Before Zuo Ning could figure out how to convince Lu Chenghe to drop the idea of sending him to school, he discovered that he had somehow ended up trending online. Of course, it wasn’t his human form that was making waves. It was his dog form.
That day at the pet shop, whether it was a fan who had previously followed him or just someone who found the contrast amusing, someone snapped a picture and posted it online. It was quickly shared, recognized, tagged, and, just like that, it unexpectedly blew up.
In the image, he was sitting on a grooming table while a masked groomer carefully trimmed his fur. The bulk of the haircut was already done, and the groomer was making precise finishing touches. Meanwhile, in another room, a tied-up cat had somehow broken free and was wreaking havoc in the operating room. Zuo Ning, still calmly getting groomed, simply watched. The stark contrast between his serene demeanor and the cat’s chaotic struggle made for an entertaining juxtaposition, leading netizens to turn the images into memes.
Weibo users flooded the comments:
【Is this Little Pudding?! My god, have I encountered a fake Little Pudding? Where’s my Little Pudding’s dazzling beauty?!】
【2333333 Classic Little Pudding! That calmness, that aura of dominance—even in this tragically unflattering haircut, he still radiates pure majesty!】
【Hahahaha, I really want to know what Little Pudding was thinking when he saw the cat undergoing surgery!】
【Little Pudding’s inner monologue: ‘Holy heck, that scared the fur off me!’】
【The cat’s soul is in despair, its cries are tragic. But I’m having way too much fun watching this!】
【I wonder if Little Pudding has been neutered before? Is that why he’s so indifferent—because he’s already been through it?】
【It feels like he’s looking at the cat from the perspective of a veteran who’s seen it all. Hahahaha!】
【Am I the only one who finds Little Pudding’s new look adorable? He’s literally a fluffy ball now! Please, blogger, post more photos of his new look. It’s too cute!】
Some even responded with memes of his fresh haircut. His fur made him look like an oversized caterpillar!
Meanwhile, Lu Chenghe was busy researching schools that would be suitable for short-term studies. He had already arranged everything at the film academy, so Little Pudding wouldn’t need to take an entrance exam. He would simply enroll when the time came. He had previously planned to find a private tutor for Little Pudding during his breaks between filming, but he now felt that sending him to school for a few months would be much more effective. Otherwise, being taught one-on-one might make it harder for Little Pudding to focus for long periods.
While evaluating whether to study domestically or abroad, Little Pudding stormed over, clutching his tablet in frustration.
Lu Chenghe took the device, opened the video on the screen, and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Not bad. The filming is quite good.”
Zuo Ning was instantly furious. “Now the whole country knows how awful I look! How am I supposed to show my face again?!”
Lu Chenghe let out a small laugh. “You don’t go out looking like a dog anyway, so what’s there to worry about?”
“But still, this is unacceptable! This is practically a dark chapter in my history!”
Setting the tablet aside, Lu Chenghe pulled him closer to the computer screen. “Look at these two schools. Which one do you prefer?”
Zuo Ning immediately turned to leave. “It’s late. I should take a shower and go to bed.”
Lu Chenghe had anticipated this escape attempt and firmly held onto him, preventing him from slipping away. “If you don’t pick one yourself, I’ll choose for you.”
Zuo Ning shot him a pitiful look. “Why do I have to go to school? I’m already starting university in September. What’s the point of more school now? Do you seriously expect me to take the college entrance exam?”
He had gone through the grueling exam a few years ago, barely scraping by. The moment it was over, he had tossed his books aside without a second thought. Even with several months of intensive study now, he doubted he’d score much better. If anything, failing again would be even more humiliating.
Lu Chenghe couldn’t understand why Little Pudding was so resistant to school. Normally, the little rascal was incredibly curious about anything he hadn’t experienced before, always eager to try new things. But when it came to school, he was strangely averse.
Seeing his sullen pout, Lu Chenghe chuckled. “Alright, let’s set the school topic aside for now. Tell me, why don’t you want to go? Do you think you already know everything they’ll teach, so attending would be a waste of time?”
Zuo Ning’s gaze flickered for a moment. Realizing Lu Chenghe wouldn’t let him off the hook without an answer, he finally, quietly shook his head.
There was no way he could make such an arrogant claim. Even a university graduate returning to elementary school could still learn something new. It’s just like the saying, Reviewing past knowledge brings new insights”. He understood that much.
Lu Chenghe pulled a chair over. “I need to know what you think. I don’t want to force you down a path just because I believe it’s the right one. It might not be what you actually want. But before we get to that, you have to tell me what you do want.”
Zuo Ning lowered his head, absentmindedly picking at his nails. Before he could do much, Lu Chenghe smacked his hand away. He bared his teeth at Lu Chenghe in mock defiance, but upon meeting his cold, expressionless gaze, his bravado quickly faded. After a moment of thought, he muttered, “I don’t know… I just don’t like it.”
Honestly, going to school wasn’t all that bad. Sitting through classes, taking breaks at scheduled times—it was simple. Back in high school, he had been terrified of teachers and discipline officers. But after experiencing university and getting a taste of the real world, he realized they weren’t so frightening after all. Actually, nothing was as scary as an angry Lu Chenghe.
