Wang Cai hid behind Lou Jiu, watching the human in front with a puzzled gaze. That human’s scent was so familiar, as if he recognized him, but he couldn’t recall ever having met this person.
Seeing that Wang Cai kept staring at him, Zuo Ning half-squatted and greeted him, “Woof!” Hello, Wang Cai. How have you been lately?
In an instant, Wang Cai perked up his ears at the sight of that big white dog! He quickly dashed out from behind Lou Jiu, wagging his tail as he rubbed against Zuo Ning. As for why a big white dog just like him had now turned into a human, Wang Cai’s mind hadn’t processed it that deeply yet. All that mattered was that his good friend had come to see him again. He was absolutely elated.
Noticing that the little one brought by Lu Chenghe seemed quite fond of dogs, Lou Jiu laughed and said, “This is Wang Cai. Though he’s a little mongrel, he’s by no means inferior to those so-called purebred dogs. He’s well-behaved, obedient, and very people-friendly.” Then, turning to Lu Chenghe, he added, “Why didn’t you bring Little Pudding today?”
Lu Chenghe glanced at Little Pudding beside him and remarked, “He got his fur trimmed and doesn’t want to go outside.”
Hearing this, Lou Jiu couldn’t help but burst into a stifled laugh: “How can you be so short-sighted as to think about cutting Little Pudding’s fur? That little fellow, who loves to look good and stay clean, might end up depressed from such a trim. You’ve raised dogs longer than I have. Do you really believe that when the weather gets hot, dogs should get their fur cut? That’s nothing but a one-sided human notion; dogs certainly wouldn’t be happy with that.”
Zuo Ning shot a sidelong glance at Lu Chenghe. Seeing that Lu Chenghe was looking his way too, he raised an eyebrow in a teasing manner: “Did you hear that? Lou Jiu knew about it, and yet you didn’t! Believe it or not, you might be down in no time!”
Lu Chenghe gave him a light tap on the head before turning and walking inside, too unbothered to engage further in the banter.
Watching their interaction, Lou Jiu beamed, wondering if, upon his return from his travels, he might witness even greater happy news between the two of them. After a brief round of introductions and learning the young man’s name, Lou Jiu chuckled, “You two are truly destined—you both share the Lu surname. It seems you were meant to be family!”
Lu Chenghe remained unfazed by the remark; after all, that name was his own choosing, and Little Pudding had always been part of the family—it was only natural. Meanwhile, Zuo Ning blushed inexplicably and gave a shy smile.
Seeing this, Lou Jiu’s smile grew even broader. “Now that you’re here, consider this place your home. Even though I’ll be leaving in a few days, the courtyard remains, and the head chef is still here. You all can drop by for meals as often as you like.”
Lu Chenghe looked up at him and asked, “Where are you planning to go?”
Lou Jiu shrugged and replied, “I don’t know either. I suppose we’ll draw lots. Wherever it lands, that’s where I’ll head.”
Unable to help himself, Zuo Ning glanced over at Wang Cai and said, “And what about the dog, will it be shipped as cargo?”
When it comes to traveling long distances with a dog, you either drive yourself or ship the animal. However, the shipping conditions are terribly harsh. Without the owner by its side, such an environment becomes a torment both physically and mentally. It’s truly miserable.
Noticing his concern for Wang Cai, Lou Jiu laughed and explained, “You don’t actually have to ship the dog if you want to travel far. Some airlines allow animals to come aboard. If that doesn’t work, you can always go by sea.”
At these words, Zuo Ning nodded in agreement. Seeing Wang Cai continuing to bark at him, he couldn’t help but turn to Lu Chenghe.
Lu Chenghe tilted his head and asked, “What’s up?”
Pointing at Wang Cai, Zuo Ning said, “It wants to play with me.”
Lu Chenghe nodded, “Go ahead.”
Watching the man and the dog dash off together, Lou Jiu couldn’t stop smiling. He thought that the young guy, Zuo Ning, was truly adorable. He wanted to play with the dog himself, but cheekily claimed that the dog wanted to play with him. Lu Chenghe even agreed so earnestly.
Sunlight streamed through the lush canopy overhead, casting a brilliant glow that made Lou Jiu squint slightly as he sighed, “What beautiful weather. When life is always so comfortable, people tend to become lazy. I wonder how long I can stay out there; perhaps the moment I head out, I’ll already be longing to return.”
Lu Chenghe watched as Little Pudding squatted next to Wang Cai. Wang Cai is busy digging a little hole under a tree with his paw, while Little Pudding dragged a twig along the ground. He remarked, “If you want to come back, then come back. Life is yours to live as comfortably as you wish.”
Lou Jiu then asked, “And what about you? I want to know. Do you feel that your current life is truly comfortable and everything you want it to be?”
Lu Chenghe picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip. In that instant, a pair of tearful eyes flashed through his mind. When he turned, he saw Little Pudding busy digging a hole with a radiant smile on his face. After a brief pause, he finally nodded and said, “Yes.”
