Chapter 30: Aihua’s Choice
“Hello everyone, this is Pet Home. I’m the owner, Su Wudeng.”
The moment the broadcast went live, the viewer count skyrocketed. Since the teaser had been sitting at the top of the trending charts all day, the audience had been waiting with bated breath. Plus, it was evening—prime time for netizens to relax and scroll.
The chat exploded instantly:
[Finally! The Pet Home live stream is here!]
[Manager Su, what exactly did you do for the military? The Spark Award isn’t handed out to just anyone, right?!]
[Is Aihua going to make an appearance today?]
[I’m so excited! Hurry up and show us the pets!]
Su Wudeng smiled warmly. “Thank you all for joining. Don’t worry, I’ll answer your questions today. But first, as promised, we’re launching a brand new segment.”
“This is an educational pet series that I have the absolute honor of co-hosting with Professor Yang. Our goal is to introduce you to the true nature of these magnificent creatures.”
She paused for dramatic effect. “And today, our very first topic will be the species everyone has been talking about: the Iron-Eating Beast.”
“By now, I’m sure you’re all very familiar with Aihua.”
The chat went completely feral.
[Where is she?! Put the camera on her!]
[Ahhh! I need my Aihua fix!]
The sheer momentum of the topic dragged the viewer count past the one million mark in a matter of seconds.
At the headquarters of the streaming platform, the Operations Manager was in full panic mode. “Why is it Pet Home again?!” he yelled, grabbing a headset. “Quick! Route more servers to her channel! Boot up all the backups! The connection has to stay stable—do not let her crash the site again!”
He hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in a month. Every time Pet Home went live, the traffic was apocalyptic. He rubbed his bloodshot eyes, groaning. “Just how on earth did this pet shop get so popular?”
Back in the shop, the camera panned to the side, revealing an energetic elderly man stepping into the frame. Professor Yang offered a polite, grandfatherly smile to the audience.
“Good evening, everyone. I am Yang Ming, though you can just call me Old Yang. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to share some fascinating history about the Iron-Eating Beast with you all.”
“The name ‘Iron-Eating Beast’ might sound strange to many of you, but their lineage traces back to the very dawn of human mythology. Legend states that they served as the personal battle mounts for the ancient War God, Chi You. They were majestic, terrifying, and utterly invincible.”
With the corporate trolls completely eradicated, the audience was free to genuinely engage with the lesson.
[Chi You?! Like, the War God who fought the Yellow Emperor in the ancient myths?]
[Chi You’s mount? That is so incredibly badass!]
[Wait, they have history going back that far?]
[How could something that looks so fluffy be descended from a war god’s mount?!]
[Professor, tell us more!]
Professor Yang chuckled. “In ancient texts, Iron-Eating Beasts are described as being ‘clad in iron armor and striking with the force of thunder.’ Not only do they possess overwhelming physical strength, but they are also deeply attuned to the natural element of wood—specifically, bamboo.”
“‘Power of Bamboo’ is the most common racial talent awakened by the species. It is an absolute masterclass in both offense and defense. An Iron-Eating Beast can instantly summon a thicket of bamboo to form an indestructible shield, or sharpen it into a lethal projectile for devastating long-range attacks.”
“On the battlefield, a fully mature Iron-Eating Beast can shatter an entire Zerg infantry line just by manipulating bamboo. Their roar alone carries such intense primal authority that it can paralyze lower-tier insects with fear.”
The audience was completely captivated.
[Holy crap! Bamboo can be that strong?!]
[It’s because the beast itself is so powerful! Perfect offense and perfect defense!]
[So they use bamboo for weapons AND snacks?! That’s so efficient!]
[Wait, doesn’t that mean an Iron-Eating Beast in the wild is basically untouchable?]
Professor Yang nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Combine their elemental talent with their naturally absurd physical density, and they are essentially invincible among pets of the same tier.”
He pulled up a holographic display. “Let’s take Aihua, for example.” The screen played the viral clip of Aihua staring fiercely at the camera.
