The sharp wail of a siren, accompanied by the roar of an engine, gradually faded into the distance, disappearing at the far end of the shaded road.

  Early this morning, a cleaner in this upscale vil neighborhood discovered the bodies of several cats and a mountain eagle. Shocked, they immediately called the police.

  Cang Tongkai stood behind the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the police cars drive away from the second floor of the vil. The early morning sunlight filtered into his dark blue eyes, casting a cold, distant gleam.

  Xuan, as always, was dressed in all bck, standing in the shadowed area where the sunlight didn′t reach, more like a specter with a pulse than anything else.

  "She′ll attract more and more intruders,” Xuan said with a hint of unease. His sharp, sword-like brows furrowed slightly—an expression rarely seen on him. “The master will be back soon. If he finds out..."

  "Dealing with intruders is your responsibility, no matter how many,” Cang Tongkai interrupted Xuan, brushing past him. “I′m going to school. Get the car ready.”

  "Kai.” Xuan stood like a statue, unmoving.

  Cang Tongkai paused and turned his head slightly.

  Xuan remained silent for a while, as if gathering immense resolve, before speaking in a low voice, “Send her away.”

  "If I can′t protect her, then I shouldn′t bear the name Cang Tong. I′m not afraid of any intruders.” Cang Tongkai raised a hand and patted Xuan′s shoulder with a smile. "You feel the same, don′t you?”

  Xuan′s brows suddenly furrowed, and his shoulders flinched slightly.

  "What′s wrong?” Cang Tongkai noticed something was off. "Injured?”

  "Just a surface wound. I got a small scratch during a tussle with that eagle yaokai early this morning,” Xuan replied, returning to his usual calm demeanor. "I′ll go start the car.”

  "You rarely make mistakes.” Cang Tongkai winked at him. “Need my help?”

  "It was an accident.” Xuan shook his head with a bitter smile.

  “If you need anything, don′t hesitate to ask. I′m not afraid of breaking family rules,” Cang Tongkai whistled casually as he headed downstairs. In Xuan's eyes, his figure was reflected, along with the faint hesitation, as if he had something he wanted to say but couldn′t.

  Cang Tongkai stood in front of the bedroom mirror, his crisp white shirt carrying the faint scent of shower gel, and his bck school uniform jacket refusing to button up. The tall, handsome young man in the mirror stared at his reflection indifferently.

  Behind the mirror, there was a protruding button. Pressing it caused the rge wardrobe, standing against the wall, to shift sideways by half a meter, revealing a hidden door in the wall.

  This was the pce Cang Tongkai had been visiting every day since seven years ago.

  The secret room behind the hidden door was lined with smooth, mirror-like marble floors and walls, with intricate veins running through the stone. The room contained only one rge water tank, about the height of a person. There were no windows on the walls, but a massive oil painting hung in the center. In the painting, the sky was a clear blue, the sea stretched out in vast, unduting waves, and on the finely detailed, expansive beach, there was no one—only two sets of footprints leading into the water. The entire painting was so realistic it seemed as if you could hear the sound of the waves.

  Paintbrushes and paints were scattered on the floor; the vibrant oil colors spshed across the white tiles, more beautiful than any flowers.

  Cang Tongkai walked to the water tank, positioned opposite the painting, and gently tapped the gss, like a gentleman politely knocking on a door.

  "You're starting school today, right?"

  Ripples formed on the calm surface of the water. A fish, about a foot long with white scales like diamonds, swam gracefully towards Cang Tongkai, its fins and tail moving in a delicate, ce-like pattern. It slowly emerged from the far side of the tank, happily swimming toward him.

  "Mm. What fvor of ice cream would you like today?" Cang Tongkai smiled, a rare expression that softened every sharp line of his face. His tone was filled with affection and indulgence.

  TuTu was a fish, but she could speak, and she loved eating ice cream. So, in Cang Tongkai′s mind, TuTu was never just "it," but always "she."

  "I want vanil chocote!"

  "One scoop?"

  "Two scoops!!"

  "You'll get fat!"

  "Then I′ll just get a bigger fish tank!"

  Cang Tongkai shook his head helplessly, his palm resting on the side of the tank. TuTu happily flipped a few circles, her pink lips giving a soft kiss to his palm.

  There was always a thick gss between them, but it couldn't block the warmth that passed through.

  "Make sure to focus in css!"

  "I know!"

  "Don't get into fights!"

  "I know!!"

  "Make sure to button up your jacket on the way home. The flu's been going around tely."

  "Alright…"

  "Don't forget the ice cream! Two scoops!!"

  "……"

  Cang Tongkai raised his hands in surrender, looking childishly dejected. "Fine, two scoops, just two scoops!"

  TuTu triumphantly blew out a series of bubbles, which floated in the water, forming a rge V shape.

  TuTu was the only true friend that Cang Tongkai recognized.

  TuTu was also the one thing he would protect at all costs.