Chapter 57
White terriers were like slightly toasted bread loaves. As puppies, they were chubby and clumsy, but they became more dignified as they grew older.
Ning Zhixia had never seen such a handsome terrier as Fu Fu, so he was surprised to see a similar one in Shu Shaoqing’s photo and chuckled.
“What’s wrong?” Shu Shaoqing asked.
“We found a white terrier at the shop a while ago, his name is Fu Fu.” Ning Zhixia pointed at the photo. “If yours didn’t have a pink nose, it would look exactly like Fu Fu.”
“Really, what a coincidence…” Shu Shaoqing stared at the photo, a hint of sadness in her clear eyes. “Mine was called Marshmallow, my grandma gave him to me, but he passed away last month…”
Ning Zhixia gasped, his gaze darting around, then he picked up the calico cat and placed it in Shu Shaoqing’s lap as a comfort.
“It’s okay.”
Shu Shaoqing scratched the calico cat’s chin and smiled faintly, a hint of sadness and helplessness in her expression. “Humans live much longer than cats and dogs, so we know this day will come eventually. I just didn’t expect it to be so difficult.”
This was a topic pet owners didn’t want to face. Ning Zhixia stammered a reply, then quickly assured her that he would make the press-on nails to her satisfaction.
Having heard of Ning Zhixia’s skills, Shu Shaoqing was completely reassured. She paid 1200 yuan as a deposit, agreed on a pick-up time, and left.
The girl’s slightly lonely figure walked into the rain. Perhaps she had once had a dog by her side, from a wobbly puppy to a majestic companion, then an old friend… but now, there was nothing left. She put one hand in her trench coat pocket, the other shielding her forehead as she ran towards her car, gradually disappearing from Ning Zhixia’s view.
Qu Banqing took over the other five press-on nail designs, leaving Ning Zhixia to work on the pet portrait. The autumn limited edition was almost finished with Popokula and Maureen’s help.
While the fox cubs were busy packing, Ning Zhixia took a medium-length square nail tip and started working.
It wasn’t that he had become a workaholic, but the demand for a Mahjong Kitten Squad design in the comments was overwhelming.
“You just eat and sleep all day, or run around causing trouble, why do so many aunties like you?” Ning Zhixia squatted down, his chin resting on his hand, as he looked at the approaching semi-truck of a cat.
Fatty Orange took a few leisurely steps, its body tilting like a turning truck, then flopped down on the ground, its paws spread out, its belly exposed as it blinked at him upside down.
Orange truly wasn’t a good color for cats, even the usually sleek tabby cat looked like a little golden pig with its fluffy, fragrant fur.
Ning Zhixia stared at it for a few seconds, then buried his face in its belly, nuzzling it. Fatty Orange, unfazed, yawned and licked its paw, as if answering his question with its actions.
Covered in cat hair, Ning Zhixia went to the bathroom to clean himself up, a mix of disgust and satisfaction, and returned to his workstation to work on the nail tip.
Since he was doing it, he might as well make it interesting.
Ning Zhixia applied a crescent-shaped French tip guide to the nail, dabbed on milky white gel polish with a sponge, and since he had the guide, he didn’t have to worry about the smile line, much easier than freehand painting.
The dabbing sound attracted the calico cat. The weather was getting colder, and its fur had grown longer. Having just finished its milk, its whiskers still wet, it squatted on the table, licking its paws and grooming itself.
“Here, kitty, kitty…”
Ning Zhixia called out with a smile.
The calico cat looked up, meowed softly, picked up its toy mouse, and curled up on Ning Zhixia’s lap, playing by itself.
“Be gentle, Banqing doesn’t have much material left for your toys…” Ning Zhixia muttered and started painting gray and light orange patches on either side of the nail tip.
The calico cat’s fur had distinct color blocks, but replicating that on the nail would look too stiff, so Ning Zhixia blended the colors with the base coat using a small sponge.
After painting the cat’s vertical pupils with a liner brush, the nail tip resembled a square-headed calico cat.
Ning Zhixia chuckled, finding it amusing, picked up a sanding band, and carefully filed the edges of the nail tip into a crescent shape, turning the two slightly pointed corners into cat ears.
This design wasn’t technically challenging. Ning Zhixia, inspired, painted a few more sets: Fatty Orange, the cow cat, the tabby bully, and a Siamese coal miner… After having his fun, he remembered to take photos.
He went to the box of props to find a backdrop, but stopped, his gaze shifting to Fatty Orange, who was munching on a chicken jerky.
