In the end, Lu Chenghe still couldn’t return home for the New Year. After a short video call with his mother, he noticed Little Pudding lingering around the dining table, which was laden with an array of dishes. Unable to tear himself away, Lu Chenghe picked him up, only to see Little Pudding casting a pitiful glance at him, then eagerly staring at the table. With cold indifference, Lu Chenghe said, “Don’t even think about it tonight. These are all heavily flavored dishes; you can’t eat them.”
Zuo Ning clasped his paws against Lu Chenghe’s face, then glanced at the table with utmost grievance. “Woooo…” It’s the New Year, isn’t it? Just let me indulge once—it’s not going to kill a dog.
Qi Wei, who was helping serve the dishes, couldn’t resist stroking Little Pudding’s head when he saw how pitiful he looked. “No, no, if you eat this stuff, all your beautiful fur will fall out.”
Zuo Ning swiped at Qi Wei’s hand with his paw. He didn’t want outsiders adding oil to the fire while he was negotiating with Lu Chenghe! After all, it’s New Year’s—couldn’t he say something nice?
Seeing Lu Chenghe unmoved, Zuo Ning began to act out on Lu Chenghe’s lap—wiggling, whimpering, and dramatically howling like a child who couldn’t get candy. He was one step short of bursting into tears.
Of course, Lu Chenghe wouldn’t give in to everything he wanted. Knowing full well it wouldn’t do him any good and that eating those foods might even cause him to fall sick, Lu Chenghe wouldn’t let him indulge, even for the New Year. However, since Little Pudding despised dog food so much, he didn’t want to force him either. Though the food on the table was off-limits, he had the kitchen prepare something specially tailored for Little Pudding—something both palatable and not overly burdensome.
Fried food can indeed be taxing on a dog’s system, but a small amount of occasional intake is manageable, provided there’s enough exercise every day. Otherwise, it could lead to pet obesity or even pancreatitis. Just two days ago, Zuo Ning had already had a fried steak and thought Lu Chenghe wouldn’t let him have it again so soon. To his surprise, an oversized portion of cut-up steak was brought out and placed on a small side table.
Lu Chenghe carried Zuo Ning over to the small table. Sitting on the ground with a slight bow of his head, Zuo Ning could easily reach the food. As the oversized steak was served, more dishes were gradually brought over.
After setting up the main table for dinner, Qi Wei glanced over and exclaimed, “Whoa, Little Pudding, you’re eating way better than us! This one meal of yours could cover an entire year’s worth of our table’s meals.”
Zuo Ning hadn’t expected to escape his dog food tonight. Though most of the items on the table were unfamiliar to him and he couldn’t name them, they smelled absolutely divine.
When Qi Wei saw that Lu Chenghe had stepped aside to take a call, he crouched next to Zuo Ning and began arranging the dishes in front of him. “Your Lu Daddy treats you so well. These ingredients were just delivered today. In this snowy disaster weather, only your Lu Daddy could manage to get them. Look at this pot of boneless chicken—do you know you’re not eating chicken but pure gold? Tsk tsk. This stuff is exclusively supplied to a few Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide. If you don’t book one to two years in advance, you can’t even dream of having it.”
As he spoke, Qi Wei swallowed a bit of saliva and squeezed closer to Zuo Ning. “Little Pudding, share some of your food with me, won’t you? This premium Wagyu beef is sold by the gram for most people, but you’re eating it by the pound. And this fish—do you know what it is? Once, a 400-pound bluefin tuna was sold for over ten million. What you’re eating now is the same type of fish. I can’t even bear to give this to my precious son.”
Lu Chenghe finished his call with his eldest brother and turned to see his assistant crouched by the small table, coveting Little Pudding’s gourmet feast. If Qi Wei weren’t so competent at his job, Lu Chenghe doubted he could tolerate such an eccentric assistant. “Qi Wei.”
Qi Wei instantly shot to his feet. “Yes, Boss! Do you have any instructions, Boss?”
Ignoring Qi Wei’s ability to change expressions quickly, Lu Chenghe calmly said, “Go gather everyone. It’s New Year’s Eve—no need to be on duty tonight. Join us for dinner.”
The “they” naturally referred to the bodyguards who had accompanied them on this work trip. Since everyone was stuck here and couldn’t return home for the New Year, they would all share the New Year’s Eve dinner together. “Alright, I’ll go right away,” Qi Wei said.
