Chapter 40: Wifey is So Soft, I’m So Hard

As Su Yuyun’s voice fell, Ming Ruan’s light brain received a new schedule alert.

【Ding~ Dear Executor of the Twelfth District, a new delegated task has been issued: You have an ‘Interactive Livestream Teaching’ session starting in two days. Please prepare yourself, Executor!】

“Interactive Livestream Teaching?” Ming Ruan read aloud.

He tapped on the term, but unexpectedly, his light brain immediately opened a video. In the video, Su Yuyun sat with his fingers interlaced on the table, explaining the so-called Interactive Livestream Teaching and its requirements. His tone was cold and official. When he looked down at the camera, the viewer felt like an ant caught under a god’s glance.

This was the task requirement video every Executor received when accepting a task. Ming Ruan roughly understood. They wanted him to showcase his daily life with the fluffballs like a pet blogger, interspersing it with some educational promotion and fan interaction.

But besides that…

Ming Ruan secretly glanced up at Su Yuyun. His short white hair looked soft, some pressed down by his cap, some strands loosely resting against his neck, like silver satin. He sat less than a meter away from him, so close Ming Ruan could reach out and touch him.

Sensing he was being watched, Su Yuyun turned his head back, tilting it slightly as if asking if there was anything in the video Ming Ruan didn’t understand.

The distance between them lessened by two degrees. That sharp, handsome face, with its sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes, was within reach.

Ming Ruan involuntarily glanced again at the video—at the aloof, distant Adjudicator keeping everyone at arm’s length.

Damn.

I don’t know why, but this sense of double standards made him resemble White Tiger even more.

As the beneficiary of this double-standard treatment, Ming Ruan felt overwhelmed by favor.

He spoke again: “Truly, thank you so much, Boss! If there’s anything I can help with, please be sure to tell me!”

This time, Su Yuyun didn’t simply acknowledge it and move on. He said, “Within the limits you can accept, you may get a little closer to White Tiger.”

After bidding farewell to Su Yuyun and walking toward the house at the base, Ming Ruan kept pondering this statement.

Known fact: Contact with him seemed to make interstellar animals feel more comfortable. The Boss’s words were probably meant to ensure White Tiger received better care.

Ming Ruan hesitated.

Actually, he was already very restrained when petting the fluffballs, since all these animals had owners.

But with this statement from the Boss, did it mean he didn’t have to restrain himself from petting the tiger anymore?

Ming Ruan entered the door with Gray Wolf, just in time to meet White Tiger emerging from his room.

Su Yuyun had just made it in time to jump through the window when he saw Ming Ruan staring straight at him, walking over with open arms. His expression held a mix of infatuation and bashfulness.

What’s going on?

White Tiger flicked his tail in confusion.

He was fine when they parted just moments ago.

“Hey! Baby.” As if some seal had been released, Ming Ruan lunged at White Tiger, clinging like an octopus!

First, he sought maximum skin-to-fur contact. Then, without any psychological burden, he buried his face in the relatively soft, warm scent at the tiger’s neck hollow. He rubbed firmly upward, all the way to the puffed-out cheek, only stopping when White Tiger’s sharp fangs were slightly exposed from the suction.

Next, with lightning speed, Ming Ruan cupped the tiger’s head in both hands. His soft lips planted a kiss on the large triangular nose, then proceeded up the wide bridge of the nose—mwah, mwah, mwah—all the way to the center of the brow. Only then, satisfied, did he release White Tiger.

Ming Ruan casually and cheerfully waved and went into his room to change clothes.

Leaving behind an utterly petrified living room.

Su Yuyun: “……”

Xie Gewen, who had witnessed the entire sequence of cause and effect: “……”

Shi Huai, who had faceplanted dramatically: “!”

Fuxi: “?”

The live broadcast room auto-activated inside the base afterward:

【!!!】

【This is so lewd. Forget my account, give me two more minutes of that!!】

【Holy shit, holy shit. My face is red, my heart’s pounding.】

【Mama, this is actually weirdly hot.】

【They were pressed so, so tight just now (face turning yellow)】

【I’m done for. Not gonna lie, I want to see White Tiger pin him down with a paw and suck him right back…】

【White Tiger wins big time. In front of thousands upon thousands of love rivals, he got kissed by his wife. He wins big time, wuwuwu】

【Xie Gewen, you… ah!!】

Shi Huai rushed over and glared fiercely at White Tiger. Then, pitifully, he ran to Ming Ruan’s door, his little paws scratching frantically at the wood.

