"—I'll do it."

The man casually raised his hand, his fingers long and slender. He subconsciously tugged at his collar, then realized he wasn't wearing a tie today, and his fingertips paused almost imperceptibly at the collar of his hoodie.

The little dumpling, bursting with a desire to share, was already leaning against Jiang Chi's knees in a crooked manner.

As Jiang Chi listened to her vivid and expressive delivery, he casually but not perfunctorily offered his support while subtly glancing at Huo Qin a few times.

"Brother, smell it! Smell it!"

With one elbow propped up on the sofa, Chaochao raised her other hand and placed it under the young man's nose, trying to let Jiang Chi smell the faint scent of Snow White that might still linger after washing his hands several times.

"..."

After Jiang Chi's first attempt to refuse failed, he lowered his neck with a helpless expression, brought his hand close to the plump, white treasure in his palm, and pretended to sniff it.

"Hmm...I can smell it..."

Then, under the little dumpling's expectant and burning gaze, she smiled and raised her eyebrows in feigned surprise, "It's matcha flavored too."

The little dumpling's excited and boastful expression froze instantly.

Her guilty little eyes darted around furtively, not daring to look at the man walking by. Her attitude changed completely, and she waved her hand righteously.

"Hey! Brother, what are you saying? I've washed my hands so many times, there's no fragrance left... not a trace of scent... You, you must have smelled it wrong!"

Jiang Chi: "..."

It's you I want to smell.

After hurriedly explaining, Chaochao was still not at ease. She immediately turned around, leaned against the sofa, squatted down, and stretched out her short fingers to sniff them carefully.

Really (sniff sniff sniff) Does it still smell? (sniff sniff sniff) She clearly wiped her hands (sniff sniff sniff)...

On the way back from the amusement park, Chaochao, who couldn't resist sneaking a whole cookie after unexpectedly finding the forgotten homemade one in the car's storage compartment, sniffed around with her paws, like a little dog with a secret in mind.

She couldn't let her dad know that she had just eaten the matcha cookie all by herself. What if he asked her why she hadn't shared half of the cookie with him as she had promised before?

Daddy might be unhappy again, just like last time.

Hmm...it really does smell like matcha...it smells good, and it tastes good too...

Food critic Chaochao nodded appreciatively and gave a thumbs up.

Jiang Chi stared at the ball of glutinous rice squatting at his feet, unsure of what she was doing, and asked suspiciously, "You're not sucking your hand, are you?"

Chaochao, who was immersed in the fragrance, suddenly turned around and stood up abruptly, just like a puppy that had been kicked on the side of the road. She was furious!

"Who said that? I didn't!"

"My hands don't taste good!"

Besides, she's way past the age of sucking her thumb!

Jiang Chi couldn't suppress the smile on his lips, his peach blossom eyes brimming with laughter. He nodded understandingly in agreement, "Yes, after all, we didn't add soy sauce or salt..."

Yes, she prefers strong flavors.

Having been completely stumped by his thought process, Chaochao seriously considered it for a second: "..."

Pfft—

Jiang Chi's broad shoulders hunched slightly. He turned his head as if trying to hide the wildly upturned corners of his mouth, but the muffled laughter escaping from his throat betrayed him: "Hahahaha..."

Chaochao, whose thoughts were interrupted: "..."

She suddenly became very angry—

"You...you just said you were going to watch the fireworks after dinner?"

Jiang Chi cleared his throat, then asked with a serious expression.

Chaochao paused, her fierce, wide almond-shaped eyes suddenly becoming clear and bright. She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then chuckled.

"Oh—yes, after dinner, Daddy and I took a walk in the big garden..."

Huo Qin, carrying a tote bag, strode upstairs. As he passed Jiang Chi, who was leaning against the sofa, his handsome, indifferent face turned slightly, and he gave him a quiet glance from head to toe.

In his narrow, cold eyes, a certain warning was unspoken.

—Be careful.

Jiang Chi, who was given a blatant warning of having his leg broken: "..."

He's an officially recognized model youth, so why does everyone seem to misunderstand him?

"Don't worry, Uncle, leave this to me."

Jiang Chi skillfully swallowed his anger and earnestly promised,

"I was just about to give Chaochao some child abduction prevention education."

His tone was upright and honest, and his eyes curved like crescent moons, concealing a mischievous smile.

Huo Qin frowned, looked away, and left without comment.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Chaochao was trying to recall the scene, striving to convey every beautiful moment to the person in front of her, completely unaware of the hushed conversation between her father and brother.

"—Then we went to a store with lots and lots of dolls! It was so big, like a tree hollow castle!"

Chaochao gestured with her hands, her eyes sparkling.

"We even wore puppy and fox ears! Wait a minute, brother, I'll find them and show you right now!"

"Huh? Where did I put them again?"

Huo Qin, who was still walking up the stairs, paused slightly.

Jiang Chi glanced at him casually, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Did my uncle walk that fast just now?

Or was it just his imagination?

Looking around but unable to find the little ears, Chaochao scratched her head in confusion and sighed briefly, "I was thinking of showing them to my brother again..."

Surely the little ears can't just become sentient and hide away out of shyness, right?

"Aunt Ning probably put it away temporarily. I'll wait until we find it before I see you transform into a puppy," Jiang Chi comforted her.

Upon hearing this, Chaochao tilted her head.

Hmm...turned into a puppy? She remained a little fox after that.

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