Wealthy Woof Chapter 80

When Zuo Ning woke up, the daylight was already shining brightly. He stretched lazily, feeling refreshed, and turned his head to see Lu Chenghe, whose face seemed a little darkened. Smiling cheerfully, he greeted, “Good morning.”

Lu Chenghe glanced at him coldly and said, “You have two options: sleep in bed but under your own blanket, or go sleep in your kennel.”

Zuo Ning looked at Lu Chenghe with a tearful expression. “But we were sleeping just fine! Why do you keep changing your mind every day? You said men should keep their word!”

Lu Chenghe remained silent, simply staring at him. Realizing that his usual tactics weren’t working, Zuo Ning wrapped himself in the blanket, scooted to the edge of the bed, and tugged at Lu Chenghe’s sleeve, gazing up at him with an innocent face. “Fine, I’ll sleep properly tonight. I won’t climb on top of you, alright?”

“No,” Lu Chenghe replied firmly.

Deciding to drop the topic, Zuo Ning figured he could promise to sleep separately, but once he fell asleep, who could guarantee anything? He certainly couldn’t control his movements in his sleep. Thinking back to his musings from the previous night, Zuo Ning adjusted the blanket around him and looked at Lu Chenghe, saying, “I’ve figured out what I want to do in the future.”

Lu Chenghe went along with the change in topic and asked, “What do you want to do?”

“I want to be an actor!” Zuo Ning declared.

Lu Chenghe wasn’t entirely surprised by the suggestion. Even before Little Pudding had gained the ability to transform, he already had some experience acting in two films. That might have been one of the first independent tasks Zuo Ning had completed since entering this world. It was natural for him to instinctively choose something familiar when uncertain about his future. However, Lu Chenghe didn’t fully support this career choice.

“If you’re truly set on this path, I’ll respect your decision. But first, you need to think it through: Are you choosing acting simply because you feel you have no other options, or do you genuinely love this profession? Whether your acting career succeeds or not, stepping into this world means your life will be exposed to the spotlight. Every word and action of yours will be scrutinized by countless people. You will lose all privacy and constantly face the pressures of public opinion. Most importantly, can you guarantee control over your transformation? If you accidentally revert to being a dog in the midst of a crowd, I think you understand what that would entail.”

Upon hearing those words, Zuo Ning fell silent. He had indeed considered these matters, but he knew that unless he experienced them firsthand, he might never truly understand his limits and what he could bear.

Lu Chenghe, noticing Zuo Ning’s lowered head and somewhat discouraged demeanor, sighed helplessly and walked forward to gently pat his head. “Don’t rush. We have plenty of time to think things through. I don’t need you to achieve anything remarkable, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself—unless you’re already eager to leave me and become independent.”

Zuo Ning reached out and wrapped his arms around Lu Chenghe’s waist, taking a deep breath and inhaling the faint, comforting fragrance from him. Suddenly, he felt a wave of security wash over him. “Lu Chenghe.”

“Hmm?”

“I think I can do it. I want to be someone useful, not someone who just spends his days eating, drinking, playing, and clinging to you. But I don’t know anything, and even if I try to learn, I don’t know what I can achieve. I’ve thought about everything you said, but what scares me isn’t the public opinion or pressure—it’s leaving you. I don’t want to become one of those people who are apart from their loved ones because of their career. I want to see you every day, to sleep and wake up together every day. But if I continue like this, I feel that one day I’ll start to resent myself. Lu Chenghe, I really don’t know what to do.”

There were certainly many career paths Zuo Ning could choose. If he wanted, he could use the money in his account to open a small shop or, like Lou Jiu, find a beautiful location to create something private and meaningful. Given his ability to understand “dog language” even when transformed into a human, he could even open and manage a dog shelter. But such a lifestyle would place him too far from Lu Chenghe. Zuo Ning wanted to venture out into the world, to see more of it, rather than confining himself to the small space by Lu Chenghe’s side.

Lu Chenghe hadn’t realized how much thought Little Pudding had put into these matters. Perhaps he hadn’t recognized certain changes either. Even though Little Pudding could now transform into a human, Lu Chenghe still treated him as a pet, raising him and spoiling him as if it were only natural. Yet, it was this unconscious indulgence that had led to Little Pudding’s insecurity and his eagerness to prove himself.

Although Lu Chenghe wanted to say that things were fine as they were, Little Pudding had already transformed into a human and couldn’t continue living the way he did as a dog. After all, when a person has no societal value, they will inevitably begin to subconsciously question their own worth. Fortunately, Little Pudding had recognized this issue on his own and was actively trying to address it.

Lu Chenghe ruffled his hair. “Then go and give it a try. If you don’t like it, you can always change.”

Zuo Ning looked up at Lu Chenghe, seeing the gentle smile on his face. In that moment, the word “future” no longer felt like a source of uncertainty or confusion. Instead, it was filled with an excitement that made him eager to explore! Unable to contain himself, he rubbed his face against Lu Chenghe’s chest. Being able to meet someone like Lu Chenghe in this lifetime must surely be the result of accumulating great karma over many lifetimes!

After some time spent figuring things out, Zuo Ning grew increasingly adept at controlling his transformations. He could now maintain his human form for over two days at a time. After repeated confirmations that no uncontrollable incidents would occur and with no risk of errors, Lu Chenghe arranged for the necessary identity documents. Only then did he take Zuo Ning to one of the top companies in the industry—maybe not number one, but certainly among the top three in the country.

