Taboo Mage - Chapter 205 - Xu Benzhang's Request

“Mr. Gu! I truly hope you can help fulfill my filial piety…”

“Filial piety? Your idea of filial piety is to buy a dog for your mother, and after that dog dies, to find another one just like it to satisfy your own selfish desires, regardless of whether anyone else is willing?”

I became increasingly animated as I spoke, noticing Xu Benzhang’s face growing more and more uncomfortable. I coldly continued, “Your version of filial piety involves being too busy with your own social life, leaving your mother alone to grieve over a dog? You really consider yourself quite the devoted son!”

Xu Benzhang’s face turned red with embarrassment, and he clasped his hands together, looking flustered and unsure of what to do.

I snorted and nodded at Jue Chi.

He remained silent, seemingly still contemplating Xu Benzhang’s words. Seeing Jue Chi’s expression shift to one of deep compassion made me inwardly curse, prompting me to stand up and say directly, “Enough! We’re not some bodhisattvas here to rescue the downtrodden. To you, this dog is merely a way to please your mother, but to us, it’s a cherished member of our family-my own sister! You view it as a pet, but I see it as a person!”

As I spoke, I stole a glance at Jue Chi. He lowered his gaze and remained quiet, indicating that my words had struck a chord with him.

I was worried that Jue Chi’s kind heart would lead him to actually give the little fox away to someone else.

At that point, it wouldn’t just be my unwillingness; Uncle Lin would be furious.

Xu Benzhang’s expression changed, and he suddenly looked up. “How about this: if you can give it to me, I’ll give you my house!”

I raised an eyebrow. This man was quite devoted…

Lin Huan almost rolled his eyes to the sky at Xu Benzhang’s offer. He stood up, grabbed Xu Benzhang’s arm, and tossed him out of the living room.

“I think Jue Chi shouldn’t leave just yet. If something happens at night, it could get messy. So let’s wait until daybreak tomorrow, then you can head back to Chan Guang Monastery,” Zhou Qifang said, crossing his arms and surveying the room with a serious look.

Jue Chi nodded, gently ruffling the little fox’s head before heading to his room to rest.

I reminded Lin Huan to make sure to lock the door well, then went upstairs to rest myself.

It had been just a dinner outing, and yet it had sparked such a huge uproar. It seemed we wouldn’t have any peace in the next few days.

Sure enough, early the next morning, while I was still sleeping in bed, I was startled awake by a series of urgent knocks on the door downstairs.

I got up irritably, slipped on my slippers, and made my way through the small courtyard to the door. The knocking grew louder, and squinting my eyes, I peered through the peephole.

What I saw nearly made me jump out of my skin.

There was a throng of reporters outside, microphones and cameras raised like weaponry pointed directly at my front door.

Lin Huan also heard the commotion and stumbled out, his hair a disheveled mess. He asked what was happening outside.

I told him it was a whole crowd of reporters, and Lin Huan, surprised, exclaimed, “Is Xiao Bai that popular? Did it really attract reporters overnight?”

I nodded but then shook my head, choosing to withhold a definitive answer to Lin Huan’s comment.

“Should we… open the door?” Lin Huan glanced at me and then at the closed door, lowering his voice to ask.

I shook my head. Was that even a question? Even if the reporters outside weren’t coming specifically for the little fox, we couldn’t let them in!

Lin Huan nodded, turned, and went back to sleep.

I stood there for a while longer, listening, curious about what sort of trouble they might come up with next.

After about ten minutes, the voices outside suddenly quieted down. I felt a wave of relief; it seemed this impatient crowd had finally given up and left after waiting too long.

I sighed and, wearing my slippers, turned to head back and catch a few more hours of sleep.

Just as I took a few steps, I suddenly heard a familiar voice outside.

“Hello everyone, I’m Li Mi. Yes, my boyfriend is the owner of this house, and that dog is naturally mine too.”

Upon hearing that, my heart sank. I opened the door without even pausing to take in the scene outside, and I exploded with rage: “What the hell! Li Mi, have you no shame? When did I ever say you were my girlfriend? I’ve been single for so many years; I don’t want you as my girlfriend! Even if all the women in the world disappeared, I still wouldn’t look at you! What kind of nonsense is this!”

In the past, I might have been a bit considerate due to our shared history and would have kept my words in check, but this time, Li Mi had completely crossed the line and was treading on thin ice.

It was no longer a matter of sparing her feelings in front of an audience.

Everyone was stunned into silence by my sudden outburst, especially Li Mi. She was standing at my door, blushing and being interviewed.

“Mr. Gu, is this Miss Li truly the owner of the samoyed from last night?” One reporter quickly responded, pushing through the crowd and stepping right in front of me, excitedly asking.

I rolled my eyes. “Are you deaf? I have nothing to do with her! Can’t you understand?”

Just as I was about to unleash another round of insults, Lin Huan rushed out from behind me, pulling me back and smiling as he said, “Sorry, sorry! Our boss is a bit grumpy because Li Mi has been bothering him. But Miss Li, don’t get too carried away. I’ve seen people chase after someone, but I’ve never seen anyone so shamelessly desperate. Our boss truly isn’t interested in you at all.”

With that, while everyone was still processing his words, Lin Huan took a quick step back and slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

I was too frustrated to collect my thoughts for a long while. Lin Huan pulled me into the living room, just as Jue Chi and Zhou Qifang were coming downstairs. Lin Huan quickly filled them in on what was happening outside.

Zhou Qifang chuckled. “Looks like you have some luck with romance, huh?”

“Enough! This isn’t the time for jokes. What should we do about the little fox? We need a plan,” I said, waving my hand dismissively, not wanting to engage in Zhou Qifang’s teasing.

The situation had escalated far beyond my expectations. It seemed that the reporters outside were not going to leave anytime soon. Were we really supposed to just stay holed up in this room indefinitely?

Clearly, the power of the press was much stronger than that of a Resentful Spirit. When faced with a Resentful Spirit, we were all experts sitting here. But when it came to dealing with reporters, we were all novices.

Suddenly, an idea struck me. If this one person were around, perhaps we wouldn’t feel so helpless against the reporters.

“Quick! Call Chi Rui and see where he is!”