Chapter 21

The kitchen was very quiet, so quiet that the sound of the wind outside could be heard.

Bai Tang fell into self-doubt. Was her cake not surprising enough? The little villain clearly liked flowers the most, yet even when Bai Tang gave her one, she had no reaction at all.

Bai Tang looked terribly worried.

Not happy at all.

Xiao Xinyue gathered her emotions and asked, “Is this dessert for me?”

Bai Tang nodded.

Xiao Xinyue asked again, “Why is there a candle stuck on top?”

Bai Tang was already feeling low.

The little villain probably did not like the cake.

Xiao Xinyue said again, “Aren’t you able to talk now?”

Bai Tang froze.

It seemed she had spoken just now.

Could she talk now? She had thought she would have to communicate through body movements for the rest of her life.

Bai Tang blinked her lively big eyes and coughed a few times.

Xiao Xinyue was amused by her. “You don’t have to worry that you won’t be able to speak. I heard you. I remember every sentence very clearly.”

Bai Tang tried to make a sound. “Xiao… Xiao Xinyue…”

Xiao Xinyue gave a soft “Mm.”

Bai Tang was unbearably excited.

She really could talk now.

So excited, Bai Tang hugged Xiao Xinyue’s neck and kissed her on the face. “I’m so happy.”

The voice beside Xiao Xinyue’s ear was young, sweet, and soft, while the little ball hugging her was even softer.

Not only Bai Tang, even Xiao Xinyue had not expected that she could suddenly speak.

Bai Tang was too excited and nearly forgot the main matter.

She jumped onto the counter. “This is for you.”

Xiao Xinyue gave another “Mm,” then said, “Thank you.”

The candle was still burning and had not gone out.

Bai Tang urged her, “This is a birthday cake. Blow out the candle and make a wish!”

Xiao Xinyue looked at the flickering candlelight, a little dazed. When she was very small, she had often made wishes. She wished she had never been born. She wished her mother could come back to life.

Those wishes were unrealistic.

The only one who could truly fulfill wishes was herself.

Bai Tang looked at her and asked in confusion, “Aren’t you making a wish? If you’re not, can you give the wish to me?”

Xiao Xinyue was not used to Bai Tang being able to speak. Her voice was soft and tender, sweet and gentle. Paired with her deceptive appearance, the current Bai Tang was even more capable of deceiving people.

She could easily make others agree to her requests.

Xiao Xinyue found it funny. “If I give the wish to you, can it still be called my birthday wish?”

Bai Tang smiled, showing her little fangs. “Why not? Wishing for someone you like is more satisfying.”

Xiao Xinyue froze. “I don’t like you.”

Bai Tang hummed a few times.

She was not asking the little villain to like her.

She was so cute that even she herself was about to become enchanted by herself. There was only one person who did not fall for this trick, and that was the person in front of her.

Xiao Xinyue asked again, “What wish do you want to make?”

Bai Tang jumped onto her shoulder, leaned close to her ear, and said, “Wish me a long life.”

That soft, delicate childlike voice said something completely unsuitable for her age. Xiao Xinyue was very surprised.

“Not endless snacks that you can never finish eating?”

Bai Tang’s watery blue eyes shone brightly. “I want that too!”

Xiao Xinyue: “…”

Still so greedy.

Xiao Xinyue blew out the candle, but she did not make a wish.

Whether it was Bai Tang’s first wish or her second wish, as long as Bai Tang stayed by her side, she could fulfill them for her.

After the wish was made, it was time for the part Bai Tang looked forward to the most.

Eating the cake.

Bai Tang said excitedly, “It’s time to cut the cake.”

Xiao Xinyue used a fruit knife to cut two pieces.

She did not dislike desserts. On the contrary, she liked them very much.

Xiao Xinyue took a bite. The cake was not soft and fluffy, but the cream was very sweet. The inside was probably made from bread, and perhaps because it had been left for too long, the texture had been affected.

Yet Xiao Xinyue, who had always been picky about food, finished it without leaving anything behind.

She set down her plate and saw Bai Tang directly burying herself in the cake. Her little face was covered in cream, and her blue eyes shone brightly. Now she had truly become a little messy face.

