Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

"Y-y-you! Where did you just pop out from?"

"The sea! I was just taking Bilang for a swim. See? I’m still wearing my swimsuit." Katie swayed gently toward him.

What innocent, inexperienced guy could handle that? Liu Yuhang’s face flushed beet red, and he immediately snapped his head to the side.

’She’s already got a great body, and she has to go and flaunt it!’

Katie pointed at him, giggling.

’Our academic monitor is such a lightweight,’ Su Zhi mused, hands tucked away as he watched from the sidelines. ’He’s already losing it over this. If she wears something even more revealing later on, he’ll probably just keel over...’ He instinctively glanced at the white-haired girl beside him.

’Yeah, that wouldn’t suit her,’ he thought. ’It might be a little snug.’

"Quack?" Xue Li, meanwhile, curiously sized up Bilang, who was beside Katie.

The last time they met, they were all tiny. But now, Bilang was a whole size bigger; Xue Li had to tilt her head up to look at him.

Its feathers had become an even purer, snow-like white. A tuft of blue feathers on its forehead intertwined with the wisp of green it originally had, giving it a very stylish look.

"Quack~" Bilang lifted its head, looking rather smug.

’Well, well, well, if it isn’t Xue Li. Haven’t seen you in a few days. You’re looking pretty pathetic.’

"The day after you left, I took Bilang into the Storm Strait, and he evolved successfully!"

Katie explained, lightly tapping Bilang on the head. "Don’t get too smug. Generally, the potential ceiling for Pet Beasts that evolve twice is much higher! Xue Li might just surpass you one day."

"Quack~" Xue Li lifted her head smugly, scoring one back.

"Quack..." Bilang lowered its head, dejected.

’My master is siding with an outsider! Unless she gives me an extra can of dried fish tonight, I am absolutely not forgiving her!’

At the same time, its gaze toward Liu Yuhang held a newfound trace of loathing.

’It’s all this damn human’s fault. He had to be just handsome enough to steal my master’s heart...’

"Stop with the wild thoughts!"

Katie whispered, rapping Bilang on the head again before looking up at Liu Yuhang. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get your ducky into the Storm Strait! I heard there’s a Sea Beast invasion on the East Coast tonight, and the fighting is pretty intense. If you wait too long, the evolution’s Effect might not be as good."

"Oh, right... Xue Li, you should go."

"Quack quack."

Xue Li waddled into the water and, before swimming off, looked back to give Liu Yuhang an encouraging glance.

Katie blinked, tilting her head in curiosity.

Liu Yuhang looked at the chat log on his phone, his lips pursed...

[Su Zhi]: Hey, I think I remember hearing that Katie’s registered in Huai City too.

[Su Zhi]: You should go ask her.

[Su Zhi]: If she is, then you should try to snap her up!

[Liu Yuhang]: ???

[Liu Yuhang]: What the hell are you talking about?

[Su Zhi]: I mean snap her up for our group competition team.

[Su Zhi]: How did *you* think I meant it? Go on, tell me the details. /smugdogface

[Liu Yuhang]: ...

[Liu Yuhang]: But why me?

[Su Zhi]: Because she knows you better. You’ll have a higher chance of success if you’re the one who goes for it.

[Liu Yuhang]: Didn’t you give Katie your autograph? She should obviously know you better.

[Su Zhi]: Good luck with that.

[Liu Yuhang]: ?

[Liu Yuhang]: ???

...

After that, Su Zhi stopped replying, as if his phone had run out of juice.

Liu Yuhang shot a resentful glare at Su Zhi.

Su Zhi stood there with his hands tucked in his pockets, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Shao Ya as they watched the ocean, looking for all the world like the innocent little Su Baby. It was as if he hadn’t sent any of those messages at all.

"You look like you’re hesitating to say something. Is there something on your mind?" the girl’s voice sounded by his ear.

A wave of heat instantly turned the young man’s face crimson. Liu Yuhang instinctively took a tactical step back.

Realizing how guilty that made him look, he hesitated for a moment before shuffling back to his original spot, which made Katie giggle uncontrollably.

"Um..." Liu Yuhang stammered, "Are, are you registered as a resident of Huai City?"

"Yep, Jingyuan District."

"Oh, what a, what a coincidence, I’m also from Jingyuan District..."

Katie stifled a laugh, leaning forward slightly. "Sir Liu is suddenly running a background check on a girl’s residency. Is there some kind of special purpose behind this?"