“After eating so much of my canned food, time to work!”
Fatty Orange was suddenly scooped up and placed under the light, its round eyes staring blankly, like a sacrificial pig during the Lunar New Year, mewing pitifully.
After some fish oil and a nutritious meal of slow-cooked meat, its fur was thick and glossy, the golden sheen under the light surpassing any backdrop.
Ning Zhixia snapped away with his camera, posted the photos on his account, and decided to launch them after the autumn limited edition was shipped.
Unlike the usual almond or square shapes, these kitten-shaped nail tips were unique, and even the casually filmed video quickly went viral.
The nail tips in the video, like delicate and cute little ornaments, were displayed against the golden fur, and as the camera zoomed out, Fatty Orange’s grumpy face appeared.
“What! They’re really kitten nails!”
“Ha ha ha, Fatty Orange has the same expression as me on Monday mornings!”
“I get it, it’s a family portrait, I knew these kittens were my babies!”
“Good news, Boss Ning is responsive; bad news, he didn’t post a link!”
“This shop is known for its limited, high-quality products, I wonder if I’ll be able to get them.”
“Just a limited edition… this time, I’ll get what I missed out on!”
Although they could be replicated at other nail salons, the different kittens were all adorable, and each set even came with a photo of the corresponding cat.
Many people suddenly developed a collector’s mentality, determined to wait for the original version.
Ning Zhixia browsed the comments, frowned, and added [Cats not for sale!] to the caption, then put down his phone and went to play with the cats.
That evening, Qu Banqing made braised winter melon and pork ribs. The winter melon was soft and flavorful, the pork ribs savory. He deliberately made extra sauce, planning to add tofu and lettuce next time.
Ning Zhixia stole a couple of pieces of Audrow’s sashimi, the cold, smooth texture making him shiver. A bark suddenly echoed, and they turned to see Fu Fu returning from the Whispering Woods.
He didn’t know what he had been playing with Dorothy, but he was always covered in grass and dirt.
He shook his fur and hesitantly paced at the door, glancing at Qu Banqing nervously.
“You, you, you…” He had just given him a bath yesterday, and now he was a dirty little coal miner again. Qu Banqing gritted his teeth, swatted his butt a few times, and sent him to the bathroom.
Ning Zhixia cleaned up the muddy paw prints on the floor, then heard Qu Banqing’s yell as he was splashed with water.
Audrow, his eyes half-closed, leisurely ate his sashimi, listening to the angry shouts, then picked up a piece of pork rib and tossed it into Fu Fu’s food bowl.
Ning Zhixia: “…” You guys really had a deep grudge.
To respect Qu Banqing’s hard work, Ning Zhixia sat cross-legged, feeding Fu Fu chicken and lecturing him, telling him to stay put and guard the shop for the next few days.
Fu Fu: “Woof…”
Ning Zhixia patted his head: “It’s okay, when I launch the kitten press-on nails, he’ll be too busy to bother you!”
Fu Fu: “Woof, woof, woof!”
Qu Banqing, surrounded by cats, was mending a torn toy mouse. Hearing this, he looked up abruptly.
So the dragon-slaying hero had become the dragon, what a ruthless capitalist!
A few days later, the six sets of press-on nails were finished, and Shu Shaoqing came to pick them up and pay the remaining balance.
Fu Fu, diligently performing his duties as a greeter, wagged his tail and approached her, not noticing her widening eyes.
“Here are your press-on nails, don’t be too rough when removing them, they’ll last you the entire semester if you don’t get tired of them.” Ning Zhixia handed her the gift box, but she didn’t take it.
Shu Shaoqing stared at the wagging puppy, muttering, “So similar… they look so similar…”
“Indeed, but the nose color is different.” Ning Zhixia observed her expression and tossed a small ball towards the living room, distracting Fu Fu, who happily chased after it.
Shu Shaoqing watched for a long time, then looked away sadly, took the gift box, and as she was about to leave, she paused and said hesitantly, “Boss Ning, I’d like to discuss something with you…”
Ning Zhixia paused: “?”
“So…”
That night, Qu Banqing continued mending the chewed-up toy mouse, his stitching becoming increasingly frantic, then he stopped and asked, frowning, “You’re saying Miss Shu wants to adopt Fu Fu?”
“Something like that.” Ning Zhixia nodded, glancing at Dorothy, who was nervously clinging to a tuft of Fu Fu’s fur.
