Contract Signed, Huang Tao's Gift
As soon as Lin Yuan finished speaking, Huang Zixuan's eyes lit up.
He was no stranger to Lin Yuan's talk of "research papers."
During their first year of high school, the students and teachers in Class Nine had heard it no fewer than ten times.
At first, everyone had doubted him. But they gradually discovered that Lin Yuan always seemed to be pointing in the right direction. That was how his reputation had spread.
Besides, Lin Yuan really did read a great many books.
Whenever Huang Zixuan went to him with a question, Lin Yuan seemed to be studying some new book. That was another reason Huang Zixuan admired him so much.
So he believed Lin Yuan, and excitement surged through him.
He knew Fortune Attraction had only two years left to live. Fortune Attraction was even closer to him than his father was. If Lin Yuan truly had a way to help him live longer, Huang Zixuan would be ten thousand times happier than if he got into one of the top ten universities.
Huang Tao, on the other hand, was only half convinced. He believed Lin Yuan because all he could see in the young man's eyes was sincerity and certainty.
But after consulting so many three-star and four-star healers and Beast Breeders, why had none of them ever mentioned this?
Fortune Attraction, still gazing out the window, suddenly shook his head. Then he turned toward Lin Yuan and gave two soft barks.
They were nothing like his hostile barking earlier.
There was curiosity, goodwill, and anticipation in them.
"To live a long, long life, yet never change in appearance."
In sixteen years, this was the first time he had heard anyone suggest such a thing.
The words struck him to the heart and kindled a spark within him.
Over the years, he had met countless people alongside Huang Tao. He often knew their intentions as clearly as if they were reflected in a mirror; one sniff of their scent told him most of what he needed to know.
When Lin Yuan had asked about his "worries" earlier, there had been a whiff of calculation about him. That was why Fortune Attraction had made his feelings clear.
That whiff of calculation was still there, but it had faded considerably. What he sensed most now was a "warm kindness."
He could tell Lin Yuan was not lying. He really did know.
The old dog walked toward Lin Yuan, moving a little faster than before, his tail swaying.
He looked into Lin Yuan's eyes, a glimmer of tears in his own.
And now a new detail had appeared under his [Status]: Human, can you help me?
Lin Yuan gave him a gentle nod.
Fortune Attraction slowly sat down beside him. Up close, he discovered that Lin Yuan gave off a comforting aura, as well as a latent energy that drew him in.
Fortune Attraction settled against Lin Yuan's foot.
It was his way of showing goodwill and telling Huang Tao that he trusted Lin Yuan.
When the old dog had first arrived today, he had leaned against Huang Tao's leg, as though nothing around him mattered.
After Huang Tao recalled and summoned him again, he had nestled beside Huang Zixuan to avoid meeting Huang Tao's eyes.
Now he had come to Lin Yuan's side because he had seen hope—hope that "Mom" would still recognize him, and that he could go on accompanying the other two members of his family.
Just like the pet beast named Zilan, he could embrace both past and future in the form he felt most comfortable in.
Fortune Attraction's actions left Huang Tao at a loss for words.
In all these years, Fortune Attraction had only ever been this close to two people: him and Huang Zixuan. He never even approached the family's old butler.
While steadying himself outside earlier, Huang Tao had also been thinking about what Lin Yuan had said was troubling Fortune Attraction.
He was no fool. Once he connected the events of all those years with Fortune Attraction's reactions and his own long-held misunderstanding, he could more or less guess the reason.
It was just that he still could not bring himself to face it.
But seeing Fortune Attraction draw close to Lin Yuan gave him hope too.
He no longer cared about research papers or whether Lin Yuan could really do it. Rather than trusting Lin Yuan, he trusted Fortune Attraction's instincts.
"Little Yuan, you're clever, but you also have warmth and a gift for understanding others. Zixuan has a lot to learn from you." Huang Tao smiled naturally as he spoke. "Can we finally discuss the contract?"
"But before you give me your thoughts... let me change a few terms first." Huang Tao took out a fountain pen and began revising the contract.
Half an hour later.
They had drafted the final version.
Lin Yuan had simply told Huang Tao that he wanted to exchange some of the Alliance Coins for supplies of equal value. He had also described the business structure he envisioned for Yuanming Pet Food Shop once it reached two stars.
The key terms had changed as well:
"The Transcendent-quality flagship product [Spirit Dew] purchased from [Yuanming Pet Food Shop] shall be for internal use only and may not be resold in its original liquid form."
