Chapter 86
Huo Ranchuan acted on impulse, considering that the little lion and the little white tiger were actually the spiritual entities of Qin Yuxing and Song Hengye, who were new cadets at the military academy and already quite grown. While it was acceptable for Teacher Bai to take care of their spiritual entities, it was necessary to have them sleep separately.
Huo Ranchuan’s thoughts became more tangled when he recalled how Teacher Bai had just kissed Teng Snake. The concern was no longer whether Teacher Bai would also kiss the little lion and the little white tiger. The real issue was how he would face Teacher Bai once he learned the true identity of Teng Snake and how he would explain everything…
Standing at the doorway and facing Teacher Bai’s slightly surprised expression, Huo Ranchuan looked at the floor guiltily and said, “Um, actually, Teacher Bai, your injuries haven’t fully healed, and you need proper rest. The bed does get crowded with so many cubs. How about I set up a cub bed in the bedroom for you? That way, Hanye won’t have to sleep on the sofa.”
Bai Nuosi glanced at the little white tiger lying on the sofa and considered that the bed was indeed a bit crowded, and his back and waist injuries were still not fully healed. Sometimes, the cubs accidentally pressed against him, causing pain. He nodded, “Sure, but isn’t it too late to get a bed now?”
After all, it was already past eight in the evening.
Huo Ranchuan responded immediately, “No problem. We have many vacant cub rooms in the West Wing. I’ll ask Mons to bring one over.”
There were five cub rooms in Zone S, but aside from the first one, the others hadn’t been used. It looked like they wouldn’t be utilized this year, given that most of the S-rank spiritual entities were already in Teacher Bai’s room.
Since Huo Ranchuan offered, Bai Nuosi had no objections. He returned to the room and told the little white tiger, “This is great, Hanye! The director will be setting up a new cub bed for us, so you’ll have a super comfy big bed to sleep on.”
The cub bed would come with safety rails, rounded corners, and plush toys attached to the sides, ensuring the cubs’ safety and Bai Nuosi’s peace of mind. This way, he wouldn’t need to set three alarms at night—just getting up once to check on the cubs would be enough, allowing him to rest properly. Director Huo was indeed thoughtful.
Bai Nuosi had considered the issue of the crowded bed before, but he hadn’t thought of requesting a cub bed, so the little white tiger ended up sleeping on the sofa the previous night.
Huo Ranchuan was efficient; within half an hour, Mons had brought over the largest cub bed available. Cub beds came in different sizes, and this one was the largest, capable of fitting five cubs lying side by side. Bai Nuosi’s bedroom was spacious enough to accommodate the bed with room to spare.
While Mons was setting up the bed, Bai Nuosi held Teng Snake, watching with the little lion and the little white tiger. Bai Nuosi adored cub beds; cubs should have their own beds, designed with their safety and comfort in mind, complete with plush toys on the rails.
Bai Nuosi rubbed the little lion’s head, which was making soft, spoiled sounds, and said, “Xing Xing, look! That’s your and Hanye’s bed. Only you two can sleep there—no one else can. Not even Teacher Bai.”
Hearing this, the little lion’s eyes became serious as it stared at Teng Snake in Bai Nuosi’s arms.
Teng Snake, with its calm and introverted nature, didn’t speak and wasn’t fond of playing with the fluffy ones. Bai Nuosi planned to keep it with him, while the little lion and the little white tiger, who were close friends and both fluffy, could share the cub bed. They had known each other for a long time, and letting them sleep and play together was ideal, as they were childhood friends.
Bai Nuosi also petted Teng Snake, saying, “Teng Snake can’t talk, so if Teacher Bai falls asleep and it needs help, it’ll be hard for it to call me like Xing Xing and Hanye can. So, Teacher Bai needs to sleep with Teng Snake.”
The little lion: “…”
The little lion glanced between Teng Snake and Huo Ranchuan, who was helping Mons set up the cub bed. Huo Ranchuan lowered his head, pretending not to hear anything.
The little lion: “…”
Feeling wronged, it said, “Xing Xing doesn’t speak either.”
Bai Nuosi pinched its cheek. “Xing Xing is the best little friend! Xing Xing can sleep in the cub bed and even help Hanye adjust to sleeping there. Hanye likes the sofa, but that’s not ideal. Xing Xing can help change that habit, right? Xing Xing is the best and can do it, right?”
The little lion: “…”
If it didn’t do it, it wouldn’t be the best in Teacher Bai’s eyes!
The little lion hesitated for a couple of seconds, but under Teacher Bai’s encouraging gaze, it puffed out its chest. “Xing Xing is the best!”
