Chapter 26: 026 Reversed Attitude

Shi Huai’s fox eyes narrowed slightly, but then his fox mouth split into a grin. He typed a few characters in reply.

【Shi Huai (StarNet Celebrity Verified)】: “So it seems, sir. But what of it?”

The reply from the other side came instantly.

【Anonymous (Nobility Verified)】: “Mr. Shi Huai will have an opportunity today to visit the Sanatorium Zone Research Institute. We can discuss matters in detail there.”

Simultaneously, Ming Ruan’s Light Brain also dinged with a notification.

Ming Ruan lowered his head and read it. Scratching his head, he called the fluffballs over.

The white tiger was a step faster, sitting down very close to Ming Ruan.

“Ah, so well-behaved, my god.” Ming Ruan instantly forgot the official business he was about to address. With lightning speed, he engulfed the white tiger’s massive head in a full hug, vigorously rubbing it.

Shi Huai and Xie Gewen, who were just trotting over, froze once again at the sight before them.

The white tiger’s large, mitted paw flexed slightly.

This is normal, Su Yuyun thought. Getting close to Ming Ruan helps me maintain lucidity and achieve the effect of switching between human and beast forms. As Adjudicator, these are necessary actions. Simply official business, no need to dwell on it.

As if some shackle had been broken, the white tiger actively turned its head, burying its large face into Ming Ruan’s embrace. It even curled its tail around Ming Ruan’s ankle.

And was immediately rewarded with several delighted kisses from Ming Ruan!

Ming Ruan didn’t have any huge announcement to make. He just mentioned he’d received a message that the Research Institute was coming to pick up the white tiger for a physical check-up, and would also re-examine the gray wolf and fox while they were at it.

Though Ming Ruan felt this examination frequency was far too high, he figured, he wasn’t an interstellar native; perhaps there were things he simply didn’t understand.

Today’s check-up didn’t require the Executor to accompany them. Soon, several Flying Sedans bearing the Research Institute’s emblem stopped outside the residence’s gate.

A Researcher clad in a specialized Protective Suit stepped out of each Flying Sedan.

Ming Ruan stood in the doorway, watching from afar as the Researchers jogged over, practically arriving in an instant.

“You must be Mr. Ming Ruan!” The Researcher looking at Ming Ruan had eyes sparkling brilliantly. They rushed forward and offered Ming Ruan an exaggerated, formal bow, their greeting voice brimming with excitement.

Ming Ruan was startled. His social anxiety, dormant for so long, flared up. He looked like a startled little mushroom, waving his hands in a fluster. “Ah, uh, yes, that’s me! Hello, hello! You’re far too polite!”

What was going on? During that previous notarization event, he’d clearly sensed the staff there hadn’t been particularly warm towards him.

Why this sudden 180-degree turn today?

That Researcher gazed at Ming Ruan excitedly, seemingly wanting to say more, but was stopped by a companion. That companion appeared more level-headed, yet their eyes were also practically sparkling as they continuously shot star-struck looks at Ming Ruan. Eventually, the Researchers, in a jostling, nudging group, led the white tiger, gray wolf, and little fox onto their Flying Sedans, looking back every few steps, and departed.

Leaving Ming Ruan standing there alone, baffled and utterly confused.

The live stream room was equally baffled.

【What’s happening? What did Ming Ruan do? Why are they acting like this?】

【I heard the people at the Beastman Research Institute are pretty high and mighty. First time seeing them so excited.】

【Ming Ruan himself doesn’t seem to know what’s going on either. So curious.】

【Wait, do none of you have a heart? Is no one going to discuss the blatant public intimacy between that tiger and Ming Ruan just now??】

【I’ll discuss it with you! Let’s discuss it in the parking lot!】

Serious topics couldn’t last two seconds before veering back towards the much-beloved romance.

On the other side, at the Beastman Research Institute.

The Researchers led Su Yuyun, Xie Gewen, and Shi Huai to separate examination rooms.

The examinations proceeded routinely, just as always. However, at the end, the Researcher assigned to Shi Huai quietly withdrew, leaving a quiet, sealed space.

They’re here.

Shi Huai casually hopped onto a high piece of equipment and perched, his tail sweeping smoothly to curl around his paws.

From the inner part of the examination room, a curtain moved, and a figure in ornate, lavish clothing stepped out.

“Good day, Mr. Shi Huai.” The person stopped a considerable distance from the little fox, chin slightly raised, looking down at Shi Huai through lowered lids.

Shi Huai swished his tail but didn’t make a sound.

