400: Gift

Tony, Qin Yu, and Lin Xiaoya exchanged a knowing look. Taking advantage of the brief interval while Lei Jun was in the restroom, they huddled together and whispered a quick discussion.

"We have to prepare some gifts for Afu! He really did us proud today!" Lin Xiaoya said excitedly in a low voice, her face still flushed with lingering excitement.

"Exactly! Without Afu, who knows how long we would've had to hold back our frustration today!" Qin Yu nodded vigorously. Every scene of today's competition was still surging in his mind; that feeling of vindication made him feel he had to do something to express his gratitude.

Tony's eyes were shining even brighter: "My Muse is Miss Lei Jun, but Afu is the most nimble sprite by her side! He is the perfect embodiment of art and power! A gift for him must also be a work of art, worthy of the legend he created today!"

He had already begun searching for inspiration in his aesthetic treasure trove.

They quickly reached a consensus and then opened shopping apps on their phones, racing against time to prepare.

This celebratory feast wasn't just about eating happily; it also needed a heartfelt conclusion... When Lei Jun returned to the private room and everyone chatted for a while longer, the banquet drew to a close. The items they had purchased were delivered to the room. Tony suddenly cleared his throat and stood up with a mysterious and expectant smile on his face.

"Everyone, at this wonderful moment of celebration tonight, the three of us—" he pointed to Qin Yu and Lin Xiaoya, "would like to present a small token of our infinite gratitude and affection for our greatest hero today."

Under Lei Jun's somewhat surprised look and the curious gazes of the others, the three of them stood up.

Tony brought out a flat box wrapped in deep blue velvet.

Opening the lid, inside was a shimmering pet collar.

The main body of the collar was made of extremely soft yet tough black specialty leather, but under the light, one could see ultra-fine silver threads woven into the leather.

On the front of the collar was a row of small but perfectly cut colorless crystals. They surrounded a more exquisite platinum nameplate in the center, which was engraved with "CHAMPION Afu" in elegant script.

The design of the entire collar was gorgeous without being cumbersome, exuding luxury within its lightness. Every detail showed ingenuity; it truly looked like an exquisite piece of jewelry.

Tony gently picked up the collar and said excitedly to Afu, who was sitting by Lei Jun's feet.

"Dear Afu, you are amazing! Only you, who perfectly combine strength, wisdom, and elegance, are worthy of this work of art! I hope you like it, my little champion!"

What Qin Yu brought out was a square box full of high-tech vibes.

Once opened, inside were several sleekly shaped, brightly colored smart device components: a spherical core that could roll, glow, emit various sounds, and even mimic small animal cries; several sensory tunnels and arches that could be assembled into different shapes; and a matching smartphone controller.

He introduced, "This is the latest smart pet interaction system. Since Afu is so intelligent, ordinary toys and games would definitely be too simple for him. This system allows for different difficulty modes, like requiring him to intercept the sphere as it rolls along a specific path, or using voice commands to have him navigate through designated tunnels for a treasure hunt. The light and sound feedback also add to the fun."

"It can also be controlled remotely via smartphone to interact with him. I think this might better... well, match Afu's intelligence level and give him more fun in his daily life."

He was thinking practically, feeling that for a 'divine dog' like Afu, his entertainment should keep pace.

Lin Xiaoya brought out a large gift wrapped in soft light-gray cotton and linen. After unwrapping it, a pet bed designed like a miniature fairy-tale cottage was revealed.

The roof was a warm beige with a tiny chimney, the body was pale blue, and there was an arched 'doorway' at the front.

The interior of the bed was filled with top-grade memory foam, which was extremely soft to the touch and offered gentle rebound. The outer fabric was skin-friendly and breathable.

She said somewhat sheepishly but with great enthusiasm, "Afu must have spent a lot of energy in the competition today! He needs a particularly comfortable place to sleep well and recover! I spent a long time picking out this bed. The materials are the best, the design is cozy, and the size is just right for Afu. I hope Afu can sleep soundly and have sweet dreams in it!"

Just imagining Afu curled up and sleeping peacefully in this little house made her heart feel warm.

The three of them placed the gifts on the carpet in front of Afu and looked at him expectantly.

Lei Jun smiled silently.

She hadn't expected Tony and the others to be so thoughtful as to prepare gifts specifically for Afu.

She looked down at Afu.

Afu seemed to sense the well-meaning atmosphere and the gazes focused on him. He first looked up at Lei Jun as if asking for permission. Lei Jun smiled and nodded gently.

Only then did Afu stand up and walk towards the gifts with light steps.

He didn't show the excessive excitement or wariness typical of ordinary pets when seeing new things; instead, he carried a sense of almost 'polite' curiosity.

He first approached Tony's ornate collar, his nose gently sniffing the scent of the leather and crystals. Then he looked up at Tony with his moist black eyes and let out a soft 'woo' from his throat, seemingly expressing approval. He even proactively rubbed his head against the back of Tony's outstretched hand.

"Oh! He likes it! He really likes it!" Tony covered his mouth in surprise, almost screaming again. His eyes were even a bit moist, feeling that his artistic taste had received the highest form of validation.

Next, Afu walked over to Qin Yu's smart toy box and gently nudged the spherical core with his paw. Sensing the touch, the sphere immediately emitted a soft blue light and rolled a short distance.

Afu tilted his head, seemingly finding it interesting, but he didn't pounce on it to play immediately. Instead, he looked at Qin Yu again and gave his hand a similarly friendly rub.

A look of relief appeared on Qin Yu's face as he thought to himself: It seems I chose the right gift. Afu really isn't an ordinary dog; he's inquisitive about novelties but remains composed.

Finally, Afu came to the pet bed from Lin Xiaoya.

He first circled around the soft little house, carefully sniffing the fabric's scent, then tentatively placed his front paw on the 'threshold' to feel the softness inside.

Finding it comfortable, he simply crawled his whole body inside. After adjusting his posture on the memory foam cushion, he lay down comfortably and let out a satisfied, soft sigh. Then he raised his head and wagged his tail happily at Lin Xiaoya.

"He went inside! He likes the bed!" Lin Xiaoya jumped for joy, even happier than if she had received a gift herself.