"No, nothing," Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu mumbled, having a guilty conscience as she got in the car.
She didn't know how to explain it to Ryan. She had never thought she would one day buy something like that herself.
The small box in her left pocket burned like a hot potato and her ears flushed red.
But, what other solution did she have?
Other people's boyfriends were well prepared in advance, only her "boyfriend" had no concept of contraception.
Along with Ryan's frequent desires, if she did not take precaution, then she would soon get pregnant.
But she didn't want to have a baby so soon. . .
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's heart was tangled.
Fortunately, Ryan did not ask, presumably already accustomed to the strangeness of the human world, and his gaze shifted elsewhere. His tail could not wait to sweep out from behind, curling through the window to dangle loosely toward the ground.
After hiding it for the entire day, it finally had the opportunity to be let out.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu had originally intended to go home directly, but seeing Ryan's tail, she remembered that she still hadn't gone to get Gǔn Gǔn despite being back for so many days already.
Quickly turning the car, she turned toward her friend's house.
Her friend had taken good care of Gǔn Gǔn for two months.
Gǔn Gǔn had long forgotten that Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu had abandoned him, and when she appeared, he meowed and enthusiastically ran toward her.
Unfortunately, he was stopped in the air by an arm.
Ryan's hand closed around Gǔn Gǔn's neck, and he indifferently looked at it, asking, "Who's this stupid cat?"
Hanging in the air, Gǔn Gǔn meowed restlessly, flopping about trying to escape his hand.
"His name is Gǔn Gǔn, and he's my pet," Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu wanted to rescue the cat from his hand, thinking then she added, "And he's not stupid. He's very smart."
"Male?" Ryan licked his lips and lowered his voice.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's hands on the steering wheel stalled slightly and she nodded.
Then, she saw Ryan open the window and raise his hand to throw the cat right out the window.
"Ryan!" Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu hurriedly parked the car at the side of the road, frightened, "Gǔn Gǔn is just a cat, even if he's male, it's just an animal that doesn't know anything. You can't treat him like that. . ." She said so and grabbed Gǔn Gǔn from his hand.
"I am also an animal," Ryan looked at her with a stark contrast to her anxiety, reminding her, "Leopard."
"But, you can become a man. . ." She subconsciously explained, then halfway suddenly understood why Ryan cared.
She set Gǔn Gǔn in the back seat and turned dark eyes at him, "And, you're not like Gǔn Gǔn."
Ryan's eyes narrowed, "Where aren't we the same?"
"Gǔn Gǔn is my pet," Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu bit her lip, seemingly embarrassed to say her next words, "You are my favorite person. . ."
A layer of blush colored the girl's cheeks, like raindrops suddenly falling in the dry desert, instantly nourishing his dry heart.
Ryan held her waist and legs then kissed her at the corner of her mouth and sternly asked, "How much?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu tilted her head, the kiss was itchy, and she shyly answered, "Won't tell you."
Ryan kissed her lips and twisted into her mouth, searching out her soft tongue to bite it.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu gasped and lifted her hands to push him away, but she was even more forcibly kissed.
After a long time, Ryan finally let her go and asked her again, in an almost mute voice, "Well? Tell me."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was dizzy from his kiss and she rested her cheek against his chest, unconsciously answering honestly, "Specially. . ."
"Compared to that stupid cat?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu pressed her red face into his chest and muttered, "Not the same."
Ryan raised his eyebrow and waited for the little one to explain where it was different.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu complained, "You are my boyfriend, you can't compare with a pet."
Ryan wasn't satisfied with this name, but he was glad to be together. He wouldn't be happy to separate. "You humans, have a name for a spouse besides this?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu paused, "Yes."
"What is it?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu thought of it, and her ears quickly diffused into a layer of pink, and she opened her mouth. She couldn't call out that word all the time.
"I'll tell you later," she said shamelessly.
". . ."
. . .
Under Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's coordination for reconciliation, Ryan finally stopped mentioning throwing Gǔn Gǔn out the window.
But, the two cats had to live under the same roof, and it was not smooth sailing.
