For the first time on a private jet, Zuo Ning curiously looked around. In all his life, he had only taken a flight once before, and that was with his parents on a trip to a neighboring province. It was also the only time he had gone on a distant trip with his parents. He originally thought he’d never get the chance to travel to a faraway place with Lu Chenghe in this lifetime. Unexpectedly, Lu Chenghe had chosen a private jet to take him out.
Seeing him restless and scurrying around, Lu Chenghe directly picked him up, placed him on a chair, and secured him with a dog-specific seatbelt. “Behave yourself. If you don’t listen, I’ll throw you out of here.”
Zuo Ning tilted his head and hummed softly. Who’s he kidding? They’re already airborne. Throw him out? Who would believe that? As if he’s never been on a plane before.
The private jet was quite spacious. A few bodyguards sat on the front seats, while Lu Chenghe sat on the sofa in the back. It was said that there was a dedicated bedroom upstairs. If the journey was long, one could go up there and have a comfortable nap.
Zuo Ning had never seen a bedroom on a plane, so he was very curious to check it out. Unfortunately, Lu Chenghe kept a close eye on him, preventing him from moving around.
However, another person who wasn’t under Lu Chenghe’s tight control finished touring the entire plane, loosened his shirt buttons, and sat down. “Boss, can I resent the rich?”
Lu Chenghe, flipping through a magazine without lifting his head, replied, “Suit yourself.”
Qi Wei poured himself a glass of champagne. This trip was for the wedding of one of their business partners, so it could be considered both a business trip and a vacation. Since some business matters were still involved, he naturally had to accompany them as an assistant. However, it wasn’t the usual strict work time, so he inevitably relaxed a bit, speaking more casually.
But Qi Wei truly hadn’t expected that, just to bring his dog along, the boss would decide to directly purchase a private jet.
To be fair, the jet wasn’t particularly expensive. Forget just one; even a whole fleet of jets could be easily afforded by the bosses in their circle. However, the various permits required were quite troublesome, and their boss was someone who absolutely despised trouble. That’s why, even though private jets were quite common in their social circle, the boss had never considered buying one. Who would’ve thought that raising a dog would make him willingly become a “dog slave”?
Looking at the dog beside him, Qi Wei suddenly felt a tinge of pity for his own son. Unable to restrain himself, he teased Little Pudding, “Little Pudding, oh Little Pudding, do you even know how valuable you are?”
Zuo Ning knew that this was Lu Chenghe’s assistant, and he was an incredibly elite individual. Despite being young, he was a prime example of a life turnaround success story. Even Zuo Ning had only ever heard of Lu Chenghe before—after all, the Lu Corporation was the company he aspired to join after graduation, so naturally, he had to learn who the boss was. But Qi Wei, he knew even better than the boss, because there was a rather dramatic story behind him.
Qi Wei came from a wealthy family—not as prominent as the Lu Corporation, but far superior to most. He even had a beautiful fiancée, whom he had been in a relationship with for years, who was both well-matched in family status and exceptionally attractive. Generally, winners in life like him always seem to encounter some dramatic setbacks, such as mismanagement leading to bankruptcy.
There was no sabotage from rivals, no family infighting. It was simply due to Qi Wei’s father making poor investment decisions, one mistake leading to another, until mismanagement caused his company to collapse. At that time, Qi Wei was overseas, pursuing some prestigious degree, but by the time he returned home, everything was already a foregone conclusion.
And so, overnight, he went from being part of the wealthy elite to being down-and-out. Naturally, the well-matched, beautiful fiancée didn’t stick around either, breaking things off with swift and clean determination.
And then, Qi Wei became Lu Chenghe’s special assistant. In a short period, he completed several impressive projects for the Lu Corporation, directly achieving record-breaking profits. Thus, the fallen prince was restored as an eligible bachelor. However, he had no interest in any princesses trying to rekindle relationships with him and instead devoted himself wholeheartedly to his “dog son”.
