Jin Qianyu landed lightly and gracefully.
Before coming to the appointment, he had specially given himself a complete cleaning. He had checked himself repeatedly in the mirror to ensure his fur was smooth and glossy, his ears thick and soft, his whiskers long and springy, and that his paw pads and mouth were free of any odor.
When he received the royal invitation, Jin Qianyu guessed this wasn’t just the Third Prince suddenly feeling generous. He probably wanted to use this opportunity to assess the current situation of people like himself, Fuxi, and Xie Gewen.
Ever since the Research Institute had hinted that results in Reverse Therianthropy research were imminent, and with the living examples of Xie Gewen and Shi Huai successfully reversing their transformations, the Jin family’s attitude toward Jin Qianyu had taken a complete 180-degree turn. Relatives bombarded him daily in shifts, trying to persuade him to come home.
Jin Qianyu, with all his skills and the immense capital he held in his own hands, had no real need for the Jin family, which valued profit over righteousness. But he didn’t play hard to get for long. After giving the Jin family a few lessons, he returned to them just as they wished.
Because he wanted… he wanted to provide better for Ming Ruan. He wanted Ming Ruan to live well, better, the best—better than anyone else. Even though nothing was even remotely certain yet, he should still make thorough preparations.
Even when he kept his Light Brain close at all times, yet received not a single message, he remained remarkably calm.
He knew what he wanted couldn’t be obtained simply through power or benefits.
He didn’t resent Ming Ruan for not sparing him an extra glance. He just wanted to work harder, to strive even more earnestly.
So, even though he knew this trip would likely serve as a pawn for the Third Prince, Jin Qianyu still came.
Because Ming Ruan was here.
“Rawr!” With each step, the snow leopard’s paws landed precisely on a straight line. Its long tail swayed behind with the rhythm of its stride. Every movement contained the strength of a predator, so much so it could be called… alluring.
“Leopard Cub!” Ming Ruan ran over to him proactively and called out again when he reached the snow leopard’s side. The snow leopard lowered its body.
Ming Ruan paused, then fluidly and expertly mounted it, grabbing hold of the snow leopard’s ears.
“Woo-hoo!”
The snow leopard, its eyes pulled into slanted slits: “Rawr!” Let’s go!
This was a game unique to the two of them, a tacit understanding unique to the two of them.
And now, it was displayed before everyone.
A secret sense of pride and flaunting blossomed within the snow leopard.
Jin Qianyu didn’t care at all that they were in the Imperial Palace, nor did he care about his image.
He was ready to sprint with Ming Ruan. He wanted the wind to roar past their ears, until the entire world was reduced to nothing but Ming Ruan’s happy laughter, leaving every irrelevant thing far behind.
The man and leopard began to run wild, leaping and bounding across the front courtyard garden of the Imperial Palace.
However, they had only made one round of joyful sprinting. When they circled back to the main gates of the Imperial Palace, someone reached out and grabbed above the snow leopard’s body. The snow leopard swept past like a silver whirlwind, but the expected weight on its back was gone.
Jin Qianyu fought against the inertia, braking and turning his head.
Who was it?
The young man had his hands braced under Ming Ruan’s arms, setting him back on the ground. He even bent down to help clean the leopard fur sticking to Ming Ruan.
Meeting the gazes of everyone looking his way, Ming Ji enunciated heavily, “Hello everyone, I am Ming Ruan’s older brother.”
Ming Ji stood in front of Ming Ruan, doing his utmost to create a barrier between his brother and this group of ill-intentioned beastmen.
The two sides stood in a fan-shaped confrontation.
“…”
“Sss.” Having watched the entire spectacle, the snake made a soft hissing sound, then took the lead and slithered into the palace.
He had already learned what he wanted to know.
And as for Su Yuyun…
If, in a one-on-one contest, I temporarily couldn’t match Su Yuyun’s standing… then in a group, how much advantage do you still hold, Adjudicator?
Lochus never did things just to achieve a single goal.
Everyone had arrived. Ming Ruan started herding them into the palace.
