Fortunately, Lan Ye still had to work his internship. After all, he had promised Qiao Ci that once he got his graduation certificate, he would take her back to the sea to inherit the throne of the Sea Emperor.
While Lan Ye was away, Xiao Shuzi quickly poured out its grievances to Qiao Ci like beans pouring out of a can. "Wuwuwu, Host big sister, can Xiao Shuzi apply to return to the system space? Your cub scares Xiao Shuzi every day. If I stay any longer, Xiao Shuzi's dog life will be forfeit~"
"Where did you learn to be so subtly manipulative?" Qiao Ci sat leisurely in the massage chair in the living room, her eyelids slightly raised, and glanced at Xiao Shuzi with disdain.
"...Burp! Xiao Shuzi didn't~" A wronged, cute, and adorable electronic voice.
It truly wanted to return to the system space. In this world, it had been a shark, then a golden retriever, and then a Samoyed. It was constantly taking care of a child, cleaning the house, and enduring the lingering gazes of the grown-up male owner. It was exhausted, body and soul, wuwuwu.
Qiao Ci sighed, patted its fluffy head, and comforted it, "Stay with me for one more world. I won't enslave you anymore. How about I specially hire a nanny to take care of you?"
"Take care of me?" Xiao Shuzi's eyes lit up. "Really, Host big sister? Xiao Shuzi deserves a nanny too?"
"Really," Qiao Ci rubbed its fur. "As long as you're good, when we go back to the sea, I'll let many beautiful young ladies play with you. And I won't let Lan Ye scare you anymore."
"Hee hee, then Xiao Shuzi will reluctantly stay. Thank you, Host big sister, love you~" Having secured its own rights, Xiao Shuzi happily jumped up and down, scattering dog hair all over the floor.
However, it didn't become arrogant. After a while of fussing, it opened the robot vacuum and cleaned the entire house inside and out.
The next day, Qiao Ci hired an auntie. Besides taking care of Xiao Shuzi, walking the dog, and playing with it when she had nothing else to do, she also cleaned the house. Occasionally, when Lan Ye was busy, the auntie would also help with cooking.
Xiao Shuzi enjoyed the auntie stroking its fur, lying on the carpet and watching Qiao Ci binge-watching dramas in the living room.
It felt that Host big sister was really treating it better and better. It had never had such treatment before. If they disagreed, it would be locked in a dark room. Now, the time spent in the dark room was getting less and less, and she even cared about its feelings and occasionally chatted with it about gossip.
Hee hee, Host big sister must now consider Xiao Shuzi as family.
Just like Xiao Kuaizi and Xiao Chazi, a very, very good relationship.
But the more it thought about it, the emptier Xiao Shuzi felt. It always felt that the better Qiao Ci treated it, the more uneasy it became.
She had bound it without its consent, which had also caused her body to be burned, forcing them to rely on each other to complete missions in various small worlds.
Now, one person and one spoon got along harmoniously, talking about everything.
When Qiao Ci was on missions, she displayed extraordinary abilities. Xiao Shuzi didn't know who she really was, nor did it want to know.
It just wanted to be with Host big sister like this forever, taking her to play in various small worlds, watching her fall in love and be happy.
"My internship is ending, and my colleagues are planning a get-together. Will you come with me?" One day, Lan Ye returned from work and prepared dinner for Qiao Ci. He asked casually during dinner.
"Do you want me to go?" Qiao Ci asked while chewing the food in her mouth.
"I want to. I want to introduce you to everyone I know. I want everyone to know that you are my girlfriend," Lan Ye said without any pretense.
During his internship, the people at the company had taught him a lot. He also had a few good friends at the company, and he wanted to introduce Qiao Ci to them.
He wanted to hold Qiao Ci's hand and introduce her to the people he knew: Her name is Qiao Ci, and she is my girlfriend.
"Then I'll go!" Qiao Ci was not shy. Anyway, the cub would return to the sea as soon as it received its graduation certificate in a few days. She might never see these people from her internship company again, so she could consider it a farewell.
Looking at Qiao Ci chewing her food, her cheeks bulging, Lan Ye's heart was filled with emotion and gratitude. He was thankful for their encounter, their companionship, and their devotion. Sister A Ci, in the years to come, please guide me!
That night when they went to bed, Lan Ye kept calling her sister~
His lips brushed against Qiao Ci's ear, softly, joyfully, and freely...
His voice was hoarse and seductive~
Again and again.
Qiao Ci almost couldn't handle it.
...
"Lan Ye, your girlfriend is even more beautiful up close! Hehe, indeed, handsome guys should be paired with beauties to be pleasing to the eye."
"Miss Qiao Ci, can I take a photo with you? Ahhhh, I'm so obsessed with your looks. If you were to livestream on Douyin, you'd definitely become a hit. I'll keep this photo as a keepsake; maybe it'll appreciate in value later~"
Qiao Ci politely greeted everyone. She handled the enthusiasm of a group of girls with ease. As for the boys, they wisely kept their distance, as she was already taken.
Only then did Qiao Ci understand why Lan Ye wanted to introduce her to them. These were a group of lovely people, free from the greed and scheming of society, and instead were cheerful and friendly.
Lan Ye watched Qiao Ci being surrounded by girls and suddenly felt a bit regretful about bringing her. He couldn't even get close to her. Most of the girls at the company were fussing over Qiao Ci.
However, as he watched, Lan Ye smiled.
It was great.
He had always felt that Qiao Ci was too lonely. She didn't like interacting with others or communicating with them. It seemed that besides him, oh, and the dog at home, she didn't seem to take anyone seriously.
It wasn't that she was arrogant, but rather indifferent.
The more time they spent together, the more intimate they became, the more Lan Ye worried. He feared what would happen if he were gone one day...
Wouldn't she be so lonely...
Wouldn't her heart become empty...
Tomorrow and the unexpected, one never knows which will arrive first.
Therefore, while he was still around, he wanted Qiao Ci to fall in love with this world, to have her own circle, her own playmates, her own concerns, even if only for a moment, especially considering the long lifespan of merfolk.
After dealing with a crowd of enthusiastic girls, Qiao Ci walked over to Lan Ye and leaned against him as if escaping, saying helplessly, "Being too popular is also a kind of trouble~"
"That's because my sister is too attractive," Lan Ye said affectionately, looking at Qiao Ci's profile. While no one was paying attention, he lowered his head and kissed the top of Qiao Ci's head, his voice deep and seductive, "Sister, I love you~"
Qiao Ci looked up and met his deep, affectionate gaze, smiling at each other, "I love you too, cub."
This was the first time Qiao Ci had ever said "I love you" to him.
Lan Ye felt that there was no more beautiful word than "cub."
Cub, she seemed to like calling him cub when she was happy.
His gaze shifted down to Qiao Ci's abdomen.
He eagerly anticipated the day a little life would be nurtured there, a little cub belonging to him and Qiao Ci.