Shen Leyuan jumped in fright at the Little Dog’s nosebleed.
He quickly had the vet check on the pup. Only when the doctor said the Little Dog had just overexerted itself earlier and the tumble with him had nothing to do with it did he finally relax a bit.
“My poor pup.” He planted a kiss on the Little Dog. “Don’t run off like that again.”
The Little Dog rolled its eyes at him in disdain.
The doctor frowned in confusion. “Why’s this dog rolling its eyes again? Come here, let me check if there’s something wrong with its eyes.”
Huo Tingfeng: …
It got pinned to the bed, eyelids pried open and flashed with lights this way and that. Once released, everything spun in dizzy blurs. It staggered up, took two shaky steps, plopped back down on its butt, then yelped and sprang up again.
Pretty tragic. Also pretty cute.
The doctor stifled a laugh. “Your dog’s fine. Just has low-class manners.”
Huo Tingfeng: ?
Just you wait. Once he grew into a big dog, he’d make a king’s return!
Shen Leyuan ruffled the pup’s fur with a mix of exasperation and amusement, his mood easing slightly, though unease lingered. “What about the security footage…”
Doctor: “No patients right now. I’ll take a look.”
The camera faced Shen Leyuan directly, so the view from behind was unclear. It definitely looked like he’d been “kicked,” but it could also have been him slipping.
The doctor kept sipping tea, trying to convince Shen Leyuan. “Maybe your elbow was on the blanket, and there wasn’t enough friction between the blanket and the leather bed.”
Shen Leyuan started to explain his gut feeling, but seeing the doctor more panicked than him, he nodded and accepted the explanation. He even reassured the doctor not to worry—it must’ve been a misremembering on his part.
The doctor and the Little Dog both sighed in relief.
Huo Tingfeng was mostly scared Shen Leyuan would call in an exorcist. Even if it might not work, he wasn’t chancing that slim possibility.
That said, how had his soul left his body?
Did he absolutely need a snake bite, or…
That night, while its guardian slept soundly, the Little Milk Dog charged headfirst at the door.
Thud!
The muffled bang stood out sharply in the quiet room.
The Little Dog shook its head, wobbling in zigzags for a few steps. Its four legs ached from overuse, its already sore and injured butt hurt worse, and now its skull burned with fresh pain.
But it didn’t pass out.
It glanced at its little paws, felt the pain everywhere, and couldn’t bear to torment itself a second time. Limping and stumbling, it dragged itself back to its nest, tears welling up in silence.
Fine. Anyway, that Shen guy was heading back to school soon—no way he’d come to the hospital for a bit.
Maybe from exhaustion, or maybe the door-banging aftermath, Huo Tingfeng slept like the dead the next day. Its little belly rose and fell steadily; it didn’t even notice being loaded into the dog crate.
Until… that dreadful voice rang out.
“Teacher! Teacher~” A crisp young voice shouted. “Over here!”
The Little Milk Dog jolted awake and scrambled up. Its brain lagged, but its body tried to flee—smacking headfirst into the plastic crate wall.
The voice wasn’t as shrill as Little Deer’s yells, so Shen Leyuan heard nothing.
Through the crate, Little Deer and the Little Dog locked eyes and spoke at once—
Little Deer: “Teacher, shall we head in?”
Little Dog: Whine whine whine whine! Awoo! Awoo!!!
Get lost! Stay away from me… Wait, what’s that place up ahead?!
The Little Milk Dog’s yips pitched up in horror as it stared at the hospital room door. Its four legs slipped every which way, then it rammed the crate desperately, trying to bash itself into soul separation right there.
But the crate was too soft—no knockout chance.
Worse still, Little Deer kindly took the crate and handed it to A Si. “Watch it closely this time. Can’t let it run off and get bullied by bad guys again.”
Really, it was a jealousy play—no giving the teacher a chance to dote on the Little Dog.
Through the semi-transparent crate window, Huo Tingfeng peered ahead. Huo Xiaoqi led that pack of idiots he knew, striding out of the hospital room with menacing vibes.
Help… me…
He knew his bros’ true colors. They looked fierce, but they were all here for the show—especially those smirking in the back. Don’t think I didn’t see you!
Sure enough, the front guy spoke up, dead serious to Little Deer. “What’s the deal with you and our Second Bro’s romance?”
They figured Huo Tingfeng’s reaction meant he was waking soon, so everyone was pretty chill.
Slandered out of nowhere, Little Deer fired back in aggrieved triplicate. “I’m not! I didn’t! Little Deer and him have no romance—Little Deer only likes…”
Shen Leyuan pinched his mouth shut. “Enough. Quiet down.”
Kissed by the teacher’s hand, Little Deer’s cheeks flushed pink, lost in shy fantasies.
Since it was their fault, Shen Leyuan let the nonsense slide and changed the subject. “Little Deer and I are both worried about Mr. Huo. Why don’t we go in and check on him first?”
He paused. “Too many people might crowd the room. Have you picked representatives?”
“Crowd what?” someone griped. “Like the room can’t fit us? We just came from in there.”
Shen Leyuan: emmmmmmm
How to put it? He chose his words carefully. “You sure Mr. Huo would want you all barging in?”
The Little Dog’s ears perked. Awoo-whine! No way!
The drama-loving youths slung arms around each other. “Of course! We’re the bros who grew up sharing pants with Second Bro—what couldn’t we know?”
Huo Tingfeng raged: Beasts!!!