Qi Wei’s father, having experienced the ups and downs of the business world, decided he’d had enough of the hassle. Free from debt, he returned to a pastoral life, living in comfort and contentment. As for Qi Wei, aside from his jaw-droppingly high salary, he ran several personal ventures on the side and even held a small portion of the Lu Corporation’s shares. He had become a classic example of a comeback story that could easily fill a million-word epic titled “The Return of the King”.
Hearing Qi Wei’s words, Zuo Ning first thought about how he had now become a little internet celebrity. Surely, his own worth had to amount to something. His Weibo account alone could make a decent income. Of course, what he considered “decent” as a former human likely wouldn’t even catch Lu Chenghe’s attention.
So, surely Qi Wei wasn’t teasing him about a few tens of thousands, right?
And sure enough, Qi Wei continued, “Do you know that the plane we’re sitting on now belongs to you?”
Zuo Ning’s ears instantly perked up. What did he mean?
Qi Wei sat next to Little Pudding. Seeing that the boss had no objections, he happily reached out and touched the dog’s paw. “When we get off the plane, I’ll show you. On the tail of this plane is your image, and the plane is named Little Pudding. So, how about it? Surprised?”
Surprised beyond words, Zuo Ning held back the instinctive reaction of shock and awe, then turned his head and buried it in Lu Chenghe’s chest. He almost gave himself away—what a scare! He couldn’t tell if Qi Wei was serious or just joking because he thought Zuo Ning couldn’t understand human speech. But buying a plane and decorating it with his own image—why did this feel so overly romantic?
Thinking about it, Zuo Ning couldn’t help but nuzzle into Lu Chenghe’s embrace again. Unfortunately, the seatbelt restrained him, preventing him from fully snuggling into his arms—what a pity. How much must someone love you to buy a plane, name it after you, and even paint your image on it?
Honestly, Lu Chenghe usually acted so cold and distant. Even asking for a kiss required repeated coaxing and forcing. Yet, it was always on a grand scale when he did something!
Seeing the little one twisting on the chair to the point of almost contorting himself, Lu Chenghe had no choice but to unbuckle the seatbelt. Instantly, Zuo Ning snuggled into his embrace.
Qi Wei immediately put on a pitiful expression. “Do you dislike me that much, Little Pudding? Come here, I’ll give you some meat, okay?” As he spoke, he opened a packet of dog treats that had been prepared on the plane, hoping to lure the little one into his arms. That fluffy fur looked like it would feel incredibly soft to the touch.
But the little one clung tightly to the boss’s embrace, completely unmoved by the treats. This little guy was so clever—he knew exactly which strong thigh to hold onto!
Hearing a crunching sound, Lu Chenghe looked up at his assistant while holding the dog. He saw Qi Wei munching on something, his expression blank.
Qi Wei cheerfully waved the dog treat in his hand. “Boss, want to try? It’s really chewy. At first, it doesn’t have much flavor, but as you chew, the taste comes out. Truly custom-made—way better than what my son eats. Where did you get it made, Boss? Recommend it to me; my son would definitely love it.”
Zuo Ning lay silently in Lu Chenghe’s arms, watching this top-tier assistant, feeling like his image was slightly crumbling.
By noon, Lu Chenghe naturally enjoyed a meticulously crafted meal freshly prepared by the airplane’s chef. At the same time, Zuo Ning dined on freshly made gourmet dog food, also courtesy of the flight. Qi Wei, who was dining alongside Lu Chenghe, saw the dog food and began chattering again, “What a lucky little guy. Do you know what kind of treatment most dogs get when traveling abroad?”
Zuo Ning glanced at him briefly before continuing to eat. What kind of treatment could it be? Other than a few specific airlines with limited slots allowing small pets or service dogs onboard, all other pets must go through cargo. Cargo—that’s a tragedy. Have you seen how delivery companies handle packages? It’s just like that. And if anything goes wrong, no compensation; they’re completely unyielding.
As Qi Wei talked, he was reminded of something that happened in his dog-lovers group a few days ago and said to Lu Chenghe, “A few days ago, someone in my group brought their dog home. The dog was three years old, a husky. After about a two-hour flight, once they got off the plane, the little husky had died.”