She wondered if Gǔn Gǔn knew that Ryan had almost thrown him out, but Gǔn Gǔn seemed very afraid of Ryan.
In that past, when Gǔn Gǔn got home, he would first occupy the sofa but today, he was hiding far away from it. He dared not approach the sofa where Ryan was sitting.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu couldn't bear to look on and after taking a shower, gave Gǔn Gǔn one too. Then she let him go so he could sleep early, lest he be bullied by Ryan.
After giving him a shower, she turned to grab the hair dryer but when she turned around, he had run off to the balcony.
His body was dripping wet and his amber eyes were wide as he shivered out on the balcony.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu: ". . ."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu looked at Ryan who was sitting to the side, having a bit of a headache, "Ryan, did you scare him out there?"
Ryan folded a leg and propped up his chin, neither admitting or denying anything.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was helpless. She turned to the balcony and beckoned, "Gǔn Gǔn, come. I'll blow you dry."
Gǔn Gǔn meowed twice and walked towards her.
He had only taken a step when cold eyes swept to the side and frightened him back immediately, hiding on the balcony.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu protested, "Ryan, stop frightening him. He's very timid."
Ryan finally looked up, his blue eyes staring silently at her, "Why did you bathe it?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu stumbled, "Because, he won't. . ."
"You didn't help me bathe," Ryan didn't change his expression, and his voice even sounded calm, "I won't either."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu: ". . ."
As early as the first day, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu had already taught him how to use the toilet and shower nozzle here.
He learned quickly and did not need her to teach him a second time.
But now, he said "no" with such a solemn face, even Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu almost believed him.
So, in order to reflect "fairness", after helping the kitten take a shower, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu would have to help the big cat take his.
But the bathroom was small and the water mist shrouded everything, so it was easy to have an accident while bathing.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was brought out of the bathroom by Ryan, her newly changed pajamas wet and clinging tightly to her contours. Like a freshly picked peach.
Ryan laid her on the bed and leaned over, pressing to set his mouth against hers again.
When Ryan was about to enter again, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu suddenly remembered something and turned to say urgently, "Ryan, wait, wait."
She squeezed out from under Ryan and pulled open the bedside table to take out what she had bought earlier that day and said, blushing, "Put this on. . ."
Ryan frowned and look at it, "What is it?"
"You wear it first. . ."
After a while, Ryan voiced, "How?"
. . .
Ryan was impatient: "Too tight."
"Don't put it on."
"You humans like to wear these things?"
. . .
. . .
*
The next day, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu went to school to get a book and handled the procedures for withdrawal. Her legs were too soft and she almost couldn't drive.
Last night, the box of condoms had no use. Ryan eventually waved them away and tossed them into the trash.
He learned the use of condoms and tossed her mercilessly.
Regardless of how Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu explained that "didn't want to give birth to his offspring" meant "didn't want to give birth so soon", it was useless.
Later, she cried too much and her pillow was soaked in her tears. Ryan just licked her tears away.
So, when Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu woke early that morning, her eyes were red and swollen. She iced them for a long time before it went away.
On the road, because her legs were weak, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu used the gas several times instead of the brake and almost caused a traffic accident.
After the third mistake, Ryan finally could not stand it anymore and asked, "Do you need me to help?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu looked at him strangely, "You know how to drive?"
Ryan raised his eyebrow, "It's not that difficult." He had watched her many times and was fairly proficient in theory.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was slightly surprised. It had taken her three months to learn, how could Ryan figure it out in just a few days?
Even so, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu didn't dare give him the steering wheel.
Ryan didn't have a driver's license. If he were found, and he didn't have an identification card. . . the consequences would be disastrous.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu would rather stumble to school, then put Ryan in any danger.
When she got to school, it was already 11am.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu parked the car outside and let Ryan sit in the car to wait for her.
The people ready to receive the books was more than Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu had imagined. Together with her late night, she ended up waiting in line for an hour.
After getting the book, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu paid close attentino to the time and went back to her dormitory to handle her withdrawal.
