“Master…” A-Dai asked shyly, “Master, what do you think of my… my transformed appearance?”
Yun Qingxue gave him another once-over and replied honestly, “Overall, not bad. But A-Dai, why did you choose to wear a red outfit?”
“Master, don’t you think this red robe makes me look devilishly charming and wild?” A-Dai frowned in response.
Yun Qingxue…
The phrase “devilishly charming and wild” didn’t seem quite appropriate for a child…
“What about this fan?” Yun Qingxue asked again.
“Master, don’t you think I look dashing and debonair holding this fan?”
Yun Qingxue…
“And your walking posture—is it because you’re not used to walking on two feet yet?”
“Not at all! I’m perfectly used to it! Master, don’t you think my walk exudes grandeur?!” A-Dai frowned, speaking in an oddly pompous tone.
Yun Qingxue…
Grandeur? More like a ruffian strolling down the street…
Who on earth taught A-Dai about “devilishly charming and wild” or “dashing and debonair”? And where did he learn that ridiculous walk?
Such an adorable little boy after transformation, utterly ruined by these three things…
Silently, Yun Qingxue reached out and took the fan from A-Dai’s hand. On both sides of the fan were two clumsily written characters:
“Wander” and “Purple.”
Wander Purple?
What kind of nonsense was this? Did it mean “wandering child,” playing on the homophone?
A-Dai… was he missing the aquatic clan?
Instantly, Yun Qingxue’s gaze softened.
She looked at A-Dai, about to say something, but he spoke first.
“Master, how do you like these two characters?”
“Not bad!”
Thinking A-Dai might be homesick, Yun Qingxue kindly used “not bad” to describe the crooked handwriting.
A-Dai, however, immediately puffed up with pride. “I’m still getting used to holding a brush. Otherwise, my calligraphy would rival the masters!”
“Heh heh…” Yun Qingxue chuckled.
She had no idea where her little A-Dai got such confidence, but confidence was a good thing. Heh heh, a very good thing!
“A-Dai… did you write these characters because you miss…”
“Master, that’s my name!”
Before Yun Qingxue could finish, A-Dai explained the meaning himself.
“Name?” Yun Qingxue raised an eyebrow. “Is this your original name, A-Dai?”
“Of course not!” A-Dai shook his head. “I was always called A-Dai!
But Master, look at me now—I’ve transformed into such a dashing young man. Doesn’t keeping the name A-Dai seem… less majestic?”
Yun Qingxue gave him another once-over.
Forgive her, but she couldn’t connect the words “majestic” with this adorable little boy.
“A-Dai is fine.”
“Master… I refuse to keep the name that idiot Jin Lin gave me!” A-Dai protested. “Please let me change it!”
“Fine,” Yun Qingxue nodded, conceding to his request.
Just as A-Dai was about to thank her, she added, “I’ll give you a proper name, and A-Dai can be your nickname.”
Nickname?
A-Dai blinked. Wasn’t that just another way of saying “pet name”?
Thinking back to how he got the name A-Dai, a wave of melancholy washed over him.
The year he hatched, the first thing he saw was the foolish face of the Dragon King!
Yes—foolish!
Even though Jin Lin was the king of their clan, in A-Dai’s eyes, his royal status couldn’t mask his idiocy!
The moment he hatched, Jin Lin had grabbed him by the tail and lifted him up without warning.
Those sneaky eyes scanned him up and down before Jin Lin declared, “Male!”
A-Dai was furious.
He glared at Jin Lin. As if you’re female!
Hmph!
Sure, they were both male, but was it appropriate to inspect someone so shamelessly without consent?
And then to announce it out loud? You—pervert!
That first encounter—being subjected to a gender inspection right after hatching—left A-Dai with a lifelong grudge against Jin Lin.
After the inspection came the naming ceremony.
Jin Lin muttered, “With your birth, the sacred serpent lineage continues.
Since you’re male, I’ll put some thought into giving you a mighty and imposing name.”
“Hmph!” Still resentful over the earlier humiliation, A-Dai ignored him haughtily.
“How about ‘You Huan’?” Jin Lin quickly proposed the first name.
A-Dai didn’t even glance at him.
“Trouble”? Even if he didn’t understand the words yet, who names someone “Trouble”? You’re the trouble! Your whole family is trouble!
Seeing no reaction, Jin Lin flashed a grin full of pearly white teeth. “Don’t like it? Let me think again…
‘Dong Gua’—how about ‘You Dong Gua’?”
“Winter melon”?
Though he didn’t fully grasp it, who names someone “Winter melon”? You’re the melon! Your whole family are melons! A-Dai remained motionless.
Jin Lin suggested several more names, but A-Dai refused to acknowledge any.
Finally, Jin Lin grabbed A-Dai’s tail again.
A-Dai looked utterly resigned. Fine, bully the little snake now! Just wait till I grow up—I’ll bite you a hundred times! See if you dare pull my tail then!
“None of them suit you?” Jin Lin held him up, bringing his face close.
A-Dai stayed silent. He wanted to make it clear—he was angry and wouldn’t dignify this male with a response.
But Jin Lin didn’t seem to notice his anger. Instead, he looked worried.
Poking A-Dai’s tiny head, Jin Lin sighed. “You’re not reacting to anything I say… Could it be… you’re born with a mental deficiency?!”
A-Dai seethed. You’re the deficient one! Your whole family is deficient!
Aaargh!
I’m going to lose it!
Just as A-Dai was about to explode, Jin Lin casually suggested another name.
“In that case, I’ll call you A-Dai.
A-Dai…
Not bad—easy to remember and say!”
Aaargh!
This is too much!
You’re the idiot! Your whole family is idiotic! Even if my fangs aren’t fully grown, I’ll fight you!
I’ll bite you to death!
Enraged, A-Dai finally broke his silence. Wriggling furiously, he lunged at Jin Lin with his tiny mouth.
“Hahaha…” Jin Lin burst into laughter. A-Dai’s underdeveloped fangs couldn’t hurt him.
To Jin Lin, it was all just playful antics.
“No reaction to any other name, but such enthusiasm for ‘A-Dai’? You must really love it!”
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