Leaving the small stage behind, Lin Wan finally breathed again. She crouched and ruffled Er'gou's thick fur in reward.
Er'gou tilted his head away with practiced arrogance.
…but the tip of his tail betrayed him, swaying once, twice.
Lin Wan caught it and smirked. "Oh? Divine Beast acting shy now?"
Er'gou snorted.
The afternoon missions rolled in one after another, and Er'gou continued his legendary performance — a flawless fusion of "Sacred Beast dignity" and "Husky chaos."
Mission:"The Sacred Beast must find medicinal herbs for the injured bird."A pile of leaves. Only one correct color.
Er'gou didn't hesitate.
One sweep of his paw —Correct leaf isolated. Precision surgical.
Gasps from nearby tourists.
Then, while returning—
He "accidentally" knocked over the rubber prop bird.
Paused.
Looked down.
…and casually stepped on it.
Soft squeak.
Er'gou walked on like nothing happened.
Bullet screen exploded:
[Sacred Beast: Healing optional. Dominance mandatory.][That bird offended him in a past life.][Why is this dog funnier than half the comedians on TV??]
Mission:"Help the lost girl find her teddy bear."
Er'gou tracked the scent through the garden paths, past hedges, across stone tiles —straight to a bush behind a decorative fountain.
Bear located.
But instead of carrying it back like a normal dog—
He pushed it forward with a paw.
Sat down beside it.
Blank stare. Royal indifference.
As if declaring:
"Such trivial matters hardly require the intervention of a Sacred Beast."
Laughter rippled across the set.
Every task ended the same way:
✔ Efficient✔ Stylish✔ Mildly insulting to the concept of "difficulty"
By now, Er'gou's presence dominated the livestream.
Other pets were cute.
Er'gou was content.
Su Xiao's Ragdoll cat, Pudding, spent most of the time nestled in her arms, completing only a gentle grooming scene on a velvet bench.
Elegant.
Graceful.
…and utterly overshadowed.
Su Xiao maintained her sugar-sweet smile, but a tiny crack had formed at the corners.
Her gaze drifted — again and again — toward Lin Wan and Er'gou, now magnets for cameras, staff, and curious visitors.
Lunch Break – Pet Dining Terrace
The production team arranged an outdoor pet-friendly café.
Designer bowls. Polished cutlery. Instagram-ready plating.
Other animals dug in happily.
Er'gou lowered his nose toward his own plate.
Sniff.
Paused.
His blue eyes narrowed.
Whatever pastel-colored mush sat before him clearly failed the Sacred Beast Quality Control Standards.
One slow push of his paw.
Plate rejected.
Then—
His gaze locked onto Lin Wan's dish.
Grilled chicken breast. Perfect sear. Minimal seasoning.
Target acquired.
Lin Wan followed his stare.
"…No."
Er'gou looked at her.
Silent.
Unblinking.
He slid his empty plate toward her with deliberate emphasis.
Meaning:
Exchange.
Lin Wan sighed. "This is human food."
Er'gou did not blink.
She tried reasoning. "It has seasoning. Bad for you."
Still nothing.
Then—
Er'gou turned his head slightly.
Eyes flicking toward Su Xiao's table.
There, Pudding enjoyed premium freeze-dried meat that smelled unmistakably like actual protein instead of nutritional deception.
Er'gou turned back.
Looked at Lin Wan's chicken.
Looked at his own rejected paste.
The accusation in those blue eyes was devastating:
Discrimination. Betrayal. Culinary injustice.
Lin Wan: "…You are impossible."
Under the crushing pressure of canine judgment, she stealthily sliced off a small, sauce-free piece and slid it over.
Er'gou accepted with dignity.
Slow chew.
Measured grace.
As if tasting victory itself.
Unfortunately—
Someone had been watching.
Su Xiao set down her fork and rose, Pudding cradled elegantly in her arms. She approached with a gentle smile.
"Wanwan-jie, Er'gou is incredible today," she said sweetly. "So smart. So… spirited."
Lin Wan gave a polite laugh. "He's just a bit silly."
Su Xiao crouched slightly, studying Er'gou.
Too closely.
"Honestly," she continued, voice soft, curious, "he doesn't behave like an ordinary dog. Those missions… it almost feels like he understands everything."
Er'gou lifted his head.
Met her eyes.
Calm.
Clear.
Perfectly executed Husky Innocence™.
Lin Wan's instincts sharpened.
Danger.
Su Xiao tilted her head. "How did you train him? Any special techniques?"
Lin Wan smiled casually. "Snacks. Patience. Luck."
"Is that so…" Su Xiao murmured.
Her gaze lingered.
On Er'gou's eyes.
On his posture.
On the strange composure no Husky should logically possess.
Then she said, lightly:
"Sometimes… the way he looks at people… it's almost like there's something behind it."
A pause.
"…Like he's thinking."
For half a second—
The air tightened.
Er'gou blinked.
Tilted his head.
Let his tongue loll slightly.
Upgraded from Sacred Beast to Certified Idiot Dog.
Su Xiao held the stare.
One second.
Two.
Then a faint shiver passed through her.
She straightened with a laugh. "Maybe I'm imagining things."
But her next words were anything but casual.
"I've heard," she added softly, "some rare breeds can be extremely valuable. Sometimes their backgrounds… aren't that simple."
Lin Wan didn't answer.
Didn't bite.
Didn't flinch.
Su Xiao smiled again — flawless, porcelain-sweet.
Chatted a few more harmless lines.
Then turned to leave.
But just before stepping away—
Her phone lifted.
A subtle angle.
Three rapid shutter sounds.
Click. Click. Click.
Photos.
Of Er'gou.
Lin Wan's eyes darkened.
Er'gou's ears twitched.
Neither of them spoke.
But the message was clear.
Someone… was beginning to suspect.