A little dog?
In this world now, how could there still be a little dog?
Lin Zao’s first reaction upon hearing Lin Xiaobao’s words was disbelief.
Even if there really was a little dog, it should have been a “dead dog” by now.
Or perhaps…
It was the zombie living in the utility room on the first floor, howling and wailing, and Little Bao had heard it.
“Little Bao…”
Lin Zao turned his head, about to explain to Lin Xiaobao.
But before he could speak, Lin Xiaobao spun around, waving his toy Golden Cudgel with excitement as he ran toward the source of the sound.
“Dad, there’s a little dog! Come look at the little dog quick!”
“Little Bao…”
Seeing that things were going south, Lin Zao hurried after him.
“Little Bao, no running off!”
“I’m not running off! I just want to see the little dog!”
“That’s still not allowed. Let Dad check it out first. What if it’s dangerous?”
Lin Xiaobao ran ahead, with Lin Zao chasing behind.
Just then, a few more little dog barks came from downstairs.
“Woof… Woof…”
This time, it wasn’t just Lin Xiaobao—Lin Zao heard them too.
They were small, soft, and faint.
Not like any sound Fu Cheng could make.
Fu Cheng was a tall, burly, rough zombie of a man. Even if he strained his throat until it smoked, he couldn’t produce a sound like that.
Lin Zao froze for a moment before snapping back to his senses. He reached out, grabbed Lin Xiaobao’s short little arm, and yanked him back.
“No running off. Dad will go check first.”
“Okay.”
Lin Zao held Lin Xiaobao’s hand and followed the sound to the back window of the second-floor living room.
The one right across from the exhaust fan in the utility room.
Zombies had often gathered there before, and Lin Zao had driven them off with firecrackers several times.
Lin Zao stood behind the curtain, crouched down, and made a shushing gesture to Lin Xiaobao.
“Shh—”
Lin Xiaobao mimicked him, covering his mouth with his hand.
He stayed obediently quiet, not speaking or making a sound.
Lin Zao shielded him behind his body, lifted the curtain, and peered outside.
Sure enough, a medium-sized black dog covered in blood was running over from a distance.
Lin Zao’s eyes widened involuntarily. He leaned forward, trying to see more clearly.
The black dog’s body was matted with blood, making it impossible to tell if the wounds were its own, from a zombie bite, or someone else’s.
Just then, Lin Xiaobao tugged at his dad’s pants.
In a whisper, he asked, “Dad, is there a little dog? Can I look?”
He was too short, not even reaching the windowsill. Unless his dad picked him up, he couldn’t see.
“No…” Lin Zao started to shake his head in refusal.
The next second, several zombies shuffled around the street corner in slow pursuit.
Seeing their guts spilling out, entrails dragging behind them in a horrific display, Lin Zao’s heart tightened. He immediately covered Lin Xiaobao’s eyes, his tone firm.
“No.”
“Why?”
Lin Zao didn’t answer. His expression grew even graver as he stared intently outside.
The black dog, chased by the zombies, bolted in blind panic.
By some coincidence—or perhaps not—it raced straight toward their house.
In this apocalyptic world, even dogs were fighting desperately to survive.
Lin Zao’s heart softened for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
Surrounded by so many zombies and covered in blood, this dog had likely been bitten already.
No, he couldn’t bring it into the house.
A dog wasn’t like Brother Cheng.
He didn’t know this dog, and it didn’t know him.
Brother Cheng knew him and Little Bao. They shared a deep bond, which allowed Brother Cheng—even after being infected by the zombie virus—to recognize them through sheer willpower and not attack.
But a random dog? No.
If he brought it home and it went berserk, it would be all over for them.
He couldn’t risk the safety of his whole family on a moment of softness.
But…
Wait! Wait a second!
As the black dog drew closer, Lin Zao thought he saw something else.
It… its mouth seemed to be carrying something!
Lin Zao edged along the window for a better look.
What was that?
A bomb? A detector?
Had some bad guys targeted their house again and sent the dog to scout?
But why, if it had something in its mouth, could it still bark?
Where had the dog barks he and Little Bao heard come from?
It was… it was…
Lin Zao stared at the scene in disbelief.
A smaller dog!
The big dog had a little puppy in its mouth and was fleeing for its life.
The puppy was newborn, barely any fur yet—a tiny white speck from afar.
It wasn’t injured at all, not even a drop of blood on it.
No, he couldn’t just stand by.
It had come right to his doorstep. Even if he couldn’t save the big dog, he had to rescue the puppy.
As long as the puppy wasn’t hurt, he’d save it!
Lin Zao released Lin Xiaobao’s hand. “You’re not to peek or open the window. Dad’s going downstairs to get tools and bring the little dog up.”
“Why?”
“Monsters out there are chasing the little dog. Kids can’t look—it’ll draw the monsters over, and then the little dog will be in even more danger…”
As he spoke, Lin Zao dashed downstairs.
“Okay, I won’t look.” Lin Xiaobao nodded. “Go for it, Dad.”
“Got it.”
Lin Zao reached the first floor and made a beeline for the shelves. He snatched a lighter in one hand and a handful of firecrackers in the other.
He’d gotten very practiced at driving off zombies.
Right— the little dog was downstairs, so he definitely couldn’t open the door to go out. He needed another way to get it inside.
