In the spontaneously conjured whirlwind, Flame Fox stepped out with an elegant gait.
Shimmering flames materialised beneath its feet to steady its descent.
The golden eyeliner accentuated its elongated eyes, adding a touch of allure, while the leaps of flame in the golden red pattern at the center of its eyebrows imbued it with a mesmerising charm.
The fire-red fur seemed to be glowing, silky smooth to the touch, transfixing anyone who dared. The gradient hues from its lighter patches made the Flame Fox look like an evening glow, enhancing its appeal.
The flames of its fluffy tail flickered faintly like fireflies.
A moment of silence followed, and then the observing students exploded into chatter.
"That is a Flame Fox? Why is it so handsome?"
"I saw Su Xiaoxiao's Flame Fox this morning, and it wasn't like this at all."
"This is outrageous! It's practically like a different Pet Beast!"
"I heard she took her Pet Beast for grooming..."
"What kind of grooming can produce this effect? This is sorcery!"
This…
This is Su Xiaoxiao's Flame Fox?!
Listening to the exclamations and praises around her, Duan Anxun's smirk froze, leaving her feeling as if she had been hammered on the head, absolutely confounded.
"How is this possible?!" Exclaimed Du Ting, her face filled with disbelief. "All within a midday, how could she have transformed her Flame Fox like this!"
Looking at the Flame Fox in the arena, Lin Yue was similarly amazed.
Thinking of the 6666 yuan that Su Xiaoxiao had spent on grooming, she couldn't help but gasp.
Could it be that shop isn't a scam?!
No, that's not the point!
Lin Yue straightened her chest, glared at the dumbfounded girls, and said, "You still call this mixed colors?"
"What if it is!" Snapped back Duan Anxun, growing annoyed. "Looks are just a part. Su Xiaoxiao's Pet Beast never listens to commands. There's no way it can perform smoothly..."
"Oh? Is that so?" Lin Yue pointed to the arena in the middle of the room with a smug smile. "You better keep your eyes open and see!"
Duan Anxun turned her head to look at the arena, her pupils contracting, "This…"
In the arena, the Flame Fox was rising to a dance, surrounded by a sky of flames, moving with a nimble grace alongside Su Xiaoxiao.
Within the rhythm of fire, Su Xiaoxiao appeared like a goddess controlling the flames, making others feel inferior.
The pair moved in perfect harmony, showing no signs of disobedience.
"Impossible!" Du Ting's face turned pale, shaking her head vigorously. "Absolutely impossible!"
Duan Anxun slumped to her seat in defeat, her lips quivering with words she couldn't say, any semblance of arrogance gone.
In the end, Flame Fox gracefully leapt onto Su Xiaoxiao's outstretched hands, and as the flames in the sky scattered, it quickly wrapped up its act.
Amid the applause and cheers, the judges began scoring.
"Su Xiaoxiao, your assessment score is 99.2 points!"
"Mmm~"
The Flame Fox lifted its head high like a queen, glancing at a pleasantly surprised Su Xiaoxiao.
Grooming, hurry up and arrange it!
-----------------
"Boss! I'm back again!"
The girl's playful voice straightened Xu Ran, who had been idly waiting for customers to arrive.
Su Xiaoxiao and Lin Yue quickly rushed up to Xu Ran.
The two girls obviously weren't there to ask Xu Ran for a refund.
In fact, after seeing the transformation of the Flame Fox, Lin Yue had recognized that this shop was not a scam.
Although spending over 6000 yuan on grooming sounded absurd, it seemed there was a certain merit to it.
After Su Xiaoxiao scored 99.2 in the afternoon Appearance Assessment, there was no more suspense.
Not to mention her class, across the whole of freshman year at high school, Su Xiaoxiao's score was first. She unquestionably secured a place in the Qingzhou City Teen Beast Master's Pet Beast Beauty Contest.