“Look closely at the laceration tearing across her abdomen,” Professor Yang instructed. “Based on the wound pathology, we can confidently deduce that her attacker was a Saber-Toothed Tiger. More specifically, a ‘Thunder Saber-Tooth.'”
“While both species are Commander-tier, the Saber-Tooth’s lightning affinity is incredibly lethal and naturally counters most physical defenses. Their claws are charged with high-voltage electricity, capable of inflicting horrific structural damage. An ordinary pet would be instantly incinerated by a single swipe.”
He paused, his voice thick with profound respect. “Yet, despite facing such a terrifying apex predator, Aihua not only survived… she killed her attacker. And she did it while heavily pregnant!”
“This is the ultimate proof of the Iron-Eating Beast’s terrifying might! This is the true power of Aihua!”
The screen split, showing a fearsome, crackling Thunder Saber-Tooth on the left, and Aihua’s bloody, unyielding form on the right.
“The Thunder Saber-Tooth boasts the highest offensive damage output among Commander-tier pets,” Professor Yang explained. “Their speed and raw power are unrivaled. However, the Iron-Eating Beast’s localized defense and extreme cellular regeneration are their absolute kryptonite! Their bamboo shields ground out the electrical currents, and their self-healing factor allows them to recover from catastrophic injuries mid-combat.”
Hearing the breakdown, the audience finally realized just how apocalyptic Aihua’s battle for survival must have been.
[Unbelievable… Aihua is a walking miracle!]
[Can you imagine what she was feeling?! She was fighting a monster while carrying her babies! She refused to die!]
[Aihua! Aihua! Aihua!]
Suddenly, a question in the chat caught Professor Yang’s eye. [Professor, did she actually kill the Thunder Saber-Tooth?]
He pondered for a moment. “That’s an excellent question. To be perfectly honest, we can’t be 100% certain. Given Aihua’s critical condition when she was rescued, the enemy may have died, or it may have retreated. But regardless of the outcome, she proved the terrifying resilience of her species. Even backed into a lethal corner, they can violently turn the tide. That is why they are revered as mythological beasts.”
He sighed softly. “But Aihua’s survival is a miracle we shouldn’t romanticize. The wild is utterly unforgiving. A fight to the death is desperate and agonizing—especially for a pregnant mother. We can only say that Aihua was incredibly lucky to escape the jaws of death.”
A solemn wave of respect washed over the chat.
Then, another comment popped up:
[Wait, if she fought a Thunder Saber-Tooth… does that mean she’s stronger than the legendary Saber-Tooth in the Ether War Zone?]
Su Wudeng and Professor Yang exchanged a glance. That was a highly sensitive political question.
Professor Yang stroked his chin, choosing his words carefully. “The Saber-Toothed Tiger stationed in the Ether War Zone is a living legend. It isn’t just a Commander-tier pet; it is the spiritual symbol of the entire military district. If we are strictly discussing military achievements, the Ether Saber-Tooth has a far superior combat record.”
The netizens immediately saw through his diplomatic dodging and laughed.
[Obviously! The wild tiger Aihua fought didn’t have any military medals! Nice loophole, Professor!]
[He definitely doesn’t want to accidentally insult the Ether Command!]
[Hahaha, but he’s not wrong. The Ether Saber-Tooth has saved thousands of lives!]
“Well,” Professor Yang continued, “as a veteran of the Zerg frontlines, the Ether Saber-Tooth has unparalleled combat experience. It can discharge up to 100,000 volts of electricity in a single strike, instantly vaporizing entire swarms of Zerg.”
The chat lost its collective mind. [100,000 VOLTS?!]
[Is that a tiger or the literal God of Thunder?!]
[Zerg Swarm: “Aight, I’mma head out.”]
Professor Yang smiled. “Because of its overwhelming power and service record, the Ether Command has granted it supreme honors. It holds the official military rank of Major General. It is permitted to roam the military city freely and is treated with the highest possible respect.”
The chat turned incredibly jealous. [I don’t want to be human anymore! Reincarnate me as a military tiger!]
