Chapter 142: Chapter 132: I’ve Brought Back Something Good for You
In the afternoon, Gu Ning asked Cook to bring her a bucket of hot water from the public bathroom.
Barto was sitting in his nest playing video games, but after Cook returned with the water and Gu Ning started bustling in and out of the bedroom, his mind was no longer on the game.
Seeing Gu Ning grab a change of clothes and head into the bathroom, he tossed his game console aside, ran over, and poked his head around the edge of the door to peek inside.
Gu Ning was just about to close the door when a furry head popped into view. She froze for a moment, thinking Barto needed to use the bathroom. She stepped aside and gestured for him to enter, intending to leave herself.
"Did you bathe like this at Alex’s place?" Barto’s gaze fell on the bucket of water in the bathroom as he asked.
Gu Ning quickly pulled out a notepad and pen and wrote:
’He has a private bathroom.’
She hadn’t had a proper bath since her period started, and never mind Barto—even she couldn’t stand how she smelled anymore.
’Since I’ll be living with him and Cook from now on, it’s unlikely anyone will show up looking for trouble,’ she thought. ’So, I might as well wash off Alex’s scent. Besides, Cook licks my face clean every day anyway.’
Barto sniffed at her. "It’s too cold. You’ll get sick if you bathe like this. Wait here."
Gu Ning smiled. ’The little fox is actually worried about me,’ she thought to herself. ’He used to always complain about how I smelled, but now he’s worried I’ll catch a cold.’
She wrote, ’The water is pretty hot. I’ll be quick.’
When the little fox didn’t enter, she wrote again:
’Do you need to use the bathroom?’
Barto glanced at her note. "Nope."
Hearing that, Gu Ning placed a hand on his head and started to push him out.
’I’m getting cold. I just want to wash up quickly and curl up by the heater.’
Barto casually grabbed her wrist, pulled her back into the living room, and guided her to sit in his little nest before handing her his game console.
Then, remembering she wasn’t much of a gamer, he picked up the book she’d left on the sofa and gave it to her instead.
Gu Ning stared at the little fox, completely bewildered. She had no idea what he was up to.
Barto took out a money pouch and counted the Crystal Stones inside. Then he pulled on a jacket, slung his small backpack over his shoulder, and said to Gu Ning, "Wait for me. I’ll be back in two hours, at the latest."
Seeing he was heading out, Gu Ning started to ask where he was going, but before she could even write a few words, Barto said, "I’m going to pick some things up. Wait here, and don’t go outside."
He then gave Cook a couple of quick instructions to protect Gu Ning before turning and hurrying out of the apartment.
As Barto left, he scanned his surroundings and saw wolves standing guard from the stairwell entrance all the way to the area around the building. Reassured, he headed toward the market.
’Even though I can’t stand Alex, he’s the only one who can properly protect Gu Ning right now.’
Gu Ning waited at home for Barto, periodically running to the window to see if he had returned.
A little over two hours later, Barto finally knocked on the door, covered in snowflakes.
And following behind him was a... bathtub?
Gu Ning stared in astonishment at the bathtub behind him, which was several times his size. ’The little fox went out just to buy a bathtub?’
"WOOF?" Cook circled the bathtub curiously, sizing it up.
Barto shook the snow from his fur at the doorway, carefully patting himself down before stepping inside. He then directed Cook to move the bathtub into the bathroom.
He patted the tub and said to Gu Ning, who had followed him in, "This will be much more comfortable to wash in."
Gu Ning was delighted to see the bathtub, but then she realized their bathroom didn’t have a hot water system, and they had no way to boil water. A tub this big would take so many trips to fill up; it wasn’t practical for her to use.
She could fill it with cold water if it were summer, but in this weather, it seemed a bit pointless.
Still, it was a sweet gesture from the little fox. She saw his fur was damp with melted snow, and her heart softened. She wrote a note and handed it to him: ’I love it. How much did it cost?’
Barto pointedly ignored the last part of her question. ’Money, money, money,’ he grumbled inwardly. ’Why is she always talking about money with me?’
"I’m holding onto your money," Barto said with a pout. "Don’t worry, there’s more than enough to make sure you’re comfortable."
Gu Ning pursed her lips, mouthing a silent "Oh." ’Right,’ she thought. ’He’s holding my two million Beast Coins, so he can spend them however he wants.’
More than that, she was curious how the little fox managed to get such a huge tub back here.
She grabbed a towel and started drying the little fox’s damp fur, writing him a note to ask about it.
Barto stood still, letting Gu Ning dry his fur. Any lingering resentment he felt vanished. "That part was easy. I just paid some guys to deliver it. It’s not like I was going to carry it back myself. I’m not an idiot."
His tone made Gu Ning laugh.
"Look, I brought you some other goodies, too."
Barto unslung his bulging backpack, patting it for Gu Ning’s benefit. Then, like a magician revealing his treasures, he pulled out an assortment of bottles and jars: shampoo, body wash, face oil, and even a few bath bombs.
Gu Ning opened the body wash and took a sniff, inhaling a rich, floral scent.
Beside them, Cook stuck out his tongue for a lick.
"You idiot, you can’t eat that," Barto said, batting Cook’s head away.
Gu Ning set down the body wash and, unable to resist, wrapped the little fox in a hug, ruffling the fur on his head affectionately.
Barto’s tail swished back and forth behind him. His body went a little stiff, and a bashful look appeared in his eyes.
Seeing Gu Ning’s genuine happiness, he felt happy too.
"You like it?" he said. "I thought you were having such a great time at Alex’s place that you’d look down on my stuff... Mmph, why are you pinching my snout!"
Barto took a step back, rubbing his snout.
Gu Ning gave the little fox’s snout another gentle pinch. ’This little fox is perfect,’ she thought, ’except for this mouth of his. Sometimes it’s better when it’s shut.’
Barto retreated another step and shot her a mild glare. "Don’t pinch my snout like that."
With that, he turned and scurried off.
Gu Ning glanced at the bathtub behind her, then picked up the body wash. ’The tub is probably a lost cause, but at least I can use the body wash,’ she thought. ’And this face oil... my skin gets so dry in the winter. I can definitely use this.’
She put the items away and was just about to ask Cook to fetch her a fresh bucket of hot water when she saw Seth walk in, carrying two large buckets of it.
He was shirtless, and the two full buckets seemed to be weightless in his hands.
"Little Boss," Seth grinned at her. Behind him were two other, less familiar faces. They had wolf ears on their heads and echoed Seth, also calling her "Little Boss."
Gu Ning stared at them, taken aback.
"WOOF!" Seeing the young wolves enter the apartment, Cook bared his teeth and prepared to charge.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, don’t pounce!" Seth cried out. "Careful, you’ll make me spill the water!"
Barto grabbed Cook’s tail. "You idiot, if you’ve got nothing better to do, go fetch more hot water."
Gu Ning pulled Cook aside and watched as Seth and the others poured the hot water into the tub. She then turned her head to look at Barto.
Barto said, "They’re just standing around guarding the place with nothing to do, so I told them to make themselves useful. Don’t worry, I’m not making them work for free. I’ll feed them."
