Kiss Kiss: Is she trying to pursue this wolf?
Amid the swirling blizzard, a white figure appeared before her eyes. Even blanketed in a thick layer of snow, it moved with effortless grace and agility.
“Wolfie!”
Two fluffy ears perked up at the human’s call.
Ji Yingran couldn’t wait despite the wind and snow. She jogged forward to meet her.
In her excitement, she stepped into a deep drift, tripped over her own feet, and face-planted into the snow with a solid thud.
The Snow Wolf paused her steps and glanced down at the human sprawled before her.
Ji Yingran struggled up in a disheveled heap, flashing her an impossibly bright smile. “You’re finally back! I’ve been waiting for you forever…”
Before she could finish, the Snow Wolf ignored her completely and stepped right over her body.
Ji Yingran: “…”
Watching the wolf’s retreating back as she headed toward the cave, Ji Yingran gritted her teeth. This wolf was so ridiculously aloof.
She scrambled up from the snow and hurried after her.
Just as she drew close behind her, a faceful of snow smacked into her.
The Snow Wolf was shaking off her fur—whether on purpose or not, she sent all the snow flying straight onto the human.
After shaking herself dry, the Snow Wolf sauntered onward. Ji Yingran brushed off the snow with a helpless chuckle and chased after her again.
“Wolfie, you were gone so long this time. Where did you go? I was starting to worry you’d never come back.”
The Snow Wolf ignored her.
Ji Yingran didn’t mind. This wolf had never been much of a talker. The Snow Wolf was ice-cold, and Ji Yingran was pure fire—one cool, one hot. Weren’t they a perfect match?
Besides, she had no way to hunt for food herself. As someone relying on the Snow Wolf to survive, providing a little emotional support was the least she could do.
“What did you catch this time?”
She had glimpsed something in the Snow Wolf’s mouth earlier, but hadn’t gotten a good look before tripping and then getting snowed on.
The Snow Wolf continued to ignore her, so Ji Yingran darted around in front to see for herself.
It was a plump, chubby rabbit.
“Wow, Wolfie, you’re amazing! You caught such a huge rabbit!” Ji Yingran laid it on thick, her praise wildly exaggerated.
The Snow Wolf had been utterly indifferent to her a moment ago, but at those words, her tail shot up with a swish.
Like a proud antenna, it stuck straight up behind her.
Ji Yingran had hit the mark. She was showing off.
The Snow Wolf dropped the rabbit onto the ground.
Ji Yingran leaned in for a closer look, only to hear a low whine.
She froze. “What’s wrong? Can’t I touch it?”
Why the sudden food-guarding? She hadn’t done that before. Maybe this prey had been extra hard to catch, so she didn’t want to share?
While Ji Yingran puzzled over it, the Snow Wolf lunged forward without warning.
Ji Yingran wasn’t prepared. She was knocked flat on her back.
The Treasured Fluffy Blanket wrapped around her was yanked away by the Snow Wolf.
Staring at the stolen blanket, Ji Yingran realized the wolf had tackled her for that—not to attack or eat her.
She patted her chest in lingering relief.
The Snow Wolf huffed in dissatisfaction from her jaws: You human really have no sense of boundaries. This is my blanket!
She shot a disdainful glance at Ji Yingran, who had plopped down on her backside in fright. With an eye-roll, the Snow Wolf picked up her treasured blanket in her mouth and walked off.
Ji Yingran climbed to her feet, not the least bit embarrassed. She explained shamelessly, “I was trying to nap earlier, and it got a bit chilly, so I borrowed your blanket for a cover.”
The Snow Wolf bared her teeth at her.
Even after being snapped at, Ji Yingran beamed. “Don’t be so fierce! Be a little gentle with me. While you were gone, every second felt like a year. I couldn’t stop thinking about you…”
She chattered on and on, but the Snow Wolf’s expression toward her grew increasingly odd.
Gone for just a little while, and every second felt like a year? Couldn’t stop thinking about the wolf?
The Snow Wolf took a step back, her face full of disdain. What did this Two-Legged Beast mean by all that? Was she trying to pursue a wolf?
No way. Rejection. This Wolf had no interest in feeble humans.
Ji Yingran kept pouring out the hardships of her wait, growing ever more animated. The Snow Wolf’s expression turned stranger by the second. She backed up a few more steps, putting some distance between them and the human.
Ji Yingran remained oblivious. After finishing her spiel, she trotted over to inspect the rabbit on the ground.
It was a big white fatty. Hefting it up, she guessed it weighed around ten pounds.
She examined the rabbit from all sides. Its fur was pure white, and its ears stood straight up.
A New Zealand rabbit. The kind humans raised for meat—not a wild one at all. And certainly not a breed that belonged on Snow Mountain.
Ji Yingran looked toward the Snow Wolf, the question on the tip of her tongue: How did you catch a rabbit like this up here? But she swallowed it back down.
If she could snag a bluefin tuna, what was one meat rabbit? Didn’t matter where it came from. Food was food. No need to ask questions.
Ten pounds of rabbit would last her several days—at her eating pace, anyway. If they included the Snow Wolf, it’d barely cover one meal.
While Ji Yingran mulled over what flavor to cook it in, the Snow Wolf headed back outside.
Ji Yingran quickly set down the rabbit and chased after her.
“Where are you going now? I finally got you back—don’t leave again!”
The Snow Wolf glanced back at her. This Two-Legged Beast was so clingy. Not independent at all. Unqualified. No good. Rejection.
She shot Ji Yingran another disdainful look, then left.
Ji Yingran wanted to follow, but the raging blizzard forced her to halt.
Luckily, the Snow Wolf didn’t stay gone long. About a minute later, she reappeared in view.
Something dangled from her mouth this time too.
Had she caught more than just the rabbit? Other prey?
Peering closer, Ji Yingran’s eyes lit up once she made it out.
Her backpack!
The one she’d been longing for—the Snow Wolf had actually brought it back for her!
The Snow Wolf spat the pack onto the ground. Her tail shot up like an antenna, chin held high as she waited for thanks.
Ji Yingran rushed over in a frenzy of excitement. She threw her arms around her in a massive bear hug, bouncing up and down while she held on.
“You’re the best wolf ever! You’re incredible! I knew you weren’t the type to go back on your word. You’re so trustworthy. I like you, I like you, I like you so much!”
Smack.
Ji Yingran planted a big kiss right on the wolf’s face.
One wasn’t enough. She cupped the fluffy wolf face and pecked it repeatedly, like a baby chick pecking at grain.
Caught off guard, the Snow Wolf froze. Her expression went blank, her eyes widened slightly, and her body stiffened. The entire wolf was stunned.
