Pet

For a time, immense fear seized Su Xiao Li's heart. She looked at Suo Dun's mouth full of sharp teeth and huge claws, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. Her body trembled uncontrollably, and she couldn't even speak.

Seeing Su Xiao Li's terrified state and feeling Si Yao's indifferent gaze from the side, Suo Dun, despite not being very bright, knew his "Boss" was displeased.

He quickly swallowed the "smells pretty good" that was about to come out of his mouth, obediently lowered his head, and continued gnawing on his roast sheep, pretending to be just a harmless... large pet?

Si Yao watched the scene unfold, a vein seeming to twitch on his forehead. He rubbed his glabella and explained to the terrified Su Xiao Li, who was about to faint:

"His name is Suo Dun. He's... my pet."

"P-pet?" Su Xiao Li looked at him pleadingly, her eyes full of a desperate plea not to be fed to the crocodile. She'd do anything!

"Don't be nervous. He doesn't usually bite when he's not hungry."

Su Xiao Li: "..."

He usually doesn't bite?! What about when he is hungry?!

Si Yao ignored her terrified gaze and continued, "Your job is very simple. For the time being, you'll live here and be responsible for his meals.

When he's hungry, order takeout for him. The portions are huge, and the variety is mainly meat. I'll send you the specific list. Make sure he's full so he doesn't bother me all day."

Su Xiao Li listened blankly, her mind still struggling to catch up.

So... "feeding the fish" really meant feeding a "fish," but this "fish" was a giant crocodile?

Her job... was a Crocodile Feeder?

A Crocodile Feeder specifically in charge of ordering takeout?

This job description... was a bit too far-fetched, wasn't it?

She secretly glanced at the terrifyingly large crocodile, who at the moment seemed solely focused on eating, then looked at Si Yao, who stood beside her with an expressionless face, as if commenting on the pleasant weather. Suddenly, she felt that this one million wasn't so easily earned.

This employer and his "pet" didn't seem normal at all!

"Understood?" Si Yao asked when she remained silent.

Su Xiao Li jolted and quickly nodded vigorously, "U-understood! Boss! I guarantee I'll complete the mission! I'll definitely feed Suo Dun... Big Brother until he's full!"

No matter what, she had to save her own life first! Feeding a crocodile was better than being eaten by one!

Si Yao nodded and said no more, turning back into the living room.

He left Su Xiao Li alone in the backyard, facing Suo Dun who was happily gnawing on his sheep, feeling utterly bewildered.

She looked at Suo Dun, and Suo Dun occasionally glanced up at her before burying his head back into his meal.

Su Xiao Li took a deep breath and forced out what she thought was the friendliest, most harmless smile. She said softly to Suo Dun, "Um... Brother Suo Dun? Do you... want to eat anything else? I... I can order it for you?"

Suo Dun's chewing paused. He tilted his big head, looked at her as if contemplating, then nodded and mumbled, "Mmm... twenty more roast chickens, and a hundred pounds of sauce beef. Just to tide me over."

Su Xiao Li: "!!!"

Tide him over?!

She looked at the pile of bones by Suo Dun's feet, which was as high as a small mountain, and finally had a clear and terrifying understanding of "huge portions."

This one million was indeed hard-earned money!

Si Yao's action of taking Su Xiao Li away had clearly stirred the Super Seminary's sensitive nerves.

Lianfeng, upon receiving the message, could no longer wait to prepare more thoroughly for her visit. She immediately drove to the suburban villa.

She knew very well that both her previous observations and Qiangwei's contact with Si Yao indicated that this Ancient Old God was quite averse to formal contact with an Official Stance.

However, if it were merely out of "personal" curiosity and a desire for exchange, Si Yao, despite his indifferent attitude, was still within an acceptable range.

By the time she arrived at the villa, it was nearing evening.

Lianfeng tidied her thoughts slightly outside the door before ringing the doorbell.

The door slid open silently, and a scent of mixed food wafted out.

The scene inside the living room made Lianfeng pause slightly.

Two large tables laden with bountiful dishes were set up in the living room, clearly indicating that dinner was in progress.

The Vast Body Size Suo Dun occupied one table alone, with various meat and bones piled before him, and he was engrossed in eating.

Si Yao, meanwhile, sat at the main seat of a smaller dining table, his posture relaxed.

Beside him, Su Xiao Li, now wearing a black and white Maid Outfit, sat obediently by Si Yao's side. She carefully picked the bones out of his steamed fish and placed them on a dish in front of him, occasionally getting up to refill his beverage. Although her movements were still a bit stiff, her attitude was extremely serious, even carrying a hint of appeasement.

