While talking to the others, Ji Zhaoxi searched for Lu Huainan’s figure as she answered them.
Lu Huainan stood quietly where he was. When their eyes met, he froze for a moment, then lowered his head.
Did she want to go have fun with them?
Chen Junhao was still wearing his school uniform as he gnawed on a popsicle. “Ji Zhaoxi, is A University fun? If it is, I’ll go straight there after I finish the gaokao.”
After taking the exam so many times, even making money from it, he was starting to feel tired.
Ji Zhaoxi gave a vague response, her gaze settling on Lu Huainan. “It’s pretty fun. Besides, you’ll definitely get in.”
With all his experience taking the gaokao, who knew how many times he had taken it? Last year, when the exam was over, he had even posted on his social media that the questions had been poorly written.
“Lu Huainan,” Ji Zhaoxi suddenly called out.
The crowd fell silent at once.
She felt a little guilty. Lu Huainan stood off to the side all by himself, looking rather pitiful.
But he had clearly been standing beside her just moments ago. How had he suddenly ended up so far away?
“Lu Huainan, these are my former classmates.” Ji Zhaoxi tugged on his shirt and brought him over.
The others exchanged silent glances.
Ji Zhaoxi introduced Lu Huainan to them as well. “This is Lu Huainan. We’re classmates in graduate school, and he also went to the same high school as us.”
Lu Huainan looked at the hand clutching his shirt and suddenly became completely flustered.
The girl scratched the back of her head. “Hi, Lu Huainan.”
Chen Junhao glanced at the people beside him. Were they supposed to greet Lu Huainan too?
But they all knew Lu Huainan. Back in high school, there had even been rumors about him and Ji Zhaoxi.
After all, whenever Ji Zhaoxi was somewhere outside the classroom, Lu Huainan was always nearby.
Chen Junhao gave an awkward smile. “Hello, I’m Chen Junhao. We met the day you came back to give a speech at our school.”
Lu Huainan greeted Chen Junhao stiffly.
He was so nervous that he could barely breathe. Why had she introduced him to her classmates? What did it mean?
Lu Huainan was so tense that his breathing nearly stopped. Even after the others had left, he still hadn’t recovered.
“Lu Huainan, why were you standing so far away just now?” Ji Zhaoxi couldn’t help asking.
Lu Huainan came back to himself and said awkwardly, “I was afraid of disturbing you.”
“You wouldn’t have. Next time, just stand beside me. How would that be disturbing?” Ji Zhaoxi said seriously.
“You looked so pitiful standing over there just now. It made me feel bad.”
Those words left Lu Huainan’s mind completely blank. His face flushed crimson as he abruptly turned toward Ji Zhaoxi, his heart pounding as if it were about to leap out of his chest.
But she wasn’t looking at him. Sunlight fell in scattered flecks across the side of her face as she said something, her eyelashes trembling faintly.
A tidal wave of happiness surged through Lu Huainan. At that moment, he couldn’t hear anything she was saying. He only felt as though he might faint.
She felt sorry for him…
Ji Zhaoxi looked at Lu Huainan. Seeing his bright-red face and stiff posture, she froze.
“Lu Huainan, are you suffering from heatstroke?”
That couldn’t be right. Hadn’t they both been walking in the shade?
Lu Huainan’s voice was extremely hoarse. He shook his head. “I’m not suffering from heatstroke.”
Even though Lu Huainan insisted he was fine, Ji Zhaoxi still decided to go back to the pet shop.
She felt that someone as concerned with his dignity as Lu Huainan probably wouldn’t say anything even if he felt unwell.
When they returned to the pet shop, the golden retriever was fast asleep. No matter how the staff tried to move it around, it didn’t react in the slightest.
Its snores were louder than a person’s. The cat sleeping outside had been woken by the noise and was pawing at the door.
“Meow!”
Before long, another employee picked up the kitten and fed it a lickable treat. The cat quieted down immediately.