Just as Qi Wei was about to leave, Lu Chenghe added, “In the future, don’t say strange things to Little Pudding. He can understand you. I don’t want you leading him astray.”
Qi Wei’s mouth twitched slightly. “Understood, Boss.” With that, he turned and ran off.
He hadn’t realized that the boss had unknowingly evolved into a full-fledged dog dad, seemingly more smitten than Qi Wei himself. Honestly, Qi Wei had always believed his own son could understand him, too, even if his son ignored him most of the time. But he never thought his son would be influenced by someone else’s odd remarks. The boss’s thought process was truly beyond the comprehension of ordinary people like him.
Seeing Little Pudding staring blankly at the food in front of him without eating, Lu Chenghe assumed it was because he hadn’t given permission yet. So, he walked over and placed the beef that Little Pudding had enjoyed so much last time right in front of him. “Go ahead and eat. It’s all yours. Eat as much as you want tonight.”
Zuo Ning turned to look at Lu Chenghe, already terrified by the assistant’s words. The food was so expensive that he hesitated to take a bite. But after a moment’s thought, seeing that Lu Chenghe genuinely wanted him to eat, he opened his mouth, rolled his tongue, and devoured two pieces of meat in one go.
Ah~~ The taste of happiness. So delicious. Life as a dog was truly satisfying.
Seeing Little Pudding’s squinty-eyed expression of bliss as he ate, Lu Chenghe casually snapped a few photos and posted them on Weibo with a simple four-character caption: “Happy New Year.”
Even on New Year’s Eve, there was still a group of people glued to their phones instead of eating, who quickly liked and commented:
【Such a happy little expression! What delicious food is he eating?】
【Oh my Little Pudding, Happy New Year! How much lucky money did you receive this year?】
【Happy New Year, Little Pudding! Wishing you health and happiness in the new year!】
【Little Pudding is still as gorgeous as ever today, smiling so sweetly while eating. On this New Year’s Eve, you’re tempting me to steal a dog again. If I get caught, you’ll have to take responsibility!】
【Aww, it’s been so long since I’ve seen Little Pudding! Although the background is just a curtain and you’re not wearing a pretty little dress, I’ll forgive you for looking so adorable today.】
Zuo Ning ate happily, letting himself be photographed at will. After eating some beef, he tried a bite of fish, which seemed to have been lightly seared. It had a hint of saltiness but tasted absolutely amazing!
Having savored the fish, he moved on to the chicken. The melt-in-your-mouth texture was truly worthy of a Michelin-exclusive dish. Apart from the chicken soup his mother once made, he felt he had never tasted anything this good. The bones had all been removed, and every bite was filled with tender, fragrant meat—it was simply divine! No seasoning was needed; the original flavors of the ingredients were beautifully brought out.
Lu Chenghe was casually looking at his screen when the words “lucky money” caught his attention. Realizing it was Little Pudding’s first year in the family, he felt guilty for forgetting to prepare a red envelope for him. After some thought, he turned and went to the living room, where he remembered having some empty red envelopes in a drawer. Sure enough, there were some. He then went upstairs to fill one with cash.
“Little Pudding, Happy New Year.”
Zuo Ning turned his head and saw Lu Chenghe holding out a red envelope. His parents had told him that he would only be considered a full adult after graduating from university and starting a job. At that point, it would be his turn to give them red envelopes. So until then, he would still receive one from them every year.
Originally, Zuo Ning thought there wouldn’t be any red envelopes for him this year. Unexpectedly, Lu Chenghe handed one to him.
Seeing Little Pudding staring blankly at the envelope, Lu Chenghe assumed he didn’t understand what it was. He explained, “This is called a red envelope. Later, I’ll teach you how to say New Year’s blessings to people. When you see someone and wish them well, they’ll give you a red envelope. With the red envelopes, you can buy lots of delicious food.”
Lu Chenghe patted Little Pudding’s head and said, “Keep eating. I’ll hold onto this for you for now. I’ll pack it into your little bag later, and when we go home, I’ll make sure to keep it safe for you.”
As Lu Chenghe stood to leave, Zuo Ning barked, “Woof!” Lu Chenghe!
