22: I want to be a salted fish

With a slightly blushing face and a slightly brisk pace, the girl looked much better than the slump of the past few days.

As soon as Song Yu entered, it immediately relieved the anxiety of Song Wenhai and his wife, who had been waiting for Song Yu to come back from work today and were happy to see her.

"How's our daughter? Is the third-order intermediate Hundred Flowers Spirit Honey I bought for her particularly effective? Did she contract a high-aptitude wood-element insect-type beast?" Song Wenhai rubbed his hands, smiling as he took two steps forward, immediately asking, "Quickly let it out and let Dad see! By the way, let it learn wood-element skills from Dad's main contracted beast, the Flower-Faced Butterfly!"

"Old Song, why are you talking like this? The child has just come back; at least let her eat dinner first." Zhou Fangmei also smiled, her eyes showing a hint of redness. She sighed, "Seeing you come back today so happily, Mom is very happy!"

Zhou Fangmei: "Mom is here to wish you to contract a high-aptitude beast, and to pass the professional Beastmaster University entrance exam and fulfill your wishes!"

"...Dad, Mom..."

The girl, with a bit of embarrassment, scratched her head and slowly lowered her eyes. She carefully observed the expressions of Song Wenhai and Zhou Fangmei. It seemed that the two were not angry. She then waved her hand, and with a pale face, she said softly, "No... I didn't contract a high-aptitude wood-element insect-type beast..."

Song Wenhai was puzzled: "Hmm? Not an insect-type beast? Could it be a bear-type contracted beast?"

Among various beasts, insect and bear types were the two favorite categories that loved honey. Song Wenhai nodded, "It's okay even if it's a bear-type beast. Although no one in our family has contracted a bear-type beast, Dad has a friend whose main contracted beast is a third-order intermediate Golden Ape Bear. When the time comes, Dad will take you to meet him."

Zhou Fangmei also said with a relaxed smile, "Indeed, it's okay to have a bear-type beast. Anyway, as long as our daughter likes it."

"Uh... No, it's not a bear-type beast..." Song Yu looked at Song Wenhai and Zhou Fangmei, the smile on her face gradually fading.

She lowered her head, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly due to nervousness. Her whole person moved cautiously, hesitating and stopped, and her demeanor faintly showed a hint of panic.

Song Yu, who had excellent acting skills, coupled with the 300% acting proficiency bonus brought by the Peak Acting talent skill, made her acting aura shine.

So...

From the perspective of Song Wenhai and Zhou Fangmei, their daughter, who had originally come home happily, suddenly turned into a pitiful one caught by her parents, anxiously facing the final exam.

Song Wenhai and Zhou Fangmei exchanged glances, immediately feeling a sense of panic.

"Did Xiao Yu not find a suitable contracted beast?"

Song Wenhai spoke softly, his expression gentle, "It's okay, don't be sad. When Dad takes you to the beast breeding base this weekend, you can buy another one."

Zhou Fangmei's voice was equally gentle, as if she could squeeze out water, "Yes... Xiao Yu, don't be sad. Mom knows several managers of beast breeding bases. I'll call them later and ask them to help pay attention to high-potential beast cubs."

"Dad, Mom..."

The girl cautiously raised her head, secretly observing the expressions of Song Wenhai and Zhou Fangmei. It seemed that the two were not angry. She then shook her head, and with a pale face, she said softly, "No... I already have a contracted beast."

Song Wenhai and his wife: "...Huh?"

Song Yu summoned Ball from the Contract Beast Space, a white and fluffy little snowball, only a little bigger than a palm. However, those large fox-like ears and the snow-white fur...

Immediately, Song Wenhai and his wife understood the identity of the little white cat in front of them.

—Snow Civet Cat, a low-potential beast species, and the bloodline's highest level does not exceed 3rd rank.

Song Wenhai, a 3rd-rank intermediate Beastmaster, was more knowledgeable about beasts than ordinary high school students.

Almost at the moment of seeing the Snow Civet Cat cub, Song Wenhai's mind had automatically started judging the potential of this Snow Civet Cat cub.

—Born with a naturally low racial value potential, looks thinner and weaker than its counterparts, deducting five points.

—Slightly messy cat fur, without the help of other big cats for grooming, indicates a low status and poor aptitude. Not liked by big cats, deducting one point.

—As an aggressive cat-type beast, frequently wagging its tail upright to show submission, deducting one point.

—Upon entering the home of the contractor for the first time, clearly smelling the strong scent of other contracted beasts, yet showing no subconscious aggression. This is not a symbol of clever adaptation to life but a symbol of innate poor aptitude and lack of status in the original Snow Civet Cat living area, deducting three points.

Song Wenhai: "..."

It's over; the base score has become zero.