Fuxi strolled past White Tiger with great interest, glancing back at him with an unreadable look.

Xie Gewen began to seriously analyze the implications of Ming Ruan’s series of actions.

Su Yuyun…

Su Yuyun sat frozen in place, his tiger fur disheveled, maintaining his previous posture.

He instinctively smoothed the messy fur near his mouth with his tongue.

But as his tongue retracted, something suddenly hit him. Instantly, it felt as if he’d swallowed a ball of fire, a scorching heat causing immense discomfiture.

His heart was beating very fast, too.

What was this with him? And what was that with Ming Ruan?

White Tiger tried his best to contemplate.

……

Ming Ruan gave the fluffballs no time to sort out their feelings. Before the Interactive Livestream Teaching, as per requirements, he needed to film a short promotional video.

In the blink of an eye, it was the next day. Ming Ruan tidied up the house and then moved Tiger, Lion, and Wolf out one by one, placing them in the living room in a concave arc. He sat himself prettily, cross-legged, in the center, holding the little fox in his arms.

The youth waved at the camera and smiled:

“Tomorrow morning, seven o’clock. Be there or be square.”

This line was cliché for an Earthling, but just right for interstellar people!

【Wahhh, it’s officially announced! There’s really an interactive livestream!!】

【Softie Wifey, I’ve got ten thousand characters of unhinged ravings ready, aaahhhhhh】

【Ah, I’m so worried. My brother’s been shutting himself in his room recently, won’t eat. Just surviving on nutrient needles. It’s driving me crazy.】

【Hurry up and start! I really, really want to chat with Ruanruan!】

Few new viewers were flooding into Ming Ruan’s livestream anymore. After those consecutive blockbuster events, even the border planets of the Alpha Galaxy had long since applied for access lines to his livestream.

Now, what everyone was refreshing was the online viewer count and watch time.

At seven in the morning, the livestream room opened punctually.

The screen was pitch black.

Immediately after, the darkness shrank, revealing the fox’s pointed muzzle and a small black nose sniffing around.

【Ahhhhhh, Softie Wifey ahhhhhh】

【? Who wants to see this】

【You scared me!!】

Next, a hand with long, elegant fingers scooped up the fox’s muzzle. The youth’s voice drew closer: “Don’t get so close.”

The little fox extended its pink tongue and licked the crevice between those scallion-white fingers, then was promptly scooped up.

Before the audience could even spam question marks at Shi Huai taking advantage, Ming Ruan appeared fully in the livestream.

The livestream audience immediately abandoned all other thoughts.

【Ahhhhhh, Ruanruan! Ruanruan! Ruanruan!】

【Uwu, I’m softly whimpering (shy)】

【I know! Is he going to make food for the animals?!】

Watching the moderate stream of comments floating across the screen, Ming Ruan’s nervous heart eased a bit. He continued his actions more freely, responding: “Yes, I’m currently preparing meals for our fluffballs—Little Fox, Gray Wolf, and Lion usually prefer three small meals a day. White Tiger generally deals with his food in one go.”

Meanwhile, the comments that weren’t curated to Ming Ruan’s view were packed together densely.

【What’s this ‘fluffballs’ nickname? Is he calling those beastmen that?】

【So gentle. Slightly moved.】

【I also really want someone to make me breakfast when I wake up. Uh-oh, I’m going bad. I’m starting to look forward to Therianthropy (?)】

【Don’t, person above. Even if you thermorphized, it wouldn’t be your turn to be cared for by Ruanruan.】

In Ming Ruan’s view, everyone watched him silently, immersed in his meal preparation for a while, before a single comment drifted by:

【I want to ask Ruanruan, why did my kitty at home suddenly stop eating?!】

Ming Ruan noticed this lone comment on his empty screen. He stopped what he was doing and asked seriously: “Besides not eating, are there any other signs? This issue can be minor or severe. It could be the cat disliking the new food after a switch, it could be a digestive system issue, or it could be…”

Ming Ruan was still holding a piece of bone-in meat half-processed. Blood from the meat trickled down his wrist to his elbow, even soiling his waist.