Lu Chenghe turned back, and Zuo Ning reached out a paw. Instinctively, Lu Chenghe held his paw and asked, “What’s the matter?”
Zuo Ning grinned and barked, “Woof!” I don’t have anything to give you, so I’ll give myself to you as your New Year’s gift.
Once the bodyguards stationed around the villa gathered, Lu Chenghe released Little Pudding, patted his head, and told him to eat obediently. Then, he invited everyone to the table. The dining table was filled with aromatic and flavorful Chinese dishes. Since it was New Year’s, the food had to carry an authentic Chinese taste.
Although they weren’t celebrating at home, the atmosphere was lively. The bodyguards, who were originally from the military, loosened up with a few drinks after much encouragement from Lu Chenghe. Qi Wei, being his usual playful self when not working, had already become familiar with the bodyguards over the past few days, which led to an animated and cheerful conversation at the dinner table.
As always, the TV in the living room played the traditional New Year program that aired without fail each year. While enjoying the feast, Zuo Ning would occasionally turn his head, drawn in by the TV. He had never imagined that wealthy families would be so down-to-earth; he used to think they all lived like European aristocrats, exuding cold elegance. It turned out that the Lu family celebrated the New Year in such a grounded and warm manner. For a moment, he even felt like he had returned to his childhood—snow drifting outside, while the adults laughed and talked inside.
Lu Chenghe wasn’t particularly fond of drinking, but in this celebratory atmosphere, he joined in for a few rounds—after all, it was New Year’s, and there was no need to dampen the mood. Everyone was mindful of their limits, so after clinking glasses a few times, they moved on to joke around with Qi Wei and left Lu Chenghe alone. He sat there, eating while occasionally glancing at Little Pudding. Whenever the TV got lively, Little Pudding’s attention would be drawn to it, only for him to turn back to his food once the excitement subsided. It was as though he were a child, unable to focus on one thing for too long.
Perhaps sensing Lu Chenghe’s gaze, Little Pudding turned his head while still holding a piece of meat in his mouth. Seeing his silly expression, Lu Chenghe couldn’t help but smile faintly.
When Zuo Ning saw Lu Chenghe smiling at him, he wagged his tail and grinned back at him with the meat still in his mouth, then returned to enjoying his lavish meal.
After eating to his heart’s content, Zuo Ning nestled comfortably in Lu Chenghe’s arms and fell asleep. When he woke up, Lu Chenghe was no longer in bed. Wrapped in the blanket, Zuo Ning wriggled to the edge of the bed and pawed at the tablet. After checking the time, he rolled around on the bed again before finally waking up. He shook himself awake, then went downstairs to look for Lu Chenghe.
As soon as he entered the living room, he saw Lu Chenghe eating dumplings. Zuo Ning immediately dashed over and leapt onto Lu Chenghe.
Lu Chenghe picked him up and placed him on a chair. A servant then brought over a plate of dumplings that had been kept warm. These were specially made for Little Pudding, with beef filling and very thin wrappers. The plate contained only five small dumplings, just enough for the symbolism. Such a small amount of starch wouldn’t cause any issues.
“Eat up. After finishing, go back to eating your dog food. You haven’t been eating properly for days. During this time, you’ve been fed way too much of that miscellaneous stuff. Once we’re back home, I’ll take you for a full body checkup.”
Zuo Ning silently complained, What do you mean by ‘too much’? It’s only been twice, okay? Does twice really count as ‘too much’? And it was only once because of the New Year festivities! Despite his inner grumbles, it didn’t slow down his pace. He quickly devoured the dumplings, biting a few times and swallowing each one whole. In no time, the small plate of five dumplings was gone.
Lu Chenghe patted his head and said, “Now go and eat your dog food. Be good and obedient; I’ll stay home and play with you today.”
Play with him? That’s clearly because it’s New Year’s and they’re on holiday! But seeing Lu Chenghe’s serious tone as he coaxed him, Zuo Ning couldn’t resist leaping forward to plant a kiss.
Lu Chenghe leaned back to avoid it, but he was sitting in a chair and couldn’t retreat far, so Little Pudding still managed to kiss him. Seeing the little rascal’s triumphant grin, Lu Chenghe’s face darkened as he hugged him and shook him slightly. “If I don’t give you food, you pounce on me to snatch it. Looks like I’ve been spoiling you too much these past few days. Once we’re home, I’ll have to discipline you properly.”
