Chapter 459 - 403: You Really Like Him?
Chapter 459: Chapter 403: You Really Like Him?
This had never happened before.
Philinos leaned his head against the edge of the dryer, his long hair falling forward to hide the blush creeping up his ears.
Even before he came of age, he had learned to skillfully vent his excess energy through combat and control his emotions under the guidance of a good mentor. After reaching adulthood, he used Inhibitors regularly and had even more opportunities to fight and release his energy. Even during his heat cycles, his body rarely experienced any significant fluctuations.
Something like this... soiling his own clothes... was a first.
And all from just a dream.
Thinking of that dream that made his face flush and heart pound, Philinos, his ears burning red, pulled out the rest of the clothes all at once.
He had originally planned to just throw the underwear away, but he worried someone might find it, so he had no choice but to scrub it clean.
He could only be thankful that Gu Ning’s sense of smell wasn’t very sharp. Otherwise, she would have noticed something was amiss the moment she walked into the bathroom.
Philinos returned to his room, clothes in his arms.
When Gu Ning saw Little Fairy Bird return, she asked, "Philinos, have you eaten?"
Philinos closed the door and said, "I have."
"Have some more," Gu Ning said.
She’d been with Little Fairy Bird and the others for a while now, so she knew they mostly ate instant food. This was especially true for Philinos; she’d barely seen him eat a proper meal.
They were out and about, practically on vacation, staying in a room that cost sixty thousand a day. She felt it would be a complete waste of that sixty thousand if they didn’t eat well. Even though Little Fairy Bird was the one paying, her heart still ached at the expense.
"Don’t worry about him, just eat." Lanuo picked out what he considered the most nutritious food and placed it in Gu Ning’s bowl. "After you finish, we can go out and do some shopping. Alex specifically told me to show you a good time and take you sightseeing."
Upon hearing this, Gu Ning blurted out, "Do you have any money?"
’He only had a little over two hundred in his wallet.’
At that thought, she paused mid-bite and glanced guiltily at Lanuo. ’He didn’t notice, did he?’
"What do you mean, no money?" Lanuo said. "You don’t mind that Alex is dirt poor, and here I am, a graduate with a double major in basic medicine and genetics from the Beast Alliance’s top academy. I’d wager none of the other males around you have a better education than I do."
It’s just that when he graduated, those old geezers gave him an F in basic medicine, which dragged his overall average way down. Otherwise, he would have ranked in the top ten of his graduating class, at least.
Gu Ning stated objectively, "A good education and money are two different things."
’She had also gotten an objective look at his wallet. The pile of shopping vouchers revealed his usual spending habits—it seemed he rarely used cash, or perhaps, he just didn’t have much cash to begin with.’
Hearing this, Lanuo sat up straighter to face Gu Ning. "Miss Ningning, allow me to enlighten you. A male like myself, a graduate from a prestigious institution with an advanced degree, never has to worry about room and board."
’Given Gu Ning’s background,’ he thought, ’she probably doesn’t understand how things work in the Beast Alliance.’
"I know," Gu Ning said. "You have... a tenured government position."
’Lanuo is a doctor, and he’s from Zone 5. His benefits must be excellent, so he surely doesn’t have to worry about food, housing, or transport.’
"You even know what a tenured position is?" Lanuo asked, surprised.
"Yes," Gu Ning replied.
"Then why would you think I’m poor?" Lanuo shot a glance at the bird who had just sat down nearby. "My savings might not be much, I’ll admit. I can’t compare to those who fight Mutant Species every day or live next to a Crystal Stone Mine. But I have an Upper District residence permit. If I want something, all I have to do is file an application with my superiors."
Gu Ning felt there might have been a communication breakdown. "That’s not what I meant... I wasn’t looking down on you," she said to him. ’I was just stating a fact.’
Lanuo hadn’t actually detected any disdain in her tone, but he felt it was imperative to make things clear. He pulled his chair a little closer to her and said, "I can apply to my superiors for the best house in the best part of Zone 5. That’s something Alex can’t do. When he goes back, he can only stay in that old den of his for the time being. It would be much safer for you to live with me in the Inner District."
As he spoke, he shot another glance at the bird. "No matter how rich these people around you are, they can’t apply for a house in the Inner District of Zone 5."
