"So you two finally decided to come back? You even learned how to open doors now. Are you feeling proud of yourselves?" Liang He puffed her cheeks and planted her hands on her hips, pretending to be stern as she scolded the two large animals.
Seeing the Mojin King Tiger with his ears drooping and the Canglan Hunting Eagle burying his head into his neck, their adorable, obedient postures as they listened to her lecture almost made Liang He burst out laughing.
Standing off to the side, Huo An felt the stark contrast even more keenly. Just moments ago, they had been at each other's throats, but now they had transformed into perfectly well-behaved darlings. They really were something else.
"Brother Hao, how do you think we should punish them?" Liang He winked at Huo An, signaling for him to offer them a way out. It was a chance for him to earn some goodwill with Cedriel and Lanton so he wouldn't be targeted again.
"Ahem. They don't know any better yet. Take your time teaching them. Just don't let it happen again." For some reason, Huo An suddenly thought of his own strict mother and doting father back home, subconsciously mimicking the exact words his father used to say.
"Since Brother Hao said so, I'll let it slide. But Cedriel, Lanton, you two are absolutely not allowed to run off like that again." Having finished her little performance, Liang He's tone instantly softened.
Cedriel twitched his ears and carefully raised his eyes in an innocent gaze. Once he confirmed she was no longer angry, he immediately bounded forward and began rubbing against her affectionately.
"AWOO~"
Cedriel hooked his tail around Liang He's wrist, continuously nudging his furry tiger head against her cheek. His golden eyes were brimming with trust and reliance.
Seeing Liang He being monopolized by Cedriel, Lanton could not just stand by. He hurriedly claimed her other side, affectionately burying his little head into the crook of her neck. His wings, tucked behind his back, smoothly nudged the big tiger away in the process.
Witnessing the two Beast Beasts vying for her favor, Huo An could hardly bear to watch. Raising an eyebrow, he snapped a few photos of their sycophantic behavior, fully intending to ruin their reputations in the family group chats.
[Cedriel's Family Group Chat]
[Lanton's Family Group Chat]
[Huo An: @Everyone, [Image]]
It was simple, direct, and clear. Words were unnecessary. When Cedriel and Lanton's family members clicked on the images, only one thought crossed their minds. They wondered if these were truly their majestic Marshal and field-controlling Commander. Their dignified images were completely shattered!
Equally unable to bear the sight, the family members remained collectively silent. However, Huo An could practically feel the shock radiating through their silence.
"Brother Hao, what are you laughing at?" Noticing that Huo An had gone quiet, Liang He glanced over curiously, only to see him staring at his Light Brain with a terrifyingly creepy smile.
"It's nothing." Catching sight of Liang He's indescribable expression, Huo An immediately wiped the smile off his face and returned to normal. "Right, I had someone bring over a lot of local specialties from Blue Star earlier. Let me go get them from the aircraft for you."
"Really? That's wonderful! Thank you, Brother Hao!" Upon hearing that it was food from her hometown, Liang He was so thrilled she almost jumped on the spot. Overjoyed, she planted a massive kiss right on Cedriel's forehead to release her excitement.
Even though he was the one who brought the gifts, Cedriel was the one who got the reward. This instantly wiped away Huo An's good mood. Pressing his lips into a thin line, he turned and marched toward the aircraft. Liang He quickly followed right behind him, terrified that the local specialties might vanish if she took her eyes off them for even a second.
"Do Cedriel and Lanton want to help carry things too?" Liang He had originally expected the Mojin King Tiger and Canglan Hunting Eagle to find their own spots to rest. Seeing that they were still following her and refused to leave, she decided to tease them.
To her surprise, whether Cedriel and Lanton actually understood her or not, they genuinely started helping with the heavy lifting. As soon as Huo An placed the boxes and bags on the ground, Cedriel used his massive paws to push a box toward the service area's medical room. Meanwhile, Lanton grabbed the handles of a bag in his beak and flew straight toward the same room.
"Wow! Cedriel and Lanton are amazing! You're even helping your big sister carry things now!"
Liang He showered Cedriel and Lanton with endless, free-flowing praise, which only made them work with even more vigor. By the time Huo An had finished unloading everything from the aircraft, the two animals were actually disappointed that the job was over so quickly.
"AWOO!"
He was such a cheapskate!
"SCREECH!"
Agreed!
Huo An was speechless. He thought to himself that if they were so capable, they should buy gifts for Liang He themselves next time!
"There are so many things. I don't think the medical room can hold it all." Looking at the room packed with supplies, various medical equipment, and a large bed, Liang He felt cramped for the first time. She seemed to be treating her "workplace" a little too much like home.
"The service area has animal dormitories. You can actually let Cedriel and Lanton sleep on their own," Huo An suggested.
They were fully grown beasts, yet they clung to their Breeder all day. Did they have no shame? Huo An complained silently in his head, completely forgetting that just a short while ago, begging them to show even a little closeness to humans had been an impossible wish.
"If I'm not around, they might not adapt well, but moving to the animal dormitories together isn't a bad idea."
There were some things that Liang He did not ask about, but that did not mean she could not feel them. The trust and reliance Cedriel and Lanton placed in her had never been shown to anyone else. On the contrary, whenever they saw Huo An, Xu Yi, and the others, they were highly guarded and resistant. Liang He could sense all of this.
"It also works out since I need to keep a close eye on the two little wolf pups," she continued. "I have to feed them goat's milk every three hours."
The more she thought about it, the more fitting it seemed. Deciding to act immediately, Liang He began preparing for the move. Huo An originally wanted to help, but an unexpected situation arose in the reserve that required his immediate attention, so he had to drop the idea.
"There's no rush to move. Wait until I'm done with work, and I'll come back to help you." Worried that the frail Blue Star native would not be able to handle such manual labor, Huo An specifically told her not to force herself or get overtired before he left.
"Don't worry, Brother Hao. I know my limits." With a tiger and a falcon by her side, Liang He smiled and saw Huo An off before she started sorting and categorizing her belongings, planning to get everything moved in one go.
The animal dormitory was massive, standing two stories high. It had likely been specially reserved for large animals like giraffes or elephants. The nursery was also located inside.
"Thankfully, the climate control system covers the entire animal dormitory, and I can even adjust the temperature in different zones. I don't need to worry about being uncomfortable here."
The animal dormitory had its own storage area, which had previously been used mainly to store animal feed. It came equipped with freezers, which was perfect for Liang He to store her refrigerated and frozen foods. In addition, she sorted her dry goods, seasonings, pots, pans, and personal clothing, placing them neatly in the storage room for easy access.
"Next time, I should submit a request to the district director and see if I can set up an indoor kitchen."
After finally wrestling her bed into one of the animal dormitory rooms and finishing unpacking, Liang He collapsed onto the mattress, completely exhausted and starved. She began to ponder her future plans, completely forgetting that the only reason she was staying here was to treat Cedriel's illness; otherwise, she could have returned to the Main Service Area.
To be honest, compared to the Main Service Area, Liang He was actually much more accustomed to her current lifestyle—living alone with her fluffy companions. She felt completely free and happy every single day.
"AWOO~"
"SCREECH~"
Before they knew it, dinner time arrived. The Mojin King Tiger and Canglan Hunting Eagle were getting ready to head out and hunt for food again. They had learned their lesson this time and knew they needed to check in with Liang He first. Only after receiving her permission did the tiger and falcon bound into the jungle, disappearing into the twilight.
Watching them leave with the relieved, affectionate gaze of an old mother sending off her children, Liang He suddenly remembered something incredibly important.
"Oh no! I forgot to feed the wolf pups their goat's milk!"