From that day on, there was one more person who wanted to walk Ji Xinxin.
Mother Ji and Father Ji stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the retreating figures of the two people and one dog with complicated expressions.
“Do you think Xixi’s classmate is trying to steal Ji Xinxin from us?”
Father Ji took a sip of tea and said solemnly, “It’s possible. There aren’t many dogs in this world as intelligent as Ji Xinxin.”
Meanwhile, the golden retriever was having the time of its life on the beach.
“Woof… woof, woof!”
Ji Zhaoxi sat in a beach chair and waved a toy in front of it. Ji Xinxin spun around and around after the toy, then lost its footing and fell flat on its face.
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Ji Zhaoxi put down the toy and looked at it. “Stinky Dog, are you all right?”
The golden retriever’s tail drooped. Without a word, Lu Huainan placed the drinks on the table beside her and prepared to examine Ji Xinxin’s legs.
Ji Zhaoxi hesitated, then nudged its head with the toy. “Sorry. Are you okay?”
The golden retriever glanced at her without making a sound, then silently lay down on the mat beside them.
Ji Zhaoxi couldn’t help laughing when she saw it like that.
Lu Huainan quietly felt around its body, checking to see if it was hurt.
“It’s fine. It probably fell just now and feels embarrassed.”
Lu Huainan looked confused. “Dogs need to worry about their dignity too?”
Ji Zhaoxi immediately defended Stinky Dog. “Why wouldn’t a dog need dignity?!”
Lu Huainan suddenly became flustered. He hurriedly explained, “I’m sorry. Don’t be angry. I understand now.”
He lowered his head dejectedly. He had said the wrong thing again.
Seeing him like that, Ji Zhaoxi was delighted.
This was exactly what she wanted. Back when Lu Huainan had acted so unbearably arrogant, she had secretly hoped that one day he would stand in front of her with his head bowed and his voice meek.
“Good. Since you understand, don’t say things like that again!”
Lu Huainan nodded sadly.
Ji Zhaoxi was even happier and almost burst out laughing.
After that, Ji Zhaoxi put on her sunglasses and lay down in the chair for a nap. Lu Huainan diligently kept Ji Xinxin company, playing with it and taking time out to snap some promotional photos for Ji Zhaoxi. He was busier than ever.
“Woof, woof, woof!”
The golden retriever was tired from playing and lay panting on the mat. Lu Huainan skillfully gave it some water and treats, then took a few more pictures of Ji Zhaoxi.
Before long, the golden retriever fell sound asleep.
Ji Zhaoxi was extremely satisfied. Now that Lu Huainan had worn Ji Xinxin out, she wouldn’t have to play with it that night.
That evening, the two of them returned to their respective homes.
Ji Zhaoxi prepared promotional copy at home, while Lu Huainan learned how to make beef noodles.
They each had their own tasks.
After taking a shower, Ji Zhaoxi lay on her bed and looked through the messages her company had sent her.
[Xixi, do you want to do a couple pairing with Jiangjiang? A gloomy snake-type guy and a cool little cat—an aloof kitten paired with a sinister snake. Do you like it? [Excited] [Excited]]
Ji Zhaoxi rejected it without hesitation.
[Ji Zhaoxi: No. I don’t like snakes!]
The company continued trying to persuade her.
[What about the little bunny? A soft, fluffy bunny paired with a cool little cat—this couple would be perfect!]
Ji Zhaoxi rejected it seriously once again.
[Ji Zhaoxi: No!]
Now that she was so popular, doing a couple pairing with someone else would only let them mooch off her fame.
Besides, the rabbit wasn’t soft at all. It had quite the temper. Ji Xinxin had probably learned that lesson the hard way…
Though, of course, this rabbit wasn’t that rabbit.
Seeing how determined Ji Zhaoxi was, the company regretfully backed off. They would just try prearranging couple pairings for some of the other streamers instead.
Ji Zhaoxi finished editing her promotional copy and posted that day’s photos. As usual, the comments were full of praise.
[Xixi is so beautiful! [Kisses]]
[When are you going to livestream, Xixi?]
[Kisses for you, baby.]
But the fan group was a completely different story, with everyone talking about whatever they wanted.
[Same style as always. Is this another post about her high school classmate who’s also her graduate-school classmate?]
[They’re definitely dating. I guarantee it. Even if she were dating someone, she’d never admit it.]
