In the end, Li Miao still indulged the husky and brought the squeaky toy chicken along.
The husky wagged its tail in satisfaction, trotting closely behind Li Miao like a little shadow, its goofy demeanor somehow inexplicably cute.
But... unfortunately, its cuteness didn't seem to register with its master, Li Miao.
By the time they reached the base entrance, over an hour had already passed.
Seeing that Jia Yunwan still hadn't arrived, Li Miao squatted at the entrance with the husky, watching the patrol soldiers pass by occasionally and admiring the occasional summoned beasts—some cute, some imposing, some sexy, some elegant. There wasn't a creature she didn't see, only those she couldn't imagine.
Ah.
How wonderful.
Li Miao sighed in admiration before shifting her gaze back to the husky.
...
Well, maybe it was better not to compare.
If she did, the poor husky's fragile heart might shatter again.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, Li Miao silently reached out and patted the dog's head.
Husky: ?
What's up with you, master?
Why the sigh while petting its head?
Are you again dissatisfied with its appearance?!
The husky shot Li Miao a suspicious side-eye. Unfortunately, by then, Li Miao had already stopped ogling the other beasts, so the husky couldn't catch her in the act.
Eventually, the husky gave up and lazily sprawled on the ground to bask in the sun.
It squinted in bliss. After all, ever since arriving at the base, it had been either training or on its way to training—its only breaks were during meals...
When did my life of slacking off with any random master come to this?
The husky let out a yawn mid-thought.
But halfway through that yawn—WHOOSH! A black luxury car screeched to a halt right in front of them, kicking up a cloud of dust that engulfed Li Miao and the husky in an instant.
The husky got a mouthful of dirt but instinctively lunged in front of Li Miao, trying to shield her as the car hurtled toward them.
The sound of tires screeching pierced the air as the car abruptly stopped about two arm-lengths from the husky.
Then, a pair of long, shapely legs in high heels appeared before Li Miao.
Jia Yunwan stood there, clad in an 8cm pair of stilettos, sunglasses, and a sleek suit skirt—exuding sharp elegance with her red lips and wavy hair.
Yet the moment she opened her mouth, out came the thickest northeastern accent imaginable:
"Goddamn it, scared th' hell outta me!"
Li Miao: "..."
Jia Yunwan patted her chest, then suddenly noticed Li Miao and the husky in front of the car.
Blinking in surprise, she lowered her sunglasses slightly to get a better look. Once she confirmed their identities, her expression instantly shifted to icy professionalism.
"You are..."
"Li Miao?"
Li Miao pretended not to notice her flawless transition or the earlier dialect slip.
"Yes, Professor."
Jia Yunwan adjusted her sunglasses. "Got all your things packed?"
"Mhm."
"Good. Excellent."
Maintaining her poised and mature demeanor, Jia Yunwan coolly tapped the hood of her car. "Then what are you waiting for? Get in."
No sooner had she spoken than a deep, guttural growl echoed from the back of the vehicle.
A furious male voice roared closer: "What the hell? I told you—NO SPEEDING! This is a military base, not your personal racetrack!"
Jia Yunwan: "..."
Li Miao blinked.
"What're you dawdling for? Get in!"
Jia Yunwan hurriedly grabbed the still-prone husky, snatched Li Miao's luggage, and flung it into the trunk—moving so fast Li Miao barely had time to react before being shoved into the passenger seat.
Li Miao: "Uh, Professor—"
"Zip it. You think I wanted to barge in like this?"
Jia Yunwan took a deep breath, shifted gears, reversed, then executed a perfect drift turn—
Li Miao's vision blurred as she fumbled for the seatbelt. The car lurched forward, narrowly missing the man chasing them on his summoned beast.
The man: "???"
He gaped as the car whizzed past, only to see the woman behind the wheel blow him a kiss. "Later, handsome~"
The man: ?
Summoned Beast: ?
The car sped off, leaving nothing but dust in its wake.
The man and his beast, braking too hard, tumbled onto the ground face-first, both ending up bruised and battered.
The man: "...DAMN IT!"
"YOU'RE DEAD WHEN I CATCH YOU!!!"
Even from dozens of meters away, Li Miao could still hear his enraged scream.
Gripping her seatbelt tightly, she turned and gestured for the husky to buckle up in its special harness.
The husky understood immediately and strapped itself in with such enthusiasm that Li Miao felt almost touched for a second.
A second later, that feeling evaporated.
Jia Yunwan floored the gas.
Jia Yunwan drifted around trees.
Jia Yunwan, stiletto planted firmly on the accelerator—
"P-Professor..."
Li Miao's voice trembled. "Isn't this... a little too fast?"
Jia Yunwan tilted her head, confused. "Fast? Feels slow to me."
Li Miao glanced at the speedometer, needle pinned at max. "Maybe... I'm just not used to it."
"True."
Jia Yunwan seemed oblivious, nodding sagely. "You would struggle—you're still new to the world of summoned beasts. Let me tell you, this speed is nothing compared to what they're capable of."
"One of my beasts, for example—its speed makes this car look like a tricycle. Faster than a fighter jet."
Li Miao: "Uh..."
"Speaking of which, didn't your husky awaken some potential already?"
Jia Yunwan continued, "I did some research—turns out it's not the fastest, but among beginner-level beasts, it's above eighty percent of canine-types. Plus, it's got great defense and stamina. It could probably evolve into a tank someday."
"Oh—you do game, right? You know what a tank is? Don't need me to explain?"
Li Miao: "Professor—"
"Guess not. Basically, tanks soak up damage, protect teammates, prevent wipes, y'know, MMO stuff."
"Professor..."
"Ugh, quit calling me that. Just call me Sis. Even though your records got wiped, my dad checked your file. He's interested—odds are, he'll take you as a student. After he studies your husky's stats, of course."
"Um... what I wanted to say is..."
"Hm? Spit it out, then! Hate it when people beat around the bush."
Li Miao: "..."