What was supposed to be a simple autograph segment almost turned into a riot.
Donation numbers surged like a stock hitting a limit-up.
A line formed instantly.
Everyone wanted a "Teacher Er'gou Signature Card."
And Er'gou?
He accepted them all.
One by one.
Same process every time.
Sniff the ink.Precise press.Two-second hold.Lift.Add the finishing dot.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Repeat.
By the fifteenth card, he had entered what could only be described as industrial production mode.
Cold efficiency.
Minimal emotion.
Each paw print clean. Centered. Identical.
Perfect replication.
Lin Wan stood beside him, handing out blank cards and collecting finished ones.
For a moment, she had a surreal realization.
She wasn't a pet blogger.
She was an assistant to a top-tier celebrity.
The kind who hands pens and collects gifts.
The kind who whispers, "Next one."
Not far away—
Su Xiao watched.
Her curiosity no longer subtle.
Vice Chairman Li Wei'an also appeared at the edge of the crowd.
Smiling.
Polite.
But behind his glasses, his eyes were calculating.
After signing more than twenty cards, Er'gou finally had enough.
When the host eagerly pushed forward another blank card—
He didn't lift his paw.
Instead—
He suddenly turned his head toward a corgi at the snack booth nearby (Jenny's), who was enthusiastically devouring free samples.
"Woof."
Sharp.
Clear.
The corgi jolted.
Biscuit dropped.
In that split second—
Er'gou pushed the blank card toward the corgi with one paw.
Then stepped back.
Sat down.
Closed his eyes.
Translation:
I am done. Replace me.
The crowd burst into laughter.
The host wiped sweat from his forehead and improvised:
"Well! Let's invite other furry friends to try signing too!"
Crisis diverted.
Energy high.
Segment saved.
Lin Wan seized the opportunity and dragged Er'gou to the side lounge.
She handed him water.
Lowered her voice.
"You were… actually imitating a signature, weren't you?"
He drank.
Ignored her.
But his ear twitched.
She squinted.
"You used to add that little dot at the end too, didn't you?"
Silas Moore's old autograph photos surfaced in her memory.
That subtle finishing mark.
His brand.
Er'gou finished drinking and looked at her.
The look said everything.
Would I ever leave an incomplete mark?
Lin Wan sighed.
"Right. Of course. Your Majesty."
During the break, she noticed something else.
In the VIP lounge area—
Li Wei'an and Su Xiao were speaking quietly.
Serious expressions.
Li Wei'an showed her something on his phone.
A photo.
Su Xiao frowned slightly.
Nodded.
They were absolutely discussing Er'gou.
Lin Wan's chest tightened.
Li Wei'an was not clean.
The auction segment began.
Various pet celebrity memorabilia were presented.
Then the host raised a velvet box.
"And now — the final special lot!"
"Teacher Er'gou's personally paw-signed collector card — including an exclusive ten-minute interaction!"
The hall ignited.
Bidding started modestly.
Then escalated violently.
Most bidders looked like fans.
But not all.
One man in a gray suit stood out.
Cold face.
Sharp eyes.
Every time the price rose—
He added more without hesitation.
No excitement.
No hesitation.
Just focus.
Not on the card.
On the dog.
The price climbed to something absurd.
And the gray-suited man won.
Silence rippled through the hall.
He walked up calmly and accepted the velvet box from the host.
But he didn't leave.
Instead—
He turned.
And walked straight toward Lin Wan.
"Miss Lin."
His voice was low.
Flat.
"I represent Skydome Biotech. Surname Zhao."
He glanced at Er'gou.
Not admiring.
Evaluating.
Like a specimen.
"We are very interested in your pet."
A pause.
"Not merely as a pet."
Lin Wan's heartbeat slowed.
Danger slow.
"We are conducting cutting-edge research in animal intelligence and behavioral evolution," Zhao continued. "We would like to invite 'Er'gou' to participate in several non-invasive observational programs."
He held her gaze.
"You may name your price."
Biotech.
Animal intelligence.
Research.
The words overlapped perfectly with everything Chen Lin had warned about.
Everything connected to Entropy.
The Camouflage Agent.
"I'm sorry," Lin Wan replied evenly. "He's family. I have no intention of involving him in research projects."
Zhao's eyes cooled slightly.
But he smiled.
"You don't need to refuse immediately."
He extended a business card.
Pure black.
Silver logo.
And there it was.
An abstract, coiled letter E.
Identical.
Almost perfectly identical.
To the logo from the encrypted lab video.
Entropy.
Lin Wan's fingers went cold.
She did not take the card.
Zhao placed it gently on the nearby table instead.
His gaze dropped to Er'gou again.
Long.
Unblinking.
"'Er'gou' is… extraordinary."
A faint pause.
"I hope we will have the opportunity to cooperate."
He turned and left.
Er'gou had not moved during the exchange.
But when the silver logo appeared—
The fur along his spine lifted.
Subtle.
Controlled.
A low growl vibrated deep in his throat.
Hostile.
Measured.
Zhao's step paused for half a second.
He did not look back.
Then continued walking.
The auction concluded.
The event began winding down.
Lin Wan wanted out.
Immediately.
"Wanwan-jie, wait."
Su Xiao intercepted her again.
Concern in her eyes.
"That Mr. Zhao… he doesn't look easy to deal with. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Lin Wan replied calmly.
Su Xiao hesitated.
Lowered her voice.
"Chairman Li mentioned privately that Skydome Biotech has… complicated backing. Not a great reputation."
She glanced at Er'gou.
"And he said your dog might be more special than we realize."
Pause.
"If you ever encounter something you can't explain about him… Chairman Li knows experts. People who study… unusual biological phenomena."
Unusual biological phenomena.
Experts.
Lin Wan's mental alarms screamed.
Was Li Wei'an offering help?
Or surveillance?
Was he opposing Entropy?
Or another faction entirely?
Or something worse?
She gave a polite smile.
"Please thank Chairman Li for his concern."
Noncommittal.
Neutral.
Distance maintained.
As they left the mall—
The city lights reflected in Er'gou's blue eyes.
The game had escalated.
Public offers.
Corporate recruitment.
Open identification.
Entropy was no longer testing from shadows.
They were approaching directly.
And somewhere—
Someone had decided.
Silas Moore was no longer just an experiment.
He was an asset worth fighting over.