Lou Jiu didn’t know what Lu Chenghe was pondering, but when he looked at Lu Ning, his gaze was full of tenderness. It reminded him of the time they’d soaked in a hot spring last year when someone had said they hoped Lu Chenghe would someday meet someone who could drive him mad, in the sense of softening his emotional edges. Though it was uncertain whether this Lu Ning could really do that, it seemed as though he might have finally met the person who could.
Naturally, a little envy crept in; after all, envying happiness is a human instinct. Yet, when Lou Jiu saw Lu Ning busy with Wang Cai, he suppressed a twitch of a smile and remarked, “How old is that kid? He looks a bit young.”
“Just turned adult,” Lu Chenghe replied.
Lou Jiu glanced at him and said, “Oh, at least he’s officially an adult.” He couldn’t quite believe that Lu Chenghe was drawn to someone so tender and fresh, even though the fact that the other person was male had already taken him aback. Still, that someone, who in the grand scheme of their age was essentially still a child, left him nearly at a loss for words.
After a moment’s thought, Lou Jiu couldn’t resist a bit of gossip and asked, “So, what is it you like about him?”
Leaning casually against a bamboo chair with his legs crossed, Lu Chenghe exuded an air of noble elegance in his simple leisure clothes. His handsome face remained impassive. Upon hearing Lou Jiu’s inquiry, not even the slightest flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. He fell silent for a long while before finally murmuring, “I don’t know.”
He really couldn’t answer that question. When he mulled over all the things about Little Pudding—from his infancy up until now—nothing particularly admirable came to mind. Little Pudding was mischievous and a bit spoiled. Although he hadn’t stirred up any real trouble, he often did things that made Lu Chenghe want to give him a playful smack. He was incredibly timid, so much so that even a little scare could leave him completely rattled. And he was exceptionally dramatic, flaunting his dependency on his human with verve, while his knack for tattling was almost perfected.
Getting him to behave required all sorts of conditions and temptations. Lu Chenghe was constantly worried about what might happen to him when he was out and about, and what if he suddenly transformed in front of everyone? When it came to what he liked about Little Pudding, Lu Chenghe felt that if anyone else had such a temperament, he wouldn’t give them a second glance. But with Little Pudding, all he could feel was helplessness.
That look of resigned helplessness was something Lou Jiu had never seen on Lu Chenghe’s face before. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime sight. So moved, he burst into uncontrollable laughter and said, “I tell you, Chenghe, I have something very special I’d like to say to you.”
Lu Chenghe turned his gaze towards him.
Lou Jiu, barely able to contain his delight, burst out laughing: “Today’s your turn, too! Hahaha!”
Although he was busy digging a hole with Wang Cai, Zuo Ning’s hearing was far sharper than that of ordinary people. Originally, he hadn’t paid much attention to the nearby conversation, but when he realized they were seemingly discussing him—and especially when he heard Lou Jiu ask Lu Chenghe what he liked about him—Zuo Ning perked up his ears and listened with extraordinary attentiveness.
In the end, he heard the answer: “I don’t know!”
Had the setting been more appropriate, he would have leapt forward and given him a bite, just to show him off! How could he not be able to name even one good quality about himself? It was simply heartbreaking!
That evening, channeling his sorrow and indignation into an enormous appetite, Zuo Ning grilled an abundance of barbecue—so much so that Lou Jiu couldn’t help but marvel at the joys of youth. Being able to eat, after all, is a true blessing.
On the ride home, Zuo Ning had originally been sitting in the front passenger seat. But the more he dwelt on that “I don’t know” from earlier, the sadder he became, until he eventually crawled over and lay down on the back seat.
Lu Chenghe assumed he might be preparing to transform back into a dog. However, when he noticed that Zuo Ning had been lying on the back seat motionless for quite some time, this prolonged, silent stillness was already a bit abnormal. He pulled the car over to the side and asked, “Little Pudding, are you feeling unwell?”
Zuo Ning lay there, idly scratching at the seat leather—a spot he had previously nicked with his dog paw. Once he touched it, he couldn’t help but continue picking at it. Upon hearing Lu Chenghe’s concern, he murmured a soft “mm” and carried on with his scratching, paying him no mind.
Assuming he was simply stuffed from overeating meat that evening, Lu Chenghe opened the door and stepped into the back seat. Gently patting Little Pudding’s face, which was pleasantly warm and thankfully free of cold sweat, he asked, “Where do you feel uncomfortable? Is your stomach upset?”
Zuo Ning rose and looked at him. The car’s interior lights were dim, while outside, the streetlights streamed in to illuminate half of Lu Chenghe’s profile. His long, slender lashes drooped slightly, and his eyes, when he looked at you, gave the impression of being cradled in the gentle care of the whole world. Although that description might seem a bit sentimental, when Lu Chenghe gazed at him, Zuo Ning truly felt that tenderness—and it only deepened his sense of grievance.
