Shen Lang left Nanling Television five minutes later, his heart content. As he watched Shen Lang's retreating back, Ning Hongzhuang blushed to the point of dripping.
Ning Hongzhuang had never known her lips and teeth to have a taste, let alone the flavor of green grapes.
"This guy..."
Watching Shen Lang drive away, Ning Hongzhuang felt shy.
Shen Lang had saved her life, helped her solve a problem, and now this intimate contact—Ning Hongzhuang's heart had already been captured.
"Perhaps Master Mingyue was right; he is not only my guardian angel but also my fated nemesis."
Ning Hongzhuang murmured, "I have finally found my own warmth..."
Shen Lang was unaware of Ning Hongzhuang's feelings. After leaving Nanling Television, he drove back to the villa.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, Shen Lang returned to the villa and was dumbfounded the moment he walked in.
Upon entering, Shen Lang saw Ye Shishi chasing a cat and Gu Qinghan chasing a dog, turning the house into chaos.
"Sister, Shishi, where did you get these cats and dogs?"
Shen Lang had lived on Qiulong Mountain for over ten years. He not only didn't dislike cats and dogs but felt a sense of closeness whenever he saw them.
He had also raised a cat and a dog on Qiulong Mountain, a wild cat and a stray dog.
Shen Lang had once hunted in the mountains late at night with his cat and dog, always returning with a full catch. Honestly, he missed that pair of pets.
"Shen Lang, let me introduce you. This is my cat, Mei Guo'er."
Ye Shishi handed the cat she had caught to Shen Lang, as if introducing a new friend.
Ye Shishi's cat was pure white with startling purple pupils. A string of bells hung around its neck, making it extremely cute.
In contrast, Gu Qinghan's dog was not as attractive or as cute.
The dog Gu Qinghan had was old, ugly, and frail, its fur a mess.
This was not all. What shocked Shen Lang the most was that it was a limping old dog.
Upon closer inspection, the dog's right leg was clearly broken, and it was only fitted with a prosthetic, allowing it to walk with difficulty.
"Sister, why would you keep such a dog?"
Gu Qinghan's dog was miles apart from Ye Shishi's cat in terms of appearance, so Shen Lang was full of curiosity.
"Little brother, this is no ordinary dog. It's a decorated hero."
Gu Qinghan picked up the old yellow dog, dotingly stroking its head, and said to Shen Lang, "This dog's name is Huanglong. It used to be a war dog for the special operations team. With its help, the team solved many difficult cases. However, during one mission, its right leg was shot by someone from a border criminal organization, forcing it into retirement."
"After its retirement, I took it in. I take it back to the Martial Guard Department from time to time, letting it see the places where it once fought. This is a form of comfort for it."
Gu Qinghan's usual demeanor was as cold as ice, showing warmth only towards Shen Lang. However, when looking at Huanglong this time, her face clearly softened with tenderness.
"Little brother, do you like dogs?"
Gu Qinghan suddenly thought of a question and looked at Shen Lang, asking.
"I like both cats and dogs. I don't think Yu Xiao and the others would mind either."
Shen Lang knew what Gu Qinghan was worried about and said with a smile, "Sister, don't worry. Let it stay here. We'll all take good care of it from now on. We can't let this former hero suffer any more."
"Little brother, you're so kind."
Hearing this, Gu Qinghan looked at Shen Lang, her face filled with emotion.
Huanglong, held by Gu Qinghan, seemed to sense Shen Lang's kindness. It wriggled out of Gu Qinghan's embrace, ran towards Shen Lang, and with all its might, leaped into his arms.
Shen Lang hugged Huanglong, feeling an inexplicable affection for the old dog.
"Shen Lang, come, you have to hold my cat too."
After Shen Lang embraced Huanglong, Ye Shishi also offered her cat to Shen Lang, saying.
Ye Shishi's Mei Guo'er never allowed anyone to hold her except herself. This was the first time.
Ye Shishi was not one to admit defeat and hated being outdone in any way, even by her best friend Gu Qinghan.
Since Shen Lang had held Gu Qinghan's dog, he had to hold Ye Shishi's cat as well.
"Okay—"
Shen Lang understood Ye Shishi's thoughts completely. With a smile, he took Mei Guo'er and held her.
In Shen Lang's arms, Mei Guo'er was very well-behaved, even acting cute and affectionate.
After Shen Lang put Mei Guo'er down, she ran to Huanglong and lay down in front of it. Huanglong stood protectively over Mei Guo'er.
Seeing how this cat and dog got along so well immediately, Shen Lang, Gu Qinghan, and Ye Shishi all burst into laughter.
"Sister, why are there only the two of you? Has Yu Yan not returned yet?"
Shen Lang realized that he hadn't spent much time with Wang Yuyan since returning from Shu. For some reason, he suddenly missed her.
"She's not back. What, you miss her already?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Ye Shishi smiled and said, "You scoundrel, you pretend to be upright on one hand, yet you can't control your feelings on the other. You'll suffer greatly like this in the future."
"I..."
Shen Lang didn't know how to answer Ye Shishi's question. When he returned to Nanling, he had made up his mind.
But sometimes, one's inner feelings were beyond one's control, even for someone like Shen Lang.
Out of curiosity, Shen Lang took out his phone and dialed Wang Yuyan's number.
"Are you thinking of me?"
As soon as the call connected, Wang Yuyan's teasing voice came from the other end.
"Nonsense, why would I think of you?"
Wang Yuyan was still as bold and unrestrained. Hearing her words, Shen Lang replied seriously, "I was away for so long, and now I'm back, but I don't see you. Where are you?"
"I... I..."
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Wang Yuyan lowered her voice, as if concerned about something, and whispered, "Shen Lang, I have something to do right now. I'll call you back later. I have to hang up now."
"What?"
Shen Lang didn't have time to react to Wang Yuyan's words, but the call ended.
"What is this girl up to?"
Wang Yuyan's mysterious behavior left Shen Lang bewildered, completely unable to understand the situation.
What Shen Lang didn't know was that Wang Yuyan was in a large laboratory, surrounded by doctors in white coats. At a glance, there were at least a thousand of them.
Suddenly, an old doctor approached Wang Yuyan with a test tube, his face full of shock. "Miss, the results of the third phase of the experiment are better than expected. The efficacy of 'Hope' has increased by thirty percent from the original. It can be put on the market."
"Not enough... far from enough."
Wang Yuyan looked at the liquid in the test tube, her expression resolute. "Continue the experiments. I want the efficacy to increase further. I want it to become the hope of all humanity."