Help! I transmigrated to a Beast World-Chapter 78: The Second’s Family

"Are you Uncle Sha Chen’s new wife?!"

Xin Yi’s heart melted immediately.

The little girl was looking up at her with big, sparkling black eyes. So innocent. So pure. So utterly adorable.

"Awww," Xin Yi couldn’t help it. She crouched down to the child’s level. "Who are you, little one?"

"I am Zhao Li!" The girl beamed. "I am five years old! And I can count to twenty!"

Sha Chen’s smile widened. He looked thoroughly amused by Xin Yi’s sudden shift in demeanor.

[DING! (◕‿◕)]

[Host’s Icy Facade: SHATTERED]

[By a five-year-old!]

[Adorable children are Host’s weakness! ☆]

"ZHAO LI!"

A male voice. Panicked. Urgent.

Xin Yi looked up.

A man was running toward them. Tall. Muscular. Dark black hair with white streaks running through it. Striking blue eyes that were currently wide with alarm.

He was......very attractive.

He skidded to a stop in front of them, breathing hard. His eyes went to Sha Chen first.

"Forgive me, Alpha! I only turned away for a moment and she—" His gaze shifted to Xin Yi. He bowed slightly. "—my apologies."

Zhao Li, completely unbothered by her father’s panic, reached up toward Xin Yi. "Up! Up!"

"Oh, um—" Xin Yi glanced at Sha Chen, then at the man.

"Hmm," the little girl insisted. "I want HER!"

Before anyone could stop her, Xin Yi scooped the child up. Zhao Li immediately wrapped her little arms around Xin Yi’s neck and giggled.

[DING! (╥﹏╥)]

[TOO CUTE]

[Host has been CAPTURED by tiny adorable child!]

[Maternal instincts: ACTIVATED! ☆]

Sha Chen watched this exchange with clear amusement. "Xin Yi, this is Bai Feng. My second-in-command." He paused. "And my friend. That is his daughter, Zhao Li."

Bái Fēng raised an eyebrow at Sha Chen. A very pointed eyebrow.

Sha Chen’s expression shifted slightly. "Not a word from you."

"I said nothing, Alpha."

"Your face is very loud."

Xin Yi wasn’t paying attention to their exchange. Zhao Li had grabbed her face with both tiny hands and was squishing her cheeks together.

"You are very pretty!" the little girl announced. "Like a doll! Are you a doll?"

Xin Yi giggled. Actually giggled. "No, I am not a doll. I am a person. Just like you."

"But you are PRETTY like a doll!"

"Thank you, baby."

Zhao Li beamed and hugged her tighter.

[DING! (¬‿¬)]

[Host is SOFT]

[So soft!]

[Where is the icy attitude now? ☆]

Sha Chen was still watching. His white eyes warm. "Do you like children, Xin Yi?"

The warmth in her chest froze immediately. She remembered where she was. Who she was with. Her expression went cold again. "Hmm."

That was all she said.

Sha Chen chuckled. "Back to that, are we?"

She ignored him.

He turned to Bai Feng. "I have matters to attend to. Take Xin Yi with you. Show her around. Keep her......entertained."

"Alpha—"

"That is an order." But his tone was light, friendly, even.

Bái Fēng sighed. "As you wish."

Sha Chen looked at Xin Yi one more time, a smile still dancing on his lips. Then walked away, his white fur and elegant posture making him look like some kind of mythical creature.

[DING! (⊙_⊙)]

[Sha Chen has left!]

[Xin Yi is now with the Second-in-Command!]

[And his adorable daughter!]

[This should be interesting! ☆]

Bai Feng reached toward Zhao Li. "Come, little one. You should not bother the—"

"NOOO!" Zhao Li clung to Xin Yi like a baby koala. "I want to stay with Pretty Lady!"

"Zhao Li—"

"NO!"

Bai Feng looked pained. "She is very......enthusiastic."

"It is fine," Xin Yi said, surprising herself. "I do not mind. She reminds me of..." Her voice caught. "...of someone I know."

Xiao Long.

Her baby. Her sweet, innocent, seven-year-old snake child who called her Pink Skin and followed her around like a duckling.

Was he okay? Was he eating well? Was he asking about her?

[DING! (⁠╯⁠︵⁠╰⁠,)]

[Host is thinking about Xiao Long]

[Missing him]

[This is sad]

Bai Feng was watching her carefully. "Are you......are you well?"

