Shen Ju fell silent at once, not making a sound for a moment.
[Think about your Task Energy Bar, Host.]
996’s voice softened involuntarily, but it still reminded him: [For some reason, the Task Energy Bar has been filling up slowly these past couple of days. It’s almost stagnating.]
A flicker of something passed through Pei Yan’s eyes.
Shen Ju finally seemed to react, letting out an [Ah].
[I know, Brother 996. Don’t worry.]
[I’ll pay attention from now on!]
996 tentatively relaxed for the moment.
[Alright then. Just remember, everything you do has to backfire.]
But the words were already out; there was no taking them back now.
Shen Ju thought for a moment, then flashed Pei Yan another fawning smile. “Even though I don’t like dogs, it’s because of me that Pei-ge got hurt. I’ll take full responsibility to the end.”
Saying you disliked dogs right in front of a dog owner—probably no one would enjoy hearing that.
And with that obsequious expression, it looked like bootlicking, pure lapdog behavior.
Pei Yan gazed at the lapdog smile on that face.
He actually wanted to ask if Shen Ju knew he looked a lot like Madam Qin Soxi. That small, exquisite face, with almond-shaped eyes that were big and round, pitch-black and shiny, long lashes, a dainty nose—it was like a BJD doll. When he piled on what he thought was a fawning smile, it actually came off more like coquettish pleading, making it impossible to get mad.
Even if he hadn’t overheard Shen Ju’s conversation with the System…
Pei Yan considered it carefully. Probably, maybe, it would be pretty hard to really get angry, right?
With a face like that, he should have been raised as a pampered little prince from childhood.
Any kindness toward him was only to be expected.
Seeing Shen Ju apparently waiting for his reaction, Pei Yan raised a brow before speaking. “Sure.”
A bland acknowledgment.
Shen Ju and 996 both paused for a beat: Huh? That’s it?
Man and system sighed in unison once more: Pei-ge, what a good guy.
He wasn’t even mad after hearing something like that.
Having reinforced the “good guy” label yet again, Pei Yan put on another warm expression and said, “Then I’ll wait for you to come help walk the dog tomorrow.”
“I’ll go with you. I can’t exercise too much, but I can stroll around outside.”
Shen Ju returned alone to the house next door.
On the way back, he was still mumbling that Pei-ge was such a good guy.
Handsome and kind-hearted.
He decided to head over first thing in the morning to help walk the dog.
But right before bed, he checked the Task Energy Bar progress with 996 one more time.
5.7%.
Compared to before, it really was filling slowly.
What’s going on?
Shen Ju reflected deeply on his mistakes, vowing to perform well tomorrow.
And so, early the next morning…
Yujinfu’s gardens were vast enough that one section was cordoned off with a rubber running track, spacious stone paths, even divided lanes—clearly, the space was enormous.
Lots of people were out walking their dogs in the morning.
A viral video online lately showed dogs pulling their owners on wiggle cars—letting both human and dog unleash their instincts, a win-win. Sure enough, someone in Yujinfu had bought one to try, and these past couple of days, the garden track had scenes of dogs dragging people along.
Shen Ju had no such intentions, but he found it pretty novel.
Before heading back yesterday, Pei Yan had given him the gate code so he could come straight in the next morning.
Shen Ju figured Pei Yan was worried he’d oversleep, so he’d given him the code early. But when he arrived first thing, Pei Yan was already up and dressed neatly.
So thoughtful.
Shen Ju sighed inwardly, growing even more deferential toward Pei Yan.
Lapdog-style, he took hold of the leash and asked if Pei Yan was tired, suggesting he sit on the bench by the path and wait.
After a night, Pei Yan already felt much better.
His constitution had always been strong; the diagnosis was one thing, his recovery another.
But that didn’t stop Pei Yan from continuing to play it up.
He just found it a bit amusing—how was this kid acting like he’d chugged an energy drink after one night?
Was completing the task that important?
Important enough to make himself unlikeable?
“Pei-ge, you don’t need to follow me. I can handle it alone, no worries. You’re the one who must be tired after walking this far. Sit down and rest; I’ll walk Little Stone by myself.”
Self-talking, presumptuous.
No eye for the situation, self-righteous.
Words that seemed caring came out all wrong.
Pei Yan had said he wanted to stroll, but Shen Ju steamrolled ahead with his own assumptions.
Even if the other person didn’t snap, they’d probably feel annoyed.
Yet Pei Yan just smiled readily. “Alright, then I’ll sit here and wait. Thanks for the trouble.”
Shen Ju and 996: […]
For the 101st time, man and system marveled at Pei Yan’s goodness.
