Ji Zhaoxi was squatting on the ground adjusting Ji Dadan's harness when, the next second, she was knocked over by a big, furry dog.
Ji Zhaoxi froze for a moment, but her eyes lit up as soon as she saw the familiar head.
"Leiting!"
Xie Sili stood helplessly to the side. "I told you not to jump on people."
He reached out a hand to Ji Zhaoxi, his voice carrying a hint of apology. "Sorry, I hope she didn't scare you."
Delighted, Ji Zhaoxi gave the dog's head a good rub and smiled at Xie Sili. "Leiting would never scare me."
Xie Sili looked at her, momentarily stunned, then nodded. "That's good."
The silly dog kept nuzzling Ji Zhaoxi, pushing Ji Dadan right out of the way. Ji Dadan, furious, cursed at the dog from the side, its meows growing louder and louder.
Ji Zhaoxi had no choice but to pick Ji Dadan up and hold it in her arms. Leiting watched her with longing eyes, its tail drooping dejectedly, prompting Ji Zhaoxi to quickly start petting its head again.
Xie Sili took a deep breath and averted his gaze.
He was afraid if he kept watching, he might die of frustration.
He didn't want to accept the fact that Ji Zhaoxi had a better relationship with Leiting than he did.
Ji Zhaoxi, being very perceptive, noticed Xie Sili's mood. She thoughtfully glanced at Leiting, then at Xie Sili.
Xie Sili felt a gentle tug on the corner of his clothes. He turned his head to find Ji Zhaoxi smiling at him, her eyes sparkling. "Leiting still likes you the most."
So don't be jealous.
Under her gaze, Xie Sili's ears instantly turned red. He turned his head away uncomfortably. "It's fine, I don't mind."
Suddenly, she grabbed his wrist. Xie Sili's entire body stiffened, his heart pounding so hard he didn't know where to look. Ji Zhaoxi placed his hand on Leiting's head.
"You pet Leiting too. See how happy it is."
The touch left as quickly as it came. A strong sense of loss suddenly welled up in Xie Sili's heart. Silently, he rubbed Leiting's head.
Leiting's fur was coarse, and Xie Sili didn't really want to pet it. Watching Ji Zhaoxi sitting nearby, playfully teasing both Leiting and Ji Dadan, he felt a momentary daze.
If he were a pet too, would she tease him like that?
He quickly snapped out of his reverie, rubbing his temples with a headache.
He must be going crazy.
Just then, an old woman with her grandson walked over.
The little boy looked curiously at the pets in the park. Experienced pet owners were already leading their own pets further away.
"Grandma, there are so many dogs here."
The old woman chuckled. "Go play with them, but don't get too close."
The little boy's gaze was gradually drawn to Leiting. He stood at a distance and stomped his feet towards the dog.
Leiting lazily opened its eyes, not yet realizing the gravity of the situation, and merely wagged its tail.
The boy hid behind his grandmother, who teased him with a laugh. "Dare to get a little closer?"
The boy declared loudly, "I don't dare, Grandma! That dog definitely bites. It's so ugly."
His gaze kept drifting towards Ji Zhaoxi and the others, trying to get their attention, but no one paid him any mind.
A nearby poodle was watching this scene intently. The poodle's owner glanced at Ji Zhaoxi with a hint of sympathy in her expression.
The pet park didn't explicitly forbid people without pets from entering, so children often sneaked in, only to frequently get scared and cry.
The boy and his grandmother moved a bit closer. Xie Sili gave them a cold look.
The old woman felt a bit intimidated by Xie Sili's stare and complained, "Young people these days have no manners at all."
The mischievous boy repeated his grandmother's words. "No manners! No manners!"
His voice was piercingly shrill.
Ji Zhaoxi: "..."
It was annoying, but they truly hadn't done anything particularly outrageous yet.
The old woman and the boy were quiet for a while, and Ji Zhaoxi thought they had finally settled down.
"Wahhhhh—"
Suddenly, the little boy charged forward as if possessed, making faces and yelling at Leiting.
Ji Zhaoxi was startled by him. Xie Sili's face turned cold. He steadied Ji Zhaoxi by the shoulder and subtly patted Leiting, loosening the leash slightly. Leiting immediately lunged towards the boy.
The boy was instantly scared into tears, falling to the ground with a pitiful wail. The old woman was also greatly startled by Leiting and hurriedly picked her grandson up.
"You wretched thing! Not keeping your dog properly leashed—what if it had bitten my grandson?!"
Xie Sili calmly retracted the leash. Leiting, also frightened by the old woman's shouting, cowered and buried itself in Ji Zhaoxi's arms, its tail tucked between its legs.
Ji Zhaoxi tenderly stroked its ear. Ji Dadan stood on Ji Zhaoxi's shoulder, continuously meowing as if scolding the little boy, looking so fierce that it seemed ready to pounce and scratch him at any moment.
The boy cried louder and louder, throwing a tantrum and demanding to go home.
The old woman, who had initially wanted to demand compensation from Xie Sili, was at her wit's end from the boy's crying and had no choice but to carry him away.
Ji Zhaoxi lifted Ji Dadan down from her shoulder. Ji Dadan had really done her proud—so tiny yet not backing down an inch.
"Good baby."
Ji Zhaoxi hugged Ji Dadan and nuzzled it, her eyes curving into happy crescents.
The last trace of agitation in Xie Sili's heart suddenly melted away. He lowered his head, no longer daring to look at her, and absentmindedly stroked Leiting's fur.
He didn't want to give up. He didn't want to stay away from Ji Zhaoxi.
So what if it hurt? So what if he felt frustrated? These were all normal emotions.
At dusk, a golden halo spread across the sky.
Ji Zhaoxi and Leiting reluctantly parted ways.
On Monday morning, Ji Zhaoxi arrived at school early.
The routine was the same every day.
Slip the love letter into Xie Sili's desk, eat breakfast, wait for class.
Just as she had tucked the letter into Xie Sili's desk, her hand was suddenly caught.
"Zhaoxi, it was you?"
Xie Sili looked at her, his tone puzzled. "The one who's been sending me love letters all this time was..."
"No!" Ji Zhaoxi interrupted him in a panic. "I'm just delivering them for her."
Xie Sili was silent for a moment. "Did she just give it to you?"
Ji Zhaoxi quickly nodded.
"But," Xie Sili paused, "I followed you into school just now. I didn't see anyone approach you."
His eyes were full of confusion.
He picked up the love letter from the desk and said hesitantly, "Zhaoxi, it was you sending these letters all along, wasn't it? I'm sorry, I didn't realize before."
Just as Ji Zhaoxi was about to explain, Xie Sili said seriously, "Then let's be together, Zhaoxi."
"Huh?" Ji Zhaoxi looked at him in disbelief.
Wait, what was happening?
In the span of just five minutes, how had things progressed so rapidly?
Xie Sili's ears were red. He turned his head away. "I like you too, Zhaoxi. Will you be with me?"
Looking at Xie Sili's evasive eyes, Ji Zhaoxi suddenly realized he wasn't joking.
