Fang Qiao's instinctive blocking motion after being startled was extremely forceful.

The little red sparrow, focused solely on the food, didn't notice anyone else in the kitchen and was caught off guard. It was sent flying, tracing a perfect parabola in the air before crashing into a pile of dry leaves behind the stove.

Fortunately, it was small and light, and it fell on dry leaves used for starting a fire, so it didn't get hurt.

But it was utterly defeated, lying on its back on the pile of leaves with a look of utter despair.

As one of the four divine birds of heaven, the Vermilion Bird was actually beaten by a human?

This is so embarrassing!

If word gets out, where will they put their face?

Xiao Jing cautiously leaned forward and asked uncertainly, "Sister-in-law, is this a chick?"

"Chickens can fly?" Fang Qiao wasn't sure either.

"Probably?" Xiao Jing said with an "uh": "Some clever chickens can still fly a little bit."

Hearing Fang Qiao and Xiao Jing's conversation, Xiao Zhuque could no longer remain dejected.

What kind of chicken?!

She's not such a lowly being!

The little Vermilion Bird sprang up from the pile of dry leaves, excitedly proclaiming its identity: "I am the divine bird Vermilion Bird! Not a chicken!"

The chick in her eyes suddenly started talking, which almost scared Xiao Jing to death.

"ah--"

Terrified, she screamed in terror, dropped the kitchen knife in her hand, and lunged at Fang Qiao, clinging to her tightly.

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, there's a monster!"

Fang Qiao was also startled.

Although she learned from Cheng Baidong that some supernatural animals might appear in the world in the future, she had never actually seen them.

Upon first seeing it, especially under such unexpected circumstances, she couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive.

"You, what are you?"

"What? What? I'm not a thing!"

The little Vermilion Bird flapped its wings and flew up from the pile of dry leaves. It circled around the kitchen, striking poses to show off its beautiful feathers to Fang Qiao and Xiao Jing, and said smugly, "I told you I'm the divine bird Vermilion Bird, not a monster! Monsters are all ugly and grotesque, nothing like me!"

Little Vermilion Bird thought it was very beautiful, but little did it know that in Fang Qiao and Xiao Jing's eyes, it was just a 'chick' that looked like a little chick and had some bald feathers.

After all, aesthetics are subject to species barriers.

Fang Qiao really couldn't appreciate the beauty of the little Vermilion Bird.

The little Vermilion Bird kept showing off her 'beautiful' feathers, but the two humans in front of her didn't react at all, which made her feel very frustrated: "Hey, why aren't you saying anything? Aren't my feathers beautiful?"

Fang Qiao: "Uh..."

Xiao Jing remained silent.

I can't bring myself to praise it.

However, the little Vermilion Bird's childish behavior actually lessened the two's fear.

The little Vermilion Bird snorted and put its wings on its hips.

angry!

It takes a lot of food to calm him down!

At that moment, Cheng Baidong, who had heard Xiaojing scream, rushed over from the bathroom.

He was in a hurry when he came out of the shower, so he just quickly dried himself off, put on his clothes, his hair was still dripping wet, and he didn't even have time to put on his shoes.

He rushed into the kitchen barefoot, shouting, "What's wrong? Why are you yelling? What happened?"

After asking three questions in a row, he finally saw the little Vermilion Bird flying in mid-air.

"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay with Director Qin in the research department?"

Little Vermilion Bird said unhappily, "I don't even know him, why should I follow him? Besides, your research department is underground, damp and dark, and that old man even fed me bugs. It's so annoying, I don't want to stay in there!"

It flapped its wings and flew around the stove twice, its tone noticeably more cheerful: "The food in here smells so good! There must be something delicious inside! I want to follow you!"

The little Vermilion Bird has its own ideas, and other people's opinions obviously cannot be imposed on it.

Cheng Baidong said helplessly, "I need to ask Director Qin first."

"Go ask."

Cheng Baidong turned and left the kitchen, took out a communication talisman, and contacted Factory Director Qin.

At this moment, the little Vermilion Bird fluttered its wings happily and landed in front of Fang Qiao, asking expectantly, "Beautiful human sister, can I have some of these delicious things?"

Fang Qiao looked complicated, but Cheng Baidong had already contacted Factory Director Qin, so now was clearly not the time for him to ask questions. He could only try to satisfy the little divine bird's request first.

She nodded and said to Little Vermilion Bird, "You can have some of the river shrimp first, but the other things will have to wait until mealtime. I can't give them to you in advance."

Braised fish should be served whole, otherwise it won't look good.

Fortunately, the little Vermilion Bird was a kind and understanding cub, and nodded upon hearing this: "Okay."

Fang Qiao found a clean plate, picked out some of the fried river shrimp and put them on the plate, and Xiao Zhuque immediately started eating.

Xiao Jing's eyes held a mixture of fear and curiosity, and she couldn't help but glance at the little red sparrow while cutting the eggshell.

After finishing half a plate of small river shrimp, Cheng Baidong and Factory Director Qin completed their discussion.

Factory Director Qin said: Since Little Vermilion Bird wants to follow him, let it follow. As long as it doesn't leave the pharmaceutical factory area, it's fine. But you have to be careful. It can only pretend to be an ordinary bird and can't let others discover that it can speak human language.

Cheng Baidong was silent for a long time before saying, "It's been discovered. This glutton has broken into my kitchen, and my wife and sister both know..."

Before the words were finished, Gao Ping and Wang Yun entered the courtyard hand in hand, just in time to hear Little Zhuque chirping, "I'm done eating, pretty sister, I want more."

Wang Yun froze on the spot. She tugged at Gao Ping's sleeve: "Gao Ping, Gao Ping, am I seeing things? Why do I see a bird talking?"

Cheng Baidong held up the communication talisman: "Oh, now Comrade Gao Ping's fiancée knows too."

Factory Director Qin was speechless: "..."

"Then once you leave your house, no one else is allowed to know." He paused, then continued, "This afternoon, have Gao Ping bring his fiancée to my office. Your wife and your sister... explain the implications to them yourself."