Chapter 18: A Male Canāt Be Called Small!
“Ah!”
Startled, Su Miantangās reflex was to grab the scruff of its neck and toss it aside.
She used a fair bit of strength, but the little tiger landed squarely on the floor, looking up at her with a face full of innocence and confusion.
“What are you doing?!”
Trying to bite her?
It already had an aggressive streak at such a young age?
Finding its mama angry, the little tiger grew even more aggrieved. It hung its head, let out two soft whimpers, and raised a paw to rub its empty belly.
It was just hungry and wanted milk.
Inexplicably, Su Miantang actually understood what it meant. “…” No wonder it had acted so spoiled just now, as if meeting a family member, and lunged directly for her chest.
So, it really did think she was its mother?
She had indeed heard that small animals would treat the first person they saw upon opening their eyes as their mother.
She leaned down, rubbed its head, and comforted it, “I’m sorry, I wronged you. But Iām not your mama.”
Not mama?
The little tiger tilted its head curiously, watching her.
Then what are you?
“I am…” Su Miantang pondered for a moment. “Your Master.”
The moment the word ‘Master’ was uttered, the little tiger felt its heart go numb and tinglyāa comfortable, special feeling that brought a deep sense of belonging.
It liked its Master.
Its tail wagged like a helicopter rotor, ecstatic beyond measure.
“Alright, wait here obediently. I’m going to mix some milk for you.”
Yes, Master!
While she mixed the milk, the little tiger sat quietly to the side, watching. Its posture was as elegant as a noblemanās. Once the temperature was right, it gripped the nursing bottle tightly with its limbs and guzzled the milk down.
As it drank, it narrowed its eyes happily to look at her.
Master is so beautiful!
The beast milk Master mixes is so delicious!
In the past, because of her busy work schedule, Su Miantang never had time for pets. She often saw others posting videos of puppies and kittens on social media and felt incredibly envious, fantasizing that she would have one sooner or later.
She hadn’t expected to start her pet-owning journey with a tigerāa majestic one at that. The feeling of being completely relied upon and needed was quite wonderful.
“By the way, you don’t have a name yet. Do you want one?”
Mm-hmm! The little tiger nodded.
Su Miantang stroked her chin. “Let me think…”
Yesterday, when she carried it home, she had brought back many flowers and medicinal herbs from the Star-Trail Garden. Among the many varieties, this little guy was only close to that variegated Phalaenopsis orchid.
“How about… I call you Banban?” (Spotty)
No! The little tiger shook its head rapidly, clearly dissatisfied.
“Xiaoyezi?” (Little Leaf)
More head-shaking.
“Hudie?” (Butterfly)
It shook its head so fast it left an afterimage.
“Then… Lanlan?” (Orchid)
She expected another fierce rejection, but the little tiger paused its drinking. It seemed to find the name somewhat familiar.
“Okay!” Su Miantang snapped her fingers with satisfaction. “Lanlan it is! Give the bottle back when you’re done and play here for a bit. Iām going upstairs to prepare a surprise for you.”
She placed a few teething sticks and balls on the carpet. The little tiger pounced around, playing with them, but it would occasionally look up toward the second floor. It seemed to be wondering what surprise its Master was preparing.
After a while, a call came from upstairs.
“Lanlan~”
The little tiger immediately ran over with the ball in its mouth, only to see… a tub of clear water. Wait, it’s not time for a bath, is it?
It was stunned. It turned to bolt, but Su Miantang was quick, pinching the scruff of its neckāthe handle of fate.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Though her voice was incredibly gentle, as it drifted into its ears, it sounded a bit like a wicked devilās.
“Come on, time for a bath.”
No, no! It didn’t want a bath!
The little tiger struggled desperately.
Su Miantang acted as if she saw nothing. “You’re so dirty I can’t even see your stripes. You still don’t want a bath? Do you want to become a ‘Dirty-Dirty Tiger’?”
But…
Ignoring its protests, she put it directly into the water.
Under the fierce struggle of the adorable beastās limbs, water splashed everywhere, soaking the floor. Su Miantang let out a dissatisfied ‘tsk,’ reached out with both hands, and firmly held down its head with one while gripping its waist with the other. Successful suppression!
Then, she noticed…
It not only stopped moving, but its entire tiger body also became incredibly stiff. Its rolling red pupils were full of shyness; it didn’t even dare look at her.
Master… just touched its…
What was wrong?
Sensing its strangeness, Su Miantang paused, then looked down. It was only then that she realized.
She seemed to have bumped into something just now.
Tsk, it’s so small, yet it already knows how to be shy?
She suppressed her laughter and said solemnly, “Lanlan, I think I forgot to confirm your gender. Let’s take a look now…”
No, no! Don’t!
Master is a little female!
A little female isn’t allowed to look at a little male’s body!
Lanlan suddenly acted as if facing a great enemy. It tried to scramble away, but its strength was no match for hers, and it was forcibly flipped over by Su Miantang.
It curled its tail, tightly covering its critical partsāits final stand of dignity.
Su Miantang deliberately and ruthlessly brushed it aside, her expression turning into one of surprise. “Oh~”
The little tiger felt despair.
…It’s over. I’ve been seen completely by a little female.
“So it’s a female.”
Lanlan: “?” Master must have seen wrong!
“I see.”
Su Miantang nodded, her expression flat as she flipped it back over.
What did she know? She knew nothing!
It was a male! A male!
Now it was Lanlan’s turn to be unhappy. It lay on its back, paws in the air, desperately trying to display its private parts to her, acting exactly like a little rogue.
Su Miantang looked confused. “What’s wrong, little female?”
“Wah!”
It was so angry it let out a cry.
“Little female, your voice is so cute~”
“Wah wah wahā”
It arched its fluffy back, trying to make a fierce roar, but it still sounded “fierce-moe,” not even as scary as an angry house cat.
“Hahaha~”
Su Miantang laughed uncontrollably. After teasing it a few more times, she decided to let it go.
“Eh? It seems itās not a little female, but a little male. Sorry, Lanlan. It was too small; Master didn’t see clearly just now.”
The words “too small” struck Lanlan like a bolt from the blue.
Its expression froze instantly. Its previous high spirits plummeted, and it sat in the water with its head drooping as if it had been dealt a heavy blow. It turned its butt toward her, seemingly wanting nothing more to do with her.
“Are you angry?”
“Really angry?”
Su Miantang curiously poked her head around to look at its chin. Lanlan adjusted its position.
“I was just teasing you~”
“It’s not small, not small at all! Our Lanlan’s development is the best!”
Su Miantang poked its thick paw. Lanlan still didn’t turn around, but its tail slapping the water surface betrayed its mood.
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