Bai Tang did not care at all and continued eating.

She had worked for an entire day. So what if she ate a little more?

Xiao Xinyue wiped her face. “Dirty.”

Bai Tang raised her head. Her big eyes stared directly at Xiao Xinyue, and her little mouth was covered in white cream. She stretched out a paw and pressed it against Xiao Xinyue’s face, smiling as she said, “Now we’re equally dirty.”

The sticky feeling on her face made Xiao Xinyue uncomfortable, but her mood was joyful.

—

In the morning, Lan Ji got up, cleaned the kitchen, and began preparing breakfast.

An hour later, she pushed the breakfast cart into the dining room.

The dining room was empty. There was not a single person there.

It was understandable that Bai Tang was not there, but for [bailiantales.com]the always disciplined Young Lady to be absent as well was rather strange.

Lan Ji fell into deep thought.

Today was the death anniversary of the Young Lady’s mother. Was the Young Lady unwilling to come out and see people?

Every year, today was when the Young Lady’s mood was at its lowest. The reason Lan Ji had told Bai Tang the date of Xiao Xinyue’s birthday was that she felt Bai Tang was somewhat different to the Young Lady.

The Young Lady was unwilling to accept anyone, and Bai Tang was the only one who crossed the line yet was still pampered by her.

If Lan Ji brought up the birthday to the Young Lady herself, the Young Lady would probably fly into a huge rage. That was why she had encouraged Bai Tang to try.

Could Xiao Bai have failed?

Madam was the Young Lady’s forbidden zone. She should not have let Xiao Bai try.

To Xiao Xinyue, this day was only a death anniversary. There was no birthday at all.

The more Lan Ji thought about it, the more anxious she became.

She even thought of the worst possible outcome.

Could the Young Lady have killed Xiao Bai in a fit of anger?

Lan Ji could not sit still. She searched the mansion for Bai Tang.

After searching everywhere, she found no sign of her. She did not see the Young Lady either. There was only one place left: the Young Lady’s room.

Lan Ji walked to the door, hesitating over whether to open it.

The previous key had been lost by Bai Tang, but Lan Ji still had a spare.

Lan Ji was very afraid that when she opened the door, she would see a bloody scene.

She mentally prepared herself for a long time before finally opening the door.

There was no bloody scene. The floor was not a mess either. There were no signs of fighting at all. On the contrary, Lan Ji smelled a faint, elegant floral fragrance and saw an extremely warm scene.

Xiao Xinyue was still sound asleep, her delicate cheeks faintly pink. Bai Tang was nestled in her arms, a tiny little ball, her breathing rising and falling as she slept soundly.

The corners of Lan Ji’s lips lifted, and she gently closed the door.

—

At noon, Bai Tang slowly woke up.

Before she was even fully awake, she heard her stomach growl.

Bai Tang: “…”

So disappointing.

Bai Tang jumped off the bed and only then realized that she had been sleeping on Xiao Xinyue’s bed. Last night, after eating cake, she had gotten herself dirty. When Xiao Xinyue bathed her, she had fallen asleep directly and remembered nothing afterward.

She did not know whether the little villain was satisfied with her gift.

Bai Tang slowly went to wash up. After waking up properly, she rushed to the dining room.

She smelled meat.

Her mouth began watering unconsciously.

Lan Ji pulled out the high chair for her.

Bai Tang jumped up and saw Xiao Xinyue sitting beside her.

They had started eating without calling her. Too much!

Bai Tang ate meat in huge mouthfuls, and it was so delicious that her eyes lit up.

“Another plate!”

Lan Ji served another plate.

Bai Tang began eating heartily again.

It took Lan Ji a long while to react. Had Xiao Bai just spoken?

She asked in surprise, “Xiao Bai can talk now?”

Xiao Xinyue nodded slightly.

Bai Tang was very different from ordinary spirit beasts.

In just a few short months, her magic had advanced by leaps and bounds. She clearly ate a lot, yet her body had not grown much. Now, she could even speak.

Xiao Xinyue realized it.

