The moonlight dimmed. As the distant sky brightened with the first light of dawn, an odd trio—one human, one dragon, one dog—hurried toward the city gates.

“Who’d have thought the inn would actually let Xi’er into the kitchen? Without that, Little Kuku and I wouldn’t be enjoying such a delicious breakfast, right, Xiao Fen?”

“Woof! (That’s right!)”

Each held a rice ball and a sandwich—in human hands or tiny paws.

The adorable little loli, former Dragon Sovereign Kuxi, and the tiny puppy, former Wolf King Fenrir, happily devoured breakfast made by the man they called their ‘husband’ and ‘dad’.

They finished each bite in two mouthfuls, tails wagging wildly with joy.

“Isn’t this a bit much?” Startled by their enthusiasm, Cang Xiaoxi instinctively stepped back. “It’s just plain hand-rolled onigiri and fruit sandwiches. Anyone could make these. And let’s be honest—the inn only agreed because *you* threatened them.”

He shot Kuxi a sideways glance.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Xi’er, you just don’t get it. What’s the point of eating? Atmosphere. Heart.” Swallowing her third rice ball, Kuxi unrepentantly brushed crumbs from her lips, clasped her tiny hands behind her slightly arched back, and declared with mock solemnity, “This was made by *my* beloved husband for *me*, the Sovereign. No dish, however skilled, compares to Xi’er’s love-filled cooking.”

“Woof! (Absolutely!)”

“You two…” Cang Xiaoxi’s brow furrowed slightly. “Don’t make me repeat it. We’re travel companions. Not spouses.”

“Yes, yes, I *know*~ Tsundere? Who doesn’t do that? Hmph! This wasn’t even made *for* you, was it, Xiao Fen?”

“Woof? (Tsundere?)”

She tossed the question to the confused puppy tilting its head at her feet. Despite Fenrir’s sharp mind, without Cang Xiaoxi’s memories of the original world, “tsundere” remained a mystery.

“Look, as a mom, could you *not* corrupt the—ahem! Ugh, you’ve got me mixed up too.” His protest faltered mid-sentence, flustered.

Years of Kuxi insisting she was the pup’s ‘mom’ and Cang Xiaoxi the ‘dad’ had ingrained the roles. Slips like this happened.

Amid Kuxi’s gleeful teasing, Cang Xiaoxi—knowing he’d stumbled—said nothing. He kept a stern face and endured until they reached the carriage near the city gates.

There, mission partner Woods and his companion, high-tier mage Yuna, finalized luggage checks.

“Good morning, Mr. Woods, Miss Yuna.”

Cang Xiaoxi waved on behalf of the group.

“Ah, good morning to you too, Miss Cang… and Miss Kuku as well…” Woods offered a slightly strained smile.

“Hmm.” Kuxi gave a single nod, cradling Xiao Fen. Even self-proclaimed as Cang Xiaoxi’s wife, her disdain for humans remained unchanged. Merely acknowledging them was Dragon Sovereign generosity.

Woods, having traveled with her days, understood. He addressed her as “Miss” and tolerated her attitude—after all, a woman’s wrath defies rank.

But not all shared that patience.

“Little girl, what’s *that* attitude? We’re your seniors! Is this how you greet us?” Yuna, Woods’ red-haired teammate—early twenties, strikingly curvy—had long simmered with irritation.

She stepped close to Kuxi, chest thrust forward deliberately. “Stinky cow,” Kuxi muttered, eyes flicking past Yuna’s chest with a displeased click of her tongue.

“Stinky *cow*? Are you calling *me* a big-chested stinky cow?!” Yuna crossed her arms tightly, glaring. She opened her mouth to unleash insults—then glanced at Kuxi’s flat chest.

Silent. Mature. Brutally pointed.

“Hmph!” Yuna let out a loud, disdainful snort, her gaze lingering just long enough.

That glance said everything.

“You—!” The little loli bristled.

Sensing her ‘mom’s’ rising fury, Xiao Fen wriggled free.

Just as the Dragon Sovereign’s temper threatened to erupt, Uncle Woods hurriedly pulled Yuna aside. “Yuna, behave. They’re here to help. You’re making *me* look bad.”

“Hmph. *Your* embarrassment, not mine.” She pouted. “This escort needs only us. No need for E-rank brats.”

“Can you stop judging by rank?” Woods sighed, rubbing his temples. “Their strength is obvious. Miss Cang Xiaoxi is only one tier below your high-tier beginner level.”

“Even so—they’re *E-rank*. Rookies. That alone makes me superior.” Noble-born pride hardened Yuna’s tone. Cang Xiaoxi and Kuxi’s rapid rise had stirred envy. She’d opposed their inclusion fiercely—only agreeing because the original teammates got a named quest.

“E-rank is bad enough. But a flat-chested brat with zero respect? Let’s just do this mission ourselves.”

Oblivious to the dragon’s boiling rage, Yuna kept digging her grave.

Cang Xiaoxi, the group’s diplomat, smoothly stepped in. “Ahem. Mr. Woods, Miss Yuna—have you eaten? If you don’t mind, try these.”

He offered the remaining, well-praised onigiri and sandwiches. Hungry and favorably inclined toward Cang Xiaoxi, Yuna accepted without protest.

*Munch!*

“Delicious!” One bite, and Yuna’s cheeks flushed. She squeezed her slender, black-stockinged legs together, licked her lips, and stared at the sandwich. “So soft! Where’d you get this bread? Wait—it’s ordinary bread! How?!”

Leaning close, her chest swaying, she whispered, “Girls love sweets everywhere… and *this* won me over.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Did you treat the fruit?”

“Just steamed the bread briefly,” Cang Xiaoxi replied calmly, eyes flicking away for a split second. “The fruit’s sweeter because of my homemade Spirit Peach jam.”

“Really?! Little brother, you’re amazing!” Yuna’s earlier grudge forgotten, she pressed closer, breath warm, voice honeyed. “Hey~ Spare your sister some jam? My stomach’s already conquered~”

—Why? It’s just jam. Must it be *this* provocative?

Cang Xiaoxi’s face stayed blank. Without his passive “Temptation Immunity,” he’d have flushed like any naive boy.

“If you want some, I’ll share.”

—It’s not precious. I can make more.

As he reached for his Spatial Ring, a seething voice cut in:

“No! This Spirit Peach jam is *mine*! And stay away from *my* Xi’er, you stinky cow!”