Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

Chapter 78: The Photoshoot

7:45 PM.

Qiao Sang sat at her desk, planning how to spend the rest of her summer vacation.

It was only July 6th, and high school typically started in early September. That meant she had more than a month and a half left.

Yabao had already accumulated 456 points. If she added them all to its level and continued growing by the normal rate of 2 points per day, it would take only 176 more days to evolve.

She could have Yabao increase his points through battles and complete an evolution by the end of the summer.

As for its Blaze ability, she had tried to activate it earlier in the morning but found it couldn't be used consistently like a skill.

She had done some research on abilities.

The league’s grading system for abilities ranged from E to S, a total of six levels. This wasn’t based on the ability’s usefulness but rather on the mastery of its application, similar to how skill proficiency is measured.

For innate, uncontrollable abilities like Rain Rest of Moonrush Grass, it's automatically ranked E-grade since it can't be self-activated.

Many experienced beastmasters would consider what abilities a pet had before making a contract.

Qiao Sang figured that the grading of abilities in her Beastmaster's Handbook might be based on the league's standards.

If Yabao’s Blaze ability could only be triggered under certain conditions, like poor health or exhaustion, she decided it could wait. Forcing it wouldn’t make her a competent beastmaster.

Regarding its skills, she had experimented earlier in the day.

Since they were still in the neighborhood, Yabao could only practice Fire Fang with his clones. She didn’t want to risk complaints from neighbors if they heard too much noise.

He could create five clones, using Fire Fang 40 times in total. That was his current energy limit.

This was a vast improvement from when he could only use Fire Fang around 20 times after replenishing its energy in the beginning.

As for the Treasure-Seeking Ghost, it had been an unexpected addition.

Originally, her second pet should’ve still been an egg by now.

However, she didn’t mind these deviations from her plans, in fact, she thought more surprises like this wouldn’t be a bad thing...

Since the Treasure-Seeking Ghost was still a newborn, it would be inhumane to train it right away.

Letting it enjoy its childhood for another month before starting training wouldn’t be too late.

For now, the focus of her summer training would be on Yabao.

Under the light, Qiao Sang leaned her chin on one hand while absentmindedly jotting down notes with the other.

In the living room, her two pets were playing hide and seek.

Treasure-Seeking Ghost was invisibly floating above the TV, gleefully watching Yabao and Fat Dove aimlessly searching for it in the kitchen.

Its tiny claws clenched into fists by its mouth, filled with a strange sense of excitement.

In another room, someone was still on the phone.

"Hello, second sister-in-law? Just calling to chat… My Sang Sang…

---

The next day.

With Treasure-Seeking Ghost perched on her head and Yabao in her arms, Qiao Sang set out for the Jin Entertainment Building, where she had an appointment with Song Yuan.

The Treasure-Seeking Ghost held a milk bottle and curiously observed its surroundings from atop Qiao Sang’s head.

Whenever its eyes met a passerby’s, they would quickly avert their gaze, making it feel even more amused.

It began deliberately staring people down until they looked away.

In contrast, Yabao was acting much more composed and mature, unlike his usual self. He knew today was an important day.

His beastmaster had promised that if today's photoshoot went well, he could drink all the milk it wanted from now on! He might even earn enough to cover the new little one’s formula.

On the 18th floor of the Jin Entertainment Building:

“Ms. Song, your guest has arrived.” A young woman in professional attire knocked and reported.

“Send her in.” Song Yuan said, picking up the contract she had prepared.

The young woman hesitated, standing at the door, seemingly at a loss for words.

She remembered her boss had scheduled a meeting with the winner of the Bai Xin Competition.

They had done a background check on Qiao Sang for the collaboration. A fresh graduate from middle school, specially admitted to Shengshui High School, she had won first place in the competition with her beginner pet, Fire fang Dog.

But there was no mention of her having a Treasure-Seeking Ghost. Could it be a wild extraordinary creature?

Should she report this to her boss?

However, there seemed to be no disturbance from the security downstairs...

“Is there something else?” Song Yuan asked.

“No, nothing.” After some hesitation, the young woman decided to trust security.

Thirty seconds later.

Song Yuan looked at Qiao Sang, who had just entered, and was stunned for a moment. She didn't greet her immediately but picked up the phone and dialed a number.

“Hello, is this the patrol department? I have a wild Ghost-type extraordinary pet here. It’s a Treasure-Seeking Ghost. The address is…”

Qiao Sang: ...!

Qiao Sang quickly spoke up, “This is my newly contracted pet!”

Song Yuan: !!!

After a brief but effective explanation, Song Yuan finally hung up the phone.

“I remember you just graduated from middle school.” Song Yuan said with a complicated expression.

“I guess I’m a bit of a genius.” Qiao Sang replied.

Song Yuan: ...

She suddenly felt like she didn’t want to talk anymore.

After a while, though, she couldn't help asking, “Why did you contract a Ghost-type pet for your second one? You could’ve chosen a more manageable pet and waited until you were stronger to consider a Ghost-type.”

Song Yuan was puzzled.

She wasn’t usually the type to meddle, and she had family members with talented children, but none seemed as remarkable as this girl.

It stirred a desire to nurture her.

Given Qiao Sang’s talent, she could easily pursue a career as a professional beastmaster.

But contracting a Ghost-type pet so early, one that’s hard to manage, would waste a lot of time dealing with problems and trying to outwit the pet.

There was also the risk of rebellious pets dissolving the contract, resulting in a lose-lose situation.

It just didn’t seem like the best choice.

They say geniuses think differently from the average person, but her relatives’ children seemed pretty normal compared to this girl.

Qiao Sang sighed, “I didn’t really have a choice, it’s a genius.”

Song Yuan: ...

She knew she shouldn’t have asked.

The endorsement and photoshoot went smoothly.

Yabao only had to model three pairs of new-season sunglasses, so he didn’t take long.

Little Treasure-Seeking Ghost watched the entire process with wide-eyed wonder.

It floated over to a pair of pink heart-shaped sunglasses that had just been swapped out, clumsily removed its ring, and placed the sunglasses inside.

Qiao Sang: ...

She had been watching the Treasure-Seeking Ghost closely.

She knew enough about its habits to not let it run wild.

Each Treasure-Seeking Ghost had its own preferences, and she wanted to observe what her own Ghost was drawn to.

She hadn't expected it to take sunglasses.

Could it have the same taste as Yabao?

Just as Qiao Sang was about to ask the Ghost to return the glasses, it surprised her by taking them out again on its own.

Qiao Sang was pleased.

She thought the Ghost had sensed her intentions.

But then it floated over to Yabao, who had just finished the shoot, and handed the glasses to it.

“Seek~”

“Yap~”

Yabao let out a bashful bark.

Qiao Sang: ...

As their beastmaster, she fully understood their conversation.

Her expression turned odd.

Was that compliment for real?

Why did it feel like there was some kind of bizarre social grace coming from such a young pet?