"No..."
"A few hundred billion are gone. Those billions could create countless jobs, drive tons of investment, and train so many graduates in 'biotech, environment, and materials' in Xia Country!"
Wang Qiqi was shocked as she looked at her phone.
There's no Vimal information in the Security Bureau, no relevant records in entry management, and not even a trace in Xia's Skynet and Swallow databases.
Vimal seemed to vanish into thin air; there was no trace of his existence within Xia.
"Huh?"
Xiaowang looked at Wang Qiqi with a face full of horror, then turned his shocked expression towards Master Fuli: "Eat..."
"Shut your mouth. What kind of fox do you take Master Fuli for?"
Ansheng pinched Xiaowang's mouth and made a call to Lin Ying to ask if she had seen Vimal.
The last place Vimal appeared was in the garden storage room at Lin Manor.
"The foreigner in the manor? Sorry, I'm not in Xia Country right now. I'll ask the household staff at home to see if they've seen him..."
After receiving Master Fuli's call, Lin Ying shook her head, indicating she wasn't clear about family affairs.
The day she bid farewell to Master Fuli, she boarded a plane to go abroad for a meeting. It wasn't until the 15th, after planning to celebrate Master Fuli's birthday, that Lin Ying booked a flight back, needing to arrive in Chang'an City around four in the afternoon.
After hanging up the phone, Lin Ying made a call to the manor's butler, inquiring about the capital landlords that Grandpa transported back by handcart.
A moment later.
Lin Ying sent a picture to Master Fuli.
"Wow! They're sprouting!"
Ansheng saw the color photo attachment in the message, and a shocked expression appeared on the whole small fox face.
"Found them?"
Wang Qiqi curiously turned her head, while Xiaowang, who was half-buried, disregarded politeness. He used his arms on the ground to pull his upper body out of the soil, looking at the screen.
The screen showed a garden scene with a pond beside it.
Vimal and all the landlords who had disappeared were neatly buried in the soil, with only their heads exposed, like Xiaowang. A green bud grew from atop Vimal's head, and a bud even sat atop the white-branched tree head nearby.
In addition to the picture, Lin Ying also sent a message to Master Fuli:
"The Lin branch on the Tropical Continent ran into some trouble, and Grandpa was too anxious to get back, forgetting them. They say Master Fuli ordered them not to move, so they dare not budge, fearing you'll look for them later to settle scores..."
"Forgotten..."
Ansheng looked at Wang Qiqi and Xiaowang and spoke.
Wang Qiqi and Xiaowang went silent, and a brief stillness settled in the flowerbed.
"Being forgotten is still better than dead..." Xiaowang sighed in relief, burying himself back into the earth. From underground, he fumbled for a moment before lifting out a large black box, saying:
"Thank you, honorable Saint, for your grace. We outsiders won't disturb your life any longer."
"This is a personal gift from our family, wishing you a Merry Christmas."
Xiaowang pushed the gift forward, and Ansheng's eye twitched as he looked at the gift box covered in decomposing soil, utterly speechless.
This Treasure Tree really doesn't care about things, couldn't they at least check pockets before burying people?
Why did they end up burying their gifts too?
"Chubby cat, go grab the gift box! I'll treat you to a Snow King ice cream at the school gate when we get back."
Ansheng shook her head, not interested in the gift, but rather intrigued by the statue on the West Coast.
Not that there's a particular fondness, it's just that Ansheng feels if the statue stands up, it might be quite amusing.
What a piece of work.
A nearly two-hundred-meter fox statue, and it's supposed to have the base topped off by next month before Christmas, along with the interior museum's renovations. This pace is a bit ridiculous!
It's estimated that Xiaowang and his team plan to use Beast Warriors as laborers, working around the clock.
Once one group is exhausted, another group takes over.
......
Ansheng rode Fat Cat's electric scooter back to the Snow King milk tea shop at the school gate, bought two cones, and headed back to the school, each with one cone in hand.
