While Ruan Shu was happily sipping her milk tea, Almer pointed at a headband with bunny ears and one with deer antlers, making it clear he wanted them.
Originally, each child could only get one of these headbands as a free gift. However, as soon as the two of them lined up, they attracted a wave of new customers to the store. The manager, pleased by the increased business, wasn’t stingy. He gave Almer both of the headbands he asked for, plus an extra one with wolf ears.
Ruan Shu was focused on getting the pearls at the bottom of her cup when she suddenly felt something being placed on her head.
The bunny ears were a soft, creamy yellow, slightly different from her hair color but not drastically so. They were floppy, lop-eared bunny ears, big and drooping down the sides of her face.
Ruan Shu, bewildered, lifted her hand to touch the two bunny ears.
“What is this?” she asked.
Almer took a photo of her and, with a straight face, replied, “A decoration.”
Ruan Shu tried to pull the ears off, but Almer stopped her.
“Consider it payment for that cup of milk tea.”
Ruan Shu puffed up in frustration. She had money too! Her dad, brother, and grandpa had all given her plenty. She was practically a little rich lady by now and could buy her own milk tea. Almer just happened to pay first.
Her soft, doughy cheeks puffed up in annoyance, her round face full of indignation. But even in her anger, she lacked any sense of intimidation. Paired with those bunny ears, she looked even cuter.
Almer’s mouth curled into a smile, and he took several more photos.
It was strange—these bunny ears didn’t seem to have the same sweet charm on anyone else. Almer had known people with star beasts that resembled rabbits, and when those bunny ears appeared on them, they seemed like a bit of a burden. So, they usually kept them tucked away.
But on Ruan Shu, the ears looked completely natural.
Not letting her remove the ears, Ruan Shu leaned over, eager to see the photos herself.
Looking at the pictures, she saw herself in bunny ears, wide-eyed and looking adorably pouty, almost as if she were throwing a little tantrum. She blushed.
This… This just looks so unthreatening.
Ruan Shu quietly resolved that when she got home, she’d practice in front of the mirror until she looked fierce when she was angry!
Right after this thought, she spun around and started running, her little legs kicking up as she went. She wasn’t about to let Almer put those other headbands on her. She saw them in his hand and wasn’t having it.
Almer didn’t chase her but instead strolled behind her at a leisurely pace.
With her short legs, a few of her steps barely equaled two of his, and he quickly caught up.
Along the way, Ruan Shu tried to remove the bunny ears, but they were designed with a little bit of tech to secure them tightly. To take them off, you had to press a button on top.
Holding her milk tea in one hand, Ruan Shu stretched her arm to search for the button, but after a long time, she still couldn’t find it, and her arm was starting to feel sore.
How frustrating!
Never mind, it’s just bunny ears; no need to get worked up!
She took a big sip of her milk tea, and her mood improved instantly.
“Aah! Oh my god, I just spotted the cutest little bunny!”
The loud exclamation made Ruan Shu instinctively look over, clutching her milk tea.
Then, the same voice shrieked again.
“Oh my gosh, even her side profile is so pretty! Her full face must be even cuter. I really want to pinch her cheeks!”
Ruan Shu took a small step back. A bunny? Surely, they couldn’t be talking about her, right? She was a cat! She just happened to have a pair of fake bunny ears on.
While she was trying to convince herself, the excited voice piped up again.
“There’s a super handsome guy with her too! One’s cute and soft, the other’s a total heartthrob. This is some kind of dream duo!”
Ruan Shu turned her head and glanced at the young man following her. She took a deep sip of her milk tea, feeling her cheeks flush. Alright, she knew for sure now that they were talking about her and Almer.
She quickened her pace, her pale face taking on a soft pink hue, like a fresh peach.
But the girl behind them must have had some serious social boldness because Ruan Shu could still hear her shouting from afar.
“Oh my god, she’s even cuter when she’s shy!”
Ruan Shu’s face grew even redder, and in her fluster, she stumbled, almost falling forward. Luckily, Almer caught her by the collar, keeping her steady.
Without a pause, the little one resumed her quick, short-legged strides, determined to move ahead.
A few minutes later…
Standing at the edge of the city street, Ruan Shu took the last sip of her milk tea, her gaze dazed and unfocused.
She… was lost!
If it weren’t for the familiar figure behind her, Ruan Shu might have burst into tears over her predicament.
Clutching her now-empty milk tea cup, Ruan Shu sheepishly shuffled closer to Almer, reaching out her small hand to tug gently on the fabric of his pants.
Almer looked down at her with a smirk and joked, “Careful now. Tug too hard, and my reputation will be ruined if you accidentally pull my pants down in public.”
Ruan Shu quickly retracted her little paw, murmuring defensively, “I… I only used a tiny bit of strength, just a little tug.”
As if she’d ever pull his pants down.
“What’s up?” Almer asked, crossing his arms, a teasing eyebrow raised.
With hopeful eyes, Ruan Shu looked up at him. “Almer, where are we?”
The young man raised an eyebrow, arms still folded. “I saw you marching forward with so much confidence. Don’t tell me you had no idea where you were going.”
Ruan Shu mumbled, “Well… I usually ride with my dad or brother when I go out. I’ve never walked here before, so it’s normal not to recognize the way.”
A mischievous glint appeared in Almer’s eyes. “Want to go back?”
Ruan Shu nodded eagerly.
Then, she watched as he pulled out those two headbands.
Ruan Shu was speechless, but reluctantly leaned her little head forward, letting Almer replace the bunny ears with the sparkling, golden, baby deer antlers.
These were the soft, budding antlers of a young deer, scaled down to fit on a child’s head. Once again, the headband looked perfectly natural on her, making her so adorable that it was hard to resist the urge to ruffle her hair.
Almer took several photos, clearly satisfied only after snapping a good number.
Ruan Shu huffed a few times, widening her eyes and trying to give him a fierce, “cute angry” glare.
“Bad Almer, you’re so mean!”
But instead of being intimidated, Almer simply pinched her chubby cheeks, giving them a gentle squeeze.
Ruan Shu felt so annoyed—Almer always took advantage of her soft temper to tease her.
“Let’s go,” he said, taking the lead this time, and Ruan Shu followed him, her little steps trotting along by his side.
They walked for what felt like ages, and soon, her legs started to ache. She became visibly tired, looking pitifully exhausted.
After a few more minutes, Ruan Shu couldn’t go any further. She let out a small, pitiful call, “Almer…”
He turned to look at her.
“Tired?”
Ruan Shu nodded, her head drooping.
“Want me to carry you?”
“Yes!” she replied without hesitation.
“Alright, then ask me nicely.”
“Please~” she clasped her hands together, her blue eyes looking up at him with an irresistibly pleading gaze.
Almer smiled, squatted down, and spread his arms wide. “Come here.”
Ruan Shu’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she shuffled over on her little legs, throwing herself into his arms and wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
She kicked her feet slightly and smiled with a look of pure contentment.
Almer pinched her little nose. “Why so stubborn? You should’ve called me sooner.”
She gave a soft huff in response—she had her pride, thank you very much.
Though, truthfully, that pride didn’t last very long.