After waiting for quite a while, the golden retriever’s fur was finally dry. The moment it ran out, it wagged its tail and threw itself at Ji Zhaoxi.
Ji Zhaoxi ruthlessly stopped it from getting any closer.
“Whine… woof, woof, woof!” The golden retriever complained at her several times before biting her pant leg in protest.
After taking out its frustration on Ji Zhaoxi, it started picking on Lu Huainan instead. Lu Huainan showed little reaction, his gaze remaining fixed on Ji Zhaoxi.
After biting him for a while, the golden retriever began to question its entire existence.
Was this even a person? How could he have no reaction at all?
“Next time you want to buy something for Stinky Dog, you can call me out,” Lu Huainan said softly as he held the leash.
Ji Zhaoxi couldn’t help laughing. “Lu Huainan, are you a walking ATM?”
Lu Huainan coughed and said in a low voice, “I can be.”
If she was willing.
“You’re making yourself very easy to trick,” Ji Zhaoxi couldn’t help saying.
Why did he go around throwing money at people? Couldn’t he learn from her and keep a tight hold on his wallet?
Lu Huainan gave a quiet acknowledgment.
He wanted her to trick him, if he ever got the chance…
On the way home, they ran into another golden retriever. The two dogs stopped and observed each other.
Stinky Dog looked unbearably proud. It had just had a bath. It was definitely better-looking than the other dog!
Neither golden retriever thought much of the other. They immediately pounced toward the other dog’s owner, and Ji Zhaoxi obligingly reached out to pet the unfamiliar golden retriever.
When they were almost home, Stinky Dog started dragging Ji Zhaoxi along at full speed. The entire dog was bursting with excitement.
Lu Huainan couldn’t help asking, “If I want to look for you, can I really message you?”
Ji Zhaoxi held on to Stinky Dog for dear life. The dog grew angry and tried to trip her. Dodging it while forcing a smile, Ji Zhaoxi squeezed out, “Of course. You can message me directly.”
In the end, Ji Zhaoxi lost her patience and began whacking it with its toy.
Stinky Dog ran faster than ever, thrilled with itself. When Ji Zhaoxi fell behind, it stopped and waited for her to catch up. The moment she reached it, it took off running again.
Watching her retreating figure, Lu Huainan felt his heart swell.
Taking the initiative really did work…
“Stinky Dog, you’re not allowed to eat dinner tonight!”
Her furious voice came from farther ahead.
“Woof, woof, woof!”
Stinky Dog ran circles around her.
Lu Huainan couldn’t help laughing.
He was really happy today.
The moment they arrived home, the fragrance of food drifted toward them. Ji Zhaoxi collapsed onto the sofa and closed her eyes, hugging a cushion.
Stinky Dog wagged its tail as it went into the kitchen, only to be chased back out.
Father Ji was wearing an apron. He called toward the doorway, “Xixi, you’re back.”
Ji Zhaoxi replied weakly, “I’m back.”
Mother Ji came down the stairs and stroked the dog. “Oh, you even had a bath. I’ll get you something to eat now. Stop wagging your tail.”
Mother Ji went into the kitchen and scooped out the food she had prepared, placing it in the dog’s clean bowl. She glanced at the golden retriever sitting beside her with an eager look in its eyes.
“Go wake your sister up. It’s almost time to eat.”
Stinky Dog wagged its tail and went back to call Ji Zhaoxi. It kept pushing its nose into her arms.
“Woof, woof, woof!”
Ji Zhaoxi lay facedown on the cushion and said muffledly, “I’m exhausted. Stop bothering me.”
Stinky Dog pawed frantically at Ji Zhaoxi, determined to make her get up and eat.
Ji Zhaoxi: …
She let out a deep sigh and sat up.
Having completed its mission, Stinky Dog wagged its tail and went to eat.
What would this family do without it? Even dinner required the dog to bark and call everyone to the table.
