translator: Eve

editor: kara

Aside from the small episode at the beginning, the celebratory banquet went off without a hitch.

After the majority of the guests had left, Feng Tong grinned at Song Xuanhe, who was standing behind Xiao Yuanmu. “You should take a vacation. No need to rush back home.” He then nodded at Xiao Yuanmu: “Goodbye.”

Following Feng Tong’s departure, the only people left in the banquet hall, aside from the hotel’s employees, who were cleaning up, were Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu. Louis and the rest had left midway during the banquet as they had other plans.

“Where are you staying?” Xiao Yuanmu asked.

Song Xuanhe told him the name of the hotel he was staying at. Xiao Yuanmu chuckled. “Are you avoiding me?”

Although the hotel was very good, it was in a different district, which meant that it was far from both Xiao Yuanmu’s company and apartment.

“I need a quiet place to find inspiration,” Song Xuanhe said, “Since the banquet’s over, you should head home. I should be going too.”

“I came with Louis and them,” Xiao Yuanmu said.

Song Xuanhe raised a brow, and Xiao Yuanmu clarified: “They took the car. My phone’s dead, so I can’t call for anyone to come pick me up.”

“What a coincidence,” Song Xuanhe said, “I don’t have an international license, so I called for a cab. Since you don’t have a ride, I’ll have the driver take you back first. You live close by, so it won’t take much time.”

Xiao Yuanmu stared at him and asked, “Do couples usually live apart after finally reuniting after a year-long absence?”

“No,” Song Xuanhe spread out his hands, “But, it’s normal for couples who have already broken up.”

Xiao Yuanmu then said, “Then, we’ll do what’s normal.”

Song Xuanhe was a bit surprised by how fast Xiao Yuanmu had accepted it this time. He didn’t think too much of it as he followed the other out to the car.

The driver was a Chinese man, but he didn’t speak much. Not only was he not chatty nor enthusiastic over meeting a compatriot, but also when Song Xuanhe had asked him to go to a different address, he only nodded.

Xiao Yuanmu’s apartment was very close to the hotel. In less than fifteen minutes, the car had arrived at the foot of the building.

The driver opened the door for Xiao Yuanmu. Xiao Yuanmu got out but didn’t step away from the car.

Song Xuanhe had thought that he wanted to say goodbye, so he waved his hand. “See ya.”

Who would have expected that the driver would come over to his side and open his door as he had said this? The driver quietly said, “Mr. Song, please step out of the car.”

Song Xuanhe paused. A bad premonition flashed through his mind, but he still tried to explain things to the driver as he clung onto his last sliver of hope. “I want to go to the hotel I had mentioned while making the reservation. This is just a stop on the way. You can take me back now.”

The driver didn’t reply. He simply kept holding the door open as he stared at Song Xuanhe.

The vein in Song Xuanhe’s forehead throbbed. He then turned to face Xiao Yuanmu, who was standing outside. His smile didn’t reach his eyes as he said, “Is he one of yours?”

“The Xiao Family has been unstable as of late,” Xiao Yuanmu said flatly, “I don’t feel rest assured, letting an outsider receive you.”

Song Xuanhe smiled in anger. “So, you were misleading me just now? You said all that just to get into the same car as me? You had even said that we should do what normal people do.”

“Normal couples stay in the same place. Didn’t you agree?” Xiao Yuanmu’s lips curled up. The smile in his eyes was completely undisguised.

“But, I said that we’ve already broken up.”

Xiao Yuanmu was still smiling—the smile even deepening as he said, “You had also said that we should just act upon what we think is true.”

Only then did Song Xuanhe understand what Xiao Yuanmu had meant.

Xiao Yuanmu believed that they were still together. Therefore, he wanted to do what other couples typically did. Moreover, he didn’t mind that Song Xuanhe acted like they had already broken up, because he had ways to force him to have no choice but to follow along.

