There's a chat group for pets in my neighborhood.

"So, everyone has guessed who I am?"

For some reason, Lu Fang felt inexplicably uneasy.

At this point, the sheriff was too lazy to look at him like he was an idiot anymore, and closed his eyes helplessly.

"There are big differences between people; some are stupid, and some are smart."

I used to think you were smart, but now I think you're stupid.

"And I am one of the few smart cats in the group; the rest are all stupid cats."

"They're lucky to be alive. They don't have time to think about these things. They're all very simple-minded."

"Including Brother Tanuki?" Lu Fang asked.

"Including Tanuki," the sheriff confirmed.

"Then why didn't you expose my identity in the group chat?" Lu Fang still couldn't understand why the sheriff didn't tell everyone when he had already discovered that he was human.

"Let me correct you." The sheriff raised his cat paw, revealing his pink paw pads. "I just haven't exposed your identity in the group yet. If our chat doesn't go well, I'll leave, and you'll be kicked out of the group chat."

Lu Fang's heart sank slightly.

It seems that today's conversation is finally reaching its most crucial moment.

"So, what exactly did you want to talk to me about this time, just the two of you?"

"It's actually very simple." The sheriff stood up, circled Lu Fang, and stared intently into his dark green eyes, which held a sharp edge that seemed to pierce the heart. "I want to know what exactly you want to do."

"What do you want to do?" Lu Fang was taken aback. He had expected the sheriff to ask many questions, but he never thought it would be this simple.

However, he did not rush to answer, but began to think seriously.

The sheriff wasn't in a hurry. It waited quietly for Lu Fang's answer, appearing calm on the surface, but its wagging tail betrayed its inner tension.

"To be honest, I didn't really think that much about it at first." Lu Fang composed himself and began to explain.

"Initially, I just wanted to take advantage of the information in the group to help everyone buy the toys they really like and the snacks they really love to eat."

"You know, there's a difference between our human perspective and your pets' perspective. What we like, you might not like."

"Now, that difference has been eliminated." Lu Fang held up his phone, which displayed the interface of the Tiancheng Community Pet Group Chat.

"You get to enjoy what you truly love, every penny pet owners spend is well spent, and I earn money—it's a win-win-win situation."

"But after the dog thief incident, I saw your unity and also saw the plight of many more pets."

"I want to do more for you."

"For example?" the sheriff meowed twice.

"I want to open my own pet hospital and drive down the prices so that pet owners won't think the medical costs are too high and therefore not come to the hospital, causing their pets to die."

"I also want to open a cat food and dog food factory, to find formulas that truly suit your tastes, and to make domestically produced food both cheap and delicious."

"I want to do charity work so that more stray cats don't have to wait to die. I want to remove their testicles so they can live healthier lives."

[Tanuki: So after all that, you still want to dismantle my eggs, huh? You damn bomb disposal maniac!]

"I want to...be your ark."

Lu Fang spoke softly, a strange light flickering in his eyes.

He has loved animals since he was a child, and he resolutely applied to Yanling University to study veterinary medicine, graduating with the highest score in his major.

Human hearts are unpredictable, but small animals are different.

These little creatures seem to have come into this world solely for healing.

However, after joining Meiji Pet Hospital, he discovered that it was completely different from what he had imagined.

Pet hospitals overcharge, order unnecessary tests, and have opaque profit margins, yet everyone takes it for granted, as if it's just how things should be.

But he felt that it shouldn't be like this.

But sticking to his principles and being a breath of fresh air resulted in him being expelled by Cui Ding.

The mainland wants to change something, and although there's not much they can do, it's better for someone to do it than for no one to do it at all.

He will continue on his path, from pet shops to pet hospitals, and even to future pet brands, to become a true Noah's Ark that can shelter these little creatures from the wind and rain.

The sheriff didn't speak, just quietly looked at Lu Fang, at the light in his eyes.

"It seems we had a good talk." The sheriff stood up, but instead of approaching Lu Fang, he bowed.

Lu Fang also found it difficult to describe the posture, but it looked like he was bowing.

Sheriff: "This guy has some family matters to attend to, so it looks like he won't be able to come tomorrow. Let's get together then."

My phone vibrated.

Lu Fang opened the group chat, and it was the police chief speaking.

Social Brother Li: "Wow, my good brother, long time no see, you finally spoke up in the group!"

"What's wrong with him again? He's always so elusive, we don't know if he's hiding from us."

A dog walk costs one bone per visit: "So, the sheriff saw him?"

The sheriff glanced at Lu Fang in front of him: "Yes, in my opinion, although he's not good-looking, he's a very nice person. Let's get together again next time."

The cherry blossoms in my hometown are in bloom: "So the sheriff saw you. Well, there's nothing we can do. It's just that we were a bit unlucky."

Socialite Brother Li: "What's the big deal? There will be other opportunities in the future. But Chief Sheriff, our Tiancheng Community can't be without you. Hurry up and get things back on track. I've been out here all alone these days and I'm so bored."

Sheriff: "I won't say more. This operation was a great success. Thank you all for your cooperation. We'll talk again tomorrow."

Lu Fang stared blankly at everyone talking, unsure of what to say for a moment.

After hesitating for a long while, he cautiously asked, "Why don't you reveal my identity?"

"Why should I expose your identity?" the sheriff asked rhetorically.

"I am human."

"Of course I know," the sheriff said, looking at him. "Indeed, all humans should be kicked out of the group chat."

"but......"

"But what?"

The sheriff stared intently at him: "After what happened at the old steel mill, I realized one thing: it's still too difficult for us to protect everyone's safety on our own."

"If there were one more person, all the pets would be much safer."

"Under this premise, I feel that some rules don't necessarily have to be followed."

"In the past, Tanuki and I were well-liked by everyone and could be considered the guardians of the pets in Tiancheng Community."

"But we are also very fragile. Our lifespan is not long. If something really happens to me this time, then Brother Tanuki alone will not be able to hold on."

"Therefore, I would like to hire you as the guardian of Tiancheng Community, to take care of the safety and health of these pets to the greatest extent possible."

"Are you willing?"