CHAPTER 334: CHAPTER 334: COAXING THE ALPACA

Chapter 334

Ranch.

A person and an alpaca cuddled up together, a scene that was anything but harmonious.

After making up with Mengmeng, Ji You talked nonstop. She was already somewhat of a chatterbox by nature, and facing Mengmeng, who she knew loved listening to her stories, she told Mengmeng all about her special training experience at Taoyuan Space Station.

When she spoke of teaming up with her classmates to trap a level 4 Star Beast, Mengmeng vigorously dug its paws, showing signs of excitement.

As Ji You went on to tell how she cleverly led her friends to scavenge in the starry sky and made a fortune, Mengmeng nudged its head over and affectionately kissed Ji You’s cheek.

Then—

When the topic turned to the sacrifices of Senior Yang Bin and Senior Lu Zhen, Ji You’s expression dimmed, and Mengmeng, sensing a cloud of sadness enveloping this human, looked somewhat baffled but still gently cuddled up to Ji You and rubbed her cheek.

This was its way of offering comfort.

Ji You’s inner sorrow was briefly tucked away as she raised her hand to pet Mengmeng’s head and said softly, "Mengmeng, I’ve put my sadness aside. I lift my eyes to look forward, step forward, my strength is still too weak, so I must urgently improve myself. From now on, I’ll spend every day striving with all my might."

Mengmeng did not understand, but it could feel a strong momentum emanating from the good-looking and nice-smelling human beside it. Mengmeng stretched its head forward and opened its mouth: "Awoo~"

Ji You smiled with pressed lips: "Are you telling me to keep it up? I’ve got the message. I’ll definitely keep going!"

Mengmeng: "Meh~"

Too cute.

Also way too silly and lovable.

Ji You couldn’t help herself and hugged Mengmeng’s head, giving it a vigorous rub: "Mengmeng, you’re such a sweet Little Cutie, such a good kid, good kid, good kid..."

As she spoke, she felt her stomach growl.

Only then did Ji You remember she hadn’t had lunch yet. With heavy training and lots of study tasks each day, she had to eat on time or she’d feel famished.

Of course, she didn’t rush off to eat. The reason for her visit was to carry out a task given by the hot pot restaurant owner, which was to persuade Mengmeng to eat its green grass properly and not be stubborn and refuse food.

Thinking this over, Ji You reached out to feel Mengmeng’s shrunken belly, laughing as she offered, "Mengmeng, are you hungry? Wanna eat some grass?"

The area around them was full of lush and tender grass, natural food specifically for alpacas.

After hearing this, Mengmeng snorted with its nose, seemingly a little unwilling.

Ji You asked, "Can you tell sister why you’re being stubborn and not eating?"

Goodness!

Before, the restaurant owner had said that this alpaca often got depressed and refused to eat grass when it did. Ji You had doubted it at the time, but having now seen it firsthand, she realized it was true.

This won’t do.

Even humans often go hungry, living day to day on nutrient solution, while Mengmeng, born into such a good home, with such a caring Master treating it like a child, still frequently threw temper tantrums. Either Mengmeng was being overly spoiled, or there had to be some underlying reason.

Regarding this, Ji You wasn’t in a hurry. Since the store owner himself couldn’t completely change Mengmeng’s personality, she couldn’t either, at least not right away. However, Ji You had a plan in mind and pressed a bell.

Instantly, the hot pot restaurant owner walked over. Seeing Mengmeng and Ji You so close together in a harmonious atmosphere, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: It was indeed the right decision to invite Student Ji You over.

However, as soon as the restaurant owner entered, Mengmeng immediately turned its head away.

The hotpot restaurant owner saw Mengmeng’s performance and didn’t mind it. Without going over to coax Mengmeng, he turned his head towards Ji You and smiled, "Ji You, I’ve already prepared a hearty lunch for you, do you want to go out to eat now?"

Ji You also witnessed this scene and laughed, "There’s no need to go out, if it’s not too much trouble for the owner, you could bring the lunch in here, and I can have lunch with Mengmeng."

Eh?

Mengmeng is willing to eat?

As soon as the hotpot restaurant owner heard this, his eyes lit up. There was no reason to say no, and he immediately replied, "Okay, I’ll bring it over now."

After that, he went out for a bit, and before long, the hotpot restaurant owner personally brought in lunch. Ji You almost drooled at the sight, but thankfully, she’s now a person who has seen the world and wouldn’t lose her composure over a lavish meal.

The hotpot restaurant owner laughed, "Actually, my specialty isn’t just hotpot. This seared Long-legged Chicken is also my specialty, but it’s quite complicated to make, so I haven’t included it on the menu."

Speaking of which, he placed the glossy, golden-hued Long-legged Chicken on the table, which was the main dish. There were also several side dishes, fruits, beverages... all made from natural food, emitting the fragrance of natural food.

In short, this meal, if ordered in the restaurant, would definitely cost no less than 10,000 credit points.

Uh—

Ji You was a bit torn.

Should she pay for it?

Or should she not?

...

The hotpot restaurant owner smiled, "Please, Ji You, enjoy the meal and eat to your heart’s content. Having you come over to take care of Mengmeng is a favor that cannot be compared to a meal."

Ji You felt a bit embarrassed: "How could I possibly accept this?"

But after considering it, she decided not to be overly polite and straightforwardly said, "Then I will accept it without ceremony."

Upon hearing this, the hotpot restaurant owner was delighted and said, "Ji You, if you need anything else, just ring the bell."

Ji You: "Okay."

Afterwards, the hotpot restaurant owner walked out.

Having eaten someone else’s food meant that she naturally had to put in more effort. Ji You looked at Mengmeng beside her and said, "Mengmeng, are you not hungry and don’t feel like eating? Then I won’t wait for you, I’m going to eat."

This seared Long-legged Chicken was crispy on the outside and tender inside, the flavor was indescribably delicious, so good that Ji You could almost wish to swallow her fingers, teeth, and tongue along with it. She tore off two chicken legs in a row, smacking her lips, and finished them off in just a few minutes.

As she ate, she also made appreciative noises, and this indulgent display even enticed Mengmeng, who only ate green grass and not meat, to have a huge appetite. However, looking at the green grass under its feet, Mengmeng who wanted to take a bite hesitated a bit: all set to fast to the end, if it gave in too easily—

—Mengmeng would feel it had lost face.

Ji You caught Mengmeng’s little gesture, secretly snickered, and suddenly said out loud, "Humans need food like iron needs steel, without a meal one gets jittery. Mengmeng is iron, the grass is steel, without a meal Mengmeng gets jittery too, right? Mengmeng must be hungry too, right? So what are we waiting for? Let’s eat together."

Mengmeng: "Meh—"

With a bellow, Mengmeng immediately lowered its head and began happily munching on the grass beneath it.

Ji You patted Mengmeng’s head and laughed, "Mengmeng is such a good child, both cute and well-behaved. I’ll always like Mengmeng."

Hearing this, Mengmeng happily raised its head, "Ao ao ao..."