For a moment, Ruby simply stared, as if trying to process the child's innocent kindness.
Then, like sunlight breaking through a storm, laughter bubbled out of her—half-choked, half-genuine.
"Your disciple is so cute, Brother!" she grinned, wiping her face.
"Can I keep her?"
Ace rolled his eyes. "They're not stray kittens, Ruby."
With newfound energy, Ruby let out a playful "Heave-ho!" and effortlessly lifted Liu Mei into the air.
"You take the boy, I take the girl—one each!" she declared, grinning.
Ace pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly.
"Ruby, that's never going to happen."
But she just giggled and bolted out the door with Liu Mei in tow. The little girl, instead of protesting, cheered excitedly as if she were on the greatest ride of her life.
Ace shook his head, watching them disappear. "So is this what having a sister feels like?" he mused.
Then, reality hit him like a cold splash of water. No, that wasn't true.
