The sun rose, casting a warm beam of light through the car window onto Su Chen's handsome face.
The warmth was soothing, far better than the uncomfortable sleep he'd endured previously. Last night, he'd slept so soundly that it felt almost luxurious.
Su Chen had a delightful dream—a fluffy creature kept brushing against him, its soft fur rubbing gently against his body. It nestled close to him, wriggling into his embrace. It felt amazing, like a living hand warmer radiating cozy warmth.
The sensation was so vivid it hardly felt like a dream.
Rubbing his eyes, Su Chen slowly opened them. He saw something white and furry lying in his arms.
At first, he was still groggy and couldn't make out what it was. But as he fully woke up, realization struck him.
"Oh my god! Er Bao climbed into my bed again!"
Startled, Su Chen quickly pushed Er Bao aside. Picking the dog up angrily, he marched straight to its little bed.
"Damned little rascal! You have a perfectly good home, but you insist on squeezing into my bed. How weird is that?"
"You've wasted all the effort I put into setting up your new home," Su Chen scolded. "I worked hard to make a cozy spot for you, but you'd rather sleep with me?"
Er Bao, who had been peacefully sleeping, shivered when picked up, startled awake by Su Chen's displeased expression.
Half-opening its eyes, the dog looked up with a pitiful expression, as if silently pleading:
"Master, don't be angry. I just wanted to stay close to you."
But Su Chen ignored Er Bao's small and vulnerable act. Without hesitation, he tossed the dog into its bed.
For a moment, Er Bao looked completely bewildered, as if it couldn't understand what had just happened.
Looking dejected, it crept into the corner of its bed, facing the wall as though reflecting on its "mistakes."
Watching the dog's adorable behavior, Su Chen wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. Eventually, he sighed, picked up the dog, and gently stroked its head.
Just then, a system notification popped up:
[Ding! Congratulations on spending a wonderful night with Er Bao. Intimacy +1.]
[Every creature has a spirit. Treat them well, and they will repay you,]
The system message explained.
[Last night, Er Bao thoroughly enjoyed snuggling up with you. The warmth of your embrace, along with the enticing scent of meat, made it a perfect night.]
The system informed Su Chen that their growing bond meant he could now officially tame Er Bao as his pet.
The message made Su Chen's heart fill with joy. He had thought Er Bao might prove useful someday, but he hadn't expected it to be such an obedient and endearing pet.
Truthfully, Su Chen had always loved dogs.
Back in elementary school, he and a friend had secretly taken in a few stray dogs. Every day after school, he would save leftovers from lunch and bring them to the dogs. Watching them devour the food happily gave him immense satisfaction.
It was a simple joy he hadn't experienced since growing up, but now, with Er Bao, he felt it again.
[Click to Confirm Tame]
[Ding! Congratulations! You and Er Bao are now officially bonded. From today onward, you're not just his master and he is your dog—you're best companions!]
Su Chen truly believed that Er Bao would become his most loyal partner.
In this lonely world, having a little companion by his side every day was a great source of happiness.
The system then provided detailed information about Er Bao:
[Description:
A silly yet adorable little creature. While its looks lean more toward the 'ugly-cute' side, it has an exceptional sense of smell and sharp anti-tracking skills. Its IQ exceeds 200, making it a top-tier detective dog.]
[As an early-stage pet, it primarily serves a support role. Its combat capabilities are weak, so don't rely on it for protection.]
[However, its utility will grow more evident over time, becoming increasingly valuable in the later stages.]
The system reminded Su Chen that he needed to learn basic pet training knowledge. A pet skills manual suddenly materialized before him, labeled with the name "Er Bao" and its owner: Su Chen.
[From today, this manual belongs to you. Please read it carefully and learn the relevant skills], the system advised.
Opening the book, Su Chen found a detailed account of Er Bao's life from birth until now, along with an in-depth introduction to its abilities.
Reading through the information, Su Chen was stunned.
"I can't believe Er Bao is a scholar-level dog!"
Clearly, Er Bao had the potential to help him significantly in the future.
What shocked Su Chen even more was that the manual mentioned Er Bao could be upgraded to a mid-level pet.
This revelation filled Su Chen with excitement.
He wondered if such intelligent pets were being traded on the market. After browsing the trading platform, he discovered that while some basic animal products like meat—chicken, pork, or generic cuts—were starting to appear, there was no mention of pets.
This gave Su Chen a sense of relief. At least for now, it seemed no one else knew about this.
And even if Su Chen were to be the first person to list pets for trade, how many people could even afford one? Without the system's help, most people were struggling just to survive.
…
As part of his daily routine, Su Chen checked the survival system's key updates for the day:
[Today is Day 2 of your survival.]
Daytime: Another sunny day with warm sunlight. The daylight period will last 6 hours (countdown: 5 hours, 33 minutes).
Weather: Currently 7°C, marking the early stages of winter. Temperatures will continue to drop.]
The system warned that as winter approached, wild animals would become more active, foraging to stock up for hibernation. Su Chen was advised to secure warm clothing and other resources to survive the harsh cold.
The message concluded with a grim reminder:
[If you don't gather enough food and water within the next month, you will starve to death.]
Su Chen chuckled at the ominous warning.
He wasn't worried about such things. His focus was on finding more animals—preferably sheep or other soft-furred creatures. And if he encountered a tiger? Well, he wouldn't mind making a fur coat out of it.
For now, his priority was securing more food. If he could find ways to expand his RV and add luxuries like a television or projector, life would be even better.
Su Chen envisioned turning this survival game into a global vacation.
"These are the best kinds of problems to have," he thought with a smile.