Chapter 19: 019 Reaching a Consensus

No one knew how long Xie Gewen had been standing there, watching. Seeing the fox scooped into Ming Ruan’s arms, he let out a soft whimper.

Shi Huai’s large, fluffy ears twitched, swiveling toward the gray wolf. In the next instant, the fox, tail swishing, narrowed its eyes with an expression of undisguised provocation.

Gray Wolf: “…”

In response, under Shi Huai’s watchful gaze, the gray wolf strode calmly and deliberately to Ming Ruan’s side, tilting its head slightly to brush against Ming Ruan’s waist.

Ming Ruan was immediately overwhelmed by the unexpected favor!

He didn’t know why the gray wolf, gone for just a few days, had returned as if it were a completely different wolf.

But, this was a good thing!

Unable to resist the least bit of temptation, Ming Ruan promptly set down the little fox in his arms. He tentatively reached out to stroke the gray wolf’s head. Seeing its calm, indulgent blue eyes fixed on him, Ming Ruan simply threw his entire body against it!

“Wow! Mr. Gray Wolf, wuwu!” Ming Ruan made sounds of excitement that were barely human, his hands stroking through the wolf’s clean, sleek back fur. Though the outer guard hairs were slightly coarse, when he slipped his fingers deep beneath them, the undercoat was soft and warm.

Mr. Gray Wolf carried no trace of a wild beast’s odor, only a very clean scent.

Those fluffy, triangular ears were right next to Ming Ruan’s face. But, considering that going straight for a wolf’s face and ears during their first major close contact might frighten it away, Ming Ruan reined in his impulse, deciding to take things slow.

Someday, it wouldn’t just be the thick ears and handsome long muzzle – it would be the scruff of the neck! The mane! The belly! The tail! One day, he would pet them all!

Ming Ruan set this grand goal in his heart, utterly unaware that the gray wolf, being stroked by his alternating hands, was mimicking the little fox’s earlier action, casting a sidelong glance at the fox.

Shi Huai: ? Do you have a problem?

Just this one glance was enough to send Shi Huai’s blood pressure skyrocketing, shattering the momentary calm he’d just found!

The little fox swayed, barely managing to steady itself, its four paws furiously scraping the ground. Its teeth itched with frustration.

It was shaking with rage, truly shaking with rage. No.

In the live stream room, Shi Huai’s fans were still passionately ranting about Ming Ruan forcing a kiss on Shi Huai in front of the camera: clout-chasing, forced CP pairing, riding on coattails – every accusation was being thrown around. The next second, when the gray wolf appeared, they watched Ming Ruan decisively shift his target and shower the gray wolf with the same intimate affection.

And the little fox was once again left on the sidelines.

【?? I’m so pissed. I don’t even know why, but I’m just so pissed.】

【Doesn’t this guy have a problem? He just drops our Huai cub the moment he sees the Council Speaker? Could he be any more obvious?】

【…Wasn’t this the same group demanding Ming Ruan stay away from Shi Huai?】

【You people are impossible to please. I think Ming Ruan is pretty good at balancing things equally.】

Shi Huai just hadn’t expected this to be only the beginning of a blood-pressure-spiking evening.

It was time for bed, but tonight, a wolf had unexpectedly joined them.

Ming Ruan stared at the fox’s bed, troubled.

He hadn’t prepared a bed for the gray wolf before, but he’d noticed it usually liked to rest on one side of the sofa, so it probably liked soft cushions.

Did Gray Wolf want a new bed of its own, or did it prefer its usual spot on the sofa?

This hesitant, thoughtful posture, however, was caught entirely by Shi Huai.

His mind, jumping to the wrong conclusion, was filled with alarm. In two or three bounds, he leaped into his own bed, stretching out all four limbs until his entire fox body became a flattened fox-pancake, firmly monopolizing the cushion.

Surely Ming Ruan wasn’t planning to give his bed to the gray wolf?

