Chapter 112: A Gift for the Newborn

"Not at all... I see the little girls at her school, teenagers, they’re all like that." Shrugging, Han Mingxuan looked unconcerned. "Besides, your sister is like a pure white lotus; I haven’t even touched her. Don't go blaming me for corrupting a child."

It was my turn to scratch my head. "As long as that's true... If you think it’s not working out, just transfer her to another school... It’s not okay for her to have a boyfriend at her age..."

Han Mingxuan chuckled. "Little delinquents running around outside are all that age. They’re still green!"

"Get lost!" I nearly threw a tantrum. I didn't care about anyone else, but my sister was off-limits!

Han Mingxuan gave a sly grin, pulled my wrist away, and whispered, "Forget about your sister, she’s perfectly safe here. Let’s talk about you. Why do I smell something wrong with your soul?"

"My soul?" I looked at myself. "Something is wrong with it?"

"You’re drenched in that guy’s scent from head to toe. Have you been claimed?"

"You're the one who’s been claimed!" I kicked out at him, but Han Mingxuan caught my leg and smirked.

"Just kidding. But it does look like your soul is a bit frail. Were you injured?"

Injured?

I shook my head. "No injuries, except for a bruise I got a while back when another little cat swiped at me. It faded later, so it’s been fine for a long time."

"Oh? There’s a cat bold enough to hit you?" Folding his arms across his chest, Han Mingxuan looked gleeful. "Hey, you aren't carrying a cub, are you?"

"I... I am not." I stammered, "What do you mean, 'carrying a cub'? That sounds so crude!"

"Fine, so you are. But it’s no big deal. A fierce beast’s cub—you couldn't get rid of it even if you tried. Heh heh..."

"Ugh."

"It’s good, it’s good. Having a cub is good." Han Mingxuan grinned, his expression making it look as if he were the one carrying the cub.

Embarrassed and angry, I couldn't hold a conversation with him anymore. I rolled my eyes and turned to leave. Xin'er’s situation was serious, but it was also my failure as an older sister for not raising her properly. If not for the sudden disaster that befell me half a year ago, I never would have entrusted her to anyone else! If I were still the one raising her, regardless of whether anything else was wrong, at least her character wouldn't have changed!

Seeing me huffing with indignation, Han Mingxuan blocked my path. "Actually, your sister is at that age now. You should realize that your identities are different."

"What?" I froze. "What does this have to do with Xin'er?!"

When I first heard that, I thought he was referring to me being a cat of Wangchuan. That was my own personal matter—even if I had become a cat of Wangchuan and was now something halfway between human and feline, what did that have to do with Xin'er?

"You don't know?" Han Mingxuan raised an eyebrow, as if the matter he was talking about was completely different from what I had understood! And it seemed like common knowledge to everyone except me!

"Then forget I said anything!"

Han Mingxuan made to slip away. Once I heard that, I knew it couldn't have anything to do with me being a cat; it was definitely something involving Xin'er! I grabbed his gaudy collar and dragged him back.

"Hey, you're so violent! How did that maniac ever fall for you?" Han Mingxuan clutched his own collar, still smirking.

"You're the violent one! You're the maniac! Wangchuan treats me well, humph." I bit my lip and glared at him. "Tell me the truth. I’m dying of curiosity—if you don't tell me, I’m not leaving!"

"Fine, I’ll take both sisters then, and get a little beast cub as a bonus. A great deal! Be my guest!"

Han Mingxuan had that look of a dead pig not fearing boiling water, watching me with a smug, defiant expression. His face seemed to say: *I’m just not telling you, what are you going to do about it?*

I was trembling with rage and almost kicked him again. But I knew that while I could throw a tantrum at home—the big cat wouldn't mind, and it didn't hurt—this was out in public. Besides, the person in front of me might not even feel pain no matter how I attacked, so threats were clearly useless.

I clutched my forehead in agony. "Just tell me, please... If you’re like this, I can’t set my mind at ease, I..."

As I spoke, I actually started to cry. It wasn't because he wouldn't tell me, but because I was truly terrified that Xin'er might do something foolish and fall for Han Mingxuan. Children these days were precocious, I knew that. But Han Mingxuan’s identity was strange. Although I didn't know the specifics, Wangchuan called him a 'thief wolf' and said he was from the Spirit Realm, so he was likely a spirit beast. Han Mingxuan himself had just said that in ten or twenty years, he would still look exactly the same, proving he was indeed different from humans. Even if Xin'er was only nine, she was exceptionally mature, so having feelings might be considered 'normal' for her.

