·78｜Exclusive from Jinjiang·78

Do not change clothes in front of the baby.

A white private car was stopped at a red light at an intersection. After stepping on the brake, Kenji Hagiwara, who was in the driver's seat, turned to look at the passenger seat as his first reaction.

Kenji Hagiwara, hailed as the Metropolitan Police Department's number one speedster and both loved and hated by all the female traffic officers, was driving so cautiously for the first time. If a bicycle had been riding a little faster, it might have even been able to overtake him.

The reason is simple: the little dumpling Huang Quan has too short legs, is too small, and is round and chubby. Every time the car changes gears, the little dumpling loses its balance and tumbles off the passenger seat.

What should have been a short 20-minute drive took Kenji Hagiwara over half an hour. When he finally got home with his baby in his arms, Yomi Raikawa was already curled up in a sore spot from motion sickness.

Kenji Hagiwara placed the little dumpling on the blanket, lay on his side on the bed, and stroked Yomi Raikawa's fluffy forehead with his fingers: "Will she change back?"

Lai Chuan Huang Quan lay on the quilt with her short limbs shaped like the character "木" (wood), humming softly but not speaking—she couldn't speak now anyway.

Kenji Hagiwara sighed helplessly, "Administrator, can you hear me?"

"Can."

Before Kenji Hagiwara could ask a question, the administrator continued, "Yomi Yomi became like this because she used a new skill. In theory, she should automatically revert to her original state after 24 hours, but since she was obtained through unofficial channels, I'm not sure how long it will take."

"I see..."

Kenji Hagiwara seemed lost in thought, gently rubbing Yomi's head with his fingertips. The little dumpling lay on the bed, whimpering incessantly, its dejection at its lowest point.

Lai Chuan Huang Quan felt wronged; she never imagined that using her skill would turn her into a puppy.

Although it's outrageous, this amazing maneuver does indeed fit the administrator's description of the skill—used to escape when being chased to the limit. After all, no one would pay attention to a tiny puppy that's barely the size of a paw when chasing a target.

"Don't be sad, I'll go buy you some yogurt."

After Kenji Hagiwara finished speaking, the little dumpling lying limply on the bed suddenly perked up its ears and looked at him expectantly.

Kenji Hagiwara smiled and continued, "We recently released a new coconut-flavored yogurt, which is a seasonal limited edition. Would you like to try it?"

"Waaah—"

The little dumpling Huang Quan whimpered, completely unaware that it had already started wagging its tail.

Kenji Hagiwara laughed even harder. He already knew the answer, but he pretended to be confused and coaxed in a sweet voice, "If you want it, bark once; if you don't want it, bark twice."

Upon hearing this, Lai Chuan Huang Quan let out a soft "Aww".

Kenji Hagiwara raised his eyebrows and chuckled softly, his chest heaving. He got up, rummaged through the cabinet, pulled out a box of chocolate-flavored bear-shaped cookies, tore it open, and tossed it to Yomi Laichuan: "Eat the bear-shaped cookies first, I'll go buy you some coconut yogurt."

It wasn't until Kenji Hagiwara left that Yomi Raikawa finally perked up and started munching on the bear-shaped cookies scattered on the blanket. Because she had turned into a dog, she couldn't even take the cookies out of the bag; she could only crawl inside the bag.

The hexagonal cookie box swayed along the edge of the bed, revealing the little dumpling's two short legs and round bottom peeking out from the edge. The next second, the cookie box lost its balance, rolled a few times, and fell to the ground with its opening facing upwards.

With a scream, the little dumpling became completely stuck headfirst in the cookie tin. She kept twisting and turning, but only sank deeper and deeper.

The door opened with a knock, but it wasn't Kenji Hagiwara who did it.

Matsuda Jinpei rushed back, only to find the room empty. He casually took off his dusty suit jacket: "Seriously, haven't those two come back yet?"

As he tugged at his tie, a rustling sound came from the corner of the bed. Matsuda Jinpei leaned closer and saw an open bear-shaped biscuit standing upright on the floor. Crucially, a round, fluffy white bottom and tail were visible through the opening. The owner of the little bottom seemed to be struggling, whimpering incessantly.

Matsuda Jinpei: ...

What the hell is this?

Matsuda Jinpei picked up the cookie box and tilted it downwards. A small white puppy fell out of the cookie box and was caught by Matsuda Jinpei in mid-air.

Matsuda Jinpei frowned: "Where did this puppy come from?"

It must be that guy Hagi who bought it to make Yomi Yorikawa happy again.

Matsuda Jinpei squeezed the little dumpling in his palm a couple of times. The fluffy puppy, with some cookie crumbs still stuck to its mouth, felt so soft to the touch that when he pinched its cheeks, he even had the illusion that it would make a whirring sound.

Matsuda Jinpei chuckled, tossed the little dumpling on the ground, and ignored it. He loosened his tie and began unbuttoning his shirt, intending to change back into his casual clothes before Hagiwara Kenji and the others returned. But for some reason, the little dumpling, rolling on the ground, shook its head twice and began barking wildly at Matsuda Jinpei.

“This little guy,” Matsuda Jinpei had already unbuttoned all his shirt buttons. He glanced at the fierce-looking puppy at his feet and chuckled, “It’s not very big, and its voice is so soft. It has quite a temper, just like Yomi, a really bad temper.”

Upon hearing this, the little dumpling remained silent for two seconds, then began to curse and yell even louder.

Matsuda Jinpei ignored the little guy at his feet, tossing his sweat-soaked white shirt onto the sofa, revealing his muscular upper body. The click of the belt buckle being unbuckled and the sound of the zipper being pulled clearly reached the little boy's ears.

