"RAWK!" Sure enough, feeding a pet was the best way to get closer to it. After eating half a cookie, the Raccoon Cat stretched its paw out to him again, as if it wanted more. When Shen Yibin tried to stroke its fur, it didn’t resist.

"This is just a little something to tide you over, it’s not that great," Shen Yibin said, taking out a bottle of mineral water and offering it a drink. "Come back with me. I’ll make you some delicious food when we get home."

"WHIMPER~" The Raccoon Cat seemed to understand Shen Yibin, and its spirits sank for a moment before it perked right back up. It started hopping around the cardboard box, poking it with its paws one moment, then bracing its back against the box and kicking furiously the next, as if determined to bring the box along.

"I’ll get it." Shen Yibin opened the box and took a look. Inside, as usual, were some official documents, along with some food and water—provisions for the Raccoon Cat’s journey, it seemed. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Normally, he could have just thrown it all away. But for one, littering in the woods was a bad habit, and for another, the Raccoon Cat seemed strangely attached to these items. To keep the peace, Shen Yibin had no choice but to bear the extra burden.

"Hm?" Hah’Er padded over, curiously sizing up the Raccoon Cat. He pointed to the black patches around his own eyes, then to the Raccoon Cat’s, as if to ask, ’What ’hood are you from? How’d you get the same tattoos as me?’

"RAWK!" The Raccoon Cat seemed curious too. The two creatures tilted their heads, staring at each other’s dark-ringed eyes with an odd sense of kinship. Suddenly, the Raccoon Cat stepped forward and patted Hah’Er’s belly. Then it shook its head, puffed out its chest proudly, and patted its own stomach, as if to say, ’You’re not doing so hot, are you, bro? Looks like you don’t eat well. Now, look at *my* belly. That’s how it’s done.’

"Sigh... It’s hopeless. Utterly hopeless. Stupidity really is contagious," Cheeky wailed from the sky. ’I’m definitely moving out when we get back. I refuse to become an idiot like those two.’

"Hmph!"

"RAWK!" Hah’Er and the Raccoon Cat shot a glare up at him in unison. It seemed that in just this short time, they’d gotten so chummy they were practically ready to become sworn brothers.

"Let’s get a move on. If we don’t hurry, we won’t make it back for dinner, and I just had Sun Qian buy a ton of great groceries." ’You two can swear your blood oath later. For now, let’s just get moving.’

"Boss, let me take that." Sylvie took the tent bag from Shen Yibin’s back and slung it over her shoulder. Seeing this, Hah’Er copied her, taking the cardboard box from Shen Yibin’s hands. ’We’re practically sworn brothers. It’s only natural that I carry his things.’

"How are you going to walk while holding that?" Shen Yibin shrugged helplessly. ’He’ll just have to give it back to me eventually,’ he thought. "Here, let me tie it to your back. But you have to remember: when we’re going down the mountain, don’t go rolling down like you did earlier, or you’ll crush everything inside."

"Mmm-hmm!" Hah’Er nodded eagerly, then plopped down on the ground, allowing Shen Yibin to tie the box to his back with a rope. Once it was secure, he got on all fours and fell in line behind Shen Yibin, with the Raccoon Cat trotting alongside him.

And just like that, their returning party had a new member. After a grueling day and a half, Shen Yibin had finally found the third pet the courier had lost: a Raccoon Cat from Japan.

’You two don’t have to get *this* friendly, you know?’ Shen Yibin thought. Hah’Er and the Raccoon Cat had a blast on the way back, chasing and tumbling one moment, chattering and squawking nonstop the next. He had no idea how they managed to understand each other. ’Is there some kind of universal animal language?’

They had taken quite a few detours on the way there, but the return trip was free of such hassles. With Cheeky guiding them from above, the party of five finally made it out of the woods and onto the main road just before nightfall.

Back in the van, Shen Yibin floored it toward the city. He hadn’t had a decent meal in nearly two days and was desperate to get back and refuel. Luckily, his trusty ride was up to the task, and they made it back to the shop just before closing time.

"Boss, you’re finally back! Officer Bai came looking for you several times over the past two days." Sun Qian couldn’t help but remember the scene that morning, when Bai Yanni heard that Shen Yibin and Sylvie had gone camping and hadn’t returned. Though it was a warm spring day, for some reason, Sun Qian had felt a bone-deep chill.

"Well, that’s because I was out looking for this little guy," Shen Yibin said, holding up the Raccoon Cat from behind his back. "Come on, this is Sun Qian, she works at the shop. Say hi."

"Is that a red panda?" Sun Qian asked, looking at the Raccoon Cat in confusion. Like Sylvie, she’d gotten it wrong. Shen Yibin just smiled and explained.

"Anyway, were you able to buy the bullfrogs I asked for? I’m making Spicy Bullfrog for you guys tonight." The Raccoon Cat has a varied diet, mainly consisting of small animals—including rodents, small birds, eggs, fish, frogs, snakes, shrimp, crabs, and insects—but it also eats plant-based foods like berries, fungi, roots, seeds, and grains.

That was why Shen Yibin planned to make Spicy Bullfrog to welcome its arrival. ’Judging by Hah’Er and Cheeky’s appetites,’ he reasoned, ’this Raccoon Cat will probably love my cooking too, right?’

"The bullfrogs, plus all the side dishes and spices you asked for—I bought everything. It’s all in the kitchen." Sun Qian’s eyes lit up. Having gotten used to Shen Yibin’s food, the takeout she’d eaten the last two days had tasted completely bland.

"Great. You guys hang out down here. Hah’Er, come upstairs and help me cook." Leaving the others downstairs, Shen Yibin took Hah’Er upstairs and quickly got to work. Before long, a large, fragrant basin of Spicy Bullfrog was ready.

"Dinner’s re— What the heck, when did you get up here?!" He had just poked his head out of the kitchen to call them when he saw the Raccoon Cat crouching in the doorway, staring intently at the basin of bullfrog, a puddle of drool forming on the floor.

"Hah’Er, get him a bowl. Take care of your new brother. Time to eat." ’Looks like this little guy is definitely going to like my cooking,’ Shen Yibin thought, finally able to relax.

"Mmm-hmm!" Hah’Er nodded eagerly. He took a food bowl identical to his own from the cupboard and handed it to the Raccoon Cat, not forgetting to demonstrate the proper way to use it. The Raccoon Cat followed his example, holding the bowl to its chest with both paws and waiting for Shen Yibin to fill it with food.

"This is absolutely divine. It’s even better than what the royal chefs in Sokovia used to make." Sylvie, not the least bit fazed by a dish made from bullfrog, heaped praise on the food as she ate.

For once, Hah’Er wasn’t solely focused on his own meal. He kept checking on his new sworn brother, helping him get more food and even wiping his mouth, acting exceptionally affectionate.

The entire, massive basin of Spicy Bullfrog was completely devoured by the crew. Stuffed, everyone sat around the table to rest for a bit when Sylvie remembered something important. "Boss, what’s this Raccoon Cat’s name?"

"Hmm... Let’s call him Egg," Shen Yibin said.