The school didn't force the students to stay so Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu managed to complete it smoothly.
Once everything was finished, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was about to head for the school entrance. But her roommate came downstairs and warmly called out to her.
The roommate and Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu walked side by side along the road and they talked about Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's affairs along the way. "Xiǎo Ōu, why'd you ask for such a long vacation? You're not coming this semester? Where are you going? What happened at home?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu shook her head but couldn't tell her the truth so she only said, "No, I have something else."
After asking a few other questions, the roommate finally accepted reality ad lamented, tightly hugging Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's waist, "Once you go, who'll help me get up, and occupy my seat, and give me a meal, ah . . ."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu chuckled and said her other two roommates' names, "Won't they still be there?"
"Those two lazy persimmons, they won't get up early enough, they might as well expect the sun to rise from the west. . ."
. . .
The two girls walked along laughing the entire way and came to the school gate where they heard a noise up front.
The two looked up and saw the students at the entrance of the school were frightened and avoiding it.
There stood a large wild dog baring his teeth and growling.
The dog was infamous at the school and very hostile. Usually the students that saw it were desperate to hide.
Today, somehow, the wild dog suddenly went to the entrance of the school and was barking at one person more than the others.
The man opposite it wore a black overcoat and his long legs were propped on the ground as he leaned against the gate, his brows cold and expressionless.
He seemed to be waiting for someone and his blue eyes slightly rotated through the crowd, bored.
The dog barked so loudly in front of him but he didn't even set eyes on it.
It wasn't until the dog's teeth came close to him that he raised a leg and stepped on its head.
The dog was put in place, pushing at his front paws but couldn't even move.
"Woof, woof——"
The man finally set eyes on it and emitted avery low, irrefutable threat, "Get lost."
The wild dog's eyes were shocked and even its barks stopped. Then he dropped his fierce eyes and lowered his tail, barking quietly.
The man dropped his eyes to it and listened to the dog's lower voice. It backed away a few steps and fled in despondency.
——As if the devils and its monsters were after its tail.
. . .
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's roommate dragged her over by the arm, "Xiǎo Ōu, look at the guy. . ."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu naturally set the scene in her eyes but she thought differently from her roommate.
A leopard running out and crazy wild dog. . . when Ryan came to this world, did they lose sense?
The roommate's voice continued, "Ah, ah, ah, he's looking at us. . ."
Not only her roommate, but several girls around them weren't calm.
Even if he wore a coat, it couldn't hide the beastly nature of Ryan's body.
Like a sturdy facade to hide the poised beast, it could tear off someone's neck any time.
But this dangerous was the most attractive to women.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu smiled and walked toward him. Suddenly a boy came up to her side, holding a basketball in his hands. He had just looked down from the sports field and saw Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu. He said directly, "Elder sister, where are you going? I'll help you get your books."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu stepped back. She didn't know him, so she shook her head and said, "No, I can take it myself. . ."
"So many books, Elder sister aren't you tired?" The boy was very enthusiastic and wanted to take the books from her arms, "This kind of thing, let the boys handle it."
The roommate automatically retreated to the side to watch with excitement.
Everytime she went out with Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu, they always met up with one or two boys, this wasn't surprising.
Only this time, the boy was particularly difficult and even though Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu said, "No," several times, he still refused to leave.
"Where is elder sister going? My car's parked right outside, why don't I give you a ride?" he asked.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu tried to exert, "My boyfriend is waiting for me outside." The man at the gate had stepped over and was walking over.
The boy still insisted on helping her with the books, "Elder sister, why don't you leave your phone number? If it's convenient, I'd like to contact you. . ."
"Sorry, it isn't convenient," The low and cold refusal rang overhead. Ryan took the boy's arm in one hand and took Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's books in the other. His cold gaze swept over, a cold winter brwince blowing across, "Stay away from her, or I won't spare you."
The boy's arm was pinched and he asked in surprise, "Who are you?"
"Her spouse," Ryan dropped this sentence and took Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's hand to walk outside the school.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu trotted along behind Ryan until they were at the gate, then remembered to wave goodbye to her roommate.
