Chapter 31
A strange ripple of emotion rose in Shen Xianqing’s heart, refusing to calm for a long time.
In that moment, he finally began to understand why Yun Xiao and He Ting, both fierce beasts, were willing to let a husky specially-enrolled student—who should only be a pet dog—integrate into the lives of the F4.
Yan He seemed very different.
Outside the glass, Yan He couldn’t control himself and burst out laughing, “Hahahaha, so miserable.”
How did the F4’s top strategist, Shen Shao, end up looking like this?
Shen Xianqing: “…”
Yan He was indeed very different; he dared to laugh at him.
Yan He took out his phone, leaned against the glass window, and recorded a video with the big snake inside. “Yun Shao, this is our strategist brother’s life with room and board covered.”
Don’t blame Yan He; Yun Xiao asked him to film this.
Shen Xianqing also felt that this whole affair was incredibly embarrassing, so he simply hid his snake head within his coiled body—out of sight, out of mind.
Film, film all you want, but figure out a way to get me out first!
“Little Sprout He,” Xu Xingchuan waved cheerfully from a distance, “I’ve already informed the director.”
The director of the Thirteen Peaks Wildlife Park was scared sober upon hearing the news. His first reaction was to contact the Bestia Academy officials to confirm the truth, but Xu Xingchuan stopped him with a smile.
If the academy officials found out, it would be a disaster. Shen Xianqing would definitely be sent to the Discipline Room upon returning to the academy, making all their efforts for naught.
Xu Xingchuan was, after all, the eldest young master of the Xu family. The director had to consider the Xu family’s financial power, so he could only turn a blind eye.
However, since Shen Xianqing had already been put on display today, they had to wait until the end of the day to retrieve him. Afterward, he would be taken away under the pretext of protecting wild animals and releasing them into the wild.
Seeing that things were progressing smoothly, Yan He nodded. “So that’s how it is? Then we can still explore the zoo today.”
So Shen Xianqing watched through the glass window as Yan He and Xu Xingchuan walked away. He immediately propped up his body and flicked his forked tongue, feeling a bit anxious.
Wait a minute, this wasn’t a prison break? It was just a prison visit?!
The Thirteen Peaks Wildlife Park had the largest number of wild animals globally. Crucially, many of the animals were overly spiritual, leading to a considerable fan base and even their own fansites.
However, Xu Xingchuan could name exactly who those animals were before they fully transformed.
The macaque being bullied by the monkey troop used to be a sports student at the academy. The macaw perched on a branch, cursing and making tourists laugh, used to be the academy’s top debater. The black bear gorging on raw meat used to be the most particular about nutritional balance in his diet.
The zoo took very good care of them, yet smiles were hard to find on Yan He and Xu Xingchuan’s faces.
“So, it’s better to be a husky, right?” Xu Xingchuan said with a chuckle. “Even if you fully transform, you still have relative freedom in the future.”
You can be a puppy loved by your family, and even go out for walks every day.
Yan He couldn’t help but ask, “What about after graduation?”
Xu Xingchuan smiled meaningfully. “How many successfully graduate? Little Sprout He, He Ting is a repeater, you know.”
Yan He broke out in a cold sweat at the implication behind Xu Xingchuan’s words. Perhaps students who did well could stay at the academy in the future as school doctors, teachers, or even chefs in the cafeteria, possessing the right to occasionally leave the school.
Xu Xingchuan checked his watch. “We’ve seen enough. Let’s go pick up Old Shen.”
Yan He hurriedly said, “Xu Shao, wait. I want to buy some souvenirs, fridge magnets, and stuff.”
Yan He had promised Yun Xiao he would bring him some gifts when he returned from his trip, so he might as well buy them at the zoo.
Xu Xingchuan nodded in agreement, and Yan He immediately went in to do some shopping.
In the past, Yan He would absolutely never buy cultural and creative products at scenic spots, always feeling they were expensive. But now, with a large sum of money in his pocket, he bought whatever caught his eye.
About half an hour later, Yan He came out carrying large bags.
Seeing Xu Xingchuan approaching, Yan He handed him a Snickers bar.