But she was different from me. I was already dead; I didn't know how long I could stay with Wangchuan, but I knew I would certainly exist longer than a human. Xin'er was different. She was just an ordinary person. How could she love Han Mingxuan? When she grew old and withered, and Han Mingxuan still looked like this, wouldn't that be terrifying?

I explained my theory to Han Mingxuan. Xiao Yun and Yu Bao had already begun to peer over. They were sent by Wangchuan to accompany me, which really meant to protect me. Since I had been talking to Han Mingxuan for so long, they were naturally keeping watch. I knew I didn't have much time.

Seeing me crying my eyes out, Han Mingxuan seemed a bit flustered. I guessed he was like Wangchuan—possessing that kind of 'alpha male' mentality where he couldn't stand to see a female crying in front of him. I was right; after a moment, Han Mingxuan waved his hand.

"Enough, enough!" He turned around, his eyes flashing a dark green, and sighed. "Neither of you sisters is human."

"You're the one who isn't... wait?" I wanted to retort, but I realized he wouldn't be insulting me under these circumstances. Did he mean we truly weren't human? *Not human?!*

This was like a bolt from the blue for me. Just as I wanted to press him for an answer, Han Mingxuan spoke directly.

"Actually, that’s not quite right. I meant that you and Wangchuan are so connected, you haven't been human for a long time, have you? As for Xin'er, living by my side with abundant spiritual energy every day, she has long since surpassed ordinary humans! So, appearing a bit more mature than her peers is perfectly normal! Just consider it as her growing faster than other humans; there’s no need to worry!"

"Ah—" I responded blankly, patting my chest in lingering fear. Goodness, I thought he meant neither of us was human at all!

"And, looking at her now, she’s about twelve or thirteen. Her brain development is quite rapid, too. I had her skip grades to middle school. That’s why Xin'er said her classmates were in relationships—isn't it normal for middle schoolers to date?"

"Skipped... skipped grades?" I was shocked again.

"Anyway, don't ask anymore. Just focus on your cub; once the cub is born, everything will be settled."

"Can't you use a nicer word? I’m having a baby!"

"What you're having is a cub."

"A child!"

"A cub!"

Before long, I was distracted from the previous topic. Han Mingxuan was just as cunning as Wangchuan; whenever something couldn't be explained clearly, he used this method to make me forget about it. We returned to our seats.

Xin'er looked at Han Mingxuan with that same shy, bashful expression. Seeing it made my scalp tingle. I had to admit, as Han Mingxuan said, Xin'er did look like she was twelve or thirteen; she was growing too fast. But even at twelve or thirteen, it wasn't the right age to get emotionally involved!

Seeing that expression on Xin'er, I immediately thought of the topic we had been discussing! I wanted to say: *Regardless of how Xin'er is, she is still a child, and adolescent infatuation is possible. But Han Mingxuan is hundreds of years old, he needs to have some restraint. I don't care about anyone else, but he cannot mess with Xin'er, or I will definitely bite him!*

But before I could speak, Han Mingxuan patted Xin'er’s head. "It’s time for your nap. Go on, go inside and sleep."

Xin'er nodded. "Okay! Sister, don't go anywhere. Keep me company when I wake up." She turned and carried a cotton doll back into the room.

I stared in shock, unable to react for a long time. It used to be incredibly difficult to get Xin'er to nap. Any parent knows that after a child turns five or six, their energy levels soar, and they refuse to nap at all; it takes a monumental effort to get them to sleep. Since the age of six, Xin'er had been disobedient and never napped, a habit she had kept until now. Yet, as soon as Han Mingxuan spoke, she went off to sleep obediently. The contrast with the past was enormous!

I felt a bit dejected, but I could only console myself: at least with Han Mingxuan, she didn't have to worry about food or clothing, which was a vast improvement over how things were before. Plus, with Han Mingxuan's spiritual energy nurturing her, she was in middle school at only nine years old; I should be happy.

But I really couldn't be happy. Once Xin'er was in the room, I wanted to bring the topic up again, but was interrupted once more.

Just as I opened my mouth, Han Mingxuan pulled a dark red bead from his pocket! It looked like an ordinary agate ball; with a *thud*, he placed it on the coffee table.

"What’s this?" Xiao Yun’s eyes lit up when she saw it.

"A glass bead! For you!" He pointed at me.

"What’s it for?" Seeing Xiao Yun’s envious look, I felt a bit embarrassed. "I can't accept this without having earned it."

Han Mingxuan reached out and pulled on a string that looked like a bracelet. "A gift for the cub. Take it home and let that beast of yours see it; he’ll definitely like it."

With that, he gave a sly grin, leaving my scalp tingling once again.