After Yun Manman finally finished grooming herself, transforming from a dandelion puff back into a sleek-furred kitten.
Lu Qi, who had been silent for a while, continued speaking: "There's one more thing I need your help with."
Yun Manman felt refreshed after grooming. Having just received 3 million Cloth Currency from Lu Qi, she was in an especially agreeable mood: "Mm-hmm, go ahead."
Lu Qi's expression turned serious: "The desserts you make have a calming effect, which is unprecedented. Therefore, on behalf of Kashida, I'd like to ask for your cooperation with our research institute to understand the underlying principles. This could benefit more Beastmen troubled by mental power disorders."
"Sure," Yun Manman agreed without hesitation.
Lu Qi's crimson pupils quivered: "Don't you need to think it over?"
The cat looked at him, puzzled: "Is there anything to think about?"
Isn't this clearly something that would benefit all Beastmen?
If they could truly understand the principles behind it and apply it to medical treatment, then all the furry creatures in the world wouldn't have to suffer from mental power disorders anymore.
She still remembered how agonized the little snake had looked during his mental power outburst.
Lu Qi stood up straight from his chair and gave Yun Manman a formal military salute: "Thank you so much."
Yun Manman was startled by his gesture and hopped forward on three legs: "There's no need to be so formal..."
The hospital bed was so soft and bouncy that the kitten, jumping on it, nearly tumbled head over heels off the edge.
Seeing the floor rapidly approaching, Yun Manman thought, "Oh no, my front paws are going to be injured again."
The expected pain never came.
She was caught in an embrace that smelled of cool, slightly bitter pine, preventing her from making intimate contact with the floor.
It was just a bit hard and uncomfortable.
At that moment, Lu Xi's voice rang out: "Commander Yan, Miss Alice, you're here. Yes, Miss Yun is already awake..."
The door to the hospital room opened, and the three people who entered were a bit stunned by the scene before them.
A tall, rigid man in military uniform was holding a light orange fluffy kitten in his arms. The kitten, seeing them enter, awkwardly greeted them: "Hi, you're here."
Lu Xi: !
He knew the General and Miss Yun were for real!
Although the General appeared expressionless, Lu Xi, familiar with his superior's micro-expressions, clearly saw that the General's sharp jawline had softened, and his piercing phoenix eyes were filled with mirth!
If this wasn't real, what was?
Yun Manman was still waiting for Lu Qi to put her down on the bed, but he showed no signs of letting go.
So she looked up at him quizzically, only to find herself caught in his deep, crimson phoenix eyes.
She was momentarily stunned.
Lu Qi bent down to gently place the kitten on the bed, then straightened up, folded his arms, and looked at Yan Ye as he walked in.
"Well, well, Commander Yan's horns are fine, eh?" His voice was lazy and teasing.
Yan Ye couldn't be bothered to respond and went straight to Lu Xi, quietly asking about the situation with the vampires and the Beast-haters.
Soon, the three men were engrossed in conversation.
Alice fluttered her sparkling wings and landed on the small table by the bed, observing the kitten's condition. Seeing that she was in good spirits, Alice felt relieved.
The elf struggled to lift the grooming brush and stood beside the kitten, helping to brush her fur.
"How long did the doctor say it would take for your paw to heal?"
The kitten relaxed her entire body comfortably on the bed: "The doctor said about half a month."
Kashida's medical technology was advanced, and Beastmen had good self-healing abilities, but injuries like fractures still required a certain recovery time.
"Does that mean you can't open your shop during this time?"
The kitten's eyes widened: "Oh, right..."
Never mind, a break is fine. After all, she already had 3 million in hand, hehe.
Alice thought for a moment: "Do you have time after half a month?"
Yun Manman: "I'm not sure, but I probably will. Why do you ask?"
Alice fluttered her wings, and a happy smile appeared on her delicate, fair face.
"My birthday is in half a month, and it's also my Flower Binding Ceremony. I'd like to invite you to Lanqi Country to attend my ceremony."
The elf race loved nature. When each elf was born, they would plant a flower, and in the years that followed, they would plant more flowers whenever they could. By the time an elf turned thirty and transformed into human form, there would be flowers covering the mountains and plains.
On this day, elves would transform into human form among the sea of flowers, witnessed by nature itself. This was called the "Flower Binding Ceremony."
Yun Manman had never seen one before and excitedly said: "Sure, sure!"
But then she remembered that elves didn't like outsiders and her ears drooped: "But doesn't Lanqi Country not welcome outsiders?"
"Won't I be a party pooper if I go?"
Putting herself in their shoes, she thought if someone she didn't like suddenly appeared at a friend's birthday party, it would be a bit awkward.
Alice put down the grooming brush and placed the kitten's tail on her lap, her small hands deftly braiding it.
"Not at all. I've talked to my parents, and they said they'd be very happy to have you come."
"Besides, the elves aren't as xenophobic as they used to be. They're quite curious about Beastmen too. Recently, the Tourism Department of Lanqi Country even said they want to develop tourism and invite friendly and hospitable Beastmen to visit."
Yun Manman felt reassured hearing this: "Alright then! I'll definitely come!"
Lanqi Country! The realm of elves!
Would there be many beautiful little elves like Alice? Just thinking about it made her happy.
The kitten's light orange long fur was thick and smooth, feeling like a thick, large fleece blanket on Alice's lap. It felt wonderful.
How could anyone not like cats?
Alice seemed to remember something and glanced at Lu Qi in the distance before saying to Yun Manman: "If possible, you should help General Lu Qi with mental power guidance several more times."
"I heard from Yan Ye that General Lu Qi forcibly used his mental power to come find us, and then had a big fight with the Beast-haters. I guess his mental power condition isn't very good right now."
Although apart from looking a bit pale, he seemed fine like a snake without any issues.
His mental sea was probably churning with turbulent waves.