Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Huo Zhanting Successfully Gets into Bed

After asking, Yu Lan quickly decided she was overthinking things.

’I must be going crazy.’

’How could I ask something like that?’

’The big lion seems so intelligent. The zoo must have trained him well.’

’If he could really understand human speech, I’d have to suspect this big lion is a shapeshifted male.’

However...

Thinking about how the big lion had just snuck into the bathroom, a flicker of suspicion sparked in Yu Lan’s mind.

She stomped toward the sofa in a huff. The Golden Lion trotted fawningly beside her, looking meek and submissive, not daring to make a single unnecessary move.

Yu Lan sat on the sofa, her fingers flying across her phone with a CLACK CLACK CLACK.

#My pet is too clingy and even follows me into the bathroom. Is this normal?#

Yu Lan posted the question on the largest social media app on the Star Network.

It was prime time for countless night owls to begin their evening entertainment.

The question was quickly pushed to relevant communities, and several answers soon popped up.

[Totally normal. Like, SUPER normal. Some pets are just extra clingy. My cat even follows me when I go to the bathroom. If I shut the door on him, he just lies outside and whines. He’s a total velcro-kitty.]

[OP, you must be a first-time pet owner. This is completely normal. When pets want to be near you, it means they see you as family. It’s a sign of deep trust.]

[Of course, it also depends on the pet’s personality. Some are the aloof type and won’t come near their owner no matter how much you beg. Yeah, I’m talking about my cat. So frustrating! Your pet is clingy and lets you pet and hug it whenever you want? You should be counting your lucky stars.]

[Super normal. Some little velcro-pets don’t just follow you everywhere, they insist on sleeping right next to you at night. They’re like little personal heaters; you’re never cold at night. So toasty!]

A whole string of comments, and every single one said this behavior was normal.

Yu Lan breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, her cheeks flushed.

’How could I doubt the innocent big lion like that?’

She quickly reached out, cupped the big lion’s fluffy head, and gave it a good scratch, apologizing sincerely.

"I’m sorry, baby. Mommy was wrong about you just now."

"Mommy loves you."

As she spoke, she leaned in and gently kissed the big lion’s fluffy head.

The beautiful female’s delicate face drew closer and closer. Right before his eyes, her rich, warm fragrance washed over him.

The Golden Lion’s pupils widened in shock.

’No one has ever kissed me like this.’

’I-I-I... My legs are going weak. I want to run again.’

But after the first time, the Golden Lion managed to force himself to stay put.

If Yu Lan had been a bit more observant, she would have noticed that the lion’s powerful, sturdy limbs were trembling slightly.

His molten-gold eyes, usually filled with a fierce and powerful aura, lost their focus.

He looked completely spellbound.

However, Yu Lan had just finished reading the post and was too busy hugging the big, fluffy lion, burying her face in its fur and petting it enthusiastically to notice any of this.

After their playful commotion, the time soon reached about ten-thirty at night.

The night grew deep.

Outside the villa complex, it was silent, save for the sounds of the security team making their dutiful rounds.

Yu Lan let out a small yawn.

"Alright, baby, it’s getting late. Mommy has work tomorrow, so it’s time for bed, okay?"

As she spoke, she opened the bedroom door, pulled a new comforter from the closet, and shaped it into a makeshift nest on the floor.

She patted it a few times, gesturing for the big lion to come over.

"Baby, can you sleep here tonight?"

"The pet bed I bought for you won’t arrive until tomorrow."

The big lion was huge, standing two or three meters tall. Nothing in stock on Central Star was big enough, so she had to order one from another planet.

"So you’ll just have to make do for tonight."

Yu Lan’s voice was soft and laced with a lazy sleepiness.

After saying her piece, she headed straight for her own large bed.

The Golden Lion, still standing in the same spot, tilted his head. His molten-gold eyes reflected the beautiful female’s slender, soft back.

He padded over to the simple nest Yu Lan had made for him.

He lowered his head and took a light sniff.

’It doesn’t smell like her at all.’

He looked up at Yu Lan again.

By now, the beautiful female was already tucked into her covers.

She was cocooned in the soft comforter, with only her fair, delicate face peeking out, as soft as a cloud.

The faint, clean scent in the air had also faded considerably.

A flicker of confusion crossed the Golden Lion’s eyes; he didn’t understand why this was happening.

But an instinct was nagging at him. He didn’t want to sleep alone in that cold, makeshift nest.

’If I had to choose,’ he thought, ’that spot on the big, soft bed right next to the beautiful female seems perfect for me.’

’The nights are too cold.’

’The beautiful little female definitely can’t get through the night by herself.’

’But my belly is soft and warm. It’s perfect for the little female to snuggle into.’

’Logic checks out. √’

The Golden Lion’s gaze fixed on the bed, his eyes gleaming with eagerness.

In the next second, he pushed off with his powerful legs and leaped lightly onto the bed.

He was deliberately quiet, afraid of waking the sleeping little female.

Yu Lan felt the mattress beside her dip slightly as a wave of warmth washed over from her side.

Yu Lan’s eyes fluttered open. Hazy with sleep, her face was flushed like the juiciest peach in spring.

The Golden Lion couldn’t resist leaning down and planting a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Baby, stop fooling around."

"Go back to your own bed and sleep."

Yu Lan sleepily reached out and swatted at the big lion’s legs.

With her other hand, she weakly patted the floor beside the bed, motioning for him to get down.

Contrary to what she expected—that he would stubbornly refuse to move and require more effort from her—upon hearing Yu Lan’s command, the big lion was surprisingly obedient and hopped off the bed.

But instead of leaving, he just stood by the side of the bed.

He rested his big, fluffy head on the edge of the mattress, looking aggrieved, and stared at Yu Lan with his bright, amber eyes.

He was whining silently.

He was being unbearably adorable.

’As his owner, how could I possibly resist this?’

In her sleepy haze, Yu Lan remembered the forum posts. It was perfectly normal for a pet to want to sleep in the same bed as its owner.

’His behavior is completely normal.’

’Fine.’

Yu Lan let out a light sigh.

Just like that, she caved.

She lifted a corner of the comforter and patted the space next to her.

"You can sleep up here, but you have to be good, okay?"

"Mommy has work tomorrow, so you can’t disturb my sleep, understand?"

’As a large predator, he’ll probably snore.’

Yu Lan had already decided that if his snoring woke her up in the middle of the night, she would just sneak off to sleep in another room.

The thought had barely crossed her mind when the big lion’s fluffy head nudged her.

Then, in a very human-like gesture, he extended a paw, laid it on Yu Lan’s back, and patted her gently.

It was as if he were silently lulling her to sleep.

Yu Lan buried her pretty, pink-flushed face into the Golden Lion’s soft, warm belly and slept soundly.