Chapter 21: 021 Winter Outing

“According to the laws of the Alpha Galaxy, what has been heard today is unverified and must not be disclosed to the public for private gain. For all other matters, you are free to proceed as you wish.” A detached voice spoke.

The dignitaries who had been frozen in place due to his arrival felt as if they’d been granted amnesty. One by one, after offering silent, respectful bows, they swiftly departed.

A half-shoulder cape bearing dark gold insignia billowed as the newcomer walked over and stood before the Prince. The two men were dressed in contrasting tones—one in black and gold, the other in white and gold. Their auras clashed.

In the reception hall that had emptied in an instant, even Lady Carlos had left. The Prince plastered his smile back on and remarked, “You certainly command some respect, Adjudicator.”

“Good day, Your Highness the Third Prince.” The Adjudicator ignored the Prince’s teasing tone, offering only a nod and the standard courtesies.

The Prince: “Letting them go so easily… aren’t you worried about that precious Executor of yours?”

The Adjudicator’s reply was concise. “I will handle it.”

“Hmm.” The young man’s slow-talking voice piped up again. Both men turned simultaneously to see the Vice President sweating nervously nearby, and the communication link, still connected.

“Regarding Reverse Therianthropy…” the Adjudicator brought up.

This man hadn’t even been here just moments ago, yet his arrival was perfectly timed, and he seemed to know everything.

The voice over the communication link was silent for a moment, then added with some uncertainty: “It’s merely speculation. If possible, it’s recommended the Executor takes the two of them out more often to play…”

Go out and play?

The atmosphere, thick with undercurrents, shattered under the weight of these three overly childish words. Everyone looked at each other, deep in thought.

Thus, right after Ming Ruan had finally finished assembling the tiger climbing frame, a giant tiger-teaser stick, and various other items, he received this strange notification.

【Esteemed Executor of District 12, a special assignment is hereby issued to you: Based on the needs of Xie Gewen (Wolf) and Shi Huai (Fox), you are required to organize at least one outdoor excursion per natural week, with locations temporarily restricted to within the protected area.】

【Note: Completing special assignments will grant corresponding Permanent Position Points and additional salary. We wish you a pleasant life.】

Ming Ruan carefully read it twice. Pleasant surprise filled him.

Heavens! A paid outing, and it even gave Permanent Position Points!

Never heard of such a good deal. The Interstellar era was truly full of compassionate human care.

Ming Ruan did a sit-up from the floor, crossing his legs. He loudly announced to the gray wolf and the fox resting nearby, “To thank Mr. Gray Wolf! And Little Fox! For their help in my grand handicraft endeavors! I’ll take you all out to play tomorrow, okay?!”

The gray wolf opened its beautiful blue eyes, looking at Ming Ruan with a resigned blink. Fine, if you want to go out and play, then we’ll go out and play.

The fox, who had run himself ragged helping more than hindering, was sprawled on the floor in a long furry noodle. Upon hearing this, he swished his tail emphatically. If you want to go play for yourself, just say so. Why the official-speak?

Ming Ruan had already opened his Light Brain and entered the Sanatorium Zone’s internal shopping page.

Ming Ruan: “How about a picnic tomorrow? I’ll make a little hot pot for you! Winter, the outdoors, bubbling away, fragrant and warm.”

Hot pot.

This was a wildly popular retro-gourmet trend in the interstellar age. He hadn’t expected Ming Ruan to go in for that sort of thing, too.

Remembering the taste of Ming Ruan’s cooking from before, Shi Huai unconsciously licked his nose, audibly gulping.

Even the gray wolf lifted its head, focusing on Ming Ruan with rapt attention.

The matter was thus decided.

The next day arrived quickly. Ming Ruan, his Space Button packed with supplies, finished his Forest Patrol and then headed straight in one direction with the Flying Sedan.

Xie Gewen looked out the window at the somewhat familiar scenery, realizing Ming Ruan was actually heading towards that lake from last time.

That very one.

While Xie Gewen maintained a composed exterior, he felt his ears heating up again, practically feeling hot to the touch. That very place where Ming Ruan had cupped his face and said he liked him.

