Ruby squeezed her soft, furry ears. As if sensing their owner's inner disappointment, the pair drooped completely flat against her head, looking utterly pathetic.
She gently stroked them in consolation. "Be good now. Don't come out," she coaxed.
Even though they were her own ears, she spoke to them with the pleading tone one might use with a friend. Then, she focused hard on retracting them.
A few minutes later, her small face flushed red with effort as the furry appendages finally vanished. Only then did Ruby tidy herself up, change into a pastel green dress, and leave her bedroom.
Standing on her tiptoes in the hallway, she peered over the railing and easily spotted her father sitting at the table. Before her face could even light up with joy, the man downstairs looked up.
His deep blue eyes were heavy with a bone-chilling pressure. Yet, in the very next second, that overwhelming aura vanished, dissipating so quickly that it felt like a mere illusion.
"Good morning, Daddy!"
Ruby scurried down the stairs on her short little legs, practically bursting with eagerness. A radiant smile bloomed across her delicate face, her eyes curving into adorable crescents. After her sweet, soft-spoken greeting, she climbed onto the chair beside him.
"Eat your breakfast." Shawn Russell set aside his work and tapped the tabletop.
"Okay."
She sat obediently. The chair was a bit too high for her, leaving her little legs dangling in the air. Cradling her personal small bowl, Ruby took tiny, rhythmic bites of her porridge.
The fragrant, perfectly simmered rice porridge was packed with minced shrimp, sweet corn kernels, and some other type of meat she couldn't identify. It was a rich, hearty meal without the slightest hint of gameyness—absolutely delicious.
Watching his daughter eat with such serious bliss, Shawn didn't even realize that the corners of his lips had involuntarily ticked upward, his gaze softening considerably.
After breakfast, it was time for him to leave again. Clingy and reluctant to part, Ruby chased him all the way outside. She watched her father's Hovercar with wide, longing eyes, only hanging her little head and trudging back inside when it completely disappeared from sight.
Seeing her pitiful state, the butler felt a mix of amusement and heartache. He gently comforted her, assuring her that the Family Head would return soon.
Ruby nodded obediently and quickly cheered up. She hugged Mila while watching cartoons for a while, then pattered upstairs on her short legs to continue drawing.
The image of her father gradually took shape on the canvas. Although her strokes were still a bit immature, compared to other children her age, her artistic skill was enough to make even the butler marvel at her genius. Of course, Ruby would blush with deep shame at such praise. After all, she wasn't actually a four-year-old on the inside.
She spent the entire morning perfecting the piece. Looking at the finished portrait of her father, her eyes curved as she let out a soft, sweet giggle. Carefully storing the drawing in her bedside cabinet, Ruby threw her little arms in the air and stretched lazily.
Warm sunlight spilled through the window. The hazy, golden halo seemed to sprinkle a layer of shimmering dust over her Snow-white hair. Her blue irises caught the light, swirling with a fragmented, breathtaking brilliance.
The weather was beautiful today. As a Kitty at heart, she simply couldn't resist the urge to run outside and bask in the sun. Since her drawing was finished and she had nothing else to do for the moment, Ruby mentioned her idea to the butler.
When the soft Little Mochi made a request, she did so in a gentle, melodic voice—polite, sensible, and without the slightest hint of a temper.
The butler sighed inwardly. With the young miss acting so meek, he wondered what would happen if she got bullied in the outside world. Meeting her timid, remarkably pure gaze, his heart melted into a puddle.
"Of course," he said warmly. "This is your home, Young Miss. No one will stop you from doing whatever you wish."
In the past, he used to think the young masters were far too mischievous and rowdy during their childhoods. Now, however, he found himself wishing that the young miss could be just a little more robust and rebellious.
Ruby's plump, pink lips curled into an incredibly sweet smile. Without delay, she and Mila got to work. Not only did she want to sunbathe herself, but she also insisted on carrying all her potted plants outside to soak up the rays with her. She brought along the tiny table and stool the butler had bought for her, as well as a pastel pink cushion shaped like a cat's paw.
Finding a large, leafy tree, she arranged all her belongings beneath its shade. To her absolute delight, the butler even procured a bird's-nest-shaped hanging basket chair and set it up under the tree for her.
The warm midday sun filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows over her. It wasn't too hot, nor was it chilly. Lying in the gently swaying basket chair was the epitome of comfort. Ruby thanked the butler obediently, her eyes sparkling brightly and her smile impossibly soft.
The butler clutched his chest. The young miss was simply too adorable. In all his years, he had never seen such a well-behaved Starbeast cub! Having other duties to attend to, he gently informed Ruby that there was milk prepared in the kitchen, instructed Mila to take good care of her, and took his leave.
Now, only Ruby and Mila remained in the massive courtyard, yet she didn't feel lonely in the slightest. She tilted her head, affectionately rubbing her cheek against Mila, before huffing and puffing as she clumsily climbed into the basket chair to lie down.
Mila whirred off to the kitchen to fetch her some snacks.
With her eyes half-closed, Ruby curled up lazily inside the beautiful hanging basket. The warm sunlight spilling over her left her feeling delightfully drowsy. The bird's nest was lined with a plush, white fleece cushion; once she sank into it, she never wanted to get up again. Even when she heard the mechanical hum of Mila returning, she merely wiggled her little feet in lazy acknowledgment.
Her chubby, half-exposed short legs practically glowed white in the sunlight. More importantly, they looked so incredibly soft and squishy that one would be severely tempted to pinch them.
"Ruby, would you like some milk?" The slightly mechanical, childlike voice rang out as the robot stopped right in front of her, holding a glass of milk.
Ruby peeked through squinted eyes. Her long, curly eyelashes were as thick and dark as raven feathers, fluttering slowly every time she blinked. Her clear, azure eyes resembled translucent, ocean-blue gemstones, exuding a hopelessly soft and gentle aura.
She nuzzled her furry head against the cushion. After a long moment of struggling, she finally managed to sit up with a quiet grunt. Wrapping both of her tiny hands around the glass of milk, the fair-skinned Little Mochi offered a very polite word of thanks.
"Thank you, Mila."
"You are very welcome!" Mila's robotic voice practically rippled with mechanical joy.
Ruby beamed at the robot. Swinging her dangling short legs, she took tiny sips until she finished the milk, then plopped back down into the basket chair to continue her lazy afternoon nap. Mila scurried back inside to grab a small blanket and draped it carefully over her.
She slept for nearly an hour before finally waking up, instinctively rubbing her messy little head against the soft pillow. Sporting a fierce case of bedhead, the newly awakened Ruby wore a blank expression on her delicate face, as if she had forgotten where she was for a moment. It wasn't until Mila called her name that she fully snapped out of her daze.
She had transmigrated to another world. Although her mother in this world still didn't love her, she had an incredibly amazing father—one who didn't despise her and was even willing to hold her!
As her mind cleared completely, the thought of her father brought a bright, joyous smile back to her face. She giggled to herself, looking delightfully silly and utterly carefree.