Perhaps his expression was truly grave, because the Labrador nodded: “Okay, Dog will go.”
After notifying Luo Xi and Luo Abu about the follow-up matters and instructing them not to run around carelessly before the verdict came down, Jiang Xiaoyu politely declined Luo Xi’s invitation to stay for dinner and said goodbye to them.
On the way back to the Case Handling Office, Jiang Xiaoyu pressed his phone screen. The screensaver was a photo Ye Qingxu had taken of him, surrounded by a bunch of cats and dogs, sticking out his tongue and grinning happily.
He pursed his lips in a small smile, then unlocked the screen to call Jin Ge. When the call connected, the man’s voice carried the displeasure and hoarseness of being woken up: “Whatcha callin’ for?”
Jiang Xiaoyu held his breath, mustering his courage just before Jin Ge got impatient and started cursing. Finally, he blurted it out: “Master, thank you.”
Jin Ge seemed stunned. For a long time, there was only the sound of their quiet breathing over the call. After a few seconds—or maybe minutes—he chuckled: “Has your brain gone bad? What nonsense are you spouting?” He hung up, draping his forearm over his slightly damp eyes, thinking to himself: It’s great. Although he hadn’t managed to teach Jiang Xiaoyu to be honest, someone else had.
After the call, Jiang Xiaoyu walked energetically toward the Case Handling Office, buzzing with excitement. He was already good-looking, and with his eyes sparkling like that, he drew stares from a crowd of passersby.
He was like he’d popped a vigor pill, full of energy. Just before entering the government building gates, he thought his brain was playing tricks on him, but after squinting, he shouted: “Granny Apo, are you here at the Public Security Bureau for something?”
Zhou Xu’s case had been judged some time ago, and Zhou Xu’s grandmother looked much better in spirits. Her hair and clothes were neatly tidied: “Officer Jiang, I was just looking for you.”
Jiang Xiaoyu hurried forward to support her: “Don’t you have my number? You could’ve just called me. No need to come all this way.”
As they walked toward the Case Handling Office, Zhou Xu’s grandmother patted Jiang Xiaoyu’s hand holding hers. It had been a while since they’d met, and the boy looked much better—completely different from his previous silent, even gloomy demeanor. She smiled and said: “Life’s boring for me and the old man. We really miss A-Xu, so we thought we’d just adopt a dog. A-Xu wanted one before he died, but we never had the means. Funny thing—the compensation is so much that now we can afford it.”
Those words were brutally honest. Jiang Xiaoyu turned his head so she wouldn’t see his reddening eyes: “Then why come to the Public Security Bureau?”
Zhou Xu’s grandmother said: “I’m old and don’t know where to adopt strays, so I figured I’d ask at the police station. I hadn’t even gone in when I ran into you.”
Hearing this, Jiang Xiaoyu paused. Ever since adopting the little animals, he’d never considered handing them over to humans again—it was too risky. What if they ended up with unreliable people? But looking at the wrinkles covering Zhou Xu’s grandmother’s face, he pursed his lips, thought it over, and finally said: “Granny Apo, I’ve adopted a bunch of stray dogs. If you want one, you can see if any catch your eye.”
Zhou Xu’s grandmother smiled: “Perfect timing then.”
Ye Qingxu had bought a house and a car, and though he still had most of his savings left, he had a kid to raise, so he was always on edge about money.
A big job came up, and he took it just looking at the pay. Only after did he realize the client was Wan Keyao.
He followed the agent with a cold face; Wan Keyao, seeing this, walked ahead with an equally displeased scowl.
The poor balding agent pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, feeling like he was the equator between two poles, about to melt: “Mr. Ye, take a look. How do you plan to design this plot?”
When it came to work, Ye Qingxu ignored the fool and stopped to survey the area.
This zone was quite far from Ink Orchid Mansion. Ink Orchid Mansion was secluded by the mountains; this area was by the river and the new economic center. Different positioning from Ink Orchid Mansion, but same sky-high prices.
Instead of high-rises on such prime land, they’d fenced off large lots for standalone villas—who knew the value.
“What kind of design does Mr. Wan want?” Ye Qingxu asked flatly.
Wan Keyao wanted a smoke but remembered this guy hated the smell, so he irritably chewed the cigarette instead: “Whatever. Whatever Mr. Ye likes.”
“What’s that got to do with me?” Ye Qingxu said coldly.
“How’s it not your business?” Wan Keyao spat out the cig.
The agent’s sweat worsened. He rushed to smooth things: “Then, shall we two gentlemen walk further in?”
“What’s it to you? Who asked you?” Wan Keyao snapped irritably; the agent took an innocent hit.
Ye Qingxu sneered: “Mr. Wan sure has high class, cursing people out of nowhere? Is this how rich folks throw their weight around?”
The agent’s face went white. He desperately wished this ancestor would shut up—couldn’t he see the big dragon was about to breathe fire?
“Not as refined and brainless as Mr. Ye.” Or how else would he recognize some random kid as his son? Just ’cause he looks like him?