After having found out that the driver was one of Xiao Yuanmu’s people, Song Xuanhe knew that there was no way he’d be able to go back to the hotel today. In any case, he was exhausted. He also knew that Xiao Yuanmu wouldn’t be able to do anything to him even if they spent the night together. Therefore, Song Xuanhe finally got out of the car after side-eyeing Xiao Yuanmu.

After ten months apart, Xiao Yuanmu had completely changed.

Song Xuanhe was also very puzzled over who he had learned these tactics from!

Louis, who was in a nearby apartment, arm wrapped around his girlfriend as they watched a movie, suddenly sneezed.

“Dear, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Louis tightened his robe and smiled, “It’s probably because it’s a bit chilly today.”

*

Song Xuanhe followed Xiao Yuanmu into the elevator, his arms crossed as he watched the elevator climb floor after floor. From the corner of his eye, he saw Xiao Yuanmu’s slightly raised lips, so he turned away.

The elevator door opened. Tap, tap, tap…Something seemed to be coming closer. A fat Chinese Field Dog that reached Song Xuanhe’s knees came running over, whimpering. His tail swung side to side, and it seemed like he wanted to pounce onto Xiao Yuanmu. When he saw Song Xuanhe, he barked at him.

Song Xuanhe stared at the chubby dog, which was about to jump on them, in shock. After taking a moment to consider his words, he said, “If I’m not mistaken, this should be the puppy we had picked up at the orphanage, right? The one that was only the size of my palm? What do you feed him? Did you inject hormones into him?”

Song Xuanhe emphasized the words: “Only the size of my palm.”

“It’s just normal puppy chow.” Xiao Yuanmu bent down and rubbed the dog’s head, the sliver of a laugh in his voice. “But, he’s good at finding the dog food. He’s usually unable to jump onto chairs, but if it’s for dog food, he manages to do it somehow. So as that kept going on, he ended up a bit chubby.”

When Song Xuanhe heard him say “a bit chubby,” his lips twitched. “If you wash him, his fur won’t be able to hide his fat.”

“Woof, woof, woof!”

The dog didn’t understand Song Xuanhe’s ridicule, but he seemed to remember him. He ran over to Song Xuanhe and bumped his leg with his nose. He then laid down. It seemed like he wanted Song Xuanhe to rub his tummy.

Song Xuanhe took a step back, his tone becoming a bit complicated. “Is he always this friendly?”

“Only to you.”

Xiao Yuanmu pulled out a pair of slippers from the shoe rack. “Xiao Huang (TN: Little Yellow) probably still remembers you.”

Song Xuanhe changed his shoes. Under the dog’s relentless probing and rubbing, Song Xuanhe gave in and rubbed his belly with disdain on his face. He murmured to the dog quietly: “Only for a little bit.”

He had only seen this little fat dog a few times. The longest time they had interacted with each other, the dog had peed on him—that had also been the first night they had met. At that time, the dog had been a skinny puppy. Nearly a year had passed, and the little puppy’s weight had increased five-fold. There was no way this dog still remembered him.

While Song Xuanhe had only planned to pet the little fatty—wait no, Xiao Huang— for a moment, the dog seemed to really like him. He followed after Song Xuanhe the whole time. He even ignored Xiao Yuanmu, who had gone to prepare a midnight snack.

Song Xuanhe had never really liked animals. He was really irritated, being followed around everywhere by this little fat dog. He shouted to Xiao Yuanmu, who had gone somewhere unknown, “Xiao Yuanmu! Hurry up and shoo your stupid dog away! I want to use the washroom!”

Xiao Yuanmu appeared with a hot pot in his hands. He also had an apron tied around his waist. Song Xuanhe was taken aback by his appearance. A few seconds later, he realized how he probably looked to the other. He was currently at the entrance to the washroom, both hands on the frame of the door. He was using his foot to nudge Xiao Huang outwards, but the little dog was robust and nimble. Song Xuanhe would nudge him a bit away, and a second later, he would find another crevice to wiggle into.