Hearing this, Lu Chenghe finally looked at him. Qi Wei, somewhat sorrowful and regretful, said, “I’ve seen videos of that little husky before. He was so lively and energetic. Who would’ve thought he’d be gone just like that? The airline’s explanation was that the dog had underlying health issues, some hidden medical history, or something, completely unrelated to their cargo process.” Then he scoffed disdainfully, “Utter nonsense!”
Zuo Ning also stopped eating and looked toward Qi Wei. After finishing, Qi Wei glanced mournfully at his boss, “So I left my little son at a pet boarding facility before I left. If I’d known you were bringing a dog, I would’ve brought mine, too. Being apart from my boy for so many days, I wonder if that little guy is behaving well. Sigh…”
Zuo Ning lowered his head again and continued eating. He had figured out that Qi Wei was a hopeless dog fanatic, the kind with no cure. No matter how much of an elite he seemed, his facade crumbled completely when it came to dogs.
They finally arrived at their destination around 3 p.m. The summer atmosphere hit them full force as they stepped off the plane. Zuo Ning immediately felt the heat. When he was brought to the Lu family as a dog, it was early autumn, and the weather had already started cooling. So, as a dog, he had never experienced summer before.
Zuo Ning glanced at his fur-covered body and thought, The tropics? What’s he supposed to do here? Did Lu Chenghe bring him here just to suffer?
This time, they traveled with four bodyguards. It was Zuo Ning’s first time seeing Lu Chenghe bring so many people. Usually, Lu Chenghe had just one driver—though that driver seemed capable of fending off three bodyguards alone. But with such an imposing presence and charisma to match, this setup was truly a sight to behold for Zuo Ning.
As for Qi Wei, the moment he got off the plane, his demeanor changed entirely. Gone was the chatterbox from the flight, replaced by someone exuding sharp professionalism, silently following Lu Chenghe. His transformation was almost comical.
While being led by Lu Chenghe, Zuo Ning glanced back and spotted the airplane’s tail. There, painted vividly, was a Samoyed that looked just like him! His distraction led to an embarrassing stumble—his left paw tangled with his right—and he tumbled to the ground in an ungraceful roll.
Lu Chenghe looked down at the dog that somehow managed to trip on flat ground.
Feeling a bit woozy, Zuo Ning scrambled to his feet. He caught the sound of Qi Wei stifling laughter behind him and raised his head to see that Lu Chenghe had already stopped. Hastily, Zuo Ning shook off his fur, puffed out his chest, and marched forward with pride, pretending as if nothing had happened.
Holding the leash behind him, Lu Chenghe’s lips curved into a slight smirk. How could anyone be this foolish?
The person meeting them turned out to be the host of this wedding—a mixed-race man who looked like a prince. Upon seeing Lu Chenghe and his assistant, he warmly approached them, offering hugs and enthusiastically chattering in an unintelligible language.
As someone whose English barely passed Level 4 and who hadn’t touched the language for half a year, Zuo Ning could only understand simple greetings. But when the conversation sped up, he was completely lost. What could he do? As someone with subpar English skills, was he finally going to live the life of a real dog—unable to understand human speech?
While he was lost in thought, the enthusiastic mixed-race man suddenly crouched down, attempting to pet him. Startled, Zuo Ning instinctively hid behind Lu Chenghe.
Lucas looked at Lu Chenghe with a hint of regret. “It seems your little cutie doesn’t like me very much. What a pity I can’t give him a hug!”
Lu Chenghe glanced at Little Pudding peeking out from behind him. “He’s still young. It’s his first time traveling far, so he’s a bit timid and shy.”
Zuo Ning looked up at Lu Chenghe. He understood the word “timid.” Shy? He couldn’t help but bare his teeth slightly. Calling him timid? Did Lu Chenghe want to see how quickly he could prove otherwise?