[I bet they aren’t dating. Whoever loses owes twenty Carnival gifts. [Yawning]]
[Why won’t she do a couple pairing? Did that little dog scare her last time?]
[Probably. This woman is incredibly stingy when it comes to traffic and popularity. [Picking teeth]]
[Qinqin: Little Train is being so good to her now. Besides, I’ll be the first to object if anyone says she’s stupid.]
[Xixi Kitty: I’m begging you people, can you stop speculating about her like this?! Xixi is just a silly, dazed little cat-bunny with no schemes whatsoever. She doesn’t have to do anything at all—other people will simply place whatever she likes right into her hands. Can you stop making her sound so calculating? I’ve really had enough!]
[Qinqin: Can you stop shipping her so obsessively, Xixi Kitty? Do you even realize how creepy the things you say sound…]
The fan group descended into another noisy argument.
Ji Zhaoxi, meanwhile, knew nothing about any of it. She was busy defending her top spot.
After her previous battle with Sanzi, she had risen to become the top female streamer, while Sanzi’s livestream audience had dwindled to just over a hundred people.
A few days later, Ji Zhaoxi would have to return to school.
So much had happened during this vacation.
As Ji Zhaoxi packed her luggage, Ji Xinxin stayed curled up inside her suitcase.
It knew that every time she opened that suitcase, they would be apart for a long time.
“Stinky Dog.” Ji Zhaoxi placed some clothes in the suitcase, then bit its ear.
Ji Xinxin whimpered a few times and wagged its tail.
The door suddenly opened, and Mother Ji called out, “Ji Xinxin, come out.”
Ji Xinxin climbed out of the suitcase gloomily.
“Don’t bring too many things. It’ll be tiring to carry them. We can always send them over later,” Mother Ji said as she helped fold the clothes.
“I know, Mom.” The moment Ji Zhaoxi saw her mother helping her pack, she immediately flopped down on the blanket and began slacking off.
Father Ji stood at the doorway, leisurely holding his tea. In his deep, gruff voice, he said, “Don’t eat too much takeout at school. Food from outside isn’t clean. You’ll get diarrhea.”
Ji Zhaoxi lazily argued back, “I won’t!”
Father Ji snorted. “How do you know you won’t? They use gutter oil. If you keep eating that stuff, your health is definitely going to suffer.”
Mother Ji clicked her tongue. “All right, all right. There’s only one night left, and you’re still arguing with her.”
Father Ji didn’t dare say another word and silently left with his tea.
It was clearly Mother Ji who had asked him to tell Xixi not to order takeout. Yet she had made this poor man play the villain!
Early the next morning, Mother Ji and Father Ji drove Ji Zhaoxi to the airport.
Lu Huainan had already arrived ahead of time. When he saw Ji Zhaoxi, he casually took her suitcase and politely greeted Mother Ji and Father Ji.
“Take good care of yourself over there. A City is so far away—your mother won’t be able to look after you,” Mother Ji said, her eyes reddening slightly as she stroked Ji Zhaoxi’s hair.
How had this month gone by so quickly? It felt as though they had only just brought her home yesterday.
Ji Zhaoxi nodded glumly.
Father Ji didn’t know what else to say, so he merely gruffly told her, “Call us if you run out of money.”
Mother Ji was furious and shot him a glare. “That’s all you ever say.”
Father Ji muttered, “You already said everything else…”
What more was he supposed to say?
Ji Xinxin’s tail drooped low as it stared at Ji Zhaoxi the entire time.
Ji Zhaoxi lowered her head and patted the dog’s head. “I’m leaving, Stinky Dog.”
“Whine… Woof!” Ji Xinxin kept whimpering, rubbing against her hand nonstop.
Ji Zhaoxi held back her tears and turned away.
Her parents and little sister had seen her off countless times, but she still felt like crying.
Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, Lu Huainan awkwardly handed her a tissue.
He clumsily tried to comfort her. “It’s okay. Study hard, and someday you’ll be able to stay with your uncle and aunt.”
Ji Zhaoxi muttered, “If you don’t know how to comfort people, then don’t try…”
“Oh.”
…
“Ji Zhaoxi, do you know what’s tall, short, fragrant, and stinky?”
“…”
“This is really funny. I saw it online before. Take a guess.”
“I can’t guess…”
“It’s a tall-short-fragrant-stinky person. How about that?”
“…”
“You smiled.”
“That was an angry smile!”
“Oh, oh…”
