246: If you don't want to die, don't show your teeth to me

"Are you willing to return to Changhai and manage the Underground City with me?"

Gu Yunshan said seriously, "Once you're familiar with the Underground City, I'll hand all authority over to you."

He came to the Capital for two reasons: first, to escort the researchers, and second, for two other matters.

One of them was to invite Xiao Yu back to Changhai.

Whether it was the former Dark Night Mercenary Group or the current Underground City, the only person he considered the best successor was Xiao Yu.

He was brave and resourceful, yet knew his limits.

Lu Yu politely declined Gu Yunshan, "I have no intention of returning to Changhai."

"We don't know when the apocalypse will end. We might not live to see that day, so I just want to live a stable life. Otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen to leave the organization in the first place."

The greater the responsibility, the heavier the burden. He couldn't bear the lives of tens of thousands of people in the Underground City.

People are selfish, and so is he.

Understanding Lu Yu's unyielding character, Gu Yunshan didn't press the issue and thought of another candidate: "What about Su Liuyuan?"

"He's at Maplewood Villa. You can ask him in person. My captain just told me to pick you up for dinner."

"Let's go then."

Gu Yunshan put on his jacket, took a bag of things from his suitcase, and left with Lu Yu.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard of Villa No. 11.

Han Yang and Yao Jin moved three large dining tables.

Two tables were pushed together, holding three pots and laden with vegetables, meat products, fish, and shrimp for hotpot, as well as sweet and sour pork ribs, pineapple sweet and sour pork, and fried eggplant slices made by Jiang Fei, Cao Xiuhong, and Mother Xiao.

On the other other table, there were two large iron trays.

One tray held various raw skewers for grilling, and the other had grilled skewers that were already cooked.

Mo Yanan had arrived earlier with Uncle Liu and voluntarily took on the task of grilling skewers.

Uncle Liu sat in front of the grill, cooking the last of the vegetable skewers, while Mo Yanan leisurely ate an apple beside him.

Since many people were dining tonight, Jiang Fei simply placed all the seasonings, such as sesame paste, sesame oil, fermented bean curd, chili, and cumin powder, on the coffee table in the living room, allowing everyone to mix their own dipping sauces.

Ling Zhaorui also arrived after work and conscientiously helped set the bowls and chopsticks.

Currently, only Lu Yu hadn't returned, and Su Liuyuan spoke up, "I want to ask for your help."

"Next Friday is Lu Yu's birthday. Both he and I are orphans, and our birthdays are only a day apart, so we've always celebrated together every year."

"Because we were busy and had few friends, we'd always just quickly eat a meal together and call it a day."

"It's different now. We have time and family, so I want to throw a birthday party to make things lively. But my leg is injured, and I can't move easily, so I'd like to ask you to help me decorate Lu Yu's home then."

Last year, at this time, the extreme cold coincided with the relocation of Lincheng, so Su Liuyuan didn't mention his birthday.

Xiao Chuxia was the first to agree, "Sure, are we going to keep it a secret from Brother Lu?"

Su Liuyuan nodded mischievously, "We'll secretly prepare it and not tell Lu Yu, to give him a surprise and scare him."

"In all these years, I've rarely seen him look surprised or shocked."

Good brothers are meant to be pranked!

Imagining the bewildered expression that would appear on Lu Yu's face, Jiang Fei chose to join: "I'll be in charge of the party food."

Ling Zhaorui: "The Cultivation Park has many flowers and dried flowers that are sold to the public. I'll ask General Manager Shao to buy some tomorrow."

"Count me in!" Mo Yanan joined the fun, "I'll provide the party poppers, streamers, and balloons."

Jiang Zhengkang and the others had no supplies, but they had contribution cards and planned to buy gifts at the base's store in a few days.

Xiao Chuxia and Mother Xiao had just arrived in the Capital and had nothing, so they could only help with cooking and odd jobs.

Suddenly, urgent dog barks came from outside the gate.

"Woof woof! Woof woof woof!"

Jiang Fei was closest to the door and went to open it.

Lu Yu gripped the black dog by the scruff of its neck with one hand, pinning it to the ground.

Gu Yunshan stood nearby, holding a black bag.