The little white tiger: “…”
The little white tiger turned away, unable to watch any longer.
But the little lion wasn’t letting it off easily. It jumped out of Teacher Bai’s arms, its round body moving to the little white tiger’s side, and snuggled up close. “Hanye, you sleep in the cub bed!”
The little white tiger: “…”
It turned its head away, ignoring the little lion.
The little lion frowned, staring at the back of the little white tiger’s head for a few seconds, then crawled to the other side and, facing the little white tiger, shouted, “Hanye, no sofa!”
The little white tiger: “…”
With a serious face, it responded loudly, “Not no!”
The little lion yelled back, “Hanye, cub bed!”
The little white tiger: “No cub!”
The little lion: “Hanye cub!”
The little white tiger: “No… no Hanye!”
Bai Nuosi, witnessing the cubs’ argument: “…”
He took out his trump card—three bottles of sweet-smelling baby milk. “Cubs, time for milk!”
The little lion and the little white tiger immediately turned, eyes fixed on the bottles in Teacher Bai’s hand.
Bai Nuosi shook the bottles. “Only cubs who sleep in the cub bed can have milk. Who was it that didn’t want to sleep in the bed just now?”
The little white tiger: “…”
The little lion immediately pointed, “It was Hanye!”
The little white tiger: “…”
Bai Nuosi looked at the little white tiger. “Hanye didn’t say he wouldn’t sleep in the bed, right? Hanye likes the cub bed too, right?”
The little white tiger glanced at the bottle and then at the cub bed, conflicted. But it didn’t hesitate long and soon nodded. “Right!”
The little lion stared at it in disbelief. How could the little white tiger switch sides like that?
Annoying.
Bai Nuosi handed them the bottles, letting them drink their milk. With the little white tiger’s independent nature, once it agreed to something, it would follow through. Tonight, there would finally be no cubs sleeping on the sofa. Sometimes, when it came to cubs, food was indeed the best solution.
Though setting up the cub bed didn’t take long, the noise was enough to alert the sensitive golden eagle next door. Even though it had already accepted that its beloved had abandoned it for other cubs, it couldn’t resist checking in on the commotion. What if something happened to its beloved?
The golden eagle, carrying its cage again, emerged from its room. This time, the modified room had no door; the wall where the door had been was removed, allowing it to move freely without bumping into anything. It ignored Chen Min, who was reading in the living room, and made its way to the door.
Chen Min: “…”
He put down his book, adjusted his glasses, and stood up, watching the golden eagle carry its cage with tiny steps. He knew the cage couldn’t contain it, but the fact that it still adhered to the rule of carrying its cage when leaving amused him.
Chen Min asked, “Ares, where are you going?”
The golden eagle ignored him and headed straight for the door, but the cage got stuck.
Chen Min: “…”
Realizing its intention, Chen Min immediately tried to stop it. “Don’t cause trouble. The cutie is just next door.”
The golden eagle: “…”
Without a word, it turned back to its room, and then it smashed the window with its cage.
Chen Min: “…”
Inside the room, Bai Nuosi, holding Teng Snake, suddenly heard a loud crash from outside. He glanced out the window in confusion. “Hmm? What’s that sound?”
Huo Ranchuan stopped him before he could check. “I’ll go see.”
Huo Ranchuan wiped the sweat from his forehead, gently placed a hand on Bai Nuosi’s shoulder to keep him seated, and walked to the balcony. Opening the window, he saw the shattered glass next door.
Huo Ranchuan spotted the golden eagle, still carrying its cage and peeking over. Its sneaky behavior resembled that of a peeping tom.
Huo Ranchuan narrowed his eyes, staring at the golden eagle without saying a word.
The two stared each other down, the atmosphere tense.
At that moment, Bai Nuosi, holding Teng Snake and the little lion, slowly approached. He asked softly, “Director, did something happen?”
As soon as Bai Nuosi appeared, the golden eagle, as if shocked, bolted upright, jumped up, and retreated rapidly, disappearing from the broken window.
Huo Ranchuan: “…”
He turned to Bai Nuosi. “Nothing serious, just the window next door suddenly shattering.”
Bai Nuosi, surprised, asked, “Why would the window shatter like that? Are our windows from the same batch? Should we have someone inspect them?”
After all, they had three cubs here, and if the window shattered, it would be dangerous, especially given their high floor.
Huo Ranchuan nodded, his expression serious. “Yes, it definitely needs inspection. Windows breaking at such a height is extremely dangerous.”