His reluctance felt like an ingrained habit, just like how most students, whether in high school or college, instinctively resisted school after a long vacation. The moment the holiday ended, they wished they could rewind time and stay on break forever. It had been more than a decade of this instinctive aversion to school. But if he really analyzed it, aside from the lack of sleep and the structured environment, there wasn’t much that was truly bad about it. And right now, with his busy filming schedule, he was already waking up early and following a rigid routine. In the end, it wasn’t much different.
Seeing that Zuo Ning had no real reason to refuse—just a deep-seated dislike—Lu Chenghe tapped on one of the schools abroad. “This one. It’s short, just a three-month study program.”
Zuo Ning’s eyes widened in horror. “Abroad? Alone? No way!”
Lu Chenghe looked at him calmly. “You need to learn independence. This is the start of that. Once you fully enter society, I won’t be able to stay by your side all the time. You’ve spent your entire life with me, always relying on me to handle everything. That’s not healthy. You need to learn to take care of yourself, or you’ll never truly grow up.”
Zuo Ning suppressed the wave of anxiety and confusion rising in his chest. Staring blankly, he whispered, “Why do I have to be independent? Why is this a problem? I can take care of myself… and I can take care of you, too, really.”
Lu Chenghe sighed. Seeing the fear in Zuo Ning’s eyes tugged at his heartstrings. He helplessly pulled the boy into his arms, gently stroking his head. “I know. But, Little Pudding, you’re not a dog anymore. Your world doesn’t have to revolve around me alone. You can have more—more experiences, more people, more opportunities. You need to understand that tomorrow is unknown, and no one can predict the future. The only thing I can promise is that as long as I’m here, I’ll be by your side. But there’s always the possibility that something unexpected might happen. I don’t want that possibility to become reality while you’re still unprepared.”
Lu Chenghe wasn’t a pessimist, though he always planned ahead. But when it came to Little Pudding, he had an uncontrollable fear—one he couldn’t shake. If something were to happen to him, what would Little Pudding do? He wasn’t worried about material concerns. Once he learned Little Pudding could transform into a human, he had set up a fund specifically for him. No matter how lavishly he lived, that fund would ensure he never lacked food or shelter. But emotionally, without him, what would Little Pudding do?
He had seen far too many cases. Dogs abandoned by their owners refused to accept human help and waited stubbornly among the ruins simply because that place had once been their home, holding onto the hope that their owner would return.
So all he could do was enrich Little Pudding’s life, filling it with more experiences. That way, even if something was missing in the future, there would still be plenty left. It was better to have a life full of pieces rather than one that would collapse entirely if just one piece were taken away.
Hearing Lu Chenghe’s words, Zuo Ning shook his head fervently. He knew what growing up felt like—it was excruciating. The month after his parents passed had nearly drowned him in despair; it felt as though his entire world had collapsed. Now, he had finally found someone who made his world vibrant again. He could handle brief separations, but true independence—being alone mentally—was something he refused to accept.
Lu Chenghe sighed. “Just try, alright? How do you know you can’t do it if you don’t try? It’s only three months. Once you get busy with your studies, the time will pass quickly. It won’t be as bad as you think.”
Zuo Ning clung tightly to him, glaring. “No! Even if you send me away, I’ll run back! If you push me any further, I’ll cry right here!”
Lu Chenghe burst into laughter, lowering his head to look at the one buried in his embrace. “Go on then—cry for me. If you cry twice in one day, you’ll break your own record as the resident crybaby.”
Just as Zuo Ning was about to retaliate, a knock sounded at the door. Feeling guilty, he immediately slid off Lu Chenghe and hid under the desk.
The butler walked in, carrying a tray of snacks and juice, instinctively scanning the room for Little Pudding. Every time he entered with food, no matter where Little Pudding was playing, he would rush over without fail.
Noticing this, Lu Chenghe remarked, “Don’t bother looking. He got a haircut and now refuses to be seen.”
The butler, having already watched the viral video, chuckled. “It actually looks quite cute. Enjoy, young master. I’ll take my leave.”
Once the butler left, Lu Chenghe looked down at the person hiding under the desk. “Did you hear that? The butler said you look cute.”
Zuo Ning slowly crawled out, let out a disgruntled huff, and instead of sitting on the nearby chair, he chose to plop himself onto Lu Chenghe’s lap. Snacking on the treats and sipping the juice, he settled in comfortably.
Lu Chenghe had once tried to break Zuo Ning’s habit of constantly clinging to him, even in human form. But at some point, after countless failed attempts, he had simply given up—he had gotten used to it. Pinching the soft flesh at Zuo Ning’s waist, he remarked, “If you keep eating like this every day, you’ll turn into a little chubby ball in no time.”
Zuo Ning slapped Lu Chenghe’s hand away. “Fine, I’ll go to school. But only if I can come home every day, preferably have lunch with you at noon. Otherwise, I’m not going. No negotiations!”
Lu Chenghe pinched his cheek and shook his head. “You—once you truly experience the world, let’s see if you’re still this clingy.”
That was clearly a concession. Realizing he had won the argument, Zuo Ning smugly shook his head, sipping his juice and nibbling on his snacks with a contented smile.
Lu Chenghe simply chuckled at his triumphant expression. In the end, everything was about perspective. Just moments ago, he had been completely resistant to going to school, but now, simply because the arrangement changed, he readily accepted it. Watching him eat happily, Lu Chenghe sighed internally. What a little fool.