The eldest brother of the Lu family also owned an entertainment company and had signed several newcomers. Zuo Ning had assumed that Lu Chenghe would arrange for him to join his brother’s company, as that would make it easier to handle any issues that might arise. To his surprise, however, Lu Chenghe took him to sign with an external company instead.

The moment they stepped into the building of Feixing Entertainment, Zuo Ning’s sharp eyes spotted a rising star, a small third-tier celebrity who had been quite active recently. This star currently has a popular fantasy drama airing, and played a well-received character in it. As a result, they were gaining traction and might even have a chance to move up to the second tier with another one or two successful projects. However, Feixing Entertainment had so many cash-cows under its wing that it was unlikely significant resources would be allocated to such a small newcomer.

The receptionists, seeing Lu Chenghe and his entourage, quickly came out to greet them. In their line of work, having a keen eye was a must. From Lu Chenghe’s imposing presence alone, it was clear he wasn’t someone involved in the entertainment industry. Moreover, the bodyguard-like individual following him suggested he might be a high-ranking executive from some major corporation, though admittedly, he looked far too young and handsome for the role.

Before the receptionists could even approach, Feixing Entertainment’s CEO personally came down, striding quickly toward them from a distance, all smiles and full of enthusiasm as he greeted them warmly.

The lobby was not the best place for a discussion, so Lu Chenghe gave a slight nod in greeting before heading upstairs with Zuo Ning and Feixing Entertainment’s CEO.

Some minor celebrities who had initially wanted to approach the CEO to make a good impression quickly froze in their tracks. Instead, they instructed their assistants to inquire about the man being treated with such respect by the CEO. Those familiar with the elite social and business circles recognized him as the head of the Lu Corporation, and their attention quickly shifted to the young boy accompanying him.

Their entertainment company didn’t have much collaboration with the industries under the Lu Corporation. For the CEO to personally welcome him and bring along such a fresh-faced newcomer, the reason was obvious. If they happened to cross paths with this young man in the company, building a good relationship certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Once they reached the office, Feixing’s CEO exchanged a few pleasantries with Lu Chenghe before bringing up the matter at hand. Zuo Ning politely greeted him, “Hello, Mr. Wang.”

Mr. Wang laughed heartily upon hearing the greeting. “Lu Chenghe, you’re being a bit unfair here. Sending such a promising talent to my company, once he’s trained and cultivated, someone else reaps the benefits. Isn’t that a huge loss for me?”

Lu Chenghe responded with a faint smile. “Even if there’s a loss, it wouldn’t be to you, Mr. Wang. For the upcoming season of ‘Dream Pursuit’, there will be a spot reserved exclusively for Feixing’s endorsement consideration. Consider it this kid’s tuition fee.”

‘Dream Pursuit’ was a global crystal accessories brand and a highly prestigious series of themed endorsements. Their spokespersons were always international superstars. The number of domestic celebrities qualified to take on such a role was incredibly small. If Feixing were granted the slot, it would be a huge honor. Ultimately, Lu Chenghe was merely borrowing their resources and venue for Little Pudding to get some exposure. Feixing was undoubtedly the big winner in this deal.

Hearing Lu Chenghe’s almost princely promise, Feixing’s CEO dropped all pretense and agreed readily. After all, cooperation thrives on mutual benefit. If this young man named Lu Ning could help Feixing build closer ties with the Lu Corporation, it would only bring advantages.

The CEO quickly finalized the curriculum and instructors for Zuo Ning. If Lu Chenghe hadn’t insisted on arranging the manager himself, the CEO might have eagerly offered several of their top-tier managers for Lu Chenghe’s selection.

After everything was discussed, Zuo Ning finally understood the situation. He had assumed that Lu Chenghe would send him to a film academy for a few years to systematically study and gain knowledge in the field. To his surprise, Lu Chenghe directly enrolled him into the training system of a professional company. Looking at the contract, it was clear that it was more of a formality, lacking any real binding terms. It seemed that this arrangement was secured through the endorsement deal.

Zuo Ning couldn’t understand why things had to be so complicated. The Lu family’s eldest brother’s company was excellent. Why go out of their way to use an external company?

On the way back, Zuo Ning voiced his doubts. Lu Chenghe chuckled and explained, “This is called leveraging influence. Established companies have their own advantages. Using Feixing’s name makes things easier to handle, especially since you’re not yet certain about pursuing this path. Having a front as a shield benefits you as well. Once you’ve gained more experience, you’ll gradually understand. For now, focus on your classes. If you can stick with the courses, I’ll arrange a few scripts for you to try out in the future. Once you’re truly sure about this path, you can apply to a film academy.”

Hearing Lu Chenghe’s carefully laid-out plans, Zuo Ning listened with a smile the entire way. It felt wonderful to have someone plan so thoughtfully for him. While Zuo Ning wanted to prove himself, he wasn’t stubborn enough to think he had to do everything on his own. He wanted Lu Chenghe to know that he needed him. Then, by following the path Lu Chenghe had arranged, he would work hard, achieve success, and earn his recognition.

With that thought, Zuo Ning suddenly pounced on Lu Chenghe, wrapping his arms around him and planting a kiss on his cheek.

Lu Chenghe turned his head to look at him. Zuo Ning, accustomed to such actions, didn’t think much of it at first. Seeing Lu Chenghe’s gaze, he immediately broke into a wide, radiant smile. “Chenghe, you’re the best!”

The driver in the front seat could barely resist the urge to cover his eyes. It seemed the second young master of the Lu family had come out of the closet. The world of the wealthy was beyond his understanding.