Having received her Papa’s permission, Aya Jiu happily wriggled free from Aya Tone’s embrace, extending her small arms to launch herself into another soft, welcoming hug.
“Li Jia-jie, let me tell you something…”
Watching his daughter so ruthlessly abandon him, whispering little secrets into Li Jia’s ear, Aya Tone couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.
He had been there first, after all.
*Cough, cough*… just a joke.
The more people who adored Aya Jiu, the more it proved his success as a father, didn’t it?
Moreover, this arrangement was beneficial; some topics she couldn’t discuss with him, she could confide in Li Jia, which would be good for Aya Jiu’s psychological well-being.
With Big White’s absence recently, he, as her father, might have inadvertently overlooked some aspects of her care.
Seeing how much Aya Jiu seemed to like Li Jia, allowing his daughter to spend time with a sympathetic older sister figure might just compensate for his oversights.
“The clan meeting hasn’t started yet, so let’s go browse around first.”
Li Jia, cradling Aya Jiu, walked over to Aya Tone.
“Must we? I think the surrounding environment is quite lovely; how about we just sit by the pond and do some fishing?”
Sparrow God Village was surrounded by mountains on all sides, with a winding stream, like a ribbon, threading its way through the mountains and forests before finally reaching the village itself.
Upon entering, Aya Tone had already noticed the occasional gleam of scales in the stream.
He was certain there were some big catches in that stream!
He could guarantee it with his decade of fishing expertise.
“What do you say, A-ya-Tone—?”
Li Jia held little Aya Jiu in one arm, the white egg in the other, while an invisible ghostly hand seemed to grip Aya Tone’s lifeline.
‘Damn! I knew it,’ Aya Tone grumbled inwardly.
“Speaking of which, shouldn’t we inform the Head of the Clan?” Since they had already guessed his identity, Aya Tone decided to drop the pretense.
“Oh, her? She’s busy presiding over important clan matters; she won’t have time for us.”
A question mark involuntarily appeared above Aya Tone’s head.
“Have you forgotten what Fire Finch’s ability is?” Li Jia prompted.
Right.
Aya Tone pondered for a moment, instantly grasping Li Jia’s meaning.
As the successor to the Vermillion Bird, the revered deity of Sparrow God Village, Fire Finch’s seniority truly soared.
Even the previous successor had to yield their position to her.
Aya Tone: “…”
So, in the end, he would have to follow Li Jia on a stroll through the wilderness…
He really didn’t want to go…
“Papa~ Can we go catch fish?”
“Of course, we can! Papa is quite skilled at catching fish with his bare hands, you know!”
Aya Tone shed his dejected demeanor, his face brimming with confidence; his dear daughter understood her father best.
If he couldn’t fish with a rod, then catching them bare-handed was certainly an option.
Li Jia: “…”
‘Who was it just now who said they didn’t want to go? What a doting father…’
****
The Huo family’s clan meeting was not as solemn as Aya Tone had imagined; it possessed more of a casual and uninhibited air.
Rather than a formal clan meeting, it felt more like a communal feast.
Outside the ancestral hall, four-legged round tables were arranged, with long benches serving as seats.
It gave Aya Tone the impression of a village wedding banquet from years past, where the entire village was invited to dine together.
By the time Aya Tone and the others found a moment to change into dry clothes and arrived, most of the tables were already occupied, with only a few seats remaining.
“Papa~ There are so many people!”
Little Aya Jiu rarely experienced such a bustling crowd, and for a moment, she shyly burrowed into Aya Tone’s embrace, clutching the white egg tightly.
“…It’s alright, Papa’s holding you.”
A wry smile touched Aya Tone’s lips as he looked down to comfort his daughter.
He was shy too, but there wasn’t a large enough space for him to hide in…
“Stop looking, our seats are up front.”
Li Jia, having attended the Huo family clan meetings before, skillfully led Aya Tone through the outer perimeter and deeper inside.
“Li Jia, we’re not from this village. Won’t people gossip if we just walk in like this?”
Furthermore, those seated further inside were all elders, clearly individuals of high moral standing and prestige.
Walking in like this, there would surely be trouble.
“Don’t worry, Aunt Huai said she saved us seats, and besides the main table, everything else is quite casual.”
“Really?” Aya Tone was half-believing, half-doubting.
As they stepped into the inner circle, Xuan Yuanhuai spotted the trio at once and promptly kicked the man beside her. “Get ready quickly!”
“Little Aya, Little Jiu, over here!”
As for Li Jia, who was walking at the very front, she was naturally overlooked.
Finally spotting a familiar face, Aya Tone hastened towards them.
“Auntie Xuan Yuan.”
Aya Tone patted his daughter’s little bottom, which was still hiding in his arms.
“Mm~?”
Little Aya Jiu lifted her head in confusion, not understanding why Papa had patted her bottom.
But upon turning her head and seeing Xuan Yuanhuai, Little Aya Jiu blinked twice softly.
“Pretty big sister!”
She remembered this pretty big sister, who had picked her up from kindergarten with Fire Finch.
The pretty big sister had even bought her many fun toys.
However, seeing so many unfamiliar uncles watching her from beside Xuan Yuanhuai, Little Aya Jiu swiftly darted back into Aya Tone’s embrace.
‘Scary…’
Xuan Yuanhuai’s movement to embrace Aya Jiu paused.
She then glared at the man beside her. “Look at you, you’ve scared the child! Go on, scram!”
Huo Linyun, who was unjustly scolded, could only think, “…”
‘I didn’t even say anything.’
But if his wife said he was wrong, what else could he do? Of course, he’d obediently admit his mistake.
‘Sigh, when will my family status ever rise?’
“Old Yun, don’t be sad, you have a brother in misery here with you.”
Li Huan, standing nearby, was a fellow sufferer, having also just received a good scolding from his wife.
“Uh…”
Aya Tone hadn’t expected that a simple gesture from his daughter had instantly won the affection of two ‘Empresses.’
He observed the woman opposite Xuan Yuanhuai, who bore a slight resemblance to Li Jia.
She must be Li Jia’s mother.
Although the woman appeared to be only in her thirties, one would ordinarily naturally assume her to be Li Jia’s mother.
Yet, who else but his wife could so forcefully chide Li Huan?
Indeed, Li Jia the next moment swiftly walked over and sat beside the woman, whining playfully, “Mom, don’t you miss me?”
“Miss you? Why would I miss you? I’ve grown tired of seeing you at home every day. If you have time, go out and find a boyfriend to bring home; your mother is quite bored, you know,” Wang Simin said, her lips curled with disdain.
“Oh, that kind of thing can’t be rushed.”
“Can’t be rushed? You’re not worried, but I’m worried for you!”
“…”
Aya Tone hadn’t expected that coming here to freeload a meal would also mean witnessing a scene of parental marriage-urging, which made him feel quite awkward.
“Little Aya, don’t just stand there; Auntie will introduce you.”
With that, Xuan Yuanhuai stood up and, pulling Aya Tone, began introducing people from left to right.
“This is Fire Finch’s younger sister, Huo Wushuang.”
It was only then that Aya Tone noticed the girl sitting in front of him.
The girl was quiet and demure, engrossed in her phone, as if nothing could sway her attention.
She was the complete opposite of Fire Finch—or rather, the current Fire Finch.
And judging by her attire, the uniform of Yan’an No. 2 Middle School, she must have rushed back from school.
“Hello.”
“Mm…” Huo Wushuang nodded faintly, then continued staring at her phone, paying him no mind.
Aya Tone “accidentally” glanced over.
Good heavens, she was watching magical girl edits.
How awkward.