Status: What was this wolf thinking again?
A pile of small pebbles had gathered along the lake shore, but the spot where Mu Ci stood was scraped bare in a wide patch.
She had thrown all the nearby stones into the lake.
Ji Yingran didn’t approach right away. Instead, she watched from afar for a good while. In just those few short minutes, Mu Ci had already flung more than a dozen stones into the water.
At least she was just throwing rocks into the lake and not at people’s heads.
It was a relatively civilized way to vent—just muttering curses and chucking stones. For this wolf, that already counted as remarkable restraint.
Ji Yingran let out a soft laugh, the tension that had knotted her mood all day finally easing.
Mu Ci might not look easy to placate right now, but she had at least left the door open for it. That opportunity was what mattered.
As long as the wolf hadn’t run off, it was fine.
Ji Yingran crept closer, quietly.
Mu Ci’s hearing was exceptional. Before Ji Yingran could even get behind her, she whipped around.
Her mouth opened, and the curse flew out: “Where did this lowly human come from…”
The words cut off abruptly.
Mu Ci’s expression froze for an instant, clearly caught off guard by Ji Yingran’s appearance.
Once the shock passed, fury took over. A low, rumbling growl bubbled up from her throat as she bared her teeth.
She might not have fur at the moment, but Ji Yingran could tell—this wolf had her hackles up like never before.
Ji Yingran was a little intimidated by her in this state, but even if a tiny flicker of fear stirred inside, she absolutely couldn’t let it show.
It wasn’t about looking weak. If she seemed scared, the wolf might get even more upset, making her that much harder to soothe.
After all, this fierce display was just her way of showing anger, not a real intent to attack.
She had never actually attacked Ji Yingran, no matter how mad she got. At worst, she’d hurl insults, bump a shoulder, or swat a face with her paw.
All just harmless little tantrums.
“Don’t be so fierce. I’ve been looking for you all day—finally found you.”
“Grrr!”
Ji Yingran paused for two seconds, unsure how to coax her. Then she remembered the candy in her pocket. Maybe food would do the trick.
Ji Yingran had hypoglycemia, so she always carried candy in her bag or pockets for emergencies.
And this was definitely one of those emergencies.
She pulled out the candies from her pocket—three wrapped in clear packaging, each a different color.
Bright and colorful, they immediately caught Mu Ci’s eye.
The growling stopped. She stared at the candies in Ji Yingran’s palm for several seconds.
Ji Yingran held them out a bit farther. “I brought these just for you. You’ve gotta be tired from all that stone-throwing. Have some candy to recharge.”
They weren’t really just for her, but that didn’t stop Ji Yingran from polishing her words a little.
Mu Ci narrowed her eyes, a flash of disdain in them. She raised her hand and swatted Ji Yingran’s away. “I don’t want any. What kind of junk is that? Get it away from me.”
Mu Ci had only meant to brush the hand aside casually, but she used too much force. All three candies tumbled to the ground.
She blinked at them, momentarily stunned, then recovered quickly and rolled her eyes. “It’s all junk anyway. I don’t want it.”
Ji Yingran crouched down good-naturedly and picked up the fallen candies one by one.
Mu Ci sneaked a glance.
The moment Ji Yingran looked up, she whipped her head aside.
Ji Yingran saw through it but said nothing. Rather than forcing the candies on her, she selected a green one, unwrapped it, and popped it into her own mouth.
Green apple flavor—seventy percent sweet, thirty percent tart.
Mu Ci appeared to be looking away, but her peripheral vision was locked on Ji Yingran.
Inside, she was roaring: What are you doing, you hateful two-legged beast? Wasn’t that candy for This Wolf? How dare she eat it herself?
How could she eat it herself?!
A growl rumbled in Mu Ci’s throat again.
Ji Yingran pretended not to hear. She finished the green apple one and picked out a red strawberry-flavored candy.
Mu Ci’s growling grew louder. The red one was the prettiest—how could she eat that too?
The Head Wolf hadn’t even had any yet, and here she was eating the first one, then going for a second.
Infuriating!
Absolutely infuriating!!
Her growls escalated until she apparently choked on them and started coughing.
“Cough cough cough…”
Seeing this, Ji Yingran hurried over to pat her back gently. Predictably, the wolf jabbed her with an elbow.
Ji Yingran clutched the spot, wincing as she rubbed it. This girl really packed a punch…
Mu Ci shot her a hostile glare: You’ve eaten all three candies, and you still dare come near me? I’ll bite you dead!
Just when Mu Ci was convinced Ji Yingran had polished off the sweets, she rummaged in her pocket again and pulled out three more.
Mu Ci’s eyes lit up like fireworks.
Even so, she kept her face stern and made no move to take them.
Ji Yingran simply placed them in her hand.
As Mu Ci accepted the candies, she flung Ji Yingran’s arm away.
Ji Yingran stumbled from the force.
She couldn’t help but laugh helplessly.
Mu Ci turned away, refusing to look at her, and began sneaking bites of the candy in secret.
“Tasty?” Ji Yingran asked from behind.
Mu Ci ignored her, focused on eating.
“Does accepting my candy mean you’ve forgiven me?” Ji Yingran tried again.
This time, there was a reaction.
