It was unclear whether it was because of that afternoon’s heartfelt conversation, but Lu Nianqi had started treating Little Pudding as a comrade in the same trench. Before, even when he saw the dog dashing around the house, he would only glance from a distance. Now, he would take the initiative to get closer. After a few attempts, when he saw that Little Pudding did not reject him, he even sneaked in a couple of pats.
Zuo Ning merely found the child pitiful in this household, so he did not reject the occasional approach.
Speaking of Lu Nianqi, his awkward position in this house was indeed somewhat pitiful. The butler always maintained a stern expression when facing him, speaking in an absolutely formal and emotionless manner. Though the household had many servants, they remained quietly occupied with their tasks and rarely appeared before the masters unless needed. For Lu Nianqi, this house probably did not even have a single person he could talk to. So much so that even a dog who did not reject him became a friend who could “talk”.
Naturally, the butler noticed Lu Nianqi’s actions and inevitably reported them to Lu Chenghe. Letting Lu Nianqi stay here was never about isolating him, so as long as there was no malice involved, there was no issue with him getting close to the family pet. Lu Chenghe merely instructed the butler to ensure Little Pudding’s safety and did not stop Lu Nianqi’s actions.
However, later that night, after returning to the bedroom, Lu Chenghe caught Little Pudding’s paws and questioned, “Do you like him? You even let him touch you, hmm?”
Zuo Ning silently turned his head away. That magnanimous attitude from earlier—now he was settling scores? So even a godly man had a two-faced side.
Given his man’s secretly jealous nature, Zuo Ning later began subtly dodging whenever Lu Nianqi tried to pet him. Lu Nianqi, however, did not seem to mind. He continued treating him as a confidant, occasionally venting grievances or excitedly sharing progress and achievements. In the end, man and dog got along quite harmoniously.
Sometimes, when Lu Nianqi had no classes in the afternoon and was studying at home, Zuo Ning would tag along and listen in. Watching Lu Nianqi repeatedly practice various dining etiquettes, learn speech techniques, analyze social relationships within the circle, and even go through PowerPoint presentations on the histories of major families, Zuo Ning couldn’t help but feel that—whether as an ordinary citizen or just a pet dog—his life was much better than that of this so-called winner in life.
Today’s lesson was about the history of the Lu family’s rise, including a genealogy dating back over a hundred years and their local influence during that time, along with the household rules of the past. Listening to all this left Zuo Ning utterly dumbfounded. No wonder his Lu Chenghe was so outstanding—if traced back to the feudal era, there was even a hint of royal blood in his lineage!
When Lu Chenghe returned home, the first thing he saw was the little thing dashing over to him excitedly, tail wagging so hard it was about to fly off. He couldn’t help but sigh, “At this rate, if you grow any bigger, I really won’t be able to hold you.”
Even though he said that, he still picked it up steadily and carried it inside. Casually, he asked the butler beside him, “Was he well-behaved at home today? Did he cause any trouble?”
Zuo Ning immediately barked, “Woof!” He had never caused any trouble! He wasn’t some dumb dog with no intelligence!
The butler chuckled and said, “He even listened in on two lessons this afternoon. Seeing that he liked staying close to the tutor, I set up a little dog bed in the study. He was very quiet, didn’t make a fuss, and seemed quite focused.”
Hearing this, Lu Chenghe couldn’t help but laugh. “You actually listened to the lessons? Did you even understand them?”
“Awooo…” Even if I did understand, I can’t let you know!
Lu Nianqi had been sitting on the sofa watching TV with Little Pudding when he suddenly heard the sound of a car. The moment the noise reached his ears, the dog beside him shot off like an arrow. Knowing that Lu Chenghe had returned, he hesitated, torn between going out to greet him or staying put. But before he could make a decision, Lu Chenghe had already walked in, carrying Little Pudding in his arms.
Lu Nianqi immediately stood up nervously, his entire posture stiff and uneasy. He stammered, “Second Brother.”
Lu Chenghe nodded at him. “How are your lessons going?”
It was probably the first time someone had inquired about his studies. Beyond his initial nervousness, Lu Nianqi also seemed a little overwhelmed with excitement. His voice even trembled slightly as he replied, “The teacher… said I’m doing okay.”
Lu Chenghe made a neutral sound in acknowledgment, his expression impassive. With his natural air of nobility and the way he rarely smiled, his composed demeanor carried an intimidating sharpness, making those around him unconsciously tense up.
Perhaps because they had been getting along better recently, Zuo Ning noticed how Lu Nianqi was practically shrinking in on himself and felt a bit sorry for him. So, he raised his paw and smacked it onto Lu Chenghe’s face. “Awoo!”
Lu Chenghe let out a helpless sigh and grabbed his paw. Though his claws weren’t out, if this little troublemaker accidentally scratched his face, that would be a real problem.
