough?"

Qiao Xixi calmed down. ’He must have mistaken me for the female who abandoned them, right?’

’Good heavens, he’s so handsome but he’s a complete love-struck fool. I wonder who that heartless female was. She really didn’t know what was good for her.’

’Did this merman lose his mind after being abandoned...?’

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

After a moment’s thought, Qiao Xixi decided to speak up. "I’m not the female who abandoned you. You have the wrong person."

Xijing bit his lip, his jade-white face set in a stubborn expression. "I’m not mistaken!"

’Fine, fine. I’m not going to argue with a delusional merman.’

"Whatever you say."

"Then... since you’re back this time, will you leave again?"

"Yes."

The moment the word left Qiao Xixi’s lips, he abruptly turned around, showing her his back.

’Heh, he’s got quite a temper!’

Qiao Xixi suddenly felt a pang of regret. She had originally followed Xiya to get some information about this stretch of sea, but who knew she’d run into a lunatic?

’I should probably find an excuse to leave tomorrow. I have a cub with me; I don’t want to get into too much trouble.’

With his back turned, Xijing heard nothing from behind him for a long time. He couldn’t help but turn his head slightly toward Qiao Xixi’s direction. Even though he couldn’t see anything, he could still sense her presence.

’She’s still here.’

Seeing the two cubs sleeping soundly, Qiao Xixi started to feel sleepy too. She felt as if she hadn’t slept well the previous night, so she lay down beside them.

But just as reason told her it was better to stay alert in an unfamiliar place, her eyelids began to droop uncontrollably.

Just as she was about to drift off, an arrogant voice suddenly sounded from nearby.

"Xijing, just agree to be with me! I told you, I’ll definitely treat you well."

Qiao Xixi was jolted awake by those classic scumbag lines.

She sat up, confirming the voice was coming from outside the cave entrance.

"That bad female is here again! I’ll go chase her away!" Xiya, also woken up, clenched her little fists and shot up, rushing toward the entrance.

"Hey, Xiya!"

"DING!"

"System Time-Limited Mission: Please protect the cub. Mission Difficulty: 3 stars."

Qiao Xixi’s expression changed. "Qiao Lie and the others are in danger?"

"Host, Qiao Lie and the other cubs are with your mates. They’re very safe."

Qiao Xixi looked down at the snoring tiger cub and frowned. "Damned system, are you kidding me?"

"Host, I... what did I do? I’m just issuing a system mission. Are you worried about not completing the previous cub star-rank promotion mission? It’s okay, that one isn’t timed. This one is, so you should complete this one first."

Qiao Xixi gritted her teeth. "So, which cub am I supposed to protect?! Don’t tell me it’s the little merman cub outside the cave?!"

"Er... what if I said yes? Heh heh, surprise!"

Qiao Xixi was about to argue with the system when she heard Xiya’s cry of alarm from the cave entrance.

Hearing the childish cry, Xijing tried to move in a panic, but the moment he did, he fell hard from the large rock.

"Xiya! Xiya...!"