Fate Brings Us Together, Adding Beauty to Beauty

There was neither wind nor moon that night. The sky outside the window resembled a vast black cloth dotted with a few stars.

By the time Lin Yuan finished placing his orders, it was already ten thirty at night.

Of the three ingredients, the Transcendent-quality [Lionbright Fruit] was only found in the northern regions of the Chenlong Kingdom, relatively far from Lin Hua City. It probably would not arrive until the following afternoon.

However, both [Red Spirit Tail] and [Spirit Red Bright Liquid] were available within Lin Hua City.

Lin Yuan chose seven the next morning, the earliest delivery slot.

A quiet sense of anticipation was already stirring in his heart.

The status section on Linghuan's panel listed not only the ingredients needed to treat its illness, but also detailed instructions for their use, preparation, and proportions.

The treatment would take fifteen days. Starting tomorrow, Linghuan could slowly recover. The hardworking, thoughtful companion it had been three years ago should soon be able to remove the cold "mask" it had been forced to wear.

Still, as the owner of a pet food shop, he generally ought to avoid ignoring customers' questions and feedback.

It was just that this was his first experience of customers scrambling over one another to buy his product.

He needed to analyze his current situation before replying. That was better than making empty promises.

Zilan could probably finish producing twenty drops of [Spirit Dew] by eight every morning.

He had actually already decided today that he needed to keep at least two or three drops each day.

[Spirit Dew] was exceptionally effective for both Baishi's conflicting bloodlines and Linghuan's lingering condition from its incomplete evolution.

Combined with today's customer feedback, that made him think daily doses might speed up their recovery.

Ultimately, selling products to make money was, for him, about giving his family and pet beasts better lives.

Since he already had a therapeutic flower dew at home that worked well, he certainly needed to meet his own needs before considering sales.

Additionally, he still intended to list a fixed quantity of [Spirit Dew] for sale every day.

Today had already proven how effectively this product could serve as a "brick to knock open doors." He would not abandon official sales channels, with their unrivaled reach, just because a few customers wanted to negotiate.

That platform was itself the biggest advertising space available.

Ideally, the more people across the country used it, the fiercer the competition would become, and the louder that "door-knocking brick" would sound.

When working with merchants, a fixed supply commitment was also essential—for example, a hundred drops every week, or three hundred every month.

Otherwise, it would hardly amount to commercial cooperation.

He also needed to keep some stock for unforeseen needs. If someone visited the pet food shop in person, for example, he might be able to barter for products that interested him.

Once he tallied everything up, Lin Yuan suddenly felt that twenty drops a day really were not enough!

He had resolved his urgent shortage of money, but there was still plenty to plan if he wanted the pet food shop to flourish.

It was time to hire more professional staff.

He still had school ahead of him. He could not leave Qin Bailing running around handling everything.

After recording all these ideas in a document, he opened his phone.

He had focused entirely on [Spirit Dew] today and barely checked anyone's messages.

Only when he opened them did he discover that three people had messaged him.

The earliest messages were from Liu Xing, who had sent a full eight of them.

Lin Yuan tapped them open.

[Lin Yuan, my junior, I found a treasure today!]

[A Transcendent-quality flower dew called "Spirit Dew." Its effects are outstanding! After drinking it, Zizi even gave me a few extra looks. Jinjin's reaction was even more incredible. Now Jinjin won't leave my side and keeps looking at me with longing.]

[This flower dew isn't just good for insect pet beasts. I read the appraisal certificate. It's also a huge help with hidden ailments and underlying problems, including underdevelopment.]

[It'll definitely work on that little Still Spirit Cat of yours!]

[Didn't I promise yesterday that I'd recommend ingredients suited to your pet beasts? Well, I got lucky and found one today.]

[I'm planning to talk to the owner directly tomorrow and order some more. Then you can buy it straight from me.]

[It's not expensive. Ten drops only cost ten thousand Alliance Coins. I'll charge you 9,999—a friendship discount.]

[Wait for my good news!]

By this point, Lin Yuan could not help smiling.

Ever since they had exchanged contact details yesterday, Liu Xing's messages had barely stopped.

He was a chatterbox through and through.

From his thought process when naming his two pet beasts to his feeling that he was something of a "simp," he had spilled everything without holding anything back.

In his words, Lin Yuan had helped him understand the true meaning of "fate."

That meant fate had brought him and Lin Yuan together!

People joined by fate absolutely had to talk more.

Lin Yuan had been a teacher in his previous life. Liu Xing reminded him of the most outgoing students he had taught. Noisy as he was, he certainly added plenty of fun.

Now Lin Yuan was one hundred percent certain that [Handsome Liu Xing] was Liu Xing himself.

Even Lin Yuan was beginning to wonder whether they really were bound by fate—

They had met yesterday, each bought a pet beast from the Breeding Center that same day, and of the mere six customers who had bought [Spirit Dew], one had actually been him.

Still, Liu Xing certainly possessed a knack for carelessness.

He had read the appraisal certificate. If he had just opened the shop information beside it and checked the owner's identity, he would have discovered that the owner was Lin Yuan.

But there was no denying that Liu Xing was both generous and wealthy.

