Doing This Too Often Is Bad

The Blazing Fox emerged from a whirlwind that had sprung up out of nowhere, walking with elegant steps.

Dazzling flames took shape beneath its feet, supporting its body as it landed smoothly.

Golden eyeliner accentuated its narrow eyes, lending them a touch of allure, while the flickering light from the golden-red flame marking between its brows added an enchanting charm.

Every strand of its fiery red fur seemed to glow, so soft and silky that anyone looking at it could not help being captivated. Patches of lighter color created a gradient, making the Blazing Fox resemble a cloud of sunset glow and raising its beauty to another level.

Its flowing, fluffy tail swayed gently, as though dotted with twinkling sparks.

After a moment of dead silence, the watching students erupted.

"That's a Blazing Fox? How is it so gorgeous?"

"I saw Su Xiaoxiao's Blazing Fox this morning. It didn't look anything like this!"

"This is ridiculous! It's like she got a completely different Contract Beast!"

"I heard she took her Contract Beast for grooming..."

"What kind of grooming could do this? This has to be sorcery!"

This...

This was Su Xiaoxiao's Blazing Fox?!

As exclamations of shock and admiration rose all around her, the smug expression on Duan Anxun's face froze. She felt as though someone had hammered her over the head, leaving her dazed.

"How is that possible?!" Beside her, Du Ting looked utterly incredulous. "It's only been one lunch break! How could she have made her Blazing Fox look like that?"

Lin Yue was just as surprised as she watched the Blazing Fox in the arena.

Remembering the 6,666 yuan Su Xiaoxiao had spent on grooming, she sucked in a breath.

Could that shop actually not be a rip-off?!

No, that wasn't important!

Lin Yue puffed out her chest and glared at the two stunned girls. "You call that a patchy coat?"

"So what!" Duan Anxun snapped out of her daze, struggling to keep her composure. "Looks are only part of it. Su Xiaoxiao's Contract Beast doesn't follow commands. There's no way she can pull off her presentation..."

"Oh? Really?" Lin Yue pointed toward the arena with a smug smile. "Then open your eyes and watch!"

Duan Anxun turned toward the arena, her pupils contracting. "This..."

The Blazing Fox sent flames sweeping through the air, dancing lightly alongside Su Xiaoxiao like a spirit of fire.

Amid the rhythmic flames, Su Xiaoxiao looked like a goddess who commanded fire, leaving others feeling inferior.

The two moved in perfect harmony. There was not the slightest sign of disobedience.

"Impossible!" Du Ting's face went pale as she kept shaking her head. "Absolutely impossible!"

Duan Anxun slumped limply into her seat, her lips trembling without producing a word. Not a shred of her pride remained.

Finally, the Blazing Fox leaped lightly onto Su Xiaoxiao's cupped hands, bringing the presentation to a close as the flames filling the air faded away.

Amid the applause and cheers, the judges announced their score.

"Su Xiaoxiao, your assessment score is 99.2!"

"Ying~"

The Blazing Fox lifted its head high like a queen and glanced at the delighted Su Xiaoxiao.

Grooming. Book it now!

"Boss! I'm back!"

The girl's bright, sweet voice made Xu Ran, who had been waiting idly for customers, straighten up at once.

Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue hurried over to Xu Ran.

Naturally, the two girls had not come to demand a refund from Xu Ran.

In fact, after seeing the Blazing Fox's transformation, Lin Yue had realized that this shop was not a rip-off.

Although paying over six thousand yuan for grooming sounded outrageous, there apparently was a reason for the high price.

The afternoon's appearance assessment had become a foregone conclusion once Su Xiaoxiao scored 99.2.

Not just in her class, but across the entire first-year grade, Su Xiaoxiao had the highest score. She secured her place in the Qingzhou City Youth Beast Tamer Pet Beauty Contest without dispute.

Whenever Lin Yue recalled how Duan Anxun, who had been as proud as a swan before the assessment, and Du Ting, who had constantly mocked them, looked utterly crushed after Su Xiaoxiao's presentation, she felt as refreshed as if she had eaten an ice cream on a sweltering summer day.

So she wanted to try it too and treat her Azure Wind Eagle to a grooming session worth 6,666 yuan.

Yet not long ago, she had thought anyone spending two thousand yuan on grooming had more money than sense.

Women really were fickle!

"Sigh~" Lin Yue glanced at the glaring price on the price list and let out a wistful sigh, putting on a pitiful expression. "One grooming session, and I'll be eating instant noodles for a month."

"Chirp, chirp~"

The Azure Wind Eagle perched on her shoulder nuzzled Lin Yue, looking expectant and touched.

Naturally, after seeing the Blazing Fox's dramatic transformation, it was envious too.

Its Beast Tamer had sacrificed so much for it.

So, sooo touching!

Su Xiaoxiao stifled a laugh, knowing her best friend was deliberately playing up her hardship in front of her Contract Beast to strengthen their bond.

But when she remembered her promise to bring the Blazing Fox for another grooming session, she suddenly could not laugh anymore.

It was not that she begrudged the money, just...

It had only just been groomed. Wouldn't another session simply be a waste of money?

That was a completely different matter, okay!

"Boss, give my Azure Wind Eagle a grooming session!" Having earned some affection from her Contract Beast, Lin Yue made her request generously.

"All right." Xu Ran glanced at the Azure Wind Eagle on Lin Yue's shoulder and activated the system's appraisal.

[Species: Azure Wind Eagle

Attribute: wind

Growth Rank: Transcendent Rank

Size: small

Grooming needs: ★★☆☆☆

Evaluation: basic cleaning can only reach its surface. Deep inside, it still yearns for the comfort of the host's nimble hands.]

Even though he was somewhat used to the system's indecency by now, the corner of Xu Ran's mouth still twitched.

"For a small Contract Beast, the grooming price is..."

"I saw it. Six thousand six hundred and sixty-six." Lin Yue waved a hand, cutting him off. "Let's do it!"

"Boss!" Su Xiaoxiao, standing beside Lin Yue, waved. "She's my classmate. I referred her!"

"All right." He nodded calmly at Su Xiaoxiao, then turned back to Lin Yue. "Would you like to do it now? Beast Tamers can wait in the lounge or accompany their Contract Beasts into the grooming room."

Su Xiaoxiao's waving hand froze in midair.

Huh?

That was it?

I'd spelled it out for you, and you weren't even going to mention a discount?

Jerk!

"I'll go into the grooming room." Lin Yue barely hesitated.

Keeping her Contract Beast company was secondary. Mostly, she was curious about Xu Ran's grooming process.

"This way, please." Xu Ran was about to lead Lin Yue into the grooming room.

Su Xiaoxiao came to her senses. "Wait!"

"What's wrong?" Xu Ran stopped and turned to look at Su Xiaoxiao.

"Um... my Blazing Fox needs grooming too." Su Xiaoxiao quickly lifted the Blazing Fox in her arms.

"Ying~"

The Blazing Fox gazed at Xu Ran with bright eyes, full of anticipation and nervousness.

[Friendly reminder]

[Unnecessarily frequent grooming negatively affects a Contract Beast's coat and should not be encouraged. Host, please refuse.]

Xu Ran looked at the words that had suddenly appeared before him and spoke with a pained expression.

"Doing this too often is bad for your Contract Beast. I'm not taking the job!"

Huh?

Su Xiaoxiao blinked, watching Xu Ran and Lin Yue enter the grooming room.

She stood there blankly for a moment, then let out a huge sigh of relief.

Her wallet was saved!

Inside the grooming room, Xu Ran sighed silently.

Damn system. What a massive loss!