In the car, Ryan's face wasn't very good and his eyebrows were furrowed, "Who was that idiot?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu honestly shook her head, "I don't know he is."
Ryan licked his teeth, disbelieving her, "Don't know but he stopped you?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu nodded, very seriously, "Well, human males often like to stop unfamiliar women to talk."
"Yes," Ryan supported his chin and looked indifferently at her, "So to say, many people often stop you to talk?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu: ". . ."
. . .
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu dug herself into a whole but managed to get out of it when she received a text from her roommate.
Her roommate was shocked, "Xiǎo Ōu, your boyfriend is very handsome, ah, ah, ah."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu could almost imagine her surprised expression and couldn't help but laugh, turning to look at Ryan.
He was still expressionless with his furrowed brow and lips tilting downward. His legs were casually folded and he still looked a little unhappy.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu dipped her eyes and sent back a smiley face.
Well, she thought, he was very handsome.
Driving from T city to S city, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu didn't go straight home, first dropping by a nearby supermarket.
There wasn't much food at home and Gǔn Gǔn's cat food was almost finished. There was also some small household items that needed to be purchased.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu and Ryan walked into the supermarket and it was rush hour, so there were many people in the market bustling about. You couldn't walk to and from anywhere.
Fortunately, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu wasn't in a hurry and she pushed the cart slowly alongside Ryan with an inexplicable sense of security.
This novel experience was one she had never had. Before, when Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu and Ryan were together, it was a matter of hunting or be hunted.
Never had she thought they would walk hand in hand through the supermarket someday.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu took the items from the shelves as she walked and stuffed them into the shopping cart. Inattentively, a cart was rushing through the crowd and directly toward her.
By the time she noticed, it was too late and she was about to be hit by the cart when arms took her by the waist from behind and lifted her off the ground and to the side.
With only a "bang," the shopping cart rammed into the shelves and the goods were scattered across the floor.
A mother led her child from across the way and constantly apologized toward Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu and Ryan.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu didn't know what to say. She and Ryan had nothing to do with it, so she just smiled and said, "It doesn't matter."
After that, there was no mood to continue visiting the supermarket so Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu and Ryan went to buy Gǔn Gǔn's cat food, a pair of slippers, a toothbrush, towels, and other toiletries suitable for Ryan. Then they pushed the cart to the cashier ready to check out.
There were many people at the registers, and Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu picked a relatively short line.
When it was their turn, the cashier set their account and politely asked, "Is there anything you need help with?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was ready to say, "No, thank you," when Ryan's low voice spoke up from the said, "Do you have a big one?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu: ???
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu followed the sound with her gaze and saw his was fixed low at the neatly arranged condoms on the shelves.
Not waiting for her reaction, the cashier nodded without his face changing in the slightest, "Yes, just a moment."
Then he took a few different boxes and carefully laid them out for Ryan. This one was strawberry flavored, that one was banana flavored, and the other was spiral-patterned. . .
Ryan's expression was unchanging as always when he selected one, then he turned his gaze to Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was petrified until Ryan curled his fingers and knocked her forehead, then she remembered to check out.
All the way to leaving the supermarket, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was still stupefied.
"Ryan, why. . ." Wasn't he angry that she wanted to use a condom?
Ryan was carrying the shopping bag in one hand and the other held Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's small palm as they walked down the stairs. "Eh?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu titled her head, "You dislike it. . . though?"
The corner of Ryan's mouth pulled and he said frankly, "I really don't like it."
"Then why do you still. . ."
Ryan paused and bent to gently lick her mouth, whispering, "My woman cried all night, how could I refuse?"
". . ." Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's cheeks flushed red. She hadn't been crying to beg him, it was obviously that he hurt her. . .
But Ryan had listened to her, something she hadn't expected.
A human's pregnancy was about ten months, which was longer than the leopards', whose females only needed three months to give birth.
In addition, humans needed an additional month of recovery time.
Add it all up to a total of a full year. In other words, a whole year that Ryan could not touch Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu.