Meanwhile, the golden eagle, having seen Teacher Bai holding two cubs and chatting happily with Huo Ranchuan, huddled in a corner, silently crying.
Chen Min stood before it, trying for the nth time to convince it. “See, I told you. The cutie likes those muscular guys like Huo Ranchuan. You’re just a bird with feathers all over; it’s not as comfortable as hugging someone with warm, firm muscles. I’ve told you so many times, why don’t you believe me?”
The golden eagle gave him a suspicious look, then disdainfully glanced at Chen Min’s body.
Chen Min: “…”
Feeling insulted, Chen Min said, “Hey, it’s not my fault. If you hadn’t bullied me back then, I wouldn’t have been bedridden for three years. I lost my abs because I couldn’t work out.”
Remembering his previous physique, Chen Min sighed. He thought he should start working out again; he didn’t want to be caught off guard if the golden eagle acted up again.
“Fine, if you don’t believe me,” Chen Min declared. “When I’ve worked up to eight-pack abs and win over Teacher Bai, don’t come crawling back!”
The golden eagle: “…”
The golden eagle sprang up, spreading its wings and displaying its impressive muscular build under its feathers.
Chen Min: “…”
He cleared his throat. “Um, I’ll go make you some food.”
With that, he hurriedly retreated.
Never mind competing; he wasn’t ready to go head-to-head with the golden eagle’s muscles.
However, the last few days with the golden eagle had been stable. Not only could he have conversations with it, but he could also joke around. Their interactions even felt like they did before the golden eagle’s outburst. Chen Min found himself reminiscing about the days when he trained with it.
Back in the other room, Bai Nuosi set up the cub bed with new sheets and blankets. Huo Ranchuan, sweating all over, was wiping his brow. The little lion, still clinging to Bai Nuosi, was coaxed by Huo Ranchuan. “Xing Xing, your cub bed is ready. Want to check it out?”
The little lion wanted to retort: No, it’s your bed!
Bai Nuosi, recalling how Huo Ranchuan had slipped earlier while cleaning the bathroom, kindly said, “Director, you should get some rest too. You’ve been a great help today.”
Luckily, the director had been there. Otherwise, he would have been so nervous during the interview. And now, he had also helped set up the cub bed.
Huo Ranchuan knew it was bedtime for the cubs, so he nodded. “Have a good rest. Goodnight.”
After leaving, he closed the door behind them.
Huo Ranchuan then went to the bathroom to take a shower. Afterward, he changed into a simple vest, revealing his well-toned muscles, and paired it with loose pants that highlighted his height and long legs. Before stepping out, he double-checked his appearance, confirming it matched the “most popular boyfriend’s casual look” he’d seen online. Satisfied, he headed out.
Bai Nuosi was still putting the cubs to bed, having had a long and tiring day. Realizing that Bai Nuosi might not have eaten or even taken a bath, and recalling his habit of making instant noodles late at night, Huo Ranchuan felt a pang of sympathy. Teacher Bai was so dedicated to his work, but he didn’t take proper care of himself, which could lead to malnutrition over time.
Huo Ranchuan wasn’t good at cooking, but he also didn’t want Bai Nuosi to have to cook after such a long day. The Rose Nursery’s restaurant was already closed, so he ordered a nutritious dinner from a high-end restaurant that specialized in dishes from the Blackbird star system to match Bai Nuosi’s taste preferences, ensuring authenticity.
The meal he ordered arrived promptly. As the delivery person didn’t have permission to enter, Huo Ranchuan went out to pick it up himself. The delivery person was visibly startled, stuttering, “Commander H-H-Huo…”
Huo Ranchuan took the insulated box and said, “Thank you.”
He tipped the delivery person 1,000 star coins.
The delivery person: “…”
Stunned, the delivery person left and, upon checking the tip, excitedly posted a screenshot online: “OMG, folks! I just delivered food to Commander Huo at Rose Nursery! He ordered from the XX restaurant and tipped me 1,000 star coins!”
Despite tagging Commander Huo and Rose Nursery, the post went mostly unnoticed. Hardly anyone believed it, and the few comments were:
“Seriously, Commander Huo ordering takeout? Has the sky fallen?”
“Even if you said it was Teacher Bai ordering, it wouldn’t be this unbelievable.”
But those netizens would soon be proven wrong when Teacher Bai’s update would appear later.
After putting the three cubs to sleep, Bai Nuosi left the room around nine. He intended to take a bath, water the rose on the balcony, check on the bunny Nabi, and prepare a simple dinner for himself. Every night, this was his personal time.
