Chapter 239 - 107: Scattered_3
The light reached the cave dwelling, resembling a woman quietly waiting for her husband's return, silently gazing into the night.
The rain from the forest vegetation had long soaked his pants and boots, dragging his heavy body to the doorway; Chen Zhou's steps were already weary.
Here, he could finally rest assured, so he put down the long-handled axe and took off his wide-brimmed hat.
Accompanied by a low bark, Lai Fu's massive head emerged from the darkness—
During the rainy season, Chen Zhou huddled in the cave dwelling, and its activity diminished. Thanks to Tizi, the quality of food improved, leading to a new wave of weight gain.
Chen Zhou estimated it was already approaching the 110-pound mark.
When he found Lai Fu onboard, he thought Lai Fu was an adult dog, not expecting Lai Fu to grow even after landing with him.
It wasn't until June this year that it stopped growing taller and longer, starting to grow wider.
Were it not for the island's heat, Lai Fu would have shed its long fur, and the mane-like fur around its neck was no longer dense. Its size could have been much more intimidating.
"Good dog!"
Stretching out his hand, allowing Lai Fu to nestle its head into his palm, Chen Zhou rubbed the soft fur atop its head.
Haha~
Lai Fu extended its tongue in satisfaction, sidling up to Chen Zhou and sniffing his backpack.
Apparently not smelling any meat, it wagged its big tail and walked away, seemingly uninterested.
"Little glutton."
He chuckled and cursed, dropping his climbing bag. While exhausted, Chen Zhou knew he couldn't immediately go to sleep.
He had to check on Tizi and the three kittens' conditions first, then feed the mother mice before finally dealing with the apricots.
Chen Zhou was fully aware of how tired he was and dared not close his eyes.
Because he knew once he fell asleep, he wouldn't wake up until at least this afternoon, plenty of time to fall behind on many tasks.
Lighting the oil lamp in the bedroom, he first checked Tizi's food and water bowls.
Tizi had recently been eating much, drinking more frequently than when pregnant, and both wooden bowls had been licked clean.
Thinking he could wash apricots, pick seeds, then heat some food for Tizi, fill his stomach, and feed Lai Fu, Chen Zhou stepped to Tizi's little nest.
The oil lamp's light didn't illuminate the nest inside, only allowing a vague glimpse of a large body squeezed into the small wooden box.
Reaching in, he was met with a lazy "meow~."
Grasping the soft fur he touched, Chen Zhou gritted his teeth and pulled Xiao Huihui out of the box.
Xiao Huihui, rudely awakened, squinted, face still carrying drowsiness and confusion, puzzledly looked at his owner, then licked the corner of his mouth.
"Shameless! You squeeze in with your wife and kids too? How old are you?"
Giving Xiao Huihui a playful smack on the head, Chen Zhou bent down to check on the kittens in the nest, fearing they were squashed by their unreliable father.
Fortunately, Tizi was protective of her young, and Xiao Huihui hadn't intentionally harmed the kittens, leaving the little ones safe and sound.
While petting the kittens, Chen Zhou noticed another detail—Tizi's nipples were all shrunken.
The kittens were only five or six days old, Tizi had good food, but she usually couldn't finish it. Why was today so atypical?
With a glance, Chen Zhou's eyes locked onto the confused Xiao Huihui sitting aside, focusing on its moist chin and the tongue licking the corners of its mouth, gradually understanding everything.
"You shameless one! Stealing your kids' milk?"