A flash of surprise crossed Xu Xingchuan’s gentle, smiling eyes. Yan He said, “Xu Shao, enjoy the moment. Once you’re a panda, you won’t be able to eat chocolate anymore.”
Chocolate contains theobromine, a deadly neurotoxin for pandas—a piece of panda trivia Yan He had just seen.
Xu Xingchuan stared fixedly at the Snickers bar, then suddenly smiled. “No need. Lord Beast God will protect me.”
“Even when you become a puppy in the future, you won’t be able to eat chocolate either.”
Yan He guaranteed he would definitely be able to eat chocolate in the future, but Xu Xingchuan might not be so lucky.
suddenly, Yan He realized that the most difficult and unapproachable person in the F4 was actually the perpetually gentle Xu Xingchuan.
Shen Xianqing constantly tried to escape his cage, while Xu Xingchuan confined himself within a narrow circle, spiritually self-sufficient due to his faith. He would not step out of this circle unless his Lord Beast God led him out.
Yan He didn’t mind. He stuffed the Snickers bar back into his pocket, planning to eat it himself later.
Xu Xingchuan’s Adam’s apple moved. He remained silent, but a gentle smile stayed on his face.
Years later, Xu Xingchuan would regret countless times not reaching out to accept that Snickers bar.
The zoo exhibit closed, and the animals were caged. Yan He and Xu Xingchuan secretly followed the director to pick up Shen Xianqing.
Xu Xingchuan kept nodding to the director. “My friend lost his sense of direction during the field training in the wild zone and took the wrong path. Thank you to the zoo for your meticulous care.”
Since they still had to enter the academy later, Shen Xianqing couldn’t revert to human form yet. He had to be stuffed into a backpack and carried into the academy first.
Yan He lifted the cold, large snake out of the snake box. The snake was quite obedient, and seeing that his damaged scales were recovering, it was clear the zoo staff had indeed taken meticulous care of Shen Xianqing.
Yan He wasn’t in a hurry to put the snake into the backpack. Instead, he lifted the snake and examined it all over. Crucially, Shen Xianqing strangely didn’t struggle, letting him look.
“What is Little Sprout He looking at?”
Yan He looked for a long time but didn’t see anything, so he could only put Shen Xianqing into the backpack, whispering, “Don’t they say snakes have two…?”
He hadn’t seen it and was a little curious.
Xu Xingchuan: “…”
Shen Xianqing squirmed around in the backpack, emitting hissing sounds, his thoughts unknown.
After packing up, Yan He carried Shen Xianqing, weighing over thirty jin, and a large bag of souvenirs back to the academy.
The return trip to the academy went smoothly; they entered the gate using their nameplates.
A luxury car was parked at the gate. Pan Ze sat in the driver’s seat, waving at Yan He.
The group got into the car. Yan He immediately unzipped the backpack slightly, allowing the snake to stick its head out.
Shen Xianqing stared at the back of Pan Ze’s head, emitting low hisses.
Even if Pan Ze wanted to hint at reconciliation by being a free driver and begging to continue being his lackey, he would never agree again.
Shen Xianqing flicked his tongue, his vertical pupils staring unashamedly at Yan He’s profile.
Yan He had personally come to pick him up from the zoo’s cage. He could no longer view Yan He merely as his friend’s lackey…
After returning to the F4’s common lounge, they threw the big snake into the bedroom. Ten minutes later, Shen Xianqing appeared in the living room with a look of decadence.
Shen Xianqing coughed awkwardly and said, “I made you guys worry these past few days.”
Yun Xiao leaned half his weight on Yan He, playing with the golden eagle souvenir Yan He had given him, laughing uproariously. “Hahahaha, Old Shen, smart all your life, yet you have a day like this.”
He Ting calmly comforted him, “It’s good that you’re okay.”
Shen Xianqing walked over to Yan He, took a check from his pocket, and handed it to him. “Thanks.”
Seeing the seven zeros on it, Yan He’s eyes instantly lit up. Shen Shao is generous!
A few more of these, and could he achieve financial freedom on the spot and retire early?
Yan He looked at the other three with slight regret. It was a pity he couldn’t pack their beast forms into a backpack and carry them back.