Just as Matsuda Jinpei was about to take off his suit pants, the little dumpling, who was so anxious that it rolled around on the spot, rushed up and bit Matsuda Jinpei's heel.

Matsuda Jinpei: "Hiss—"

He lifted the little white puppy by the scruff of its neck, frowning with a helpless expression: "You little rascal!"

The little white dog, which he was swaying in the air, seemed to have bitten something dirty. Its first reaction after being lifted up was to exhale air, making a "poof poof" sound.

Matsuda Jinpei: ?

I wasn't angry at first, but now I'm genuinely a little angry.

But it seems a bit beneath me to argue with a puppy that's not even a month old.

After spitting out her saliva, the little dumpling pouted and stared at Matsuda Jinpei. Matsuda Jinpei could even see a hint of disdain in her round, blue eyes.

The little dumpling twisted its body and kept kicking its little feet at Matsuda Jinpei, howling incessantly, as if it were cursing.

Matsuda Jinpei's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. He felt that the way this little dumpling was kicking its legs in impotent rage in the air looked strangely familiar.

Just then, Kenji Hagiwara suddenly appeared—carrying several bags of food, he pushed open the door with a smile: "Soft bread, I'm back—Jinpei! What are you doing with that soft bread!?"

He dropped the bag, rushed over in a few strides, and snatched the little dumpling from Matsuda Jinpei's grasp by the scruff of its neck, holding it protectively in his arms.

Yomi Lai buried her face in Kenji Hagiwara's arms and began to sob intermittently, as if she were complaining.

Matsuda Jinpei: ...?

Matsuda Jinpei: "What did you just call it, 'soft bread'!?"

Suddenly I understand why this little dumpling rushed up and bit him when it saw him take off his pants.

Kenji Hagiwara held the little bundle of milk nestled in his arms, soothing and rubbing it, while protesting to Jinpei Matsuda, "Hurry up and change your clothes! Honestly!"

Matsuda Jinpei snorted and went to the bathroom, carrying his casual clothes. When he came out, Raikawa Yomi had already been appeased and was sitting on the coffee table, wagging her tail and happily licking the coconut yogurt from the metal spoon. Hagiwara Kenji sat on the sofa with a smile, feeding Raikawa Yomi yogurt spoonful after spoonful.

Matsuda Jinpei sat down on the sofa as well: "Hmph, you really spoil her. Why don't you just let her eat by herself?"

Kenji Hagiwara: "There's no way around it. After turning into a dog, I can't use a spoon to finish the soft bread. If I want to drink it all, I have to crawl into the yogurt bowl."

Matsuda Jinpei suddenly remembered how Yomi Raikawa had gotten stuck in the bear-shaped biscuit box when he first returned, and couldn't help but let out a snicker.

The laughter was so crisp and clear that it was impossible not to notice it. Yomi Lai stopped licking her yogurt and bared her teeth at Jinpei Matsuda.

Kenji Hagiwara chuckled and picked up Yomi Laichuan: "Here, softie, let's charge into the small formation and take down one of the fierce ones!"

Lai Chuan Huang Quan puffed out his chest and roared, "Awoo! Woo-woo!"

Matsuda Jinpei leaned back lazily on the sofa, chuckled, and said indifferently, "How cooperative, isn't it, Yomi, little dog? Did your brain regress along with you after turning into a puppy?"

Lai Chuan Huang Quan: ?

Lai Chuan Huang Quan was absolutely furious. She twisted her body and bared her teeth, with only one thought in her mind: Once I turn back, I'll kill you!

Even Matsuda Jinpei had to admit that Yomi Raikawa, now a little dumpling, was incredibly cute—the kind of adorable charm that could melt the heart of a muscular man.

Wherever Kenji Hagiwara went, the little dumpling followed, wagging its tail and whining for a hug at his feet. Due to its short limbs, it hopped and skipped around when it ran, like a wind-up plush toy.

Matsuda Jinpei glanced at the little bundle of milk that Hagiwara Kenji had scooped up and was cradling in his arms: "Hagi, you're on duty tomorrow, right? Yomi has completely lost her ability to take care of herself now. Shall I take care of her for you tomorrow?"

Upon hearing this, Yomi Laichuan made a threatening gurgling sound from his throat and bared his teeth at Jinpei Matsuda, looking as if he was about to rush up and start a fight.

“Maybe not,” Kenji Hagiwara smiled. “I plan to bring the soft bread to the Metropolitan Police Department tomorrow.”

Matsuda Jinpei frowned: "You're planning to bring your dog to work?"

Kenji Hagiwara: "What does it matter? The soft bread is so small, I can just put it in my pocket."

"Alright."

Matsuda Jinpei stopped talking and lazily leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes to rest. He was on duty today, and tonight he was dragged to the Beika Municipal Hotel to put on a big show. He was exhausted.

Beside Matsuda Jinpei, Yomi Raikawa was playfully biting Hagiwara Kenji's tie. The short-limbed little bundle of flesh crawled up Hagiwara Kenji's body, from his thighs. Beneath the pads of flesh was a firm, taut body, a physique maintained through years of training, concealing explosive power.

A puppy isn't a cat, after all, and doesn't possess the powerful ability to climb. Lai Chuan Huang Quan had just managed to climb up to chest level when he lost his balance and fell backward.

Just as she was about to fall, Kenji Hagiwara caught Yomi Raikawa and kneaded her pink paw pads with his fingers: "Alright, alright, go to sleep."

After saying that, he held Lai Chuan Huang Quan's hand and kissed her forehead, rubbing her face against his like a cat: "You'll have to sleep on the pillow today, do you want a blanket?"

"Aww~!"

"Okay, let's go, let's go to sleep."

[Author's Note]