Chapter 17: The Attacking Rabbit

Every weekend is a welfare day belonging to Bai Guagua; on this day, no matter how stingy Zhang Wei usually is, he will cough up a little money to let her buy some snacks to satisfy her cravings.

A world-shaking change is happening invisibly, yet it seems not to have affected this ancient, bustling city. Large numbers of military and police are deterring outlaws from making trouble, and potential hazards from animals are also being guarded against; even the cats and dogs kept by many families have been taken away. The stability-maintenance measures can be said to have covered every aspect.

The vast majority of people who have not experienced it firsthand, no matter how explosive it is on the internet or how shocking the scenes in the videos are, remain separated by a layer, subconsciously feeling that it is a distant world.

Just like the war-torn Middle East.

Ever since the remains of the Moon-Devouring Giant Monster fell into Rongcheng, there has been no more fresh news in this city. Everyone continues living as they always have, as if the current peaceful situation will remain unchanged for at least a hundred years.

On the street, inside a pet shop about a hundred square meters in size, it is filled with various small cages containing cute pets like hamsters and rabbits, and quite a few young girls are inside picking them out.

Among the cases of beastly disturbances that have already occurred, they are often either carnivorous or wild animals, so no one pays attention to these little guys, nor does anyone think these small pets could cause any harm to humans.

When Bai Guagua passes by here, she tilts her head and keeps peering into the pet shop, her gaze filled with a kind of longing, a wistful feeling of wanting something but being unable to get it.

Seeing the little girl's reluctant look, Zhang Wei feels a slight ache in his heart.

A child of this age must really want a small pet, right? He doesn't spend much time with her, and she doesn't have a little companion to talk to usually; she's quite pitiful...

Should he go all out and buy her one?

Zhang Wei quickly calculates in his heart: 35 yuan for a rabbit, 15 yuan for a cage; these two are still bearable, but the feed for raising it afterward is a continuous expense...

Before getting the 1300 yuan from the reporters and police, the two of them could only afford to eat meat once or twice a week.

... Forget it, forget it.

Zhang Wei hesitates for a long while, deducing that the consequences of adding this expense would be difficult. As soon as his reason kicks in, he wants to pull Bai Guagua away, but the next second, he changes his mind instantly.

It's not like there isn't enough money, it's not like they'll starve to death if he buys it, it's not like he won't be able to earn money in the future, and it's not like...

Buy, buy, buy!

Zhang Wei is resolute and decisive; he grabs Bai Guagua's little hand and walks into the pet shop, saying indifferently: "Pick any one you like, as a reward for washing the dishes today."

He is still quite careful about finding reasons; he cannot spoil this girl, lest she develop a mindset that "she can have whatever she wants."

Bai Guagua says in disbelief: "Really... I can?"

Zhang Wei nods proudly, pats his pocket, and raises his eyebrows at her to show the dashing air brought by being wealthy.

Bai Guagua's eyes are bright, and she lets out a cheer: "Zhang Wei, you're so cool today!"

After saying that, she runs off happily to pick one out.

"No matter how precocious, she's still just a child." Zhang Wei sighs slightly, but then sees Bai Guagua run back quickly, carrying a cage in her hand.

"So fast? You've made up your mind?" Zhang Wei reminds her, then looks at the rabbit in the cage... Holy crap, how fierce!

The rabbit is about the size of a basketball and weighs at least ten pounds. Its grayish fur looks like a ball of fuzz, and its two eyes are bright red, which makes him feel a pang of annoyance.

This thing is almost as much as your food intake, okay? It's going to eat us into poverty, Guagua!

He immediately darkens his face and says: "Are you still a child? Do you still have any childlike innocence? It's just a pet, why did you pick such a big one?"

Absorbed Bai Guagua's Resentment, +365

The bun-faced girl looks completely bewildered: How am I not a child? And what does this have to do with childlike innocence?

At this moment, the shopkeeper on the side explains: "This is a crossbreed subspecies of a lop-eared rabbit. It's a bit large, but it's very easy to raise."