Lin Zao glanced around and headed to the utility room’s small window. He climbed onto a stool, untied the rope from the window, and hauled up the plastic food basket he used to deliver meals to Fu Cheng.
Fu Cheng heard the noise and stood immediately, looking up at him. His eyes gleamed in the darkness.
—Little Zao! You’re back!
As Lin Zao pulled the rope, he said, “Sorry, Brother Cheng. I’ve got something important to do right now—no time for a long chat. Borrowing your food basket for a bit; I’ll return it soon.”
Fu Cheng rumbled from deep in his throat.
—What is it?
—I know I messed up. I’ll study hard.
—I heard a dog barking outside. Don’t go out—you might get bit.
—Someone bullying you again? Open the door; I’ll handle it.
That single rumble carried several meanings.
But Lin Zao couldn’t understand it. He took the rope and basket and headed straight back upstairs.
Fu Cheng looked up at the window for a while before starting back to his corner.
Just then, firecrackers exploded in the air outside the window.
Boom—
Fu Cheng instinctively whipped his head around. He kicked off his shoes, threw back the sheet covering the bed, climbed onto the stainless steel bed frame, and peered out through the spot where the exhaust fan had been removed.
He saw a battered black dog carrying a little puppy in its mouth, running along the narrow path behind their house.
Several zombies, drawn by the scent of blood, pursued relentlessly.
Fu Cheng looked up and spotted Little Zao at the upstairs window, leaning out the sill and hurling a lit firecracker.
Boom again—the firecrackers detonated outside the wall.
The zombies, attracted by the noise, looked up, following Lin Zao’s hand toward the wall.
The black dog had exhausted its strength; its pace had clearly slowed.
—Little Zao wants to save this little dog.
Fu Cheng realized it in an instant.
He thrust a hand out the window and roared at the zombies.
“Roar! Roar roar roar!”
—Get lost!
Firecrackers could attract zombies.
But in the face of thick blood scent, that was less certain.
For zombies in perpetual hunger, filling their bellies came first.
They followed sounds in search of food, but now food was right in front of them. Why chase distant noise?
So…
Even with Fu Cheng there, the zombies hesitated but refused to leave, eyeing the dog.
Fu Cheng’s face darkened, his expression sinister, his gaze menacing, his aura overwhelming.
He locked eyes with them, unyielding.
“Roar!”
Like a tiger’s roar or a wolf’s howl, earth-shaking!
The zombies flinched and retreated a few steps.
Even Lin Zao upstairs jumped in surprise.
But Lin Zao recovered faster than they did.
Seizing the moment, he lowered the food basket on its rope from the upstairs window.
Lin Zao leaned on the sill and beckoned to the black dog standing not far away.
“Come here—come here—”
Hurry! Hurry over!
The black dog hesitated, unsure whether to approach.
Lin Zao glanced at the zombies stirring again and grew anxious, beckoning more urgently.
“Come on, come on—come on, come on!”
Hurry up! Don’t hesitate!
The basket touched the ground, and Lin Zao tugged the rope to tilt it slightly onto its side.
“Little Black?” Lin Zao called tentatively.
Domestic mongrels that were black—ninety percent were named that.
Sure enough, the name got a reaction from the black dog.
Lin Zao pressed on. “Little Black, quick! Put the little puppy in here!”
He jiggled the rope lightly, making the basket bump the ground with a soft thud.
Lin Zao operated carefully, but worry crept in.
What if Little Black didn’t understand and climbed in itself?
He definitely couldn’t bring it inside.
What if…
“Little Black…”
Lin Zao pressed his lips together, about to warn it.
The next instant, Little Black walked to the basket, lowered its head, and gently released its jaws.
With careful, gentle movements, it placed the little puppy inside.
It even nudged the puppy with its nose, pushing it toward the center of the basket.
That way, when Lin Zao pulled it up, the weight would be balanced, no tipping or wobbling.
As for itself, it stayed outside, showing no intention of entering.
It lifted its head, eyes brimming with tears, and gazed firmly at Lin Zao with those deep brown eyes.
Lin Zao looked into its eyes and felt a strange familiarity, like he’d seen it somewhere before.
But with all that blood matting its fur, he couldn’t make it out.
Just then, Little Black tentatively wagged its tail at him.
Realizing it could still wag, it wagged harder and harder, more and more vigorously.
This was how puppies begged—taught by their mom and dad.
Lin Zao snapped out of it, sniffled, and hurriedly pulled the rope to lift the basket.
“Don’t worry, I’ll pull it up right now. Our house is safe…”
Perhaps understanding his words, or maybe his actions—Little Black relaxed. It wagged its tail like a propeller at Lin Zao, rumbling low in its throat with happy growls, signaling goodwill nonstop.
As Lin Zao hauled the basket up, he reassured it.
“Don’t worry, it’s just a little puppy baby. I’ll take good care of it…”
“Little Bao’s little too—they can be friends…”
“We’ve got a big dog at home too. It can play with the puppy. Don’t worry.”
Right then, Fu Cheng roared again, holding the zombies at bay.
Little Black confirmed the basket had reached the window, glanced back once.
Somehow finding a burst of energy, it suddenly bolted, sprinting away like an arrow loosed from a bow.
No looking back.
