Virtual Idol in the Beast World: Five Clans Fight Over Me

With that, Leighton pointed his electric baton at the three seated Beastmen. "You three, too."

The three said nothing, rising in perfect sync and heading willingly toward the detention room.

Leighton’s gaze shifted to Mingxi. "And you?"

Mingxi saw the electric baton sparking in his hand and had no choice but to lead his teammates to the detention room for the time being.

’I can’t let this escalate. The longer we’re locked up, that little Mixed Breed will...’

Thinking of it, Mingxi held his nerve. Before surrendering his terminal, he quickly sent a message to W (No Man’s Land).

...

...

Gu Ning was licked awake by Cook.

She was still drowsy and barely managed to pry her eyes open a crack. Cook’s big head was right in front of her, repeatedly licking her eyes and nose.

"Cook, let me sleep a little longer."

Gu Ning murmured, giving Cook’s head a little push.

She felt like she hadn’t slept well last night. She could barely even open her eyes.

Cook nudged her and continued licking.

Unable to go back to sleep with his pestering, Gu Ning propped herself up and sat up. She hugged Cook’s head and ruffled his fur messily a couple of times.

’Cook rarely wakes me up on his own. Did I sleep for too long?’

Gu Ning raised the terminal on her wrist to check the time: 10:05

"..." She was instantly wide awake.

’I actually overslept! And by so much!’ 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Gu Ning scrambled out of bed. She moved too quickly, tripped, and tumbled into a pile of soft blankets.

’Hm?’

Gu Ning looked down. ’Strange, where did this blanket come from?’

’This doesn’t look like the blanket from my room, either.’

The sight of the unfamiliar, black-striped blanket sobered Gu Ning up a little.

She remembered she had fallen asleep right next to Barto last night. She felt her face.

The scarf was still around her neck but no longer covering her face. She quickly wrapped it back around her face, then went to look for Barto.

Gu Ning scanned the living room but didn’t see the little fox. She then lifted the blankets and searched around the heater.

Still no sign of Barto.

Just as she was looking everywhere for Barto, there was a soft CLICK from the doorway. Someone outside was turning the lock and opening the door.

"Woof..." Cook, still sitting in place, let out a single bark at the door, showing no hostility toward the person outside.

The door opened quietly, revealing a familiar, red figure.

Barto stood in the doorway, covered in snowflakes. He looked at Gu Ning. "You’re awake?"

He stood in the doorway for a moment. Just as he was about to step inside, he paused. He pulled his foot back and carefully brushed the snow from his fur before coming in.

After putting the food he’d bought into the oven to warm up, he ran to get a towel and began drying his snow-dampened fur.

Gu Ning watched the little fox bustling about, not paying much attention to her, and breathed a small sigh of relief.

’Good, Barto probably didn’t see my face.’

She dragged her weary body to the bathroom to wash up. It seemed last night had really taken its toll; she had slept for so long and still hadn’t recovered.

After washing up, Gu Ning returned to the bedroom, found her spare hat and windproof goggles, and put them on.

’Good thing I have a sense of preparedness and brought more than one disguise. Otherwise, I’d have to wear that ridiculous bandit mask to work today.’

She was bound to be late today, so there was no point in rushing. After getting dressed in an unhurried manner, she prepared to leave.

Barto had already placed the warmed food on the dining table. Gu Ning grabbed two eggs and stuffed them into her pocket.

"You’re still going to work today?"

Barto suddenly asked.

Gu Ning nodded, a little puzzled as to why Barto would ask.

’I only have two or three days left to complete my hours. Of course I have to go.’

Barto looked like he wanted to say more, but seeing her already heading for the door, he quickly packed the breakfast from the table into the insulated container he had just brought back, grabbed two bottles of milk, and hurried after her.

"Wait."

Barto called out, stopping her. He put the breakfast and milk into a bag and handed it to her. "Eat a proper breakfast."

Gu Ning, who was sitting on the floor putting on her shoes, paused, surprised to see the bag Barto was handing her.

’This was the first time Barto had ever prepared breakfast for me like this.’

’He’d told me before that I ate too little, but he never really cared whether I ate a lot or a little.’

Seeing it was getting late, she didn’t overthink it. She took the satchel with her breakfast from Barto and headed out.

The weather was better today—no snow or wind—but Gu Ning’s mood hadn’t improved.

She felt constantly sleepy and her head was groggy. As a result, she couldn’t focus on her work, and she started dozing off not long after sitting down in the office.

"Are you tired?"

Alex’s voice sounded in Gu Ning’s ear.

Gu Ning jolted at the sound of his voice, and her head dipped toward the desk. Alex reached out a hand to catch her forehead.