——That was what Ryan could not bear to withstand.
He just got her and wanted to have sex with her every day. It was impossible to imagine what it would be like to not touch her for a year.
What's more, the way humans fed their offspring was different from them.
The leopard clan advocated independence and once the offspring was weaned at one year old, they could live alone and did not need their mothers.
But humans didn't. Ryan had discovered that humans, whether they were a year or a dozen years old, they would be at their mother's side.
If his offspring were to haunt his woman like a human cub, he would probably throw it out mercilessly.
So, before that, Ryan could endure the discomfort that the condoms brought him.
Under the premise that he could put it on.
. . .
Once out of the elevator, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu put her hand in her backpack looking for her key, strangely asking, "Leopards don't have to recover for a month?"
Ryan said: "The leopard females can go hunting the day after the offspring is born."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu found the key and was ready to open the door, "But that would damage the body. . ."
"Naturally, that's what you humans say," Ryan pinched her soft face and rubbed it with his thumb, "Delicate."
". . ."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was trying to think of a retort when there was sudden movement on the other side of the door, like footsteps on the floor.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu thought it was from Gǔn Gǔn inside hearing their voices and wanting them to open the door.
When the door was opened by a hand, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu saw a figure in the doorway and only just found something to be wrong, her heart jumping violently in her chest. She wanted to grab Ryan's hand and run when Mrs. Jǐ stood in the doorway, "Little Darling, how are you coming back now? Gǔn Gǔn was starving when we got here and you're father. . ."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's head was spinning and her speech wasn't quick, "Mom, mother. . ."
Mrs. Jǐ waited for a moment and saw her standing motionlessly in the doorway, "Why aren't you coming in, still standing there with nothing to do?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu: ". . ."
Her mother lifted her gaze and finally found Ryan standing behind Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu and she blurted out, "Who's this?"
*
"He, he's the electrician I just invited," Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's brain spun quickly and she blurted out, "Mother, the lights in my room are broken so I asked him to take a look."
Mrs. Jǐ walked a circle around Ryan and smiled kindly, "There's such good-looking electricians this year."
". . ."
Her mother looked at Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu, "I just went into your room to look and didn't find anything that looked broken."
"Yes. . ." Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu responded guiltily, "Maybe it's okay. Since there's nothing wrong, then I'll go send him down."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's mother politely asked, "Since he came, why not invite him to come in and sit?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu shook her head like a rattle and answered for "him," "No, you and father rest first, I'll send him back immediately."
. . .
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu ran down the stairs, her heart still beating loudly. She had never expected her mom and dad to come back early.
Didn't they say in the last video chat that it wouldn't be until next month?? Why were they back now?
And to not speak to her in advance, she wasn't prepared at all. . .
Ah, ah, ah, what to do? Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was confused. Would her mother find out about her and Ryan. . .
If mother knew she was in love with a beastman, would she faint?
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was frustrated and hadn't noticed that Ryan's footstpes had stopped.
"Little one," the palm of Ryan's hand held her chin and pressed his nose to hers, "You'd better explain why I'm running away with you."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu wanted to cry but had no tears to shed, "My mother and father came back. . ."
Ryan: "So?"
"I haven't told them about us. . ."
"Then go up and say it now," Ryan picked her up and walked back to the elevator.
"No, no," Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu wrapped her arms around Ryan's neck and quickly stopped, "Saying it now will frighten them. . ."
Ryan frowned: "I'm scary?"
". . . Of course not," Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu said sullenly, then she pleaded, "Let me first tell them, okay? Wait until I'm finished, then I'll take you to see them again."
The little one was anxious and red-eyed. Her arms were trembling slightly and Ryan finally stopped, freeing a hand to rub her wet eyelashes, asking, "After that, we're going back to Bornia?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu paused for a moment and softly nodded, "En."
Back upstairs, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu switched her shoes and put the things she and Ryan had just bought at the market in the kitchen.
There was only her food and cat food. Ryan's slippers and toiletries had been put into her space.