[Crying rn. I have less social standing than a cat.]
“However,” Professor Yang pivoted smoothly, “in my professional opinion, given that Aihua managed to defeat a wild Thunder Saber-Tooth while heavily handicapped by pregnancy… if she were restored to her absolute peak physical condition, her combat potential would be truly unfathomable.”
Lying in her room, Aihua was watching the broadcast on her projector. A spark of realization flashed in her dark eyes.
That Saber-Tooth gets a military rank? It gets medals and free food? Then I can do it too!
She wanted that kind of premium treatment! She wanted to secure a glorious, comfortable future for her cubs so they would never go hungry!
Back on the stream, Professor Yang handed the floor back to Su Wudeng.
She looked into the camera, a playful smile on her lips. “So, after hearing all of that… do you picture Aihua as a cold, bloodthirsty warrior? A terrifying beast born only for war?”
She paused. “Because the truth is actually the exact opposite. Allow me to show you the real Aihua.”
The screen cut to a new video clip.
Aihua was sitting on her oversized cushion, looking like a giant, fuzzy, black-and-white triangle. She was happily clutching a massive metal mixing bowl with both paws, taking delicate, satisfied sips of warm milk. Because of the camera angle, she looked like a giant, neck-less rice ball.
The clip transitioned. Now, Aihua was sitting upright, completely engrossed in a cartoon about butterflies, her bright, dark eyes unblinking, her little round ears twitching with joy.
She looked like a giant, incredibly well-behaved toddler.
The entire live stream chat went dead silent. The comments literally stopped scrolling for five full seconds.
“Iron-Eating Beasts are fundamentally gentle creatures,” Su Wudeng explained softly. “They possess world-shattering power, but their hearts are incredibly soft. Aihua’s absolute favorite thing in the world is looking at pretty flowers. Her favorite cartoons are all about flower fields.”
The sheer whiplash of the contrast utterly broke the internet.
[OH MY GOD! AIHUA! MOMMY LOVES YOU SO MUCH! YOU ARE SO CUTE!]
[Wait… overwhelming power but a gentle soul? That’s literally my ideal type!]
[In you are two bears: one is a god of war, the other loves cartoons and milk!]
[She’s a cold-blooded killer in the streets, but a soft baby in the sheets!]
The audience was completely enamored. People who had only tuned in for the military drama were suddenly completely hooked on the panda.
[I am obsessed! I want to adopt one right now!]
[Manager Su, are you sure this is an educational program?!]
[Educational? This is clearly a highly targeted propaganda campaign to make me fall in love with a bear!]
[I can’t take it! Manager, please let me buy one! PLEASE!]
The trending tags shifted instantly: #AihuaLovesFlowers #IronEatingBeastContrast #IWantAPanda #EducationalOrPropaganda
[Manager… you know what I’m going to ask, right? CAN I HAVE ONE?!]
[Are you crazy?! Aihua is right there! You want to steal her babies?!]
[POWER OF BAMBOO, GO!]
[Lmao you are actively choosing death!]
[Wait, wait! Manager, are there any abandoned Iron-Eating Beast orphans out there?! I’ll take one!]
[Yeah, I value my life too much to try and take Aihua’s cubs. But maybe you have a spare? Please?!]
Su Wudeng laughed as the viewer count continued its vertical climb. “It seems everyone really loves Aihua! We might have to make her our official mascot. I’ll be sure to pass on all your love to her! And she wanted me to tell all the ‘aunts and sisters’ watching that she loves you back!”
As the broadcast neared its end, Su Wudeng addressed the burning question in the chat.
“I’m thrilled you all have such a deep appreciation for Aihua now. But…” her expression softened. “I regret to inform you that Aihua’s cubs are absolutely not for sale.”
A collective wail echoed through the chat.
[NOOOOO!]
[We knew it, but it still hurts!]
[Manager, why would you tempt us like this?!]
“As you’ve seen, Aihua fought literal death to protect them,” Su Wudeng said gently. “She is going to raise her babies herself. So please, don’t ask to buy them.”