Seeing Lianfeng enter, Si Yao raised his eyelids, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, and casually asked, "Have you eaten? Want to join us?"

Lianfeng suppressed the Weird Feeling in her heart and put on a Decent smile, "Then I'll be imposing."

She sat opposite Si Yao as requested, and Su Xiao Li quickly and smartly added a set of chopsticks and bowls for her.

Dinner proceeded in a subtle atmosphere.

Si Yao ate little and spoke even less.

Su Xiao Li diligently played her "maid" role, serving with great care.

Suo Dun, on the other hand, was like a sweeping wind and clouds, with an astonishing eating speed, but surprisingly quiet.

Lianfeng occasionally brought up topics about dishes or the weather, and Mr. Si Yao would only give brief responses.

This dinner lasted for nearly an hour.

During this time, Lianfeng observed Su Xiao Li carefully.

She noticed that although the girl still had a trace of unease in her eyes, she seemed to have adapted to the environment here, and her fear of Si Yao and Suo Dun had lessened considerably.

This made her sigh in relief. At least Si Yao hadn't harmed her.

After dinner, Su Xiao Li took the initiative to start clearing the chopsticks and bowls, her movements agile.

Suo Dun also burped, patted his belly, and contentedly lay back down on the backyard grass for a nap.

Lianfeng knew it was time to get to the main topic.

She looked at Si Yao, who was sitting on the sofa with his usual indifferent expression, and deliberated before speaking, "Mr. Si Yao, this presumptuous visit is mainly due to some personal curiosity."

She paused and continued, "On one hand, I am very interested in the Pangu Civilization that you represent. It is an ancient era that is completely unfamiliar to us. On the other hand..."

Her gaze inadvertently swept over Su Xiao Li, who was busy in the kitchen, "I am also very curious about why you brought Su Xiao Li here. Her genetic situation is quite special, and we have been observing and evaluating it."

Si Yao followed her gaze and glanced at Su Xiao Li, who was clumsily wiping the stove. Her maid outfit seemed incongruous under the kitchen lights.

"A pet."

Lianfeng: "...A pet?"

She wondered if she had misheard. Su Xiao Li... a living person, a potential warrior with special super genes, was considered a... pet in his eyes?

Si Yao seemed to sense Lianfeng's shock and uncomprehending look. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and calmly retorted:

"Providing a safe, stable, and worry-free living environment for a little fox whose life has been rough and precarious. She pays some insignificant labor in exchange for the security she might never have obtained in her entire life."

He put down the teacup and looked at Lianfeng with a calm gaze. "It's a consensual arrangement, isn't it?"

His logic sounded ice cold and direct, as if stating a simple principle of transaction, completely bypassing the framework of modern societal morals and ethics.

After speaking, he seemed to need verification. Without looking back, he asked towards the kitchen, "Su Xiao Li, you tell me, do you have any objections?"

Su Xiao Li, who was struggling with greasy bowls and plates in the kitchen, heard the question and quickly poked her head out, still holding a plate covered in bubbles. She put on a fawning smile and quickly shook her head:

"No objections! No objections! Boss is very good to me! He provides food, lodging, and money. It's much better than being on my own!"

She spoke quickly and eagerly, afraid that a slow response would displease Si Yao. For her, although she had to serve a boss with a weird temper and a crocodile with an astonishing appetite, compared to the past days of being pointed at, dealing with harassment during live streams, and being confused about the future, this "kept" life was like falling into a honey pot.

At least, she no longer had to worry about next month's rent and food expenses.

Lianfeng looked at Su Xiao Li's appearance, as if afraid of being returned, and then at Si Yao's matter-of-fact expression, and was completely stunned.

She opened her mouth, but found herself speechless for a moment.

From both Si Yao's and Su Xiao Li's perspectives, this transaction seemed... to have no problem?

Si Yao provided the survival resources and sense of security that Su Xiao Li desperately needed, while Su Xiao Li paid with her freedom and labor in exchange.

One willing to hit, one willing to be hit.

As for the immense shock of viewing a person as a "pet," it seemed pale and powerless in the face of Si Yao's values, which originated from an unknown ancient civilization.

He might genuinely believe this was a "proper arrangement" for a vulnerable individual.

Lianfeng felt a deep sense of helplessness. She realized that trying to measure and persuade an "Old God" with modern moral standards was itself an act of futility.