"Long time no see, Miss Jiang."

"We just found this dog wandering around the villa entrance and trying to climb over the wall. It might have been trying to steal something, so Xiao Yu caught it."

As if refuting Gu Yunshan, the black dog whimpered softly, its eyes fixed on the meat in the courtyard, saliva dripping from its mouth.

"Isn't this Honey, the one Yan Qiantong raised?" Mo Yanan asked, puzzled.

"No wonder I haven't seen it since the Yan Family fell. So it became a stray."

"Uncle Liu, are the bodyguards in Maplewood District slacking off? Why would they let a stray dog in?"

Uncle Liu: "My apologies, Young Master. I'll have someone deal with it immediately and punish the bodyguards on patrol today."

Jiang Fei: "No need."

"A dog delivered to our doorstep, we shouldn't refuse it."

Returning to the courtyard with a few pieces of raw beef, Jiang Fei threw them on the ground in front of the black dog.

Lu Yu tacitly released the black dog.

The black dog hesitated, not daring to approach, but hunger eventually overcame fear, and it devoured the meat ravenously.

Clearly, it had been lured by the scent and had no ill intentions.

Jiang Fei squatted down and threatened the black dog, "If you eat my family's meat, you'll be my dog. Otherwise, I'll take the meat from your body to compensate for this beef."

The black dog was so scared it almost spat out the meat.

It looked at Jiang Fei, then chewed the fragrant beef in its mouth again.

Agreeing to the fierce woman = meat to eat.

Refusing = half-dead.

After only a moment's hesitation, the black dog quickly finished the beef and lay down, exposing its dirty belly to Jiang Fei, its tail wagging happily.

Don't cut its flesh!

Jiang Zhengkang looked surprised, "It really understood Fei Fei's words."

Xiao Chuxia: "The current gray fog has caused many animals to mutate. They not only become aggressive and attack humans, but their intelligence has also increased."

"But the black dog is a bit strange. Logically, it should have mutated, but it hasn't gone crazy and attacked us."

"Could it be afraid of Miss?"

The black dog whimpered weakly, as if responding to Xiao Chuxia's words.

It still remembered the pain of being hit on the head and kicked!

Jiang Fei glanced at the black dog, "Go inside yourself."

It was too dirty; she didn't want to touch or hold it.

The black dog immediately got up obediently and walked into the courtyard.

It limped to the corner and stared eagerly at the meat on the table.

Saliva dripped continuously.

However, Jiang Fei didn't feed the black dog again. Instead, she returned to the villa to get a first-aid kit and a bowl of spring water.

After first giving the black dog water, Jiang Fei examined the wound on its front paw.

Its paw pad was cut by something sharp, and sand remained in the wound, which needed to be rinsed and disinfected.

The wound would hurt when it came into contact with the medicine. The black dog reflexively pulled back its paw, unconsciously baring its fangs and growling, trying to bite Jiang Fei.

Slam—!

Jiang Fei slapped the dog's head, her voice cold: "If you don't want to die, don't bare your fangs at me."

It was already fierce and irritable; if not properly managed, it would revert to its old ways, even refusing its owner's touch.

Seeing Jiang Fei raise a knife, the black dog instantly became obedient, allowing her to treat its wound.

After bandaging the black dog's paw pad, Jiang Fei brought an iron chain and tied it in the living room, planning to give it a bath later.

Mo Yanan watched with relish, "I heard that Honey was often beaten and abused by Yan Qiantong when it was young, which made its temper very bad when it grew up, biting anyone it saw. I never expected it to be so well-behaved in Sister Jiang Fei's hands."

"Since Honey is your dog now, Sister Jiang Fei, you should give it a new name."

Jiang Fei thought for a moment.

The name 'Big Black' was already taken by the bull.

"Let's call it Little Black."

Mo Yanan & everyone: "..."

It was quite perfunctory and casual.

Lu Yu, however, remained unfazed.

It was very much in line with his neighbor's style.

With everyone present, Jiang Fei announced that dinner was served.

Gu Yunshan handed the bag he brought to Jiang Fei, teasing, "It's rare for me to visit, and with such a sumptuous dinner, I felt bad coming empty-handed. This is my gift to you all."