“Auntie, might you be so gracious as to spare me?”Aya Tone dared not move a muscle.Never had he imagined a day when he would feel so utterly humbled in his own home.’Wuwu,’ he thought, ‘if not for the complete absence of killing intent from this auntie, I would have transformed long ago and unleashed a “Starlight Burst” on her.’Then again, perhaps I couldn’t do that anyway.’She was, after all, his boss’s mother; he genuinely couldn’t bring himself to harm her.
“Are you finished playing?”Xuan Yuanhuai asked, a smile dancing in her eyes as she cast a meaningful glance at the “Elucidator,” now reduced to nothing but a hilt.Aya Tone’s mouth twitched, feeling a distinct sense of offense.No more playing, no more playing.”My Elucidator is gone!’Wuwu, my Elucidator is gone!”
“Little Aya, you still need more practice.Otherwise, with the world being so perilous, how will you protect yourself?”Xuan Yuanhuai sheathed her blade and settled back onto the sofa.A sigh of relief escaped him.Feeling a lightness in his shoulders, Aya Tone dropped the sword hilt and instructed Big White to clear away the broken blade from the floor.’Farewell, my dream of being a sword master!’He then scampered after Xuan Yuanhuai, “But you’re here, aren’t you?”Having offered a subtle flattery, Aya Tone did not press the topic further.”Speaking of which, Auntie Xuan Yuan, what brings you here?”He recalled she was an S-rank guardian responsible for Huinan City; why would she be at his home?”My daughter hasn’t been home for days, so as her mother, of course I had to come check on her,” Xuan Yuanhuai teased, a hint of annoyance in her tone.That was one reason, certainly, but more importantly.The instance in Huainan City had recently undergone a “harvest,” and the instance’s recovery would require some time.This period served as her vacation as a guardian.It was the perfect opportunity to see if her daughter had managed to ‘capture’ this young man.
Aya Tone sat up stiffly.He patted his chest reassuringly, “Auntie Xuan Yuan, rest assured, I haven’t been home these past few days, and absolutely nothing has happened between Fire Finch and me!”He swiftly extricated himself from this imagined emotional entanglement.
Xuan Yuanhuai sighed involuntarily.This child was just as cautious as ever.”Actually, Auntie truly hopes something could develop between you two.”Her daughter, ever since being chosen as the Vermilion Bird’s successor, was already in her twenties and still hadn’t found a suitable young man.How could she, as a mother, not be anxious?”Speaking of which, what do you think of my Little Finch?”
‘This auntie is acting strangely!’Aya Tone instantly became alert and quickly explained, “Auntie Xuan Yuan, the President and I are pure and innocent, with absolutely no impropriety between us!”‘Mm-hmm!Pure and innocent, the key was to feign ignorance.’Matters of the heart were not child’s play; he simply wanted to raise Little Aya Jiu to adulthood, earn enough money, and then retire.’Marriage?’He hadn’t even considered it!’
“Is that so?”Xuan Yuanhuai shook her head in disappointment.As someone with life experience, how could she not recognize Aya Tone’s feigned ignorance?
The sudden silence made Aya Tone feel profoundly uncomfortable.However, with Xuan Yuanhuai sitting right there, he couldn’t very well play on his phone.So, lacking any other topic, he continued, “Auntie Xuan Yuan, as you know, I have no house, no car, and I’m a single father.I’m truly not suitable…””It’s alright, Auntie has money, and we won’t ask for a bride price.”A cunning smile played on Xuan Yuanhuai’s lips. “Having a child isn’t an issue either.Little Jiu is so adorable, Auntie likes her too!””Don’t worry, no one will speak ill of you.”With the might of the Huo family, who would dare to point fingers at them?
“Huh?”Aya Tone gaped.He was just making excuses; how had he dug himself into a deeper hole?”No, no, no, that’s not what I meant!My meaning is, is!”Aya Tone stammered, desperate to explain.Yet, he couldn’t find the right words.’Why couldn’t his wretched mouth articulate now?’
