Chapter 43: Finding a Samoyed

The original plan—flatter! Lu Mengyao’s gaze toward Cheng Cheng was brimming with affection. As long as she fostered a good relationship with Cheng Cheng, even if Cheng Yao eventually lost interest in her, he would still treat her kindly out of fondness for his sister.

Cheng Cheng sat beside Cheng Yao, muttering, “Brother, I suddenly feel so much pressure, like all of a sudden…”

Suddenly moving to a new home, suddenly having a piano teacher—anyone would need time to adjust.

“You’re simply blind to your own good fortune,” Cheng Yao remarked, glancing at her. “Just act as usual. You’ve got a whole week to prepare. If you don’t learn well, no one will blame you anyway. You always lose interest after three minutes.”

“That’s not true!” Cheng Cheng protested. While others dreamed of becoming astronauts, her dream was simply to play piano like her sister-in-law Zhang Ya and be a beautiful, attractive girl.

She stopped complaining about pressure; instead, she was simply overwhelmed by happiness.

Cheng Yao said nothing more, dipping lamb slices into the sauce and eating in silence.

A third of a spoonful of millet chili, half a bowl of shrimp paste, a sprinkle of cilantro and minced garlic, and a drizzle of sesame oil—it was enough to make anyone’s appetite surge.

Dinner ended at half past seven. Lu Mengyao hurried home, needing to practice driving at the school the next morning.

Both of them had skipped the first module and moved on to the second. Some instructors allowed jumping ahead, but others didn’t…

For instance, if you couldn’t master the second module, you’d take the third—the road test—in advance.

Cheng Yao took Cheng Cheng to Golden Eagle Mall, shopping until about half past nine, carrying bags upon bags until they could carry no more.

“Brother, can I bring friends home tomorrow to play?”

“Sure, just don’t bring any boys.”

“That’s impossible!” Cheng Cheng said, holding snacks and eating ice cream, her eyes suddenly widening. “Brother, look—a cute little dog!”

Woof woof woof~~

On the steps at the entrance of Golden Eagle, a creamy-white Samoyed puppy barked softly, tail wagging, circling the doorway.

“That’s a Samoyed, isn’t it? How could anyone abandon such a dog?”

Cheng Yao looked around; no one was nearby. A pet backpack sat at the closed clothing store’s entrance, with a small note attached.

Dog owner: The child at home is allergic to dogs, so we really can’t keep it. I hope some kind-hearted person can adopt it. Please, apart from barking and making a mess at night, it doesn’t know anything else. It still needs one more vaccine, which can be given next month. (*ﾟ∀ﾟ*)

Cheng Cheng read the note, her voice filled with pity. “Brother, it’s been abandoned.”

“You can’t even take care of yourself,” Cheng Yao replied, already guessing that Cheng Cheng was thinking of keeping the dog.

“I promise, I promise I’ll take good care of it. Besides, when you’re not home, it’ll keep me company. I won’t be annoyed at all…”

Cheng Cheng was already cradling the dog in her arms. “So soft and small—it’s licking me, hahaha…”

Woof woof~~

Listening to the little sounds, Cheng Cheng felt herself melting.

Cheng Yao rolled his eyes, covering his face. “The three fools of sled dogs—this one can wreck a house just like a husky.”

“I want it, let’s keep it. Otherwise, it’ll be so pitiful. I can even take less pocket money,” Cheng Cheng pleaded, her eyes full of hope as she looked at Cheng Yao.

In the end, the dog was stuffed into the backpack and carried on Cheng Cheng’s back.

Fortunately, a nearby pet shop was still open. They gave the puppy a bath, bought a basin, some food, and a few cans of dog food.

The shop owner was surprised. “Found it?”

“Yes.”

“This dog costs over two thousand yuan. I wonder if it’s had all its vaccines.”

“It still needs one more.”

After buying everything, they took a taxi back to Cloud Residence on the Half-Mountain—already ten o’clock by then.

Once home, Cheng Yao started organizing things. The new house needed a fridge and other appliances, so he ordered them online—after all, they’d arrive the next day.

He preferred buying better quality, more durable items for peace of mind.

A high-end fridge cost over ten thousand, the washing machine over eight thousand, and he planned to pick out a sofa and coffee table at the mall. From the bathroom came the puppy’s barking and Cheng Cheng’s startled cries.

“It pooped, brother, come quickly!”

Cheng Yao went over, frowning. “Flush it down—the dog should always go in the bathroom, or teach it to use the litter box. Otherwise, the whole place will smell.”

“I get it. Little White, shake!” Cheng Cheng called.

Woof!

The Samoyed puppy ran to Cheng Yao’s feet and gnawed on his shoes.

Cheng Yao gently flipped it over, and the puppy tumbled onto the floor.

“It’s late—tidy up and go to bed. I have things to do tomorrow.”

“Alright, you sleep first.”

Cheng Yao returned to the master bedroom, where the bedding was ready. After washing up, he lay down and fell asleep.

When all was quiet, Cheng Cheng finally carried the puppy back to the second bedroom.

At night, Cheng Yao occasionally heard the little puppy’s cries, feeling the new home gradually becoming lively.

…

…

A silent night passed; in the blink of an eye, it was dawn.

Youthful energy was abundant. As his phone rang, Cheng Yao sprang up and washed, finishing just as Cheng Cheng emerged with the puppy.

Cheng Yao was ready, and Cheng Cheng was already feeding the Samoyed.

“It has such a pretty face,” Cheng Cheng said, “I don’t know how its owner could bear to let it go.”

“I told you, it’s the dog hair allergy. Did it make a mess?”

“No, it already went in the bathroom—so obedient…”

Cheng Yao nodded, placing several hundred yuan on the table. “Buy whatever you want to eat. I won’t be home for lunch.”

“Me neither.”

“Then lock it in the bathroom.”

“Alright.”

Leaving Cloud Residence, Cheng Yao messaged Lu Mengyao; she was already on her way, having gotten up quite early.

The appointment was for half past eight—they’d make it in time.

Cheng Yao had wontons at a roadside stall. Last week, a single day off had him rushing to Zhang Ya’s place, but this month, with more rest, he finally enjoyed leisure.

Though the weather remained hot, sitting under the plane tree, eating breakfast in the breeze, was a pleasure.

After a bowl of tofu pudding, he hailed a taxi to the driving school.

When he arrived, Lu Mengyao was already inside.

Today, Lu Mengyao wore a denim camisole with a jacket—thankfully, she remembered to button up. The surrounding gazes lingered in her direction.

“How long does the subway take you?” Cheng Yao asked.

“Forty minutes.”

“Doesn’t that tire you out?”

“It’s alright.”

Lu Mengyao brushed her hair aside. She didn’t care about luxury cars; she simply enjoyed a more strenuous lifestyle.

The instructor, a middle-aged man in a T-shirt, looked at Lu Mengyao, then at Cheng Yao. “You’re early—only you two this morning. Each gets an hour. Start by practicing reverse parking, get in the car.”

At this hour, the car was already stuffy. In fact, Cheng Yao had watched tutorial videos online yesterday, so he grasped the concept quickly.

But Lu Mengyao was only half-understanding.

Men had a natural advantage at these things, so Cheng Yao drove smoothly, while Lu Mengyao’s attempt was bumpy.

Bang!

Suddenly, a violent crash startled everyone.

Lu Mengyao screamed, the instructor’s face turned pale.

…

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