Chapter 1

When my stepmother abandoned me in the snow, a silver wolf took me home.

She couldn’t speak, but treated me very well.

She often left early and returned late, though, and rarely bathed or slept beside me.

When she heard that a beastkin classmate had confessed to me, I saw her look sinister for the first time.

That night, I accidentally overheard her cursing at her AI terminal.

A low, rough, icy male voice came from “her” mouth.

“Are you all useless? Is finding a voice changer really that difficult?”

Oh no.

I had found myself a father and mother in one.

On my birthday, the imperial capital had its first heavy snowfall.

My stepmother kindly took me out, saying we would buy sweets at the market and wait for Father to return from his business trip.

I had never been there.

Afraid of getting lost, I clung to her shoulder.

I hadn’t reached transformation yet.

Outwardly, I was only a tiny round long-tailed bird, like a ball of sticky rice.

Someone suddenly bumped into her.

Unable to dodge, I fell.

“Mom!”

I flapped frantically, but she had already vanished into the crowd.

“Mom! Mom…”

I tried to follow.

The market was packed with fully transformed beastkin.

Even standing as tall as I could, I didn’t reach their calves.

They blocked my view like enormous mountains.

Desperate, I flew unsteadily into a pine tree and stretched up to look.

At last, I spotted her nearby.

Before I could call, she turned and hurried away as though on urgent business.

Without even looking back.

I told myself she must be buying sweets.

She would fetch me afterward.

So I stood in that tree all afternoon.

Fine snow settled on my wings, piling thicker until I looked like a snowball.

Yet I didn’t feel cold.

I only shook it off and kept watching for her.

Traders folded their stalls.

Shops closed.

Streetlights came on, one by one.

Warm yellow light filled the once-lively street.

She didn’t return.

I was hungry and sleepy.

I thought:

Just a little nap.

If I slept too deeply, what if they came and couldn’t find me?

Drowsiness swept over me.

I sank into darkness.

When I woke, fire crackled in a hearth.

Coffee scented the air.

I sat up.

In the dim room, I had been sleeping curled against a silver wolf.

As though afraid I would freeze, it had wrapped me in the soft warm fur of its chest and belly.

Noticing I was awake, it slowly opened its eyes.

Blue-gray, cold and proud.

Its glossy fur even smelled faintly of cedar.

I tilted my head, carefully climbed out, and asked politely:

“Hello, Sister Silver Wolf. Is this your home?”

The wolf paused.

Her gaze grew fierce, as though she might swallow me like a rice ball.

I went silent.

I had only met bird beastkin before.

I had heard wolves were violent and ruthless, but never been so close to one.

Frightened that I had caused trouble, I stammered:

“Sorry. My mother will come for me soon.”

Her expression eased.

She gave a faint, scornful laugh, leaned lazily against the sofa, and flicked a paw.

A floating screen appeared.

Surveillance footage, apparently.

On it, my stepmother spoke excitedly to someone through her terminal.

“I’ve wanted to get rid of that sparrow for ages!”

“Don’t worry. I took her to the market today to lose her.”

“She can’t follow. She hasn’t transformed and doesn’t know the way home.”

“In snow like this, she’s probably frozen by now.”

“I told my husband she wandered off playing. I even pretended to search all night. Don’t let anything slip.”

…

I stared.

She was celebrating with her friends.

Her egg would soon hatch into a new brother or sister.

Two large tears silently hit the floor.

My eyes blurred.

Through them, I vaguely saw the wolf scramble up.

I wiped my eyes with a wing and prepared to leave.

But I had nowhere to go.

Even at home, my stepmother would find another way to discard me.

As I opened the window, wind and ice roared in, almost blowing me away.

A paw reached from behind.

The wolf caught me and tossed me onto a soft mattress.

I struggled to poke my head out of the bedding.

She said nothing.

Only watched me, then gently patted my head.

With a quiet sigh, she went out, switching off the bedside light.

“Wait.”

I called softly.

“Sister Silver Wolf, does that mean I can stay here for now?”

Her back stiffened.

After a long time came a barely audible murmur of agreement.

It was broad daylight when I woke.

I flew from bedroom to sitting room to balcony.

And froze.

The wolf was gone.

A mechanical butler floated in the air and spoke stiffly.

“The master has gone to work.”

“Food is ready in the dining room. The sitting-room screen is connected to StarNet for entertainment and study.”

I hadn’t transformed.

But birds matured quickly.

Soon after transformation, we could enter adulthood.

I calculated silently.

Once transformed, I could study and work.

Then I wouldn’t trouble anyone.

I asked the wolf’s name.

The butler immediately stammered.

“Er… well… we all call the master Master Lai Ân.”

Its screen-eyes darted away.

“But if the master considers you family, I suppose Lai Ân is fine.”

I stared at the meal.

“This… is really for me?”

Better than my New Year feast.

Malnutrition had made me grow far slower than others my age.

Some had already transformed.

“Obviously, little sparrow,” the butler said scornfully. “I don’t need food to recharge.”

“My name is Tiểu Ngâm!”

“Yes, yes. Fine. Got it. Okay.”

After I ate, it cleared the dishes.

Standing in the vast room, I felt something was missing.

Then remembered my stepmother liked fresh flowers.

No girl could resist flowers!

A thank-you for taking me in.

I flew back and forth eight hundred times.

A plum branch this time.

White pear blossom next time.

Until I was panting, half my little bird life spent.

Even the butler couldn’t watch.

“You could order delivery.”

“We have StarNet. Order online and charge the master’s card.”

What was the point of a gift bought with the recipient’s money?

Some things AI simply couldn’t replace.

Its thinking was too simple.

I carefully arranged the flowers.

After a busy afternoon, I looked up and found it nearly dinnertime.

“When will Lai Ân be home?”

The butler’s eyes darted again.

“Well… the master said not to wait.”

“Very busy lately.”

“Probably back after you’re asleep.”

Disappointed, I nodded.

Sure enough, I heard no footsteps before bed.

Curled in the blankets, I chatted with the butler.

“A hot spring would be lovely in this weather.”

“Wouldn’t that make you sparrow stew?”

I closed my eyes resentfully.

Half asleep, I seemed to see a tall figure backlit in the bedroom doorway.

I wanted a better look.

But my eyelids wouldn’t obey.

Only a military cap badge glinted faintly.

The butler woke me next morning, wearing a flattering screen-smile.

“Miss Tiểu Ngâm! Wonderful news!”

“The neighbors’ moles dug a hole in the pond out back last night.”

“You can use the hot spring now!”

What?

Whose moles were so considerate?

That evening, drowsing in the spring, I heard the door.

I shook myself dry and flew out.

“Lai Ân!”

Her back was to me as she removed her coat.

Tiny snowflakes clung to her cap.

I rushed to hug her neck.

“You’ve been coming home so late.”

She stiffened.

Wouldn’t turn.

Only murmured agreement.

Perched on her head, I waved my wings proudly.

“I tried the hot spring while waiting.”

“The water’s lovely. Want to join me?”

She said nothing.

Only her lashes trembled.

I looked down and chattered on.

“And thank you for letting me stay.”

“I can’t do much, but I can clean for you.”