Chapter 22: I Am Jealous

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The viewers in the livestream were so shocked that their eyes nearly popped out.

Why was she hugging him? How could she hug him?

Lu Zhan’s beast form was a wolf!

Among the male beast forms most hated by the females of the Empire, wolves had always ranked near the top.

When choosing a mate, females considered a male’s power and status, genetic rank, and wealth. Males of the carnivorous species were often superior in these respects, making them especially favored by females.

Yet females actually preferred gentle, herbivorous males. They were less aggressive, exerted less pressure, and were always tender and obedient.

Once they became partners, males were bound by imperial law and could never betray their wives. Naturally, females could dote on whichever partner they pleased, whenever they pleased. Carnivorous males often ended up at the bottom of the household hierarchy as a result.

Lions, wolves, leopards… They were all classic examples of males who ranked high before marriage but low afterward, high outside the home but low within it.

No female would ever willingly draw close to a wolf—

Yet that belief had now been shattered by Nian Tu.

Most of the viewers in the livestream were Nian Tu’s fans, after all, and they quickly recovered from their brief astonishment.

If it was Nian Tu, then it was not so strange!

She was, after all, a female who had even dared to touch an out-of-control, frenzied venomous snake.

The snow wolf looked cold and imposing, but when hugged, its fur was soft, fluffy, and warm.

Nian Tu sank completely into the snow wolf’s thick coat, overcome with bliss.

When she finally came to her senses, she was so embarrassed that she did not dare raise her head. She shut her eyes and pretended to be an ostrich, her long lashes trembling nonstop.

The snow wolf’s gray-blue eyes brimmed with laughter. Lowering his head, he brought the tray before her and showed her the buns he had made.

“Did I do well, Nian-nian?”

Though she knew he was deliberately tempting her, Nian Tu could not help herself. She could steel her heart and treat Lu Zhan coldly, but she truly could not resist a huge white wolf that could speak and knew exactly how to please her.

She simply gave in, wrapping both arms tightly around the snow wolf’s head.

But in all seriousness, Lu Zhan had made the buns beautifully. There was no sign that it was his first attempt; every detail revealed the same meticulous precision that characterized Lu Zhan himself.

Nian Tu admired them at length and approvingly rubbed the wolf’s head several times.

The viewers in the livestream were green with envy. Every one of them wished they could crawl out through the holo-screen and take her place.

Of everyone present, Xion was the most jealous. He glared furiously at the snow wolf circling Nian Tu and wagging its tail in shameless supplication. He had known Lu Zhan for years, but this was the first time he had ever seen Lu Zhan behave with such shamelessness.

But if this was what it took to get close to Nian Tu…

Xion’s ears flushed red. Ashamed of what he was about to do, he nevertheless did not hesitate. Following Lu Zhan’s example, he transformed into his beast form and joined them.

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The golden-maned male lion was majestic and imposing, yet he eagerly pushed his head into the little female’s palm.

With a wolf in front of her and a lion behind her, Nian Tu was utterly lost.

She could barely struggle free. She had even forgotten that the livestream was still running, completely intoxicated by the fluffy world around her.

The barrage fell into stunned silence, sourness spilling straight through the screen.

[I do not even dare dream about how happy I would be if my female loved my beast form this much…]

[My beast form is a wolf too. Can you touch me as well?]

[It is obvious that Nian Tu really likes them. Her eyes are sparkling—they look as though they are glowing…]

[I am so jealous…]

[So when will I ever get to enjoy days like these?]

[If only all the other females were like Nian Tu. Sigh…]

[Too bad there is only one Nian Tu.]

Many viewers had submitted partner applications to Nian Tu long ago, but had never received a response. Knowing their chances were slim, they had originally accepted the reality with composure. Faced with this scene, however, their jealousy and unwillingness surged anew—and with unprecedented force.

They wanted so badly, so very badly, to become her partners, just like Xion and Lu Zhan, transforming into beast forms and being held in her arms.

