Future Pet Shop

"I can tell you dote on Carmen. I really shouldn't be asking this of you," Qi Jian said apologetically. "After we got everyone settled at the hospital, you didn't even grab a bite for yourself. You went straight to buying food for Carmen, Hah'Er, and the others. I saw the whole thing."

"If this were for my own personal reasons, I'd never try to take your beloved pet, no matter how much I admire Carmen. But ever since Hah'Er became Yunzhong City's tourism ambassador, and with *Panda Hero* being such a hit, more and more people have been flocking to our local attractions. With so many people, accidents are bound to happen. This month alone, we've had several groups of hikers get trapped in the mountains. Our entire search and rescue team has been working overtime around the clock. We haven't had a real break all month." Qi Jian's lips twisted into a wry smile. "The staff at every trail entrance and scenic area stress the importance of sticking to the marked paths, but some people just don't listen. They only call us for help once they're already in trouble. These people are running us ragged."

"More and more hikers are getting trapped, but our team is so small. We've submitted requests to expand our team multiple times, but going through the proper channels, recruiting, and training all take time. It's not a problem we can solve in a day or two. We can't keep this up for much longer. That's why I'm making this request. I really hope you'll give it some serious thought, Mr. Shen." After he finished, Qi Jian stared at Shen Yibin, his eyes pleading.

'Huh, so when you get down to it, this is kind of my fault, isn't it?' Shen Yibin was dismayed. He had helped promote Yunzhong City, bringing in countless tourists and giving a huge boost to its economy, but he never expected it to cause so many problems. The number of visitors had grown far too quickly, completely catching everyone by surprise. It was inevitable that some systems would break down. Even though Mayor Wang was doing everything he could to resolve the issues, it wasn't the kind of thing that could be fixed overnight.

"Mr. Shen, please don't worry. If Carmen joins us, everyone from me down to the newest rescuer will treat him like one of our own brothers. We'll never let him be wronged in the slightest. We'll clear out a special room for him to live and rest in, and we'll feed him only the best. During rescues, his only job will be to lead the way. If we run into any danger, I'll be the first one in. I absolutely will not let him face any risks." Seeing that Shen Yibin seemed to be swayed, Qi Jian quickly thumped his chest and made a guarantee.

This was different from Driver Han's situation. Even if Driver Han won the Dakar Rally, that would just be a matter of national pride. But the search and rescue team... this was a matter of life and death. With Carmen's help, those unfortunate tourists trapped in the mountains would have a much better chance of survival. Shen Yibin really couldn't find a reason to say no.

Besides, from how sincere Qi Jian seemed, Carmen would definitely be well taken care of with him. Shen Yibin wasn't worried about that in the slightest. The only remaining question was the affinity level.

"Mr. Shen, why don't we grab a bite to eat first? I don't think you've eaten yet, have you? We can talk over dinner." Without waiting for a reply, Qi Jian pulled Shen Yibin into a small, nearby restaurant, ordered a few dishes, and they began to eat.

Sakai Kaori and Sun Qian had already taken Carmen, Hah'Er, and the others back to the shop, leaving Shen Yibin by himself. Shen Yibin didn't stand on ceremony, sitting across from Qi Jian and digging in. When Qi Jian excused himself to use the restroom, Shen Yibin pulled out his phone, opened the affinity test app, and checked the score between Qi Jian and Carmen.

'Whoa, it's as high as eighty-six? No wonder Carmen seemed to listen to him so well on the way here. So that's why. Looks like Carmen's really going to be leaving with him.'

The result left Shen Yibin feeling both relieved and a little sad. He was relieved that Carmen would have a good owner and that Qi Jian's team would gain a capable new member. But he was sad because from now on, he'd have to rely on himself when driving. Without his Carmen-brand GPS, he was doomed to suffer the torments of getting lost and sitting in traffic jams. That was not a pleasant thought.

"So, what do you think, Mr. Shen?" Qi Jian prompted again upon returning to the table. "If you're still worried, you could come visit our team's headquarters tomorrow. Take a look at our facilities. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

"That won't be necessary. I've been watching you all along the way here. I saw how well you take care of that German Shepherd on your team. Carmen definitely won't be mistreated if he's with you." Since the Future Pet Shop's system had given its approval, Shen Yibin could relax. Still, it was best to get a few things straight beforehand. "Captain Qi, it's not out of the question for Carmen to join the team, but there are a few conditions that need to be addressed. I'm just not sure if you'll be able to accept them."

"Please, tell me. As long as it's within my power, I'll make it happen, no questions asked." Finally seeing a glimmer of hope, Qi Jian eagerly promised.

"Well, first of all, personally, I'd be happy to let Carmen join your team for free. But I do run a pet shop, after all. If I set this kind of precedent, it could cause problems down the line." 'Can't be helped,' he thought. 'The Future Pet Shop has its own rules. I can't just waive the fee.'

"Of course, of course. That's only fair. Even if the team can't approve the funds, I'll pay for him out of my own pocket!" Captain Qi had no objections whatsoever. "How much will he be? I'd like to make some preparations."

"Carmen's price tag is... not small," Shen Yibin said, hesitating. The pay for public servants in Yunzhong City was average at best. He wasn't sure if Qi Jian could afford it.

"I understand. The cost to train one of our special-operations dogs isn't low, either. From acquisition to feeding and training, every single step is expensive. A search and rescue animal as smart as Carmen should be expensive." As he spoke, Qi Jian seemed to realize what Shen Yibin was worried about and quickly added, "Don't you worry about me. My family's old house was part of a demolition and redevelopment project a couple of years ago, and we were compensated with several new apartments. Worst case, I'll just sell one!"

'Man, I'm so jealous of you property compensation millionaires,' Shen Yibin thought, feeling a pang in his chest. So it turned out this guy was a low-key tycoon. Well, that settled that. He told him Carmen's price.

"Done. No problem. I'll go find a real estate agent tomorrow to sell the apartment. It's just that the paperwork and title transfer will take some time." Qi Jian agreed without even blinking.

'That's actually perfect,' Shen Yibin thought. 'I was just trying to figure out an excuse to keep Carmen for a few more days, and this saves me the trouble.' "No problem," he said. "In that case, let's finalize the deal after the Spring Festival."

"By the way, once Carmen is on the job, will he get any vacation time?" Shen Yibin suddenly thought of another question.