It was getting close to noon, almost lunchtime, and Little Pudding still hadn’t come back. Even the bodyguards who had gone out to look along the road returned, saying they hadn’t seen him. Looking at the phone that had been left all alone on the sofa, Lu Chenghe furrowed his brows. This little thing really was getting wilder with each passing day.
At that moment, Zuo Ning was in the arcade, so immersed in playing that he had completely lost track of time. Originally, he had intended to head back to Lu Chenghe’s place, but halfway there, he passed by the entrance of an arcade and saw a limited edition game console on display in the window. He couldn’t resist the temptation. Even though he already owned the same console, the limited edition version had unique patterns on the controller that the regular one didn’t have. Just because it was limited, he naturally wanted it for his collection.
Even though something like this only costs a few thousand yuan at most, if he really wanted it, Lu Chenghe could buy him a whole pile in no time. Zuo Ning never asked Lu Chenghe for things like game consoles. Things that came too easily just weren’t interesting. It was better to buy it himself. And if he couldn’t buy it, then he’d find a way to hunt it down on his own. That’s what made collecting fun.
Besides, the situation with Lu Nianqi really was bothering him. He had truly considered Lu Nianqi a good friend. Even though he didn’t really like his personality at first, after spending some time together, it turned out to be okay. After a whole semester of getting along, their relationship had become fairly harmonious, and naturally, he had come to see him as a friend. He just hadn’t expected to be so careless and end up getting found out.
That said, Zuo Ning could understand Lu Nianqi’s reaction in trying to make him stay away from Lu Chenghe. To humans, his existence was something abnormal—anyone would think it was dangerous. If one day he discovered that a friend of his was actually a demon and had close ties with his own family, he’d probably be scared, too. He’d probably want to drive that friend away as well.
It was just that… he knew exactly what he was and was sure he would never hurt anyone without reason. But Lu Nianqi didn’t know that. All unknown things are scary. People instinctively fear and reject what they don’t understand. It’s just human nature.
The real pity was that he didn’t have many truly close friends to begin with. After turning into a dog, his whole world had narrowed down to just Lu Chenghe. He’d finally managed to make a friend he could talk to, and now things had turned out like this.
Zuo Ning was going wild racking up game tickets in the arcade, playing whatever games gave out the most tickets. With all the tokens he exchanged, he could have bought more than one game console already. Meanwhile, the pressure in Lu Chenghe’s office kept dropping—lower and lower.
By the time Zuo Ning, hands sore from all the playing, went to exchange his game tickets for points for the third time and finally redeemed that limited edition game console, he looked at the time, past one in the afternoon. His scalp instantly tightened. Uh-oh. He was doomed.
Hugging the game console he had just gotten his hands on, Zuo Ning carefully made his way back to the office. When the elevator doors opened and he didn’t see the person who was supposed to be working there, he instinctively let out a breath of relief. Even though he knew a scolding was inevitable, it was still nice to delay it a little.
“You do remember how to come back.”
The voice from behind made Zuo Ning freeze on the spot. He stiffly turned his head—ka-ka-ka—and saw Lu Chenghe standing at the doorway of a small room, his face dark and expressionless as he stared at him.
Zuo Ning immediately put on a fawning smile. “Look! This is the game console I’ve always wanted. I won it myself by playing games!”
Lu Chenghe said nothing, just stared at him. Zuo Ning’s ears instantly drooped. “I’m sorry… I lost track of time and didn’t bring my phone. Please don’t be mad. I won’t do it again.”
Lu Chenghe replied coldly, “You tell me, how many times have you said that? Just the line ‘I won’t do it again’—you’ve said it so many times. When have you ever actually remembered?”
Zuo Ning hugged the game console with one arm and held his stomach with the other. “I’m so hungry… I’m starving to death…”
Lu Chenghe glanced at him, then stepped forward. When he reached the door and saw that this silly thing was still standing there dumbly, looking like a student getting scolded, not moving an inch, he said helplessly, “What are you standing there for? Waiting for someone to bring food to your feet?”
Zuo Ning quickly set the console down carefully and trotted after him. Although he practically followed Lu Chenghe to work every day when nothing else was going on, he rarely came to the company’s dining area. Usually, the secretary prepared the meals and delivered them to the office. Since he had a rare chance to come to the restaurant today, he couldn’t help but look around curiously.
