Signing the Contract, Huang Tao's Gift

The moment Lin Yuan finished speaking, Huang Zixuan's eyes lit up.

He was no stranger to Lin Yuan's talk of "literature."

During their first year of high school, the students and teachers of Class Nine had heard it no fewer than ten times.

Everyone had been skeptical at first, but gradually, they discovered that the directions Lin Yuan suggested seemed to be right. That was how his reputation had spread.

Not only that, but Lin Yuan genuinely read a great many books.

Whenever he went to ask Lin Yuan a question, he would find him seemingly studying yet another new book. That was another reason he admired Lin Yuan so much.

So he believed what Lin Yuan said, and excitement surged through him.

He actually knew that Fortune Attraction had only two years left to live. Fortune Attraction was even closer to him than his father was. If Lin Yuan really had a way to help the dog live longer, that would make him ten thousand times happier than getting into one of the top ten schools someday.

Huang Tao, however, was somewhat skeptical. What he believed was the sincerity and certainty he could read in Lin Yuan's eyes.

What he could not believe was that none of the many three-star and four-star healers and Beast Breeders he had hired before had ever mentioned this.

At that moment, Fortune Attraction, who was still gazing out the window, suddenly shook his head, then turned and gave Lin Yuan two soft woofs.

They were different from his hostile barking at the start.

They carried curiosity, goodwill, and anticipation.

"Living for a very, very long time, without ever changing your appearance."

In all sixteen years of his life, this was the first time he had heard anyone bring that up.

Those words struck him squarely in the heart and kindled a flame within it.

Over the years, he had met far too many people while accompanying Huang Tao. Sometimes, he could see people's intentions as clearly as a reflection in a mirror. A sniff of their scent was enough to tell him most of what he needed to know.

When Lin Yuan had asked about his "troubles" earlier, he had carried a scent of "calculation," so Fortune Attraction had needed to make his stance clear.

Now, although that scent of "calculation" remained, it had faded considerably, replaced mostly by a kind of "warm goodwill."

He could sense that Lin Yuan was not lying. Lin Yuan truly knew.

The old dog walked toward Lin Yuan, his steps a little quicker than before and his tail swaying.

He looked into Lin Yuan's eyes, tears still glimmering in his own.

And at that moment, another detail appeared in his [Status]: Human, can you help me?

Lin Yuan gave him a gentle nod.

Then he slowly sat down beside Lin Yuan. Only after drawing close did he discover that Lin Yuan gave off a deeply comforting aura, along with a latent energy that strongly attracted him.

Fortune Attraction settled against Lin Yuan's feet.

This was his way of expressing goodwill, and of 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 everything around him had nothing to do with him.

After Huang Tao recalled him and summoned him again, he had nestled beside Huang Zixuan because he wanted to avoid meeting Huang Tao's eyes.

Now, he had come to Lin Yuan's side because he had seen hope—a hope that "Mom" would still recognize him, and that he could continue accompanying his other two family members.

Like that pet beast named Zilan, he could keep embracing the past and future in the form he felt most comfortable with.

Fortune Attraction's actions left Huang Tao somewhat speechless.

In all these years, the dog had only ever been this close to two people—him and Huang Zixuan. He never even approached their old household butler.

In fact, while steadying his emotions outside earlier, Huang Tao had been thinking about the troubles Lin Yuan had described.

He was not stupid. By connecting the circumstances over the years, Fortune Attraction's reactions, and his own longstanding misunderstandings, he could more or less guess the reason.

It was just that he had yet to clear the hurdle within himself.

And now, Fortune Attraction's closeness to Lin Yuan let him see hope as well.

He stopped thinking about literature or whether Lin Yuan could really pull it off. Rather than saying he believed in Lin Yuan, it would be more accurate to say he believed in Fortune Attraction's instincts.

"Yuan, you're very clever, but more importantly, you have warmth and intuition. Zixuan has a great deal to learn from you." Huang Tao smiled as he spoke, his smile natural. "Can we finally discuss the contract now?"

"But before you give me your thoughts... let me amend a few clauses first." Huang Tao took out a fountain pen and began revising the contract.

Half an hour later.

The two of them drafted the final version.

