Chapter 12 (1/2)
Hao Ren put the phone down, his expression was just as blank as his mind.
In the past, he would have considered a phone call from an unknown number as another misdial, brushed the whole thing off and continued on with his day. Yet at that moment he was in a very delicate situation.
Staring cautiously at his two uninvited guests secretly getting at each other whilst waiting for food in the living room, it dawned on him that his normal life was long gone. What used to be grandmothers’ stories and urban legends could be true. What used to be myths and imaginations could be true. What was previously thought to exist only in movies… could very well be true.
Hao Ren was already on edge, so much so that he would jump at Rollie the cat’s incessant purr, perceiving it as some sort of ill omen. The thought of that strange phone call he received just a moment ago sent chills down his spine, and most importantly—it just occurred to him that he had never submit his resume to import-and-export trading companies!
True, he had sent out tons of resumes to all kinds companies for all sorts of positions, including one for a male host and another for a pet psychiatrist (whatever that means!). Hao Ren was all too aware of his academic background and miscellaneous skills. He was the kind of oddball who had to use a calculator even when purchasing a celery! How would he have the gall to try out for a trading company? Was he just selling himself short?
As far as he was concerned, trading companies were more or less similar to the Hu Tong mini-market, at least that was how he sees it.
“Landlord? Landlord, sir, what’s gotten into you?” He could hear Lily’s tone of concern right next to him, and it was then that his soul snapped back to reality. He nodded at the two strange creatures, “Oh, a human resource unit scheduled an interview with me in the afternoon…”
“Oh, don’t you worry, landlord! I’ll take care of the house for you!” Lily raised her claws up high and shook it in excitement, as though she was met with an opportune moment. “That’s what I do best! I guarantee you won’t lose a thing!”
“A dog could do better,” Vivian would never let go of an opportunity to drop a sarcastic comment, and each one so far had been a direct hit. But Hao Ren couldn’t help but think: Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. You’re homeless, and penniless, and you’re still keeping up with that attitude? Have you no shame in your bloodline!?
Lily glared at Vivian, and later decided to shake it off. Her stomach was growling again and this was the ground for the quick dispersion of her anger along with the gradual weakening of her fighting spirit. She motioned to Hao Ren as she helplessly laid on the table, “Landlord, please can you make us something to eat? After that I’ll definitely help you guard the house!”
Hao Ren was taken aback by how casual these two were with him. Did he just find himself two tenants, or were they actually two of his many ancestors? He had been a landlord for many years and yet this was the first time his tenants responded in the way long lost friends would!
Still, very swiftly, Hao Ren managed a smile, attributing all of the above to mere cultural differences between species and/or subspecies. If anything, he was definitely no match for these two outsiders. So, for the sake of his future livelihood, it would be wisest to maintain, if not improve, his two female guests’ appreciation for him. At least then if ever Lily and Vivian get on each other’s nerves again, he could confidently bark at them… the way a master would to his pets!
It took some effort for him to satisfy the two girls’ hunger, during which he made sure Vivian was really feeding on normal human food, and only then he finally felt relieved. After everything was done, it was already eleven. Obviously, he could do away with lunch and what’s left would be providing the vampire and werewolf with allowances to last until nightfall. Having considered that Vivian was unlucky enough to not have a penny to her name, and that Lily would certainly not offer up her share (canines are especially protective of their food), he had deliberately stocked up on biscuits for Vivian, leaving the latter so moved that tears were rolling in the corners of her eyes.
Due to the vampire’s habit, Vivian slept through most of the day. Not long after her meal, she went upstairs to wash up and prepared to rest. Lily, on the other hand, was extremely energetic when the sun’s out. She would be standing guard on the ground floor. The two of them managed to stay away from each other due to the differences in their lifestyle, and Hao Ren for the time being didn’t have to worry that they would bring the house down when he wasn’t around. He could go in peace to the venue the mysterious woman arranged.
That’s right, despite all the suspicions, Hao Ren eventually decided to go have a look. There’s no point running away from the inescapable. If somehow that woman was related to these “strange” creatures he had come across recently, then he had to get to the bottom of it. Vivian’s and Lily’s fighting abilities were evident—this was not the territory for the average Joe. He wasn’t even sure if he could make this work.