Chapter 491: As Long as It Can Move
Just a moment ago, in the freezer on the second floor, Scarf had been quite energetic. But as soon as it was outside, it became lethargic. It lay motionless on Shen Yibin’s shoulder, its tail swaying faintly, looking completely drained.
’Sigh, you can’t just stay cooped up in the freezer all day, can you? You have to come out and move around! I’ve already cranked the car’s AC to the lowest setting; I’m so cold I’m shivering!’ Shen Yibin thought if Scarf was still like this when they arrived at the estate, he would have to consider building a cold storage room when he got back. Surely the little guy could get active inside a walk-in freezer, right? However, a walk-in freezer couldn’t be built in a day or two. By the time it was finished, the two-month time limit might already be up.
"Alright, out you get. I’ll introduce you to a couple of new friends." Uncle Qin opened the gate to the construction site and let Shen Yibin’s car pass. He drove all the way up to the Totem Pole before stopping. As he passed it, Shen Yibin regretfully stroked the blank space at the very bottom. Unfortunately, this section was too short; there was no room to carve Scarf onto it.
’In that case, I’ll find a good piece of wood when I get the chance. When Marc visits again, I’ll have him carve a small statue to put on display in the estate’s main living room!’ Shen Yibin tucked the idea away and led Hah’Er and Xiaoliu upstream along the creek. Before long, he saw Bald Qiang sunbathing on the dam. He waved and called out, "Come over here! Look, I brought you a new friend."
Scarf had been draped listlessly over Shen Yibin’s neck, too sluggish from the heat to bother moving. But the sight of the creek instantly revived its spirits. It slid down Shen Yibin’s arm to the ground and immediately jumped into the pool of water created by the dam, cooling itself in the chilly stream.
Once in the creek, Scarf perked up considerably. It started to swim, its four paws splashing in the water. The clumsy doggy paddle was a complete mismatch with its clever-looking appearance. Then again, foxes are canids, so it seemed perfectly reasonable for it to swim that way.
’It’s good that it likes soaking in the water. That’s much better than hiding in the freezer all the time.’ Seeing it play so happily, Shen Yibin also relaxed quite a bit. He walked to the bank and sat down, reaching out to stroke Bald Qiang’s head. He watched quietly as Scarf played in the water. Not to be outdone, Hah’Er and Xiaoliu jumped into the water to splash around and play with Scarf. Bald Qiang joined in as well, leaving only Maphario to climb onto Shen Yibin’s shoulder for company. The little guy was a bit scared of water.
’Yes, this is how it should be. Isn’t getting along with Hah’Er and the others much more comfortable than staying in the freezer?’ Shen Yibin rested his chin in his hand as he watched Scarf and the others chase each other in the water. In that short time, their different swimming skill levels had already become apparent. Unquestionably, Bald Qiang and his mate, having long lived in the water, were the most impressive. Despite their round, plump bodies, they were extremely agile swimmers. A light flick of their flat tails sent them shooting a great distance forward, easily leaving Scarf, Hah’Er, and Xiaoliu behind.
Next was Scarf. Its doggy paddle might have looked ungraceful, but it was surprisingly fast. You have to remember, the diet of a Snow Fox includes fish. If it couldn’t swim, Scarf would have likely starved to death long ago. Hah’Er and Xiaoliu, the two amateurs, undoubtedly fell to the back. Swimming wasn’t a necessary survival skill for them. They could manage an occasional lap or two, but they couldn’t compare to high-level contenders like Bald Qiang and Scarf.
Apparently spotting something in the water, Scarf plunged headfirst into the stream. A moment later, it was swimming toward the bank with a fish in its mouth. Reaching the shore, it shook the water from its fur, lifted its chin proudly, and dropped the fish at Shen Yibin’s feet. After Hah’Er and Xiaoliu, the pet shop’s fish-catching squad had a new member. Oh, back when Egg was still around, that little guy had also shown off its fishing skills once or twice. The Raccoon Cat’s diet also includes fish.
"Great job! I’ll take it back and grill it for you later!" Shen Yibin gave a thumbs-up in praise. Scarf proudly turned and jumped back into the water to search for prey. Hah’Er and Xiaoliu were having too much fun playing in the water to join in, so they just deliberately swam a little farther away to avoid interfering with Scarf’s hunt.
As he sat quietly by the side of the creek, Scarf would occasionally bring up a fish and drop it beside Shen Yibin. He had to go to the construction site and borrow a basin just to hold all these trophies. By the time Wen Yuan finished work and came to pick up Bald Qiang and his mate, the fish Scarf had caught had already filled the basin to the brim, which was more than enough for Shen Yibin and the others to grill for dinner.
"Come on, it’s almost time for dinner. We should head home," Shen Yibin called for them to hurry onto the bank. He then extended an invitation to Wen Yuan. "Mr. Wen, you should come to the shop with us. We can all have dinner together."
"Sure, no problem. It’s been a few days since I’ve had your cooking, Bin." He then turned his gaze to Scarf. "Bin, is this what you brought back from the Northeast? What a beautiful fox! A coat that pure is a rare sight."
"Mhm, this little one isn’t just beautiful, it’s also very clever. The only frustrating thing is its aversion to heat. It’s only really comfortable in the water." Shen Yibin recounted the story of how Scarf liked to hide in the freezer, causing Wen Yuan to roar with laughter.
Scarf climbed ashore, shook its body, and then climbed back onto Shen Yibin’s shoulder. What surprised Shen Yibin was that his clothes hadn’t gotten wet. This little guy didn’t look at all like it had just emerged from the water. He reached out and touched it; there wasn’t a single drop of water on its entire body.
’No wonder people love wearing fox fur. I had no idea a fox’s coat was this waterproof!’ Shen Yibin couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement. He then led them back to the car.
Perhaps because it was in a cheerful mood from playing in the water for a while, Scarf’s paws kept playfully patting Shen Yibin’s head on the drive back to the shop. It was a far cry from the lifeless state it had been in on the way there.
Back at the shop, Shen Yibin parked the car and led them inside. Bald Qiang and his mate ran straight to the pool for a soak, Xiaoliu returned to its large tree, and Maphario went out to the orchard to inspect its territory. Hah’Er got on the swing, while Scarf made a beeline for the freezer.
Shen Yibin was just about to go upstairs to make dinner when Xia Shixuan stopped him. She eyed his head curiously. "Boss, what happened to your hair?"