"The minimum monthly purchase shall be 600 drops (30 mL), at a price of 100,000 Alliance Coins per 10 drops (0.5 mL), or in exchange for goods or supplies of equivalent value."
"[Yellow Crane Tower Shop] shall supply [Yuanming Pet Food Shop] with the following five Ordinary-quality pet food products at its Class-A partner prices: Ordinary Low-Grade [Falling Star Vine]; Ordinary Mid-Grade [Golden Arrival Liquid], [Kapok Cake], and [Spiritheart Dew]; and Ordinary High-Grade [Spirit-Nourishing Fruit]. Payment for these goods may be deducted directly from the purchase price of [Spirit Dew]."
"Further requirements may be added to the contract following discussion."
"Lin Yuan, owner of [Yuanming Pet Food Shop], shall receive a ten-percent discount at any [Yellow Crane Tower Shop] auction house."
"If [Spirit Dew] is used as a raw material for further processing, the product and its source shall be identified: [Yuanming Pet Food Shop] of Lin Hua City, owned by Lin Yuan."
"This contract shall remain in effect indefinitely. If the quality of [Spirit Dew] improves or its market price rises, a new purchase price may be negotiated, but it shall not fall below 100,000 Alliance Coins per 10 drops. Either party wishing to terminate the contract must give three months' advance notice."
After confirming the terms, they each signed and stamped it, making two copies.
"Thank you, Uncle Huang, for agreeing to buy [Spirit Dew] at such a high price in the end," Lin Yuan said with a smile. "And for recommending a business structure based on what [Yuanming Pet Food Shop] needs and the quality products [Yellow Crane Tower Shop] offers."
"No need to thank me," Huang Tao said. "[Spirit Dew] is important to Fortune Attraction, but you're even more important to him."
"The fact that he was willing to approach you was reason enough for me to draw up this contract."
"As for the research you found, and what we'll do for Fortune Attraction from here on, we'll have to work at it together."
"Yes, Uncle Huang. As we agreed, I'll come to your house twice a week to check on Fortune Attraction," Lin Yuan said. "But as I told you before, the two of you need to open your hearts to each other."
"All I can say is that it matters a great deal to whether he can truly survive."
This time, Lin Yuan did not mince words.
He knew a man in his forties could not uncover wounds he had avoided for over a decade in the space of a few hours.
All he could do was use Fortune Attraction's health to put a little pressure on Huang Tao.
When Fortune Attraction had shown him goodwill earlier, Lin Yuan had looked at the [Status] on his panel and received a notice that his emotional knot had loosened a little.
Fortune Attraction's heartache was not, at its root, his reluctance to evolve and change form.
It came more from the way he and Huang Tao had lived with each other for over a decade.
As long as Fortune Attraction kept "protecting" Huang Tao by avoiding him, swallowing every thought on his own and refusing to show even a trace of how much he missed "Mom" in front of him, he could not meet the requirements for hidden evolution.
Only the man and the dog could resolve that.
Lin Yuan could guide them and point out the problem, but in the end, only they could untie the knot in their hearts.
"Mm..." Huang Tao nodded. Then a small silver ring appeared in his hand.
"Take this, Little Yuan," Huang Tao said. "It's just an ordinary piece of spatial [Beast Gear], a Transcendent-quality [Spirit Cage Ring]."
"Consider it a little gift from me. Don't refuse. You're still carrying a bag around to hold your things, which is hardly convenient. Besides, you'll be bringing [Spirit Dew] to see Fortune Attraction every week from now on."
"Take it and use it. It isn't expensive."
Lin Yuan looked at the ring.
It was delicate, about the size of his little finger, with a faint silver halo shimmering around it.
He knew this piece of [Beast Gear] too. It had appeared on one of the first few pages of that illustrated guide.
After a moment's thought, he did not refuse.
With the contract he had just secured, his earnings from [Spirit Dew] alone in the first month would be more than enough to buy a [Spirit Cage Ring].
Depending on its Transcendent-quality grade, such a ring cost between one and two million Alliance Coins. It was not widely available, though, so he might not have been able to get one quickly.
For an ordinary Beast Tamer, that price was steep and unaffordable.
But he also knew that, starting today, Yuanming Pet Food Shop was headed toward a brighter future.
"Thank you, Uncle Huang." Lin Yuan slipped the ring onto the little finger of his right hand and immediately felt a cool sensation wash through his mind.