The room, which had been warm and cozy moments ago, became deathly quiet. The actions of the two little ones gave Lu Mingming a slight sense of unease.
She hadn't expected a single sentence to elicit such a strong reaction from the two cubs.
Xue Gao seemed to revert to the aloof, almost curmudgeonly demeanor he had displayed when they first met the doctor.
This naturally made Lu Mingming think of the imposing patriarchs she often saw in Earth dramas.
Glancing again, the little Samoyed slowly settled back onto the bed, turning its face away to avoid drawing attention.
Although clearly concerned, it feigned indifference on the surface. Its round eyes kept stealing glances towards Lu Mingming, observing her reactions and decisions.
This was typical of its awkward personality.
The little white tiger's soft paw pads continued to nudge Lu Mingming's arm in protest.
Its warm paws gently pressed against her arm, leaving fleeting imprints of tiny pink plum blossoms. The cub's wet, sapphire-blue eyes looked pitiful and adorable.
It was very much like a kitten begging for affection.
That remark had been an offhand comment during casual conversation. Lu Mingming hadn't actually intended to talk about romance.
After all, her main goals were still to raise the cubs well and cure her own genetic disease.
She would consider other matters only when the cubs could truly stand on their own.
Lu Mingming stifled a laugh and sat up. Understanding their childish tantrums, she playfully tapped both cubs on the nose and asked again, "What's wrong?"
Knowing she was being deliberately obtuse, they felt flustered and, more so, anxious.
The little white tiger gripped the clean white duvet with its small paws, as if trying to vent its frustration. Its claws repeatedly scratched at the fabric.
The cub had never experienced such emotions in the Alliance before.
Given its usual temperamental state, controlled by its ancestral genes, and its noble, imposing status, who would dare act like this in front of it?
Its nerves felt like a taut string being plucked by unseen hands, a flood of complex and unbearable emotions washing over it, leaving its heart heavy.
These feelings piled up, like a ball of yarn with no loose end, making the little white tiger even more reluctant to speak.
"Be good, you'll have to pay for this if you tear it."
Lu Mingming casually scooped the cub into her arms, smoothing out the blanket the little one had been scratching.
Am I less important than the blanket?!
The little white tiger's eyes widened in disbelief, a hint of gloom slowly creeping into its expression.
Then, like a hurt kitten, it curled up stubbornly and unwillingly in Lu Mingming's embrace, its fluffy tail coiling around itself as it retreated into its own little world.
Lu Mingming suddenly glimpsed an ungraspable emotion in its eyes, which appeared and vanished in an instant.
She felt a bit lost and took out their new favorite treats from her bag – milk candies.
Normally, she would have to supervise them closely to prevent them from eating too many and harming their teeth, but this was a special occasion.
Giving two candies to each cub, Lu Mingming placed one end of the candy between their soft paw pads.
The cubs accepted them without much reaction. Unlike their usual show of joy, they were now listless, like wilting flowers that no longer turned their smiling faces towards the sun.
Xue Gao's dandelion-like tail tip did lift slightly, signifying acknowledgment and a temporary cessation of his displeasure.
The little white tiger remained buried in its paws, unmoved.
Lu Mingming gently rubbed the white tiger's chubby cheeks, coaxing it out of its "ostrich" posture.
The little tiger cast a sideways glance, avoiding eye contact.
Lu Mingming explained earnestly, "I didn't mean it that way."
She then opened her palm, placing the little tiger's soft, adorable paw into her hand, and said, "I can swear, if I ever have someone I like, I'll definitely let my little knights see them first."
Though the cub seemed to show no reaction, Lu Mingming accurately caught the slight twitch of its ear.
Knowing this tactic was effective, Lu Mingming continued to soften her approach, promising, "If I break my word, let my babies punish me."
She rolled up her knitted sweater, revealing a fair arm. The veins on her slender wrist were quite prominent, as if a flick of a tail would leave a red mark.
Seeing this, the little white tiger's tail automatically and gently wrapped around Lu Mingming's finger, urging her to put her hand down.
It had no violent tendencies and would not let someone it liked suffer.
The two cubs were truly easy to coax and incredibly cute.
Lu Mingming couldn't resist leaning into the space between them, tucking her long hair behind her ear. She gently tapped its smooth, delicate cheek, her eyes filled with a hint of warmth and indulgence.
"If you forgive me, give me a kiss, sister!"