Even without using a professional measuring instrument, Song Wenhai has already judged that the potential score of the Snow Civet Cat cub in front of him is at most not exceeding 10.

Beasts inherently have aggression, especially in the case of beast cubs before being trained by the contractor. Their subconscious aggression is strong, and every time a large number of beast cubs are transported, professional Beastmasters use light, healing, or psychic-type beasts to pacify them.

Growling, panting, barking are all basic, and higher potential beast cubs may even jump down to search for other beasts in the room, actively chasing and fighting with them until a winner is determined.

"Xiao Yu..." Song Wenhai hesitated, his expression a bit conflicted.

For a moment, Song Wenhai didn't know whether to ask why his daughter contracted an beast with such a low potential value or to inquire about whether the Hundred Flowers Spirit Honey couldn't attract even a cub with a bloodline of three or four ranks.

It shouldn't be like this!

Frowning, Song Wenhai thought seriously.

The initial beast cubs provided by the country for all high school students typically have a bloodline level of up to 6 ranks.

Above the 6th rank, the country is not unable to find them. According to the talent and aptitude of high school students, they can barely put together...

But most beasts are already as intelligent as humans, especially those high-level and high-aptitude beasts. They simply don't want to entrust their children to ordinary high school students. After all, with such high strength, why wouldn't they find a professional Beastmaster with rich resources and certain strength as a partner for their children? Why choose an ordinary high school student without much security?

So, after so many years of observation, everyone knows that unless there are individual cases...

Beast cubs with bloodline levels above the 6th rank are basically not contracted by high school students in their third year.

Even some powerful 6th-rank beasts are unwilling to let their children follow ordinary high school students.

In addition...

In order to save costs and promote relationships between beast cubs and high school students, the beast breeding base will not spend a lot of money to purchase a large number of precious materials and treasures for them. Therefore, the 3rd-rank intermediate Hundred Flowers Spirit Honey, although not of a particularly high level, is still very attractive to cubs that have just come out of the beast breeding base and have not yet become 1st-rank beasts...

"It shouldn't be like this..."

Song Wenhai was puzzled, muttering to himself in a low voice, "According to my thoughts, the 3rd-rank intermediate Hundred Flowers Spirit Honey and the 3rd-rank high-level Energy Fruit should at least attract cubs with potential scores above 80 and a 4th-rank beast bloodline, right?"

Thinking of the daughter who had a continuous high fever a few days ago, and even the healing skills of the treatment-type beast were of no use, he felt a little disappointed. His daughter couldn't contract a powerful initial beast, and he was worried that in the future, the once strong-willed daughter would again suffer from anxiety and fever, unable to recover.

Just as Song Wenhai and his wife were puzzled and worried about how to persuade her...

However, Song Wenhai and his wife saw—

The daughter, who was once very strong-willed in school, suddenly turned pale again. Her voice choked, slightly trembling, "Dad, Mom... do you think I contracted an beast with low potential, and won't be able to become a professional Beastmaster in the future? Would you feel embarrassed? "

Song Wenhai and his wife: "!!!"

Song Wenhai frantically waved his hands, and the tiny bit of disappointment in his heart instantly disappeared, "How could that be? Xiao Yu, why would you think that?!"

Zhou Fangmei was even more flustered, worried about her daughter in the hospital, "Xiao Yu, Dad and Mom have never thought like that."

Song Wenhai and Zhou Fangmei, the couple, said in unison, "We've always felt that as long as Xiao Yu is healthy and happy, it's enough! The potential level of the contracted beast doesn't matter, as long as you are healthy, it's fine!"

Song Yu's eyes turned red and rushed forward, hugging Song Wenhai and his wife, biting her lip, "Dad, Mom, you're really good to me. It's just that my talent is too poor, and I might not be able to become a professional Beastmaster in the future. Earlier in school, only Ball was willing to contract with me, so in the future, I will cultivate it well and become its companion!"

The proud daughter of the wealthy family suffered a blow and insisted on becoming a professional Beastmaster. Unexpectedly, she suffered a heavy blow in beast contracting...

In the script that Song Yu wrote for herself, as long as something like this happens one or two more times.

She can smoothly tell others that she wants to transfer to the performing arts major and become an actor to fulfill her dream of being a professional Beastmaster in movies and TV dramas.

However...

Being held in Song Yu's hands and witnessing the entire "genuine emotional expression" of the Song family, Ball was shocked.

In the round golden cat eyes of the rolling ball, there was an expression of disbelief, and even the tip of its tail did not move.

Meow meow meow???

So big, it ran for several hours without reaching the end of the Contract Beast Space!

That super Contract Beast Space with a complete ecosystem of sun, sky, clouds, plants, and various biological chains!

