Chapter 16

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By the time the training session with the two little ones concluded, the entire morning had slipped away. Returning home, it was nearly noon.

Zhou Wanli skillfully pulled out a bunch of ingredients from the refrigerator. After a few days of studying the forum, she could now perfectly prepare nurturing meals tailored to the different attributes of her beast companions.

Since officially becoming a Beast Tamer and obtaining her certification, Zhou Wanli had gained access to some relatively confidential knowledge platforms about beast taming.

Upon learning this, she promptly registered on the Beast Tamer forum that very night using her certificate and spent nearly half of each day thereafter browsing and absorbing the information.

What intrigued her most was the knowledge about cultivating extraordinary beasts. Watching her baby dragon and the provocative monkey happily devour the carefully concocted meals, Zhou Wanli felt a deep sense of accomplishment.

However, given their current levels, she was already struggling to afford their food expenses. The higher a beast’s level, the more energy-dense—and thus more expensive—their required food became.

Take the provocative monkey’s meal as an example.

It contained 200 grams of star sand powder, a portion of greathead shark marrow essence, and sweet fruit used for seasoning. These raw ingredients alone cost 500 star coins on the star network.

That’s twenty times what Zhou Wanli spent on a single meal herself.

Thankfully, after Yang Ma and Zhou Ba found out, they generously handed her a bank card loaded with 200,000 star coins to cover the duo’s food expenses.

That finally eased her immediate financial worries; otherwise, they might have truly gone hungry!

While Zhou Wanli was tidying up the trash, the baby dragon eagerly ran to the entrance, howling twice in anticipation.

“Coming, coming,” she said helplessly. She had never seen a pet so fond of working at the supermarket.

Originally, she had only planned to help out during the afternoon clearance at the supermarket so her parents could take a breather.

Unexpectedly, after two days, the baby dragon had become hooked on helping out. Now, if she left even a little late, it would protest; if she hesitated before leaving, it would urge her on.

Zhou Wanli was dumbfounded: truly born to be a hardworking beast.

Luckily, she wasn’t some capitalist; otherwise, she would be forced to work to death!

Compared to the enthusiastic baby dragon, the provocative monkey was far more laid-back, even slouching on the sofa.

It glanced stealthily at the human still in the kitchen, and seeing no one calling it, it wagged its tail contentedly and resumed watching TV.

When Zhou Wanli left the kitchen, she saw two completely different attitudes.

Pressing her forehead with a mild headache, she first turned off the TV, then, under the monkey’s displeased gaze, grabbed its tail and led it to the entrance.

After changing shoes, the three of them stepped out together toward the convenience store.

It was two in the afternoon, the sun at its hottest.

Just a few steps out of the apartment building, Zhou Wanli wiped the sweat beading on her forehead and glanced at the baby dragon walking beside her.

Though she longed to embrace the cool-bodied creature to cool it down, recalling that it weighed several hundred kilograms, the young girl shuddered and withdrew her hand.

Instead, she turned her gaze to the provocative monkey and reconsidered her plan.

Sensing the human’s ill intent, the monkey squeaked, “Squeak?”

—

July was the height of summer; the blazing sun had scorched the ground red.

The air itself seemed warped by the heat.

At this hour, whether in the neighborhood or on the street, outdoor spaces were nearly deserted.

Suddenly,

A young girl with an unusual black creature perched on her head leisurely emerged from the residential area, followed by a chubby, creamy yellow, somewhat adorable dragon-like pet.

When the girl with the peculiar headgear reached the convenience store at the neighborhood entrance, she paused, curiously eyeing a black hovering car nearby and the suited man standing beside it who kept sneaking glances at her.

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The girl furrowed her brow. Just as the middle-aged man thought she would stop to ask him something, she flicked her ponytail and entered the store without looking back.

The suited man was left speechless.

Inside the convenience store,

The provocative monkey was clinging onto Zhou Wanli’s head, refusing to get off, chattering loudly to Yang Yue and Zhou Qingfeng.

“Squeak squeak squeak! Your daughter is abusing me! She dared to use me as a hat and wore me around all the way! How outrageous!”

The agitated monkey even pulled off a patch of its black fur, nearly scorched by the sun, forcing them to look at it.

The baby dragon propped its little paws on the ground, opened its mouth wide and laughed heartily.

“Howl—who told you to be all black and absorb heat?”

Zhou Wanli crossed her arms nonchalantly, leaning against the counter.

“Whatever, you can complain; anyway, Mom and Dad don’t understand what you’re saying.”

This only made the provocative monkey more worked up.

Yang Yue and Zhou Qingfeng exchanged helpless looks.

So, there was a reason why these two could get along: at least when it came to angering the monkey, Zhou Wanli had her own logic.

Yang Yue gave her arm a light smack in exasperation. “Why are you bullying the little one again? As a Beast Tamer, don’t you think you should be more composed?”

Hearing her mother call the provocative monkey “little one,” Zhou Wanli wanted to retort.

But before she could, the welcoming announcement at the store’s door rang out:

“Welcome to Baifu Convenience Store!”

