Choose Me - chapter 1

When I was devoured by wolves, Pei Lang simply watched from afar, utterly indifferent.

My half-sister Cheng Yang floated over gracefully, and his face immediately softened into gentle affection, obediently nuzzling Cheng Yang’s palm.

It was only at that moment that I realized Pei Lang had never liked me.

He had always liked Cheng Yang, who was once dismissed as nothing but a seductive fox with no martial prowess.

Cheng Yang glanced at me lightly, and with a single command, the Black Wolf bit through my throat.

…

When I opened my eyes again, the air was filled with noise-voices mingling with the roars of Beastfolk.

Someone nudged my arm: “Cheng Yi, what are you daydreaming about?”

I snapped out of my trance, staring at the caged, not-yet-adult Beastfolk before me, shocked to realize I had been reborn!

And today was the very day Father brought us to the Black Market to select Beastfolk.

The family had always had an unwritten rule: after coming of age, every young man and woman must personally choose a Beastfolk to raise as their future companion-never to betray or abandon them.

Beastfolk matured faster than humans, and to prevent them from holding grudges and rebelling, only the not-yet-adult Beastfolk were offered for selection, looking about eleven or twelve years old.

I had never quite understood why Beastfolk and humans were so unequal. For example, now, they could only be locked in cages, passively waiting to be chosen.

So why did the Cheng Family have such a rule?

Weren’t they afraid of Beastfolk turning against them?

Suddenly, Pei Lang’s cold eyes from my previous life flashed through my mind, and I pressed my aching chest.

At this moment, the huge cage held no fewer than twenty Beastfolk.

Beastfolk were naturally combative, so unsurprisingly, they were all battered and bruised.

I immediately spotted Pei Lang curled up in a corner, his arm bitten, fox ears and tail no longer hidden.

Catching my gaze, his eyes brightened, and he actually walked over.

“Cheng Yi, which one do you like?”

Behind me, Cheng Yang approached, smiling gently.

She was Father’s daughter by his first wife, who died in childbirth. Afterward, Father married my mother, and had my brother and me.

All these years, Cheng Yang had maintained a flawless persona-gracious and courteous in public, elegant and generous, loving and gentle to her siblings in private.

But in reality, she was insanely jealous of my brother and me, believing we stole Father’s attention and would take the inheritance that belonged to her.

So she delayed choosing a Beastfolk companion, waiting for me to do so together, setting a trap for me.

Looking at the refined, lotus-like Cheng Yang now, I understood-Pei Lang must have already fallen for her at this point.

Cheng Yang also noticed Pei Lang and said, “You’ve always loved beauty. I think this fox is quite pretty-he suits you.”

I chuckled lightly: “Tsk, pretty but useless.”

Pei Lang’s face suddenly turned pale.

In my previous life, these words came from Cheng Yang, and after hearing them, Pei Lang’s eyes quickly filled with tears.

This time was no different.

He looked at me, face ashen, eyes full of disbelief.

It made me suspicious.

Cheng Yang smiled, no longer chatting with me, and began selecting her favored Beastfolk.

Just like before, she chose the strong Black Wolf.

Now, only I had yet to choose.

There were few Beastfolk left in the cage. Scanning them, I saw Pei Lang looking at me expectantly.

But my gaze landed on the Beastfolk behind him-the one with a human body and a snake’s tail.

If I remembered correctly, no one chose him in my previous life.

But later, a terrifying Beastfolk appeared in the city-Bai Chuan.

He single-handedly overturned the entire Black Market, led countless Beastfolk to escape, and years later represented Beastfolk in negotiations with humans, winning equal rights for his kind.

I had the fortune to meet Bai Chuan once, and that white snake tail was unforgettable.

Right now, Bai Chuan could barely maintain human form, his snake tail limp and weak, looking utterly frail.

Father urged me, “Have you decided?”

I nodded, “Yes.”

Pei Lang looked at me excitedly, his hand gripping the cage bars.

I raised my hand, and under his expectant gaze, pointed to Bai Chuan behind him.

“I want him.”

Pei Lang’s expression froze, and he turned in disbelief to look at the frail Bai Chuan.

“Why?”

“Don’t you want me anymore?”