"Is Zone 5 that strict?" Gu Ning asked.
’She remembered Deviant and his group trying to trade a Second District residence permit with her. Alex was from Zone 5, an alpha wolf, and now held a position in the Military Department. Whether in the Beast Alliance or the Military, he had a rank—a tenured position, in other words. So how could he be unable to apply for a decent house in Zone 5?’
"Zone 5 isn’t like the other Upper Districts," Philinos spoke up. "The infighting among the Zone 5 Wolf Pack is so severe that the zone is practically independent of the Beast Alliance. Some of the Beast Alliance’s laws and regulations don’t really apply there. Since Alex is the alpha wolf, it’s only normal that he’d be targeted."
Gu Ning had a sudden realization. "Then what about me? Can I... buy a house in Zone 5?"
"Of course you can," said Lanuo. "But if you’re with Alex, you’ll most likely be targeted as well. It’s best not to reveal your identity for the time being."
Gu Ning nodded. She understood that much. That was why she wanted to make use of her journalist identity before entering Zone 5. Conveniently, she had just been promoted from her probationary period, and Captain Meira had given her an all-access pass. With that, she could help Bartok and the others get settled first.
"I’ve already applied for a house from my superiors," Lanuo said. "It should be approved by the time we get back to Zone 5. You can stay there first."
Gu Ning looked from Cook to Little Fairy Bird and said, "Thank you, Doctor Lano. When Alex gets out, he and I will... discuss it."
Lanuo started to say something, but thought better of it. "Fine, discuss it with him then," he said. ’Even after they discuss it, she’ll still have to stay with me for the time being. That guy Alihot has his eyes on Alex and everyone from the Military Department. For her own safety, Gu Ning definitely can’t be seen with Alex openly, and Philinos and the others will also be severely constrained once they enter Zone 5.’
After he finished speaking, he fumbled in his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and took out a shopping card. "This is accepted everywhere in the Inner District," he said. "You can buy whatever you want."
Gu Ning didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She pushed the card back to him. "I really... I wasn’t looking down on you."
’He didn’t have to prove himself to her like this.’
Lanuo pushed the card back into her hand. "Alex told me to take good care of you."
"You really don’t have to. I have money," Gu Ning protested, pushing it away.
’She had no reason to use Lanuo’s money. Not even if Alex had asked him to.’
Philinos, who had been watching from the side, couldn’t take it anymore. He pushed Lanuo’s hand away. "She doesn’t need your charity. Keep it for yourself."
Lanuo was clearly annoyed with the bird. "What’s it to you? You think she needs your charity either?"
’The thing Gu Ning feared most was the Beastmen around her getting into disagreements. Their arguments could easily escalate into physical fights.’
"I don’t need it! I don’t need anyone’s!" she exclaimed, raising a hand to separate the two of them.
In the scuffle, Lanuo’s wallet fell to the floor, its contents scattering across the ground.
Lanuo bent down to pick everything up. Suddenly, as he looked at the pile of vouchers in his hand, he felt like something was missing. He rummaged through the wallet, placed the messy assortment of vouchers and cards on the table, and then, holding the now-empty wallet upside down, he asked, "Where’s the two hundred and sixty-five cash I had in my wallet?"
Gu Ning winced.
Lanuo patted his pockets and looked around on the floor.
Cook let out a quiet "woof" in Gu Ning’s direction, and she gently nudged the little dog with her elbow.
Philinos took in the entire interaction, his eyes lowered in thought. A hint of confusion flickered in his gaze.
Lanuo searched all around but couldn’t find his two-hundred-odd cash. "That’s weird... I didn’t spend it."
Gu Ning sighed and raised her hand. "...I took it."
Lanuo breathed a sigh of relief. "You took it? Why didn’t you say so sooner? I thought I’d lost it."
Then, a thought struck him as odd. "Wait, when did you take it?" ’Ningning had never even been that close to me.’
Gu Ning looked at him, then over at Little Fairy Bird. She bit her lip and said, "I gave it to the... the hair care... attendant."
Understanding dawned on Lanuo, and he sat back down. "So you took my money to tip that attendant?"
"No, that’s not it..." Gu Ning started to explain, but Philinos looked up at her and asked, "You like him that much?" She’d used what amounted to nearly ten of his Crystal Stones to tip that attendant.