Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Adopting the Big Lion

"Oh, alright, alright, that’s enough."

"Stop licking, stop licking, stop licking."

The lion had licked Yu Lan’s entire pretty face red, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

She could only turn her face away, eyes closed, and reach out to push the Golden Lion’s big, furry head.

Suddenly,

A sliver of inspiration flashed through Yu Lan’s mind.

As she looked at the enthusiastic lion before her, Yu Lan’s mind flashed back to the Silver Wolf in the iron cage.

And Huo Zhanting just so happened to be missing. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Huo Zhanting, is that you?"

Yu Lan asked tentatively.

The furry, enthusiastic lion, who had obediently switched to licking her hand when forbidden from her face, tilted his head. A flicker of confusion crossed its molten-gold eyes.

’Lick, lick, lick... What is she talking about?’

’Lick, lick, lick... Who’s Huo Zhanting?’

’Lick, lick, lick...’ He took the opportunity to sneak a big lick across the small female’s face. ’Awoo! Why do little females have to smell so sweet?’

"Alright."

Yu Lan gave up.

She just couldn’t connect the lion in front of her—this enthusiastic, almost perverted licker—with the powerful, imposing man she’d met the other day.

’How could Huo Zhanting ever act like this?’

What Yu Lan didn’t know, however, was this.

「An hour ago, on the battlefield in the Thirteen District」

The forces of the Dark Planet, seeing they couldn’t defeat the First Army led by Huo Zhanting, had resorted to the most despicable of tactics: spraying Huo Zhanting with a massive dose of an induction agent.

Unable to find the soothing presence of a female, the powerful man immediately transformed into his beast form. He then followed a scent from the depths of his memory all the way back to this villa.

The lion before Yu Lan at this moment—the one acting like a pervert obsessed with nuzzling and licking, even voluntarily flopping onto the ground to expose his soft belly for the female to get close to—was none other than the cold, powerful Huo Zhanting himself.

Unfortunately, Yu Lan herself was completely unaware of this matter.

"Then where on earth did you come from?"

Yu Lan reached out and poked the big lion’s furry head, her expression full of confusion.

She even felt a little embarrassed and withdrew her hand,

refusing the lion’s attempts to kiss and lick her.

Because she couldn’t tell if the creature before her was a real lion or a male in his beast form.

If it was really just a big lion, that would be fine.

But if it was a male, such actions would be far too intimate.

"AWH!"

When the big lion saw Yu Lan pull her hand away and put it behind her back, refusing any more contact,

it let out a sound of discontent.

It even learned to lower its big, furry head and nudge her, as if pouting.

Yu Lan was instantly amused.

"Alright, alright, good boy. It’s not that I won’t let you lick me, it’s just that I want to know who you are."

Just then,

suddenly,

a message flashed across the living room screen.

[Urgent Alert: Due to the conflict in the Thirteen District, all animals from the Interstellar Zoo have escaped.]

[Please do not panic. The Interstellar Zoo is organizing teams to search for them. All zoo animals have undergone special training, are gentle and well-behaved, and will absolutely not attack humans unprovoked.]

[If you spot one, please immediately call 188888. We will dispatch personnel to retrieve it at once.]

"There’s actually an Interstellar Zoo?"

Yu Lan’s eyes widened slightly.

Dodging the big, furry lion’s attempts to nuzzle and lick her, she pulled out her phone to look up the news.

Soon,

she had her answer.

There was indeed an interstellar zoo, but because males could also transform into animals,

visitor numbers had dwindled. The zoo couldn’t make ends meet, which in turn led to a decline in its security.

That was how the animals were able to stage a jailbreak this time.

Of course, the zoo animals were indeed extremely docile and would never pose a threat to people.

The zoo was even appealing to kind-hearted people to adopt the animals because it truly had no money and couldn’t afford to keep them.

Now that she had confirmed the big lion’s origin,

Yu Lan took out her phone, intending to call the zoo.

As the call was connecting, Yu Lan hesitated.

She was all alone, having transmigrated to this place.

No family, no friends.

Although she lived in a large villa, Yu Lan only felt an empty coldness.

’If a living animal could keep me company...’

Yu Lan pressed her lips together. Perhaps her life could have a little more joy.

She had wanted to raise a furry pet since she was little. Although this lion was much, much bigger, the zoo had said it was docile and would never hurt anyone.

And its recent behavior had certainly proved that point.

So,

in the second before the call connected, Yu Lan quickly tapped the hang-up button.

She was in such a panic that she even thought she heard a "Hello?" from the other end.

"PHEW!"

Looking at the dark screen of her phone, Yu Lan placed a hand on her chest and patted it.

"Awo?"

The big lion next to her came closer with a confused look, its furry head looking at the phone, then at Yu Lan.

Its furry face was a mask of confusion.

After making the decision to adopt him, Yu Lan looked at the big lion again.

She felt that everything about him was different.

His posture was majestic, his limbs were strong and powerful, and his fur was shiny and lustrous.

Worthy of being the lion she was going to adopt. She’d be so proud to take him out with her.

And with a big lion guarding the house, she would never again have to be afraid of burglars breaking in while she slept alone at night.

If anyone dared to come in, she would just set the lion on them.

The more Yu Lan thought about it, the more excited she became. She threw her arms open and hugged the big lion’s furry head.

"Baby."

"From now on, you’ll stay here. Let me take care of you, okay?"

’So sweet, so sweet, so sweet.’

At that moment, the big lion was held tightly by Yu Lan.

Its head was buried right in the beautiful female’s high, full chest.

A rich, warm fragrance flooded its senses.

Overwhelmed by the scent, the Golden Lion’s body went limp, and it collapsed to its knees.

The scene was now extremely awkward.

"Baby?"

"What’s wrong? Are you sick?"

Yu Lan looked puzzled. ’No way. How could a lion that looks so strong be sick?’

’Did he catch a cold or something while escaping from the zoo?’

Yu Lan reached out, wanting to feel the big lion’s forehead.

But in the next second,

feeling that he had lost face in front of the beautiful female, the big lion scrambled to his feet.

After giving Yu Lan a long, hard stare with his molten-gold eyes, he whirled around and bounded away.

"Hey, baby, where are you going?"

"Come back!"

Watching the Golden Lion’s rapidly retreating back, Yu Lan scrambled up from the floor.

But at the sound of her voice, the Golden Lion unexpectedly picked up his pace.

In a flash, he vanished up the stairs, disappearing to who-knows-where.

Still, seeing how fast he could run, Yu Lan figured he must be physically fine.

’Then why...’

Then, a thought struck her.

Yu Lan looked down at herself, and her pretty, fair face suddenly blushed.

’I almost forgot.’

’The big lion is a boy.’

’Ah, I’ll have to keep a proper distance from now on.’