The matter of whether to study or not remained an unresolved topic of discussion, so the two of them decided to let it go temporarily.
Lu Chenghe wanted him to study so he could better integrate into human society. He didn’t expect Little Pudding to achieve any major accomplishments academically. According to the Lu family’s philosophy of education, a diploma didn’t mean much. Therefore, when Little Pudding was still unsure of what he truly liked, it was naturally more advantageous for him to fully immerse himself in society. And school was undoubtedly one of the best ways to do so.
But Zuo Ning had a different view. He believed that studying was essential, but he hoped to thoughtfully consider his future first, and then pursue his education with a clear goal and plan in mind. Having already crossed the metaphorical “single-log bridge” and attended university in the past, he had experience in this area. It was precisely because of these experiences that he understood how to plan his future life more clearly.
Especially now, with certain opportunities right before him. If he didn’t make good use of them and continued living a life of simply being cared for by Lu Chenghe, he wouldn’t just disappoint Lu Chenghe, he would also lose respect for himself. At that point, it would be better to have remained a dog all along. Why bother turning back into a human?
Thus, even after having dinner that evening, and regrettably unable to maintain his human form, Zuo Ning couldn’t suppress his ambition for planning his future. Sitting on the balcony and looking at the courtyard below, where several increasingly larger black-backed dogs were joyfully running around, Zuo Ning’s expression was serious, as though he were contemplating the philosophy of life.
When Lu Chenghe entered with a cup of tea, what he saw was that pure white, desolate silhouette, looking indescribably melancholic.
Zuo Ning waited for a while but didn’t see Lu Chenghe come over. Turning his head, he noticed that Lu Chenghe had already seated himself at the desk. Holding a steaming cup of tea, he was slowly sipping it while looking at something. His mood seemed quite good, as he occasionally displayed a faint smile.
Zuo Ning was immediately angered. Here he was, exhausting his brain cells thinking about his future life, and Lu Chenghe not only didn’t offer any advice but didn’t even show a hint of concern. With that, Zuo Ning bolted forward and pounced onto Lu Chenghe’s lap.
Lu Chenghe looked down at him and said, “Done looking at the night view?”
Zuo Ning barked several times to express his dissatisfaction while clawing at Lu Chenghe’s leg, trying to climb onto him. When Zuo Ning was in human form, Lu Chenghe had told him that normal humans don’t constantly cling to each other like dogs do, always seeking kisses and hugs.
Of course, Zuo Ning understood this, but he chose to pretend otherwise. He took advantage of Lu Chenghe’s assumption that his behavior was simply due to ingrained habits, clinging to him as much as possible. After all, opportunities to be close like this might not come again in the future. If luck was on his side and Lu Chenghe got used to it, then Zuo Ning could keep doing this forever. How great would that be?
Now that he had turned back into a dog, having missed out on proper affection during the day, he certainly wouldn’t let any chance slip by now. In the past, Zuo Ning used to see couples at school walking arm-in-arm and thought it was overly clingy. Was it really necessary? Now he understood. All those “not necessary” feelings stemmed from not liking someone enough. When you truly meet someone you like, everything becomes necessary.
Lu Chenghe didn’t stop him; instead, he shifted slightly to make room for Zuo Ning to climb up. But Little Pudding had truly grown up—his size was now that of an adult dog. Sitting on Lu Chenghe’s lap without lying down even blocked his view a bit.
Picking up a comb from the side, Lu Chenghe began brushing Zuo Ning’s fur. Seeing him squinting in comfort, Lu Chenghe chuckled and said, “Have you figured out any tricks to transform back into a human?”
“Woof.”
Hearing his seemingly confident reply, Lu Chenghe couldn’t help but laugh. “So next time you transform, will you need a hat?”
Zuo Ning immediately understood that Lu Chenghe was teasing him about his ears not fully transforming last time. He turned his head and bit Lu Chenghe’s chin, then stuck out his tongue to lick it. Hmm, his beard was shaved very clean—no stubble at all.
Lu Chenghe gave him a light smack on the rear. “Sit properly.”
Zuo Ning wagged his tail, sat upright, and let Lu Chenghe brush his fur seriously.
After transforming back and forth several times, Zuo Ning had become somewhat familiar with the sensations before and after shifting forms. While he didn’t know the reason behind his transformations, he sensed that he might have begun developing a degree of control over them. However, he couldn’t tell whether it was due to a lack of ability or an inherent flaw, but he seemed incapable of maintaining his human form for extended periods.
It felt as if transforming into a human drained his energy, while reverting to a dog recharged him. Yet the duration for “recharging” and “battery life” remained unclear. He needed more time to figure it out. Regardless, this discovery was a significant breakthrough. At the very least, he could transform into a human during the day to explore and have fun, then revert to a dog at night to recharge.
Thinking about it this way, Zuo Ning suddenly felt more hopeful about life, sweeping away his earlier gloom. All at once, he started acting playful on Lu Chenghe’s lap, turning his head to nuzzle and kiss his face.
