Chapter 21
Pan Ze’s head was about to explode. Yun Shao was down, alright, but could he please look at how ferocious he was?
The golden eagle was half a man’s height even just squatting on the ground. It was, in the most literal sense, a large fowl.
Its sharp eyes shot back and forth between the three of them, finally landing on Pan Ze’s face. It decisively flapped its wings and attacked.
A herd of alpacas galloped through Pan Ze’s mind. “What the hell? Yun Shao, are you confused? I’m not the one who said that! It was Yan He! Go attack him!”
Pan Ze quickly analyzed the difference between himself, He Ting, and Yan He. It really just came down to looks.
What? So I get hit just because I’m ugly?! This was completely unfair!
On this point, his former boss Shen Shao was much better.
Pan Ze didn’t dare fight Yun Xiao, so he could only scramble to dodge the massive bird’s attacks.
Yan He stood to the side, rubbing his nose.
This really wasn’t his fault.
He watched the razor-sharp beak jab viciously at the seat of Pan Ze’s pants and couldn’t help but marvel.
As expected of the F4’s Yun Shao. Even the infamous Proctology Director gets to feel what it’s like to be attacked from behind.
Yan He moved closer to He Ting, frowning. “He Shao, is he completely out of control?”
He Ting was very calm. “Not yet, but he’s close.”
It was obvious Yun Xiao was dishing out retaliatory punishment with clear favoritism.
He knew He Ting was a Siberian tiger, and attacking him would bring no benefit. Between a husky and a spotted hyena, he chose to ignore the good-looking husky and attack the hyena instead.
A real beast wouldn’t do that. Only a human would weigh the pros and cons.
But looking at Yun Xiao’s state, his beastly instincts were clearly overwhelming his humanity. He was walking a tightrope on the edge of full transformation. One small slip, and the nation would have a new avian general, ready to contribute to the breeding of endangered species.
He Ting had barely finished his analysis when the golden eagle, apparently tired of the chase, whipped its head around to stare at Yan He.
Yan He saw it and immediately edged closer to He Ting.
The golden eagle promptly flopped onto the ground, its sharp talons pointing skyward, exposing the soft down on its belly and, beneath the feathers, some… hidden organs.
Yan He was stunned. What is he doing?!
Based on every dramatic novel trope, Yan He’s face filled with horror. His first reaction was: “Is Yun Shao… proposing?”
But I’m not Bai Yuzhou!
Even the perpetually calm He Ting frowned, looking like he couldn’t bear to watch. “He’s probably… displaying his cloaca.”
The out-of-breath Pan Ze was shocked. “…”
Yan He’s horror intensified. “…”
He had just breathed a sigh of relief, and now he sucked it right back in.
Raptors and mammals were different. Golden eagles didn’t have a “ding-ding” in the traditional sense; they reproduced by pressing their cloacas together.
He was probably still holding a grudge about Yan He calling him “Streaker Bro” instead of “Big Bird Bro.”
But because his beastly side had already conquered his human side, his behavior was this wild, this… perverted! It was probably something even Pan Ze wouldn’t do.
Should I record this? Show it to Yun Xiao after he’s sane again?
Yan He could only console him: “Right, right, you’re Big Bird Bro, you’re Big Bird Baby, you’re the King of Big Eagles. We were the ones who didn’t see clearly.”
Big Bird Bro, get a grip! You don’t even have that thing when you’re a bird! The three of us here do!
Whatever. He’s the pervert, not me.
He Ting glanced at Yan He and noticed something—
For Yan He, if a person did the same thing, they’d be cursed as a pervert. But if a fluffy animal did it, he’d treat it like a child and coax it.
And he, He Ting, had far too much self-control.
He would probably never get to experience this special kind of treatment from Yan He.
Yan He had no experience with this and could only ask He Ting and Pan Ze, “So, what now?”
He Ting suppressed the frustration in his eyes. “We need to restore his human sanity as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the academy’s senior staff will take him for inspection. He can’t run around before he’s stable.”
But Yun Xiao had wings. They couldn’t exactly stop him.
Yan He couldn’t help but sigh. If only Yun Xiao were a flightless chicken, this would be so much easier.
He Ting made a decision: “First, get him to the F4’s common lounge.”
Pan Ze quickly drove the car over. He Ting got in first.
Pan Ze and Yan He, two dedicated lackeys, tried to figure out how to get the golden eagle into the car. Unfortunately, the eagle was too big. As they were forcefully stuffing it into the back, it spread its wings and smacked He Ting in the head, completely flattening his hairstyle.
Pan Ze couldn’t help but complain, “We should just let Yun Shao fly alongside the car.”
Yan He righteously retorted, “Pan Ze, shouldn’t you be repenting for not bringing a moving truck? How dare you complain about our Yun Shao’s perfect figure?!”
Pan Ze nearly leaped out of his skin. I’m the one doing all the dirty work, okay?!