Xuan Yuanhuai rose and sat beside Aya Tone, looking amused at the reserved young man. “Alright, alright, Auntie was just joking.””Matters between you young people are best left untouched by us older folks.”While her daughter was reluctant to bring home a boyfriend, the family wasn’t lacking for anything.If worst came to worst, she could just pour all her energy into her younger child, and let Fire Finch chart her own course.
“Auntie Xuan Yuan, that joke of yours nearly gave me a heart attack.Please don’t play such tricks again.”Aya Tone had genuinely thought Xuan Yuanhuai was trying to set him up with Fire Finch.”Whether it was a joke or not, who’s to say~” Xuan Yuanhuai replied, her hand idly touching the hilt of the blade at her waist, her tone equivocal.A shiver ran down his spine.Aya Tone suddenly felt a palpable sense of mischief wash over him, causing him to involuntarily shudder.
****
Just then.The sound of a lock turning came from the door.Fire Finch had returned from picking up Little Aya Jiu from school.”Hm?Tone?Ah, no!Mom!?Didn’t you go home?”Fire Finch spotted Aya Tone the moment she entered, a flicker of joy appearing on her face.Then, seeing her own mother, her expression immediately shifted.’Mom and Tone, alone in a room?’It’s over!’
“Little Jiu, your dad is back, so big sister will head off now, okay?”Fire Finch unleashed a ‘flash’ ability, one she could only use once in a lifetime, instantly depositing Little Aya Jiu, who hadn’t even put down her schoolbag, into Aya Tone’s arms before whisking her mother out of the house.In mere seconds, the house was left with only the long-separated father and daughter.And the quiet.
“Ah, this…”Aya Tone was about to utter a complaint, but as his gaze met his daughter’s tear-filled eyes, all his countless words dissolved into a profound embrace.”Papa~ I missed you so much~” Little Aya Jiu hugged Aya Tone tightly, unwilling to let go.”Mm, Papa missed you too.”
After a long while, the father and daughter finally settled down.”Let Papa see, have you lost any weight?”Aya Tone asked worriedly, holding his daughter and examining her closely.According to the information received from Big White.Little Aya Jiu, during her days with Fire Finch, had barely set foot at home, not having a single meal there.Every time Aya Tone contacted Fire Finch at mealtime, they were either at a restaurant or on their way to one.This worried Aya Tone immensely.Eating out too much wasn’t good for a child’s health.Little Jiu was still growing; she couldn’t be harmed by junk food!
“I haven’t lost weight, Papa, Little Jiu has grown so much taller~” Little Aya Jiu pouted her pink lips and held up two fingers.Then, after a moment’s thought, she secretly retracted one.”This much~”Aya Tone couldn’t help but smile at her adorable gesture, pulling her close to his face and rubbing his cheek against hers repeatedly.”Really?It seems Big Sister Fire Finch did a good job and didn’t let Little Jiu go hungry.”Little Aya Jiu giggled, pleading for him to stop.
“Papa~ I have something to tell you.”Little Aya Jiu, suppressing her ticklishness, spoke in a mysterious whisper.Although she was still young, and her little mind hadn’t fully matured, Aya Tone was completely smitten by her.Everything his daughter did was the cutest in his eyes!
Aya Tone placed Little Aya Jiu on his lap, furtively glancing around to ensure no one was listening before whispering, “What is it?”Little Aya Jiu’s eyes lit up.Lowering her voice, she clambered onto Aya Tone’s shoulder, using both hands and feet.”Papa~ Big Sister Fire Finch is a magician!”Just now, her vision had blurred, and then she was suddenly in Papa’s arms.Her kindergarten teacher had said that suddenly moving from one place to another was called teleportation.That was an ability only powerful magicians could use.Therefore, Big Sister Fire Finch is a magician!”Oh!”Aya Tone, playing along perfectly, made an exaggerated expression. “Really?””Really, really!”Little Aya Jiu, thinking Papa genuinely didn’t know, nodded her head like a pounding mortar.”Haha, next time we see Big Sister Fire Finch, Papa will ask her to teach you, okay?””Okay, okay!”…