The once peaceful world once again carried undercurrents, though Angie and little Sally, who stood at the very heart of them, had no idea. For them, the week-long summer camp had been nothing more than fun and laughter. They hadn't realized that the activities—adventures in the wild, group challenges, treasure hunts, and survival lessons—had left a much deeper mark on parents and children alike.
For the students, it had been a week of excitement, discovery, and freedom. For the parents—especially those who lived in the bustling metropolis—it had been a source of comfort and pride. They saw their children return healthier, livelier, and glowing with happiness. The result was a chorus of praise for the school.
Some parents, particularly those with wealth and influence, were so impressed that they began discussing the possibility of making donations to the school. Money, after all, was never an issue for them. For their children's happiness, they were willing to pay any price.
The school had anticipated this. It was, after all, a private institution that understood its role very well: to serve those who could pay. And in this country, service was a commodity—money was God, and the students and their families were treated as gods who must be pleased.
Every detail of the summer camp reflected this philosophy. The treasure hunts had been carefully designed—not overly difficult but clever enough to feel rewarding. Clues had been laid out with precision, activities balanced between challenge and safety, and the logistics required staggering amounts of resources. Over three hundred types of materials and equipment were mobilized, not to mention the human resources invested.
Of course, all of this came at a cost. And with such massive expenditure, the school naturally looked forward to returns. Expensive registration fees were one part, but the donations of wealthy families were another expected outcome.
Among these generous donors was Angie herself. Though still young, she was a little heiress in her own right. With a cheerful laugh and little hesitation, she had donated one hundred thousand gold. Not because she wanted recognition or advantage, but simply because she could. Money to her was not something to hoard; it was something to enjoy spending.
Her financial confidence wasn't baseless. Over the years, guided by her best friend Bella, she had invested in stocks and quietly reaped impressive returns. Among her holdings was a modest stake in Stark Industries—a few tenths of a percent perhaps, but enough to make her a minority shareholder. Her total worth was not yet hundreds of millions, but certainly tens of millions. For someone like her, giving away a portion for goodwill was nothing.
The return trip from the camp was far more mundane. They boarded a plane, and in less than an hour, the group was back at Angie's villa. Exhausted from travel, Angie, little Sally, and even Cosmo the big golden retriever practically collapsed into the hall. Their bags and trinkets were dumped unceremoniously onto the smooth marble floor before they all flopped onto the sofa in unison, sighing with relief.
Before that, however, Angie had indulged in one last spree. With a mischievous grin, she had pulled little Sally through the small town's shops to buy trinkets, crafts, and local specialties. By the time they returned, they had nearly overloaded themselves with goods. Angie nearly collapsed under the combined weight of her own equipment and the shopping bags.
The moment they settled at home, little Sally perked up with a sparkle in her eyes. The first thing she did was dash to the refrigerator and return with not one, not two, but three full boxes of ice cream. She hadn't tasted ice cream in almost a week, and now the sight of it was irresistible.
"Aww~ finally!" she cheered, passing one box to Angie with a sweet smile. She even opened a box for Cosmo, the golden retriever, before claiming her own. With a wooden spoon, she scooped up a heaping bite and shoved it into her mouth.
The effect was immediate.
"Hisss!" she squealed, shrinking her neck as the cold shock hit her.
But after the first shiver, her eyes closed in bliss as the taro-flavored sweetness melted across her tongue. Angie, laughing, mimicked her exactly, taking a spoonful herself and shivering in the same dramatic way. Their synchronized reactions were so alike it was comical.
Cosmo, however, was unfazed. As a golden retriever with mysterious genetic modifications, his body was far hardier than any human's. The coldness of ice cream didn't bother him in the slightest. He licked happily, his huge tongue sweeping across the frozen surface as if savoring a delicacy crafted for him alone.
This was one of the perks of his altered physiology. Where ordinary dogs could never eat chocolate, greasy foods, or human desserts, Cosmo could indulge freely. He had grown so accustomed to human food that ordinary dog food no longer interested him.
In Bella's absence, Angie and little Sally always treated Cosmo kindly, sharing whatever they ate. The big retriever had long since become spoiled by their indulgence.
But there was one who was not so fortunate.
Nina, the big blue cat, sat nearby, watching the others enjoy themselves. Her round eyes blinked pitifully as she let out a soft, sad meow. She wanted ice cream too.
Yet Angie was resolute. "No, Nina. You can't eat this. It's bad for you." Every attempt the cat made to look pitiful or charming was met with the same firm refusal. Only little Sally, feeling guilty, poured her a glass of water.
The blue cat lowered her head to the cup with a resigned sigh.
Meanwhile, Cosmo ignored her entirely, continuing to devour his treat with gusto. To him, companionship meant nothing compared to the sweetness of ice cream. He would finish every last lick before even acknowledging his feline companion.
Nina's jealousy boiled. She even tried once to snatch a taste, but the size difference between her and Cosmo was impossible to overcome. The retriever simply pushed her away with his bulk, towering above her without effort.
Thus, the humans and the golden retriever feasted joyfully while Nina was left with nothing but water. The poor feline finally gave up, curling into a ball on another sofa, burying her face in the cushions as though trying to block out the unfair world.
Seeing this, little Sally's heart softened. She carried her own box of ice cream over and knelt beside the sulking cat. Scooping up a generous spoonful, she placed it gently in front of Nina.
"Nina, here," she whispered. "This is for you."
The sweet, milky aroma reached Nina's nose instantly. Her whiskers twitched, her little nose quivering. Her heart raced, but her pride fought back. She was a noble creature, a small princess in her own right. Could she really throw away her dignity for a spoonful of ice cream? Her ears twitched in indecision.
Little Sally, however, saw right through her tsundere act.
"Oh? You don't want it?" she teased. "Then I'll just eat it myself. Mmm~ it's so delicious!"
She popped the whole spoonful into her mouth dramatically.
Nina's eyes widened in shock. This wasn't how it was supposed to go! Normally, when she acted aloof, the humans would beg, coax, and pamper her, offering all sorts of rewards to win her favor. How could this little Twolegs simply eat the treat instead?
The betrayal was too much. Nina's head shot up, her round face filled with disbelief.
Little Sally burst into laughter at her reaction. "Heehee~ you should've seen your face!"
Still smiling, she scooped another spoonful and set the ice cream box on the table beside her. With one arm she gently hugged Nina's fluffy body, holding the spoon close to her lips.
"Eat it, Nina," she coaxed. "If you don't, I really will finish it all myself."
Nina's pride wavered once more as the sweet scent filled her senses. Her heart beat faster. Could she hold out against such temptation?
And there, in the quiet villa filled with laughter, shivers from cold treats, and one sulking but pampered cat, the undercurrent of the world seemed far away.
-----------------------------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31
----------------------------------------------------- .