The Lu Corporation’s dining hall—wow. He used to often see photos posted by upperclassmen who had joined Lu Corp on the university forum. Compared to other companies’ cafeterias, the dishes here were practically restaurant-level quality and super affordable. So many people chose to work at Lu Corp after graduation. Aside from the promising career prospects, Zuo Ning suspected the cafeteria was probably another major draw.
Lu Chenghe led him straight into a small private room. This entire floor was for dining, with different types of restaurants divided into different sections. The atmosphere was elegant—no worse than those so-called high-end restaurants outside. Plus, employees got discounts.
Clinging to the window and looking out at the office elites bustling back and forth, Zuo Ning couldn’t help saying, “I used to want to work at Lu Corp—be a little white-collar worker, work nine to five, maybe pull the occasional overtime shift.”
Lu Chenghe thought he was referring to some old career plan he’d once had, so he struck it down without mercy: “Unless you have some outstanding skill, Lu Corp doesn’t hire people who haven’t even attended university.”
Zuo Ning puffed up his cheeks and glared at Lu Chenghe, letting out a disgruntled hum. “My skill is unmatched. No one can compare.”
Still looking at the menu, Lu Chenghe replied without even lifting his head: “Lu Corp has no plans to enter the pet industry, so we have no need for someone who can speak dog.”
Zuo Ning’s cheeks puffed up even more at that.
Noticing that Lu Chenghe had also placed an order, Zuo Ning said a little sheepishly, “You haven’t eaten yet either. Why were you waiting for me? You should’ve just eaten first. What if I hadn’t come back at all?”
Lu Chenghe replied coolly, “Who said I was waiting for you? I just got out of a meeting.”
As soon as he heard that, Zuo Ning immediately grew righteously indignant: “Then why were you acting like you were mad! I thought you were waiting the whole time! You don’t know—I was afraid you’d be angry if I came back late. When I realized how late it was, I ran all the way back! I was drenched in sweat. After lunch, I need to take a shower.”
Lu Chenghe shot him a glance but said nothing. Watching the little thing happily order himself three steaks, plus a heap of chicken wings and fries, he felt like he wasn’t raising a Samoyed—he was raising a Samoyed pig.
After eating until he hiccupped, Zuo Ning leaned back comfortably in his chair. He felt like life was too good right now. Ever since his appetite had grown, he could eat way more than before—and the best part was, he didn’t gain weight. Even though guys weren’t as obsessively fixated on body shape as girls could be, no one with a decent figure wanted to become a big fat guy either.
Hugging his juice, Zuo Ning took a big, satisfying gulp. Only then did he turn to Lu Chenghe and say, “Lu Nianqi asked me out today. He told me to stay away from you.”
In that instant, Lu Chenghe’s eyes turned cold.
Zuo Ning didn’t notice the change in Lu Chenghe’s expression and continued, “That day on your birthday, when you were downstairs chatting, I had made plans to play games with someone. After I came back to the room, I turned back into a human. I didn’t expect Lu Nianqi to be in the yard at the time—it seems like he saw me.”
Zuo Ning poked at the few remaining pieces of steak on his plate, then looked up at Lu Chenghe and asked, “What should I do, Chenghe? I’ve been found out. He knows I was the dog.”
Lu Chenghe’s tone remained calm: “Tell me exactly what he said to you. Word for word.”
Although Zuo Ning could understand Lu Nianqi’s actions, it was impossible not to feel a little hurt—after all, it was a friendship he had genuinely invested in. But it wasn’t enough to make him run to Lu Chenghe to complain. He knew very well that if Lu Chenghe really got angry, it would be terrifying. Lu Nianqi’s intentions must’ve been out of concern for his family. Even though he had come home halfway through the year, he clearly saw Lu Chenghe and the others as family, or else he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to do something that brought him no benefit whatsoever. So Zuo Ning only told Lu Chenghe about it to prevent bigger trouble down the line, not to tattle.
So he selectively recounted what had happened, adding his own guesses about Lu Nianqi’s intentions as well. He didn’t exaggerate and even spoke with a hint of defense for the other party.
Lu Chenghe listened and nodded. “Leave him to me. I’ll take care of it.”
Zuo Ning responded with a soft “Mm,” then couldn’t help but remind him, “Then talk to him nicely, okay? Don’t get angry over just a few words.”
Lu Chenghe gave him a cold snort. “You still have time to worry about others? Someone saw you and uncovered your identity, and you didn’t come straight back to find me? You were still out there playing video games?”
Zuo Ning scratched his face and chuckled sheepishly. “But I’ve got you, haven’t I? With you around, I’m not scared!”
