The Villain Saves The Male Lead

The next day, the puppies, with the addition of the kitten, threw a fit again the moment Ren tried to leave for work.

Pax, who had just been introduced to Snow, was flabbergasted.

"Are you sure you're feeling all right?" he asked Ren worriedly. "Dogs and cats are much more sensitive than people, and it is unusual for them to act like this."

Ren shrugged. "Fang even dragged me to Dr. Gordon yesterday," he grumbled. "Even if you guys won't believe me, you should at least trust his diagnosis, right?"

Pax frowned. "Dr. Gordon said it's fatigue and that you should rest. Why don't you take a couple of days off and catch up on your sleep at home? I'll call you if there's anything urgent or needs your attention."

Ren shook his head ruefully. "You know we can't afford to do that right now. We need to finish those two deals this week, and we won't be able to unless I'm in office myself."

Pax sighed. Ren was right.

"Let's wrap it up quickly, then. Afterwards, you can take a few days off," Pax said.

Ren smiled. "That sounds good." He eyed the three furballs bouncing around at his feet. "Snow, Smoke, Shadow - come on, then. Don't you want to go to Daddy's office again?"

As if understanding Ren's words, the three fur babies leapt into his arms and cuddled up comfortably. Ren rubbed their heads and went to work with them.

Naturally, he caused another uproar at work, and even with his business associates, because the three furballs refused to part from him for even a single moment.

The negotiations took a little longer than usual because everyone kept staring at the puppies and the kitten clinging to Ren - but was also easier and more favourable to Sirocco because Ren's opponents were distracted and not fully focused on the deal.

Ren, being the shrewd businessman he was, made full use of this opportunity and the deal was concluded successfully.

After seeing off the other side, Pax sent Ren to his cabin and brought him a packed lunch especially prepared by Jules and Steward Paul in consultation with Dr. Gordon.

"You have to bring your kids to the negotiation table more often," Pax told Ren, handing him the lunchbox. "We got away with so many benefits today! Normally, it would have taken us several days to get to this stage...but we settled it in just a few hours!"

Ren smiled proudly and rubbed the heads of Snow, Smoke and Shadow one by one. "My little ones are amazing," he boasted.

Pax laughed. "I couldn't possibly disagree with that!" he murmured. "Come, little ones - do you want Uncle Pax to give you a treat?" he cooed dangling three small packets from his fingers.

Smoke and Shadow, who already recognised these packets by now, immediately rushed to Pax, their tails wagging happily. Snow observed them for a while and seeing that the puppies really did get something delicious from "Uncle Pax" - she, too, came over.

Pax grinned happily and gave her a pack of milk-based treat for small kittens. Snow ate happily and when she was done, she cuddled up to Pax and purred happily.

Seeing her do that, Smoke and Shadow, too, wanted to cuddle with their Uncle Pax.

Pax couldn't resist the adorable puppies anymore. He picked them up and held them.

Five minutes later, the three furballs were fast asleep.

"Good job," Ren said, giving Pax a thumbs up.

Pax frowned at Ren. "Why aren't you eating yet?" he asked.

Ren blinked. "I was waiting for you."

Pax sighed. Fang had told him repeatedly this morning that Ren hated eating alone, and had especially asked Jules to prepare a lunchbox for Pax as well.

Pax put down the sleeping furballs in their basket very gently and went to wash his hands. Then the two of them ate amiably, discussing the next steps they needed to take.

"You know, if our evening meeting goes as well as the morning one and we finish the negotiations today, you can actually take the next few days off and rest at home," Pax said. He looked at the sleeping fur babies. "I hope they can work their magic again for the sake of their Daddy!"

Ren chuckled. "That would certainly be very helpful."

Snow, Smoke and Shadow did use their adorable faces to their full advantage. They clung to Ren the moment someone other than Pax approached Ren's office, and hung on to him throughout the business meeting. Everyone was just too shocked to see the usually cold CEO Ren with three cute furballs on him - and the negotiations were once again completed successfully with unexpected advantages to Sirocco. Just like in the morning, several days' worth of negotiations were finished in a few hours!

Once everyone left, Pax and Ren high fived gleefully.

"My nephews and niece are just too amazing!" Pax declared.

Ren laughed happily.

"Now you can rest for a bit," Pax said. "I'll handle the rest."

"Thanks," Ren said gratefully. He felt the exhaustion creep up on him once again. Resting for a few days would certainly rejuvenate him, he thought. He knew Fang and Pax and the others were really worried about him these days, especially because no one knew what was wrong and how he'd ended up being drained of his energy like this.

Pax really hoped that Ren would be back to his normal self after a few days of rest. Next week, a delegation from the Dragon Nation was supposed to visit to go over the final points of all their deals, and Ren was needed for that.

Pax glanced at his watch. "Do you want to go and pick up Fang from school now? You still have enough time to get there before his classes end."

Ren nodded happily.

"Give me five minutes to wrap up everything, and I'll go with you," Pax said.

Ren agreed easily.

Five minutes later, when Pax returned to Ren's cabin, the two puppies and kitten were sitting on Ren's desk and whining piteously. Ren himself was very pale faced and looked to be in pain.

As soon as Ren saw Pax, he stood up and said softly, "Pax...I don't feel too well..."

And then he fell to the floor in a dead faint.