After a busy day, as soon as Lu Chenghe stepped into the living room, a snow-white furball came darting toward him. It seemed like the little creature intended to stop in front of him, but it overestimated its braking ability. After scrabbling its legs a few times in vain, it was about to crash into him when Lu Chenghe quickly scooped it up.
Held securely in Lu Chenghe’s arms, Zuo Ning wagged his tail enthusiastically while sticking out his tongue, determined to make Lu Chenghe feel the warmth of home and recognize him as a valued new family member.
Whether Zuo Ning’s efforts were effective or not remained unclear, but facing this little creature’s unwavering enthusiasm even after a day apart, Lu Chenghe seemed rather satisfied. He tucked the dog into the crook of his arm and used his free hand to gently stroke its fur. Seeing how obediently it stayed still without making a fuss, his fondness for it grew slightly.
The butler, who had been standing by the door waiting to greet Lu Chenghe, chimed in at the right moment, “Young Master, you could call its name more often. It helps build the bond between you and your pet and makes it more familiar with its name.”
While Lu Chenghe had been away during the day, the butler and the servants had followed strict instructions: they only placed food in the designated area cordoned off for Little Pudding and kept their distance the rest of the time. They avoided calling its name too often, fearing it might confuse the still-young pup.
This approach would naturally change as Little Pudding grew older and became more accustomed to its owner. For now, however, this was the best time to strengthen their bond.
Hearing this, Lu Chenghe automatically thought of the name “Little Pudding”, which he found somewhat overly cutesy. Glancing down at the puppy in his arms, Lu Chenghe saw Zuo Ning looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes. The moment their gazes met, Zuo Ning eagerly stuck out his tongue and gave a warm, sweet smile, a gesture that seemed to radiate positivity.
Lu Chenghe stared at the puppy’s jet-black, curious eyes for a moment before he finally spoke, “Little Pudding.” His voice was deep and pleasant but completely devoid of emotion as if calling the name was purely mechanical.
The dog, however, had no choice but to respond enthusiastically while “under the eaves”. “Woof~~”
Lu Chenghe nodded, satisfied that the puppy recognized its name. Holding it in his arms, he headed toward the bedroom. Behind him, the butler couldn’t help but smile appreciatively. Having watched Lu Chenghe grow up, the butler could recall a time when the Young Master, although reserved, still exuded a sense of warmth.
After the Master’s untimely passing, Lu Chenghe had shown warmth only when interacting with Madam. Despite his young age, he had borne the heavy burden of managing the entire Lu family enterprise. In addition to that, the prevalence of scheming individuals around him made it difficult to form meaningful friendships. In this context, raising a loyal, well-behaved pet might indeed be a good idea.
In the bedroom, Lu Chenghe placed Zuo Ning on the sofa and headed into the bathroom for a quick shower, emerging shortly after in comfortable loungewear. However, what greeted him was the sight of the chubby puppy perched precariously on the edge of the sofa. Just as Lu Chenghe moved to catch it, he was a moment too late. With a soft “thud”, the little pup fell onto the thick carpet below, landing on its back with all four paws in the air. After flailing for a moment, it finally managed to sit up.
When Zuo Ning noticed Lu Chenghe standing in the bathroom doorway, he immediately got up as if nothing had happened and casually walked over to rub against Lu Chenghe’s leg.
Lu Chenghe glanced down at him, his gaze lingering for a moment before he commented with mild disdain, “Short legs.”
Zuo Ning froze for a moment, pretending not to understand the insult as he leaped toward Lu Chenghe in an attempt to climb onto him. He had assumed that, having just showered, Lu Chenghe would be reluctant to touch him. To his surprise, he misjudged Lu Chenghe’s character entirely. What he thought was just a playful jump turned into him being picked up effortlessly, with not a hint of disgust from Lu Chenghe about his fur or potential germs.
Feeling slightly comforted, Zuo Ning’s affection for Lu Chenghe grew even deeper. It seemed that, while this man appeared cold on the surface, it was probably just because he didn’t express his emotions openly—his heart was still warm!
Without Lu Chenghe at home during the day, Zuo Ning could only move about within the fenced-off area assigned to him. Although it came with a luxurious doghouse, plenty of chew toys, and a space large enough for him to run freely, he still felt a lack of freedom. Now that Lu Chenghe was back, Zuo Ning immediately felt more free—he could even eat his meals on a chair now!
That evening, Lu Chenghe had Chinese cuisine for dinner. Regardless of the specific regional style, Chinese dishes are known for their emphasis on color, aroma, and flavor. For a dog, whose sense of smell is far keener than its eyesight, the aromatic dishes being brought to the table were nothing short of torture. For Zuo Ning, who was eating bland, flavorless food, the enticing scents were an inhumane form of torment.
Having thought that saying goodbye to dog food would make life a little easier, Zuo Ning hadn’t expected the level of his suffering to rise alongside the upgrade in food quality.
Sniffing the air, Zuo Ning ignored the carefully prepared meal in his food bowl. Instead, he placed his front paws on Lu Chenghe’s thigh, wagging his tail and whining pitifully in an attempt to beg for food.
To fulfill his mother’s instructions before her departure, Lu Chenghe had placed Zuo Ning on a chair beside him during meals, which made begging for food all the more convenient. However, even shrimp meat without any seasoning wasn’t something he could give to the dog. Without even needing to ask, Lu Chenghe knew that tonight’s dinner was absolutely unsuitable for a dog.
He pointed to the food bowl nearby. “Go eat. That’s your dinner.”
Zuo Ning immediately let out a flattering whine: “Woof woof~~” He just wanted a taste—life as a dog was truly hard.