【Ahhh Ruanruan, blood is running down!!】

【Deal with that first before continuing to talk】

【It’s actually kinda… spicy (screams)】

Just as everyone was frantically warning him, something silvery-white briefly blocked the camera.

Then, a gray wolf appeared at Ming Ruan’s side. First, he gently took the large bone-in meat from Ming Ruan’s hand and placed it on a nearby plate. Then, he fetched a soft, white towel and meticulously wiped the blood from Ming Ruan’s waist and arm.

Finally, he picked up the knife resting on the edge of the cutting board and moved it farther away.

Ming Ruan’s gaze was still firmly tracking that questioning comment, yet his body cooperated completely naturally, lifting his hands, raising his arm for easier cleaning by Gray Wolf.

【!!!】

【Holy crap!! What’s with this old-married-couple vibe!!】

【Damn, the Council Speaker is so doting. I actually feel pampered… by a wolf!】

【Fck, times really have changed. I’m actually starting to appreciate beastmen.】

Ming Ruan continued to communicate seriously with that comment: “Can’t see any other discomfort? Is there drooling? There is? Have the cat open its mouth. Check if there’s a bad smell inside?”

As he spoke, Ming Ruan felt the wet, sticky sensation on his hands disappear. He instinctively reached out to pat Gray Wolf’s head.

But suddenly, his arms felt heavy, and the hand that was about to pet the wolf was hugged by two little paws.

Shi Huai launched himself into Ming Ruan’s arms like a fox missile! Seeing Ming Ruan’s unhappy expression, Shi Huai tilted his head and twisted and turned, rubbing against him desperately.

What are you talking about? Don’t be unhappy!

Ming Ruan was rubbed so much he lost his irritation. He had to give up petting the wolf and hugged the little fox, coaxing it: “Good, good, it’s fine. I’m not unhappy. I’m talking to the big brothers and sisters who like you!”

The coaxed little fox happily squinted, glancing at Gray Wolf, who was still standing there holding the towel.

What a righteous gentleman, Mr. Council Speaker. He actually didn’t lick it off.

【Good job! The green tea younger attacker never disappoints me】

【Go, Baby Huai!!!】

Ming Ruan stood there for quite some time, still communicating with that comment.

A lion’s roar sounded.

Lion slowly sauntered into the dining area and lay down sideways, completely blocking the camera with his body.

Fuxi turned his head to glance at the livestream.

Go outside and sit to talk.

Who let you stand?

The entire livestream was kneeling to the Clarence family’s power of wealth.

Ming Ruan played a game of cat-and-mouse around Lion a couple of times before understanding its meaning. Although he was still hesitant because the breakfast wasn’t finished, the fluffballs herded, dragged, and nudged him until he was settled on the living room sofa.

Ming Ruan sat down, but it was somewhat uncomfortable to read the livestream comments in this position.

Just then, White Tiger walked in through the main door, carrying the cool outdoor air with him.

Ming Ruan’s eyes lit up, and he beckoned to him.

Not long after.

The livestream audience watched, dumbfounded, as Ming Ruan comfortably leaned back against White Tiger—who was suspected to be the Adjudicator. On his left sat the beast form of the former Council Speaker, Gray Wolf. On his right, the lounging Lion was the only son of the galaxy’s greatest noble family. In his hands, he casually kneaded and played with the large ears of a top star. Even so, covert currents flowed among the four; they seemed not entirely satisfied with their designated positions.

Ming Ruan said apologetically, “Sorry, sorry for the wait. Let’s continue. Can you pry open the cat’s mouth to take a look?”

The moment Ming Ruan apologized, the four pairs of fluffy eyes simultaneously fixed on the livestream.

【……】

【Um… m-maybe you should make their breakfast first. The cat won’t die from one skipped meal…】

And in the comments Ming Ruan couldn’t see:

【The atmosphere changed again. I guess someone figured it out.】

【It’s a dating show. I’m not joking. Place your bets, family.】

【Oh god. Does Ming Ruan even know who he’s petting, who he’s leaning on, who he’s touching, aaahhhh!!】