Dorothy didn’t dare meet his eyes, asking timidly like a student waiting for exam results, “What did you say?”
“I said I’d consider it, but actually…” Ning Zhixia paused and looked at the obediently sitting puppy, “I want to respect Fu Fu’s decision.”
Shu Shaoqing came from a wealthy family and planned to move abroad, where she had a luxurious estate, more than enough space for Fu Fu to run around and play. But she was clearly projecting her feelings for her deceased pet onto Fu Fu.
Ning Zhixia understood, but he didn’t quite agree, it wasn’t fair to Fu Fu.
But out of respect, whether to stay or go with the rich lady should be Fu Fu’s decision.
Fu Fu tilted his head, not understanding what they were saying, but hearing his name repeatedly, his obsidian-like eyes shone as he looked at Ning Zhixia.
Dorothy, of course, didn’t want Fu Fu to leave, but she still relayed Ning Zhixia’s message.
She whispered to the caramel-colored ear, then fluttered her wings, landed in front of the puppy, and waited nervously for his decision, her hands clasped together.
Fu Fu looked at her, then at Ning Zhixia, barked, and nuzzled the girl with butterfly wings.
“Really? Really?”
Dorothy’s excitement was evident as she zoomed around, showering them with flower petals from her basket. “Fu Fu said he wants to go to the Whispering Woods with me!”
“What?” Everyone was stunned.
Fu Fu wagged his tail and barked again.
“We recently discovered a valley, very similar to where Fu Fu used to live, and we’re rebuilding the little wooden house there!” Dorothy’s voice trembled with excitement as she explained what they had been doing.
“So that’s what it is…” Ning Zhixia couldn’t help but laugh, no wonder Fu Fu always came back covered in dirt.
But a house built by a puppy and flower sprites… they tried to imagine it, unsure if it would be a flower-covered cottage or a dog house!
Ning Zhixia gently stroked the puppy’s fluffy head. He hadn’t been licking his legs lately, the redness had subsided, and he was much better now.
He hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Audrow, who had been quiet.
Fatty Orange, nestled in his arms, purred contentedly, as if knowing how to act cute, even letting out a few kitten-like meows.
Audrow covered the kitten’s mouth and said calmly, “He’s a creature of this plane…”
“Sigh…”
That made sense. Everyone sighed, their heads drooping in disappointment.
After a long pause, that slow, drawling voice sounded again—
“So when his time comes, remember to bring his body back.”
Audrow, looking at their dejected expressions, finished his previously interrupted sentence.
Everyone stared at him, stunned, and realizing he had no other conditions, they cheered, their voices almost lifting the roof.
Although Fu Fu could still visit occasionally, he and the flower sprites were clearly too excited about their valley project to come frequently.
Qu Banqing stuffed his backpack with frozen treats and yogurt drops, and patted Fu Fu’s head with a sigh, “Fu Fu, remember to visit us often.”
“Woof!”
Fu Fu barked, grabbed the backpack, and followed Dorothy into the white light.
As their figures faded, Qu Banqing wiped his eyes with a handkerchief, “Children grow up so fast, it reminds me of the time we parted ways at the train station when you went to university.”
Hearing this, Ning Zhixia also remembered and said faintly, “You stuffed ten pounds of cured meat in my suitcase…”
The strong smoky smell had permeated all his clothes, making him feel like a walking piece of cured meat for a long time.
They bickered, not noticing Audrow, sitting on the sofa, his chin resting on his hand, lost in thought.
The next morning, he went to the Bureau on time, which was rare, and rummaged through a pile of thick files in his office.
“Sir, you called for me?”
Lu Huai knocked and entered.
Scrolls and files from different planes were scattered on the desk. Audrow’s long fingers flipped through them, finally stopping on a page with a drawing of a valley.
Lu Huai asked, puzzled, “What are you looking for?”
Audrow didn’t reply, took the page from the file, and asked casually, “Is the new batch of administrators trained?”
“Yes.”
Lu Huai was pleased that his usually work-averse boss was finally asking about work. “There’s a promising newcomer in this batch, Fang Minghui, he’s ready to be assigned a system and deployed.”
“Hmm.”
Audrow replied and handed him the document, “Give him a farming system and send him to the Whispering Woods.”
“Got it!”
Lu Huai took the file and left the office. As he closed the door, he glanced inside.
A small, golden orb appeared, nuzzling Audrow’s head, as if praising him affectionately.
Yes, yes, such a good boy.
