Half an hour later, the stray dog’s wounds had been treated.
The doctor told Jing Li that the scars were probably from fights—just superficial injuries, nothing serious. Its skin condition was the real problem, though, along with severe malnutrition. It would need to stay at the clinic for a few days.
For the treatment, they had shaved off all the stray dog’s fur. It had been small to begin with, but now it looked even tinier. With its head trapped in the Elizabeth collar, it was clearly uncomfortable, twisting its neck this way and that in a futile attempt to lick itself.
Then, as if catching Jing Li’s scent, it paused and barked twice toward him—woof, woof—its black, gem-like eyes gazing up trustingly.
Jing Li reached down and stroked its head. It let out a soft whine and licked his fingers.
Jing Li couldn’t help smiling. He tapped the tip of its nose.
The pup was only seven months old, a mongrel. Jing Li played with it for a little while before the doctor returned.
“Are you planning to adopt it? If not, I can find it a home,” the doctor said with a smile. “Once its fur grows back in, it’ll be a handsome dog.”
Jing Li had always liked small animals. He’d even planned to get a pet someday, one he could take along on trips to the mountains and rivers. Now, with the stray dog looking at him so trustingly, his heart melted.
But he was about to enter a sham marriage with Ji Yunzhang and move into his home. He had no idea if Ji Yunzhang would be okay with a dog.
Besides, the place he was living in now wasn’t even his own. He’d have to ask Ji Yunzhang anyway.
“I’ll think it over,” Jing Li said.
The passenger door swung open, and Jing Li climbed into the car. Ji Yunzhang glanced at him. “All done?”
A few young girls in the clinic had recognized Ji Yunzhang earlier, so he’d retreated to the car ahead of time.
Jing Li nodded with a hum and explained, “The doctor says its skin condition is pretty bad. It’ll have to stay a few days.”
After a brief hesitation, he asked, “Teacher Ji, do you hate dogs?”
“Not at all.” Ji Yunzhang’s hand rested casually on the steering wheel as he turned to Jing Li, reading his mind in an instant. “You want to keep it?”
Meeting his eyes, Jing Li nodded frankly. “Yeah.”
Ji Yunzhang smiled. “Then go ahead.”
Jing Li grinned at how straightforward he was. He leaned toward Ji Yunzhang, his eyes sparkling as he said earnestly, “Teacher Ji, you’re such a good guy.”
Ji Yunzhang arched a brow. “Handing me a nice guy card, are you?”
Jing Li cupped his face and beamed like a flower in bloom. “Nope! Teacher Ji is a good guy. Anyone who says otherwise, I’ll challenge them to a duel.”
Ji Yunzhang chuckled. “Who could you possibly duel?”
“Anyone!” Jing Li raised his right arm in a show of strength, patting his left bicep with his other hand and tilting up his chin. “I’m pretty tough, you know.”
Ji Yunzhang’s eyes softened with amusement at how adorable he was.
“Sure, tough guy.” He flicked Jing Li’s forehead. “Now sit still, tough little Jing Li. I’m about to drive.”
“…”
The words “little Jing Li” left Jing Li momentarily stunned. It took him several long beats to blink back to reality. He cleared his throat. “Teacher Ji, I’m twenty-two. Not little.”
With that, he settled obediently into his seat, rubbing his ear as he turned his gaze out the window.
Ji Yunzhang’s eyes lingered on Jing Li’s flushed ears for a few seconds. He curved his lips in a silent smile and said gently, “Jing Li, buckle your seatbelt.”
“Oh.” Jing Li fastened it in a flash.
So obedient.
~~~
Back home, Jing Li dropped his things and dashed into the bedroom. He dug out a set of loose athletic wear and a fresh towel he’d never used. Clutching them, he hurried back to Ji Yunzhang and shoved the bundle into his arms. “Teacher Ji, you go shower first.”
Once Ji Yunzhang had disappeared into the bathroom, Jing Li remembered something else. He ran over and knocked on the door. “Teacher Ji, just leave your dirty clothes out. I’ll toss them in the washer later.”
Ji Yunzhang called back an agreement.
Jing Li turned and headed off. It was nearly one o’clock, and neither of them had eaten lunch yet. His stomach was already rumbling.
Noodles were quick to make. By the time Ji Yunzhang emerged from the shower, Jing Li had two steaming bowls ready on the table.
Ji Yunzhang had blow-dried his hair by then and joined him.
