Chapter 41: Raising a Dog

The young man almost rested his chin on Ji Min's knee.

When he noticed Ji Min looking at him, Lu Ran, practically lying on his knees, clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture:

"President Ji, Mr. Ji, Lord Ji, I was ignorant before. Please forgive my indiscretion and help me one more time, if you would?"

Ji Min remained silent for a while, simply gazing at the boy in front of him.

With those obediently curved eyes looking up at him, the impact was devastating.

Lu Ran waited for a long time, his legs going numb from squatting, but still didn't receive a response.

"Hey." He patted the man's knee.

Ji Min finally spoke up, "Remove your hand."

His voice held a slight hoarseness.

"Will you or won't you?" Lu Ran asked.

Ji Min turned his head away.

Suppressing the inexplicable itch in his throat, he asked with his usual calm tone,

"What is it?"

Then, as if nothing had happened, he added, "Stand up."

Lu Ran didn't stand.

He sensed that this person seemed to dislike others touching his legs, so he simply let go and sat down on the floor with a thud.

"It's just a small matter."

He looked up again.

"..."

Ji Min simply maneuvered his wheelchair to turn around.

Just as he finished turning,

Lu Ran climbed back in front of his wheelchair.

Ji Min: "....Say what you need to say quickly."

Lu Ran lifted his gaze and swiftly took him in.

His eyelashes fluttered, then drooped.

"I know that when you first suggested I study abroad and I didn't go, you were very upset."

Lu Ran murmured softly.

"I'm not that ungrateful either, to reject someone's offer and then shamelessly beg for their approval later."

He said in a muted voice, "I just wanted to ask if I could leave Big Yellow with you during the day?"

Ji Min froze.

He cast his gaze down upon the young man once more.

A delicate flush tinged the pale skin of his creamy cheeks and the lobe of his ear, hidden amidst his soft black hair.

Apparently, it wasn't easy for him to soften his stance and beg like this.

Yet, after such hesitation,

he didn't plead for his own future.

It was all for a little dog.

Ji Min's gaze was too intense.

His expression was aloof, his eyes carrying an air of authority that only adults and those in positions of power possessed.

Lu Ran, after being stared at for a while, assumed that Ji Min was against the idea.

He hurriedly explained, "You don't need to do anything. Just find a spot for it to stay. I'll take care of walking and feeding it in the morning and evening."

"It's old and doesn't like to move or bark much. Keeping it in a cage won't be a problem."

The young man spoke hastily, his anxiety seemingly intensifying the flush on his cheeks, which slowly spread down to his neck.

"Why come to me?" the man asked softly. "You should go to a pet store."

Lu Ran was straightforward. "Well, there's shade under a big tree, you know. If I leave it with you, no one would dare touch him."

Despite having joked with Shen Xingzhuo earlier that day.

Yet, Shen Xingzhuo secretly finding out Big Yellow's location still made Lu Ran involuntarily nervous.

He could never lower his guard against the Shen family.

Lu Ran would never forget that in his previous life, it was Shen Xingzhuo who had orchestrated Big Yellow's death.

He had never dared to imagine competing with Shen Xingran for a place in Shen Xingzhuo's heart.

Lu Ran had thought this through clearly.

Shen Xingzhuo and Shen Xingran had lived together for over a decade.

Even if occasionally Shen Xingzhuo would have a spat with Shen Xingran and suddenly remember he had a younger brother, they would always reconcile.

"Did you think I'd agree?" Ji Min's tone was cold, but his voice softened considerably.

"Please," Lu Ran pleaded.

Ji Min let out a dismissive "Hmph."

"Please!" Lu Ran persisted in his entreaty.

Ji Min maneuvered his wheelchair around, presenting a cold and distant back to him.

Yet, he suddenly threw out an address, stating, "Deliver it to my company tomorrow morning."

Outside the corridor.

Shen Xingzhuo gazed at the slightly ajar door before him.

He stood silently outside for a moment before turning and leaving down the hallway.

At the emergency exit, a security guard asked, "Second Young Master Shen, didn't you say you were looking for your brother?"

As he spoke, the guard, who had heard the rumors about the wayward Second Young Master of the Shen family, offered him a small smile.

He forced a grotesque smile.

That night, President Ji responded indifferently to Lu Ran's request.

The next day, within the Ji Corporation building.

With just a few minutes left until the clock struck the designated check-in time, all departments were already in place.

Some employees were hastily devouring their breakfasts, while others had switched on their computers and were diving into work.

