The girl's eyes suddenly widened, and she stared blankly at Xiao Xiao before her.
How did Brother Xiao know?
She hadn't even told Dad.
Because Mom hated small animals.
She said they were dirty.
The girl had overheard her say it once.
She worried Dad might not like small animals either.
But she liked them very much.
The girl pressed her lips together.
What should she do?
Even though she felt it was wrong not to tell Dad, she still instinctively hid Strawberry's existence.
She had given Strawberry its name.
Because Strawberry's eyes sparkled whenever it saw strawberries.
Strawberry loved strawberries.
And strawberries were red, too.
So she had named it Strawberry.
But only in her heart.
She couldn't make a sound.
The girl opened her mouth and tried with all her might, but all she managed were a few broken, stammering syllables.
She touched her throat, then gave up trying.
Xiao Xiao patiently waited for the girl to come back to herself.
His gentle presence made her feel a little safer.
The girl clasped her hands together and twisted them.
Then, after some hesitation, she nodded.
Xiao Xiao smiled.
"Qiqi, Brother Xiao knows your new friend, too."
The girl blinked, looking stunned.
Brother Xiao knew Strawberry, too?
"Mm."
Seeing her confusion, Xiao Xiao nodded. "I've known it for a while."
"Is it at your house?"
Xiao Xiao asked.
The girl nodded, then shook her head.
Strawberry was elusive.
Sometimes she would look up and see Strawberry right there. Other times, she would search the whole house and still not find it.
"Is that so?"
Xiao Xiao mused.
It seemed another demon had once again come to the rescue.
That demon was clearly furious with humans for breaking their agreement, and had even been hunted by them.