So gentle. He’s seriously not hard to get along with at all!
Shen Ju pulled Little Stone along with a look of sudden realization.
The moment Shen Ju turned away, the smile faded from Pei Yan’s face until it vanished completely. He looked down at his phone, checking the morning financial news.
That aloof demeanor carried a distinct keep-away aura.
Shen Ju had no idea of Pei Yan’s true face. In his mind, Pei Yan was already cemented as a good guy—good temper, gentle, handsome, with a great dog to boot. All good, all good, which left Shen Ju feeling oddly like the bully. After all, his goal was to make Pei Yan uncomfortable.
Maybe Pei Yan’s uncomfortable right now, just holding it in without showing a hint.
Man, how can someone be this good?
Shen Ju quietly scorned himself a little.
And slapped on the 108th “good guy” label.
Just then, Little Stone suddenly lunged forward.
“Woof!”
Like he’d spotted something exciting for dogs, his tail wagged furiously.
“What’s up?”
Shen Ju looked up and saw a Husky charging past, dragging a burly guy on a wiggle car.
The guy trailed raucous hahahas behind him.
Little Stone hopped once, glancing up at Shen Ju.
“Woof woof!”
Then he twisted his head, slipping the leash off his own neck before dashing forward, looping back, and looking at Shen Ju while wagging excitedly.
“…”
996 couldn’t help but marvel: [This dog even knows how to demonstrate.]
[Are all you humans’ dogs this smart?]
Shen Ju: …Not really.
“Sorry, Little Stone, I don’t have a wiggle car.”
996 parroted: [I don’t have a wiggle car~~~]
Shen Ju: […]
996: [Ahem, I’m just bored.]
[You sure are bored, Brother 996…]
996 hesitated: [Host, are you shading me?]
[No way.]
Plenty of people were strolling the gardens early in the morning.
No wiggle car—Little Stone looked disappointed. He circled Shen Ju a few times, confirmed there really wasn’t one, then picked up the leash loop in his mouth, signaling Shen Ju to keep walking him.
“Good boy…”
“Damn, Guan Shen Ju?! Aren’t you at He Yuan?”
Before the words finished, a familiar voice rang out.
Shen Ju looked up to see Han Chengfeng.
Han Chengfeng was tugging along a little girl, maybe seven or eight, with two braids and—shockingly—a horse-face skirt.
“Tch, you actually came back this fast?”
Han Chengfeng got pissed just seeing Shen Ju.
He’d snuck out early that day, thinking he was in the clear. But nope—his parents came back and chewed him out, then dumped their little demon on him to babysit. Babysit my ass! First thing in the morning, she insisted on wearing her new horse-face skirt to “stroll.” Everyone else walked dogs; his sister was walking him!
If it weren’t for Guan Shen Ju, with great difficulty on vacation, he could’ve slept till noon!
Han Chengfeng glared daggers, rolling his eyes at Shen Ju. “What, on break and not holing up at He Yuan to suck up to your grandpa? Back at Yujinfu already? Where’s Guan Mulin? Why’d you shield him that day? I wasn’t talking about your real folks—I’d never badmouth Uncle Guan or Aunt Qin, you—”
“Woof woof woof!!!”
Han Chengfeng jumped mid-sentence. “Shit, why’s your dog barking at me?”
But looking down, it wasn’t aimed at him. At what then…
At the same time, Shen Ju’s face changed.
And there was…
“Hey hey hey, get out of the way!! Kid up front!!”
That Husky pulling the wiggle car had circled back somehow.
Either it broke free or got too hyped—it was going berserk. Plus, Han Chengfeng’s sister had wandered off the path to the side without him noticing.
The Husky barreled straight toward her!
Even as the guy behind yanked hard, veering the Husky, the trailing rope and cart’s momentum sent the man hurtling right at Han Chengfeng’s sister. In that instant, collision imminent—
Bang!
A foot shot out from the side, kicking cart and man straight into the greenery.
The lead Husky jerked back hard, yelping as it tumbled, finally halting its frenzy.
Little Stone charged over, planting a paw on the Husky’s head.
He lowered his muzzle, growling low at it.
The Husky lolled its head, playing dead submissively.
On the other side, Han Chengfeng’s knees buckled, face ashen as he dropped straight to his knees before Shen Ju.
Only when his sister burst into tears did he snap out of it.
He scrambled to her side, scooping her up to soothe her, then looked up at Shen Ju.
What kind of person is this?
This is a goddamn lifesaver reborn!
Damn, that kick was god-tier!
Han Chengfeng thought, Is this the shock when that Pei Family young master was pulled from the pond?
He got it now.
He had to make Shen Ju his little bro!