Seeing Lu Chenghe’s exasperated expression, Zuo Ning grinned triumphantly. “Woof!” Everyone else is scared of your cold face, but not me!
After pinning the mischievous little thing down onto his lap to keep him in check, Lu Chenghe finally turned his gaze back to Lu Nianqi. “In the next couple of days, prepare yourself. Uncle and Third Uncle have already received the news and are on their way back. My mother will also be returning soon. Once everyone arrives, the family will be hosting a banquet. The Lu family’s branch members will be attending. By then, your identity will be officially acknowledged.”
Hearing this, Lu Nianqi felt more fear than joy—he was so nervous he could hardly breathe.
Seeing his reaction, Lu Chenghe, thinking about the environment Lu Nianqi had grown up in, uncharacteristically offered a few words of reassurance. “Don’t be nervous. They’re all family. When the elders give you gifts, just accept them graciously. Most of the siblings and cousins in the family are decent people. The Lu family doesn’t have those messy power struggles, so you don’t need to worry.”
Lu Nianqi quickly nodded. “Got it, Second Brother. I’ll do my best.” At the very least, he couldn’t embarrass Second Brother. After spending so long learning in his home, if he performed too poorly, it wouldn’t just be his own reputation at stake—it would be a grave mistake if he made Second Brother lose face.
Having said his piece, Lu Chenghe was about to head upstairs with Little Pudding. However, Little Pudding clung to him with all four paws, refusing to get down like an octopus. If his tail were long enough, he’d probably try wrapping it around Lu Chenghe’s waist too. Left with no choice, Lu Chenghe carried the overweight little troublemaker upstairs.
As soon as they entered the bedroom, Zuo Ning knew Lu Chenghe was going to shower and change, so he didn’t continue clinging to him. But remembering what he had just said to Lu Nianqi, he couldn’t help but feel anxious. “Woof!” Your mom is coming back?!
Lu Chenghe was in the middle of taking off his jacket. Hearing the bark, he casually replied, “Be good. It’ll be time for dinner soon.”
“Woof woof!” When your mom comes back, she won’t try to take me away, will she? You better stand your ground and refuse!
“Alright, alright. I’ll give you extra meat later.”
“Woof…” But even if she takes me away, I’ll find my way back on my own!
“I’ll take you for a walk after dinner, okay?”
“Wooo woo…” The communication barrier was so frustrating.
Lu Chenghe tossed his jacket onto the sofa, walked over to the bed, and ruffled the dog’s head twice. “I’m going to take a shower. Be good and wait for me.”
“Awoo.”
Hearing what sounded like a response, Lu Chenghe smiled slightly before turning and heading toward the bathroom.
Soon, the sound of running water came from inside. Zuo Ning let out a quiet sigh. Over the past two months, aside from the occasional gifts sent by Mother Lu from abroad, he had almost forgotten that he was technically her dog. But now that the real owner was coming back, what if Lu Chenghe found it troublesome to keep him and decided to return him to her?
Even if he could keep running back here, what if Lu Chenghe kept having people send him away? He had his pride too! If it happened too many times, he’d end up feeling completely discouraged.
Just thinking about how he might have to be separated from Lu Chenghe in the future made him feel miserable. After working so hard to build their bond to this level, things could end up becoming distant again. From being inseparable every day to maybe just getting a casual head pat as a greeting—Zuo Ning was almost about to cry from his own imagination.
When Lu Chenghe finished his shower and stepped out, a small cannonball immediately launched itself at him. If he weren’t already used to these ambushes, he probably would have been knocked off balance and sent tumbling. Catching the clingy Little Pudding, who was glued to him like a burr, Lu Chenghe patted his little backside. “You’re getting bigger and clingier by the day.”
Zuo Ning decided that instead of waiting for Lu Chenghe to make a decision, he should take the initiative. Once Mother Lu returned, he would cling tightly to Lu Chenghe and firmly resist being taken away. As for Lu Chenghe’s attitude—well, he’d deal with that when the time came.
During the days leading up to Mother Lu’s return, Zuo Ning was anxious, fearing he’d be sent away at any moment. Meanwhile, Lu Nianqi was equally on edge, terrified that he might do something wrong and fail to impress his second brother’s mother. One human and one dog, both distressed over their uncertain fates, seemed like kindred spirits. For the first time, Zuo Ning felt a deep sense of camaraderie with Lu Nianqi.
What was meant to come would come eventually. On that day, the sky was a brilliant blue, the crisp autumn air refreshing. Early in the morning, the butler was already directing the household staff, making sure everything was spotless. The fallen leaves in the front yard were swept away, and the outdoor statues were polished until they gleamed.
Seeing all the commotion, Zuo Ning instantly knew that Mother Lu was arriving today. As a result, he clung to Lu Chenghe like glue, refusing to get down no matter what.
