CHAPTER 188: 139 SHORT STAY

Su Ming’an had originally invited Du Yu over for lunch, but by three in the afternoon, that meal still hadn’t happened.

Because Du Yu, nestled on the "bearskin king-sized bed"... fell asleep.

Fell! Asleep!

Faced with a problematic Demon Pet like that—a fierce, terrifying, and powerful Demon Pet, no less—little newbie Du Yu actually curled up on its belly and fell asleep...

Su Ming’an didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, unsure if she should admire Du Yu’s big heart or call him totally clueless.

And the Earth Bear totally played along, lying perfectly still to be Du Yu’s bear-skin sleeping bag—and it even took a nap itself.

The scene left Lin Shiwei genuinely stunned!

She was terrified the sleeping Earth Bear might accidentally roll over and squash Du Yu flat with its butt...

It wasn’t until after three in the afternoon that Du Yu finally drifted awake.

He opened his hazy eyes and needed a moment to remember where he was.

"Uh." Du Yu sat up, embarrassed, scratching his head. Aunt Su had already wandered off to play with the other Demon Pets in the distance.

Only Lin Shiwei remained, sitting atop a little wooden stump with her legs crossed, quietly standing guard over him.

Seeing Du Yu wake up, Lin Shiwei gave a faint smile: "You’re awake?"

"Ah, I fell asleep without meaning to." Du Yu looked up—right into a big, grumpy bear face.

The Earth Bear realized the little thing in its arms had woken up; it scooted back, leaving just enough space to turn around, and walked off without a backward glance.

Didn’t even look at Du Yu.

Du Yu: "..."

Getting snubbed again?

Lin Shiwei: "You’ve probably just been constantly out on the battlefield these days. Must be exhausted."

"It’s not too bad." Du Yu replied apologetically. "You’ve been here this whole time?"

Lin Shiwei waved it off like it was nothing. Then she looked down, tapped the little wooden stump beneath her: "Thanks."

Suddenly, a pair of eyes opened on the bark of the stump.

This little guy seemed to have dozed off, too...

As the girl stood up, the layers of "leaf cushions" wrapped atop the stump slowly unfurled, turning into a fluffy mass of leafy hair.

Wood Beast·Wooden Stump!

"Mmm~" Wooden Stump shook its head, leaves rustling softly, as if fixing its hair.

It even stretched out a vine, gently brushing the girl’s dangling hand, clearly happy to have helped.

Then, Wooden Stump pitter-pattered away on its little branch feet, leaving Earth Bear’s territory.

Du Yu, meanwhile, glanced over at the retreating Earth Bear, grumbling under his breath: "What a tsundere big guy."

"Hungry?" Lin Shiwei strolled over, reaching out a hand.

"Hehe~" Hearing that, Du Yu just got even more embarrassed.

Whenever you visit someone’s house, the host will always say things like, "Don’t be so formal," or "Treat this place as your own home."

But he’d clearly taken that way too literally; he’d just come over and conked out on the spot...

Not only slept, but the daughter even stood guard the whole time?

As Du Yu was pulled up, far off by the central pond, Su Ming’an tossed in some more fish food and waved at the two kids.

The Golden Lamp Spirit Fish wouldn’t even let the fish food hit the water; their giant golden bulbous eyes glowing like tiny lamps as they locked onto the food and leapt out of the pond after it.

The trio met up halfway, and—amidst Du Yu’s embarrassed apologies—headed home together.

"It’s no big deal, what’s wrong with a little nap?" Su Ming’an teased, glancing at Du Yu. "If anything, I should thank you for finding the breakthrough to unlock Earth Bear’s heart."

"What breakthrough? Using its belly as a bed?"

"Exactly, it’s not like you and Earth Bear have a bond yet, but it still accepted you."

Su Ming’an led Du Yu into the first-floor dining room as she spoke: "That means this Earth Bear actually needs that kind of contact, which totally fits their species’ personality, too."

Du Yu eyed the departing servants and the steaming six dishes and one soup on the table, sighing to himself—damn, rich people households really are built different...

Su Ming’an handed Du Yu a warm towel: "How does it feel being a Breeder?"

Du Yu looked troubled: "Huh? Aunt Su, does this count as being a Breeder?"

Su Ming’an nodded like it was only natural: "Handling Demon Pet psychology is totally in the Breeder playbook.

You opened a door for the reclusive Earth Bear, got it to start accepting the world again. You did a great job."

Du Yu felt a little awkward, thinking he’d just gotten lucky—Aunt Su was giving him way too much credit.

If being a Breeder was really that easy, why would I ever go back to the battlefield?

I could just nap and rake in cash full-time...

Su Ming’an smiled, looking at Du Yu, and asked again: "So? How’s it feel, being a Breeder?"

Du Yu stayed silent for a while, before mumbling: "Honestly? Felt pretty good. I slept like a log."

Su Ming’an: "..."

Lin Shiwei stifled her laughter, covering her face, shoulders shaking despite trying to hold it in.

Su Ming’an gave Du Yu a smiling glance—she really found this kid interesting. Hanging out with him was pretty comfortable, too.

She motioned for Du Yu to eat as she continued, "I hear from Weiwei you’re already at Demon Tamer·Peak Stage, but you only have two Demon Pets?"

"That’s right, Auntie, but actually I have three Demon Pets. I’ve also got a Dust Spirit Deer—Master Qing is taking care of it for me."

"Mhm." Su Ming’an nodded. "Any Demon Pets you especially have your eye on? Tell Auntie about it?"

"Huh?" Du Yu blinked, heart skipping a beat. Was Aunt Su about to give him a Demon Pet?

