Chapter 1

My best friend, Sharon, called me the day before she left the country.

I heard the frantic sound of packing on the other end of the line, mixed with her hurried voice. “Wynne! Help! I’m flying to New Zedland for work the day after tomorrow, and my husband’s not home either. Can you look after my nephew for a few days? It’ll be just one week! I’ll treat you to the most expensive sushi in town once I’m back!”

She was married to a dragon shifter.

Their family had many different branches, and a few years ago, they arranged for a little dragon cub to be raised in her home. She was the one taking care of him most of the time.

I agreed without even thinking.

Who could say no to a dragon cub?!

However, Sharon then added, “Oh, right. I should warn you. This kid’s been spoiled at home, so his temper isn’t great. He can be a bit fierce sometimes, so don’t take it personally. He’s the type of guy who acts tough but is really soft-hearted underneath. Just coax him a little, and he’ll be fine.”

I immediately agreed. “Don’t worry. I’m great with kids!”

She gave a doubtful hum on the other end, probably remembering how I once scared her cat so badly that it hid under the bed for three days.

Still, she did not have any other choice.

After hanging up, I changed my clothes and went to wait at the entrance of her neighborhood.

She told me the little cub’s training at a nearby shifters’ martial arts hall would be finished at 4:30 PM, so I should just pick him up there.

The martial arts hall was on a commercial street east of the complex. I arrived early and waited at a milk tea shop across the street.

I could see the entrance clearly from the shop’s window.

At 4:30 PM sharp, the young shifters started coming out one after another.

They all wore matching black training uniforms and looked about four or five years old.

However, once they took human form, they looked no different from ordinary people. One could not even tell they were a different species at all.

All I had ever seen of the little cub was from a video call. He was a tiny, fluffy golden ball. I could not even make out his exact features.

I stood at the entrance of the martial arts hall, a drink in hand, like a patient hunter waiting for a dragon cub.

There were a lot of parents picking up their kids. A flurry of luxury cars and nannies surrounded us.

I stood among them in my branded puffer jacket, holding a five-dollar lemon drink, looking extremely out of place.

After a while, the crowd thinned out.

I suddenly felt a gaze on me.

I turned around and met a pair of bright golden eyes.

A young boy stood under the martial arts hall’s entrance, staring at me.

I had found him!

I felt a spark of joy and was just about to walk over when he turned away, expressionless, and walked in the opposite direction.

A black nanny car was parked by the curb. The door opened, and someone in uniform opened the car door.

The boy got in without looking back.

I was stunned.

I probably had the wrong guy.

I awkwardly drew back and kept waiting.

Another ten minutes passed. The place was almost empty.

Even the instructors started turning off the lights and locking the doors.

Just as I was about to call Sharon in panic, I caught a glimpse of movement from the side alley.

A small figure was leaning against the wall with a black training bag slung across his back, glancing at me coldly.

He had golden eyes as well, but his were brighter and deeper, like melted gold into them.

The little guy wore a black training uniform, his collar zipped all the way up. He gave off an unapproachable, aloof vibe.

He did not walk toward the crowd of parents before. Instead, he stayed in the alley like he had no intention of being picked up at all.

It had to be him.

I quickly walked over, pulled out my phone, and showed him a photo of me and Sharon together.

“Hi! Look, this is your aunt. I’m her friend, Wynne. I’ll be taking care of you for the next few days!”

The kid glanced at my phone.

Then, he looked up and said coldly, “I don’t know you.”

He turned around to leave.

I was startled for a moment and quickly chased after him. “Hey, don’t go! Your aunt really asked me to pick you up. You can call her to confirm—”

“I said I don’t know you.”

He did not even look back, walking quickly.

I was shocked.

Sharon had not lied.

He really did have a bad temper.