Chapter 44 - Compassion (2/2)
“Then let them think what they want. If I got myself a wolf, I’d take pictures of it every day, but a rabbit…” Adrian recalled the soft creature with a complete lack of combat ability and was completely unable to accept being linked with a pet like this. He continued firmly, “Just forget it.”
“Gines has already departed from the capital,” said Fayn as soon as Adrian entered the room. “There’s no problem if we arrange to meet him on White Aegis, is there? Gines passed us a message through ‘Specimen’. They’re moving through the official route and will arrive at the border in three days, afternoon local time. When that time comes, we can interview Gines, and if nothing unexpected happens, they can make their landing. On the next day, that guy will depart with them.”
“That’ll work, make the arrangements.” Adrian went on, “Is there anything to report from the meeting earlier?”
“Besides everyone discussing enthusiastically at the end about the news between you and him, nothing else happened. The recorder should be able to send you the full recording immediately.” Saying that, Fayn could no longer hold his expression together; stifling back a laugh, he asked, “Is it true? You saved a little rabbit? And you’re even taking care of it? Hahahaha! What the hell, is this overflowing compassion? Or the tenderness of an iron heart?”
He could no longer stop himself after saying that. He began to beat the table in a burst of laughter and was completely unable to take in Adrian’s explanations, “I didn’t! Zhong Yan’s taking care of it! It’s got nothing to do with me!”
It was right of him not to have said anything about the giant space rabbit. With a straight face, Adrian thought about his best friend’s betrayal; if this guy were to find out that he had brought home a giant space rabbit out of a moment of impulse, and even raised it, he would seriously be made fun of till his hair turned white.
He had to raise a wolf. A fierce one. The fiercer the better.
Going back to the topic, where on earth did Zhong Yan whip out a normal white rabbit from?
When Adrian returned home this evening, Zhong Yan was still dealing with work. It was the first working day of the new year, so there was a lot to do to begin with, but he still had to spend some time to deal with unexpected emergencies. What’s more, one of his two assistants was deprived of his terminal as he was put under confinement in White Aegis, while the other had boarded a spaceship and was now sailing around the universe.
The box of the sweeping robot was placed right beside Zhong Yan’s feet. Adrian walked over and opened the lid. The palm-sized white rabbit was sleeping inside.
He picked it up and the rabbit trembled. It woke up and kicked its feet uneasily in the air.
“God, what are you doing?” Zhong Yan discovered Adrian’s atrocities in time, and quickly set his work down to snatch the rabbit back from his hands.
It was actually alive…he thought it was just a simulation. Adrian watched as Zhong Yan carefully pacified the rabbit in his hands with gentle strokes, and asked, “Where’d you get this little rabbit from?”
Zhong Yan asked in turn, “Then why don’t you tell me where you brought that big rabbit from?”
“Those are two different things,” Adrian said, “You’re in my territory, and you’ve suddenly pulled a rabbit out of thin air. How could I not worry? I…hold on, what’s that sound?”
“Oh, the cleaning robot…” Zhong Yan responded awkwardly, “I took its box and turned it into a rabbit nest, so it’s been going in circles in the storeroom this whole time. I tried to turn it off but it didn’t work…”
“That thing has to be turned off from my terminal,” said Adrian, speechless. “I’ll give you authorization for the cleaning robot. Now you don’t have to be bothered about it not cleaning certain spots.”
“Sure.”
“Well, when are you going to return the box?”
“Do you have any other boxes? I couldn’t find one. A smaller one is fine too, I just need to stuff the blankets in since we already bought some.”
Adrian looked at him incredulously, then at the rabbit in his hands. “You’re not really thinking of raising that, are you? I’m telling you now, you better return that. I’m not raising no rabbit.”
“I’ll take it away in a few days.” Zhong Yan put the calmed rabbit softly back into its box and said, “Speaking of which, Intron has already departed. He’ll arrive in about 4 days.”
In actuality, he will arrive in just three days. Adrian was unperturbed, “Got it. I’ll tell the guys at the border to lead them to White Aegis’ landing, and I’ll send you off in four days.”
“When I go…if it’s not convenient, I can take the giant space rabbit with me. If you can arrange a larger, empty spaceship, you can put it in. I’ve already checked, there’s a rather large giant space rabbit research center two star systems away from here.” Zhong Yan carefully persuaded, “See, if I go, you’re also…um…not quite fond of it, so you might as well send it off…what’s wrong?”
He couldn’t go on because Adrian was staring at him, and it was giving him goosebumps.
Adrian raged forth, “Don’t even get me started. What on earth kind of shitty story did you make up? What’s the difference between raising a 4-inch rabbit or a 23-foot rabbit? Everyone’s been praising me for my compassion every time they see me today!”
“Because you have more leeway when raising a 4-inch rabbit, but a 23-foot rabbit is a protected animal. What’s more, the way you obtained it was illegal!” Zhong Yan huffed, “I made such short work of getting a rabbit in a hurry, making up a good story, making a nest for it, and covered up the fact that you’ve violated the ‘anti-hunting law’. I even helped you establish a good image, but you’re not appreciative of it at all!”
But I got it through legal channels! I don’t want this kind of image! Adrian could practically feel himself spitting blood. But no matter what, he would never tell Zhong Yan how he got the rabbit, so he could only grit his teeth. “Send it away? Don’t even think about it, I’m hiring a chef and turning it into braised rabbit as soon as you leave.”