Beside them, an employee was on the phone as if no one else was around: "You're running late, do you want me to clock in for you? Hey, lower your voice. We're right under the Devil King's nose here; I don't dare punch in for someone else..."

It was a bustling scene typical of working drones.

Amidst this morning chaos, the elevator doors silently slid open.

Ji Min glided out in his wheelchair, remotely controlling it.

For the first time, he was over a dozen minutes late for work than usual.

At this hour, everyone assumed he was already in his office, so no one noticed his absence initially.

Not until the soft and light pitter-patter of tiny footsteps echoed.

Someone finally exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, why is there a puppy here?"

"Wow, so cute!"

"What happened to your paw, little dog?"

After a moment of astonishment,

they discovered that the dog had a leash around its neck, which led... and led...

All the way to the armrest of a wheelchair.

It was tied into a neat knot on it.

The entire floor of the office fell eerily silent.

Only the man who had been on the phone persisted, raising his voice to bellow, "I've called you, now hurry up..."

Suddenly, he sensed the unusual stillness around him.

Looking down, he found himself staring into the chilling gaze of his boss, "..."

Ji Min didn't say anything, entering his office with the starkly contrasting dog in tow amidst the silence.

As soon as the office door swung shut behind him, a flurry of whispers erupted outside.

News quickly spread that the Chairman had brought a dog to work.

But given President Ji's cold and brooding demeanor, nobody could quite picture him as the pet-owning type.

And so, the rumor evolved into – a stray dog had entered the Chairman's office.

The news eventually reached the cleaning department.

The head of the cleaning department, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, rushed in with a net in hand.

Given the urgency of the situation, he knocked twice on the door.

Without waiting for a response, he burst in, "Chairman! Where's the dog?"

As he finished speaking, he found himself in the spacious and well-lit Chairman's office, where a small and cozy dog bed was nestled in a corner on the sofa.

A little mongrel puppy, with its bright black bean-like eyes, was staring at him from inside.

Upon seeing the net in the man's hand, the puppy sprang off the sofa with a start.

Cleverly, it hid behind the desk.

Thus, the butler accidentally locked eyes with Ji Min behind the desk.

The man remained as indifferent as usual.

Glancing at the object in his hand, he asked coolly, "What's this about?"

The butler smiled awkwardly. "Uh... the dog."

Upon finishing his sentence, he witnessed the seemingly aloof chairman glance down at the puppy by his feet and declare,

"Mine."

"Oh, oh!" The butler suppressed his surprise and hurried away.

As soon as he left, whispers started circulating in the office area outside, "Holy, that's really the chairman's dog?"

"It's quite unusual. With the chairman's status, I would have expected him to own an exotic breed."

"Suddenly, it turns out to be just a little mongrel..."

Ji Min paid no heed to the gossip outside.

Once he immersed himself in work, his efficiency soared.

Besides...

Aside from being a few minutes late for work today, there was no difference from his usual routine.

Hours passed in a flurry of work, until lunchtime arrived.

Ji Min lifted his head from the pile of documents, massaging the space between his brows.

His gaze inadvertently landed on a lump on the sofa.

A subtle sense of absurdity and surprise gradually washed over him.

He had actually agreed to help Lu Ran take care of the dog during the day?

Ji Min found himself locked in a staring contest with Big Yellow on the sofa, an overwhelming sense of unreality washing over him.

It wasn't surprising that Ji Min was just realizing this now.

Simply put... this dog was incredibly tranquil.

Settling onto the couch for hours without a stir, it was as quiet as a fluffy decorative figurine.

From behind his desk, Ji Min observed for a while.

Seemingly sensing his gaze, the little pup on the sofa began to secretly study him as well.

On the surface, it appeared obedient, but there was a subtle wariness lurking in its eyes.

Upon sensing any external threat, it would swiftly dash to Ji Min's side with a rustle.

When the danger passed, it would quietly distance itself from him, just like its owner.

Ji Min maneuvered his wheelchair around the couch.

Checking the time, he reached into a backpack beside him, took out a water bowl, filled it with water, and placed it in front of Big Yellow.

Big Yellow gave him a glance and, out of politeness, licked the water twice.

Then it continued to stare at him.

Once again, President Ji found himself in the awkward situation of having a staring contest with the small dog.

After a moment of confusion,

he frowned and spoke succinctly, "Drink."

Big Yellow glanced at him and then returned to its spot on the sofa.