Xu Xingchuan twirled the teacup in his hand and asked with a chuckle, “I also went to the zoo. Why doesn’t Qingqing thank me?”
Shen Xianqing coughed, his sharp gaze wandering a bit, his ears slightly hot. He just said Xu Xingchuan didn’t lack money.
He Ting rubbed his brows and closed his eyes, not really wanting to watch.
Yan He, having received the check, was already satisfied. He wholeheartedly spoke up for Shen Xianqing, “Xu Shao, you and Shen Shao are friends. I’m just a lackey.”
Of course it’s different. Friends don’t need so much gratitude; lackeys need payment.
Xu Xingchuan propped up his head and smiled. Suddenly, his tone shifted. “Qingqing, foreign academies and our academy are going to hold an exchange student program. Do you want to go?”
Shen Xianqing was shaken, staring at Xu Xingchuan.
These words sounded like bewitchment.
Yan He was like a light beginning to bloom with a different brilliance in his snake pupils, but freedom was his lifelong pursuit.
Shen Xianqing had always known that foreign academies weren’t as strict as Bestia; students could come and go freely during holidays, giving him plenty of time to handle personal matters.
It was like suddenly being handed two choices.
“Hey, Old Shen, did you get stupid staying in the zoo? You actually hesitated?” Yun Xiao was greatly amazed.
Yun Xiao thought Shen Xianqing would be the first to snatch the spot for the exchange program abroad once he found out. He’d fight anyone who dared to compete with him.
Shen Xianqing put away his inner thoughts, glancing sideways. “Don’t you also really want to go out? Yun Xiao, I’m yielding to you, don’t you get it?”
Why, why was no one fighting him for the spot?
If the spot was snatched away, he could only resign himself to not going, right?
Yun Xiao hugged Yan He’s arm, happily saying, “No need. With Yan He, I’m not irritable anymore.”
Yun Xiao was very frank. “Foreign beast academies are free, but they don’t have Yan He there!”
Saying this, he suddenly semi-transformed. A giant golden eagle head rubbed against Yan He’s arm, incredibly happy.
Between freedom and Yan He, Yun Xiao decisively chose the latter.
Yan He looked at the bird-man—bird head, human body—with a face full of horror and rejection, repeatedly pushing the furry bird head away with his hands. “Yun Shao, don’t semi-transform! It’s really scary!”
This looked exactly like the Golden-Winged Great Peng from Journey to the West. So weird!
He Ting suddenly opened his eyes, his golden pupils staring straight at the overjoyed Yun Xiao.
When did they become so close?
Was it starting from when Yan He brushed Yun Xiao’s feathers?
A transformed Yun Xiao could constantly get close to Yan He. A transformed Shen Xianqing was carried back by Yan He.
Only him.
Seemingly sharing a secret boss-lackey relationship with Yan He, yet separated by an invisible net.
The content of the exam question that day appeared in He Ting’s mind again, lingering unforgettably.
Shen Xianqing hesitated and said, “We’ll… we’ll see. Who is exchanging over from there?”
Xu Xingchuan smiled knowingly and said, “The news from the student council says it’s a snow leopard. His family is powerful. We’ll know the specific situation when he arrives.”
The King of the Snowy Mountains. Not only extremely good-looking but also possessing strong combat power. Also a National First-Class Protected Wild Animal.
Yan He couldn’t help but say, “Snow leopards have strong combat power, but their personalities are gentler than tigers, more like cats!”
He Ting stared at Yan He with a dark face. Yan He was a bit bewildered by that gaze and hurriedly tried to salvage the situation. “Fierce beasts having fierce personalities… isn’t… isn’t that better? It better reflects He Shao’s dignity as the Tiger King!”
Yan He felt extremely wronged. The word ‘gentle’ should have a derogatory connotation for fierce beasts!
He Ting sneered internally. ‘Gentle’ indeed wasn’t a good word for fierce beasts, but in Yan He’s eyes, ‘gentle’ meant ‘pettable’!
He Ting said indifferently, “Don’t wear colored glasses.”
Siberian tigers can also… be very gentle.
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