Locked Out, Starving… and Attacked by My Own Dogs?!

Not knowing Master’s intentions, but since she entrusted Nozomi to me, does that mean she wants me to use it?
Or do I need it?

Nozomi is one of five ancestral swords, and the only one forged in modern times.
Generally, the five heirloom swords are wielded by members of the main family.
Is it really okay for Master to entrust it to me, someone from a branch family that has already cut ties?
Though the main family would probably have some complaints about it.
But this sword was personally entrusted to me by Master, so there shouldn’t be any problem!

With the large leather bag slung behind his back, Ye Qing walked toward the building’s automatic doors.
Then he took the elevator to the fifth floor, where his home was located.

‘I still have to deal with the two little ones when I get back. Ah, so troublesome! I haven’t even eaten dinner yet!’

Thinking this, Ye Qing arrived at his front door.
Through the door, he could hear dogs barking—both of them, taking turns.
Just as he took out his key to open the door, he suddenly heard a “click” of the lock turning.

“Huh!?”
Ye Qing tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge at all. The door was locked from the inside!

‘Am I locked out?’
Realizing the reality of the situation, Ye Qing was momentarily dumbfounded.
‘No way! I haven’t eaten yet! I’ll freeze to death out here!’

Ye Qing began pounding on the door desperately.
“Hey! What are you trying to do, Mom! Open the door!”
The two dogs barked even more fiercely.

“Throw away that sword, and I’ll open the door.”
A middle-aged woman’s voice came from inside.

“Mom! Are you joking? This is Nozomi, entrusted to me by Master!”
Ye Qing was confused. ‘What’s up with Mom tonight?’

“Is that so? Then bye-bye!”
After saying this in a very cold voice, Ye Qing could hear the sound of Mom’s footsteps walking away, mixed with the dogs’ barking.

“Huh!?”
Ye Qing, who had initially thought she was joking, was instantly filled with despair.
He began frantically banging on the iron door, crying out in utter misery.
“No way! I haven’t eaten yet, Mom! You can’t be so heartless! I’m your own flesh and blood! If you lock me out like this, I’ll freeze to death out here!”
While frantically banging on the door, Ye Qing also started frantically pressing the doorbell.
“Ding-dong~ ding-ding-dong~ ding-ding-ding-ding-dong~”
The sound of Ye Qing’s frantic doorbell ringing came from inside. The two little ones were still barking as well.

After a while, there was still no sign of the door opening.
Ye Qing was completely in despair.
‘Looks like I have to deal with more than just two tonight—three!’
“Heh heh heh heh heh!”
Listening to the two little ones barking while leaning against the wall, he let out a hollow, desperate laugh.

‘Before I die, I should leave a final note!’
Ye Qing pronounced his own death sentence, then crouched in front of the door.
“I’m sorry, Xiao Fei, Xiao Bai! Tomorrow, you can collect your master’s corpse!”
He delivered this last will and testament to the two little ones in a sub-zero voice.
In response, the two little ones howled as if taking him seriously. “Wuuu~~”

“Thank you, Xiao Fei! Xiao Bai! Haoyang, I’ll be joining you soon!”

“Click!”
The door opened.

‘Alright! The howling strategy worked!’
Afraid the door might close again, Ye Qing immediately pried it open and walked inside.

Mom was already walking toward the kitchen.
“You haven’t eaten yet, right? I’m making a late-night snack. You can have that.”

‘Thank you very much!’
Ye Qing started taking off his shoes.
The two little ones were running and jumping around Ye Qing.
“Alright, alright! Calm down, you two. I don’t have the energy to play with you right now,”
Ye Qing sighed and spoke flatly.

The two little ones suddenly went quiet after being told this, then both ran further into the house.

Ye Qing put his shoes on the shoe rack, then put on his slippers and was about to walk in when he saw Xiao Bai, the spotted dog, running over with a book in its mouth and dropping it in front of Ye Qing.
‘Huh? What’s this about?’
Watching Xiao Bai run away again, Ye Qing was confused. He looked at the book on the floor.
‘Isn’t this my novel?’

