Future Pet Shop

Chapter 103: Taking a Princess Home?

"Your Highness, please compose yourself!" Alfred felt like his head was about to explode. Luckily, the princess had just spoken in her native Sokovian. Other than the translator from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, only the Sokovians present could understand her, so the situation was still under control. If any outsiders had found out, it would have been a massive scandal.

"Sir, you can keep what was just said confidential, can’t you?" an official from the Sokovian Ministry of Foreign Affairs whispered, leaning toward the astonished Chinese translator.

"Yes, I won’t breathe a word of it," the translator replied quietly. He, too, felt thankful that the Sokovian language was so obscure. Otherwise, who knew what kind of chaos would have erupted.

However, the culprit behind all this remained blissfully unaware. She kept pestering her country’s diplomats to create an opportunity for a close encounter with the panda, all the while staring eagerly at Shen Yibin with a face full of envy.

"Sir, could you please allow Her Highness to play with your panda for a little while?" the diplomat had no choice but to walk up to the fence and call out to Shen Yibin. "The princess won’t bring many people with her. She won’t frighten your panda."

"Mr. Shen, in the interest of the friendship between our country and Sokovia, we hope you will grant this request, circumstances permitting," their Chinese counterpart chimed in. The reporters trailing behind them were even more excited. A photo of the beautiful princess and the panda together would be a huge scoop.

"Hah’Er, would you like someone to come in and play with you?" Shen Yibin shrugged and patted Hah’Er’s shoulder. ’This is ultimately up to him. If he’s not willing, then I’ll just have to refuse.’

"Mmm!" Perhaps Hah’Er was recalling the times Shen Yibin and Bai Yanni had played with him, or maybe it was something else entirely, but he surprisingly didn’t refuse and nodded in agreement.

"Alright, you can come in. But only two people, at most. You’ll also need to follow the facility staff’s instructions for disinfection and sterilization," Shen Yibin said, standing up. "I’ll keep the panda under control. The princess will not be harmed."

"Your Highness, I will accompany you!" Once the translator relayed Shen Yibin’s words in Sokovian, a fierce competition broke out among Princess Sylvie’s entourage. They all wanted a close encounter with the panda, too. In the end, however, the royal butler, Alfred, won the honor. He accompanied Princess Sylvie through the disinfection process and into the enclosure.

"Hello, Mr. Shen. I’m Sylvie. It’s a pleasure to meet you," Princess Sylvie said in fluent Mandarin. Even though her eyes were glued to Hah’Er, the etiquette drilled into her since childhood still compelled her to shake hands with Shen Yibin first.

Seeing the princess extend her hand, Shen Yibin hesitated. ’Should I just shake it? Or should I do it like in the movies and kiss her hand?’ When he noticed Alfred’s warning glare from the side, Shen Yibin wisely chose the former. He gave the princess’s hand a light shake and said, "A pleasure to meet you, too. This is Hah’Er. Hah’Er, come say hello to the princess."

"Mmm!" Hah’Er extended his right paw, mimicking Shen Yibin as if to shake hands with Princess Sylvie.

"Oh my heavens, oh my heavens! He’s just too adorable!" Princess Sylvie was so excited she nearly fainted. She hurriedly reached out and took Hah’Er’s paw. "Hello, Mr. Hah’er. I’m Sylvie from Sokovia. I hope we can become good friends."

Outside the fence, camera flashes erupted in a blinding frenzy. Countless fashion magazines, newspapers, and websites now had their headline: *Princess Shakes Panda’s Paw*. A title like that was guaranteed to attract legions of readers.

"Hey, isn’t that the panda from the last pet talent show?" a reporter quickly recognized Hah’Er and Shen Yibin. "What are they doing here?"

"They’re probably here to have Hah’Er breed, right? It is panda mating season, after all." A reporter who had done their homework quickly deduced the purpose of Shen Yibin’s trip.

’You bring your pet for a breeding session and walk away with a princess on the side? Now that’s a hell of a deal,’ someone thought enviously, watching Princess Sylvie have the time of her life with the panda and Shen Yibin.

"Your Highness, you cannot do that... Your Highness, that is not befitting of your station..." Poor Alfred became the busiest person on site, constantly correcting Princess Sylvie’s every move, determined to make her display the grace of the royal family.

But how could anyone have fun like this? Before long, Princess Sylvie grew tired of it. She glanced at the layout of the enclosure and asked, "Mr. Shen, can we go behind that small hill?" ’If I can just get away from the reporters’ stares, I shouldn’t have to worry about all this, right?’

’The princess is inviting me to go play behind the hill?’ Shen Yibin didn’t like being stared at and photographed by so many people either, so he agreed at once. "Of course. There’s a swing set back there. You can take Hah’Er to play on it."

Alfred hurried over to inspect the area. After finding no safety hazards, he consented to the princess’s request. The two of them led Hah’Er over the hill to a place hidden from the reporters’ view, eliciting a collective sigh of disappointment from the crowd.

"WHEE! WHEE!" Hah’Er let out happy yelps as Princess Sylvie pushed him higher and higher on the swing. He clearly loved this activity.

’Tsk, tsk. Being pushed on a swing by a princess... Hah’Er, you’re really getting the royal treatment,’ Shen Yibin thought. For once, Alfred couldn’t bring himself to correct Princess Sylvie’s decorum. It had been a long, long time since he had seen the princess laugh so happily.

He simply turned to Shen Yibin with an awkward smile and explained, "The princess is just... a little overexcited today."

"A girl her age should be enjoying life without a care in the world," Shen Yibin said with a comforting smile. ’I have to admit,’ he thought, ’Princess Sylvie really is gorgeous. Watching such a beautiful woman laugh with such pure joy is a pleasure in itself.’

Playing on the swings, walking across the wooden ladder, watching Hah’Er climb a tree—Sylvie’s laughter didn’t stop the entire afternoon. If Alfred hadn’t firmly stopped her, she would have even tried to climb the tree with Hah’Er.

The thought nearly gave Alfred a heart attack. ’You’re wearing a skirt today! If you climb a tree, you’ll expose yourself! How can the princess’s... unmentionables... be revealed to the world!’

After a delightful afternoon of play, they had no choice but to say their goodbyes. Sylvie peppered Shen Yibin with questions before she reluctantly departed. As she was leaving, a faint smile played on her lips. ’Yunzhong City, Baiyun Street. I’ll remember that address.’