Without waiting for Shi Huai to speak, the man launched into a torrent of words, as if a floodgate had opened: “The thief who lost everything learns to masquerade. The ignorant masses misunderstand your actions on the broadcast, but I know your true purpose well, Mr. Shi Huai.”

Shi Huai: “…” Nobles are all somewhat unhinged. Endure. A small impatience spoils great plans.

“The Ming family possesses noble blood, but Ming Ruan—oh, that rat who once beguiled a noble house. He used such filthy methods against his ‘elder brother,’ and he has used them against you.”

Shi Huai lifted a hind leg to scratch an ear, his tail tip starting to thump impatiently.

“You know how he obtained this Executor position?—He stretched his grimy hands towards our great Adjudicator, brilliant as the Star God. He blinded the great man, and now seeks to use the ignorance of the world to wash away all his past deeds.”

Shi Huai: “Stop right there.”

The enraptured man acted as if he hadn’t heard, insistently continuing to sketch his grand blueprint: “And now, it is time for us to end all this. We merely need to give the world a little warning, and the rat will scurry back to the damned drainage systems of the old planets he belongs to—”

“Which family are you from?” Shi Huai directly interrupted him loudly.

The voice transmitted from the Light Brain carried a brash, youthful arrogance, and fury no longer suppressed.

“…Augustus, sir.” The interrupted man was somewhat displeased. He felt Shi Huai was being terribly disrespectful towards a noble.

“Whatever-gustus, was it? Are you some big shot?” Shi Huai finally reached his limit and launched his verbal counterattack. “All that ‘rat’ this, ‘rat’ that. An animal that’s been critically endangered for eight hundred years, and you keep it on your lips day and night. Are you hoping to beastify into one yourself?”

“Everyone from the 80G Galaxy knows how you lot squabble with the Royal Family one day and the Adjudicator the next! High-sounding and sanctimonious like a gilded antique chamber pot. If you want a hand in the Sanatorium Zone, use your own abilities. Always scheming to use others—aren’t you foul enough already?!”

“You!” The nobleman’s eyes widened, rendered speechless by Shi Huai’s rapid-fire barrage.

Shi Huai’s fox eyebrows practically twitched with animation. The volcano in his heart had fully erupted. “I don’t care what you want to do, do whatever. But who do you think you are?! Just some random, insignificant minor noble! You’re not fit to speak of him like that!”

—Ming Ruan.

This man, nowadays, slept while touching the Adjudicator’s ear and resting his feet on the Adjudicator’s back. Daily, if he wanted to stroke wolf ears, the Council Speaker would allow it without a single word of protest. Even Shi Huai himself sometimes woke up in the middle of the night to mentally slap himself twice for ever having insulted Ming Ruan.

His unofficial authority was enormous now.

But the current Ming Ruan was just wonderful! He would earnestly adore beastmen, treat them with such gentleness that they felt beastification was no terrible thing, that even beastmen could be cherished and loved.

Such a Ming Ruan deserved to be indulged by everyone!

And these rotten people popping up from who-knows-where? Who gave them the face to raise their voices at Ming Ruan?!

Shi Huai was so furious his large ears were practically steaming.

He knew full well his past with Ming Ruan was common knowledge. So, upon discovering someone wanted to use him against Ming Ruan, he’d come partly with the intention of feigning agreement to gather intelligence on the enemy.

He’d thought it might be some old enemy Ming Ruan had made. Now, it seemed it was just the same old petty Noble schemes—only, for some reason, they’d chosen Ming Ruan as their target this time.

“Unlawful trespass into the Sanatorium Zone,” Shi Huai licked a sharp canine. “I’ve already reported you.”

And he’d sent the report directly to the Adjudicator’s personal Light Brain. It didn’t matter how far the nobleman’s influence reached; it would be useless this time.

Just as he finished speaking, the door to the examination room was burst open by the Adjudicator’s direct retinue soldiers. The nobleman was hauled away, squawking and flailing.

At the very back of the soldiers, one tiger and one wolf walked in slowly.

Tch.

Shi Huai was irritated. Those two had clearly known about the nobleman’s private meeting with him all along. They might have even seized the chance to test him.

But Shi Huai couldn’t be bothered with that right now. He’d picked up on something from that minor noble’s chaotic rambling.

He had a bad feeling.

Shi Huai opened his Light Brain and casually searched a few keywords.

A flood of trending terms and comments filled his screen.

Looking at those venomous, fabricated speculations and curses, every hair on Shi Huai’s body suddenly stood on end!