Chapter 372: Promises of Return
Qiong Xing regretted it for a moment, but it was too late to simply turn around and leave.
Since they were already here, he gently rubbed Yue’s back in an attempt to reassure him.
"Meow~"
"Hehe, you’re right. Mao is here too."
Until then, Mao had been quietly sitting on Qiong Xing’s shoulder in his cat form.
Seeing the frightened Yue, he seemed to come to some conclusion of his own.
As he letting out a soft meow as if to say everything was alright, he lightly placed a hand on top of Yue’s head.
"What an adorable little cat. And he seems very clever too."
Since the elderly woman did not know that Mao was actually a beastman, she likely assumed he was simply an unusually intelligent cat who could sense the mood around him.
"Yes, he is. How are the children doing?"
"They’re all very lively. I’m sorry. The children just haven’t had many chances to see beastmen up close before, so they’re a little surprised."
"It’s alright. We expected that."
The whispers were loud enough for Qiong Xing and the others to hear, so there was no way she had failed to notice them herself.
Although she apologized apologetically, none of it was her fault.
The twins’ reaction had been somewhat unexpected, but Qiong Xing had known from the beginning that people would be surprised.
Still, unlike the humans he had seen in town before, these children were not looking at Leander with contempt.
That alone was a relief.
After being shown into the room, Qiong Xing sat down with the twins on his lap.
"Mao, sit over here."
"Meow~"
"Oh my!"
At Qiong Xing’s invitation, Mao jumped down from his shoulder and took a seat beside him in his beastman form.
The elderly woman gasped in surprise.
"We don’t know why he lived as a cat, nor do we know why he can take a beastman form. The truth is that even we don’t understand it ourselves. But he isn’t a bad child."
Whether he was truly a beastman or something else entirely, Mao was no different from Leander, Elias, or Joa.
He was simply a lonely child who had struggled to survive on his own for far too long.
No one knew which explanation was correct.
But one thing Qiong Xing knew for certain was that Mao was not a bad child.
"I understand that what I’m asking may be difficult. We’ve only just asked you to look after the children here, so I know it may sound unreasonable. But I have a favor to ask. This child..."
"Of course."
Qiong Xing froze in surprise and lifted his head before he could even finish speaking.
"Of course. I may be an old woman with little time left ahead of me, but if I can help you, I’d be more than happy to lend a hand."
"...Thank you. Truly, thank you."
Qiong Xing still had his doubts.
Raising children had taught him just how difficult parenthood could be.
And because of that, he could not help wondering if he was simply placing that burden on her once again.
But...
"Honestly, Qiong Xing, you think too much. And always in the worst way. Those children are wonderful kids. They call me Grandma in the sweetest voices. Lately they’ve even been helping with the laundry and cooking. When my knees hurt, they rub them for me. They’re such good children. I’m truly grateful to you for letting me meet them. So... don’t make such a sad face, alright?"
Qiong Xing had never regretted entrusting the children to her.
Among everyone he knew, she had been the best possible choice.
Still, that had been a decision made for his own convenience.
Even if she had accepted them willingly, it was not something that could simply be resolved with a smile and a thank you.
He could only imagine how much hardship and responsibility she had taken on.
Yet she said she was grateful.
She said she was happy.
"...Thank you. Truly, thank you."
"Oh my, I’m the one who should be thanking you. I’m so happy these days that I almost wonder if it’s alright to be this happy."
Happiness meant different things to different people.
Something Qiong Xing viewed as a burden might be a source of joy to someone else.
From the bottom of his heart, he was grateful that he had met her.
"Even so, it’s truly strange. Your mates was a beastman too, but they couldn’t change forms."
"That’s true. I’ve never seen anyone else like Mao either."
Why Mao was different, or whether Leander and the others might be capable of something similar, remained a mystery.
What was certain was that none of them had ever witnessed anything like it before.
"But he seems very attached to you, Qiong Xing. Are you really sure about this?"
"Actually... I’m pregnant. The baby is still in my stomach, but once the child is born, I know I’ll be completely occupied. I’m worried I won’t be able to give Mao the attention he deserves."
If anyone asked whether Mao had accepted this arrangement, the answer would be no.
He still wanted to stay by Qiong Xing’s side.
That was why Qiong Xing had offered him a compromise.
"Would you be willing to wait just until this baby is born and things settle down a little? Even if it’s only for that long?"
Qiong Xing had no desire to force Mao into anything he hated.
If Mao absolutely refused, then there would be nothing he could do.
Still, he hoped this might become an opportunity for Mao to learn that people could support one another.
"Of course, if Mao truly can’t get along with the other children, I’ll come get him. I want him to try living here and learn that there are humans who will accept him just as I did. I want him to understand that not every human is an enemy."
"You won’t leave me behind?"
His voice was small.
It was obvious what he was worried about.
He was afraid Qiong Xing would never come back for him.