“My heart feels heavy.”
Lu Chenghe furrowed his brows slightly and reached out to touch his chest. “Feeling unwell? How exactly do you feel unwell? Is it a tightness or pain?”
Zuo Ning grabbed his hand and asked, “This afternoon, when Lou Jiu asked you what you liked about me, why did you say ‘I don’t know’? Is there not a single good quality in me for you to like? Am I really that awful?”
Realizing at last that his distress was emotional rather than physical, Lu Chenghe sighed in relief—even as he felt a mix of exasperation and amusement. Yet seeing how genuinely hurt his answer had made Zuo Ning, he responded in a serious tone: “Now tell me, are you obedient? Sneaking behind my back to steal a sip of juice, ruining so many of my pajamas, wasn’t it you who tore up my original book? You even broke my computer screen and, instead of telling me, you secretly hid it away. When I repeatedly remind you of things, you always act like you’ve forgotten, never doing as I ask. Tell me, what good qualities do you have?”
Hearing Lu Chenghe recount all those past misdeeds, Zuo Ning opened his mouth to retort, but every single one of those incidents was indeed his own doing. Realizing that he didn’t even possess the one quality of obedience he once prided himself on, he sank further into sorrow.
He had always felt that the gap between him and Lu Chenghe was immense, yet there was no one else by Lu Chenghe’s side, no one better to threaten his status. Spending every day with Lu Chenghe, who was tolerant, forgiving, and even indulgent, had made him believe that perhaps the affection he longed for wasn’t so unattainable after all. But that one dismissive “I don’t know” from Lu Chenghe shattered all his illusions, leaving him overwhelmed with grief.
When Little Pudding suddenly began to snivel, Lu Chenghe couldn’t help but burst into laughter. He chuckled under his breath, then patted his head and said, “Are you really that heartbroken?”
Waving his hand dismissively, Zuo Ning replied, “Don’t worry about me—just let me be. After all, in your eyes, I’m completely worthless, so why should you care about me?”
After letting him cry for a while, Lu Chenghe remarked, “See, you’re not listening again, getting all sulky with me.”
Zuo Ning, holding back tears, stared at him. Before he could say another word, Lu Chenghe reached out, wiped away the tears on his face, and smiled softly, “I told you, go back to school. The Chinese language is rich with profound meanings. But you, with your half-baked understanding, can’t even grasp a single word.”
Zuo Ning sniffled and asked, “What do you mean?”
Lu Chenghe smiled and replied, “Lou Jiu asked me which part of you I like, and I said ‘I don’t know.’”
Lowering his head, Zuo Ning had clearly heard it all. Lu Chenghe even repeated his words back to him, as if he feared the blow wouldn’t be devastating enough.
Lu Chenghe explained, “What I meant is, even though I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is about you that I like, I simply like you.”
Instantly, Zuo Ning was stunned. He gazed at Lu Chenghe in a dazed manner as his heart began to race uncontrollably. So, what exactly did Lu Chenghe mean? Was it the kind of love he longed for, or was it just a casual, unembellished fondness?
Damn it. Why is Chinese culture so profoundly intricate that the two characters for “like” carry so many layers of meaning?! What should I do? Should I probe further? But if I don’t, I might still cling to some hope; yet if I press too hard, will that hope vanish entirely? My paws are itching, but I’m too chicken to act.
Noticing that Zuo Ning had stopped crying yet still looked at him in a foolish way, Lu Chenghe pulled out a tissue and gently wiped away his tears. “Any other questions?” he asked.
After stammering for a while, Zuo Ning mustered up the courage to say, “I—I thought you didn’t like me anymore. You owe me some compensation for the shock you gave me.”
Lu Chenghe raised an eyebrow. “How would you have me make it up to you?”
Zuo Ning, trembling, raised his hand. In the end, lacking the courage to point to his own mouth, he meekly pointed to his cheek and said, “A kiss. Give me a kiss.”
With a playful ruffle of his hair, Lu Chenghe said, “Before we get to that so-called compensation, let’s first have a proper talk about the whole school thing. I really think you need another dose of cultural education.”
Watching Lu Chenghe finish and return to the driver’s seat—with no intention of actually kissing him—Zuo Ning sadly lay down once again. So, does this mean he still cannot escape his fate of going to school? Is this the tragedy he’s brought upon himself?
There was a time when I had to spend a few years in Scotland to study. I naively wanted to bring my dog to live with me. I investigated the laws about it, and the cargo hold air flight is the least of a dog owners concerns. The UK (had, not sure about current law) demanded that any foreign pets have a 6 month quarantine. Meaning, an owner cannot interact directly with the pet for an entire 6 months. And you have no real clue about the living conditions, but I assume the dogs were kept only in kennels and not allowed outdoors. Which is worse than the local pet shelter treatment for stray dogs. I kept imagining my dog would be in unsanitary conditions and develop a severe neurotic separation anxiety problem. So I decided to leave him with family members.