Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Seeing that Zhang Zian’s face froze, Little Celery asked curiously, “Isn’t that the case?”


  Although Richard didn’t know how Zhang Zian and Little Celery met, it was very smart, so it sensed the embarrassment. Richard said as it was flapping its wings, “Squawk! Squawk! May I have more apples?”


  “Stop it. You can’t eat them all. We have to save some for Xiao Ling and Ear!” Zhang Zian understood the hint.

  Little Celery immediately shifted her focus and laughed, “That’s fine. I will bring one more apple tomorrow.”


  “You don’t have to,” Zhang Zian stopped her, “We shouldn’t spoil that bird.”


  “Squawk! Squawk! What a mean guy! Jeff, you disappoint me!” Richard said as it jumped around.

  “Well, you are better at disappointing people than me!” Zhang Zian said humbly.

  Little Celery laughed, and then she remembered something, “Oh no! I am almost late again! I don’t have time to talk to Xiao Ling and Ear! Brother Store Manager, I have to leave. Please feed Xiao Ling and Ear for me. I will come tomorrow.”


  “Sure. Watch out for cars!”


  Zhang Zian watched her leave the store and relaxed.

  “Jeff, I think you made a huge mistake on empiricism and dogmatism,” Richard said seriously.

  “I don’t think so…” Although doubtful, Zhang Zian insisted, “Maybe her mom was worried she wouldn’t focus on her studies if she had a pet.”


  Was it true? Zhang Zian recalled all the limited conversations he had ever had with Little Celery. He could tell that she was a disciplined child. Her mom had to know that. It seemed that her mom was very detail-oriented because she always braided Little Celery’s hair perfectly. Also, she was careful enough to put Little Celery’s name on her clothes. She had to pay all her her attention and love to Little Celery.

  If this was the case, why wouldn’t she let Little Celery have a pet?

  Was it because of money?

  Picking up the zip-lock bag Little Celery left behind, Zhang Zian found that there were various kind of nuts inside, including some rather expensive ones such as pecans and pistachios. Little Celery’s clothes were also quite nice. In conclusion, he guessed it wasn’t a money matter.

  Never mind, every family was different. He realized he would never figure out what was going on with her family, and it was none of his business anyways.

  Zhang Zian walked to the door, looked outside and found Guo Dongyue standing in front of Aunt Li’s restaurant, waiting for the BBQ skewers.

  “Galaxy, Fina, Grandpa Tea, and Snowy Lionet, I am going out with the guy who was just here. We are going to a bird breeding base. Would you like to come with me or would you like to rest in my cell phone?” He asked for the pets’ opinions.

  “Squawk! Squawk! Jeff, why did you ask everyone but me?” Richard was flapping its wings unhappily.

  “You? You don’t have a choice,” Zhang Zian didn’t want to waste time with Richard, so he put it back to the game directly.

  Galaxy was curious, “A bird breeding base?”


  “Well, yeah. In fact, most of the birds there are parrots,” he explained. “I have never been there, so I am not sure what it looks like.”


  “Is it crowded?” Galaxy asked again.

  “There will be some staff members there.” He was honest.

  “Meow,” Galaxy curled up its body, “I hate strangers and crowded places.”


  “Okay, you can rest in the game. I will release you when I come home, okay?” he said. He wasn’t surprised at Galaxy’s choice.

  “Meow,” Galaxy sat down quietly, just like a good kid would. Zhang Zian put it back in his cell phone.

  Old Time Tea laughed, “I am not interested in birds. I will rest in the game.”


  “Grandpa Tea, did you stay up late last night?” Looking at the sleepiness in Old Time Tea’s face, Zhang Zian already knew the answer to his question.

  “Ha-ha, I was watching a movie last night. I thought it would be done by midnight, but the movie was almost 4 hours long! I couldn’t stop watching…” Old Time Tea was embarrassed.

  Zhang Zian understood, “Movies are getting longer and longer these days. Staying up late is not good for you. You can watch movies anytime during the day.”


  “I understand,” Old Time Tea nodded.

  He put Old Time Tea in the game and asked Fina and Snowy Lionet, “How about you two?”


  Snowy Lionet answered without thinking, “I want to sleep with my Queen.”


  Zhang Zian ignored Snowy Lionet and said to Fina, “How about you take a nap in the game? A bird breeding base has to be noisy and dirty.”


  He was worried that Fina would hunt at the bird breeding base. That was what cats do. The birds there had to be too pricey for him to take a chance.

  Unfortunately, Fina jumped down from the cat tree, landed elegantly and said, “I will go for a walk there.”


  Zhang Zian told Fina that it had put on weight, so it wanted to go out and walk around.

  “I will go wherever my Queen goes!” Snowy Lionet was confirmed.

  Zhang Zian nodded, “Okay. You guys may go, but keep in mind the breeding base is a new spot. Stay chill and polite.”


  Fina pulled a long face, “I don’t need you to teach me about etiquette. As my servant, you’d better be nice.”


  Seeing that Fina was mad, Snowy Lionet showed rage to him too. Its ears stood up straight, opened its eyes wide and meowed in an angry high voice. Although Snowy Lionet was angry, it still looked stunning. Zhang Zian sighed that such beauty was wasted on it.

  As they were talking, Guo Dongyue came in with the disposable lunchbox in his hands and handed it to Zhang Zian. Zhang Zian didn’t take it. Instead, he pointed at the cashier’s desk, meaning that Guo Dongyue should put it down there. He went to get Fina and Snowy Lionet’s bowls.

  “Where is the parrot?” Guo Dongyue glanced over the whole store and didn’t see the bird. A few minutes ago, it kept chatting on Zhang Zian’s shoulder. Now with it being gone, the store was extremely quiet.

  Zhang Zian felt the same way. Although Richard was loud and annoying, when he put Richard back in the cell phone, he felt empty. Maybe he was used to Richard’s company by now. The power of habit was magnificent. He felt that Richard had become a part of the store even though it only arrived a few days ago.