Seeing Zuo Ning persist, Lu Chenghe directly grabbed the scruff of his neck and placed him back in front of the food bowl. Knowing that continuing to pester would only lead to him being disliked, Zuo Ning had no choice but to sit back with drooping ears and tail. As he took bites of his own food, he glanced up at Lu Chenghe after each bite, letting out pitiful little whines. This made Lu Chenghe feel as though he were being cruel to the dog while eating his own dinner.
If Zuo Ning could hear Lu Chenghe’s thoughts, he would have loudly declared: No, this isn’t just a feeling—it’s absolutely true!
After finally managing to finish his1ZN bland dinner, Lu Chenghe started considering whether he should give the dog a bath. Although the house was very clean and Zuo Ning hadn’t been allowed to run around outside these past few days, it didn’t feel right to keep holding a dog that hadn’t been bathed.
Before he could decide, the butler approached and said, “Little Pudding still needs one final vaccination. The vet who’s been giving him his shots left his contact information. I asked earlier today. He said it could be done within the next two days. When do you think would be the most suitable time, Young Master?”
Zuo Ning, who was chewing on a rubber ball, paused to glance at the butler. He still had to get a shot? Fine, for the sake of his health and considering his already short lifespan, he’d endure it. After all, he had never been afraid of injections since he was young.
Lu Chenghe stroked the little head of the puppy sprawled on his lap, playing with the ball. “Let’s do it tonight. Once all the shots are done, he can go outside to run around. If he doesn’t exercise soon, I’m afraid he’ll get so fat he won’t be able to move.” As he spoke, he picked up one of Zuo Ning’s paws and squeezed it. The plump, squishy feeling in his hand was quite satisfying.
However, Zuo Ning, who had fluffy fur but little actual fat, felt like he was being mercilessly shot down with arrows!
The vet arrived quickly. After all, the place where Madam Lu had impulsively decided to adopt a dog wasn’t just any breeder—it was one run by her socialite friend, where the pets were all offspring of carefully bred animals. The vets who provided care for these pets were highly specialized and exclusive to the social circles of the wealthy. Getting a chance to visit the Lu family’s home was such a privilege that they would show up promptly, even if it were raining daggers.
The vet who arrived was very young, with a pleasant demeanor. While not strikingly handsome, he exuded a warm and gentle presence that made people feel at ease. Following the butler’s lead, he was guided to Lu Chenghe, where his eyes naturally softened upon seeing the little pup sprawled on its owner’s lap, happily playing with a ball.
Although Wen Ting was just a veterinarian, serving the many pets of the wealthy social circle had given him some insight into their affairs. From the bits and pieces he had heard, he gathered that Lu Chenghe was a difficult man to approach—cold and aloof. Yet his family background and abilities were top-notch, far surpassing the second- and third-generation heirs in the circle. To many socialites, he was the ideal son-in-law.
Wen Ting had already had a favorable impression of Lu Chenghe. Seeing him now—dressed in simple loungewear yet still radiating a remarkable aura—only deepened his positive feelings. After greeting Lu Chenghe politely, Wen Ting refrained from unnecessary small talk and got straight to business, inquiring about the dog’s recent health and bowel movements.
The butler provided detailed records of Little Pudding’s daily data, which Wen Ting reviewed with a nod. He then turned to Lu Chenghe and asked, “Little Pudding’s condition is good enough for the vaccination. Would you like to hold him for the shot or shall I ask the butler to assist?”
The butler was just about to step forward when Lu Chenghe said, “I’ll do it. What do I need to do?”
As he prepared the injection, Wen Ting explained, “Just hold Little Pudding while seated. The shot will sting a bit, so make sure you keep a firm hold on him. If he struggles and the needle slips out, it’ll hurt him even more.”
Lu Chenghe nodded, tossing the rubber ball aside. He extended a finger and tapped Zuo Ning’s forehead lightly. “Don’t move.”
Zuo Ning, who could understand human speech, obediently stayed still. Wen Ting chuckled at the sight. “Mr. Lu, you’ve trained Little Pudding very well. He’s so well-behaved at such a young age. When he grows up, he probably won’t be much trouble.”
Lu Chenghe merely gave a light “hmm” in response. Seeing that Wen Ting was ready with the syringe, he held Zuo Ning firmly in one arm and pressed the pup’s head against his chest, ensuring he couldn’t see the needle. He even asked, “Is there anything I need to pay attention to after the shot?”
Wen Ting smiled as he approached. “After the vaccination, his immunity might be a bit weak. Avoid bathing him or taking him outside for the next few days. After about a week, he should stabilize, and you can resume normal care.” He gently patted Zuo Ning’s rear and spoke in a soft tone, “Be a good boy, Little Pudding. It’ll be over soon.”
Lu Chenghe watched as Wen Ting parted the fur on the pup’s backside and pinched a bit of skin. The sharp needle pierced through in an instant. The little dog in his arms shuddered violently, letting out a low whimper. Despite this, Zuo Ning didn’t struggle much, which instinctively prompted Lu Chenghe to soothe him with gentle strokes.
The injection was quick and done within minutes. After removing the syringe, Wen Ting gently rubbed the injection site. “All done. Since Little Pudding is still a puppy, make sure to deworm him monthly. Once he’s six months old and has a stronger immune system, quarterly treatments will suffice. For adult dogs, deworming every six months is ideal. You can bathe him a week from now. If you notice any changes in his temperature over the next two days, contact me immediately.”
Lu Chenghe nodded and asked, “He’s so fat. Will that affect his health?”
Hearing this, Zuo Ning, who had been trying to ease the soreness in his rear, opened his mouth and bit down on the nearest finger. Life as a dog was already hard enough, and now he was being criticized for being fat? How was he supposed to live like this?!
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