Ji Min: "..."

Forgive him for not having studied Animal Behavior or Animal Psychology in college.

After waiting for a while, the dog showed no intention of drinking water.

Ji Min left the water bowl where it was.

After hesitating for a few minutes, he still took out his phone.

He scrolled through his WeChat contacts and tapped on the little yellow dog avatar.

"Why isn't your dog drinking water?" he asked.

The other party seemed busy and only replied with a question mark several minutes later.

Ji Min tried to provide a detailed description: "I called it to drink, it took two sips, glanced at me, then went back to sleep."

Big Yellow Doesn't Destroy the House: Huh?

Big Yellow Doesn't Destroy: Why are you the one taking care of it? I thought it was your servant or Butler Chen...

Ji Min looked at the message and suddenly felt a subtle annoyance.

He replied, "If you're not willing, take the dog away."

The other side immediately sent an emoji of someone kneeling and bowing.

Ji Min had a touch of OCD and continued to ask, "So why won't it drink?"

Big Yellow Doesn't Destroy: It wants you to sprinkle some goat milk on it. There's a bag in its backpack.

Ji Min: "..."

It was quite picky.

Both human and dog alike.

That evening, after work, Lu Ran came to Ji Corporation's building again.

Most people had already left work for the day.

Only a small fraction were still grinding away.

Lu Ran arrived on the floor where the chairman's office was located.

He had been here quite frequently recently.

But that was only to deliver takeout.

Now, most of the people in the building had gone, leaving the area quiet and deserted.

Yet, Lu Ran strolled steadily toward the innermost office.

After a while, he paused.

He felt like an intrepid adventurer entering a dragon's lair.

Oh no, more like a brave knight on a quest to save a princess.

Only, this princess was called Big Yellow.

Lu Ran couldn't help but laugh at his own thoughts.

In truth, he hadn't felt so relaxed and joyful when picking up Big Yellow in a long time.

Back when he would leave Big Yellow at the orphanage's security office, or during the recent period when the dog was boarded at a pet store.

Every time he finished work, Lu Ran would rush over anxiously.

During the journey, his mind was filled with the memory of Big Yellow's past car accident.

"Knock, knock."

Lu Ran knocked on the office door.

"Enter."

It was the usual calm and composed voice.

Lu Ran pushed open the door.

A sleek and spacious office came into view.

Lu Ran paused for a moment.

Before entering, he had imagined what Ji Min's office might look like.

Considering Ji Min's mobility issues and that this was his private domain, Lu Ran expected there to be some unconventional designs.

But upon entering, he found Ji Min's office to be surprisingly ordinary.

Ordinary to the point where one wouldn't detect any trace of the man's disability.

It only accentuated the vast emptiness.

Behind the dark-colored desk, Ji Min was still frowning, fixated on something.

Seated in his wheelchair amidst this large and impersonal office, he couldn't help but exude a sense of solitude.

Yet, the little yellow dog lounging on the sofa strangely alleviated this sense of solitude, infusing a touch of warmth into the cool-toned office.

Upon seeing Lu Ran enter, Big Yellow barked first, leaping off the sofa and bounding over to greet him with excitement.

"Big Yellow! Have you missed Daddy?"

Lu Ran knelt on the floor, embracing the dog tightly.

Ji Min lifted his head from the documents.

The teenager stood by the door, hugging the puppy and rubbing its fur affectionately.

In the quiet office, it was somewhat noisy.

Yet, surprisingly, it didn't bother anyone.

Ji Min read for a while, and the crease between his brows relaxed without him realizing it.

As the young man lifted his eyes, filled with joy, to look at him.

Ji Min nonchalantly lowered his gaze and scoffed, "You're almost polishing the floor by the door to a shine."

Lu Ran: "..."

He sized them up with cautious attention.

Noticing that Ji Min had no intention of sending him away and seeing him walk in with Big Yellow in his arms, Lu Ran asked, "You're not leaving?"

Lu Ran patted the paper bag in his hand.

The man raised an eyebrow at him.

Lu Ran explained, "It's a gift."

Ji Min's hand, holding the pen, paused slightly.

He lifted his gaze and saw a paper bag filled with desserts.

The price of desserts in Jing City was not cheap.

For a teenager working at a coffee shop, it would undoubtedly be a considerable expense.

"Stop buying these in the future," Ji Min said. "I don't really like them."

"Really?"

Lu Ran responded with delight and promptly retrieved the bag.

Ji Min: "..."