Boonie Bears: Another World Fantasy

I am a 24-year-old college graduate. I want to give a birthday gift to a girl who is about 22 years old. What would be appropriate to give her?

Filled with doubt, Sharp posted a request for help on social media. He never imagined he would one day ask such a naive question online.

Sigh, I wish my older sister were here with me.

Shortly after clicking the submit button, several replies quickly appeared below Sharp's post:

Answer 1: Open a hotel and sleep with her.

Answer 2: Present a meticulously crafted five-tiered cake.

Answer 3: We will provide you with a comfortable apartment.

Answer 4: Dude, why are you still thinking of finding answers on social media at a time like this? Hmm... if I really have to suggest something, ask her best friend for information.

What the hell is this?

Faced with these varied suggestions, Sharp was utterly bewildered. He understood that the internet didn't offer a magic bullet for all problems, but he was currently at his wit's end, feeling helpless and distressed... Suddenly, a clear, melodious laugh drifted in from outside the ward. It was a girl's characteristic bright voice. Sharp instinctively put down his laptop, looked up, and stared at the ward door.

"Ugh—Zhao Lin…don't touch me like that…" This sudden sound shattered the silence like a bolt of lightning. Immediately afterward, another deep, lustful voice rang out: "Wow! It smells so good! And it feels so soft!"

These words, which slipped into his ears unintentionally, were like a sharp sword piercing Sharp's heart, nearly causing him to choke on his own saliva. Instantly, a series of strange and inappropriate images flashed through his mind.

Weren't those two going to buy dinner? What are they doing? Is it what I'm thinking?

The thought of Naya being completely defenseless against Zhao Lin's teasing made his head burn with rage.

Sharp suppressed his inner turmoil, coughed twice forcefully, and tried to hide his embarrassment. Then, he nonchalantly continued fiddling with the computer in front of him, as if nothing had just happened.

Naya was holding the white cat in her arms, looking at Zhao Lin who was ruthlessly tormenting it with a troubled expression.

"It's so cute—I want to kiss it!"

"Meow!"

Terrified by Zhao Lin, the cat curled up into a ball, trembling as it hid in Naya's warm embrace, letting out a mournful meow as if pleading for help. It was clearly terrified and helpless in the face of this overly enthusiastic "Lady Shiji."

"Ha! You little kitten, you've finally met your match?" Sharp thought to himself with secret delight. These past few days, whenever he saw that kitten snuggling and rolling around in Naya's arms, a nameless anger would rise within him. He simply couldn't understand why he felt such intense hostility towards such a weak and innocent little animal.

Am I jealous?

Naya's affection for the kitten was palpable, even surpassing her attention to any other person or thing. Despite Sharp's constant attempts to get Naya's attention, he never succeeded. Naturally, he felt a sense of resentment and unfairness when he saw the kitten so easily winning all of Naya's affection.

However, looking at the pitiful kitten before him, Sharp suddenly felt a pang of guilt and reluctance. After all, it was just an innocent little creature, and hadn't done anything wrong...

"Uncle! Did you find the information you wanted?" Zhao Lin asked, curiously moving closer to Sharp and gently placing the packaged dumplings in front of him.

Upon hearing the sound, Sharp was startled and quickly switched the page of the post he was browsing, then casually began to pretend to browse the latest news.

"You're reading the news? Oh, the Shenzhen Daily?" Zhao Lin's gaze was drawn to the masthead on the screen, and her eyes suddenly lit up. She excitedly pointed at the computer screen and said, "So you like reading our family newspaper too!"

Then, as if remembering something, she added with a hint of pride, "Of course, that's where I work too. You might even see one or two articles I've published on their website." As she spoke, she pressed the back button on her keyboard with a mischievous grin, and the page returned to the help-seeking post that Sharp had just made.

Immediately, Sharp's face turned bright red after being exposed, and he wished he could disappear into the ground.

"Uncle, you like Naya, don't you?" Zhao Lin deliberately lowered her voice and whispered in his ear.

"Huh?" Sharp was clearly taken aback upon hearing this, momentarily failing to grasp what the other person had said. "Huh? Huh? Huh?" Before long, he realized his feelings had been completely exposed, and he became increasingly agitated, like a cat suddenly doused with hot water. His ears turned red and he even started to stammer, "N-no, it's not that I like... I just think she's very, very pretty..."

Looking at the man in front of her, who was somewhat incoherent due to nervousness, Zhao Lin shook her head helplessly and, adopting the air of someone who had been through it all, earnestly advised, "Hey, you can't keep being so muddle-headed."

"Is...is that so?" At this moment, Sharp was completely flustered. After all, he had never had any dating experience before, so he was naturally at a loss in the face of this situation.

Finally, Zhao Lin pursed her lips and continued confidently, "Anyway, you have to make everything clear before you start dating, and be a little vague after you start dating. That's the most basic thing, right?" After saying these words, she seemed to have transformed into a master of romance, which made everyone look at her with new respect.

......