The more the Little Milk Dog thought, the madder it got. Eyes rolled back—out cold.
Soul detached.
No time to ponder why, he bolted toward the hospital room. But before seeing anything inside, he heard muffled gasps. “It’s up! It’s really up!”
His tall body flickered. Huo Tingfeng halted—no closer.
One, he didn’t dare. Two, he couldn’t stray far from the Little Dog; he was stuck.
Slumping against the wall, he suddenly forgot why he’d come. Probably to torture himself. Things weren’t that bad now—at least it was his tight-knit bros, not the elders gawking.
He rubbed his face but couldn’t convince himself.
One possessed lapse trading for lifelong PTSD. He’d sooner cut out his own heart now.
The binding loosened. He glanced back—A Si was hauling the limp Little Milk Dog, debating announcing it in the room. Huo Tingfeng didn’t hesitate, darted through the crowd, and planted himself by his hospital bed.
The tented sheet was obvious. He reached to press it down—hand phasing through.
Scanning around: worry, curiosity, awkwardness. Little Deer huddled by the wall in the corner; nearby, Shen Leyuan stared with furrowed brows, his face the darkest.
Yeah, yeah, I’m a perv who tents up even as a vegetable.
Scold me however, Huo Tingfeng was too drained to care.
But what he heard was: “Call the doctor.”
Huo Tingfeng snapped ramrod straight, horror surging from soles to scalp. What, you really gonna cut it off?
Whatever. He slumped again fast.
Cut if you want. Didn’t matter—he might not even return to this body.
Shen Leyuan said, “I suspect nerve damage affecting that function. The reaction’s involuntary.”
Huo Tingfeng whipped toward Shen Leyuan, stunned.
Shen Leyuan frowned analytically. “If he were conscious, with this crowd watching, no way he’d react like that.”
“And if he’s not…” someone asked.
Shen Leyuan bullshitted solemnly. “Then his relevant brain nerves are damaged. Needs further checks.”
In truth: Sure, the guy’s a perv, but this had ties to Little Deer. Better cover for him—lest he wake and hold a grudge against the kid.
Before the doctor arrived, A Si brought the Little Milk Dog to find its “dad.”
Shen Leyuan figured the Little Dog had fainted from anger again—not too worried at first. Then he felt a huge lump on its furry head. Fatherly panic hit. “Trouble you to send someone with it to the pet hospital. I’ll head over once this is sorted.”
No! I’m not going! I want the doctor’s verdict!
But Huo Tingfeng was forced within a meter of the Little Dog. Only waking the body via external stimulus let him return. As bodyguards loaded it into the car, he became a kite glued to the rear window—utterly numb.
The vet checked it just as it woke, snarling and biting to go back. The bodyguards saw it lively and eager for drama, so they brought it to the hospital again.
The doctor reported: “Mr. Huo’s reproductive organ isn’t under brain nerve control. As for why he reacted physiologically the moment Little Deer entered… unknown cause for now. Preliminary guess: scent, voice…”
Injustice cleared. Huo Tingfeng nearly teared up.
But it had thrashed too hard earlier, emotions too volatile. Now it lacked energy for joy, just pawed Shen Leyuan’s pant leg, climbed his leg, and nestled in that warm, comfy spot, zoning out.
Shen Leyuan stroked its back, chatting on with the doctor.
The Little Dog dozed off amid the dull talk.
No nightmares this time.
Over the next few days, Shen Leyuan visited twice more, always with Little Deer. The youths stubbornly believed: if Little Deer sparked that reaction, one day it’d spark others—like waking.
“Even anger counts as motivation to wake.” Worry etched their faces—no trace of that day’s nonchalance.
Second Bro still out. What if he never wakes?
“Hope he’s got some awareness to hold a grudge.” They faked cheer. “Grudge means come settle with us sooner.”
The Little Milk Dog huffed softly.
Got it, got it. Once I wake, I’ll fulfill you beasts’ wishes!
Shen Leyuan bid the youths farewell, set the next visit, and carried the Little Milk Dog back to the hotel to pack.
Time to report to school.
He hadn’t planned to bring the dog, but the Little Milk Dog freaked like separation meant death—even mastering cry-fuss-headbang tantrums, twisting its little butt for suicide-by-charge to force him back.
Under the bus stop shelter’s shadow, Shen Leyuan waited for his ride-share.
Plenty others waited too. One kept glancing, then asked, “You go to Qin University too, right?”
Shen Leyuan nodded.
The young guy lit up. “No way! Then are you Shen…”
Ride-share pulled up before the rest. Shen Leyuan missed it, busy loading luggage.
Tailpipe exhaust blasted the guy’s face. Pissed, he voice-chatted a friend. “Guess who I saw? That guy always tailing the rich kid… Tch tch, his fans call him frugal—ride-sharing from a bus stop? How frugal can that be?”
20 years old, orphan, working for classmates since high school…
Shen Leyuan pulled his suitcase, dog in arms, en route to the dorm. He mulled Director Hao’s earlier words.
After college, original host used savings to start a company with friends. Poor management bankrupted it; as legal rep, he shouldered most debt. He’d sent resumes everywhere after—no takers.
Friends… legal rep… debt…
Pondering, Shen Leyuan pushed open the dorm door.
![I’m Keeping the Overbearing CEO After He Went Bankrupt [Rebirth]](https://i0.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/BROKE.jpg?resize=151,215 "I’m Keeping the Overbearing CEO After He Went Bankrupt [Rebirth]")
