Skeptical, Ming Ruan opened the door a tiny crack.
Ming Ruan’s pupils quaked!
Outside the door, two long columns were arrayed in perfect order, men and women separated. All were uniformly dressed, impeccably neat and refined. The men wore Black Gloves, the women white gloves. They stood as uniformly as if cut, copied, and pasted, even their heights and builds barely differing.
At the head of the columns was an Old Butler with white hair and a composed, refined demeanor. Seeing Ming Ruan open the door, he offered a perfectly measured smile and bowed in salute. “Good day, Young Sir.”
Then, those two rows of men and women bowed in unison. “Good day, Young Sir.”
As they bent forward, Ming Ruan also saw, parked behind them, several Flying Sedans being towed by other Flying Sedans.
Yes.
The kind that looked like a horse-drawn carriage imitation. But since there were no horses, they could only use two small Flying Sedans to pull a larger, bizarrely shaped but incredibly ornate Flying Sedan.
And further off in the distance, people had already stopped to watch and take pictures.
Ming Ruan: “…”
Ming Ruan slowly, gently, closed the door with a click!
Had he transmigrated again?
After taking a moment to collect himself, Ming Ruan suddenly pulled the door open wide: “I’m sorry, I was just a bit slow to react.”
“Oh, please do not feel self-reproach, Young Sir. Perhaps we failed to consider your true needs, but please believe, we only wish to offer you our sincere regards.” The Old Butler produced a paper letter sealed with Sealing Wax and handed it to Ming Ruan.
That letter, one of the exceedingly rare samples of that particular Sealing Wax and stationery set left among all the noble houses across the Interstellar space, kept only by the Clarence Family, was unceremoniously torn open by Ming Ruan.
Yet no one present felt the slightest heartache or dissatisfaction over it.
Ming Ruan quickly read through it once.
Then read it again. Still somewhat incredulous.
Ming Ruan: “Are you saying… you want me to be the Clarence Family’s temporary Keeper?”
“Please don’t put it that way, Sir. If you are willing, we all hope this term will be—forever.” The Old Butler winked.
Ming Ruan felt dazed.
Was this what they called being destined for success?
The moment he first transmigrated, a job fell from the sky. Just as he was about to lose his job, another one immediately came along.
And it was the Clarence Family, no less.
Ming Ruan recalled everything extravagant from that day.
But it wouldn’t work, would it?
Ming Ruan scratched his head. “I’m sorry, actually, even though I haven’t successfully regularized, it seems I haven’t fully resigned from the Sanatorium Zone Executor position either…”
Butler: “Of course, of course. Sir, we are all well aware of your full respect and sense of responsibility toward the Executor position. The Clarence Family has always been on good terms with the Adjudicator. Perhaps you could consider this a form of—fieldwork.”
……
In the end, Ming Ruan failed to resist the temptation of fluff.
Naturally, such an affair could not escape the sharp eyes of the vast netizen populace, especially since the Clarence Family made not even a shred of effort to conceal it, even going overboard in giving Ming Ruan such grand treatment, as if bringing him under the Clarence Family’s protective umbrella.
【I thought Ming Ruan was about to fade into obscurity two days ago. As expected, I’m a fool.】
【Boo-hoo-hoo, the Clarence Family is just too rich, can’t compete. Will I never see my wife’s livestream again? I still want to hear my wife’s presentation! (Screaming)】
【What is this? Brazenly poaching someone while the Adjudicator is under observation?】
【The deeper you think, the more terrifying it gets, folks. I feel Fuxi schemed everything perfectly—reporting Ming Ruan just to poach him. Absolutely, analysis post linked in the neighboring thread.】
【So thrilling! The Adjudicator and the Clarence Family fighting over someone!!】
【Why haven’t Xie Gewen and Shi Huai made any noise either? Haven’t they finished cooperating with the Reverse Therianthropy research? Ruanruan’s about to be snatched away! (Screaming)】
【Rumors on the grapevine say Ming Ruan’s Outworlder identity is absolutely staggering. Just wait a few days, prepare to have your eyeballs blown out.】
【Impossible. At this point, no news about Ming Ruan would shock me.】
After nearly ten days of consecutive bombardment, Ming Ruan had undeniably become the focal point of the entire galaxy.
And now, this very focal point had just stepped down from that excessively ornate Flying Sedan. Before him, a cluster of spired buildings like fairy tale castles were nestled between mountains and rivers, stretching beyond the horizon. The sheer luxury rendered Ming Ruan speechless once more.
But before that seed of bewilderment could sprout within him, suddenly, from the distant greenery, around the bend of the main road, surged a group of round, fluffy little creatures. They formed a continuous wave, like a living carpet of fluff, rapidly advancing towards him.
This was!
Ming Ruan’s eyes widened.
Rushing towards him were all sorts of adorable little animals: a Holland Lop bunny, a Calico cat, a Ragdoll, a Maine Coon, a German Shepherd, a Golden Retriever, a Samoyed. On closer inspection, he could even spot a chinchilla, a ferret, and even a red panda!!
So many they looked like a beast tide from a fantasy novel.
Ming Ruan stood frozen for a moment.
The little animals came to a halt a few steps away from Ming Ruan, full of spirit, wagging tails, rolling over, doing their utmost to show off and pose.
