The Qianbian Silkworm glared at Ye Bai with a resentful look as it devoured the pet food in large mouthfuls.
So hungry I could die… I'm going to starve to death.
Just moments ago, the Qianbian Silkworm was so hungry that its stomach was practically touching its back. It nearly burst out of the pet space just to eat. But it was a critical point in the experiment—how could Ye Bai dare to let this little troublemaker loose?
This guy could easily destroy the entire lab.
The Qianbian Silkworm was just like a hyperactive Erha (Husky)—overly curious and prone to causing chaos.
"By the way, Master, it's getting late. I'll head back now. You should rest early too."
As soon as Ye Bai stepped out of the school gate, the rain began pouring. Within moments, a curtain of rain had formed.
Ye Bai paused and took shelter under the gate to avoid getting soaked. If it were just a drizzle, he could have walked through it, but a downpour like this left him no choice.
A familiar, honest figure emerged from the curtain of rain, holding an umbrella.
"Da Hui? What are you doing here?"
Da Hui grinned and handed the umbrella to Ye Bai.
So he brought the umbrella just for me.
"Let's go home."
Da Hui gave a firm nod.
Man and pet walked side by side under the umbrella in the heavy rain, the scene warm and comforting.
When they got home, Da Hui placed a prepared meal on the table.
It wasn't extravagant, but each dish was thoughtfully made. As Ye Bai shared funny stories from school, Da Hui listened silently while washing the dishes.
This had been their shared routine for many years.
At midnight, the intelligence system refreshed automatically.
---
[Updated Intelligence]
1. The pet nursery in front of Shenshan Middle School went out of business due to poor management. It was sold this afternoon at a very low price. The owner's asking price was 900,000 alliance coins.
2. In three days, a rift in the secret realm will appear in the northwest of Jiaying City. A large number of Tier 1 Earth Rats will emerge. The realm contains Tier 3 Earth Gems.
3. Some Gray Poison Moths have hidden evolutionary paths. There's a trick to identifying them: check if their wings show a purple halo under sunlight.
4. An amethyst wood comb appeared at the Jiaying City flea market. Someone will successfully acquire it two days later.
5. The day before the Longteng Auction, cleaners will be recruited at a high wage.
---
After reviewing the five pieces of intelligence, Ye Bai pondered.
"There are several nurseries in front of the school. Which one is the system referring to?"
He lay on his bed with his hands behind his head, thinking quietly.
That shop was rented by his parents, with three years' rent paid in advance. The lease was expiring in half a month. This could be a good opportunity to purchase the pet nursery near the school.
Shenshan Middle School had good security and a steady flow of students. Ye Bai also wanted a reliable place to leave his contracted beasts.
After all, the pet nursery was just a way to cover his living expenses. Once he was admitted to university, he and Da Hui would leave.
The remaining beasts would be left without proper care.
So he decided to use this opportunity to find suitable people to entrust the pets to.
The next morning, Ye Bai got up early, enjoyed a delicious breakfast, and rushed to school in the morning sun. He had checked the class schedule—only cultural subjects this morning, so he didn't need to attend.
On the way, he used his phone to research the pet nurseries near the school. There were four:
Longteng Nurture House
Colorful Nurture House
Angel Nurture House
Wuji Nurture House
Longteng Nurture House was immediately ruled out—it was a chain store run by the Longteng Group.
Colorful Nurture House had been in business for years, with a good reputation and loyal customers. Ye Bai also knew the elderly couple who ran it—they were conservative and cautious, unlikely to face a financial crisis.
That left only Angel and Wuji Nurture Houses as candidates.
Ye Bai looked into both and found that each had only been around for about a year. The manager of Wuji Nurture House, Zhao Wuji, had once been a lecturer at the University of Toronto.
Since he didn't have full details yet, Ye Bai decided to investigate in person.
Setting up a proper foster care system early would give him peace of mind.
Arriving at the school gate, the morning was alive with chirping birds gently pecking at leaves on the branches.
Ye Bai first visited the Angel Nurture House.
The front steps were swept clean, the sign was spotless, and the items inside were neatly arranged.
Wuji Nurture House was a different story. Fallen leaves littered the entrance, and dust coated the signboard.
The shelves inside were nearly empty, and the floor was cluttered with packing boxes.
One look was all it took for Ye Bai to know—this was the one being sold.
Just then, a worn-out young man approached. His unshaven face and wrinkled clothes suggested he hadn't rested in a while. Dark circles under his eyes completed the picture.
Ye Bai immediately recognized him as Zhao Wuji, the owner of Wuji Nurture House.
Gone was the proud scholar who once lectured at a prestigious university. Now, he just wanted to get rid of the burden.
You never really understand the pet nursery business until you're in it.
It was a deep pit—and he was drowning.
He was heavily in debt. Every extra day the nursery stayed open meant more financial losses.
Zhao Wuji clenched his teeth. He had to sell it.
In three days, a faculty recruitment fair would be held for an associate professor position at the University of Toronto. Given his academic background and published papers, he had a good shot.
Even if he lost all his capital, he was determined to let go of the nursery.
He still needed to pay off his debts and secure enough for rent and basic living expenses.
He estimated needing at least 850,000 alliance coins. But if he suddenly tried to sell, he might not even get 500,000.
If I can get 900,000, I'll throw in the license and equipment. I'll never come back—just focus on research.
As Zhao Wuji drifted into anxious thoughts, the door creaked open.
Ye Bai stepped in and surveyed the room. The property had three floors, each around 100 square meters—larger than his current home.
Though dusty, the interior layout and design were quite decent.
"Boss, I heard you're selling the nursery. Let's talk price."
Ye Bai smiled slyly, like a little fox, making Zhao Wuji shiver.
An hour later, Zhao Wuji stepped out with a spring in his step.
Clutching the payment card to his chest, he finally felt at ease.
He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. Just as he decided to sell, a buyer appeared—and even paid the full asking price.