There was a noticeable difference in their builds. The clothes, baggy on Jing Li, fit Ji Yunzhang perfectly. Jing Li eyed him, then glanced down at his own frame with a touch of gloom. He’d thought they were closer in size.
Ji Yunzhang pulled out a chair and sat down, looking up at him. “Something wrong?”
“Nah.” Jing Li shook it off and took his seat.
They finished their simple lunch, and Jing Li grabbed some clothes to take his own shower. When he came out, Ji Yunzhang was on the sofa, talking on the phone with An Jiaming.
“…Don’t let the topic hit the hot search. Keep an eye on comments about Jing Li and report the really aggressive ones.”
Jing Li grew a little curious. What topic? And it had something to do with him? He tossed the towel casually over his head, skipped blow-drying his hair, fished out his phone, and logged into Weibo.
He scrolled through the trending list but didn’t spot anything about himself. After a moment’s thought, he typed some keywords into the search bar and navigated to Ji Yunzhang’s profile.
The top hot post was from one of his fans, who had excitedly posted several photos of Ji Yunzhang snapped at a pet clinic.
Further down were the Ji Fans, chatting away happily.
【Another sister ran into Teacher Ji! So lucky! But why was Teacher Ji at the pet hospital? Does he have a pet now? A cute little doggo or a tsundere kitty?】
【Neither. Teacher Ji took a stray dog to the vet.】
【Wuwuwu, my idol is such a good guy.】
【Teacher Ji wasn’t alone though—the guy next to him is Jing Li, isn’t it?】
【Word is it was just Teacher Ji and Jing Li there. No manager or assistant. Were they out hanging together? They look super close.】
【Gotta ship ’em casually—their faces match perfectly!】
【Me too, ship!】
Amid all the cheerful “shipping,” someone suddenly dropped a wild theory.
【What if Teacher Ji is dating Jing Li?】
A ton of netizens jumped on board, spinning tales with such vivid detail that it sounded like Ji Yunzhang and Jing Li were tying the knot tomorrow. That set the fans off.
Casual shipping was one thing, but treating it like they were actually a real couple? That was nuts.
The fans hit back hard.
Ji Yunzhang had fans in the millions. Even the level-headed big fans stayed rational about these flimsy rumors, but they couldn’t rein in everyone. Some of the more extreme ones went off, ripping Jing Li to shreds in their comments.
Jing Li had barely skimmed a few when a hand reached over from beside him and snatched his phone away.
“Don’t look.”
Jing Li glanced up, meeting Ji Yunzhang’s gentle, concerned gaze. He smiled. “It’s okay. I’m tough; they won’t get to me.”
Ji Yunzhang set the phone aside. “Doesn’t matter. Don’t look. It’ll just sour your mood.”
His eyes drifted to Jing Li’s still-damp hair. “Why didn’t you dry it?”
Jing Li pulled off the towel at the reminder and confessed honestly, “Got too into it and forgot.”
Ji Yunzhang shot him a helpless look, then turned to grab the hairdryer. Jing Li lifted a hand to take it, only to hear, “Sit still.”
Ji Yunzhang was going to blow-dry his hair for him? The realization left Jing Li frozen.
He locked eyes with Ji Yunzhang for a long moment, finally wrapping his head around it before lowering his hand. His arms felt empty and awkward now, so he snagged a throw pillow to hug instead, turning his back and settling in place.
The hairdryer hummed to life. Jing Li kept his eyes downcast, savoring the feel of Ji Yunzhang’s fingers gently combing through his strands. He pressed his lips together.
The moment his hair was dry, Jing Li bolted off the sofa like a startled rabbit. “I’ll check the laundry—it should be done by now.”
He bolted to the balcony, where the dryer chose that instant to chime. Jing Li ignored it, staring out at the torrent of rain until his dazed mind cleared. Then he slapped his cheeks lightly and pulled the clothes out.
Ji Yunzhang had changed back into his own outfit and checked the time. “I should get going. Stay off those comments; I’ll have An Jiaming sort it out.”
Jing Li had zero interest in peeking anymore. “Yeah, won’t.”
“I won’t make it tomorrow. An Jiaming will swing by to take you to Zhao Yunjing’s. Call me if you need anything.”
Jing Li flashed a bright smile. “Teacher Ji, I’m not a little kid. You don’t have to baby me like this.”
He might get too used to leaning on him.
Ji Yunzhang studied him steadily, his gaze soft and serene, a faint curve at his lips. “I’m ten years older than you. To me, you’re still young.”
Just ten years. Not even a full cycle yet.
Jing Li thought to himself.
