CHAPTER 333: CHAPTER 333: PLAYING HARD TO GET

After listening to Chu Jiaojiao’s flattering nonsense, Ji You couldn’t help but smile slightly, immediately turned around, and strode away. In order to get to the business district sooner, Ji You gritted her teeth and reluctantly spent 5 credit points to take an automated Floating Car.

By noon, the business district was bustling with activity. Many students who had money in their pockets and didn’t want to squeeze into the cafeteria opted to dine in restaurants here. The hotpot restaurant was no exception. When Ji You entered, it was filled with students.

As soon as Ji You stepped in, she bumped into the hotpot restaurant owner and was taken aback, "Owner? Why are you standing at the door?"

Upon seeing Ji You, the restaurant owner also let out a sigh of relief, a smile promptly appearing on his face: "Classmate Ji You, sorry to keep you waiting. I’ve been waiting for you on purpose."

Ji You: "???"

The restaurant owner led Ji You toward a special staff-only corridor, explaining as they walked, "Mengmeng has been a bit unhappy lately, hardly grazing at all, so I’m a bit worried. Just a few days ago, while accompanying Mengmeng watching the news, it saw your figure on the screen and kept bleating at you. Thinking it likes you so much, I invited you over to please talk to Mengmeng and give it some encouragement."

Ji You: "..."

Honestly, she didn’t know how to comfort a llama, but? Judging by the look on the face of the hotpot restaurant owner, she knew it must be true; Mengmeng must be troubled by something to be so unhappy.

So, Ji You immediately said, "I’ll try my best."

"Ah!" The hotpot restaurant owner let out a sigh, saying, "Mengmeng will definitely be very happy to see you."

Scratching her head, Ji You said, "I’ve missed it quite a bit after not seeing it for so many days." As she spoke these words, she felt a tad guilty—truth be told, she had been back for several days and had only cared about studying and competing, not sparing a thought for anything else, having pushed Mengmeng aside in her mind.

Of course, that’s not something she could outright say to the owner, nor could she let Mengmeng know; if the little guy found out, who knows how heartbroken it would be.

As they talked, walking through numerous spaces, they were soon approaching where Mengmeng lived.

Suddenly, the restaurant owner stopped and said, "Mengmeng is right here. It’s been giving me the cold shoulder these past few days, so I won’t go in. You go in alone, classmate Ji You. If there’s anything you need, just ring this bell, and I can be right over."

Ji You blinked and said, "Mengmeng’s temperament is quite something, huh? Owner, you always indulge it like this?"

Hearing this, the restaurant owner sighed softly and said quietly, "Our Mengmeng has always been very well-behaved, everyone’s Little Cutie. It only gets temperamental when it’s unhappy. Speaking of which, Mengmeng really is a pitiful kid. If it weren’t for..." He suddenly realized he was saying too much and quickly stopped, saying, "Knowing that you’re coming today, Mengmeng must be very anxious. I won’t go in."

Ji You didn’t ask further and nodded, "Alright."

Following that, the door opened at her command, and only then did Ji You realize that the hotpot restaurant had actually set aside a few hundred square meters as a ranch for Mengmeng, filled with fresh grass.

She couldn’t help but admire the extravagance of it all.

Admiring inside, Ji You’s eyes immediately fixed on the llama in the midst of all the green. She grinned broadly and said cheerily, "Mengmeng, I’ve come to see you."

Mengmeng looked up, gazing at the ceiling, and didn’t respond.

"Aw! Little Cutie Mengmeng, I’ve missed you so much..." As Ji You spoke, she rushed over, reaching out to hold Mengmeng’s head firmly, wanting to give it a good rub—

Just as her hand reached out, Mengmeng suddenly stepped back, avoiding Ji You’s embrace.

Ji You: "..."

After dodging, Mengmeng gave Ji You a squinting glance, then turned its head away, even snorting softly through its nose.

Ji You: "..."

This—

Was it acting haughty?

Or was it angry?

Or perhaps, both?

Wondering what the reason could be, Mengmeng, which had remained stationary, suddenly turned its back deliberately, presenting its rear end to Ji You, its refusal clear and unmistakable.

Oh, dear!

This is really a little proud one, with such a temper.

Ji You softened her voice and quickly coaxed: "Little Mengmeng~"

"Little baby~"

"Little Cutie~"

"Sweetheart~"

Ji You spouted these cheesy lines as if they cost her nothing, one after another non-stop. Thankfully, her audience was an alpaca; otherwise, any person would have been intolerable.

In fact, after hearing this, the alpaca Mengmeng didn’t react at all.

Ji You didn’t get discouraged and quickly explained: "Sister didn’t come to play with you right away because there were a lot of learning tasks unfinished, I couldn’t leave them, so I was delayed a little bit. Our Mengmeng is so smart, cute, and lively, surely you won’t be mad at your sister, right?"

Mengmeng snorted through its nose but still didn’t turn around.

Hmm?

Could it be that it’s not upset because I haven’t seen it for so long? Maybe it’s been feeling gloomy recently? That’s why it’s unhappy?

Ji You racked her brains but couldn’t figure it out. Instead of guessing the alpaca’s thoughts, she went straight on: "Let me tell you, my special training this time introduced me to so many interesting things..."

Yada yada... She briefly shared her experiences at the Space Station with Mengmeng.

This time, Mengmeng’s ears slightly quivered, and it even scratched the grass under its hooves with its front paw, but it still refused to turn around. Ji You guessed that the little fellow must have cooled down by now, willing to listen to her chatter.

With a twinkle in her eye, Ji You immediately said: "It seems, Mengmeng doesn’t like me anymore and doesn’t want to listen to me either, so I’ll just leave."

After dropping those words, she immediately lifted her foot and walked toward the doorway.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

...

Ji You silently counted, and by the fifth step, she already heard a whooshing sound from behind. She knew Mengmeng was chasing after her, but she didn’t rush, continuing unwaveringly toward the door with her sixth step.

"Ow~"

As Ji You’s hand was about to grasp the doorknob, a gust of wind rushed at her, and the alpaca’s long mouth latched onto her sleeve.

—— As it turns out, playing hard to get not only works on humans but on alpacas as well.

The ancients did not deceive me!

Ji You’s heart was already blooming with joy, but she still stubbornly said: "Mengmeng! Since you don’t welcome me, I will go back first."

Mengmeng: "Ow~"

Ji You didn’t look back and tried to pull the door open again—

Mengmeng: "Wu~"

It clung to Ji You’s sleeve with its mouth, refusing to let her continue opening the door, and made a series of pitiful cries. Listening to them, Ji You’s heart softened instantly.

She immediately turned around and hugged Mengmeng’s head: "Mengmeng! Little treasure! Are you not angry with your sister anymore?"

Mengmeng’s head leaned close to Ji You and affectionately rubbed against her cheek, showing with its actions that it was no longer upset.