“What kind of obsession is this?” He had been fighting with Xiao Huang for five minutes now. Song Xuanhe laughed out of anger. “Does he usually follow you into the washroom?”

“No.” Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze fell onto Xiao Huang, who was trying his best to squeeze into the bathroom, his little butt wiggling in the air. He then looked at Song Xuanhe, who was guarding the door and blocking the dog while also afraid of hurting the dog. A smile appeared in his eyes, but he hid it quickly. He said, “It’s probably because he…on you…so that’s why he’s so attached.”

Song Xuanhe: “…”

“Use a treat or something to lead him away.” Song Xuanhe couldn’t hold it in anymore. With a hushed voice, he said, “He’s so fat, there’s no way he’ll be able to resist the temptation. Go get what he likes to eat the most.”

“His favourite thing to eat is the dog food he just had.” Xiao Yuanmu’s expression was one of helplessness.

Song Xuanhe didn’t believe his fake expression of helplessness. Xiao Yuanmu clearly looked like he was looking forward to the show. But, Song Xuanhe really needed to go to the bathroom right now. He didn’t have the time to face-off with Xiao Yuanmu. All he could do was try to think of another way. “What are you doing right now? You’re making a late-night snack, right? Just by looking at how fat he is, I can tell that you aren’t stingy with feeding him. Pour some in his bowl and lead him away from me.”

When Xiao Yuanmu heard this, his expression changed a bit.

When he didn’t hear Xiao Yuanmu’s response, Song Xuanhe asked, “What’s wrong?”

“He can’t eat human food.” Xiao Yuanmu’s hand covered his mouth. He involuntarily let out a chuckle before he tried to cover it up with a cough. “I’m cooking egg in tomato sauce noodles. It’s a late-night snack for you.”

“Woof!”

Xiao Huang barked. Song Xuanhe didn’t know if he was refuting what he had said or backing Xiao Yuanmu up, but after that bark, the dog dove into the washroom during Song Xuanhe’s lapse in attention. He then sat next to the toilet, his tail wagging as he looked at Song Xuanhe.

It looked like he planned on watching him pee.

Xiao Yuanmu glanced at the kitchen: “I’m going to go cook the noodles.”

He then left, not even looking back. Song Xuanhe, who had been planning on using a different washroom, didn’t get a chance to speak up and ask where the other washrooms were. In the end, he could only helplessly relieve himself awkwardly under Xiao Huang’s surveillance.

Afterwards, he and the dog—one with a cold expression while the other appeared jubilant—headed into the dining room.

Song Xuanhe sat down on a chair, and Xiao Huang planted himself down next to him, his tail wagging.

Xiao Yuanmu carried the bowl of noodles over and placed it in front of Song Xuanhe. Song Xuanhe couldn’t help but ask, “Just who is his owner? Also, why does he keep poking my leg with his nose? Does he want to pee on me again?”

Xiao Yuanmu looked at Xiao Huang, who had been giving him the cold shoulder after having first seen Song Xuanhe. He then looked at the other man. As he was about to reply, he heard Song Xuanhe ask, “Does he want to eat the noodles? Will he calm down after eating them? Should we just give him some?”

Xiao Yuanmu stared at him. Song Xuanhe broke eye contact and continued, “It should be fine to let him eat some human food once in a while. It’s not like you’re gonna give it to him all the time.”

“He can’t have that.” Xiao Yuanmu rejected the proposal coldly. His eyes then softened, “Besides, the reason he’s following you is because you are the one who had saved him.”

The author has something to say:

——My Song Xuanhe, even if the dog is the cutest, fattest, silliest dog, you cannot be soft-hearted! You absolutely cannot pet the doggy!

——Once you do, you’ll never be able to stop.

Eve: SXH not being able to deal with the dog is so funny.