"Dad, mom," Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu walked into the living room and said in her usual demeanor, "How did you come back so early?"
Her mother had already cleaned up the house and her father was sitting on the sofa drinking tea. Gǔn Gǔn was at his feet, his amber eyes subconsciously looking behind Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu.
Her father drank tea then invited Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu to also pour a cup, "Dad got into contact with a school over there for you, and since school will start soon, we thought of coming back early lest the learning process be delayed and I was too eager to return, so I didn't have any time to tell you. . ."
Even though she had guessed it eight or so times, to still hear it from her father's mouth, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was shocked.
Mr. Jǐ continued, "Dad has already completed the formalities and an uncle is willing to be our guarantor for us three. After you're finished with everything, we'll be able to move next month. When you're free, you can tidy up the things you'll need. . ."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu bit her lip and finally couldn't help but interrupt her father's words, "Daddy, I don't want to go to Ireland."
"Why, can you tell me the reason?" Although he had listened to his wife beforehand, he was still somewhat surprised.
He thought that he hadn't made it clear on the phone and came back to discuss it face to face with her, that his daughter would change her mind.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu stared at her finger and whispered, "I am reluctant to leave."
Mr. Jǐ: "Would you be willing to stay without your mother and father?"
". . ."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu lifted her eyes, her dark eyes wide and with a trace of hopelessness, and felt embarrassed, "I. . ."
Of course she couldn't bear to.
But if she went to Ireland with her parents, she would never see Ryan again.
She couldn't be without Ryan.
"Can't I go see you often later?" Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu pursed her lips into a flatline, a little sad and helpless.
"Little Darling, mom and dad cannot bear to leave you alone in the country. We really don't trust it." Mrs. Jǐ said, unsure of what to think, and her eyes got wet, her voice trembling, "We cannot lose you again. . ."
". . ." Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu thought of her high school disappearance. Her parents had spent three months looking for her at that cliff, where they had looked at each other and promised, "This kind of thing couldn't happen again. . ."
To this kind of sentence, she could say no more words of refusal.
. . .
That night, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu laid in her bed restlessly and could not sleep.
When she thought of Ryan's words, she thought of her parents' words and then she thought of the beast world. . . until there was a knot in her head.
The clock swayed on the wall and quietly pointed to 1 o'clock, even though she could not see it.
The night sky was silent and ablaze with lights.
Traffic flowed like water at the food of the high-rise buildings.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu didn't know how many times she rolled over until she rolled into a familiar embrace.
She froze and soon reacted, "Ryan?"
Ryan had an arm around her waist and his dark blue eyes were like jewels on the seafloor, "En."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was surprised, "How did you get out?" She had done like with Táo Táo earlier that day and put him into her space.
Ryan's nose was at her neck, sniffing her sweet scent, "It's too stuffy." And he wanted to hold her.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu didn't say anything and shifted aside to give him more room, "Do you want to get under the quilt?"
Beastmen didn't need the quilts, since their temperature was so high. It was a question Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu always had to ask.
In the past, Ryan may have refused but today, he especially wanted to hug his little female, so he wasn't polite and lifted her quilt to bring her into his arms.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's cheek rested against his chest and after brewing for a long time, honestly confessed, "Ryan, I still haven't told mom and dad. . ."
Ryan: "What?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu bit her lip and muttered, "I haven't told them we're in love."
Ryan smiled a little, "Why not?"
"I couldn't find an opportunity," Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu rubbed against his chin a bit plaintive, "I'll say it tomorrow."
Ryan held the back of her head and licked her lips, lowering to her throat to say slowly, "Then say it tomorrow."
Oddly enough, even though Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu couldn't sleep no matter how she tried, after Ryan arrived, she soon fell asleep.
*
Early the next morning, the dazzling sunlight passed through the thick curtains and cast mottled rays onto the floor of her room.
"Darling, are you up?" Mrs. Jǐ knocked on the door then pushed it in, "It's time to have breakfast."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu suddenly opened her eyes and subconsciously looked around but didn't see Ryan. She sighed with relief and pressed her cheek against the pillow, responding in a voice thick with sleep, "I know, mom, I'll get up."