"You helped Weiwei make a Contract with a Dust Spirit Deer." Su Ming’an glanced at the quietly eating Lin Shiwei and sighed softly, "You don’t even know how much that Dust Spirit Deer will affect her future."

Du Yu: "Affect her?"

Su Ming’an: "People can influence their pets, and pets can influence their humans, too."

"I see..."

Su Ming’an: "You know exactly what kind of people Dust Spirit Deer will approach; Weiwei lacks a little in that area. But with you vouching for her, the Dust Spirit Deer and its Clan Leader both agreed, which is a huge honor.

But face isn’t everything; it’s not enough to truly forge a lifelong bond between human and pet.

From the moment Weiwei made the Contract with Dust Spirit Deer, she has to change for the better—at the very least, she has to work towards it."

In truth, Su Ming’an hadn’t said the harshest words in front of her daughter.

The Dust Spirit Deer was like a warning bell: if Lin Shiwei went off the rails, it would drift away, too.

As a mother, she was constantly worrying about her daughter.

Especially given Lin Shiwei’s "history," it made Su Ming’an much more at ease having such a warning bell hanging over her head.

At this moment, Du Yu didn’t realize Su Ming’an’s gratitude wasn’t just for letting her daughter make a Contract with a rare Demon Pet.

It was also about the peace of mind this Immortal Deer brought her—the hope it gave her daughter’s future growth.

Lin Shiwei put down her chopsticks and said softly, "I’ll work hard, Mom."

Su Ming’an nodded, then turned to Du Yu: "You two are teammates and will be together in the future, so the stronger you are, the better.

If you don’t have any particular favorites, Auntie can help you pick out a few Demon Pets, how about that?"

Du Yu shook his head: "Thanks, Aunt Su, but actually Master Qing still owes me a Demon Pet—my reward for clearing the tower."

"Oh?"

Du Yu shrugged helplessly: "Master Qing realized I had some issues and put off giving me the reward. I’m still not attentive enough when looking after my Demon Pets—sometimes I overlook their feelings.

Master Qing said, when she thinks I’m ready, that’s when I can make a Contract with another Demon Pet."

Su Ming’an nodded thoughtfully: "If it’s Master Qing’s word, then you’d best hold off on new Contracts for now."

Clearly, Yang Qingqing’s reputation really is legit!

As soon as that name dropped, the previously persistent Su Ming’an immediately stopped insisting.

Still, she did share a lot of experience with Du Yu about his issues.

Four golden words: Professional Guidance!

This meal lasted a full hour.

Having the legendary Breeder herself tutor Du Yu was kind of a waste of talent, honestly.

After all, Du Yu only had three Demon Pets in total. If Su Ming’an raised them, she’d have them sorted out with one hand...

After dinner, with Su Ming’an enthusiastically insisting, Du Yu happily agreed to stay over for the night.

They say Demon Pet Paradise gets really gorgeous at night. Du Yu was curious and wanted to experience it for himself.

"Why don’t you stay for a few days?" Lin Shiwei walked Du Yu out the back door and into the courtyard.

"Huh?"

The two of them strolled along the edge of the Maple Forest Barrier. Du Yu spotted a swing hanging from the massive branches of a Maple Tree.

Lin Shiwei stepped forward and asked, "Any plans for the next few days?"

Du Yu: "Not really. I’ll just train a bit, I guess."

"Perfect, we could train together then." Lin Shiwei considered, then added, "Xiaoyan and Ghost Firefly can find good sparring partners for practice, too."

Du Yu hesitated: "Um..."

"It’s settled, then." Lin Shiwei plopped down on the swing, glanced up, and grinned at Du Yu.

"Ying~"

"Woof~"

"Woof woof!" Suddenly a whole bunch of chaos sounded behind them.

Du Yu turned around and saw Xiaoyan leading a pack of Little Wolf Lake Dogs, charging right at them.

She had obviously become the big boss—she’d been chasing after the Wind Trace Steed with her underlings, but as soon as their human came out of the house, she immediately switched course and dashed his way.

Demon Pets along the way scrambled to get out of the way of this little gang, making for a hilarious sight.

Du Yu grinned and crouched down, arms outstretched.

"Ying!" Xiaoyan got close—then leaped straight ahead.

"Eh? Did you overshoot? ...Uh." Du Yu turned his head, face full of awkwardness.

As if Prince Yan would ever miss the mark?

She nailed it—straight into beloved’s arms!

And with Du Yu turning away, a swarm of Little Wolf Lake Dogs bowled him right over...

"Woof!"

"Woof woof!" Like a tide, they trampled over Du Yu and swarmed around Lin Shiwei’s feet, wagging their tails madly.

Lin Shiwei hopped off the swing, found a spot to settle down, and hugged Xiaoyan, bringing her over to the Maple Tree and holding her little head near the trunk: "Maple, want a taste?"

"Ying?" Xiaoyan blinked curiously.

Before them, a unique tree bark pattern was oozing thick brown syrup drop by drop.

Xiaoyan tentatively stuck out her soft pink tongue, licked the bark.

"Ying!" Instantly, she squinted with happiness and, just like the wagging Wolf Lake Dogs below, her two big tails started swishing side to side.

Lin Shiwei turned to look at Du Yu, raising her brows in a little challenge.

Du Yu looked at the girl, then at the blissful Xiaoyan in her arms, and could only nod.

Guess I’ll stay for a few days—your family’s kitchen isn’t going to miss my handful of rice.

Besides, I can sneak down to the Maple Tree late at night and let Little Fen Yang taste that maple syrup, too.

Looks seriously delicious...