Then he saw Xiao Fei, the much smaller fox-like dog, running over with a remote control in its mouth and dropping it in front of Ye Qing.
‘Huh? Isn’t this my game controller?’

Then Ye Qing saw Xiao Bai running out from inside carrying a gaming console.
‘Huh? Isn’t this my PSP?’

Then he saw Xiao Fei running over to Ye Qing with another book in its mouth.
Ye Qing glanced at the book. It was very thin, and the cover featured a woman in revealing clothing.

‘What the—!’
Ye Qing reflexively hid the book. Veins bulging on his forehead, he shouted at the two little ones, “That’s enough, you two! Xiao Fei, Xiao Bai! Sit here right now!”
He pointed to the corner of the wall and scolded the two of them angrily.

The two little ones obediently sat in the spot Ye Qing had designated, panting “Hah hah” at him.

“Speak! What are you trying to do? Xiao Fei?”
Ye Qing looked at Xiao Fei, the fox-like dog sitting on the left. Xiao Fei turned its head to the left.
“Xiao Bai?”
He looked at Xiao Bai, the spotted dog sitting on the right. Xiao Bai turned its head to the right.
The two dogs turned their heads in opposite directions, clearly sulking at Ye Qing.

“Fine, fine, fine! After I finish my late-night snack, I’ll take you both out for a walk. Alright?”
Ye Qing scratched his head, helpless.

At that, Xiao Bai, the big dog, pounced on Ye Qing, knocking him to the ground.
Xiao Fei, the little dog, energetically licked Ye Qing’s face.

“Enough, Xiao Fei!”
Ye Qing sat up abruptly and scooped up the fox-like dog in his arms. Xiao Bai, who had been standing on him, jumped to the side.

Just then, Mom walked out of the kitchen.
“Ye Qing, have you done your homework?”

“Huh? Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!”
Ye Qing tossed Xiao Fei aside, grabbed the novel, controller, and gaming console, and rushed into his room. He began rummaging through his backpack.
“Ah, ah, ah! I haven’t eaten yet! I still have to take those two out for a walk! And do my homework! Ah, ah, ah! Why? Am I not sleeping tonight?”
He rummaged through his backpack, screaming in despair.

“Eat first,”
Mom said as she appeared at the door of his room.

“Ah, ah, ah! How can I focus on that!”
Ye Qing was going crazy.

“Ah, I forgot to mention. Today is Friday,”
Mom said as she walked away.

“Huh!?”
Ye Qing was instantly dumbfounded.
Xiao Bai barked “Woof!” beside him.

After putting the leather bag he had been carrying behind his back in a safe place, Ye Qing walked out of his room.
In the living room, Mom silently turned on the TV and started watching.
On the dining table was a bowl of freshly stir-fried egg noodles with chopsticks placed on top.

Ye Qing took the bowl and chopsticks and sat down next to Mom on the living room sofa.
Xiao Bai lay quietly on the floor. Xiao Fei jumped onto the sofa and nestled against Ye Qing’s side.

After eating a couple of bites, Ye Qing said to Mom, “Mom, are you angry?”

“No!”
The answer was quick and flat. Mom continued watching TV, completely unshaken.

Ye Qing sighed. Ever since Dad passed away, Mom had become much colder.
She had left the main family with Ye Qing and cut all ties with them.
She was probably still resentful toward the main family.

Ye Qing swallowed his saliva to prepare for what he was about to say, then looked at Mom.
“Mom… tsundere?”

The moment the words left his mouth, Ye Qing realized the bowl of egg noodles in his hand had vanished.

“Ah! No! I was wrong! I was wrong, okay!?”
Ye Qing wailed at Mom.

“Hmph!”
Mom snorted, then handed the bowl back to Ye Qing.

Ye Qing gratefully began shoveling the food into his mouth like a madman.