It was a splash of cold water, but surprisingly, the vast majority of the audience wasn’t angry. They were incredibly understanding.
[Of course! You can’t separate a mother from her babies!]
[Aihua suffered so much for them. She deserves to be a mom!]
[Manager, just keep posting daily videos of them! We’ll be happy just watching them grow up!]
[Honestly, I’m so relieved. Manager Su is completely different from those greedy corporate executives. She actually cares about the animals!]
[Professor Yang said Aihua’s market value is basically infinite. Manager Su could have become a billionaire overnight by selling those cubs. But she chose to respect Aihua’s wishes instead. Manager, you are a saint!]
[Manager, you treat Aihua so well, you should treat us well too! Give us more videos!]
New trending topics immediately populated: #SuWudengRefusesBillions #TrueLoveIsProtection #PetHomeEthics
Seeing that public sentiment had reached its absolute peak, Su Wudeng executed the final phase of her plan.
“While this broadcast is coming to an end, I do have one last surprise for you. Do you all remember the teaser I posted last week? About the new pets we would be introducing?”
The chat instantly revived.
[What is it?! The big reveal!]
[What kind of pet is it?! Tell us!]
[Stop teasing us, Manager!]
Su Wudeng switched the camera feed.
The screen filled with a chaotic, tumbling pile of energetic, incredibly fluffy Husky puppies.
[WHAT?! HUSKY PUPPIES?!]
[Oh my god! I thought dogs were completely extinct!]
[DOGS ARE BACK!]
[Wait… Huskies are pack animals. How did you find abandoned puppies?]
A skeptical comment pierced through the excitement: [Manager… did you acquire these puppies through illegal poaching channels? An expert said last time that Huskies never abandon their young!]
The atmosphere in the chat instantly tensed.
Su Wudeng shook her head calmly. “No, we absolutely did not. These puppies are orphans. Their original pack abandoned them.”
She gestured off-camera. A moment later, the massive, imposing form of Amber strolled majestically into the frame.
“This is Amber,” Su Wudeng introduced. “She is the one who adopted these orphans. She has raised them to be strong, healthy, and happy. So you don’t need to worry about their origins.”
She smiled warmly. “And seeing Amber here… you might have already guessed. Yes, I have officially formed a contract with her.”
The internet shattered.
A contract?! The shop owner had contracted a Husky?!
[That’s a Swordheart Husky! An Elite-tier beast! Manager, you managed to contract something that powerful?!]
[Wait, forget the tier—THE CONTRACT IS THE IMPORTANT PART!]
Everyone had assumed the pets at Pet Home were just rare display animals. But Su Wudeng had just dropped a tactical nuke on their worldview. These were actual, contractable Beastmaster pets!
[Wait… Manager, are you saying… if we adopt a Husky puppy… WE CAN CONTRACT IT?!]
[HOLY SHIT! THIS IS INSANE!]
Seeing the flood of red, highlighted comments, Su Wudeng nodded. “Yes. These Husky puppies are fully capable of forming official Beastmaster contracts.”
The chat went completely rabid.
[I BID TEN MILLION CREDITS FOR A PUPPY!]
[I own an interstellar mining corporation! I will trade mineral rights for a chance!]
[Manager, take my entire life savings! Please!]
The casual viewers were immediately demoralized.
[Well, so much for that. The billionaires just woke up.]
[How are we supposed to compete with mining corporations?!]
[Sigh. Us normal people never had a chance…]
[Manager, just tell us the price so I can give up and go to sleep.]
A few cynical voices chimed in:
[So this is the real grift. She pretends to be a saint by not selling the panda, just so she can hype up these dogs and auction them off to the highest bidder for astronomical prices.]
[I take back everything nice I said about her.]
But Pet Home’s loyal fans immediately fought back:
[Shut up! Manager Su isn’t like that!]
[Why are you people so desperate to hate her?!]
Su Wudeng remained perfectly calm. “The criteria for adopting one of these Huskies is actually very simple.”