The one where you could feel the source energy being so abundant that it was almost about to condense into a liquid as soon as you entered the Contract Beast Space!

For its contractor, it's considered to have a poor talent?

The little cat was shocked, the little cat was puzzled.

Even Ball itself is a bit unclear why it would call its contractor "cat master" the next time it sees her.

Are other beasts dissatisfied with a contractor like this?

The little white cat shook its ear tips, its whole cat face serious. If it hadn't personally experienced it, even kittens wouldn't believe something so absurd!

But at this moment...

Zhou Fangmei wiped away tears of relief from the corner of her eyes. While patting Song Yu's shoulder, she couldn't help but say, "We said before that even if you can't become a professional Beastmaster, it's okay. As long as Xiao Yu can be happy every day, Mom and Dad will be satisfied."

Song Wenhai nodded, "That's right, even though you used to exercise frequently... But after the high fever a few days ago, your body has not been well. Look at your complexion getting paler day by day, like paper. In fact, your mom and I can't bear to see you suffer."

Song Yu was moved, "Mom and Dad, you're really good to me. I'll work hard in the future, wuwuwu."

Ball: "!!!"

Ball suddenly enlightened.

So, it's because its contractor's health is not good that it wants it to take charge?

Is it because its contractor's health is not good that other beasts are not agreeing to the contract?

Thinking about the Contract Beast Space with rich source energy almost condensing into a liquid, the way Song Yu addresses it in future scenes, and its "family status" in the future, Ball—not only wants to become the head steward but also wants to become the cat master! It even wants to recruit a bunch of subordinates for its Beastmaster!

In an instant, the little cat was full of motivation!

 

*****

 

Watching the atmosphere change from tension to relaxation, from sadness to laughter in the Song family of three.

Song Yu sent Ball back to its Contract Beast Space and sat on the sofa with Song Wenhai and his wife.

The housekeeper, who had already prepared the meal, immediately came forward and smiled, "Mr. and Mrs. Miss, the meal is ready... Would you like to eat now?"

"Eat, eat. Come, Xiao Yu! Let's eat first. We can discuss everything after the meal." Zhou Fangmei nodded and stood up, inviting, "Sister Lan, come eat with us. Today, I prepared so much food. Xiao Qi, that child, is still at school for evening self-study. The three of us can't finish it."

"Madam, it's not necessary..."

The housekeeper waved her hand and said with a smile, "On a day like today, it's best for the family to chat. I'm just an outsider, so I won't participate."

After the housekeeper finished speaking to Zhou Fangmei, she smiled at Song Yu and said, "Miss, you don't know. Actually, Mr. and Mrs. have always been worried about you... Last year, the child in the No. 139 villa also awakened an F-grade Contract Beast Space. However, he couldn't bear the blow and spent his days in a daze. He either played games at home or watched cartoons... doing nothing every day. A few days ago, I heard that the couple in No. 139 villa is planning to take that child to the hospital."

This topic was a bit heavy, and after the housekeeper finished speaking, she seemed to feel that she shouldn't have brought it up now. She patted her mouth and said, "Look at me, talking about such a downer. Miss, please don't mind. It's just a casual chat. I'll go to the backyard and have dinner with Little Zhou and the others."

Song Yu: "..."

Song Yu was suffocating; she had no idea that in this world, if a rich second generation doesn't work hard and wants to become a homebody, parents will send them to the psychiatric hospital!

Song Yu, nervously, with a complicated expression, always felt that there was a subtle atmosphere spreading rapidly between her and Song father and mother...

But Song Wenhai and his wife completely didn't notice Song Yu's strangeness at the moment. Instead, after the housekeeper left, they looked at Song Yu and sighed with emotion, "Indeed, the child in No. 139 villa does seem mentally strange... He's so young; why is he thinking about playing games and watching cartoons at home every day?"

Zhou Fangmei sighed, "He's just a freshman. If he continues like this, what will happen in the future?"

Song Wenhai nodded, "Although we parents don't necessarily force our children to become professional Beastmasters, young people should have dreams and aspirations. This way, we parents can be at ease."

Song Yu: "..."

Zhou Fangmei smiled, "It's still our Xiao Yu who is good. She never gives us any worries."

Song Wenhai nodded, "That's right. Originally, I was a little worried that Xiao Yu would be discouraged and unable to recover. Now it seems that our Xiao Yu is quite spirited! Hahaha."

Song Yu forced a smile, took out her acting skills, and said, "Hehe, Mom and Dad, I'm not as good as you say. Hehehe... I'll work hard in the future."

Song Wenhai looked at Zhou Fangmei and smiled, "Well, Dad believes in you... Look how happy this child is."

Zhou Fangmei nodded, smiling, "Yes, as long as the child is happy."

Song Yu stiffly smiled, "Hehehe."

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