Chapter 453 - 397: No Wonder You Two Are a Pair
Chapter 453: Chapter 397: No Wonder You Two Are a Pair
The lead Beastman said, "He has a permit, so leave him. Just follow protocol."
"Yes, sir. You two, with us."
The Beast Police herded the two Sea Clan Beastmen and the Beastman attendant out the door.
The burly Sea Clan Beastman kept looking back at Gu Ning. "Missy, wait for me! I’ll be right back to sleep with you!"
...
The group of Beastmen left in a noisy clamor, and the room suddenly felt much emptier.
Gu Ning stood there and exchanged a look of dismay with Cook the puppy. She sighed, picked up the hairdryer, and went back to drying the puppy’s fur.
’After all that fuss, I still have to do it myself...’
"Good, there’s still one left." Lanuo glanced at the Beastman who was organizing the fur care tools, then said to Gu Ning, "Why don’t you go rest? I’ll keep an eye on things for you here."
Gu Ning ignored him and skillfully started drying Cook’s fur with the hairdryer. This would be a good way to kill time while waiting for Philinos to get back.
Cook lay obediently on the floor. ’It’s so much more comfortable when Ningning dries my fur.’
Cook glanced at the one remaining companion Beastman, shifted his position, and turned his butt towards him.
Gu Ning looked over at the Beastman while fluffing and brushing Cook’s fur.
Now that he was the only one left, she couldn’t help but notice him more.
He had the rugged features typical of a Beastman, with short, unremarkable brown hair. Unlike the other two, who had been dressed in light clothing, he wore a white button-down shirt and black pants.
Coupled with the fact that he’d been working silently, he seemed like an honest Beastman just doing his job.
"Let me," Lanuo said, walking over to take the hairdryer from Gu Ning’s hand.
Gu Ning dodged his hand and jutted her chin towards the other hairdryer on the table.
Lanuo paused for a moment before picking up the one on the table.
"I’ve rarely seen a Mixed Breed cared for like this." Lanuo turned on the hairdryer and spoke as he worked. "Only Beastmen who had a very good relationship with a female before they degenerated into a Mixed Breed get this kind of treatment."
Gu Ning smiled faintly. ’Cook used to take care of me just like this,’ she thought. ’Now I’m just taking care of a little puppy. I just hope he doesn’t get any bigger. If he does, he’ll really become a giant Mixed Breed.’
Most of her face was hidden by a bath towel, so Lanuo couldn’t see her expression. He continued, "You’re very skilled at taking care of him. Did you two live together in Zone 19 for a long time?"
Kaper, who was organizing the tools, paused for a fraction of a second and glanced over at them.
"I’ve heard a little about you from Alex." Lanuo leaned closer to Gu Ning, seizing the opportunity to chat with her. "He hadn’t degenerated yet when you met him, right?"
The light in Gu Ning’s eyes dimmed for a moment, but she nodded.
’When I met Cook, he was already a Mixed Breed, but his mind was much more sound than a typical Dwarf hybrid’s. He probably hadn’t been degenerated for very long at that point.’
Seeing that he’d guessed correctly, Lanuo smiled. "I knew it. You treat this little puppy better than anyone else."
Cook: "Awooo..."
Lanuo sensed that Gu Ning’s mood had dipped. He carefully studied Cook’s current state and said, "Don’t worry. I’ll see if I can formulate some kind of potion for him later to slow his degeneration."
Gu Ning’s eyes lit up. She turned to look at him and said, "Doctor Lano, you have a way?"
Seeing that she was finally giving him a pleasant look, Lanuo said, "Miss Ningning, so you finally recognize that I’m a doctor."
Gu Ning: "I always... knew."
Lanuo: "Then do you know that I’m already your personal physician? From now on, your health is in my hands."
Gu Ning thought for a moment. "Salary. How much do you want?"
Lanuo was taken aback by her question and let out an exasperated laugh. "Right. That guy Alex is dirt poor right now. There’s no way he can afford to pay me."
Gu Ning: "I can afford it."
Then, she added, "Probably."
