Chapter 8 - Little Brother

Upon entering the store, Shen Xingzhuo didn't spot Lu Ran anywhere.

In the center of the shop stood a large enclosure where several two- or three-month-old puppies were playfully romping about.

Big Yellow, an elderly dog, was also inside, allowing the young pups to crawl over him, gnaw at his tail and ears.

Occasionally, when a puppy got too rowdy or attempted to escape, the old dog would hobble over to gently discipline them.

His hind legs weren't severely crippled.

But compared to how he had been when Shen Xingzhuo had taken him out a few days ago, the limp made him seem much older.

Shen Xingzhuo averted his gaze.

He scanned the surroundings before finally spotting Lu Ran.

Wearing an apron, Lu Ran was tidying up the cat litter in the enclosed feline room.

Bent over and crouching on the floor, he appeared unexpectedly small and unassuming, a stark contrast to the menacing figure he presented at the Shen residence three days ago.

Taking advantage of his busyness, a playful kitten used him as a climbing post, its claws hooking onto his jacket as it ascended.

The tension on his sweater revealed the outline of his slender back, so thin that his spine was slightly protruding.

After scooping the litter, he carried the trash bin outside.

Some kittens tripped over his feet, eager to play, while others attempted to escape through the door when he opened it.

Lu Ran had to open the gate first, take out the litter, and then frantically catch the escapees before they got too far.

Upon exiting himself, he gently plucked the cats that had "attached" themselves to him and returned them to the enclosure.

The mischievous kittens went through this routine several times.

Shen Xingzhuo was never known for his patience with others.

He rapped on the counter beside him, interrupting with a gruff tone, "Hey, how do you run a business? Didn't you notice someone came in?"

His demeanor was far from pleasant.

Lu Ran immediately looked up, the exasperated tolerance he had displayed toward the cat vanishing from his face.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I want to buy a dog," Shen Xingzhuo pointed at Big Yellow within the enclosure, "That one."

He continued without waiting for a response, "If I take this dog, it'll have nothing to do with you anymore. Anyway, no dogs are allowed in the Shen family, and neither are you allowed to keep any elsewhere. If you get one, I'll get rid of it."

The Shen family members all spoke with such self-assured authority, as if others were supposed to fulfill their demands unconditionally.

Lu Ran was long accustomed to this kind of tone.

Maintaining a relatively calm facade, he left the cat room and even ventured into the puppy enclosure, replacing a few soiled pee pads inside.

Noticing his lack of response, Shen Xingzhuo couldn't help but prompt, "Hey, make an offer."

"Did Shen Xingran ask you to kill my dog again?" Lu Ran inquired.

Shen Xingzhuo instinctively defended, "It has nothing to do with Ranran. Ranran…."

"Stop calling her that in front of me," Lu Ran said impatiently. "How you view your younger brother is none of my concern."

Shen Xingzhuo was about to refute.

But Lu Ran abruptly raised the puppy pad in his hand.

In a reflexive reaction, Shen Xingzhuo swiftly turned around, protecting his head with both arms as he crouched down.

His movements were so practiced that it tugged at one's heartstrings.

It wasn't until Lu Ran discarded the puppy pad into the trash can that Shen Xingzhuo slowly turned back around.

His handsome face still held a hint of lingering fear.

Watching Lu Ran head to another cage to clean up the pee pads, Shen Xingzhuo's tone became significantly more respectful. "I have no intention of doing anything to your dog. If you give me Big Yellow, I'll take him to my villa in the suburbs and take great care of him."

As if worried that Lu Ran wouldn't believe him, he added, "I already have a dog house prepared, with everything needed..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ran turned his head and shot him a glance, scoffing. "Does Shen Xingran know that you're planning to secretly take good care of his dog? After all, he knows your two-faced nature."

"He'd go crazy if he found out you're treating my dog like a grandchild," Lu Ran remarked.

Shen Xingzhuo froze, but he continued to insist, "He won't find out."

"Relax," Lu Ran said, waving his phone. "I'm about to send him the recording."

Shen Xingzhuo was taken aback. "Recording? What recording?"

Realizing what had happened, he quickly grew furious. "Lu Ran, you were recording us? How shameless! Are you trying to sabotage my relationship with Ranran?"

"Exactly, exactly! I am shameless, and I have ulterior motives to stir trouble in your Shen family!" Lu Ran taunted him with a slight mocking gesture. "Isn't that how you've always viewed me?"

Shen Xingzhuo was so enraged that he was rendered speechless.

Lu Ran dropped his pretense of composure.

Upon seeing Shen Xingzhuo approach, his inner calm was anything but stable.

The appearance of the Shen family members at his workplace triggered PTSD in Lu Ran. The sight of Shen Xingzhuo reminded him of how, in his previous life, the Shen family had disrupted his college education and sabotaged every job he'd had.

Eventually, he even got into a car accident and spent a decade bedridden.

Lu Ran hurled the urine pad he held towards Shen Xingzhuo.

"Are all the Shen family members idiots? You want to buy my dog? Just because you want to, it means I have to sell it?"

"And you're talking about preparing a dog house," Lu Ran exclaimed, as if a lightbulb had just gone off in his head. "Could it be that you've always had a fondness for dogs but refrained from getting one because of Shen Xingran?"

Shen Xingzhuo's secret was exposed, and he reached out to block the pet urine pad in Lu Ran's hand.

He argued, "Shen Xingran is my younger brother! What's wrong with me sacrificing for my own brother?"

"I spit on that!" Lu Ran retorted. "It's your business if you want to be Shen Xingran's lapdog, but I don't. I'll keep taking care of Big Yellow, and if Shen Xingran can't stand it, let him leave on his own!"