"I am fine."

"You do not look fine."

She glared at him. "I said I am fine."

He held up his hands. "My apologies. I meant no offense."

They started walking. Zhao Li chattering happily in Xin Yi’s arms about everything and nothing. The birds. The clouds. Her favorite food. Her pet rabbit.

Bai Feng walked beside them. Stiff. Formal. Like he did not know what to do with his hands.

Xin Yi noticed. "You are uncomfortable."

"I......yes." He rubbed the back of his neck. "We are not used to outsiders here. Especially not... others."

She swallowed. "I see."

"It is not personal," he added quickly. "It is just......we are cautious. Protective. After what happened to—" He stopped himself.

"To Lin Zhiying and Wang Xianmo?" Xin Yi finished.

He nodded. "Yes."

They walked in silence for a moment.

Then Bái Fēng spoke again. "So......how are you finding the territory?"

She scoffed. "How do you think I am finding it? I was kidnapped. Separated from my mate. Forced into a harem. I am finding it TERRIBLE."

"Ah." He winced. "Yes. That was......poorly worded of me."

"Very poorly worded."

"I apologize."

[DING! (¬‿¬)]

[Bái Fēng is AWKWARD]

[He is trying though!]

[Give him points for effort! ☆]

He sighed, long and heavy. "Sha Chen and I grew up together. We were cubs at the same time. Trained together. Fought together." His blue eyes went distant. "He was different then. Kinder. More... open."

Xin Yi said nothing, but her ears were perked up now.

"Lin Zhiying and Wang Xianmo were like parents to both of us. They taught us. Loved us. Showed us a better way." His jaw clenched. "When they died....Sha Chen changed. Became harder. Colder. More willing to do cruel things to protect what they built."

"That does not excuse what he is doing to me."

"No. It does not." Bái Fēng looked at her. "I am sorry. Truly. What he did to you, separating you from your mate, threatening him, it is wrong. I know it is wrong. But he is my Alpha. My friend. And I..." He trailed off.

"And you cannot stop him," Xin Yi finished.

"No. I cannot."

They turned another corner. More buildings. More wolves bowing as they passed.

Then Bái Fēng smiled. "Would you like to meet my wife?"

Xin Yi blinked. "Your wife?"

"Yes. She has been very curious about you. About the ’other’ who arrived." His smile grew. "She is....well, you will see. She is different from the others. More accepting. More open-minded." He looked almost proud. "I think you will like her."

Xin Yi considered this. Then nodded. "Yes. Please. I would like that."

Anything to get away from Sha Chen’s intense staring. Anything to feel less alone in this place.

"Excellent!" Zhao Li cheered. "You can meet Mama! Mama is the BEST!"

Bai Feng’s expression softened completely when he looked at his daughter. "Yes, she is."

[DING! (◕‿◕)]

[Family bonding moment detected!]

[Bai Feng is a good father!]

[And his wife sounds interesting!]

[Plot development incoming! ☆]

They walked toward a smaller dwelling near the edge of the main settlement. It was cozy. Well-maintained. Flowers growing in small pots outside the door.

Bai Feng knocked. "Ai Yun? Are you home?"

A female voice called from inside. "Of course I am home! Where else would I be? Come in!"

He pushed the door open.

And Xin Yi’s jaw dropped.

The interior was BEAUTIFUL. Woven rugs on the floor. Carved furniture. Shelves filled with books and trinkets. Sunlight streaming through actual glass windows.

It looked like a HOME. A real, warm, lived-in home.

And standing in the middle of it was a female wolf with silver-gray fur and warm brown eyes. She was stirring something in a pot over a small hearth, humming to herself.

When she saw Xin Yi, her eyes went WIDE.

"Oh!" She dropped the spoon. "You are her! The other! The one Sha Chen—" She stopped herself. Looked at her husband. "Bái Fēng, you did not tell me you were bringing her TODAY!"

"It was......spontaneous."

"I look a mess! The house is a mess! I—"

"Mama!" Zhao Li called out. "Look! Pretty Lady is holding me!"

Ai Yun’s expression melted. "Oh, darling. You should not bother the guest."

"She is not bothering me," Xin Yi said quickly. "She is......very sweet."

Ài Yún smiled. "Please, sit! I will make tea! And we can talk! I have SO many questions!"

[DING! (≧▽≦)] 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

[Ài Yún seems NICE!]

[And excited!]

[Finally someone who is not hostile! ☆