’I really hope Lanuo isn’t too expensive,’ she thought. ’Alex was the one who found him, and he cured my pneumonia so quickly, getting me back on my feet in just a few days. I trust his credentials and his medical skills, but that’s it.’
’Business is business.’
Lanuo turned off the noisy hairdryer. "I’m very expensive. And I don’t just work for anyone. Alex is my friend, so I’ll make an exception. But you..."
Gu Ning asked cautiously, "Then..."
Lanuo looked at her expectantly.
Gu Ning searched for the right words. "Then... how about a... friends and family discount?"
...
Lanuo sighed, looking up at the ceiling. He braced his hands on the edge of the sofa, raked his fingers through his hair, and looked at Gu Ning with a pained expression. "You..."
Gu Ning: "Me?"
Lanuo: "No wonder you two ended up together." He really couldn’t help but wonder if Gu Ning was doing this on purpose.
Gu Ning and Cook the puppy exchanged a glance, then both looked at Lanuo.
Lanuo waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it. You’ve got more of a conscience than Alex, at least."
’At least she asked about my pay, which means she’s thinking of me to some extent. That guy Alex would never give me a dime. I’d be thanking my lucky stars if he didn’t ask *me* for money.’
’Alex has poured all his money into Zone 19. Repairing the city walls and paying the workers is a huge expense. He also has to plug some financial loopholes in the zone. He’s just short of pawning his own underwear. And on top of that, he has to support the Wolf Pack now.’
’I have no idea what Alex is going to use to go back to Zone 5 and compete with Alihot. He’s not going to ask Gu Ning for money, is he?’
’Lanuo didn’t think he’d go that far. Alex could be annoying sometimes, but he wasn’t *that* unreliable.’
’So, his salary was a lost cause. Not that he ever really expected Gu Ning to pay him.’
’Unless he wanted to completely give up on getting closer to Ningning.’
"Doctor Lano, I can pay whatever your fee is." Gu Ning tugged on the hem of Lanuo’s shirt. "If you can, cure Cook... stop..."
"Stop his degeneration." Gu Ning looked at him, her eyes full of hope. "Any condition. I’ll agree to anything."
’As long as there’s a way to stop Cook from degenerating further... even if he has to stay like this forever, it would be fine. I don’t want to see him end up as a Mutant Species.’
’Even though I’ve long been mentally preparing for it, I still can’t accept it.’
Lanuo was a little surprised. "Is he really that important to you?"
In his eyes, Gu Ning’s words carried immense weight.
Any condition...
This was beyond just "tempting."
Any doctor standing here, hearing a female make such an offer, would probably agree to it, whether they could actually do it or not.
Kaper was crouched by the trash can, slowly picking the dog fur off the comb, bit by bit. Through the roar of the hairdryer, he heard the female say, "Cook... is my most important puppy."
...
Kaper gently blew the last strand of fur from his hand and stood up, walking toward them.
"You don’t have to make that kind of promise." Lanuo’s expression turned serious as he looked at Gu Ning. "And don’t make that offer to anyone else. No one can do it. If someone says they can, they’re definitely lying to you."
Lanuo said, "My primary field is genetics. While I still have a lot to learn, I won’t lie to you. As long as you trust me, I’ll do everything in my power to take care of you and help you both."
The hope that had ignited in Gu Ning’s eyes flickered out.
"Thank you. I understand." Gu Ning quickly composed herself and said slowly, "Doctor Lano, you’re... Alex’s friend. You’re a good person. Alex trusts you, so I will too."
Hearing this, Lanuo’s spirits soared. He was just about to speak when a figure cut in, standing between him and Gu Ning and blocking his view.
The brown-haired Beastman held a hairdryer and began drying the puppy’s fur, completely ignoring them.
Lanuo still had more to say to Gu Ning. Annoyed at the interruption, he gave the Beastman a push but couldn’t move him. He craned his neck to see Gu Ning. "Miss Ningning, you can rest assu—"
THUD!
With a muffled thump, Lanuo was knocked unconscious by a karate chop and hit the ground.
Kaper turned to look at the little female, who was clutching her towel with wide eyes. He lowered his hand and smiled. "He’s much easier to beat up."