After dinner, the small town, shrouded in cold air, seemed to be still immersed in a gloomy atmosphere, but at this moment, a surprising change occurred—the bright and dazzling sunshine poured down, bringing warmth and vitality to the entire town.

This is a quiet park located next to the hospital. The lush green grass exudes a refreshing fragrance, and towering pine trees surround it like a green screen.

Naya stood quietly on the grass, her arms slightly outstretched, and a flock of adorable little birds flew to her side. They perched on her shoulders or frolicked on her fingertips, as if regarding her as a close companion. Her posture was elegant and graceful, every movement full of charm, blending seamlessly with the surrounding beauty.

"Do you know her birthday? If you do, then send her a cake. You can't go wrong with that," Zhao Lin said with great certainty.

“But… I didn’t ask—” Sharp replied dejectedly.

“Then I’ll ask her for you.” Zhao Lin patted her chest and said confidently. “Naya’s identity and background are quite special, and you two have spent a lot of time together, so you should know how to express your feelings in a way that will make her accept them most happily.”

Sharp couldn't help but wonder if it was appropriate for him to develop feelings for her under such circumstances. And when did these feelings begin? Was it from the moment he first saw her, or did they gradually sprout during the difficult days they went through together? These questions kept lingering in his mind.

“However, you should think this through! Based on the current situation, the police are very likely to continue their in-depth investigation into your matter, especially regarding Nayana. If not handled properly, you could even face the risk of imprisonment…” Zhao Lin reminded him seriously. Hearing this, Sharp suddenly felt a nameless anxiety welling up inside him.

At this moment, Zhao Lin slowly sat down on the bench, took out her laptop from her bag, and placed it on her lap. She then said, "Oh, right, Uncle, there's something else I need to tell you." She gently clicked the mouse to turn on the computer screen.

"I may have found some clues about the people who attacked you."

"Oh? Let me see." Sharp immediately stepped forward.

Zhao Lin skillfully opened her email and quickly found the chat history from a few days ago.

"I received this email in my inbox the day before I arrived here. This information gave me a vague feeling that it might be inextricably linked to a series of events that were taking place here."

After speaking, Zhao Lin turned the computer screen around without hesitation, facing Sharp, seemingly hoping he could find some clues. Sharp stared intently, his eyes widening in surprise, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "This... isn't this Tuanzi?"

Overwhelmed with emotion, Sharp's voice rose eight octaves. Zhao Lin was startled by his reaction and exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Uncle, you actually know Tuanzi too?" Her gaze was fixed on Sharp, eager to know more about this matter.

Sharp inwardly cursed, realizing he had been too out of line and had let something slip. He quickly changed the subject, saying, "I mean, she looks a lot like a character from an animated film I watched when I was a kid..." As he spoke, his eyes flickered, and he seemed somewhat uneasy.

Seeing this, Zhao Lin didn't press the matter further. Instead, she waved her hand and said, "Alright, let's not worry about that for now. In short, these videos have been bothering me and I can't figure them out." Her tone was tinged with helplessness and confusion.

Sharp nodded thoughtfully and began to ponder.

"Wait! Stop!" Sharp, who had sharp eyes, suddenly shouted, then pointed to a tree in the second video frame and signaled Zhao Lin next to him to press the pause button.

Although Zhao Lin was somewhat confused, she did as instructed. As the image froze, the figures in the tree became clearer.

"Who is this?" Sharp asked, frowning and staring intently at the figure on the screen.

"Isn't it just Naya?" Zhao Lin looked up, glanced at Sharp, and then looked back at the screen.

“Before you met her, you must have seen her more than once,” Zhao Lin added. “Maybe you were just lucky to run into her?”

“Impossible—absolutely not!” Sharp denied.

“I remember telling you, the forest where Naya lives is extremely secluded. It’s like a secret place isolated from the world, so secluded that even the most advanced radar satellites might not be able to find it. I only entered that place by chance.”

Then, pointing to the date displayed on the screen, he said, "Look at this date..."

Zhao Lin looked in the direction he was pointing: "February 2020? That early?"

Sharp frowned and continued his analysis: "Although the image is a bit blurry, she is much larger than Naya, and the symbols on her face are more vivid and eye-catching..." At this point, he and Zhao Lin turned their heads at the same time, casting their gazes at Naya not far away.

"Could it be someone from the same clan?"

The word "fellow tribesman" instantly pierced the veil of memory in Sharp's mind, involuntarily bringing to mind Anal le Fay, the man who had nearly killed him. The harrowing scene seemed still vivid in his mind, and Sharp couldn't help but gasp, silently praying: Hopefully, this yet-to-be-met "Deer Warrior" won't be so inherently violent…

Sharp adjusted his posture and pressed play again.

......

Shenzhen, New Era Art Museum.

Xiao Junyao, dressed in an elegant black dress, her high heels clicking crisply on the tiled floor, strode confidently into the art gallery's foyer. Her long, glossy black hair was styled into a neat and tidy updo, radiating a lustrous sheen.