I was awakened by the alternating howls of Pàng Zǐ and Shòu Zi

  The moon was half obscured by clouds, casting a misty, hazy night over the scene. In the backyard, a clump of gardenias had been trampled and was leaning crookedly. Beneath the kitchen eaves, a pile of broken tiles, covered in moss, y scattered. Pàng Zǐ and Shòu Zi huddled in terror in the corner, with Shòu Zi desperately trying to squeeze behind Pàng Zǐ, pushing as he went, muttering, "Pàng Zǐ's delicious! Pàng Zǐ is delicious!"

  I straightened my crooked nightcap and looked closely at the enormous creature standing in the clearing of the backyard—

  A lion.

  Alive.

  It stood less than three meters away from me, its enormous body possessing the most perfect sculptural lines in history—solid and steady, unmoving like a mountain. Its long mane fluttered in the night breeze, subtly showcasing the arrogance and wildness of the king of beasts in its rhythmic undutions.

  The lion's fur was the color of gold, filling my eyes completely.

  Even the murky night couldn’t dim its radiance. Had it been daylight, with the sun shining brightly, this giant would surely have drawn the attention of all.

  In the eyes of this tree yaokai with a frenzied obsession for gold, it is not a lion; it is simply a breathing, moving gold ingot.

  The lion's eyes were even more captivating than the glossiest obsidian I had ever seen. That deep bck seemed to swirl with a powerful force, as if it could suck the soul of anyone who dared to meet its gaze into an endless void.

  As a retively well-traveled tree yaokai who has encountered countless strange people and oddities, I still have to admit, even I was a bit stunned this time.

  A lion so beautiful, its golden fur dazzling like the sun, its eyes as bck as gemstones... wait, could it be...

  Hold on, never mind where it came from, but `Endless′ is just a teahouse! I have no intention of turning it into a zoo.

  My shop only welcomes customers who come to taste desserts or enjoy a cup of ′floating life′ tea. I do `not′ welcome a lion—especially not one that drops down from the sky in the middle of the night, smashing my roof tiles and trampling my flowers!

  The "frozen" lion suddenly shook its head, its golden mane glowing like a sunburst. It seemed to take a deep breath, its gaze locking onto me, and then, step by step, it began to approach.

  The lion's face grew clearer, and I could even see my own reflection in its eyes. Waves of hot air billowed from its nostrils and mouth, lightly searing my skin.

  Being approached by a live lion is neither fun nor romantic.

  From the cold, icy gaze in its eyes, I couldn’t discern its true intent—only a yer of restless agitation wrapped in a dangerous exterior and some kind of longing.

  It was getting closer and closer.

  Behind me, Shòu Zi, who had ducked down and was scrambling away in panic, yelled, "Boss, hold on! We'll call 110, 119, and 120 to help you!!"

  The moon was completely swallowed by the clouds, and the st traces of light in the sky vanished.