Without Nian Tu noticing, the livestream gradually turned into a grand courtship gathering. Countless males sent her their personal information through the barrage and private messages.

When her attention finally returned to the livestream, Nian Tu was startled.

Ignoring the flood of courtship messages, she cleared her throat awkwardly twice.

“Let us get back to making the buns.”

The two males’ struggle for her attention had seriously disrupted their progress. Breakfast time was nearly upon them, yet they had made only a few buns.

Fortunately, Xion and Lu Zhan were extremely dependable once they focused on their work. Their efficiency was astonishing. Without needing Nian Tu’s help, they shaped the buns even faster than a machine.

They continued wrapping buns while Xion steamed a batch first, unwilling to delay Nian Tu’s breakfast.

The buns swelled inside the steamer, becoming rounder and plumper, their white surfaces utterly pleasing to the eye. The viewers found them adorable from the bottom of their hearts. And since the recipe had been proposed by Nian Tu, they spared no effort in praising them.

Still, they were not especially hopeful about the combination of meat filling wrapped in dough.

A food called “buns” probably would not be bad, but it likely would not be particularly delicious either.

That thought lasted until the first steamer basket was opened—

Mist billowed upward. Waves of heat rolled out, carrying a rich aroma of wheat mingled with the fragrance of meat!

Before crossing into this world, Nian Tu had been from the north, so she had made large, oil-rich steamed buns from leavened dough. The wrappers were thin and the fillings generous, with savory juices seeping through the soft, pillowy surface. One bite sent scalding, salty-scented meat juices bursting into the mouth. The filling was made from real, quality ingredients, blended with the precise seasoning of her own secret recipe. Its irresistible fragrance dominated every taste bud.

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The smartbrain could capture scents and reproduce them through simulation, allowing the viewers to smell the aroma. But no matter how desperately they craved it, they could not taste the flavor. All they could do was watch helplessly as Nian Tu fed one bun each to Xion and Lu Zhan.

The two lucky men ate with blissful satisfaction, forgetting even to maintain their dignity before their female. Unfortunately, the buns were too small for them; they swallowed each in two or three bites, only to blush when Nian Tu stuffed another bun into each of their mouths.

“Eat up. Have some more.” Nian Tu smiled at them, her eyes curving into crescents.

With her appetite, she could eat three at most out of a batch of thirty. Naturally, the rest would be left to the two men with their enormous appetites. Seeing them eat so enthusiastically made her incredibly happy as well.

Nian Tu turned toward the livestream screen.

The viewers were salivating so badly that it seemed their drool could cascade three thousand feet. They frantically sent messages asking her to open access to the replay after the livestream ended. They planned to follow her instructions and recreate the buns themselves, determined to discover what they tasted like.

Nian Tu gave a shy smile.

“I actually started today’s livestream to thank everyone. I plan to randomly select one hundred viewers, and send each of them a portion of buns.”

Nian Tu felt that giving away buns as prizes was rather shabby, and was somewhat embarrassed.

She had no idea that the viewers had gone from astonishment to ecstatic joy.

This was a female!

A female was actually giving them gifts!

Across the entire Empire, such a thing was unheard of!

[Pick me!]

[Pick me, pick me, pick me!]

[I truly need these buns. If I cannot eat them, I will surely die of depression.]

[May the Beast God bless me!]

Billions of viewers were competing for one hundred spots. The odds were impossibly low.

—Military Headquarters.

It was precisely the start of the workday when several mournful cries suddenly rang out.

“I was not selected!”

“Neither was I—sob!”

“My luck is terrible…”

“What are you doing?”

The cold voice came down like a devil demanding their lives.

Several military employees felt their scalps prickle.

They had been slacking off to watch a livestream, only to be caught red-handed by their direct superior, the Marshal himself. Was there any hope of survival?

Feili looked down at them from above.

“You were watching Nian Tu’s livestream?”