It seemed this child was very much like her son. Mrs. Zhao was as pleased as she could be. "Call me Grandma," she said.
Did this mean he was to form an alliance with his fox-like mother? The little brain thought it over carefully, especially remembering the words his aunt had repeated to him before he set off—to gain his fox-like mother's favor. He nodded, "Grandma."
When she was happy, she pulled the child into another hug, the serious lines on her face melting into a smile. "Good, very good." Thereafter, she tapped the tip of his little nose and revealed a fox-like smile. "Tell me, being so well-behaved tonight, did someone teach you to be like this?"
The little throat tightened. "No, it wasn't my mom."
Little did he know, his fox-like mother's smile brightened even more. "I know it wasn't your mother. I also know that you're closer to someone than you are to your mother."
The little face suddenly became stern. "What do you want?"
