We couldn't keep a fox.
We were an ordinary working family. We didn't have that much time or energy.
"Big Brother..."
The child looked at the young man, then back at her mother. Her little face was full of confusion. "Why isn't Big Brother..."
"An ordinary person?"
In the child's eyes, Big Brother didn't look much different from the other adults she'd seen...
"Because he can keep foxes."
The child's mother forced herself to make up an explanation.
"So he isn't an ordinary person."
Oh...
The child was bewildered.
But...
Why could Big Brother keep foxes?
"All right."
The child's mother reached out and rubbed the child's head.
"We should go."
"Let's not bother Big Brother while he's visiting the zoo."
"We should go see the other animals, too."
"Didn't you want to see the deer?"
The child was persuaded.
Mm.
She wanted to see the deer.
But...
"Let's go."
The child's mother didn't give the child a chance to protest.
She smiled at the young man.
She was grateful he hadn't exposed her lie.
She was also embarrassed that he'd witnessed such a childish scene between her and her daughter.
Xiao Xiao smiled and shook his head.
It was all right.
He understood that parents meant well.
The child's mother led her daughter away.
The child kept turning back to look at him, reluctant to leave.
"Mom."
"Big Brother has two foxes."
"I don't have even one."
"Big Brother can have two..."
Her voice was full of envy.
"Two?"
The child's mother turned around instinctively.
She happened to meet the young man's gaze.
She smiled at once, then quickly turned back.
She felt a little awkward.
She hadn't said anything bad about him.
And it wasn't as if she'd been