The group didn’t linger at the airport for long. The mixed-race man warmly ushered them into a car. Once inside, Zuo Ning mischievously snuggled up to Lu Chenghe, insisting on sitting on his lap. No matter how aloof or commanding Lu Chenghe was, with a dog sitting on him, his imposing aura was bound to falter!
Lucas watched with a broad smile as the little Samoyed claimed its owner’s lap. Seeing that Lu Chenghe didn’t mind at all and even indulged the dog’s antics with affection, Lucas was a bit surprised. He had worked with Lu Chenghe for years, and their close collaboration had even helped Lucas secure sole control of his family’s business.
In Lucas’s eyes, Lu Chenghe had always been a cold and formidable man with a strong, unyielding demeanor. But outside of work, Lu Chenghe turned out to be like this. Then again, even the strongest men have their soft sides. It was just unexpected that Lu Chenghe’s softness was reserved for his pet.
Throughout the journey, Lucas updated Lu Chenghe on the schedule for the next few days and informed him about the prominent guests attending his wedding banquet. In their circle, many collaborations often stem from personal connections. After escorting them to their arranged accommodation, Lucas finally left.
The bodyguards entered the house first to check it thoroughly, ensuring there were no issues or unusual electronic devices before moving Lu Chenghe’s luggage inside.
Lucas’s wedding was being held on a private island, and the guest accommodations were arranged in individual courtyards. As soon as Lu Chenghe entered the house, he noticed a large swimming pool on the terrace outside. Glancing at Little Pudding, who had already started inspecting the territory, he instructed the bodyguards, “Have someone bring over a pet dryer.”
Once you’ve experienced certain incidents, you naturally want to avoid repeating them.
Meanwhile, in that short span of time, Qi Wei had already gathered information on the prominent global figures Lucas mentioned earlier. He organized it into a document and handed it to Lu Chenghe.
Zuo Ning saw Lu Chenghe sitting on the sofa, engrossed in the documents. He shook his head helplessly. It seemed that being the boss wasn’t easy. Even when attending a friend’s wedding, he still had to prepare like this beforehand. Social interactions really were an intricate art.
After a moment of half-hearted sighing, Zuo Ning wagged his tail and began exploring everywhere.
The house was a standalone villa, designed with a modern minimalist aesthetic. Large floor-to-ceiling windows adorned the structure, and the white curtains occasionally fluttered in the sea breeze. Outside, there was a spacious open-air area on the first floor, featuring a swimming pool that directly faced the ocean. In the middle of the pool was a water pavilion, its four sides lightly veiled with white drapes. Occasionally, the sea breeze would lift a corner of the fabric, adding an air of romance.
Zuo Ning gazed longingly at the large swimming pool, wondering if he were to jump in for a splash, would he end up as “roasted dog meat” afterward? Seeing that Lu Chenghe was still seated on the sofa, leaving him with no chance to act, he reluctantly decided to head upstairs to look around.
The second floor had only three rooms, but each one was enormous, complete with spacious balconies. Some faced the beach, others the sea. One balcony even had a giant hanging basket chair, just like the one at home. Lying on that chair, one could see the distant ocean—absolutely stunning.
Zuo Ning immediately took a liking to that room. He noticed the bodyguards moving Lu Chenghe’s belongings into the innermost room. He quickly barked and chased after them, barking persistently at the bodyguards. He barked a few times, ran to the room he liked, then ran back to bark again when no one followed.
But the bodyguards just stared blankly at him, thinking he was merely playing around and failing to understand his intentions. In the end, despite his relentless barking, they continued moving the luggage as planned.
Seeing how clueless the bodyguards were—despite how obvious he had been—Zuo Ning raced up to the second-floor railing and barked loudly down at Lu Chenghe, who was sitting below.
Lu Chenghe looked up at Little Pudding on the second floor. “What is it?”
Zuo Ning barked twice and ran off, only to return and bark again.
Lu Chenghe finally set down his documents and went upstairs to see what the little rascal was up to.
