Landlord in the Arctic

The beef from the cooler.

Xiaohua froze as if someone had hit a pause button. A flash of surprise flickered in her eyes.

Brother Shan treasured that beef as if it were priceless. He was normally reluctant to take it out at all, let alone feed the entire stash to the tigers.

At the same time, a scene began to play out in Xiaohua’s mind.

Brother Shan would cheerfully open the cooler door, only to find it completely empty. The top-grade beef he had so carefully stored would be gone without a trace. Then, he’d fly into a rage, completely losing it on the spot.

The thought made Xiaohua want to laugh. She quickly suppressed a giggle as her eyes darted around. A plan formed in her mind, and a sweet smile spread across her face as she spoke.

"Yeah, Brother Shan is heading back too. Sis, why don’t you come back to China with us and have some fun?"

"That depends on whether your brother agrees." But Natasha was the Cold Bending Queen; she saw right through Xiaohua’s little scheme in an instant. She gently patted Xiaohua on the head, her eyes full of affection. "Come on," she said with a smile. "Follow me. I have a gift for you."

With that, she turned and walked toward the wooden cabin.

The tiger that had volunteered to be Natasha’s protector quickly followed.

"Huh? Why isn’t this tiger eating the beef? What’s it following us for?" Xiaohua asked like the curious kid she was, blinking her big eyes and staring at the tiger, her voice full of confusion.

Hearing this, Natasha looked back, her azure eyes brimming with a satisfied smile, the corners of her lips turning up slightly. "They were a gift from your brother."

"Brother Shan is so good to you! He even gave you tigers. He wouldn’t even give me one." As soon as Xiaohua heard this, her lips immediately formed a pout, her face a mask of mock anger.

Standing nearby, Hu Zi and Black Hide exchanged a look, helpless, bitter smiles on their faces.

They both knew perfectly well.

Putting aside whether Brother Shan would even agree, even if he did...

You can’t just bring a tiger back to China.

’In your dreams!’

"Sis, you’re not really going to marry Brother Shan, are you?" Xiaohua’s eyes darted mischievously, her mind racing. She tossed out the question, then, afraid Natasha might get the wrong idea, quickly added, "Actually, Brother Shan is a really great guy. He’s responsible and a real man’s man. Among all the good men I’ve met, he’s in a league of his own. If you marry him, you’re guaranteed a happy life."

"What would a child like you know?" A wry smile touched Natasha’s lips as she pushed open the cabin door and stepped inside.

"I’m about to be a mom! I’m not a child, and I understand everything!" Xiaohua instantly went off like a firecracker, bristling with indignation. She spun around huffily to face Hu Zi, who was trailing behind her, and demanded, "Tell her! Do I get it or not?"

"You do, you do! You’re the expert! In our family, you know best!" Seeing her flare up, Hu Zi immediately started nodding like a chicken pecking at grain. His face was plastered with a fawning smile, stopping just short of having the word "sycophant" written on his forehead.

Only then did Xiaohua lift her chin in satisfaction and walk briskly through the door.

Bringing up the rear, Black Hide watched Hu Zi’s pathetic display. The corner of his mouth curled into a sneer as he muttered under his breath, "Hmph. What a suck-up. Coward."

His voice wasn’t loud, but in the quiet surroundings, it was especially grating.

"Oh, you think you’re so tough? Then you say something! It’s like the crow laughing at the pig for being black." Hu Zi had sharp ears and caught Black Hide’s taunt. He whipped his head around, a defiant look on his face, and shot back.

Walking ahead, Xiaohua seemed to sense something. She suddenly stopped, turning to look back at the two men with suspicion.

"What was that about a pig? Are you two talking smack about me?"

Hu Zi’s expression instantly switched to a fawning smile. He waved his hands frantically, explaining, "No, no, no! Black Hide was just saying he’s sick of eating beef and lamb every day. He’s craving pork—braised ribs, stewed pork hocks..."

"Right, right! I’m dying for some pork! Shredded pork with green peppers, stir-fried pork, Sichuan-style boiled pork, braised ribs... I’m drooling just thinking about it," Black Hide chimed in, nodding eagerly.

The moment she heard those familiar, tempting dishes, Xiaohua unconsciously swallowed, her eyes lighting up. "I want pork, too!" she chimed in.

Her expression was one of pure craving, as if she could already see a table laden with delicious dishes laid out before her.

The trio, now united by a fervent craving for pork, hurried into the wooden cabin.

Upon entering, they saw Natasha lounging on a sofa, looking utterly relaxed and at ease.

Her long, slender legs were elegantly crossed, and her posture was as graceful as a noble Persian cat’s.

One of her hands rested lightly on the head of the tiger beside her. The animal was nestled obediently at her feet, occasionally nuzzling her palm. The sight of the woman and the tiger together was surprisingly harmonious.

When Xiaohua appeared in the living room, Natasha lifted her chin slightly and spoke in a soft voice.

"Sofia, bring me my jewelry box. The black velvet one."

"Yes, Your Highness." With that, a tall, short-haired woman strode out from a corner of the room.

The woman wore a tailored suit that accentuated her slender waist and upright posture, giving her a sharp and capable appearance.

She gave a slight, respectful bow before turning and departing swiftly.

At that moment, Natasha seemed like a completely different person. Her usual haughty air was gone, replaced by a gentle smile. She elegantly gestured toward another sofa and said to Xiaohua,

"Have a seat. The gift will be here shortly."

Xiaohua and the two men had just settled onto the sofa, not yet having a chance to take in their surroundings, when another woman in a similar tailored suit approached them silently.

She held a delicate tray with both hands, on which sat steaming cups of coffee and an assortment of exquisite pastries.

The woman placed the tray on the coffee table in front of them, gave a slight curtsy, and said softly, "Please, have some coffee."