At that moment, the door to the backroom of the shop opened.

The shop owner looked at Lu Ran, then at Shen Xingzhuo, whose face was covered in puppy pee pads, somewhat perplexed. "W-What happened here..."

Lu Ran pointed at Shen Xingzhuo and shouted, "Shop owner, this person abuses dogs. He's the one who crippled Big Yellow's leg, and now he wants to buy a dog from this store!"

The shop owner was a young woman in her early twenties, and upon hearing this, her expression instantly changed.

"Well, you seem like a decent-looking fellow, quite the handsome lad. Who would've thought you'd be cruel to animals?" She approached Lu Ran and stood by his side, pointing towards the shop entrance. "Get out, I don't welcome animal abusers in my establishment."

"No," Shen Xingzhuo frowned. "I'm taking that dog with me today, no matter what!"

"Hey, you're refusing a toast and courting a spanking? Even handsome guys like you aren't exempt from my fists!" The shop owner snapped in anger.

With that, she lifted the mop, clearly intent on ushering them out.

Lu Ran didn't let the shop staff intervene; he personally escorted Shen Xingzhuo out.

Once outside the store, Shen Xingzhuo regained his composure.

He straightened his clothing, shedding the frustration that had arisen from having his secrets exposed. He resumed the nonchalant demeanor typical of a wealthy young man.

"Lu Ran, I wasn't joking with you."

Shen Xingzhuo was dead serious as he looked at Lu Ran. "Between a dog and my younger brother, my brother is undoubtedly more important."

Lu Ran ignored him.

In his previous life, watching Shen Xingzhuo treat Shen Xingran this way, Lu Ran had felt a mixture of envy and anticipation.

He had believed that he, too, was Shen Xingzhuo's younger brother.

It was only later that he realized Shen Xingzhuo's younger brother was solely Shen Xingran.

Shen Xingzhuo didn't linger inside the shop.

On the drive back, he was still pondering how to handle the situation.

Indeed, that dog named Big Yellow was adorable.

But as Shen Xingzhuo had said, nothing was more important than his younger brother.

There were plenty of ways to make a dog vanish.

He was also a bit worried that Shen Xingran would be upset over what he had said in the shop.

Upon returning to the Shen residence, he found Shen Xingran waiting for him in the living room.

Upon seeing him, Shen Xingran approached, looking at him with some trepidation.

"Brother, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have talked to you like that."

A fleeting sense of relief washed over Shen Xingzhuo.

He reached out to pat Shen Xingran's head. "It's alright. You can say anything to me, brother doesn't mind."

Shen Xingzhuo was still preoccupied with Lu Ran's recording. He cautiously inquired, "Ranran, are... you not angry?"

"I have no reason to be angry," Shen Xingran replied gently. "I know that you're the best, Second Brother, and I also hope that you won't be upset and can stay happy every day."

As Shen Xingzhuo felt reassured, he couldn't help but scoff at Lu Ran's naivety.

What recording?

Did he really think that those trivial matters would affect his relationship with Ranran?

How ridiculous. Ranran didn't care about them at all.

The two brothers headed upstairs together.

When they reached the second floor, Shen Xingran couldn't resist bringing up the subject indirectly. "Brother, about that dog..."

Shen Xingzhuo paused but didn't evade the issue. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it. If you're feeling bothered lately, you can stay at the resort near your school for a few days, just to relax."

Shen Xingran felt a hint of dissatisfaction.

Assuming it's under control implies that it isn't yet.

Why is Shen Xingzhuo so slow this time?

However, he couldn't afford to lose his temper now, so he held it in.

In the afternoon, Shen Xingzhuo visited his own studio and initially planned to stay at his apartment that night.

But upon remembering Shen Xingran, he returned to the Shen residence.

Shen Hongyuan and Madam Shen had moved elsewhere.

That evening, Shen Xingzhuo expected his warning to have an impact.

To his surprise, Lu Ran actually brought the dog back to the villa.

Shen Xingzhuo didn't go downstairs but stood by the second-floor railing, looking outside.

A cigarette was pinched between his fingers as he made a phone call.

"Yes, that pet shop, didn't I send you the location?"

Downstairs, Lu Ran was attending to Big Yellow's paws.

Big Yellow was very obedient, lifting whichever paw Lu Ran instructed.

When it lifted its hind leg, it lost balance and sprawled out on the grass.

The young man downstairs burst into laughter before pouncing on the dog, cuddling it into a flat shape.

They played together in a childishly playful manner.

On the other end of the call, the conversation continued.

"Brother Zhuo?"

Shen Xingzhuo paused for a moment before responding with his usual chuckle, "It's all familiar ground for you guys, so avoid anything else. That limping dog..."

Big Yellow tumbled on the grass from the affectionate rolling.

It seemed to have caught a glimpse of someone upstairs. Its black, bead-like eyes, illuminated by the warm lamplight, gazed at Shen Xingzhuo with curiosity and gentleness.

Shen Xingzhuo noticed the dog wagging its tail.

It was unclear if it was due to joy from playing with its owner or simply because it had seen him.

"…Just bring it out," Shen Xingzhuo said.

The person on the phone made an excited suggestion.

Shen Xingzhuo turned around and leaned against the railing, his back facing the scene below the balcony.

He spoke coldly, "Work? It's better if you ruin it for him."

With that said, Shen Xingzhuo took a shower and went to bed.

He wasn't quite used to the bed in the Shen family villa and hadn't slept very soundly these past few days.

Today, he was rather exhausted and managed to get a good night's sleep.

Seemingly influenced by the sight of the youth and his puppy frolicking on the grass before bedtime, Shen Xingzhuo unexpectedly found himself in a dream.