But now that he had an assistant, he wondered if Director Huo liked egg pancakes.
He planned to make a simple pancake and have it with milk and pickles. It was late, and he didn’t want to cook a full meal.
However, as soon as he stepped out of the room, he caught a whiff of the delicious aroma filling the air. Curious, he walked toward the dining area, where he saw Huo Ranchuan setting out a meal.
The aroma was enticing, and Bai Nuosi, who hadn’t eaten all night, felt his stomach growl. With his hair loosely down and bangs clipped back, he walked over curiously. “Director Huo, it smells amazing.”
He saw dishes like sweet and sour pork ribs, garlic shrimp, crispy chicken, stir-fried vegetables, seafood soup, and vegetable porridge—all his favorites. “Director Huo, did you make all of this?”
Bai Nuosi was surprised but thought Director Huo didn’t seem like someone capable of preparing such dishes.
Too focused on the food, Bai Nuosi didn’t notice Huo Ranchuan’s muscled arms in the tank top. Huo Ranchuan felt relieved that his choice to order takeout had paid off, but at the same time, he felt uncertain. Did he really have no appeal to Teacher Bai?
Huo Ranchuan finished setting up and honestly said, “No, I ordered takeout.”
Bai Nuosi was surprised again. “We can order takeout here? How do you do that?”
He remembered that takeout wasn’t usually allowed, and even online purchases had to go through the defense system for approval.
The Rose Nursery’s management was incredibly strict; otherwise, the pay wouldn’t be so high.
Feeling slightly guilty, Huo Ranchuan replied, “Only administrators in Rose Nursery can. If you ever need anything, just let me know, and I’ll get it for you.”
Bai Nuosi felt it would be impolite to trouble Huo Ranchuan, though he appreciated the offer.
Huo Ranchuan served him the porridge, placing it in front of him. “Go ahead and eat.”
Bai Nuosi smiled. “I’ll shower first and come back. You go ahead.”
Of course, Huo Ranchuan wouldn’t start eating alone. As Bai Nuosi went into the bathroom, Huo Ranchuan sighed inwardly. It seemed like Teacher Bai wasn’t interested in men. Wasn’t this outfit supposed to be the most attractive casual look?
His muscles were pretty impressive, too. Why hadn’t Teacher Bai even glanced at him?
Huo Ranchuan sat at the table, sighing. The question of how to pursue Teacher Bai troubled him.
Having never pursued anyone before, Commander Huo found himself lost and opened his star network again, searching through various threads.
In reality, Bai Nuosi had noticed Huo’s physique; he was just too shy to admit it, feeling uncomfortable about staying with another man. Maybe having an assistant wasn’t something he was used to after all.
Bai Nuosi finished his shower, watered the rose on the balcony, and checked on Nabi. The aroma of the food filled the room, and soon, the little white tiger, who had been asleep, opened its eyes.
It was sharing the cub bed with the little lion.
The little lion, eager to stick close to Teacher Bai, had reluctantly agreed to sleep in the cub bed with the promise of extra number-shaped biscuits the next day.
The little white tiger glanced at the little lion, who was sprawled out with its mouth open, drooling. Feeling helpless, it jumped off the cub bed and made its way to the dining area, following the aroma. It spotted Huo Ranchuan sitting at the table, handling work.
Huo Ranchuan was clearly waiting for Teacher Bai.
The little white tiger glanced between Huo Ranchuan and the food on the table before deciding to jump onto a chair and sit properly.
Huo Ranchuan: “…”
He had just pulled up the movie they were going to watch but hadn’t started it yet. How did the little white tiger…
With a blank expression, Huo Ranchuan asked, “Why aren’t you asleep?”
The little white tiger eyed the food, swallowing.
Meanwhile, Teng Snake peeked from the doorway, clearly curious but not bold enough to enter fully. It didn’t necessarily want to eat but was intrigued that Teacher Bai and the director were sneaking around late at night for food. Who wouldn’t speculate?
Realizing Bai Nuosi wasn’t back yet, Huo Ranchuan decided to act quickly. He picked up a plate of crispy chicken and offered it to the little white tiger, whispering, “Eat in the room.”
The little white tiger: “…”
The little white tiger, with a serious expression, shook its head.
Huo Ranchuan frowned. “Then what do you want? Pick something yourself.”
As long as it didn’t interfere with his movie night with Teacher Bai.
However, the little white tiger was a cub with principles. With a stern face, it replied, “No teacher.”
If Teacher Bai wasn’t present, it couldn’t eat!
Huo Ranchuan: “…”
