Landlord in the Arctic

One large and one small paw touched gently.

"That's more like it." A paternal smile spread across Feng Shan's face as he shot a triumphant glance at Natasha. "Here, we're all one big, happy family."

Hmph!

Natasha snorted softly from the side, her delicate face filled with disdain.

She scoffed at Feng Shan's wishy-washy, peacemaking approach to parenting, her eyes even betraying a hint of contempt.

"Feng, your method of education is wrong. You need to face reality."

"You think you can do better? Be my guest!" Feng Shan spread his hands, a provocative look on his face as he retorted without hesitation. "What, should I tell the Princess that Prince is a Husky and Tyson is a tiger, and that it's wrong for the three of them to be together?"

His provocative tone was laced with mockery, and he stared straight at Natasha, as if waiting for her response.

"..." Natasha was struck speechless. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She could only press her lips together, her face flushing slightly, whether from anger or the embarrassment of being put on the spot.

"Let's go! Time to go home and celebrate!" Seeing Her Majesty the Queen so angry she was speechless, Feng Shan gloated internally. A smug smile spread across his face. He happily patted Prince's head, deliberately raising his voice. "So what if we're toads? This toad is going to eat swan meat, and it's gonna be delicious!"

As he spoke, he even waggled his eyebrows at Natasha, deliberately flaunting his victory.

With that, Feng Shan led Prince, the Princess, the Tiger Pack, and the Wolf Pack in a grand procession toward the camp, leaving Natasha standing alone, stamping her foot in frustration.

However, over in the direction of the mouth of the Melting Ice River...

Two half-grown polar bears who had lost their way lay in the snow, crying out.

The large party made for quite a spectacle as they marched back to camp in a grand procession.

The majestic Wolf Pack led the way, their white forms flickering in and out of sight across the mossy tundra, swift and agile. The Tiger Pack following behind was even more imposing, the stripes on their coats like flowing fire, dazzling to behold.

This boisterous procession kicked up bits of grass wherever they went, cutting an imposing figure.

The guests in the clearing immediately erupted. As if they had discovered a rare treasure, they all whipped out their phones, eyes glued to the screens. Fingers flew across shutters, trying to capture the rare sight of tigers and wolves in harmony.

Woven into the crowd's excitement were Loki's tireless sales pitches.

"Photos, 1 US Dollar! A photo with the animals, 2 US Dollars! Step right up, don't miss out!"

Feng Shan walked into the party area and saw that pretty much everyone in the camp who could breathe and move was there. He frowned slightly, subconsciously slowing his pace as his eyes scanned the surroundings.

'For some reason, I feel like something's missing.'

The feeling was like a persistent itch in the back of his mind, but with all the noise and excitement, he didn't have a moment to dwell on it.

He took a deep breath, grabbed a bottle of beer, and walked to the center of the clearing.

He popped the cap off with his thumb. With a soft PFFT, he raised the bottle high and bellowed.

"Everyone, quiet down! I'd like to say a few words."

His booming voice cut through the noisy crowd, echoing across the open space and causing everyone to turn and look.

The noisy clearing gradually fell silent.

All eyes snapped to Feng Shan in the center of the clearing, full of anticipation.

Feeling all eyes on him, Feng Shan puffed out his chest slightly. He swirled the beer bottle in his hand, and the fine foam inside sparkled enticingly under the Christmas lights.

Then, he reached into his other pocket, fumbled for a moment, and pulled out a crumpled speech.

He'd asked Eldest Young Master Xu to help write it, figuring it would come in handy for the party's opening remarks. But after just a few glances, his relaxed expression froze, and his brow furrowed.

He curled his lip in disgust and grumbled internally.

'What is this garbage?'

'The content is way too cheesy.'

'All this crap about passion, Love, darling, and whatnot.'

'Reading this out loud would be mortifying.'

Without a second's hesitation, he shoved it back into his pocket. It would be far better to improvise than to read that awkward, sappy nonsense.

"We're all friends and family, gathered here today." Feng Shan cleared his throat, his voice loud and genuine as he scanned the crowd. "Thank you all for traveling so far to celebrate Christmas in the Crown Territory."

"Here, there are no strangers, no nationalities. We are one big family."

"So tonight, eat your fill and drink your fill! Christmas is tomorrow, and I hope every one of you gets the gift you're hoping for."

"Let's all raise a glass. Cheers!"

Feng Shan raised his beer high to the crowd, then tilted his head back and chugged it, leading the way.

The sound of him gulping it down—GLUG, GLUG, GLUG—seemed to add to the festive atmosphere.

The moment he finished, the atmosphere erupted.

Cheers and the clinking of glasses rose and fell like waves, weaving together and echoing long into the cold night air.

Brilliant smiles lit up everyone's faces as they raised their cups and drank them dry.

Natasha, also holding a beer, listened quietly to Feng Shan's opening toast. She gave a slight pout, a flicker of disdain in her eyes, and muttered, 'What a crude man.'

Then she parted her red lips and took a sip of her beer.

The gesture was elegant and proudly aloof, a stark contrast to the boisterous celebration around her.

And with that, the real festivities began.

The buffet tables were laden with mouth-watering delicacies, a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.

Over the bonfires, beef and lamb sizzled, dripping fat, their rich aroma wafting directly into people's noses.

Cases upon cases of beer, vodka, and red wine were stacked neatly to one side, waiting to be enjoyed.

Upbeat Christmas music filled the air, the lively rhythm making people want to dance.

Smiles were on every face as people found their friends, wished each other a Merry Christmas, and drank with gusto.

The children were no exception, each with a cup of juice, darting happily through the crowd, their clear laughter ringing out.

The animals lay beside piles of beef and mutton prepared just for them, feasting to their hearts' content. Their muzzles were slick with grease as they let out satisfied grunts from time to time.

Of course, no celebration would be complete without some entertainment.

Erica led the female employees to the center of the clearing with light steps.

With no musical accompaniment, they began to sing Christmas carols a cappella.

Their pure, sweet voices flowed through the air like a heavenly melody, captivating everyone.

Then came the members of the Bear Tribe, dressed in colorful Indian-style clothing and holding wooden spears and stone axes.

They gathered around the bonfire and began an ancient tribal dance.

To the beat of a drum and the crackling of the fire, their movements were both wild and simple.

They mimicked the movements of a bear—knees bent, squatting slightly, bodies leaning forward, hands clenched into fists and hanging loosely at their sides.

They swayed from side to side with the rhythm of the drum, occasionally adding a slow stomp, perfectly emulating a bear's gait and posture. The dance fully embodied the animal's power and solid presence.

The primal dance seemed to transport everyone back to an ancient tribal era, allowing them to experience the charm of a different culture.

This ancient dance, brimming with primal charm and a wild spirit, seemed to possess a magical power that immediately captured everyone's attention.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, their gazes fixed on the dancing members of the Bear Tribe, their eyes filled with curiosity and amazement.

Some of the younger crewmen, fueled by alcohol and encouragement from the crowd, couldn't contain their excitement and impulsively joined the dance.

They flailed their arms and legs, leaping with abandon, their faces beaming with joy as if to release every last bit of happiness from their hearts.

As time passed, more and more people were drawn in by the energy and joined the dance.

The whole party instantly transformed into a sea of joy.

...