Lu Chenghe wrapped his arms around Zuo Ning to prevent him from moving too much, holding both of his paws in one hand as he asked, “Did you just suddenly think of something exciting, or are dogs just prone to being happy for no reason?”
Zuo Ning leaned against him and let out a soft whimper before opening his mouth in a big yawn, using his paw to wipe away the tears that had gathered at the corner of his eyes.
Lu Chenghe stroked his head. “If you’re sleepy, go to bed.”
Zuo Ning turned his head to look at him. Seeing his movement, Lu Chenghe immediately understood his intention. “Alright, I’ll sleep, too. I’ll sleep with you.”
Only then did Zuo Ning wag his tail in satisfaction. But just as Lu Chenghe closed the computer, a strikingly clear screensaver appeared on the screen. Zuo Ning froze in place.
It was a meticulously edited poster featuring a pure white Samoyed with bright black eyes gazing up at the sky. The dog’s expression held a level of focus and melancholy not typical for animals. The backdrop displayed a dazzling night sky filled with stars—the colors and composition were breathtakingly beautiful.
Zuo Ning still remembered that this was the first movie he starred in. Back then, a stack of meticulously edited promotional images had been sent over, and Lu Chenghe had flipped through them one by one to show him. After pestering Lu Chenghe for ages, Zuo Ning finally managed to convince him to replace the screensavers on his computer, phone, and other personal devices with his photos.
These images, once part of his daily view, hadn’t left much of an impression on Zuo Ning initially. But just now, the thought suddenly struck him that perhaps he could accomplish something with his life.
If given the chance, Zuo Ning would love to earn a living during the day as a dog and transform into a beautiful human by night. However, a dog’s acting career had its limitations. While it might be simpler than working as a human, if he were aiming for an easy life, he could just do nothing at all.
The fleeting thought stuck in his mind, refusing to leave. When it came to looks, back when he was human, Zuo Ning was far from unattractive. While he wasn’t discovered by a talent scout on the street, he wasn’t unfamiliar with being encouraged to join a talent show or two. At the time, Zuo Ning hadn’t given it much thought. To him, the title of “celebrity” had always felt unattainable. Behind the glamorous facade of the screen was immense hardship and pressure, a burden too great for anyone with low resilience to bear.
In those days, Zuo Ning found contentment in a modest, peaceful life and didn’t harbor grand ambitions. But now, he wanted to stand out, not necessarily to match Lu Chenghe, but at least not to fall too far behind.
Zuo Ning knew himself well. He wasn’t suited for scientific research, nor did he have any artistic talent to pursue a refined path. He lacked the business acumen to assist Lu Chenghe or a privileged family background to rely on. If he were a supernatural being gifted with special powers, things might be different. But aside from having slightly sharper hearing and sense of smell, he didn’t possess a single skill unique to a creature of myth.
Yet, when it came to venturing into the entertainment industry, resources wouldn’t be an issue for him. Although Lu Chenghe wasn’t the type to misuse his position for personal gain, he genuinely treated Zuo Ning well. Since living under Lu Chenghe’s care, while Zuo Ning was always under his supervision, there were very few things he’d asked for that Lu Chenghe hadn’t granted. If it were within his ability to provide, Lu Chenghe would do so. Still, such a career choice inevitably came with the consequence of spending less time together.
Countless people have pursued their dreams and worked tirelessly for the sake of providing their partners with a more comfortable and secure life, only to forget the original reason for their struggle and slowly drift apart. While Zuo Ning hadn’t experienced much of life’s complexities, he understood some things. Many matters tend to evolve over time, often slipping beyond one’s control.
So, with a newfound sense of direction for his future, Zuo Ning found himself tangled in a web of indecision once again.
Lu Chenghe pried off the paws tightly clinging to him, only for Zuo Ning to latch back on moments later, almost making Lu Chenghe want to throw off the blanket in exasperation. Helplessly, he said, “Little Pudding, aren’t you hot? You’re a sled dog; you’re supposed to be more sensitive to heat.”
Zuo Ning clung to him and let out a soft whimper, thinking that he should take advantage of the chance to cuddle while he still could. Who knew what the future might hold?
Seeing that Little Pudding was adamant about not getting off him, Lu Chenghe had no choice but to pull the blanket aside slightly and let him be. With spring approaching, it seemed like it might be time to give Little Pudding a trim.
Lu Chenghe was well aware of Little Pudding’s ability to transform into a human. That fluffy mass would turn into a slender teenager. If they were sleeping back-to-back, Lu Chenghe might not notice it as much. But before bed, the little one insisted on snuggling into his arms, whining incessantly until Lu Chenghe held him, as if he were terribly wronged.
Before dawn, Lu Chenghe was already wide awake, lying on his back. Beside him was a curled-up figure nestled in his arms. The warmth radiating from the person’s skin was palpable, even through the thin layer of fabric. Several times, Lu Chenghe was tempted to roll Little Pudding over, but every time he moved even slightly, the boy would immediately cling tighter, whining softly.
Lu Chenghe thought to himself that it might be a good idea to start putting a pair of little shorts on the dog before bed, just in case he suddenly transformed into a human again and created another awkward situation.
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