Liu Yuhang reacted as if someone had stepped on his tail. "N-No!"

"Huh? Don’t be so nervous. I never said you had any ulterior motives."

Liu Yuhang: "..."

Su Zhi and Shao Ya folded their arms, watching the scene unfold with great interest. Yu Bao stared intently, covering Shan Bao’s eyes with a paw.

"...and that’s the situation."

After ten minutes of fumbling and stammering, Liu Yuhang finally explained his purpose.

"Oh, so you’re just short-handed for your group competition," Katie said, her face showing dawning realization. Then, she gave Liu Yuhang an almost imperceptible pout.

’Then what the hell were you blushing for?’

"I was, was nervous... Anyway, thank you so much!"

"Thank me for what? I haven’t agreed to anything yet," Katie said, lifting her chin slightly.

"..." Liu Yuhang had no idea why she suddenly seemed angry. He scratched his head, completely baffled.

’Did I say something to make her mad? When I used to watch Brother Shu and the class president, it never seemed this complicated. I always thought, ’I could do that,’ but now that it’s my turn, I’m completely clueless!’

Unable to figure it out, Liu Yuhang could only brace himself, lower his head, and apologize. "I’m sorry!"

Katie looked at his serious face and blinked.

Then, she couldn’t help but cover her mouth and let out a soft laugh.

"Then how do you plan to compensate me?"

The girl followed up on his apology with her question.

Liu Yuhang was also at a loss. "Wh-what kind of compensation do you want?"

Su Zhi and Shao Ya’s faces lit up with excitement, and they covered each other’s eyes. ’If you just swapped the genders, wouldn’t this be a scene right out of a ’domineering CEO and his pampered little wife’ drama?’

’So our academic monitor is the pampered wife in this scenario... Yuhang, you should just switch genders!’

"Haha, okay, okay, relax. I’m not that nice... I mean, I’m not that mean, either."

Katie yawned. "I know about the group competition. I saw your post on the forums looking for new members. I guess I could join you."

Liu Yuhang’s eyes lit up. "That’s great! Thank you so much!"

Katie grinned mischievously. "On one condition."

Liu Yuhang’s mouth fell open.

Su Zhi stepped forward, pulled Liu Yuhang aside, and said with utmost sincerity, "Name your price. I’ll make sure Liu Yuhang satisfies you."

"Woof," Yu Bao added, giving Katie a look that said, *You can count on us*.

"Chirp." Shan Bao didn’t quite get what was going on, but she chirped in to show she would help, too.

Liu Yuhang: "?"

Katie said coolly, "Pearl Harbor Amusement Park is half-price right now, but the deal is only for two people. I’ve been dying to go, but my aunt is too busy to take me. So... if *someone* would go with me, I’ll agree to join your team!"

She deliberately stressed the word "someone."

Su Zhi slapped his chest. "No problem! You can borrow Liu Yuhang! Don’t even have to give him back. You two can go tomorrow. I’ll approve the time off for you!"

Katie let out a "Wahoo!" and clapped her hands together. "The boss is so generous! May the boss make a fortune! May the boss have a white-haired beauty to warm his bed every night!"

Liu Yuhang: "???"

Katie skipped away cheerfully.

Liu Yuhang grabbed Su Zhi by the collar, panicked. "Brother Shu, are you selling me out?"

Su Zhi waved his hands dismissively. "It’s just taking a girl to an amusement park. How is that selling you out? Every action we take is for the ultimate victory of our team."

Liu Yuhang: "But that means buying a couple’s ticket!"

Su Zhi said gravely, "My dear academic monitor, we must look past the surface and see the underlying truth. As long as our hearts are pure and our consciences are clear, the specific actions don’t matter. Yu Bao is a Wise One. If you don’t believe me, ask him."

"Woof." Yu Bao nodded.

Liu Yuhang was dazed. "Why do I feel like something isn’t right here...?"

Su Zhi declared righteously, "An upright man need not fear a crooked shadow. My conscience is clear. Is yours?"

Liu Yuhang: "I... Well, my conscience is clear, too!"

Su Zhi: "Excellent. That’s the Spirit."

Katie stood a short distance away, eavesdropping on their conversation and struggling to suppress her laughter. The moment she finished booking the tickets on her phone, however, she broke into a brilliant smile and bounced on her heels like an excited child.

The roar of the ocean echoed from the distance. Storms raged and massive waves churned as the long-dormant Storm Strait awakened once more...

Xue Li’s second evolution had officially begun!

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