Chapter 122

Chapter 122

The live stream grooming session, unexpectedly boosted by Liu Datie's popularity, turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Thanks to just one night of streaming, Chen Ji's "Little Green Mountain Temple Keeper" account soared past the 10,000-follower mark.

Next, he needed to gradually instill the idea of Xiangxiang as the Mountain Lord in the public's mind. After some thought, Chen Ji asked System Cat to compile several sets of materials, planning to post daily videos of Xiangxiang to maintain the buzz.

System Cat lay on Chen Ji, basking in the sun, its plump, furry belly boldly facing upwards, its thick fur stretched into distinct segments. It couldn't help but grumble to Chen Ji: "[Why aren't you filming me? Am I not as handsome as Xiangxiang?! Am I not as capable as Xiangxiang?!]"

"[I can even transform into a Siberian golden gradient! I can even become a whale flying in the sky! Man, I command you to film me!]"

Chen Ji obediently reached out and patted System Cat’s belly. System Cat stretched its limbs comfortably, then rolled over on Chen Ji, inviting him to pat its back.

"[There’s no need to compete with it over this,]" Chen Ji said, pulling System Cat into his arms and kissing its cheek. "[It’s not exactly a good thing anyway.]"

Indeed, it wasn't a good thing. If Xiangxiang were just an ordinary tiger, Chen Ji would never have considered making videos of it—he wasn't one to crave sharing. If it weren't for the incredibly fierce being at home, always threatening to tear people to shreds, why would he bother with videos? Was he that idle?

System Cat grumbled a few more times. Even if that was the case, it still wanted to be in the spotlight! Why could Xiangxiang be on camera but not it? Wouldn't it be more sensational if it rode on Xiangxiang’s head and appeared in the video together?! Just as it was about to campaign for screen time, a pure black giant fox darted in from outside.

—This fox was carrying several delivery boxes on its back.

Little Red entered, letting out a delicate, charming "ying" sound, completely at odds with its massive size and cool demeanor. It then took the packages to the kitchen, neatly arranging them before returning. Transforming back to its usual form, it snuggled up to Chen Ji, rubbing its head against his leg and proudly displaying its freshly cleaned paws.

Chen Ji chuckled, reaching out with his long arms to scoop up the red fox. He gently squeezed its somewhat plump rear. "You've worked hard."

No wonder foxes are considered clever; they truly know how to make themselves useful. Starting yesterday, Little Red, for reasons unknown, had begun wandering down the mountain on its own. Upon returning, it would dutifully bring back Chen Ji’s packages and organize them neatly, ready for him to open whenever he pleased.

Little Red buried its head in the crook of Chen Ji’s neck, rubbing against him incessantly, acting utterly spoiled. Chen Ji laughed as it nuzzled him, trying to gently push it away. Little Red didn't resist; instead, it rubbed against Chen Ji’s hand, whimpering and whining continuously as if deeply wronged. Chen Ji’s heart softened, and he released it, only to pull it back into his arms. This time, it settled on him without moving, like an oversized plush toy.

It also took advantage of its larger size to subtly nudge System Cat off the bamboo couch.

System Cat was somewhat bewildered by this push-and-shove routine, with most of its body now dangling off the couch. It immediately bristled with indignation: "[Look at it! Chen Ji, look at it!]"

Chen Ji’s hand, resting on the bamboo couch, wrapped around System Cat. "[Why bother arguing with a supernatural being? You are the pinnacle of technological achievement...]"

System Cat: "[...]"

Tsk!!!

System Cat was thoroughly displeased. It simply jumped off the bamboo couch and walked back with an air of dignified aloofness. Just as it reached the door, a little monkey tried to grab its tail, only to be sent flying by a swift kick from the cat, flipping over its nest (a delivery box) in the process.

Chen Ji opened the cardboard box. The hedgehog inside keenly raised its head. Chen Ji looked curiously at its swollen belly: "Haven't given birth yet?"

The hedgehog nodded honestly. Chen Ji had always been kind to the old, weak, sick, disabled, and pregnant, so he comforted it: "It's fine, just stay here peacefully. Do you want something to eat?"

Little Translator immediately knew its services were required. It scurried to Chen Ji’s side and translated: "Brother, it says it still wants to eat mountain leeches."

Chen Ji: "...? Is that really what it said?"

"Yes, brother!" Little Translator put on an honest and sincere expression, then added: "No need, brother. It ate some mountain leeches yesterday, so it’s already well-nourished."

Chen Ji nodded, silently closed the box, and took a couple of steps back—he was fine with providing fruits or eggs, but asking him to catch insects was out of the question.

After yesterday’s events, he had developed PTSD towards insects, especially mountain leeches. Absolutely not.

He looked around at the animals gathered nearby and suddenly felt that System Cat and Xiangxiang were the best. In the entire courtyard, they were the only two who hadn’t eaten mountain leeches—after all, anyone who had witnessed human skin filled with writhing shadows of leeches would find it hard to accept.

Chen Ji thought for a moment and said: "Forget about the hedgehog... Little Translator, could you help contact the monkey’s family and ask the adults to come pick up their child?"

Little Translator flicked its tail: "Sure, brother! I’ll go right now!"

With that, it dashed off in a flash.

Chen Ji nodded in satisfaction. A monkey, especially a nationally protected one, was not something he wanted to keep at home for long. If someone saw it, he’d have a hard time explaining.