The golden eagle’s feathers gently brushed Yan He’s face, clearly pleased.
An eagle’s flight feathers were actually very stiff, but it had deliberately used its softest inner down to touch Yan He. It was warm and fuzzy.
Yan He couldn’t help but think, If this were made into a down jacket, it would probably be really warm. This is so much better than goose down.
He Ting said flatly, “Are you done?”
To prevent Yun Xiao from flying off again, Pan Ze, throwing caution to the wind, found a rope. He planned to tie it to the eagle’s ankle and connect the other end to the car’s door handle.
Yan He couldn’t bear it. “Ze Ge, no, don’t tie him.”
It was just like the chickens and ducks tied up in the trunk when going home for the New Year.
Countless people wished they could be an animal in their next life, but looking at the furiously struggling, enraged golden eagle, all dignity was gone.
Even someone as proud as the F4’s Yun Xiao had not a shred of human dignity left after fully transforming.
Pan Ze disagreed. “If we don’t tie him, what happens if he flies away? Yan He, will you take full responsibility?”
Yan He replied, “On second thought, let’s tie him.”
The golden eagle: “…”
The big bird flapped its wings angrily upon hearing this.
Yan He reached out and stroked the eagle’s fluffy head, cooing as if he were coaxing his little niece, his voice unconsciously sweetened: “We won’t tie you, but you have to be a good boy and fly next to the car, okay?”
The golden eagle stared at Yan He, twisting its bird head. It was hard to tell if it understood.
Everyone got into the car. The luxury car slowly drove toward the F4 common lounge. Through the side mirror, Yan He saw the golden eagle squatting where they left it, its figure getting smaller and smaller. It seemed it hadn’t understood the proposal.
The passenger-side window rolled down. A pale, slender hand reached out from inside and waved gently.
The golden eagle stared at that hand, then immediately took flight, chasing after it. It flew at a low altitude, less than two meters from the passenger window.
The little money-grubber has this gentle side? He Ting lowered his gaze, suppressing the emotions in his eyes.
Pan Ze also couldn’t help but stammer, “Yan He, that, uh… if I fully transformed, would… would you be this nice to me?”
Yan He said warmly, “Of course I could.”
Pan Ze’s face flushed a little. Really? He’s this nice to everyone? Does Yan He have a saint complex?
“You can have any premium service you want,” Yan He said sonorously. “But… you have to pay extra.”
Pan Ze instantly snapped out of it. “Pretend I didn’t say anything.”
The car drove into the F4’s common lounge, and they all got out.
Yan He waved at the golden eagle, his voice soft and warm. “Xiao Xiao, let’s go inside.”
Pan Ze’s eyes went wide. Wait, he never said you get this kind of treatment when you’re fully transformed! This is too good!
The golden eagle folded its wings and followed Yan He inside as meekly as a flightless chicken.
At that moment, a figure was sitting on the sofa in the lounge, long legs crossed, head propped on one hand, reading the past week’s academy newspaper.
Hearing the noise, he looked up, revealing an exceptionally handsome face.
It was a different kind of beauty from He Ting’s. If He Ting was cold, this man was “chilling.” A venomous, snake-like gaze was sizing up the newcomer, Yan He.
Yan He had heard Pan Ze mention that this was one of the F4, Shen Shao—Shen Xianqing. His former boss.
Well, no wonder Shen Xianqing and Pan Ze used to be boss and lackey. They both have that sinister, villainous face.
He might not know what other people’s beast forms were, but the F4 were figures his female colleagues always talked about. This one’s nickname seemed to be… “Dopey Snake.”
He doesn’t look dopey at all with that handsome, sinister face.
He seemed to be one of the few non-fluffy animals in the F4, or even the entire academy. He was a large snake with cold, smooth scales.
Yan He naturally disliked cold-blooded animals; he much preferred fluffies that were nice to touch.
“He really transformed and can’t change back?” Shen Xianqing tossed the newspaper aside, staring at the golden eagle.
The snake’s gaze was too dangerous. The golden eagle minced on its chicken-feet and hid behind Yan He, its wide bird body completely exposed as it buried its head in Yan He’s arm.
He Ting, annoyed at the sight, sat on the sofa and demanded, “What exactly did you say to Yun Xiao?”
Shen Xianqing said, “I didn’t say much. Just that his new little lackey could run some errands for me, too. Then he just went crazy and flew off.”
Yan He’s ears perked up. What? Another job offer?
Pan Ze stood next to Yan He, gesturing to him. He rubbed his right thumb and index finger together, then shook his left hand.
Yan He quickly read the sign language.
Money. No.
Then who’s going to work for you?!
A polite refusal it is.
The group stared at the golden eagle. Shen Xianqing tried to call Yun Xiao back to his senses, but the big bird just kept its head hidden in Yan He’s arm, refusing to come out, like a giant pet bird.
“Bird brains are small. Maybe he can’t understand.”
