"Dad! It hurts!"


    Both twins spun around, their big, tear-filled eyes shimmering with distress as they faced Wang Xiao.


    He had been yfully twisting their ears, but perhaps a bit too firmly, for the lobes had turned a bright shade of red.


    The girls pressed their small hands against his chest in a futile attempt to push him away.


    Their fingers fluttered weakly, merely tickling Wang Xiao rather than halting his admonishment.


    Turning his attention to the girl with silvery hair, he raised an eyebrow. "Wenxi, why do you keep destroying things? I won''t be able to shield you if your motheres storming in again."


    "B-but... it''s not me!" Wenxi stammered, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and injustice.


    She felt aggrieved, wronged without cause, and now chastised on top of it.


    She couldn''t understand why she was always the first to be med, her small form shrinking slightly under the weight of usation.


    Wang Xiao softened, his curiosity getting the better of him.


    He reached out and cupped her cheeks, feeling the soft, fluffy texture that invited a small smile.


    "Really?" he queried gently, his fingers squeezing a tad as if to coax the truth from her chubby face.


    Inside, he chuckled lightly; there really was no need for an excuse to squeeze those cheeks.


    "Hm! This time it''s Yue!" Wenxi suddenly dered, pointing an usatory finger at her sister, her inner innocence shifting into a mischievous glee.


    Wang Xiao turned, his expression registering surprise as he faced Yue. "You did that, Yue?" His voice held a blend of skepticism and subtle disbelief.


    "..."


    Yue, tenderly nursing her reddish ear, flinched, whispering weakly, "It... It was an ident..." Her eyes cast downward, already bracing for the disappointment she expected to hear in her father''s voice.


    "Hm!" Wenxi, on the other hand, was quietly reveling in her relief; this time, the trouble wasn''t hers.


    "Ah!? Dad!" But her celebration was short-lived as she flinched under another pinch to her face, tears welling up in her eyes. "Why punish me! It''s not even my fault this time!"


    Her small, adorable legs kicked against the quilt in a fit of protest, her lips pursed lightly and her hands balled tightly into fists.


    Wang Xiao lifted Wenxi by her waist and gently nted a kiss on her cheek, trying to soothe her.


    "Okay, now?" he asked softly.


    "No! More!" She demanded, looking up at him while extending three tiny fingers, clearly stating her terms.


    Wang Xiao couldn''t help but smile; indulging her wasn''t a disadvantage for him anyway, and he happilyplied with her request.


    Yet, the same couldn''t be said for Mary, who experienced a mini heart attack every time.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    She was acutely aware of the immense power Wang Xiao possessed.


    Having once witnessed him parry an attack from the Athene, Mary had since concocted thousands of contingency ns to escape should anything ever go awry and Wang Xiao''s temper be provoked.


    After all, Mary knew all too well the consequences of a powerful deviant losing even a shred of control.


    The stronger they were, the greater the potential for destruction.


    ''If only these two little ones understood whom they''re dealing with...'' she thought, a bitter smile touching her lips as she watched Wenxi bound toward Wang Xiao, triggering another surge of anxiety within her.


    Yet, in a fluid motion, Wang Xiao caught Wenxi effortlessly.


    "Hehe..."


    Herughter, light and carefree, filled the air as she clung to his neck, hugging him tightly.


    This sight made Mary''s eyes twitch with difort.


    Such a toxic rtionship, she thought, unlike anything she had ever witnessed.


    While one child snuggled up to Wang Xiao, radiating joy, the other fidgeted nervously with her fingers, clearly still processing the earlier tension.


    Wang Xiao shifted Wenxi to one side and gently picked up Yue, turning her around to nestle her against his chest.


    He wrapped his arm around her in aforting embrace, like a protective shield.


    "It was just an ident... If you had told your mom that directly, she wouldn''t really have gotten angry," he said, his voice carrying a tone of unexpected diplomacy.


    "But... Mommy is already angry," Yue murmured, her face downturned, her small voice tinged with worry.


    Wang Xiao had deliberately turned her to face away from him, knowing well that when people aren''t forced to make eye contact and feel as though they''re speaking more to themselves, they tend to be more honest and feel secure.


    "She''s angry because you ran away. That makes you look like a guilty culprit," he suggested gently, his words designed to teach rather than reprimand.


    Yue''s eyes widened suddenly with realization.


    This was right!


    "So... If I tell her everything, it would be alright!" Yue''s face blossomed into a hopeful smile.


    Wang Xiao chuckled softly, tempering her optimism with a dose of reality. "No, she would still whoop your ass."


    Pftt...


    Wenxi, who had been listening intently up until then, couldn''t contain herself and broke into a fit ofughter, her hand quickly covering her mouth being red by Yue.


    Yue''s face darkened momentarily, but she wasn''t deterred.


    She turned around, her legs swinging lightly, her resolve firming. "Dad, why don''t you exin to her? She would definitely understand!"


    "Hey!" Wenxi suddenly interjected, tightening her grip around Wang Xiao''s neck, "Dad is mine today, get away shoo!"


    "Huh? When did that happen?" Yue retorted, feeling a mix of confusion and defiance.


    Wenxi stuck out her tongue mischievously. "Today!"


    "No, he is mine as well!" Yue lunged forward, her voice filled with disbelief and determination, sparking a struggle over his attention.


    Their giggles and squabbles filled the air until both were ruthlessly kicked out of the room by Wang Xiao.


    After the scuffle with his daughters, Wang Xiao gracefully swung himself out of the window, setting his course towards the heart of Silvertide City.


    He had pressing matters to attend to—he needed to make sure Amelia and Eleanor were well, as he was preparing to depart once again.


    The urgency of his journey was fueled by a recent breakthrough; he had finally obtained a promising lead on Aurora''s whereabouts.


    The anticipation of the chase added a briskness to his step as he disappeared into the vibrant autumn streets of the city.