Ansheng returned to Qing's bed full of joy, lying on her side to watch videos, with no intention of going out again, waiting quietly.
Today is her birthday, and Qing and the others said they prepared gifts for Ansheng.
Ansheng doesn't plan to run around today; she plans just to stay home and unwrap birthday presents.
Classes ended at noon.
Qing and the others returned to the dormitory.
"Xiaolan, in the afternoon, you'll obediently follow Aunt Tang You and stay in the dorm playing games."
"We're going to buy birthday food for you, and book the hotel room and hot spring pool for tomorrow."
Qing tiptoed, poking her head out to look at the small fox lying sideways on the bed, watching short videos.
"Go on, go on!"
Ansheng waved her hand, glancing at Momo and giving a sneaky wink.
"Hmm-hmm~"
Momo discreetly made an OK sign, indicating that Ansheng could rest assured about Mo Yiqing taking care of things.
"Oh, Xiaolan is suddenly a year old. If converted to human years, she's probably about fifteen or sixteen, right?"
Qing poked at the little fox's belly, speaking with a hint of emotion: "Huhu is already grown up and hasn't knocked down a home yet. Who's been slandering Huhu, claiming foxes are destructive..."
Hearing Qing's sentiment, Momo and Lingren had a slightly odd expression on their faces.
If you say this, then Yuyu from next door won't be sleepy.
She pets wild foxes, and within two minutes, she gets bitten a dozen times, even her underwear gets bitten into a couple of holes.
"The little fox has a good temperament; why wouldn't she be pleased?" Momo teased Qing.
"It's not that I'm unhappy; I just always feel like we've missed some significant moment in Huhu's life, like something's missing. Hmm... it just feels like something's amiss," Qing contemplated, speaking.
"You'll make up for it soon." Momo took Qing and Lingren by the arm, heading towards the dormitory door, turning to Tang You with a smile and saying:
"Look after the little fox for a bit; we'll meet directly inside the district later."
"?"
Tang You raised an eyebrow, pointing at the little fox, then herself: "Sis, are you planning just to leave us in the dorm room?"
"?" Momo also had an eyebrow raised with a puzzled expression, asking: "You're coming with us to shop?"
"Not really, I mean, if you're heading over to drop us in the district too, that'd be great; it's hard to catch a taxi here."
Tang You lifted her gaming laptop, grinning at Momo.
Shopping with friends is just too mundane; hanging out virtually in the gaming group is far more fun.
Since the instructor granted a half-day holiday, who wouldn't want to cozy up indoors playing games in winter rather than wander outside shopping? Having a grandpa and grandson duo in a co-op game is beyond fun.
"Phew, I thought you'd changed..." Momo rolled her eyes and teased.
"Let's go! You go to my place first, turn the heating on, and wait for us to come back..."
Momo shook her head, sending Tang You and the little fox first to the Phoenix City District home, before heading out with Qing and Lingren to the mall for birthday party supplies.
Before leaving, Momo grabbed the little fox, pulled her into the restroom, and gave some instructions.
It's the little fox's birthday, so she's the most important. You can tear my house apart if you want, just don't mess with the bedside table and the server room.
Yes, yes!
I know you know my stuff, but don't take them out, okay? I have my pride!
Momo drove into the city, ordered a big cake for the little fox, went to the supermarket to shop, and visited the Fox Kingdom Hotel to book the room for tomorrow and collect the previously reserved ostrich leg.
But.
After completing all shopping and picking up items, Momo didn't drive back to the Phoenix City District. Instead, with Lingren, she brought Qing to the booked hotel room.
"Qing..."
"There's something I want to tell you, and I hope you can have a moment to prepare and not get too scared..."
"Oh, wait... Momo, if you have something to say, just say it. Why is your hand on your pants?"
Qing looked bewildered, glancing at Momo who walked in, took off her own shoes and socks, and even placed her hand on her waistband, clearly getting ready to remove her pants, showing a bit of panic.
"Though we're sisters, let's keep our pants on while we talk, even at this time of day?"