Just as Lion and Snow Leopard were secretly vying for the position next to Ming Ruan, a voice interjected:
“The color of his coat is really beautiful. It’s very similar to a wolf’s.” Xie Gewen walked to Ming Ruan’s side and said, looking at the snow leopard.
“Yes! They’re both very beautiful!” the topic of fluffballs was brought up, and Ming Ruan immediately joined the conversation.
“You took very good care of the wolf. I haven’t had a chance to thank you properly for last time.”
“You’re too kind. Last time was so rushed, I didn’t even get a chance to ask how I should address you.”
“My surname is Xie. Speaking of which, after the wolf came back…”
With just a few words, Xie Gewen seamlessly drew Ming Ruan’s attention away from the fluffballs. Even when the snow leopard hooked its tail around Ming Ruan’s waist, it only earned a soothing pat.
Xie Gewen seemed to notice the snow leopard’s little gesture as well. Taking advantage of the moment, he praised, “Its tail is truly beautiful.”
“Right?!” My kid! I raised him! Pleased that his charge was being praised, Ming Ruan’s favorable impression of Xie Gewen shot up another notch in his heart.
Anyone who could appreciate fluffballs—how bad could they possibly be?!
Only Jin Qianyu, who had been glanced at and then complimented by Xie Gewen, felt thoroughly uncomfortable.
When facing Ming Ruan, Xie Gewen was refined in speech, balanced in demeanor, and exceptionally skilled at conversation. Every topic he raised sparked Ming Ruan’s keen interest, and every word Ming Ruan spoke received a satisfying response from Xie Gewen.
In this back-and-forth, Ming Ruan forgot about everything else and chatted wholeheartedly with Xie Gewen the entire way.
Right at that moment, a soft, suppressed exclamation came from the back of the group.
Everyone stopped walking.
It was then that Ming Ruan realized he seemed to be neglecting someone. He turned his head and looked right into a pair of eyes that held a hint of alarm and grievance.
A glimmer rippled in those fox-like eyes. The young man with the fox eyes clearly possessed a fully adult physique—long legs and broad shoulders—yet his every gesture inexplicably exuded a quality that made one want to look after him. And simultaneously, the image of him standing before Ming Ruan, downing the wine in one gulp and slamming the cup on the table, began replaying in Ming Ruan’s mind.
Many strange feelings intertwined. To Ming Ruan, Shi Huai was like a specially crafted cocktail, one you couldn’t help but lean in to savor slowly.
“Ah, Mr. Shi!” Ming Ruan realized just who he’d been forgetting.
“Sorry, I tripped on a pebble just now and lost my balance.” Shi Huai smiled in explanation, then waved at Ming Ruan. “We meet again.”
Ming Ruan looked apologetic. “Sorry, I didn’t greet you earlier.”
“It’s fine, as long as you haven’t forgotten me.” While saying it was fine, Shi Huai walked up from the back of the group and squeezed his way next to Ming Ruan, naturally joining in. “What were you just chatting about?”
Xie Gewen didn’t take up the conversation.
Ming Ruan invited him in: “We were talking about how Gray Wolf went back home… Come to think of it, how is Little Fox doing?”
Shi Huai immediately opened up the floodgates.
Just like that, their two-person conversation became a three-way discussion.
Ming Ji, who had been nudged away from his brother’s side, looked back at the path they’d traversed and smiled politely in silence. Pebbles in the Imperial Palace?
Meanwhile, Lion and Snow Leopard, now completely unable to claim Ming Ruan’s attention, both fell quiet.
The scene before them made them realize that the real competition probably wouldn’t even begin until after the Reverse Therianthropy.
They had to speed up their own efforts.
However, the situation reversed itself entirely during mealtime.
Everyone sat around a large round table. When Snow Leopard and Snake wanted to sit on Ming Ruan’s left and right, signaling they needed to be hand-fed by him, Xie Gewen, Shi Huai, and even Ming Ji—all adults—had no grounds to intervene.
Ming Ruan fed one on the left, then one on the right. After noticing the snake and snow leopard wouldn’t accept utensils the other had used, he even specifically separated their tableware.
He was incredibly busy but thoroughly enjoyed it.
