Chapter 64: Holding Hands

Holding Hands: Baring Teeth, Naughty

The street bustled with activity, people streaming back and forth, when the wolf’s ears suddenly popped out without warning.

Ji Yingran’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately reached up to cover them, shielding her.

Mu Ci stared at her in stunned silence, tilting her head. “You two-legged beast, I give you an inch and you take a mile—how dare you cover this wolf’s head right out in public!”

Ji Yingran hurriedly explained, “Your ears—your ears popped out again.”

Mu Ci swatted her hand away, clearly unappreciative.

Ji Yingran glanced at the top of her head. The ears had already vanished. She quickly scanned their surroundings, confirming no one had noticed, before letting out a sigh of relief.

“The way you say that,” Ji Yingran said with a helpless laugh. “Like you’ve ever given me a good look. When have you?”

Mu Ci narrowed her eyes, looking displeased again. Just a couple of words and she was unhappy.

Ji Yingran conceded. “Fine, fine. You’ve given me good looks every day—cursing me out, bumping into me, rolling your eyes at me. How is that not treating me well?”

Mu Ci’s wolfish eyes widened in a glare. “Who are you being sarcastic with?”

Ji Yingran chuckled softly under her breath. This wolf even recognized the sarcasm in her tone—she clearly understood human speech pretty well.

“Alright, enough of that,” Ji Yingran said. “Try to control those ears a little, okay? Even if you’re excited, don’t let them pop out in public. If someone spots something off about you, it’ll be dangerous.”

Mu Ci shot her a glance. “This world’s full of weird stuff. No one’s going to grab me for experiments. Don’t worry about nothing.”

Don’t worry about nothing—that was the real point, two-legged beast. Had she heard?

Ji Yingran blinked, missing the wolf’s emphasis and latching onto something else instead. “You mean there are lots of demons in this world? So many they’re not even rare?”

Mu Ci gave a nonchalant hum. “Not tons, but the one next door sure counts.”

Ji Yingran froze again. “Next door? Who’s that? How come I didn’t know…”

Halfway through, realization dawned. “You mean Qing Li?”

The first time Ji Yingran had met Qing Li, she’d sensed something off. Her features were too perfect, perfectly unreal, like a doll rather than a person.

Mu Ci had that same aura, especially when those golden eyes fixed on her—the inhuman quality intensified.

Suddenly it all clicked. The neighborhood’s two weirdos weren’t crazy after all—they were little monsters.

“So what kind is she? A wolf too?” Then a thought struck. “Wait, is she a snake?”

Ji Yingran clapped her hands, convinced. “She has to be! No wonder snakes keep showing up at my place. Snake repellent powder didn’t even work. That snake was her! She even helped me spread the powder that time—she…”

She trailed off, at a loss for words.

Mu Ci’s wolfish eyes narrowed as she zeroed in on the key detail. “She went to your place? Why would that stupid thing go to your house?”

Ji Yingran guessed, “Maybe she just wanted to hang out?”

A sudden whine rumbled from Mu Ci’s throat.

Ji Yingran stared, baffled. What was this? They’d been chatting fine—why the whining now?

Mu Ci’s chest heaved with anger. That damn stupid thing, sneaking into the two-legged beast’s house—and more than once. The idiot kept accusing this wolf of coveting her mate, but who was coveting whom?

Mu Ci was furious, convinced Qing Li had ulterior motives. She whined on and on, a sense of crisis rising within her.

“Don’t you dare pay attention if that stupid thing comes looking for you,” Mu Ci said, her face stern.

“She spends all her time hovering around Xiao Jin anyway. She doesn’t have time for me,” Ji Yingran replied with an amused shake of her head.

Mu Ci wasn’t satisfied with the answer and grew agitated. “Say it—say you won’t pay attention to her.”

Ji Yingran didn’t get it but nodded along. “Okay, I won’t.”

Hearing the promise, Mu Ci’s tense expression finally eased.

As she watched the hurried passersby all around, Ji Yingran recalled the wolf’s words about the world’s many strange things.

Could some of these ordinary-looking people actually be extraordinary?

Lost in thought, she felt her hand bump against something.

Ji Yingran snapped back and looked at her, puzzled. “Bumping me again? What’s up?”

That “again” fit perfectly—the wolf was always acting out.

Not that it was crazy. She wasn’t human. Even in human form, she wasn’t truly human, so she often did things that seemed insane to people. Her thought process defied normal logic.

Mu Ci didn’t speak, but moments later, she bumped Ji Yingran’s hand again.

Ji Yingran frowned in confusion. Usually, it was heavy shoulder bumps. Today it was her hand, and lightly too.

Not like anger.

So what was she after?

Ji Yingran asked, but Mu Ci wouldn’t say—just kept bumping.

On the fifth bump, Ji Yingran still hadn’t figured out what she meant.

Mu Ci looked thoroughly annoyed. “Not up to par!”

Back to “not up to par.”

Ji Yingran shook her head, done puzzling it out. But as she gave up, her gaze drifted to a couple walking ahead.

They were holding hands.

Ji Yingran eyed their linked hands, then glanced at her own, which the wolf kept nudging.

Maybe… probably… she got it.

By now, the wolf had stormed ahead, her steps quick and leaving Ji Yingran behind.

Ji Yingran smiled softly to herself. Did this wolf have to be so stubborn? If she wanted to hold hands, she could just say so. Who’d know from all this bumping?

“Wolfie, wait for me.”