The two, whose ages added up to nearly a hundred, bickered like elementary kids. The agent didn’t dare interject anymore and just wiped sweat.
“Since Mr. Wan doesn’t know what design he wants, contact me once you figure it out.” Ye Qingxu flicked his sleeve and left, too lazy for more nonsense. Time to pick up the kid from work.
Wan Keyao fumed, nostrils flaring, but couldn’t do a thing—couldn’t bear to curse or hit him. Once the man was out of sight, he turned his fire on the agent: “You idiot? Didn’t think to stop him?”
The agent bowed bitterly in apology, watching the big dragon storm out after him.
Jiang Xiaoyu settled Zhou Xu’s grandmother in the Case Handling Office’s reception room: “My dad might be a bit late picking me up. Do you need me to arrange anything at home?”
Zhou Xu’s grandmother took the tea he offered: “No need. I made lunch; the old man can heat it up for dinner himself. No trouble.”
Jiang Xiaoyu said nothing more, went out to sort some case paperwork. He figured he’d have to wait after work, but right at quitting time, Ye Qingxu called: “Dad’s at the door waiting for you, brought you some fruit tea.”
Jiang Xiaoyu hurriedly packed up and led Zhou Xu’s grandmother out.
At the door, he helped her into the passenger seat, then ducked into the back, buckled up, and without thinking said: “Dad, this is a friend’s granny. Granny Apo, this is my dad.”
Even though it wasn’t the first time hearing the kid call him that, Ye Qingxu still felt like tearing up. He quickly smiled to hide the redness in his eyes: “Hello, Granny Apo.”
With father and son both calling her Granny Apo, the awkward title lightened the mood. Knowing she wanted to adopt a dog, Ye Qingxu glanced at the kid in the rearview mirror but said nothing.
At home, Zhou Xu’s grandmother went to look at the dogs. Ye Qingxu pulled Jiang Xiaoyu aside: “Little Yu, can you bear to let them go? Don’t worry about money. No matter how many you want to adopt, Dad’s here. I won’t let you go without the means to care for them.”
Looking at the cats and dogs curiously clustering around Granny Apo, Jiang Xiaoyu took a while before saying: “I… I don’t want to either. But what if the dogs want to go somewhere? It’s better than staying cooped up in the yard forever.”
Ye Qingxu ruffled his hair: “Alright, then let’s hear what the dogs think.”
Of course, it wasn’t just Jiang Xiaoyu who couldn’t bear to part with the cats and dogs—the cats and dogs couldn’t bear to part with him either. At first they curiously gathered around the old lady, but when they heard she was there to take them away, they came crying over one by one: “Boss, are you done with us cats/dogs? Cats can eat less; don’t abandon us!”
Seeing this, Ye Qingxu patted Jiang Xiaoyu’s shoulder and led Zhou Xu’s grandmother inside to sit.
Jiang Xiaoyu’s eyes stung with tears from their crying. He squatted down, comforting them one by one: “It’s not like that. I won’t abandon you. I brought her so you could hear her story. If you’re willing, go with her for a while. If not, stay with me forever.”
The cats and dogs sat quietly listening to Jiang Xiaoyu tell the story of that old lady. After learning of her tragic experiences, they all cried out, “Humans are so evil! Not only do they kill cats and dogs, they even kill their own kind!”
Jiang Xiaoyu pursed his lips and said, “Who can argue with that?”
Even though Jiang Xiaoyu said this, the cats and dogs that had spent a long time with him were still unwilling to leave him. They all scattered and burrowed into the various large and small nests in the courtyard that hadn’t been assembled yet, leaving only the newcomer Yellow-White Patch behind.
“Boss, Dog doesn’t want to leave you either, but,” it said, lowering its head with its big ears drooping in embarrassment, “Dog likes the way that human looked when holding the photo and talking about her own child—so gentle, just like how Papa Ye looks at you, Boss. Dog, Dog never had a dad or mom. Dog wants to be with her.”
Jiang Xiaoyu smilingly stroked its head. “That’s great. You’re the best little dog in the world—Granny Zhou will definitely take good care of you.”
He picked up Yellow-White Patch and handed it over to Granny Zhou, telling her that Yellow-White Patch was an experimental dog. Though there were no major issues with its body, it had gone through many drug resistance experiments, so its lifespan definitely wouldn’t be as long as a normal dog’s.
Granny Zhou smilingly stroked Yellow-White Patch’s head. “That’s for the best too. It’s better for it to go before us old folks than after, so it won’t end up wandering again after we die.”
Ye Qingxu didn’t have deep feelings for the cats and dogs, but even he teared up hearing Granny Zhou’s words. He felt this world was truly fucked up—why did such a good person and such a good dog have to go through so much suffering?
Just like his own kid.
And so, the adoption was settled just like that. Jiang Xiaoyu brought Yellow-White Patch over to say goodbye to its brothers and sisters that it had spent time with, then together with Ye Qingxu, they sent Yellow-White Patch and Granny Zhou back home.
At this time, he still didn’t know that before long, he would come into contact with another shocking tragedy through Yellow-White Patch.