Zuo Ning’s wagging tail immediately drooped. There’s a kind of distance in the world where I’m kissing you, yet you’re saying I just wanted to snatch your food. I choose dog death.
After New Year’s Eve, it was time to visit relatives from house to house. However, with each new generation replacing the old, such traditional customs gradually faded. In earlier years, the Lu family had always maintained such traditions. But in recent years, with the passing of the older generation, the younger members of the family were increasingly losing their sense of unity.
Although the Lu family wasn’t like other elite clans riddled with scheming and drama, maintaining an outward harmony that could serve as a role model while tearing each other apart behind the scenes, they were not entirely of one heart either. People inevitably harbored their own thoughts and little secrets.
After the old patriarch passed away, the eldest of the Lu family declared that from now on, everyone would spend their New Year separately. If some family members had close relationships and wanted to visit each other, that was fine, but there was no need for everyone to travel long distances to gather anymore.
There’s an old saying: “What is long divided will reunite, and what is long united will divide”. Another saying goes, “Each generation has its own blessings”. These were the lessons the older generations often imparted to them. So, even if the Lu family were to one day disperse, the fact that they existed was enough. As long as everyone lived their lives well, the family legacy could be passed down to the next generation. And if it couldn’t be passed on, they wouldn’t force it.
The men in the Lu family rarely harbored ambitions of consolidating power for themselves. They preferred to live in the moment and enjoy life while they could. Otherwise, the eldest and third brothers of the Lu family wouldn’t have taken their respective wives to travel the world. They were still in their prime and, if they wanted to, could easily continue working hard until their grandchildren came of age.
Initially, once the snow stopped, Lu Chenghe could have flown back right away. However, he ended up staying a few extra days in Andu. His mother had returned to her family for the New Year. Her family’s situation was rather complicated—unlike the Lu family, who were rooted in business. When power was involved, many things became unavoidable. At his maternal grandfather’s house, having a peaceful New Year was impossible. From New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day, a continuous line of people would likely wait to deliver gifts.
Not wanting to join the chaos, Lu Chenghe used the snow as an excuse to remain in Andu. He decided to take a proper vacation there and, at the same time, reorganize the branch office.
And so, an unplanned cohabitation began.
Household staff and chefs are people too, and they naturally wanted to go home and spend the New Year with their families. Lu Chenghe, being considerate, gave them generous red envelopes and granted them holiday leave. Once the roads were cleared and flights resumed, Lu Chenghe sent the bodyguards and assistants back first, deciding to stay in Andu with Little Pudding until after the New Year.
When Zuo Ning heard about Lu Chenghe’s plan, he was so thrilled he nearly jumped for joy. Cohabitation! In this house, there would no longer be people constantly watching him—apart from Lu Chenghe, it would just be him.
After everyone left, Little Pudding ran around the house excitedly. Lu Chenghe couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’re this happy?”
Zuo Ning’s agile figure stopped, and he turned his head toward Lu Chenghe with a playful tilt. “Woof!” He stuck out his tongue, flashing a perfect smile that could easily win a beauty contest.
Lu Chenghe sat down on the sofa and patted the spot beside him, signaling for Zuo Ning to come over. “Aren’t you worried about going hungry with me? There’s no one left to cook for you now.”
Zuo Ning trotted over in a few quick steps, effortlessly jumped onto the sofa, and placed his two paws on Lu Chenghe’s lap, sprawling his whole body across him. “Woof!” Actually, I can cook for you. My fried egg and ham rice with some Lao Gan Ma beef sauce is super delicious!
Lu Chenghe turned on the TV and handed him the remote. “Pick whatever you want to watch. You know which button to press, right?” This dog, who hogged the TV for dramas every day, was probably the most familiar with the remote control.
Zuo Ning placed a paw on the remote, swiftly changed the channel, and then looked up at Lu Chenghe.
Lu Chenghe smiled, patted his head, and praised him, “So smart.” Then he picked up a book from the coffee table, shifted his position, leaned against the sofa’s armrest, and stretched his long legs across most of the sofa.
Seeing himself squeezed into the corner by Lu Chenghe’s legs, Zuo Ning switched the TV to an online drama and then squeezed himself into the gap between the sofa’s backrest and Lu Chenghe.
