Chapter 81: In Search of Mother

Blinking, Chao Xu thought she must be seeing things and looked again carefully. Yet the dark mist did not vanish; beneath Ci Mo's eyes, she noticed two small black dots. Tiny marks at the lower corners of his eyes, reminiscent of a fox’s tear moles—also known as "ink tears."

Hesitating, she reached out and placed her hand above the black mist. At once, that seemingly fierce aura wrapped itself around her fingers—not with any real threat, but instead soft and pliant, like a lazy blob of slime, tingling and even a little pleasant.

It was clear that the black mist, which looked so menacing and oppressive around Ci Mo, was now desperately trying to please her.

A soft laugh escaped Chao Xu’s lips.

That intimidating black mist, now so eager to win her favor, was unexpectedly endearing—a striking contrast. Cute, she thought.

Unaware of all this, Ci Mo was bewildered by her laughter. He looked up at her, eyes misty and uncertain, and asked nervously, "Is there something on my face?"

Chao Xu withdrew her hand and shook her head. "No."

The moment she pulled her hand away, the mist seemed to wilt, as if it had lost its favorite thing.

Chao Xu suddenly felt as if a fierce beast was gazing at her with longing, wanting to be hugged and lifted high—a strange illusion of vulnerability. How... can he be so adorable?

She felt her heart, old and gentle, melting from the sweetness.

Ci Mo watched the shifting expressions on Chao Xu’s face, growing ever more convinced that something must be wrong with him to draw such looks, so he clutched his clothes tightly, staying silent.

Seeing his timid demeanor, Chao Xu sighed. Anyone who didn’t know better might think she was exploiting child labor.

She gently patted Ci Mo’s soft black hair, offering comfort. "Don’t worry. I don’t dislike you."

Ci Mo looked up, still confused. "Then, Chao, do you like me?"

The blunt question stunned Chao Xu. She even wondered what kind of teachers the butler had hired, teaching such a well-behaved child to say things like this.

Wearing the stern face of a worried mother, she studied Ci Mo and asked, "Do you know what 'like' means?"

Ci Mo shook his head. "Teacher said it means you care a lot about someone."

Hearing the explanation, Chao Xu finally relaxed.

Thank goodness, he hadn’t been led astray.

Looking at Ci Mo, she felt her little brother was so obedient—without her watching out for him, he’d easily be tricked by someone offering him candy.

She considered for a moment and said, "You must remember: the word 'like'—except for me, never say it to anyone else!"

After a pause, seeing how delicate he was, she added seriously, "Not to any boys, either! If anyone says it to you, you must come and tell me!"

If her own piglet was snatched away by someone else, she thought she’d die of heartbreak.

The girl's words brimmed with possessiveness.

Ci Mo, however, took no offense. He nodded, smiling softly and obediently. "Okay, I understand."

So well-behaved.

Like a Samoyed, gentle and obedient, with an endearing hint of foolishness.

Chao Xu pressed a hand to her nose, half expecting a gush of red liquid to burst forth.