She looked directly into the camera lens, as if making eye contact with every single viewer. “It has nothing to do with your wealth, your social status, your latent talent, or your corporate resources.”
“There is only one rule: The Husky has to choose you.”
The entire galaxy was stunned into silence.
“They choose?”
“Yes,” Su Wudeng said softly. “Do you all remember the Snow Crystal kitten, Baiyun? The one my assistant, Huihui, posts about? Huihui is just an ordinary, hardworking girl. But Baiyun chose her. That means every single one of you has a chance.”
The chat erupted into pure, unfiltered joy.
[I KNEW SHE WASN’T A SELLOUT! AHHH!]
[OH MY GOD! I’M GOING TO GO WASH MY HANDS RIGHT NOW TO PURIFY MY LUCK!]
[I love dogs! I promise I’ll be the best owner!]
[Ordinary people actually have a chance?! Let’s goooo!]
“That is all for tonight,” Su Wudeng concluded. “In our next broadcast, we’ll introduce the puppies properly, and we’ll begin the process of helping them find their true partners. Thank you all for watching. Goodnight.”
The screen faded to black.
But the internet was far from asleep.
#AdoptAHusky #AbandonedPuppies #PetsChooseTheirMasters #EveryoneHasAChance #AihuaTheGentleGiant #HealingPandaVideos
Pet Home completely monopolized the trending charts. The dual hype of the adorable, invincible Iron-Eating Beast and the life-changing opportunity to contract a Husky fed into each other, creating an unstoppable viral loop.
Su Wudeng scrolled through the Aihua tags. The netizens were incredibly fast—they had already generated hundreds of viral reaction memes. Aihua fiercely defending her cubs. Aihua lazily slurping milk from a bowl. Aihua staring intently at a butterfly cartoon.
People were sharing the clips everywhere. [Work was hell today, but watching Aihua drink milk just healed my soul.]
[I can’t stop watching her. She’s just so squishy!]
Aihua was officially more famous than the galaxy’s top celebrities.
“This went even better than I hoped,” Su Wudeng murmured, leaning back in her chair. “This should be enough to keep her safe…”
Why had she gone to such extreme lengths to publicize Aihua’s power and personality? Why turn her into a galactic superstar?
Because unparalleled exposure was the ultimate shield. She hadn’t forgotten Chu Yansen’s warning.
Her communicator buzzed endlessly with messages from high-ranking generals across multiple military districts, all formally requesting a meeting. She knew exactly what they wanted: Aihua. A Commander-tier pet was a strategic asset capable of altering the balance of planetary wars.
But dealing with the military’s overtures was only half the problem. Su Wudeng was far more terrified of the black-market syndicates and illegal research factions operating in the shadows. If they decided to launch a covert strike to steal Aihua, Pet Home would be defenseless.
But now? Aihua was the most recognizable creature in the galaxy. If a syndicate stole her, they would never be able to show her in public without the entire star system hunting them down.
“The shield is in place,” Su Wudeng sighed. “Now, it all depends on what Aihua wants to do.”
As she walked into the recovery room, Aihua immediately lifted her massive arms, opening and closing her paws in a clear demand for a hug.
Smiling, Su Wudeng knelt down and wrapped her arms around the bear’s thick neck.
“Aihua, I need to ask you a very serious question.”
Aihua blinked, tilting her head.
“Do you want to stay here at the shop, or do you want to return to the wild?”
Su Wudeng rested her chin on Aihua’s warm head, her voice incredibly soft. “If you stay here, you’ll have to remain inside the shop to be safe. If you step outside, you could be targeted. And honestly, with the military putting pressure on us, things might get complicated. Staying here… it’s not that different from being in a gilded cage. You were born in the wild. I know you wouldn’t like being locked up.”
A deep melancholy filled Aihua’s eyes. She had been awake long enough to understand just how heavily her existence was weighing on her savior. The last thing she wanted was to bring danger to her sister’s doorstep.
“But,” Su Wudeng continued, “the benefit of staying is that your babies will grow up completely safe. At least until they pass their transition period, they will have all the food they need, a warm bed, and zero predators.”