Her mother closed the door and Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu got out of bed. She stepped into cotton slippers and looked around again, still unable to find Ryan.
Where did he go?
Did he automatically go back to her space?
But Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu searched her space and couldn't find him there either.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was a little worried, thinking about his whereabouts while brushing her teeth.
It wasn't until her mother rushed out that she spit out the foam in her mouth and walked to the dining room in her pajamas.
Breakfast was a sweet purple potato corn porridge with pancakes and sugar poached eggs.
All three of the Jǐ family liked a Chinese breakfast and every morning, her mother would make it.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu scooped up a bowl of porridge and sat in the outermost position with a preoccupied look.
Aside from worrying about Ryan, she also had to think about how to speak with her parents today.
Yesterday, she had thought about it all night and still didn't want to go to Ireland.
Even if there was no Ryan, she still didn't want to go.
All her friends and classmates were at home, if she were to go to a strange country, she would have none.
It would mean having to start her life all over again.
Even if she loved her mom and dad, she could not always live under their wing.
She was always independent. She could not falter, because once she did, she would never walk out again.
Only, yesterday, her mother had uttered that sentence and taken away her ability to refuse.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu gently sighed, such a dilemma.
After breakfast, Mrs. Jǐ was dressed neatly and standing on the porch ready to go out to finalize everything for Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu to go abroad.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu stood in the entrance and looked at them, "Mother. . ."
Mrs. Jǐ did not seem to see her abnormality and even remembered to say, "Little Darling, don't forget to give Gǔn Gǔn his food. Father and I will be back in the afternoon and you'll have to do something about eating at noon. . ."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu opened her mouth, "Mother, I have something to say. . ."
"What is it? Say it when we get back, Little Darling, mom and dad have appointments iwth people and we'll be late." Mrs. Jǐ said, touching Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's head, and she was ready to push the door out.
Just as she held the door and opened it, she hadn't taken a step when she froze.
Outside the door stood a tall man with deep facial features and blue eyes, his hand raised to knock.
Meeting Mrs. Jǐ's gace, he quietly withdrew his hand and nodded slightly, calling out a greeting.
Mrs. Jǐ was startled then realized he was the "electrician" who repaired the bulb yesterday and smiled politely, "Hello, excuse me. What do you need?"
"I came for my," the other side went straight to the point, his voice muffled magnetically, and he hesitated, then said, "girlfriend."
. . .
. . .
Mr. and Mrs. Jǐ sat on two sides of the single sofa with Ryan in the middle, his eyes narrowed.
The usually spacious sofa had suddenly narrowed a lot because of Ryan.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu went to the kitchen to pour three cups of water and placed them in front of her parents and Ryan.
Her mother saw the cup in front of Ryan was cold and couldn't resist asking, "Darling, why didn't you give him hot water?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu blurted out, "His temperature is high and he doesn't like to drink hot water."
". . ." Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's face suddenly changed and she said nothing else.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu just realized what her mouth had leaked and bit her lip, quickly running to the side as she knew nothing.
Her mother laughed and looked at Ryan, "Yesterday I didn't have time to ask you, what is your name?"
Ryan looked away from Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu and said, "Ryan."
"Unlike the Chinese," Mrs. Jǐ said, looking at Ryan's deep contours, then his blue eyes, "I take the liberty to ask, where is your hometown?"
Ryan: "Bornia."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's mother: ". . ."
Mrs. Jǐ circled her brain for a while but could not find the country's name, it had little impression.
She looked at her husband and saw it was also vacant and at a loss.
Her mother tentatively asked, "Can you tell us where? The southern or northern hemisphere?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu couldn't help but interrupt before Ryan could reply, "Mother, it's very far away and very few people know about it."
Mrs. Jǐ looked at her and felt angry that she had hid this yesterday and was now angry she had interrupted, "Darling, this is not for you. Go back to your room."
"Mother, can't I stay here?" Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu didn't want to go back, she wanted to listen to her parents and Ryan's dialogue.
