“So your name is Shi Huai.”
Ming Ruan didn’t know the winding thoughts in the little fox’s mind. He carefully read the announcements twice and discovered this highlight.
He couldn’t help but think of the gray wolf again. It seemed the previous alert had also mentioned the gray wolf’s name.
But now there was no chance to call him by it.
“Baby’s name is really lovely. So from now on, should I call baby Shi Huai? Little Shi? Or Little Huai?” Ming Ruan picked the fox up, face-to-face, and casually squeezed its paws.
They felt kind of dirty. He’d wash them when they got back.
Being held by Ming Ruan and hearing those nauseatingly sweet nicknames, Shi Huai’s first reaction was:
Ming Ruan really was mentally ill, wasn’t he?
Immediately after, one suspicion after another surfaced.
Was Ming Ruan pretending with him? Preparing to switch from clumsy clout-chasing and drama-baiting to riding his coattails?
Could a person be this unscrupulous?
Shi Huai looked at the face so close to his. Clean, pure, milky blond hair making him seem like a little angel. The hands holding him up were gentle, tender, and warm, occasionally making Shi Huai feel a momentary daze.
But the moment he thought about their past fights, Shi Huai only felt disgust.
Didn’t Ming Ruan feel disgusted holding him like this?
Shi Huai was genuinely curious for the first time.
He really wanted to see Ming Ruan’s current methods. Wondered if there was any improvement.
…
The journey home was smooth. Skilled from experience, Ming Ruan took out the comb that had only been used once on the gray wolf, and scooped the fox, running wild in the house, into his arms.
“Come, Little Huai, fur combing!” Ming Ruan was enthusiastic.
Shi Huai had no time to object before the comb landed on his back.
It sent a numbing electric current from the back of his head down his spine, shooting to his limbs and bones, making the tips of his fox tail and ears tremble.
Like he’d been electrocuted, Shi Huai leaped three feet high! Zooming to the farthest corner of the sofa from Ming Ruan, he vigilantly tucked his big tail into his arms.
What new trick was this!! Trying to make him look bad?
Ming Ruan hadn’t even reacted. The second stroke combed only air.
Seeing the little fox’s alert yet curious eyes, Ming Ruan understood.
It seemed the interstellar era didn’t have the concept of pet grooming massages.
This was the little fox’s first time being combed; it was overstimulating.
Ming Ruan immediately beamed: “Baby, come here. Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. You’ll get used to it after a few more strokes. It’s very comfortable, right!”
Shi Huai hesitated, kneading the sofa. He desperately wanted to know Ming Ruan’s purpose in all this. Finally, he slowly dragged himself back over, even brazenly cursing Ming Ruan twice, taking advantage of his beast form.
Why use that kind of voice to talk to him! If you had this ability to act cute, why not use it on your fans back then!
“Gooood—gooood—” Hearing the little fox’s delicate “yip yip” sounds, Ming Ruan became even gentler, resuming brushing the fox.
After the dry, loose fur was combed out and wrapped around the comb, Ming Ruan took a piece of sterile cloth and cleaned the fox’s big ears, then switched to small scissors to trim the paw fur.
Ears so tingly, paws so itchy.
Shi Huai took the chance to kick Ming Ruan a few more times.
He was just a fox anyway.
But Ming Ruan squeezed his paw pads and laughed: “Mischievous.”
The little fox, lying on his side, raised his head in shock to look at Ming Ruan.
Ming Ruan happened to put down the scissors, preparing to check if the little fox’s eye area needed cleaning. Seeing the little fox look up, he naturally cupped the little fox’s head and leaned in to see.
Ming Ruan’s face suddenly loomed large in Shi Huai’s vision.
So smooth. How was his skin so good?
…
What was he doing!!
Shi Huai completely exploded, hissing and screeching as he jumped up, breaking free from Ming Ruan’s hands. This time, even the sofa wouldn’t do. He directly shrank into a corner.
And the live stream room, already packed with Shi Huai’s fans, exploded simultaneously.
[Faded has-been, stay away from little cub!!!]
[God, I really feel so bad for Shi Huai. Why can’t District 7 just come pick him up directly!!]
