Raising a Dog

The Wan family has always had only one heir per generation, and every generation produced brave, battle-hardened generals. But by Wan Ning's generation, there was only one girl left.

Her mother fell ill while carrying her, leaving Wan Ning with a chronic condition. Frail and sickly from childhood, she had to rely on costly medicinal tonics every day.

This delicate young girl had no choice but to take the position of head of the Wan family.

Countless members of the clan had their eyes on the Wan family's wealth. Her father feared Wan Ning wouldn't be able to outmaneuver those old foxes, so he took her to the Wan family's slave market to find someone useful to keep by her side. If anything happened, that person could protect her.

Wan Ning picked Xun Mo at a glance.

The boy sat on the filthy ground. His tattered clothes could not hide the crisscrossing whip marks covering his body. He hugged his knees and looked at her, unnaturally quiet, like a kitten that could not meow.

*

Wan Ning took Xun Mo in and kept him by her side.

She gave him food and clothes, taught him manners, taught him to read and write, and even taught him how to kill.

The boy was obedient. Whatever she asked of him, he did without question.

To secure her position as head of the family, Wan Ning needed a child.

She didn't know where to find a suitable father, and in the end, her gaze fell on Xun Mo, who was always by her side.

The boy was kneeling on the ground, using the hands that killed to offer her a volume of the books she loved to read.

*

Xun Mo did not disappoint Wan Ning.

By day, he roamed outside the estate, wielding his blade to kill for her. By night, he drew back the curtains and bent down to kiss the soft lips he had never dared to desire.

Wan Ning was in terrible pain.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the boy kneeling on the ground with his eyes lowered, asking to be punished because his inexperience the night before had hurt her.

"This subordinate knows he was wrong. Please punish him, Head of the Family."

One side of the boy's face was badly swollen. Afraid her hand would hurt, Xun Mo had taken it upon himself to handle the hard work for her.

"...Don't let it happen again."

* A sickly beauty with a hidden dark side x a patient, loyal dog. I want to tell a story about raising a devoted loyal dog. The title and blurb may be revised before posting, but the premise and characters will stay the same.

-- Blurb screenshotted on 2024.12.13

Theme: Supporting each other and finding a happy love