Her mother said heavily, "No."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu pursed her lips, spoiled, and resigned herself to turning around and going back to her room slowly.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's room was very far from the living room, across the corridor and the door of her house had good sound insulation. She couldn't hear a thing from outside.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu tried putting her ear to the door but it had no effect.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu didn't know why Ryan had suddenly come over. He probably wouldn't know what to say to her parents.
It was false to say she wasn't disturbed.
She knew her parents' character. They were meticulous and regardless of the issue, particularly serious.
——Especially now that they knew Ryan was her "boyfriend."
She didn't know what they were asking Ryan.
What would Ryan say? Would they find out Ryan was a beastman?
. . .
A series of problems surfaced in her mind and Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu was restless.
She laid in bed with the quilt over her head and rolled around for a while. Then she suddenly sat up and stood.
She looked at the clock on the wall, it had been five minutes.
She sighed deeply and rested her arms on the edge of the bed, her chin on the backs of her hands and forced herself to be calm.
Time passed by and about half an hour later, the conversation still didn't seem to be over.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's arm pillow had soured and she took another posture, holding her hands to her cheeks to wait.
Over the next half hour, the conversation continued.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu finally couldn't restrain herself and opened the door. She crossed the corridor to the kitchen to get some water and quietly observed the situation in the living room.
The conversation between her parents and Ryan seemed to be nearing its end.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu couldn't see Ryan or her father's expression, but her mother's mouth was slightly curved and she didn't look displeased.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu set down the cup and her heart was like it, finally dropping back down.
Walking back to her room, she vaguely heard a conversation between her father and Ryan.
Her father's voice was a serious, "How long can you take care of my daughter?"
Ryan was silent for a moment then frank, "I don't know."
Mr. Jǐ was angry, "You. . ."
However, then Ryan's steady voice said, "It depends on how long a lifetime can be."
*
February 15th.
The air was clean and the blue sky washed clear of clouds.
The long absent sun had finally exposed itself, the golden sun covering the earth and shuttling across the entire city.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu got up early and rushed to the airport with her parents.
They picked up the tickets, checked the baggage and checked into security.
Outside the window, a plane took off down the runway, carrying passengers onto the next journey.
But Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu stopped there.
Although countless tears had flowed the night before, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu still couldn't help but cry with her mother.
Mrs. Jǐ endured the tears and wiped her tears away, saying softly, "Little Darling, you have to take good care of yourself, don't let mom and dad worry."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu nodded, "Mom needs to take good care of dad too. You have to contact me when you get there."
Mrs. Jǐ said, "We will."
The mother and daughter talked then cried again.
Her father couldn't but persuade, "Aren't we going to meet again? How can you still cry? Little Darling, be obedient and put away those tears. In the future, if you think of it, you can come to see us any time."
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu wiped her tears with her fingers and sobbed, "En."
Despite that, there was still moments of parting.
Her parents plane was about to take off and they had to get through security so they said goodbye to Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu.
Looking at her parents' figures disappear in the distance at the end of the security line, Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's tears started again.
The airport saw this every day and her tears didn't draw any attention. Footsteps passed by her like a never stopping train.
People came and people went.
. . .
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu silently stood in the airport hall crying for a long time until she had no more tears to cry and she slowly stopped sobbing.
She stretched out her hands and rubbed her eyes then looked at the airport door.
Outside, the sun was dazzling and the golden light seemed to be cast over a huge flower bed until it peeled away to form a tall silhouette.
Ryan seemed to smell her and as soon as she walked out, his sight shifted and landed on her with precision.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu's footsteps became lighter and lighter until she rushed at him.
Ryan stooped to catch her and held her in his lap, kissing her.
After a long time, Ryan finally let go of her and pressed his lips against hers, whispering softly, "Can we go back?"
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu knew that by "Going back" definitely didn't mean going back to her family home.
Jǐ Xiǎo Ōu pressed her forehead to his and her thick eyelashes swept across his nose, then she nodded, "En."
Ryan asked: "When?"
"When do you want?"
"Now."