Ten drops of [Spirit Dew] clearly cost thirty thousand Alliance Coins, yet he had turned that into ten thousand.

Lin Yuan smiled and replied, "That's great, Senior Liu Xing! Thank you! I'll wait for your good news! Excited.jpg."

Then he opened the second person's messages.

They were from Huang Zixuan.

Lin Yuan actually thought highly of this class representative.

In contrast to Liu Xing's outgoing enthusiasm, Huang Zixuan had the exact opposite personality: quiet, reserved, and unassuming.

Usually, when he talked to Lin Yuan, it was almost always to ask questions about his studies.

To Lin Yuan, he resembled the most studious students he had taught: always equipped with the most thorough notes and brimming with a thirst for knowledge.

This time, however, he had unexpectedly reached out about more than that.

[Good evening, Yuan. Sorry to bother you.]

[My dad bought your shop's "Spirit Dew" today. He said he's already contacted you through the official Alliance channel to arrange a meeting.]

[But he'd heard about your shop from me, and since we're classmates, he thought contacting you directly might be more efficient.]

[I told my dad that if you agree to meet, he can't put too much pressure on you. I'll be there too.]

[If you have time and you're willing, just send me a time slot whenever you like. My dad said he'll definitely arrange his schedule around it.]

[Oh, and there's something else I wanted to ask. I contracted a "Wonderstar Grass" today. After I fed it a drop of "Spirit Dew," it couldn't eat anything else. Now it's all woozy, as though it's drunk. Do you know what's going on? Was it too nourishing for it to digest?]

As soon as Lin Yuan saw the question,

he instinctively searched his mind for an answer.

Soon, he was typing on his phone.

[Although "Wonderstar Grass" is a wood-element pet beast, the energy within its body leans toward yang. "Spirit Dew," meanwhile, is a yin-leaning flower dew derived from wood-element herbs. Sometimes yin and yang can clash even within the same element.]

[But this is normal. Newly contracted pet beasts are generally low-level. Just take it outside for some sun tomorrow. That will speed up absorption too.]

[As for meeting, I still have a few details to arrange on my end. Once I've more or less sorted everything out, I'll message you.]

When Lin Yuan first saw [Lin Hua Yellow Crane Tower Shop], he had known the message came from the shop belonging to Huang Zixuan's father.

What surprised him was that the man had actually managed to reach him through Huang Zixuan.

[Lin Hua Yellow Crane Tower Shop] sold a vast range of goods, including numerous Commander-quality and Monarch-quality products.

As the owner of such a large shop, why did he place so much importance on a Transcendent-quality product?

Lin Yuan rubbed his right thumb and thought, Looks like I still underestimated the value of [Spirit Dew]. I really do have too little experience in business.

He was not discouraged, though. Instead, excitement burned within him.

He felt he would soon be stepping into a much broader world.

The final unread messages were, unexpectedly, from Chen Xuanbai.

Reading what he had sent, Lin Yuan unconsciously laughed.

[Lin Yuan, you mentioned in class that you'd read about the "Shadow Witch Cat's" unusual temperament and preferences in a research paper.]

[Over the past two days, I've tried following your advice and bought mine... bought eighteen female cats.]

[Tonight, it suddenly changed color. I mean its actual coloring changed.]

[Its overall condition is still good, but it seems more agitated...]

[Did that paper you read mention anything like this?]

Looking at those words, Lin Yuan could practically picture Chen Xuanbai's expression as he typed them.

Especially the part about "bought eighteen female cats."

The "research paper," of course, was something he had made up in class.

He had actually drawn those conclusions from the [Shadow Witch Cat's] panel.

At that time, he had not yet been able to see the detailed [Status] analysis or [Evolution Routes].

Judging by Chen Xuanbai's account, this "color change" and the change in its condition were clearly related to its recent lifestyle and behavior.

A lustful cat changing color—lust taking on another shade...

After a moment's thought, Lin Yuan wrote:

[Sir, I can visit your house tomorrow morning to take a look, or you could bring the "Shadow Witch Cat" to my pet food shop.]

[I'm not entirely sure either. The paper mainly discussed behavioral analysis and chain reactions, but we still need to assess the specific situation.]

Unexpectedly, Chen Xuanbai replied instantly.

[I'll come to your shop. Things are a little restless at home right now. Would nine thirty tomorrow morning work?]

[Of course, sir.]

Lin Yuan sent his reply.

Meanwhile,

at Chen Xuanbai's home,

he looked at the house he had only just repaired for Little Shadow yesterday. It had already been "ravaged" into "crumbling ruins," and his nose stung with the sudden urge to cry.

An old father's love could not, in the end, compare with the happiness eighteen female cats brought.

Little Shadow had gone mad with joy!

He had posted questions on all sorts of professional pet beast forums today and even consulted feline pet beast specialists, but none of their suggestions had solved the problem.

Some people had even told him to buy more female cats.

If he had not listened to the "nonsense" those forum users spouted in the first place, Little Shadow would never have changed color!

In the end, he still had to return to Lin Yuan, the one who had pointed out his pet beast's unusual traits.

For now, he would let Little Shadow "calm down" inside the pet beast space...

Hopefully, tomorrow would bring a decent solution...