Lu Chenghe glared at him. “You’ve really got nerves of steel, huh?”
Zuo Ning gave a little snort, forked a piece of meat, and stuffed it into his mouth. Even if the sky falls, Lu Chenghe’s there to hold it up. What’s there to be afraid of?
Later that night, Lu Chenghe went out again after dinner. It was the first time he’d gone out in the evening. Zuo Ning wanted to follow, but Lu Chenghe pressed him back down with just one finger. Zuo Ning pouted, then had no choice but to pick up his game console and keep playing.
On the other side, Lu Chenghe arrived at a villa not too far from the mountain lodge. A group of bodyguards stood at the entrance. As soon as he stepped inside, Lu Nianqi, who had apparently been inside for an unknown amount of time, hurriedly stood up and softly greeted, “Second Brother.”
Lu Chenghe walked straight up and sat down, looking at Lu Nianqi with a blank expression. “Speak.”
Lu Nianqi had expected that his second brother might come looking for him, but not so soon. He had just returned home that afternoon, and shortly after, a group of people came to take him here. No one paid attention to him after that, and he had been waiting ever since until nightfall. It was clear that Lu Chenghe was very angry because of his actions. Seeing his second brother like this reminded Lu Nianqi of the day he first entered the Lu family—uneasy and fearful.
After a long silence from Lu Nianqi, Lu Chenghe said coldly, “You’re so eloquent in front of him, so how come you can’t say a single word in front of me?”
Lu Nianqi lowered his head and remained silent. He had never seen this side of his second brother before. He didn’t know what to say now; not a single one of the words he had prepared earlier could come out.
Lu Chenghe glanced at him coldly for a moment and then said, “Since you won’t speak when given a chance, then don’t ever open your mouth again in this lifetime. I don’t want to hear a single word about Lu Ning from you. If I do, I’ll make sure you never speak again.”
“Second Brother!”
Lu Chenghe looked at Lu Nianqi, still showing no hint of emotion. Watching this inscrutable side of Lu Chenghe, Lu Nianqi’s heart pounded nervously. He didn’t know if what he did was right or wrong, but he didn’t want to see a tragedy happen.
“He’s not human.”
Lu Chenghe’s eyes grew cold. “You don’t have to tell me that.”
Lu Nianqi said, “He’s not the first.”
Lu Chenghe narrowed his eyes slightly. “What do you mean?”
Lu Nianqi took a deep breath and said, “I used to think those were just old legends left behind by the previous generation—stories with a superstitious tint from many remote areas or deep mountain regions. Kids in small villages always listened to those as strange tales.”
Lu Chenghe remained steadily seated on the sofa, showing no change in expression as he heard Lu Nianqi’s words.
When Lu Nianqi was a child, his grandmother was still alive, so every year he would go visit her. His grandmother lived in a very remote mountain village, and his favorite thing was listening to her ghost stories. Besides that, there was also a famous monster incident in their village, something all the older villagers knew about.
Back then, it was said to be a time of war and chaos. A man in the village made a living by hunting, and one time he brought back a very beautiful woman from the mountain. During those turbulent times, there were many displaced and homeless people everywhere. For a man living in the deep mountains like him, finding a wife was extremely difficult. So being able to bring home a woman as a wife was incredibly lucky.
Later, the couple settled down and had a very loving relationship. The woman was also very virtuous. Unfortunately, they never had children. But since neither side had elders left, they weren’t obsessed with having descendants, so their life went on harmoniously. However, more than ten years later, the man gradually aged, but the woman remained unchanged, fresh and lively like a girl in the prime of youth.
Gradually, rumors began spreading in the village, saying the woman was a spirit that came down from the mountains. The rumors grew so serious that villagers even went to their doorstep to throw stones and threatened to burn them alive. Eventually, the man took the woman back up the mountain, and she never came down again. But it was said that long after, people still saw the woman living alone in a stone cave in the mountains, still as beautiful as a young girl.
Such legends exist in various versions across different eras and places around the world. Lu Nianqi had treated this as just a story since childhood, but after witnessing things himself, he naturally could no longer treat it as a mere tale.
Lu Nianqi looked at Lu Chenghe and said, “So, Second Brother, if Lu Ning remains unchanged after ten or twenty years, what about you?”
Lu Chenghe stood up and looked down at Lu Nianqi from above. “Just because of what might happen ten or twenty years from now, you dared to persuade my lover to leave me? Lu Nianqi, who gave you that right?”