[…Why do I feel like Shi Huai was quite comfortable?]
[What does Ming Ruan mean by this? Actually… I kind of want to ship it.]
[Has my Council Speaker really gone offline just like that? I don’t believe it!!]
The onlookers instantly clashed chaotically with the fans.
Ming Ruan looked down at his hands in confusion, hesitating.
Escaped a second time.
Could it be the little fox didn’t like it either?
Thinking of the gray wolf who refused to be touched. Could it be that interstellar animals genuinely weren’t accustomed to this?
Mm…
Ming Ruan put the tools aside, showed his empty hands to the fox, indicating there was nothing left, then mustered his courage and asked softly: “Does baby not like this?”
He looked very dejected. Shi Huai scowled while feeling awkward.
Back when Ming Ruan failed to make the debut lineup, he hadn’t looked this pitiful.
Shi Huai couldn’t quite articulate what he was thinking, but before he’d figured it out, his body had automatically crept back over.
Ming Ruan’s eyes gradually brightened again.
Shi Huai suddenly felt incredibly irritable.
Tch.
So annoying.
What were those eyes looking at him for! What were they looking at!
The huffy little fox was scooped back into Ming Ruan’s arms.
“Let’s give baby a bath, okay? Little paws are stinky.” Ming Ruan opened the shopping page on his Light Brain and brought it close to the fox’s face. “Baby choose one yourself?”
Shi Huai: ?
? What stinky?
Who was he slandering for stinky feet!
And using baby talk! Couldn’t Ming Ruan speak properly!
Shi Huai didn’t notice he was already gradually getting used to nicknames like ‘baby’ and ‘darling’.
He looked at the page, swiped at it randomly, pretending he didn’t understand. Anyway, he just didn’t want Ming Ruan to get his way.
Ming Ruan was amused by the little fox. He checked the items the fox had tapped, removed a few, and just placed the order directly.
Unbeknownst to Shi Huai, his actions actually put Ming Ruan somewhat at ease.
When getting along with the gray wolf before, Ming Ruan had always felt the wolf was excessively smart. At times, it even gave him the eerie illusion that he was interacting with a human. Occasionally thinking about it still sent a shiver down his spine.
But looking at the fire fox—interstellar animals weren’t that smart either.
Alright then, nothing to worry about.
…
Within half a minute of placing the order, the Teleporter delivered the items.
Ming Ruan unwrapped the outer packaging:
A vintage, pretty wooden tub, complete with a slippery, bouncy waterproof soft mat; a cultivated bouquet of flowers; some bath lotion Ming Ruan had checked the formula for, suitable for small animals.
And a large box, which Ming Ruan planned to open tonight as a little surprise for the fox.
Ming Ruan filled the wooden tub with water, tested the temperature, poured the bath lotion into the water. The tub water dissolved the white lotion, and gradually, the entire basin turned a milky white.
Next, he loosened the flower heads, placing the flower petals into the wooden tub to let them float freely.
He also prepared a small, soft white square towel, folded into a rectangle, and placed it on the edge of the wooden tub as a cushion.
Shi Huai was already standing on the sofa watching curiously for a while.
What was this stuff? It smelled and looked strangely pretty. And flower petals too. So extravagant.
The newly arrived live stream fans were also baffled. But the group who could be called veterans were already screaming.
[A water bath again!! Ming Ruan really loves this stuff!]
[I’m conflicted. Didn’t Ming Ruan just confess to the Council Speaker? Switched to the next target so soon?]
[No, could he and Shi Huai be doing some rivals-become-lovers thing? Don’t tell me his previous attempts to sabotage Shi Huai were also to get Shi Huai’s attention??]
[Feels like the one in front hit the truth.]
[Oh heavens, Ming Ruan is actually a player.]
[Had to say, feels like Ming Ruan has some skills. The Council Speaker really seemed affected in the end. What about Shi Huai’s attitude?]
[Things are getting exciting, family!! Are we about to witness the whole process of Ming Ruan casting a wide net?]
Everyone was waiting for Shi Huai’s choice.
And at that moment, Ming Ruan had finished tidying up everything. He turned back and beckoned the little fox: “Come here, Little Huai.”