This was not a good sign.
Shen Xianqing raised an eyebrow. “When I came back to campus today, I saw the van from the zoo at the base of the mountain.”
The thirteen peaks were a continuous chain. Just a few dozen kilometers away was one of the empire’s top-ranked 5A-grade scenic areas. The rating was extremely high; countless tourists claimed that 5A was the limit of the rating system, not the limit of the scenic area.
Aside from the beautiful scenery of the empire’s heartland, the zoo there also had countless rare and protected animals. With the rise of the internet, countless netizens discovered that the animals in this zoo were incredibly smart, as if they had gained sentience! They were beloved by the masses, and several had even become internet-famous celebrity animals.
Yan He had heard that even if a student fully transformed into a beast, they would still be smarter than other animals of the same species.
Yan He was startled. “They’re here to… restock?”
He Ting looked at the big bird with a complex expression. “Fully transformed protected animals only have two options: being checked into a zoo or being released into the wild.”
Yun Xiao was the young master of the Yun family, so he wouldn’t be taken this time. But if, after an academy inspection, he showed no signs of returning to his human form or sanity for three consecutive months, then it was hard to say.
So what now?
Shen Xianqing looked at Pan Ze. “I called Old Xu. He’s full of bright ideas.”
Pan Ze obediently dialed a number. A warm, gentle, and lazy voice came from the other end: “What’s wrong, Little Ze Ze?”
Pan Ze shivered and quickly explained the situation.
“Ah? Little Xiao fully transformed and can’t change back? What should we do? I’m still outside sketching, but I’ll be back soon.”
Xu Xingchuan thought for a moment and smiled gently. “How about you try praying to the Beast God?”
He Ting ordered concisely, “Hang up.”
Pan Ze ruthlessly ended the call.
Pan Ze explained, “Xu Shao is usually very reliable, but he’s a devout worshipper of the Beast God. The academy’s iconic Beast God statue was funded by his family, he built the Beast God chapel, and he organizes the academy’s annual Beast God’s Birthdae. He’s the Student Council president, so a mandatory requirement for joining the Student Council is being a Beast God worshipper.”
Yan He was still a bit dazed. They’re out of options, so they’re resorting to unreliable magic? This is hardly reliable.
Yan He was impressed. This F4 really has a weirdo religious fanatic in it.
Several pairs of eyes just stared at the golden eagle. Silence.
What now?
He Ting pondered for a moment. “Pan Ze, go to the school hospital immediately and apply for the strongest anti-transformation shot.”
Pan Ze nodded immediately and hurried out the door.
Shen Xianqing stared at the golden eagle and suddenly seemed to remember something. “He Ting, do you remember that peacock who was trying to seduce you last time?”
He Ting glanced at Yan He, his face sinking. “Shut up.”
Shen Xianqing was surprised. “Shut up? Why? We’re discussing feasible options. How did that peacock snap out of it last time?”
The two looked at each other, remembering—
Plucking its feathers.
It was just that… that method worked on a peacock, but would it work on a golden eagle?
Just then, the phone in Yan He’s pocket rang. He gave the two young masters an apologetic smile, took out his phone, and walked toward the French window.
It was a call from his cheap dad.
“Little He, you’ve been at the academy for a week. Are you used to it? You haven’t been exposed, right?”
“Not to anyone else, besides Yun Shao and them,” Yan He nodded, humoring him.
Yan He was also surprised. As smart as F4’s He Ting was, he hadn’t discovered that he wasn’t a husky, but a human?
Has my acting really become that superb?
His cheap dad chuckled. “That’s the identity your dad here carefully selected for you. By the way, you went to be Yun Shao’s study companion. How is he now? Is his explosive temper any better? He hasn’t lost control again, has he? The whole Yun family is extremely worried about him.”
His cheap dad knew his son well. He was a bit greedy, sure, but he was a slick bootlicker. As long as the money was good, he was very easy to get along with. No matter how you looked at it, even if Yun Shao wasn’t completely satisfied with Yan He, his smooth-talking son wouldn’t mess things up.
His dad added mysteriously, “Little He, Yun Shao’s dad said that if you take good care of Yun Shao, your dad here can also get a promotion. They’ll arrange for me to drive at the Yun Group headquarters.”
Yan He rubbed his nose, a little embarrassed. “Uh, Yun Shao is about to get tenure.”
His cheap dad was shocked. “Tenure at the academy?!”
This is incredible!
I’ve heard that some of the most outstanding students at Bestia Academy end up working at the academy after graduation, some as professors, others as doctors at the school hospital.
Even if Yun Shao doesn’t care about it, this is a glorious achievement for my son, his little study companion! As his father, I share in the glory, right?
“Tenure is great,” his cheap dad asked excitedly, ready to get to the bottom of it. “What kind of tenure? As expected of the outstanding son I raised!”
Yan He gave a dry laugh. “Zoo tenure.”
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