Lu Chenghe watched as Little Pudding squeezed himself into a tight gap, practically flattening into a “dog pancake” while panting. Seeing how pitiful he looked, Lu Chenghe shifted slightly to make some space. Little Pudding then lay sideways in the gap, resting his head on Lu Chenghe’s chest as he watched TV.
Lu Chenghe scratched under his chin and asked, “Doesn’t this feel uncomfortable?”
Zuo Ning responded with a soft sound, “Awoo.” Not uncomfortable—it’s warm being squished like this.
Lu Chenghe rubbed the fur on his neck and suddenly said, “Little Pudding.”
Zuo Ning twitched his ears and turned his eyes toward him. “Awwoo?”
Lu Chenghe tilted his head and looked at him. “I don’t know how to cook. We might go hungry.”
Zuo Ning stared quietly at him for a few seconds, then looked down at his own dog paws. “Woo…” I can cook, but that was a long time ago.
Seeing Little Pudding’s sudden sad expression, Lu Chenghe teased him further, “How about you cry a little? Maybe if you cry, I’ll learn how to cook.”
If Zuo Ning couldn’t tell by now that Lu Chenghe was deliberately teasing him, he really would be hopeless. He fixed his deadpan dog eyes on Lu Chenghe and barked, “Woof!” Believe it or not, I might bite you.
The indignant little expression was so human-like that Lu Chenghe couldn’t help but laugh. He ruffled Little Pudding’s head again and asked, “What if someday I lose all my money, can’t afford to keep you, and can only buy cheap, awful dog food for you? Would you still cling to me like this?”
Zuo Ning glanced at him, then climbed out of the spot he had painstakingly carved out for himself. He jumped off the sofa and ran upstairs, his little paws tapping against the floor.
Lu Chenghe was momentarily stunned—what was this supposed to mean?
After a while, Little Pudding came running back downstairs, carrying Lu Chenghe’s phone in his mouth. He placed the phone on Lu Chenghe’s lap, then sat below the sofa and looked up at him. “Woof!” I can earn money to support you!
Lu Chenghe stared at the phone, puzzled about what Little Pudding was trying to convey. Was there something on the phone?
Seeing Lu Chenghe’s confusion, Zuo Ning turned the phone on, then opened the Weibo app. “Woof!”
Holding the phone displaying Weibo, Lu Chenghe recalled how his mother used to take photos of Little Pudding at home and would tell him to look at the camera, saying that beautiful photos could earn money for delicious food. His hand holding the phone paused slightly, then he looked at Little Pudding. “Are you saying that if I lose all my money, you’ll earn money to support me?”
Little Pudding wagged his tail enthusiastically and barked, “Woof!” That’s right, that’s right! I can take care of you. I might not be able to provide you with immense wealth, but I can make sure we have enough to live comfortably!
Lu Chenghe hadn’t expected such a response from Little Pudding—he had only been teasing him. But upon realizing the meaning behind Little Pudding’s actions, Lu Chenghe felt a strange surge of emotion.
It’s often said that dogs don’t despise a poor household. In the past, when he heard this saying, he merely thought it was an expression of a dog’s loyalty. But it’s only when he truly experiences it firsthand that he can fully grasp the profound meaning behind those words.
After thinking for a moment, Lu Chenghe felt that saying anything more at this point would be unnecessary. He simply chuckled and playfully scolded, “You silly thing, you really are the essence of a dog spirit, aren’t you?”
Zuo Ning pursed his lips, stuck out his tongue, and gave Lu Chenghe a serious look. I’m being very earnest, okay!
Lu Chenghe flicked at his little tongue with his hand, only for Zuo Ning to open his mouth and catch it. Watching his goofy expression, Lu Chenghe lightly flicked his forehead with his finger. The little rascal immediately pulled his paws back, tilted his tongue to the side, and flopped straight onto the thick carpet.
Without sparing him another glance, Lu Chenghe leaned back on the sofa and continued reading his book. However, one of his long legs slid off the sofa and rested on Little Pudding’s belly, gently kneading and rolling it. The soft little rolls of fat on his body felt surprisingly satisfying underfoot.
This chapter is so wholesome and cute! And all that delicious food being fed to Little Pudding is making me hungry 🤭