Halfway through the flight, light snow began to fall from the sky again. The snowflakes were large and intact, but sparse and gentle, drifting down slowly.

When the Flying Sedan reached its destination and landed, Ming Ruan jumped out the moment the door opened. He took a deep breath of the icy, crisp, clean air, feeling instantly refreshed from head to toe.

Even the little fox, who had been curled up napping the whole ride and didn’t seem very interested, poked its head out and hopped off the vehicle, starting to sniff around and run in small circles.

“Let’s go! Have fun!” Ming Ruan spread his arms wide, his smile simple, pure, and utterly cloudless.

Sniffing the ground, the fox raised its head and gazed at Ming Ruan’s smile for a long moment.

Shi Huai had originally been a beastman who enjoyed the outdoors. But the countless lonely days and nights since his beastification, the silence of roaming the forest alone, had made him increasingly gloomy, day after day.

He, too, had once been the center of attention, anticipated and adored by many, their words constantly on his lips, held in the palms of their hands.

He, too, had cultivated inner strength, serving as a guiding light for many, pointing the way for family, friends, and those who admired him.

Yet the moment he underwent beastification, it all turned out to be just a dream.

All of it turned to bubbles.

Shi Huai couldn’t fathom how things had ended up this way.

But the boundless loneliness made him despise the outdoors, his aversion so severe at times it caused nausea, triggering Rampages. He’d run wildly in a frenzy, but could never escape this cage.

Until one time, he risked turning on his Light Brain. And saw the news of Ming Ruan’s appointment as Executor.

He thought, There might still be something I can do for everyone.

One small fox. It journeyed from District 7 all the way to District 12, traveling day and night.

What Shi Huai hadn’t known back then was that he would once again be held, cherished and valued, in someone’s arms.

Memories flashed through his mind in an instant. Shi Huai looked away. When he gazed at the distant woods again, that feeling of being suppressed and confined was suddenly gone.

He felt incredibly light, and deeply fond of it all.

The gray wolf centered itself on the Flying Sedan and began its meticulous patrol, rubbing against every single tree to leave its mark.

Ming Ruan tossed out his Space Button. Watching the items inside automatically appear and arrange themselves neatly on the ground, he was amazed. He put them back in, then tossed the button out again. In and out, out and in, he even called out playfully, “Come forth!”

The fiery red little fox, unaware it had curved its eyes into delighted crescents, kicked off and shot into the woods like a leaping flame, freely unleashing its wild nature.

Only, this time, it no longer felt the terrifying loneliness of the wild. Because behind it, someone would be waiting for it to come home, amidst that warm, glowing light.

Shi Huai thought, I still cannot forgive Ming Ruan for those absurd actions in the past.

But right now, I absolutely do not want to betray the Ming Ruan of the present because of the past.

Ming Ruan had no idea of the fox’s sudden clarity of heart, nor of the Researchers back at the Beastman Research Institute who were practically tearing their hair out in frustration—seeing Shi Huai’s state markedly improve yet unable to obtain detailed data.

He was happily cooking the hot pot.

The interstellar recreation of hot pot was incredibly accurate. The split pot held a clear broth on one side, lightly seasoned, for blanching some meat and vegetables to give the gray wolf and fox a taste. On the other side was his own fiery red spicy pot, the beef tallow’s domineering, enticing aroma thick with chili spice drilling straight into Ming Ruan’s nostrils.

Ming Ruan poured the Food Processor-prepared Sichuan pepper chicken slices, spicy beef slices, corn and pork paste… into the pot. Once it boiled, he added enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, dried tofu sticks, frozen tofu… Finally, with immense satisfaction, he picked up a large chopstick-full of paper-thin sliced meat, swished it briefly in the pot, then dipped it into his bowl of garlic paste, fragrant oil, and chopped chili before stuffing the entire bite into his mouth!

So delicious!

Ming Ruan closed his eyes in bliss, momentarily feeling as if he’d returned to Earth!

When he opened his eyes, he found the gray wolf, finished with its patrol, had sat down beside him, staring at him unblinkingly.