Aihua let out a soft whine, wrapping her thick arms tightly around Su Wudeng’s waist.
She didn’t want her babies to live in terror. Going back to the forest meant she would have to hunt and fight while constantly protecting three helpless cubs. Her body was still healing; she wasn’t at full strength. And she didn’t even know if that Thunder Saber-Tooth was still out there, waiting for revenge.
But sister, Aihua whined softly, if I stay, the bad people will come for you. I can hide, but you will be in danger.
Su Wudeng stroked her ears affectionately. “Don’t worry about me, Aihua. I already have a plan to handle the bad people. You just need to decide what is best for you and your babies. Wherever you want to go, whatever you choose… I will support you.”
Aihua fell silent, her mind racing.
Suddenly, she remembered the live broadcast. The military Saber-Toothed Tiger had a rank. It had respect. It had power.
If that stupid tiger can get a military rank and live like a king… why can’t I?!
If she became a military general, she wouldn’t just be able to protect her cubs—she would have the power to protect Sister Su!
Determination ignited in Aihua’s dark eyes. She had made her decision. She was going to stay, and she was going to earn military merit! She would never abandon her sister! And her babies were going to grow up safe and strong!
Sister, Aihua is staying right here!
Su Wudeng’s face lit up with pure joy. She buried her face in Aihua’s fur, taking a massive, happy sniff of the bear’s scent.
“Okay! You’re staying! I’m going to spoil you rotten!”
Honestly, who wouldn’t want a pet panda that drank milk out of a mixing bowl?! Su Wudeng put her hands on her hips, practically glowing with pride. She was officially the guardian of a national treasure!
Meanwhile, Lei Jing, Yuan Bo, and Qin Ke were having a collective breakdown. They had only just learned from the live broadcast that the Husky puppies were contractable!
They practically sprinted down the hall to find Manager Su.
They didn’t dare harbor any delusions about contracting Aihua. That bear was a Commander-tier god of war who could strangle a Thunder Saber-Tooth! They weren’t worthy! But a Husky?! They would give their left arms for a Husky!
As Su Wudeng stepped out of Aihua’s room, she was immediately ambushed by three towering, blushing, hyperventilating combat veterans.
“…Is something wrong?” Su Wudeng asked, taking a step back.
“Manager Su!” Lei Jing blurted out, his voice cracking. “Do we… do we have a chance to adopt one of the Huskies?!”
Yuan Bo frantically nodded. “We aren’t trying to pull rank or buy our way in! We swear we’ll follow your rules! We just want a chance for them to choose us!”
So that was it.
Su Wudeng smiled warmly. “Of course. Like I said on the stream, everyone has a chance. As long as the puppy chooses you, it’s yours.”
“THANK YOU, MA’AM!” Qin Ke roared, bowing at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
Su Wudeng flinched. “Please, there’s no need to shout…”
Inside the room, Aihua quietly peeked her head around the doorframe, her dark eyes narrowing at the three soldiers.
Are they military? Why do they only want the puppies?! Am I a joke to them?!
Aihua felt deeply insulted. Those fuzzy little potatoes aren’t even half as strong as Amber, let alone me! How are they going to fight on a battlefield?!
She chewed her lip nervously. How do I tell them I want a military rank too? She didn’t want to tell Sister Su yet—she knew her sister would try to talk her out of it because it was dangerous.
Suddenly, Lei Jing’s communicator chimed with a high-priority alert.
He glanced down at the screen. His nervous, blushing expression instantly morphed into utter, manic ecstasy.
“What is it?” Su Wudeng asked, confused.
Lei Jing’s entire body was shaking. “Manager Su! General Chu… General Chu is giving you the ultimate surprise!”
“A surprise?”
“He’s giving you the planet!” Lei Jing shouted. “He’s officially transferring ownership of this entire Level 4 planet directly to you!”
Su Wudeng’s brain short-circuited. “…Huh?”
Give it to me? An entire planet?!
Was she hallucinating?! Did an entire celestial body just fall into her lap?!