Remembering Duan Anxun, who was arrogantly strutting like a peacock before the assessment, and Du Ting, who was full of ridicule, Lin Yue found their lost and distraught expressions after Su Xiaoxiao's performance incredibly satisfying, as refreshing as enjoying an ice cream on a scorching summer's day.
So she wanted to try it as well, to provide her Green Wind Eagle with a grooming session worth 6666 yuan.
Despite considering earlier that people taking the 2000 yuan grooming session were foolishly rich.
Women, so fickle!
"Oh~" Lin Yue took a glance at the eye-catching price on the price menu, sighed gloomily, and wore a miserable face. "For one grooming session, I'll have to eat instant noodles for a month."
"Chirp chirp~"
The Green Wind Eagle perched on her shoulder nuzzled Lin Yue, expressing anticipation and gratitude in its eyes.
Seeing such a remarkable change in the Flame Fox, it was naturally envious.
Its own Beast Master had sacrificed so much for it.
Such heartfelt emotion!
Su Xiaoxiao chuckled under her breath; she knew her close friend was intentionally playing up her despair in front of the Pet Beast to strengthen their bond.
However, remembering her promise to the Flame Fox to have another grooming session, she suddenly couldn't laugh anymore.
It was not that she was stingy with money, but...
Having just groomed it once, coming for another would be wasting money for nothing, wouldn't it?
Surely it's different, right?!
"Boss, groom my Green Wind Eagle, please!" Lin Yue spoke generously after boosting the affection with her Pet Beast.
"Sure." Xu Ran glanced at the Green Wind Eagle on Lin Yue's shoulder and initiated the System Identification.
[Race Name: Green Wind Eagle]
Attribute: Wind attribute
Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage
Body type: Small size
Washing and Protection requirement:★★☆☆☆]
Evaluation: Conventional cleaning can only reach its surface, the depths of it are still longing for the comfort of the host's skillful hands.]
Even though he's somewhat accustomed to the system's casualness, the corner of Xu Ran's mouth still twitched uncontrollably.
"For small Pet Beasts, the grooming price is..."
"I saw it, it's 6666, right?" Lin Yue intervened before he could finish, "Go ahead!"
"Boss!" Standing next to Lin Yue, Su Xiaoxiao waved her hand, "This is my classmate, I recommended her."
"Okay." Xu Ran nodded indifferently at Su Xiaoxiao, and then fixed his gaze on Lin Yue, "Do you want it done now? The Beast Master can wait in the rest area, or you can go into the grooming room and accompany your Pet Beast."
Su Xiaoxiao's arm remained mid-waft.
Hmm?
That's it?
I've outright hinted at you, but you didn't mention any discounts?
What a jerk!
"I'll go into the grooming room." Lin Yue decided without much hesitation.
The main reason wasn't accompanying the Pet Beast; she was more curious about Xu Ran's grooming process.
"Over here, please." Xu Ran, leading Lin Yue was about to enter the grooming room.
Snapping back to reality, Su Xiaoxiao exclaimed, "Wait!"
"What's the matter?" Xu Ran stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at Su Xiaoxiao.
"Uh... my Flame Fox also needs a grooming." Su Xiaoxiao hastily lifted the Flame Fox in her arms.
"Ying~"
The Flame Fox, with shiny eyes, gazed at Xu Ran nervously, flickering with anticipation.
[Friendly reminder]
[Unnecessary frequent grooming can have negative effects on the condition of a Pet Beast's fur. It should not be promoted. Please reject it, host.]
Xu Ran, staring at the suddenly appearing text, solemnly turned down the request.
"Too frequent grooming isn't good for a Pet Beast, I cannot apply!"
Huh?
Su Xiaoxiao blinked her eyes, watching Xu Ran and Lin Yue entering the grooming room.
She stood there dumbfounded, then heaved a sigh of relief.
Her wallet, it's safe!
In the grooming room, Xu Ran sighed silently.
Damned system, this is a loss!