It was like a grand welcome ceremony.
And at the very end, a male Lion slowly strode out.
Today, the jewel nestled in the Lion’s mane collar was a ruby of the utmost noblesse and extravagant beauty.
He walked up to Ming Ruan, raised a paw, and offered a languid yet elegant salute.
Good day, Little Executor.
Are you satisfied with what you see?
Yes, this was Fuxi’s plan.
Fuxi had never intended to obediently enter the Sanatorium. From the moment the Clarence Family learned that the Trial Executor of District 12 might possess the ability for Reverse Therianthropy, he had been plotting all of this.
What Executor, what recommendation letter—a capable person should be with the Clarence Family.
Of course.
Fuxi shifted his gaze away suspiciously.
He had indeed done some… superfluous things.
For instance—because he discovered Ming Ruan liked the beast forms of Beastmen, he had recruited many Beastmen.
Right now, Ming Ruan was crouching down, trying to pat a Cat Form on the head.
The Cat Form hesitantly glanced back at the Lion, its head shrinking back as smoothly as a little turtle, dodging Ming Ruan’s touch.
They were all small-sized Beastmen—the type that wouldn’t be forcibly assigned to the Sanatorium Zone.
They had been specifically hired by the Clarence Family this time: on the surface, to be ‘cared for by Ming Ruan’, but in reality, to be ‘entertainers for Ming Ruan’.
Of course, they knew Ming Ruan! The Cat Form also desperately wanted to be petted by Ming Ruan! Which Beastman hadn’t mentally called Ming Ruan ‘Wife’?!
But with the Lion watching from behind, the Cat Form truly didn’t dare.
Ming Ruan’s hand grasped empty air.
A flicker of disappointment crossed his features.
Fuxi: “…”
Fuxi couldn’t stand this. He crossed over the fluffy carpet of creatures on the ground in two or three strides and shoved his large head under Ming Ruan’s palm.
Pet.
He let him pet him.
Ming Ruan scratched, satisfied.
So comfortable.
Ming Ruan was overjoyed. Suddenly, he hugged the Lion, burying his face in that thick mane and nuzzling.
The numerous Beastmen: !
The numerous Attendants: !
The Old Butler and servants hastily lowered their heads, noses to their hearts.
The numerous Fluffballs hurriedly busied themselves—licking fur, playing with tails.
How could Ming Ruan suddenly be so intimate again!
Aiyah!
Even not knowing that was a human.
H-He still shouldn’t kiss him in front of so many people!
Even if he was going to kiss.
Couldn’t he kiss them too?!
Fuxi blanked out for a moment, once again losing his composure before Ming Ruan. Stepping back in a fluster, he nearly stepped on a Hamster Beastman.
How utterly disgraceful!
However, when he looked up and saw Ming Ruan’s hand still extended, not yet lowered, the empty embrace, and the dazed expression—
Fuxi deflated again.
He stuffed himself back into that embrace.
He thought: Fine, pet me if you want, kiss me if you want. Just don’t regret it later.
……
From that day on, Ming Ruan lived a life where he would never lack Fluffballs again.
Without exaggeration, every morning, he’d wake up on a ten-meter-wide bed, run eight hundred meters to the dining room for breakfast, then select some small animals to cuddle like an emperor choosing a concubine. Though his title was ‘Keeper’, the Butler specifically instructed that he wasn’t responsible for feeding or grooming these little animals.
He only needed to play with them.
Ming Ruan quickly fell into complete hedonism.
Heavens, he had found a job even more cushy than Executor!
On the fourth night after coming to the Clarence Family,
Following his nightly routine—shaking a paw with the red panda, high-fiving the standing Snow Ferret, smoothing the lop-eared bunny’s ears, then checking the Maine Coon and Ragdoll for any dirt clinging to their fur after a day of play.
After bidding all the little cuties good night.
Ming Ruan opened his arms.
The Lion, lounging in the distance seemingly gazing disinterestedly at the scenery, seemed to grow eyes in his back and came trotting over, allowing Ming Ruan to hold him and gently bump faces.
“Good night, Big Lion,” Ming Ruan said.
At first, Fuxi hadn’t accepted this level of intimacy, but Ming Ruan insisted. If Ming Ruan didn’t get it, he’d show that disappointment that made Fuxi’s paws feel numb.
This led to Fuxi now needing his daily face-bump with Ming Ruan. Without it, he was terrified Ming Ruan would secretly hide under the covers and cry.
Good night.
Fuxi replied in his heart.
Finishing all his brief goodbyes, Ming Ruan hummed a little tune as he headed back to his temporary quarters in the Clarence household.
Tonight, the scenery along the path seemed no different from usual.
But as he walked, Ming Ruan just felt something was off.
At a certain moment, he suddenly whipped his head around!
There was nothing behind him.
Quiet. Empty.
Strange.
Ming Ruan quickly retreated to his room. He sat on the bed pondering for a moment, before a gust of cold wind blew in through the wide-open window, making him shiver.
He was just about to close the window.
Precisely at that moment, a white shadow darted in.
Before Ming Ruan could even cry out in surprise, his mouth was already muffled by a patch of warm fluff, silencing him. Simultaneously, the white shadow tackled him, sending him stumbling two steps back, just in time to fall supine onto the bed.