Bai Tang was special.

Bai Tang smiled, showing two little fangs. “One more plate.”

Lan Ji immediately gave her another serving.

Bai Tang devoured five plates in a row and finally felt comfortable.

She blinked her big eyes and realized that both the little villain and Lan Ji were looking at her.

Lan Ji asked, “How did Xiao Bai suddenly learn to speak?”

Bai Tang did not know either.

In the original work, she could not speak.

Maybe it was because she was not originally a spirit beast. Or perhaps it was the butterfly effect. Magic existed in this world, so many things could no longer be explained logically.

But being able to speak made her truly happy.

Bai Tang’s little fangs had not disappeared from view once.

Bai Tang jumped down and landed ​bailiantales.com​perfectly. “Today is Xiao Xinyue’s birthday. Does that mean we’re having a big feast tonight?”

Lan Ji glanced at Xiao Xinyue. Seeing that she had no reaction, she let out a breath of relief. Sure enough, choosing Bai Tang had been the right decision.

Lan Ji crouched down. “You can’t call the Young Lady by her full name directly, understand?”

Xiao Xinyue lowered her eyes and glanced at Bai Tang.

She was indeed not used to Bai Tang calling her by name. This form of address needed to be corrected.

Bai Tang tilted her head and thought.

Was she supposed to call her little villain?

That was strange.

And she absolutely would not call her master.

Even if they had signed a contract, she did not think she belonged to Xiao Xinyue.

Bai Tang played dumb and asked sweetly, “Then what should I call her?”

Lan Ji wished she could rub Bai Tang into her arms. She restrained herself [bailiantales.com]and said, “Call her Master. She is your master, understand?”

She was not calling her Master.

Bai Tang looked at them with big, innocent eyes, appearing pure and confused.

Lan Ji was puzzled. “Can Xiao Bai no longer speak again?”

Bai Tang nodded.

Xiao Xinyue glanced at Bai Tang and pretended to think. “What should we have for the feast tonight?”

Bai Tang raised her paw excitedly. “I want fried pork cutlets, roasted steaks, all kinds of meat, and finally, dessert after the meal!”

Every word was extremely clear, and her voice was sweet and crisp.

Lan Ji had already been charmed. “Mm. I’ll add them to the list.”

Xiao Xinyue chuckled. “Aren’t you able to speak?”

Bai Tang covered her mouth with her little paws.

Oh no, she had been exposed.

Lan Ji reacted and said, “Xiao Bai, you are the Young Lady’s spirit pet. You cannot call her by her full name directly. That is very disrespectful to the Young Lady, understand?”

Bai Tang understood the logic.

But she just could not say it.

Her little face became pitiful, pretending to be very wronged.

Xiao Xinyue’s gaze turned cold and heavy. “Are you unwilling to be my spirit pet?”

She had almost forgotten that Bai Tang had not willingly come here either. Just as she had not been willing to accept Bai Tang at first, yet now she was glad she had Bai Tang.

Bai Tang did not know what to say.

She had only stayed by Xiao Xinyue’s side in order to kill her.

The little villain was not that annoying.

But Bai Tang did not believe she belonged to her.

Bai Tang shook her head.

Xiao Xinyue inexplicably let out a breath of relief.

She asked again, “Then can you call me Master once?”

Xiao Xinyue did not care about this form of address, but now she suddenly wanted to hear Bai Tang say it. It seemed that as long as she heard it, she would obtain a strange sense of satisfaction from it.

Bai Tang shook her head again.

Xiao Xinyue’s eyes grew even colder and darker.

Bai Tang climbed onto her lap, stood up, and pressed her paws against Xiao Xinyue’s face. Smiling and showing two sharp little teeth, she said, “I like you…”

Xiao Xinyue froze and looked at her.

Bai Tang smiled again and said, “Like you.”

Calling her Master was impossible forever.

Hearing those two words again, the worries in Xiao Xinyue’s heart disappeared. Her little face turned pink. “I don’t like you.”

Bai Tang smiled.

She was not asking Xiao Xinyue to like her anyway.

She liked living together with the little villain, but she would still kill her and leave her.