Lin Yuan simply told Huang Tao that he wanted to exchange some of the Alliance Coins for supplies of equivalent value, then explained the business structure he envisioned for Yuanming Pet Food Shop once it reached two stars.

The core clauses were revised as well:

"Purchases of [Yuanming Pet Food Shop]'s top-grade Transcendent-quality product, [Spirit Dew], shall be for internal use only. Resale of [Spirit Dew] in its undiluted form is prohibited."

"The minimum monthly purchase quantity shall be 600 drops (30 mL), at a price of 100,000 Alliance Coins per 10 drops (0.5 mL), or traded 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 Grade 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 payments for [Spirit Dew]."

"Any further requirements may be added to the contract following negotiation."

"Lin Yuan, proprietor 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 credited: [Yuanming Pet Food Shop], Lin Hua City, proprietor Lin Yuan."

"This contract shall remain valid indefinitely. Should the quality or market price of [Spirit Dew] increase during this period, a new purchase price may be negotiated, but shall not fall below 100,000 Alliance Coins per 10 drops. Either party wishing to terminate the contract must provide three months' advance notice."

After confirming the terms, both men signed and stamped the contract, making two copies.

"Thank you, Uncle Huang, for agreeing to buy [Spirit Dew] at such a high price," Lin Yuan said with a smile. "And for suggesting a business structure suited to our [Yuanming Pet Food Shop] and the excellent products of [Yellow Crane Tower Shop]."

"No need to be so polite," Huang Tao said. "After all, [Spirit Dew] is very important to Fortune Attraction, but you're even more important to him."

"The mere fact that he's willing to approach you is enough for me to offer this contract."

"As for the research you read, and what we'll need to do for Fortune Attraction in the future, we'll have to work at it together."

"Yes, Uncle Huang. As for Fortune Attraction... I'll visit your home twice a week to see him, as we agreed," Lin Yuan said. "But just as I said earlier, you and he will also have to open your hearts to each other."

"All I can say is that this is very important to whether he can truly succeed in living on."

This time, Lin Yuan did not mince words.

He knew that a middle-aged man in his forties could not possibly uncover a wound he had avoided for over a decade in just a few short hours.

He could only use Fortune Attraction's health to put a little pressure on Huang Tao.

In fact, when Fortune Attraction had shown goodwill toward Lin Yuan earlier, Lin Yuan had looked at [Status] on his panel and already received a notification that the "knot in his heart" had loosened a little.

Fortune Attraction's "ailment of the heart" was not really his apparent unwillingness to evolve and change forms.

It was more the knot in his heart formed by the way he and Huang Tao had interacted for over a decade.

As long as he continued to "protect" Huang Tao through avoidance, swallowing and handling all his thoughts alone, unwilling to show even the slightest longing for "Mom" in front of Huang Tao, he would be unable to meet the requirements for his hidden evolution.

And the only ones who could resolve this problem were the man and the dog themselves.

Lin Yuan could only guide them and point out the problem. Ultimately, they alone could untie the knot in their hearts.

"Mm..." Huang Tao nodded, then a small silver ring appeared in his hand.

"Yuan, take this," Huang Tao said. "It's a very ordinary spatial [Beastmaster Item], a Transcendent-quality [Spirit Cage Ring]."

"Consider it a small gift from me. Don't turn it down. I see you're still carrying your things in a backpack, which really isn't convenient. Besides, you'll be bringing [Spirit Dew] over to see Fortune Attraction every week from now on."

"Just take it and use it. It isn't expensive."

Lin Yuan looked at the ring.

It was small and delicate, roughly the size of his little finger, but a faint silver halo shone around it.

He knew this [Beastmaster Item] as well. It had appeared in the first few pages of that illustrated reference book.

After thinking it over, he did not refuse.

Indeed, under the contract he had just secured, the money he would earn in the first month from [Spirit Dew] alone would be more than enough to buy a [Spirit Cage Ring].

Depending on its quality within the Transcendent tier, this kind of ring cost between one and two million Alliance Coins. It simply was not widely available, so obtaining one quickly was not guaranteed.

For an ordinary beastmaster, that price was expensive and unaffordable.

But he also knew that, starting today, Yuanming Pet Food Shop would begin moving toward a brighter future.

"Thank you, Uncle Huang." Lin Yuan slipped it onto his right little finger and immediately felt a cool sensation wash through his mind.