Ji Yingran jogged to catch up. Unlike Mu Ci’s awkwardness, she was the opposite—completely straightforward.

She reached Mu Ci’s side and naturally slipped her hand into hers.

The wolf’s paw was warm and toasty, like a portable hand warmer. In this weather, holding it felt wonderful.

Mu Ci halted, her expression blank. Only after a long moment did she look down at their joined hands.

“I’m a little cold,” Ji Yingran said, giving her an out. “Wolfie’s hand is so warm. Can I hold it?”

Who could resist a prideful wolf like this?

“I’m not holding hands with a lowly human like you. Your hand’s filthy—let go,” Mu Ci said. But the wolf made no move to pull away.

She even gripped back a little tighter.

“Your grubby hand is disgusting. This wolf doesn’t like holding it,” Mu Ci grumbled on.

But she didn’t let go. Her grip tightened more, her head shaking slightly side to side.

Her ears and tail both popped out.

“Put away the tail and ears—they’re out again.”

“This wolf has no ears or tail. So annoying. Now we have to hold hands—sticky and gross. Not up to par.”

…

They couldn’t go to the Oceanarium because of the ID issue, but Ji Yingran spent the day strolling Snack Street with the wolf instead.

The wolf stuffed herself round and burped contentedly.

It wasn’t until evening that Ji Yingran led her home. Before they arrived, they spotted Lady Ou from afar, dancing in the courtyard.

Ji Yingran quickly tugged Mu Ci back. “Hey, you go ahead. We’ll split up.”

Mu Ci eyed her suspiciously.

Ji Yingran pointed at Lady Ou. “You know my mom has a tiny misunderstanding about you. If she sees us together again, it’s hard to explain. She’s older—takes time to adjust. Even if I wanted to tell her you’re a wolf, it’d have to be gradual. Right?”

Mu Ci pouted and scoffed.

The hand she’d been clutching so tightly? Mu Ci flung it off and stormed away in a huff.

Ji Yingran wondered if the wolf was made of pure nitroglycerin. Three sentences and boom—not even words needed.

Bang!

Mu Ci kicked open the gate to Building 9’s courtyard.

Lady Ou, mid-square dance for her workout next door, jolted at the sudden noise, her shoulders jumping.

She looked over and saw the white-haired woman suddenly grin, baring her teeth.

Lady Ou shrank back a step in fright.

Mu Ci snorted coldly and kept walking.

“Mom.” Ji Yingran waved at Lady Ou.

“Ranran’s back,” Lady Ou said, pulling her daughter close and lowering her voice. “Did you see that? White Hair just got home and grinned at me, baring her teeth like a wolf cub ready to bite.”

Ji Yingran fell silent. No kidding—she really was a wolf cub.

The air carried the savory aroma of food. Ji Yingran sniffed. “Mom, you made rib soup tonight?”

Lady Ou laughed. “Your nose is sharp. Picked up some fresh pork ribs at the market today. Smells amazing, right?”

Pork ribs…

Lady Ou headed to the kitchen and ladled her a bowl. “Try it. So flavorful.”

Ji Yingran didn’t drink. She just carried the bowl toward the door.

Lady Ou called after her. “Where you going? Taking the soup outside?”

Ji Yingran coughed lightly, feeling guilty. “I, uh…”

Before she could come up with an excuse, Lady Ou beat her to it. “Taking it for Xiao Jin to try? If you’re sharing with the neighbor, fill it more. Can’t send over a half-bowl of rib soup like that—it looks stingy.”

Ji Yingran often cooked and shared with the neighbors. Lady Ou thought nothing of it, assuming she was bringing some to Yu Chujin.

Lady Ou grabbed a bigger bowl, filled it to the brim, and handed it over. “This one’s larger. Take this to Xiao Jin.”

Ji Yingran agreed and carried the soup outside, but instead of handing it to Xiao Jin, she gave it to White Hair.

Mu Ci had already stuffed herself round and full at Snack Street that day, but she still couldn’t resist a bowl of rib soup.

Even though she was stuffed, she ate it anyway—and devoured it with relish, her stomach like a bottomless pit.

Ji Yingran watched her from the side, her gaze soft. “Isn’t it delicious?”

Mu Ci gulped it down noisily. “Not delicious,” she replied between mouthfuls.

“This is the soup my mom made. She’s got real skill in the kitchen.”

“Pretty average. Not delicious.”

She drained the bowl.

Ji Yingran seized the moment while Mu Ci was in a good mood from the meal. “In the future,” she said gently, “could you try not to bare your teeth at my mom? You’ll scare her that way.”

Mu Ci bared her teeth.

Ji Yingran: “…”

“You can’t bare your teeth at me, either.”

Mu Ci bared her teeth again.

Fine. No sooner had she finished the soup and ribs than she went back on her word, changing her attitude faster than turning the page of a book.

Ji Yingran picked up the empty bowl. “Forget it. Can’t reason with you. I’m heading home—we’ve been out playing all day. You should rest early, too.”

She figured Mu Ci would try to stop her from leaving. This Wolf might not admit it out loud, but Ji Yingran knew full well how clingy she was.

To her surprise, however, Mu Ci simply watched her go, showing no sign of wanting her to stay.

At first, Ji Yingran didn’t quite get it. She assumed Mu Ci was just too full to bother.

But when she got home and pushed open the door…

Ji Yingran’s expression froze for a moment. Now she understood why That Wolf hadn’t tried to keep her.