As if he even liked this bed that much. Funny. Back when he dominated the entertainment world, he slept on the most comfortable, top-designer beds. He didn’t care at all about this little nest.

But Ming Ruan wasn’t actually going to make him give it up, was he? Huh?

Snapping out of his thoughts, Ming Ruan found a fox-pancake before him. Amused and puzzled, he walked over and gently pressed on the flattened fox. “Why are you all spread out, baby?”

The gray wolf walked over from the side. Passing by, it glanced at Shi Huai, immediately understanding the skittish beastman was once again overthinking imaginary scenarios.

It deliberately went to nuzzle against Ming Ruan, then jumped onto the sofa, settling down in its usual sleeping spot.

“Woof.” This is fine. No need to trouble yourself further.

Ming Ruan’s heart melted at the gray wolf’s good behavior. He showered it with a barrage of praises, until finally, after two consecutive yawns, he had no choice but to rub his eyes and head for the bedroom.

“Goodnight, Mr. Gray Wolf! Goodnight, Little Fox!”

The bedroom door clicked softly shut, severing the last sliver of light from within.

In the darkness, two pairs of green ‘light bulbs’ suddenly lit up.

The fox buried in its bed raised its head. The gray wolf, who’d been feigning sleep, met the fox’s gaze without evasion.

Their eyes met in mid-air. For a moment, the very air seemed to freeze.

Shi Huai thought: Someone like the Council Speaker actively approaching Ming Ruan… could he be planning to secure Ming Ruan’s permanent position, making him a pawn planted in the Sanatorium Zone? How despicable.

Xie Gewen mused: Given Ming Ruan’s past reputation, anyone coming from several districts away to get close is unlikely to be a friend. More likely, it’s an enemy trying to prevent him from securing his permanent post. He’ll have to keep an eye on this fox beastman.

Neither believed the other was anything good.

But, simultaneously, they both thought that if they could just win Ming Ruan over to their side, they’d be able to protect him.

That night, Shi Huai and Xie Gewen astonishingly reached a consensus.

Unexpectedly, early the next morning, both Xie Gewen’s and Shi Huai’s goals suffered a setback.

At dawn, Ming Ruan received a message from his Boss saying that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the tiger might be delivered in the next couple of days.

Ming Ruan looked at his list, where nothing was prepared, and had no choice but to work overtime, even during his Forest Patrol, purchasing items.

Materials for toys, oversized grooming supplies… Ming Ruan was even considering whether he could expand his little cottage. He feared there wouldn’t be enough room for so many fluffballs.

Shi Huai had done a wild lap in the forest. Turning back and seeing Ming Ruan still busy, he hopped two, three times right into Ming Ruan’s arms and poked his head out to look!

The items on the Light Brain screen… his family had already prepared a set for him at home. Shi Huai clenched his paw. Damn it, these must be for Xie Gewen.

After finishing his own patrol, the gray wolf came back just in time to see the fox huddled close with Ming Ruan. Without any indication, he circled around behind Ming Ruan and looked.

Xie Gewen’s heart sank. Ming Ruan knew he wasn’t used to such things. Could they be for the fox? …Or had the fox been deceived?

Oblivious to the quiet displeasure of the two little animals, Ming Ruan efficiently finished his patrol. Seeing his permanent-position points credited, he quickly took the Flying Sedan home.

The moment he entered, Ming Ruan didn’t even have time to greet the two little animals before he was hauling pile after pile of materials from the Teleporter.

Massive pillars, thick ropes, some inexplicable discs and arch shapes, and transparent hemispheres.

Just sorting and organizing all of it, before even starting assembly, had Ming Ruan so exhausted he collapsed onto the floor.

Sweat dripped down his temples, his milk-gold hair slightly disheveled, sticking to his face.

It was a little uncomfortable, but Ming Ruan didn’t want to lift a hand.

Just then, something cool and slightly damp approached, gently brushing his hair strands back, tucking them behind his ear.