The baby dragon’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, instantly switching to employee mode and scampering over before anyone else could react.

“Howl howl? What would the customer like?”

Zhou Wanli was speechless.

“That’s the baby dragon? It wants to—?”

The suited man who had just entered was stopped by the creamy yellow little dragon, his face showing surprise.

Zhou Wanli quickly stepped forward, pulling the baby dragon back and smiling awkwardly, “This is my pet; it’s just curious about strangers.”

The suited man nodded in understanding. Then, taking a brown file folder from his briefcase, he smiled warmly at everyone, preparing to speak.

“I…”

“We don’t buy insurance here, sorry!” Yang Yue stood up from behind the counter, resolute.

“?” The suited man was puzzled. “I—I’m not selling insurance.”

“Oh.”

Zhou Qingfeng nodded and added, “We don’t buy auto insurance, nor house insurance, and no loans either.”

“???” The suited man was silent for a moment before forcing a smile.

“I am Meng Xiang, an admissions officer from Duwuxuan Beast Taming University. I’m here today to inquire about Zhou Wanli’s situation.”

“…?”

Upon learning his identity, the Zhou family was thrown into a flurry.

Yang Yue and Zhou Qingfeng no longer cared about the store’s business and abruptly closed it for the day.

Then, smiling warmly, they invited Meng Xiang to their home.

…

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“That’s the situation,” Meng Xiang said, gently sipping his tea.

“That’s the situation indeed,” Xi Muqing smiled, stroking the baby dragon’s restless little tail.

Meng Xiang twitched his lips, his expression darkening as he glanced at the woman who had suddenly arrived at the Zhou home just minutes ago.

Yang Yue, sitting on the sofa opposite, leaned drowsily against Zhou Qingfeng’s shoulder. “So, our Wanwan’s college entrance exam results were so outstanding that she’s been contacted for early signing by the Beast Taming University?”

Xi Muqing chuckled, “Not just us two. Over the next few days, other universities will likely send representatives as well. You don’t have to rush your decision—take your time, compare them all.”

Meng Xiang glanced at her before nodding in agreement. “Yes, no need to rush. But Duwuxuan Beast Taming University is very earnest in its offer. The commitments are in the file I just gave you. Take a couple of days to discuss, and I’ll come again.”

He stood and looked at Xi Muqing, raising an eyebrow as if to say, “Are you done chatting? Aren’t you leaving?”

Xi Muqing didn’t even glance at him, continuing to play with Zhou Wanli’s two pets.

Seeing this, Meng Xiang had no choice but to leave, disheartened.

Before coming to the Zhou home, he hadn’t taken the matter seriously.

It was well known that only the top fifty Beast Taming universities in the Federation could offer early admissions, and each had limited special enrollment quotas.

Across the Federation, there were 684 top-tier candidates for early admission, with 285 from Huazhou District. Yet Huazhou had only 26 universities qualified for early recruitment, each with just ten slots.

This meant 25 top-tier candidates wouldn’t be admitted early. Since candidate numbers exceeded slots, universities naturally preferred those with more outstanding qualifications.

And these qualifications weren’t just about exam scores.

“The troublesome visitor is finally gone,” Xi Muqing smiled at Zhou Wanli, waving her hand. “Remember me? I was the teacher who checked you after the exam.”

“Teacher Xi, we even exchanged star network contacts; you forgot?” Zhou Wanli replied.

Curiously, she asked, “Aren’t you the director of the Pet Medical Center in Xijing City? Why are you here handling admissions? Do you have a part-time role at the university?”

“Of course not,” Xi Muqing laughed. “I’m here to help an old friend and to give you some advice. After all, you’re our province’s only top-tier candidate.”

“The sole top-tier candidate with local residency in Tonghai Province.”

Yang Yue and Zhou Qingfeng, who had not taken part in the conversation, both clutched their chests in disbelief.

What? Their daughter was Tonghai Province’s only top-tier candidate? That meant... the top scorer?!

“Wanli, Meng Xiang probably hasn’t told you your rank among the top-tier candidates.”

Zhou Wanli shook her head. “They can even know the ranking?”

“In the eyes of the top universities, your rankings are open and transparent.”

“There are 285 top-tier candidates in Huazhou; your rank is 106, which is excellent.”

“Usually, the first day the top-tier list comes out is the most important for admissions. But do you know why, so far, only the Blue Yutian University I represent and Duwuxuan have sent representatives from Huazhou’s 26 universities?”

“Because university admissions no longer just look at grades—they consider... family background.”

“Background includes the candidate’s regional upbringing, family heritage, economic conditions, and only lastly, personal strength.” Xi Muqing’s face darkened.

“One phrase sums it up: ‘Few noble children come from poor families.’ This is the harsh reality for us commoner Beast Tamers.”

“Is it really like this...” Zhou Wanli murmured, reluctant to believe it. If so, what would become of her Beast Taming career? Her vision blurred.

“But exceptions exist.”

Xi Muqing’s eyes shone brightly as she looked at her. “And I will help you become that exception!”

“Huh?”