Mu Ci stuffed all three into her mouth, cheeks bulging as she mumbled furiously around them. “Who said I forgave you? Get lost. I don’t even know you. Stop acting like we’re close, you lowly human. Don’t get chummy with me.”
Ji Yingran laughed. Her insults were always the same few phrases—lowly human, stupid human, hateful two-legged beast, damnable two-legged beast. She recycled them endlessly, nothing new.
Oh, right. And one more: unqualified.
The lakeside had big rocks too, not just pebbles. Ji Yingran found a flat one and sat down. After searching half the day and wandering outside for hours, her feet ached terribly.
She sat there, gazing at the lake’s surface reflecting the city’s neon lights, and at the white figure standing by the water.
A gentle breeze stirred, carrying a hint of chill as it tousled her waist-length hair.
“Wolf, I looked for you all day. I almost thought you’d really gone back to Snow Mountain.”
Mu Ci kept her back turned, showing no sign of turning around, but Ji Yingran knew she was listening.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions and snapped at you without getting the facts. I shouldn’t have judged you so rashly.”
“But honestly, that’s not even the main issue. The real problem is, I shouldn’t have said those words the moment I misunderstood you.”
“I know full well how much time and effort it took you to find me. And yet, I casually told you to go back to Snow Mountain. That’s my biggest mistake.”
“I’ve reflected on it too. I keep treating you like just a wolf—and yes, you are one—but you’re clearly no ordinary wolf. You can think independently, and you have your reasons for what you do. I shouldn’t view you through the lens of an animal.”
“I was just so scared back then. Scared you’d hurt someone else, scared you’d get yourself into danger because of it…”
Ji Yingran poured out every bit of her day’s reflection to this wolf, speaking slowly and sincerely.
As for the wolf herself, she stayed facing away the whole time, goodness knew how much she took in.
Ji Yingran softened her tone. “Wolf, I really know I was wrong. Forgive me, okay? You said it yourself—humans are stupid. So forgive this stupid human, alright? Please?”
Mu Ci shifted a little but didn’t turn. She just said, “Who’s a wolf?”
Ji Yingran faltered, looking at her helplessly.
“You’re definitely not a wolf—I know that. But whoever the wolf is, these words are meant for her. I just hope Wolfie heard them.”
Mu Ci pouted and snorted coldly. “I’m not a wolf, so what’s the point of telling me?”
Ji Yingran was about to reply when her eyes narrowed slightly. She spotted what looked like a notebook peeking from Mu Ci’s shirt pocket.
Half of it stuck out, covered in what seemed like scribbled ravings.
Ji Yingran rose from the rock and drew closer for a better look.
Head Wolf’s Revenge Plan?
Mu Ci noticed her approach and turned with a frown—only to see Ji Yingran staring right at her… pocket.
Mu Ci panicked and clutched it shut.
“What are you looking at, you rude human?” she snapped, flustered.
“Planning to get revenge on me?” Ji Yingran teased with a smile.
Mu Ci’s eyes widened a fraction. Ji Yingran quickly stepped back. “No, no, I didn’t see anything. I don’t know. Your plan’s still top secret—I know nothing about it.”
Mu Ci shoved the notebook deeper into her pocket, eyeing Ji Yingran warily.
Ji Yingran grumbled inwardly. What kind of revenge scheme could it be? Had she gotten so mad today that Mu Ci whipped one up on the spot?
“We can talk revenge later. It’s getting late—come home with me.” Ji Yingran gestured for her to follow.
The wolf didn’t budge.
Ji Yingran sighed. No choice but to tempt her with more bait.
“You’ve been throwing stones alone here all afternoon, aren’t you hungry? Is that bit of candy enough for you?”
Mu Ci remained unmoved.
“Come on, let’s go home together. I’ll make you something yummy to eat.”
Keywords, delicious food.
Mu Ci visibly perked up her ears, but she still held stubbornly still, refusing to budge no matter what.
If we keep deadlocking with her like this, we’ll probably have to spend the night by this lake.
Ji Yingran turned back, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her along.
Mu Ci lowered her head and looked at her grabbed wrist, her expression turning peculiar.
Hold hands?
This Wolf doesn’t like holding hands at all. It dirties This Wolf’s hand.
This wolf’s gonna shake off your hand, and might even bite you.
Full of inner drama, but in reality, Ji Yingran was firmly holding her hand, and Mu Ci had absolutely no intention of shaking it off.
Not only did she fail to shake her off, but Mu Ci’s tense face visibly lit up with pleasure.
“What does Wolfie want to eat tonight?”
“I am not a wolf.”
Ji Yingran nodded, changing her form of address: “Then, Mu Ci, what do you want to eat tonight?”
Mu Ci: “You have no right to call my name.”
Ji Yingran glanced at her: “Well, I need some way to address you, right? How do you want me to call you?”
Mu Ci’s clever little brain turns, and then… she successfully misinterprets it.
What does it mean, asking for a nickname? What crooked scheme is this Two-Legged Beast up to now? Is she demanding some official status?
Mu Ci looked her up and down with a disdainful expression: “Not qualified. Don’t even dream about it. I’ve never agreed to anything with you, and as for any official status or whatever, that’s even more impossible to give you.”
Ji Yingran fell silent. What nonsense is this wolf imagining again…