While the butler led everyone outside to welcome Mother Lu, Lu Chenghe was still wrestling with Little Pudding. “Be good. Get down.”
“Wooo, Wuu!” No way! Never!
Lu Chenghe pried one of his paws off, only for another to latch back on. Sighing in exasperation, he said, “If you don’t behave, no meat for you today.”
“Awooo!” No meat, no problem! You’re more important than meat!
Outside, as soon as Mother Lu stepped out of the car, she saw Lu Nianqi standing beside the butler. The elegantly dressed lady, with her flawless makeup, smiled warmly, exuding motherly kindness. “This must be Nianqi. What a fine-looking child.”
Noticing her kind demeanor, Lu Nianqi let out a breath of relief. He hurriedly greeted her according to seniority, “Second Aunt.”
Mother Lu nodded repeatedly. “Good, good. If you ever need anything, just go to your second brother.”
As she spoke, she realized she hadn’t seen her son or her beloved pet, so she turned to the butler and asked, “Where’s Chenghe?”
The butler stepped aside slightly. “Young Master is in the living room.”
Mother Lu instructed her attendants to take her luggage to her residence and asked the butler to distribute the gifts she had brought back. Only then did she head toward the living room.
As soon as she walked in, she was met with an unexpected sight—her usually cold and serious son, who rarely showed emotion, was tangled up in a ball with her precious Little Pudding. Normally immaculate, her son now looked like he had been thoroughly tormented, to the point that she almost didn’t recognize him.
Lu Chenghe’s clothes were only slightly disheveled from Little Pudding’s antics, far from the mess his mother imagined. But since he was always impeccably dressed, even this small difference made a strong impression on her. However, for the butler, Lu Nianqi, and the rest of the household, they had long since grown accustomed to Lu Chenghe indulging Little Pudding’s mischief, so no one found the scene surprising.
The moment Zuo Ning spotted Mother Lu, he shrank back in fear, pressing himself tightly into Lu Chenghe’s embrace.
Seeing this, Lu Chenghe gave up struggling and simply let him be. He turned to his mother and greeted her, “Mom.”
Mother Lu, however, completely ignored her son and reached out toward Little Pudding. “Oh my, my little darling has grown so much! Come, let me hold you!”
Zuo Ning buried his head into Lu Chenghe’s chest, clinging to him as if his life depended on it, terrified that he would be taken away.
Mother Lu applied a bit of force, trying to pry the little creature away. But no matter how she tried, she couldn’t budge him. Her face fell with disappointment. “Little Pudding doesn’t recognize me anymore… He won’t even let me hold him.”
Lu Chenghe helplessly patted the dog’s head nestled in his arms. “Alright, be good. Come out now. I won’t send you away, I promise.”
Hearing this, Zuo Ning finally lifted his head and looked at Lu Chenghe. “Awoo?” Really?
Lu Chenghe held him up and turned him toward his mother. “Be good and go let Mom hold you. She was the one who bought you your favorite little car.”
And just like that, Zuo Ning was placed directly into Mother Lu’s arms. Hugging the soft, fluffy white furball, she was overjoyed—so much so that if it weren’t for her lipstick, she would have planted a big kiss on that furry little face.
After giving the small fluffball a good squeeze and taking in her fill of his scent, she picked up a specially prepared toy to entice him. “Look, this is the same one as Little Pudding’s. If you press its paw, it even makes a sound! I had this custom-made just for you. Do you like it? If you do, how about coming home with me today?”
The moment Zuo Ning heard this, he immediately leaped out of Mother Lu’s arms and dove straight into Lu Chenghe’s embrace. He knew it! He knew she wouldn’t give up so easily on taking him away!
Mother Lu was stunned. “Did… did he understand what I said? He knows I want to take him with me?”
Lu Chenghe gently soothed the seemingly startled Little Pudding and smiled. “Little Pudding is very smart. He understands a lot of what we say. He must have sensed that you were coming back these past few days and has been sticking to me, scared that he’d be sent away.”
Zuo Ning froze. Lu Chenghe actually knew?! More importantly—how did Lu Chenghe know?!
Mother Lu was also a little surprised, but she didn’t find it strange. There were plenty of dogs smarter and more perceptive than Little Pudding—some cats and dogs could even sense life and death. It was just a bit of a pity. She was the one who had brought Little Pudding home, yet now, seeing how clingy the little one was with her son, she couldn’t help but feel a sour pang in her heart as if her precious treasure had been given away to an outsider—even if that “outsider” was her own son.
Watching Little Pudding desperately stick to her son, her heart was about to melt from the cuteness. She quickly pulled out her phone and started snapping photos from every angle. “Oh my little darling, you’re just too adorable! Come on, Little Pudding, look at the camera~”
Standing to the side, Lu Nianqi watched this harmonious and joyful family scene unfold before him. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he always felt like an outsider—like he could never truly be a part of it.