As soon as Lu Chenghe arrived upstairs, Little Pudding patted his leg, then ran to a room and sat inside it. Lu Chenghe glanced at the room the bodyguards had chosen for him—it was the innermost one and could be considered the villa’s master bedroom. But the room Little Pudding was in was right in the middle. Lu Chenghe took a quick look inside and immediately understood why Little Pudding preferred that room.
“This room in the middle will do. The innermost one can go to Qi Wei.” As soon as Lu Chenghe finished speaking, Little Pudding leapt up with a gleeful expression, nudging his forehead. “You’re so spoiled!”
Zuo Ning chuckled to himself. As expected of his Lu Chenghe—just one small action, and he immediately understood his intentions. Comparing him to the bodyguards, well, there’s no contest. No wonder one’s the boss, and the others are just bodyguards ┑(￣Д ￣)┍.
The bodyguards finally realized what the dog had been trying to convey earlier and couldn’t help but laugh. This boss’s dog was truly one of a kind—not only could it pick its own room, but it also knew to call the boss for help when they didn’t understand. They’d heard from colleagues who worked closely with the boss about how smart and adorable this little dog was. Seeing it in action today, it was indeed extraordinary.
Satisfied with his chosen room, Zuo Ning promptly abandoned Lu Chenghe after getting what he wanted. He ran to the balcony, effortlessly hopped onto the hanging basket chair, and used his paw to push against a nearby post, setting the chair into a gentle sway. Lying comfortably inside, he gazed out at the ocean and beach. The sea breeze blew softly, carrying the essence of summer. It was pure bliss.
Watching the little one enjoy himself so thoroughly, Lu Chenghe chuckled. Right now, he was still a fluffy white ball, but after a romp on the beach later tonight, he’d probably turn into a little black dog. However, the evening hadn’t even arrived before this little rascal managed to stir up trouble.
After exploring the entire villa and seeing the bodyguards finish unpacking his luggage, daily essentials, and a few toys, Zuo Ning wandered downstairs again. He made a beeline for the outdoor area with the massive swimming pool. Glancing back at Lu Chenghe, who was seated on the sofa discussing something with Qi Wei, and seeing no objections, he slowly inched toward the pool.
When he reached the pool, he noticed a transparent path supported by several pillars. Walking on it would only get his paws slightly wet, allowing him to reach the pavilion in the center of the pool.
Zuo Ning extended a paw to test the path. It barely got wet, so he happily trotted onto it. Halfway across, he even barked at Lu Chenghe.
Lu Chenghe glanced at him and said, “No playing in the water. If you get your fur wet, there’ll be no dinner for you today.”
Zuo Ning responded with a bark, as if to say, “I won’t get wet.” Then, he excitedly dashed towards the pavilion in the middle of the pool. The pavilion had a soft, luxurious bed and sofas adorned with countless cushions. From the bed, one could enjoy the view of the distant sea. Zuo Ning checked his paws and patted one of the cushions until they were mostly dry, then leaped onto the soft bed.
It wasn’t until Lu Chenghe and Qi Wei finished their discussion that Lu Chenghe realized the courtyard had been suspiciously quiet for some time. Turning around, he saw the little one asleep in the pavilion.
Under the blue sky and surrounded by the endless sea, with white drapes softly billowing and a small white dog nestled within—it was an absolutely picturesque scene. Qi Wei quickly whipped out his phone to take pictures, marveling at how the dog could strike such perfect poses from every angle.
Lu Chenghe checked the time and called out, “Little Pudding, it’s time to eat.”
Zuo Ning, who had been sleeping comfortably, perked up at the sound of his voice. Seeing that Lu Chenghe seemed ready to leave, he quickly got up and ran toward him. But in a déjà vu moment, reminiscent of a previous mishap, he slipped and fell straight into the pool.
The pool had both shallow and deep sections, and the area near the pavilion was the deepest at two meters. Zuo Ning, who knew how to swim—hence his love for water—paddled around. However, unlike the last time he fell into the hot spring, this time, fragmented memories unexpectedly surfaced in his mind.
Clumsy Little Pudding tripping on flat ground and falling into the pool will never fail to amuse me 😂