She had been wanting this for a long time. On the way, she had seen other cubs affectionately kiss their guardians, and her eyes had been full of envy.
How could this be allowed?
The little white tiger was momentarily stunned before immediately rallying itself.
It rolled onto its plump body and stood up. The cub stood guard over Lu Mingming's profile like a Western dragon guarding its treasure.
It wouldn't kiss, but it would keep the little Samoyed away.
So childish.
The little Samoyed flicked its tail and calmly stood up, stretching languidly.
Since getting to know Lu Mingming, his mental state had largely recovered, and his thoughts had become increasingly clear. Morian knew who to thank and had been wanting to express his gratitude.
Under the white tiger's wary gaze, the little Samoyed resolutely walked over and knelt beside Lu Mingming, imprinting a soft kiss on the back of her hand.
If I have the chance, I want to be your knight for life.
The little white tiger's expression darkened, and a faint, low growl rumbled in its throat. A flicker of darkness in its eyes vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Lu Mingming watched Xue Gao's action, not yet surprised.
The next second, her hand was pressed onto the bed by two soft paws. A small feline face, full of aggressive intent, drew closer inch by inch to her cheek. Its warm breath brushed against her skin.
Following that, the little white tiger's kiss, restrained and delicate, landed on her cheek – a faint touch, moist and warm.
Lu Mingming vaguely smelled a crisp, minty fragrance that enveloped her senses, making her mind go blank.
After the kiss, the cub retreated without a word, its gaze, inexplicably fixed, clinging to Lu Mingming's face.
Lu Mingming felt a strange, faint current emanate from its eyes, flowing through her heart like a flock of seagulls skimming over a calm sea, their soft wings stirring a tremor and ripple in her heart.
In the quiet space, something indefinable seemed to spread, becoming an undeniable presence.
Lu Mingming gave a light cough to break the peculiar atmosphere, unconsciously raising a hand to rub the soft flesh of her earlobe. The cool sensation finally helped her flushed cheeks calm down slightly.
She urgently changed the subject, "...Shall we go eat now?"
While Lu Mingming was eating, she was unaware of the enormous stir her competition had caused on Xingfu Star.
"Thank you everyone for your support today. I'll be ending my stream early for a while to learn more knowledge and prepare for competitions on other planets."
As he signed off, his fans showered him with gifts. Oscar looked at the income data in the background and closed the stream with satisfaction.
Ending a day's hard work, he sighed and casually leaned back on the sofa to watch the day's news.
Actually, everything he had just said was a lie. Oscar, as the sole participant from Xingfu Star in the previous session, believed his skills were far superior to most streamers, making further study unnecessary.
Oscar remembered that this week was the competition for the newcomer rankings in the child-rearing section. He had been thinking about it all day, secretly hoping it would be the charming and alluring vixen-like streamer, Nine-Tailed Fox.
Perhaps, during their competition time, he could win her over and make her his girlfriend.
A glint of lust flickered in Oscar's eyes, and he instinctively licked his dry lips.
With eager anticipation, he clicked on the Star Network Entertainment Community – two trending red headlines were prominently displayed: "Lu Mingming Receives Full Marks," and "Nine-Tailed Fox Disqualified for Violating Rules."
How could this be?!
The girlfriend he thought he had snagged was gone. Oscar was both shocked and furious. He quickly read both news articles.
The comment section was in an uproar. Many couldn't believe that Nine-Tailed Fox, known as a master in the child-rearing section, would commit a rule violation. Furthermore, they harbored no goodwill towards Lu Mingming, who had appeared out of nowhere.
【NineTailedFox'sTail: This must be a frame-up! Nine-Tailed Fox would never do such a thing! I demand the organizers reveal the truth!!】
【GeneralFatTiger: Are you crazy above? Didn't you watch the live stream yourself? Here's the link, you're welcome.】
【DryLeafButterfly: Honestly, isn't the full score just a show...?】
【FoxClanBeautyWhenWillYouDescend: Guys, I can't take it anymore with Nine-Tailed Fox gone. Who's with me to sabotage the competition?】
A small group immediately responded with agreement.
Lu Mingming's live stream had attracted many fans, and her perfect score in the daytime competition had garnered unprecedented attention.
Those who supported Lu Mingming were also indignant. The two sides were fiercely clashing in the entertainment section.
Who is Lu Mingming?
Who forced my goddess away?
Even before meeting her, Oscar already harbored deep resentment towards this future teammate.