The gray-furred rabbit jumps around in the cage, seemingly feeling somewhat restless because its fate is in the hands of this child.

Bai Guagua has an expression that says "You're all wrong," lifts the cage, and says happily: "Who said I wanted to raise a pet? I don't have the patience... I heard before that there is a dish called braised rabbit meat in Sichuan Cuisine, and I've wanted to eat it for a long time. Since this rabbit is so fat, I can eat one meal braised, and then have another meal roasted, right?"

Wha... what??

Zhang Wei and the female shopkeeper are both stunned, completely at a loss for words.

Are you a fake child?

Is there only food in your world??

Are your ancestors from Sichuan???

Absorbed Rao Yaqin's Resentment, +99

Absorbed??'s Resentment, +999

Look, look, even the shopkeeper lady is being angered by you...

Zhang Wei looks at the information that just popped up, wanting to complain in his heart, but suddenly feels something is wrong and takes a closer look...

... Who the hell is this "???"? Can they even hide their own name?

Zhang Wei looks around and finds that absolutely no one is paying attention to this side. Just as he is muttering to himself, he inadvertently glances at the rabbit in the cage, and his heart suddenly turns cold!

That seemingly harmless rabbit was just kicking around in the cage, but at this moment, it is lying there motionless, a fluffy ball, looking extremely well-behaved.

But Zhang Wei clearly sees that under the cover of the long fur, those red rabbit eyes are becoming increasingly scarlet, as if filled with bloody flames, and they are gradually overflowing from the eye sockets, projecting an indescribable, demonic strangeness.

... Damn it, what is going on here?

Zhang Wei takes a deep breath and says with a kind expression: "Guagua, put the cage down."

Absorbed Bai Guagua's Resentment, +174

"Zhang Wei, the promise you made cannot just drift away like the wind." The bun-faced girl hasn't noticed anything unusual and says with dissatisfaction.

The wind your sister!!

Zhang Wei purses his lips and reveals a sincere smile: "Guagua, I'll treat you to sugar-roasted chestnuts, be a good girl and put it down."

Absorbed Bai Guagua's Resentment, +174

"Sugar-roasted chestnuts were my pursuit when I was little. Now that I've grown up, braised rabbit meat is my true love." Bai Guagua's throat moves as she swallows a mouthful of saliva, her face full of longing.

Watching the red blood-light in the rabbit's eyes growing stronger, this is clearly about to become a monster!

True love your sister!

If you don't let go, you're going to become the rabbit monster's true love, okay!

Zhang Wei estimates that the matter at hand cannot be solved peacefully: on one side is a human little girl who has never eaten a good meal since she was small and is obsessed with food, and on the other is a rabbit that lived in seclusion in the bustling city, keeping a low profile, but was struck by disaster and is unwilling to be eaten, so it's preparing to unleash a big move...

This is a disaster!

Suddenly, Zhang Wei kicks out violently, using all his strength to kick the cage out of Bai Guagua's hands, grabs the stunned Bai Guagua with one hand, and drags the bewildered female shopkeeper with the other, sprinting out of the shop...

Absorbed Bai Guagua's Resentment, +666

Absorbed Rao Yaqin's Resentment, +99

Just at this moment, a flash of blood-color appeared behind them, and the red light surged violently; even though the three were facing away from the store, they felt as if a layer of scarlet color had drifted before their eyes...

The next instant, a soft muffled sound came from behind, as if a bubble had burst, and a layer of invisible force spread past, causing those affected to experience a bout of tinnitus; the three felt a chill on the skin of their backs, while their internal organs felt a wave of scorching heat.

Inside the pet store, bursts of chaotic screaming rang out one after another; dozens of hamsters and rabbits, their bodies stained with a layer of Blood Flame, had somehow broken through their cages and run out. These usually docile and quiet little animals were howling in pain and scurrying about frantically, making one's scalp tingle, with the majority of them charging toward the Letian Supermarket opposite.

Five minutes later, a raging inferno began to burn fiercely in the city center.