Sher's originally impatient expression instantly brightened upon seeing her.
To be precise, it brightened upon seeing what she held in her hand.
His steps quickened noticeably, making it impossible for his shapeshifted kin to keep up. The small creature could only trot behind him on its short legs, grumbling something under its breath.
The distance was too great for Shen Jianxi to hear what it was saying, but judging by its expressive face, it wasn't anything nice.
Sher clearly intended to ditch the little raccoon, and his pace suddenly accelerated, leaving it far behind.
"You're here!" Sher reached the entrance quickly, his breathing steady. "What did you bring?"
The ears on his head twitched as he spoke, perking up noticeably when he saw the shopping bag, his emotions laid bare.
Shen Jianxi suppressed a laugh and gestured with her chin towards the inside, "Aren't you going to invite me in for a bit, Sher?"
She also wanted to dance with the little raccoons!
Hearing her words, Sher's gaze remained fixed on the shopping bag, without a hint of hesitation. He nodded enthusiastically, like a puppy, "Follow me."
Without regard for the two little raccoons' attempts to stop him, he stepped forward, pulled her along, and headed inside, leaving the two little raccoons behind, furious but afraid to abandon their posts.
As she walked, Shen Jianxi looked back and smiled apologetically at the two little raccoons. To her surprise, this smile only made them angrier.
Their grumbling turned into frantic gestures with sticks, threatening her, which "scared" her into turning her head back quickly.
As if sensing her thoughts, Sher didn't lead her to a secluded spot but instead walked to the area where the little raccoons were dancing.
Perhaps seeing her led over by Sher, these little raccoons didn't harbor as much hostility towards Shen Jianxi as the two at the entrance. Instead, they enthusiastically gathered around, taking her hand to dance.
Sher then took the shopping bag, expertly found the marshmallows, and began to eat them with gusto.
He didn't touch any of the other snacks. Primarily, he hadn't seen them before and didn't know how to eat them. Only the marshmallows had been unwrapped by her last time, and Sher had remembered that.
While Sher ate happily, Shen Jianxi was on the verge of swooning, surrounded by a sea of fluff.
She did remember that these little raccoons were different from the ones she had seen at the zoo; they were beastmen. This helped her restrain herself from hugging and "ravaging" each one.
As the night deepened, and the little raccoons all returned to their homes, Shen Jianxi, still reluctant to leave, walked over to Sher's side.
She hadn't realized it until she looked, and then she was startled – the ground around where Sher was sitting was littered with empty packaging bags. She looked closer; they were all marshmallow bags, while the other items remained undisturbed in their places.
Perhaps it was due to his extreme craving, not knowing what he could or how he should eat, and the long wait, Sher's usually upright ears drooped slightly. He looked incredibly pitiable.
Combined with his exquisite appearance, Shen Jianxi's heart immediately softened.
"Did you wait long?" she asked softly.
Sher, listless, didn't reply. Seeing this, Shen Jianxi took a pack of spicy strips from the bag and opened it. The spicy aroma spread, and the person who had been listless suddenly had a dazzling light in his eyes.
The man "shot" up, his nose twitching in the air, making him even more like the little dog kept by the neighbor.
A smile curved her lips, and she handed the item to him.
Sher took it with both hands and took a cautious bite. As the spicy, stimulating flavor danced on his taste buds, his pupils dilated as if he had discovered a new continent.
"How is it? Do you like this?" Shen Jianxi's gaze was gentle, her eyes filled with affection as she looked at him.
He was eating so intensely that he couldn't even speak, only giving a few hasty nods.
"Oh, right." Suddenly remembering something, Shen Jianxi felt a mischievous urge. "Didn't you say... you were a bear? Are bears this short?"
The boy, engrossed in his food, froze. He licked his lips and reluctantly raised his eyes, offering a fawning smile, "But raccoons are also bears!"
"If you put it that way, we even have 'raccoons' in addition to just 'bears'!"
Shen Jianxi: "?"
"You can count it like that?"
"Why not!" Finishing the remaining spicy strips with a swiftness, Sher retorted with righteous indignation. "If you're going to be that precise, we're all beastmen!"
He then muttered, "Who is inherently nobler than whom?"
As he said this, Sher sneakily hooked his hand onto the shopping bag, gradually pulling it behind him to hide it while they were talking. By the time Shen Jianxi noticed his actions, only a corner of the shopping bag was still visible.
As her gaze followed, Sher abruptly pulled the remaining bit behind him, glaring at her protectively, "If you gave it to me, it's mine! I won't let you take it back!"
Shen Jianxi, who hadn't intended to snatch it, felt a surge of defiance upon hearing this. Without a word, she reached out to grab it. Sher had been watching her movements closely. The moment she moved, he jumped back a large step, his actions identical to the little raccoon at the entrance.
"What's your relationship with those two... those gentlemen at the entrance?" Shen Jianxi couldn't help but ask.
"Huh?" Sher's wary expression faltered, and he stammered, "Cousins, why?" Sudan Novels Net
Shen Jianxi shook her head. "It's nothing."
It was getting late, and she had achieved her objective for this visit, so she prepared to leave. "You should get some rest, I'm going now."
Her movements were so swift as if pursued by a beast. Sher looked at her retreating back, then down at the bag in his hand. He thought she was unhappy and felt a pang of disappointment.
Watching her figure grow distant and disappear into the darkness, Sher clenched his fists, as if having made a decision, and sprinted quickly in the direction she had gone.
Shen Jianxi stood behind a large tree, having just silently recited the words to return. Suddenly, she heard the boy's voice, "Hu Xixi, wait!"
Then, a white light enveloped Sher as he ran towards her.
The next second, both of them vanished.