After half the meal had passed in this feeding frenzy, Shi Huai suddenly exclaimed, “Oh no! Ruanruan has barely eaten anything! He’s been feeding the animals the whole time.” He asked innocently, “Can’t the animals eat by themselves?”
Just as Ming Ruan was smiling and making excuses for the snow leopard and snake, a pair of chopsticks reached over from the side.
The chopsticks placed some of his favorite dishes into his bowl.
The person holding the chopsticks was Xie Gewen.
Xie Gewen nodded at Ming Ruan. “These are serving chopsticks. Eat up!”
Ming Ruan hurried to say thanks.
But before he could open his mouth, another morsel landed in his bowl. Ming Ji was smiling gently. “Ruanruan, just tell big brother what you want to eat. I’ll get it for you. No need to trouble Mr. Xie.”
Every mountain has its higher peak.
Ming Ruan was stuffed full by all the feeding and could only nod repeatedly.
The meal never got cold until the very end. The tableware’s built-in heating function was secondary—what kept it warm were the sparks flying between everyone.
Barely having eaten and drunk their fill, it was time for post-meal digestion. Everyone was trying to think of something to attract Ming Ruan’s attention. But before any of them could come up with an idea, Xie Gewen was, once again, the first to sit down beside Ming Ruan.
The others: So this is a former Council Speaker? Truly eloquent.
But Xie Gewen had come to talk about serious matters. He slightly hardened his expression and said: “Regarding the assassination attempt at the Council meeting last time, we have filed an appeal with the court. Here are the results of the investigation…”
Ming Ruan hadn’t expected he’d actually get to hear the follow-up on such a confidential matter.
Listening to Xie Gewen explain the ins and outs, Ming Ruan understood. The gist was still the same: it was the usual factional infighting using extreme methods, except this time the Council had intervened and used him as bait.
The assassins had died on the spot, and the relevant members within the Council had also undergone investigation and punishment.
“Mhm, I understand now. Thank you. It was fortunate you were there last time.” Ming Ruan nodded. With one sentence, he transformed Xie Gewen from someone who needed to apologize and make amends into someone being thanked.
Despite their brief interaction, Ming Ruan vaguely felt that Mr. Xie’s personality was quite similar to Gray Wolf’s. Not wanting the owner of the gray wolf to dwell in guilt, Ming Ruan changed the subject and asked: “Did you come to the Imperial Palace on business?” After all, the prince had only said he’d bring the fluffballs. Today, however, two extra people had appeared, plus his own brother.
“Yes, I have some matters to attend to,” Xie Gewen nodded.
After this reverse beast-transformation, both he and Shi Huai had been taken back to the Beastman Research Institute for further examination.
The research data proved that all their indicators had fully recovered to pre-therianthropy levels. From now on, likely for a very long time—perhaps forever—they would remain in human form!
Thus, reinstatement to their original posts was also put on the agenda.
Xie Gewen indeed had other important matters to handle at the Imperial Palace this time.
Shi Huai suddenly popped his head out from beside them. “I came specially to keep you company.”
He sat down and explained, “You worked so hard taking care of our little fox for so long, and we couldn’t even have a proper chat last time we met. When the royal family asked if I wanted to come help look after you, I came.”
He looked like a little fox seeking praise.
“Ah, that’s so kind. Thank you.” Ming Ruan almost wanted to reach out and pat Mr. Shi’s head.
He didn’t know why, but he felt Mr. Shi should have a pair of big ears, just as soft and nice to pinch as a fox’s.
As the three conversed and laughed, surrounded by fluffballs, it was only across from them that Ming Ji sat alone.
Ming Ruan was always surrounded by people with ulterior motives. Because of the therianthropy matter, they could always easily strike up a conversation with Ming Ruan.
Whether it was Xie Gewen and Shi Huai, who had already changed back into human form, or those still undergoing therianthropy: Snow Leopard, Lion, Snake…
Only he, the brother, couldn’t get a word in.
Sitting opposite Ming Ruan, Ming Ji pretended to be idly browsing his Light Brain. He opened that recruitment notice once again—
Volunteer Recruitment for Therianthropy Research.
“Ruanruan, what’s your favorite animal?” Ming Ji suddenly asked.