The foreman arrived with his workers. They had been working at Chen Ji’s place for a while now and were used to the various small animals running around, so they weren’t the least bit surprised. The foreman came over to greet Chen Ji, who offered him a cigarette. The foreman accepted it and said cheerfully: "Boss, the work here is almost done! If you have time these days, take a look around the temple. If there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, we’ll fix it right away!"

"Thanks, Uncle! I’ll take a look these next couple of days, but your craftsmanship is top-notch!" Chen Ji gave a thumbs-up. "Why would I have any concerns?"

After all, it was temple restoration. The foreman had taken on the job with the intention of building good karma. While not perfect, he had put considerable effort into it. Seeing Chen Ji’s thumbs-up, he smiled: "Alright, then rest assured, boss! We’ll definitely get it done properly!"

After thanking him, Chen Ji headed out with System Cat.

The foreman watched Chen Ji leave with his backpack and couldn’t help but shake his head—it was lucky he was an honest and sincere type. If someone with ill intentions had been hired, who knows how much corner-cutting would have occurred in the temple.

He glanced from afar at the statue wrapped in purple silk in the main hall, silently praying to the Mountain Lord for protection, assuring that he had not cut any corners.

***

Not far from home, Chen Ji spotted the white tiger sunbathing. Perhaps because it had been washed yesterday, the entire cat seemed to glow in the sunlight, shimmering with silver light everywhere. Chen Ji was successfully captivated within a second and pounced onto the white tiger.

"Baby~" Chen Ji hugged the white tiger’s front paws, playing with its paw pads. It carried the faint scent of shower gel, making Chen Ji unable to get enough of it.

The white tiger had long since noticed Chen Ji’s arrival. It lazily raised its head and turned to lick the back of Chen Ji’s hand—only to have its tongue grabbed by Chen Ji.

The pink tongue, covered in semi-transparent barbs, was held in Chen Ji’s hand. The barbs, which could scrape flesh and bone, now felt like soft decorations. The white tiger seemed caught off guard, dumbfoundedly letting Chen Ji hold its tongue. Chen Ji stared at it for a moment: "Xiangxiang, did you brush your teeth today?"

The white tiger let out a sound from its throat, likely meaning "yes." Only then did Chen Ji release its tongue. The white tiger retracted its tongue as if flying. Perhaps because it had been exposed to the air for too long, its tongue felt cold, but the spot where Chen Ji had held it felt burning hot, as if he were still gripping it.

Chen Ji comfortably leaned against the tiger. The white tiger, now accustomed to this, lifted its paw slightly, exposing its belly, allowing Chen Ji to lie in its embrace.

The tiger’s body was warm from the sun. Chen Ji closed his eyes contentedly, resting his face against its chest and casually giving it a squeeze. The muscles beneath the skin tensed under his touch, revealing elegant lines even through the thick fur. Chen Ji raised an eyebrow and asked: "Nervous?"

"Can’t I touch you? Baby?"

The white tiger stiffened for a moment, then simply pressed its head against Chen Ji’s, burying him entirely in its embrace. Caught off guard, Chen Ji was smothered. He laughed at first, then tried to push it away: "Let go... I can’t breathe!"

Only then did the white tiger release him. Chen Ji laughed until he was breathless, then tapped the white tiger’s pink nose and sighed: "Ah... Xiangxiang, I’m so bored. Take me for a walk around the mountain!"

The white tiger let out a yawn, then lowered its eyes, its blue-green gaze fixed unblinkingly on Chen Ji as if assessing his intentions. Chen Ji laughed and pushed it: "I’m not hungry, I just ate. We’re having hot pot tonight, no wild game... I’m just bored. Don’t you want to take me?"

The white tiger lowered its head as if accidentally brushing its mouth against Chen Ji’s hair, resignedly trying to stand up. But it found it couldn’t succeed. Looking down, it saw Chen Ji clinging to its neck, looking upset: "Xiangxiang, don’t you want me to ride you?"

The white tiger: [...]

Chen Ji leaned against it in a teasing, somewhat manipulative tone: "Is it not good if I ride you all the time?"

His eyes softened as if gathering the gentle light of spring. He tugged at its fur: "Why aren’t you saying anything? Baby, remember, you’re not mute."

The white tiger’s response was to stand up with Chen Ji. Amid Chen Ji’s surprised exclamation, it wrapped its tail around his waist and tossed him onto its back, adjusting his position until he was seated comfortably. Only then did it begin to stroll through the forest.

Chen Ji still wasn’t satisfied: "Xiangxiang~"

"Xiangxiang~ Say something, Xiangxiang~"

Perhaps annoyed by his pestering, the white tiger finally spoke: "[...Won’t.]"

Chen Ji patted its back: "Won’t what?"

"[Won’t... won’t be annoyed by you, won’t be bad,]" Xiangxiang said softly.

Chen Ji's eyes and brows crinkled with amusement. "Then do you think I'm too heavy?"

"[No.]"

"Do you feel like I'm a burden to you?"

"[No.]"

"Do you dislike it when I kiss you?"

"[No.]" The white tiger answered instinctively, then paused mid-step, its back trembling slightly.

Chen Ji said teasingly, "So you like it? Why didn't you say so yesterday?"

...

***

System Cat poked its head out of the basket. "What the heck, where did everyone go?"

Damn that Chen Ji, abandoning friends for romance! It wouldn't forget this!