Two kids and a tiny puppy dashed upstairs in a flurry of excitement.

“An Qing, let’s watch cartoons—*Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf*!”

Just being with the boy doubled Xu Yuting’s joy. Imagining sitting beside him on the sofa, holding his little hand while watching cartoons, made her heart flutter. Her smile stretched so wide it nearly reached her ears.

“Cartoons? Like the *Animal World* we saw yesterday? Do wolves eat sheep in them…?” the boy asked curiously, cradling the puppy.

He’d barely watched TV. Many things other kids took for granted were new to him.

*Hmph, this little cutie’s too well-behaved. Never seen a TV? Don’t kids his age usually crowd around it?* Meng Qiutong mused inwardly. Trapped in puppy form and unable to speak, her mind buzzed with commentary.

“Cartoons are… cartoons! A scar-faced, clumsy gray wolf chasing sheep,” Yuting tried explaining—but being a kid herself, her words barely made sense. “Ugh, just watch! You’ll get it,” she chirped, giving up and scrambling to find the remote. She couldn’t wait to snuggle close and hold his hand.

“Mm-hmm.” An Qing trailed behind her, careful not to wander.

“Sit on the sofa, An Qing! I’ll find the remote—where’d Mom hide it?” Yuting’s bright eyes darted around, searching.

“Right there.” The boy scanned the room carefully and pointed with his small finger.

“Yay! An Qing, you’re amazing!” Yuting loved praising him—it made his cheeks flush pink.

*Hmph, this brat’s so careless. The little cutie’s so diligent… truly an angel,* Meng Qiutong thought, stuck in silent observation.

“Put Xiao Bai on the floor, An Qing. Let her play. We’re watching *Pleasant Goat*!” Remote in hand, Yuting tugged his sleeve eagerly. She wouldn’t let the puppy ruin her hand-holding plan.

“Woof woof woof… Brat, don’t separate me from the little cutie!” Meng Qiutong yapped in a squeaky, harmless protest—more cute than threatening.

“See? Xiao Bai’s barking! She wants to play. Mom says puppies love moving around,” Yuting beamed, misreading the barks as agreement. She nearly reached to take the puppy herself.

“Mm-hmm… I’ll let her play alone,” the boy whispered innocently. He bent down gently, set Xiao Bai on the floor, and gave her head one last soft pat. “Play nicely, Xiao Bai. I won’t bother you.”

“Woof woof… Little cutie, don’t believe her! Hold me again… woof…" Meng Qiutong nuzzled his palm desperately, unwilling to lose his warmth.

“An Qing, ignore her—cartoon time!” Yuting tugged his hand toward the sofa, bubbling with impatience.

“Woof… Brat, you ruined everything. I hate you. I’ll pee on your bed tonight,” the puppy whimpered inwardly, watching them go. *How I wish I were the one holding his hand…*

*Ugh. This little girl’s living the dream—holding a boy’s hand at this age? Meanwhile, I’m twenty, and my only “intimate contact” with a guy is as a dog. Pathetic. I’ve literally become the dog.*

*No. I must get back into his arms!*

She scrambled after them on wobbly little legs.

On screen, the cartoon played: a henpecked Gray Wolf relentlessly chasing goats.

“See? That ugly one in the hat is Gray Wolf. So clumsy! I’ve watched forever and never seen her eat mutton,” Yuting chirped. Snuggling close, she linked arms with An Qing and chattered on.

“Why does this wolf walk on two legs like us? And talk? Different from yesterday’s *Animal World* wolves…” the boy murmured, recalling the fierce pack.

“Well… um… She’s smarter? That’s why she walks and talks,” Yuting stammered.

“Oh… She seems scared of that other wolf…” He watched Gray Wolf return home defeated, scolded by her husband.

“That’s Red Wolf—Gray Wolf’s husband. Hmph, he whacks her with a frying pan all the time,” Yuting explained eagerly.

“Does he hit her just for failing? But… she tries so hard…” An Qing’s voice softened with sympathy.

“’Cause she’s useless! I’ve seen tons of episodes—she never catches goats. Only frogs or mushrooms. No wonder he hits her,” Yuting huffed. Her only reason for watching? Hoping Gray Wolf would finally taste mutton.

“…I… I might be clumsy too…” the boy whispered, eyes downcast.

“An Qing! You’re not clumsy! Boys can be a little clumsy—it’s fine. Girls can’t. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you. No one will bully you,” Yuting soothed quickly, squeezing his arm.

“Woof woof… Hmph. This brat’s got smooth-talking down pat. Sigh… Such a sweet little cutie, doomed to be ‘harvested’ later. Good veggies always get eaten by pigs,” Xiao Bai sighed inwardly, utterly stuffed on this overdose of “dog food.”