Chapter Sixty-Four

Chapter Sixty-Four

"Your old ID card will expire soon. Please proceed to the relevant department to issue a new ID card at your earliest convenience."

Lin An pursed his lips upon seeing the bolded text on his phone, refusing to give up, he reached out to the customer service.

"Hello, is it possible to apply for a new ID card online?"

"The new ID card requires face and fingerprint collection, which must be done in person at the ID processing center."

"If it's inconvenient to go out, is there another way?"

"If you belong to a special group that cannot go out to process, we offer a home visit service. You can schedule an appointment, and a staff member will come to collect your information. Would you like to make an appointment?"

Lin An stared at the chat log, his face etched with difficulty, torn between going out himself or letting a stranger into his home, he wanted to choose neither.

But his ID card had been expired for a year, and he was unable to complete certain verifications online, constantly being reminded to renew his ID card without delay.

Eventually, he decided to go out and take care of it himself.

The thought of going out the next day had already filled Lin An with anxiety. He cleaned the entire house, unable to concentrate on reading, and even wiped down his bookshelf again. As someone with severe social anxiety, he rarely left the house, relying on the internet for all his necessities. But an ID card couldn't be obtained online; he had to venture out.

This would be his first time stepping out this year.

He spent the whole afternoon mentally rehearsing the route for the next day, including his reactions to encountering people. Because of this, he didn't sleep well the entire night.

By six o'clock the next morning, Lin An was fully prepared, donning his mask, gloves, and hat. He considered wearing sunglasses as well, but dismissed the idea as they would be odd in the cold weather and likely to fog up.

He hesitated at the door for a long time without opening it; every outing was a massive challenge for him.

He had to leave now, or else the streets would be crowded if he delayed any further.

The black anti-theft door opened quietly, and Lin An peeked out, glancing left and right before stealthily closing the door behind him, so gently that the corridor's motion sensor lights didn't even flicker on.

It was still dark outside, with only a few elderly people taking their morning walk. Taking advantage of the dim light, Lin An quickly made his way out of the neighborhood with his head down.

The ID center wasn't too far from here. With the buses not yet running, Lin An decided to walk there.

At this hour, neither the working crowd nor students had started their day, leaving the streets nearly empty, allowing Lin An's tightly wound nerves from yesterday to finally ease a bit.

Walking along the roadside, he watched the first rays of sunlight graze the city walls to the east, dispelling the shadows over buildings and streets. The air, crisp and chilly, refreshed Lin An, who for once felt at ease to meander and appreciate the waking city.

His grey knit cap covered his ears and forehead completely, and his blue mask seemed a bit too large, gaping at the edges. Only his eyes, clear and lively, showed any sign of excitement, like a fledgling peeking out of the nest for the first time, curiously surveying its surroundings.

Suddenly, a group of children burst around the corner, backpacks bouncing as they played and ran towards him. Lin An, who was just moments before observing his surroundings, immediately lowered his head and stepped aside to avoid them. One of the plumper kids, glancing back at his friends, didn't see Lin An and barreled right into him.

The sturdy child was strong enough to make Lin An stagger backward a few steps.

Surprised at bumping into someone, the child was still processing what had happened when he heard the adult he had bumped into apologize profusely.

"I'm so sorry, are you alright?"

The plump child, who had braced for a scolding, paused, huffed indignantly at the odd adult, and ran off to rejoin his friends.

Lin An stood there, slightly embarrassed, his earlier buoyant mood dissipated like smoke. He wanted to retreat home but, remembering the ID card he had yet to renew, he trudged on despondently.

In Chuxi City, ID processing was centralized at designated centers, with one in each district. The center nearest to Lin An's home was about four kilometers away.

Lin An walked slowly, but by around seven, he had arrived.

The center opened at half-past eight in the morning, and Lin An, hoping to avoid the morning rush, had arrived early and now could only wait by the door.

After seven, the flow of people heading to work and school gradually increased. While the adults hurried by, the children often lingered with curious glances, especially at Lin An, wrapped up so thoroughly they couldn't help but stare.

Lin An felt uneasy, the weight of their gazes upon him even with his head bowed.

Even though the stares were not malicious, they made him uncomfortable, his palms beginning to sweat. Panicked, Lin An glanced around and noticed an alleyway beside him. He quickly made his way into it.

The alley was deserted, and Lin An stood there for a while, shivering from the cold.

There

Lin An wandered alone around the alley, which was sparsely populated.

Suddenly, the sounds of children's laughter echoed from the alley, causing Lin An to halt in his tracks and immediately turn away.

Not only did he suffer from social anxiety, but due to past trauma, he also avoided children at all costs. However, a few steps away, he thought he heard a puppy's whimper among the playful children's noise.

Standing still, Lin An bit his lip, uncertain of what to do.

It was possible that the children were playing with a dog, but the dog's cries sounded miserable, unlike the usual sounds of play.

He knew some children lacked a sense of morality, displaying a naive cruelty towards their peers and animals alike, imitating and conforming without concern for the harm they caused.

Yet for the victims, some traumas could take a lifetime to heal.

Lin An dared not approach; he didn't want to interact or speak with the children, but he was also curious about the puppy's situation and whether the kids were bullying it.

As he was about to turn away, Lin An stopped again.

Even if he knew, what could he do? His social anxiety would never allow him to confront those children; it was better to leave as if he'd heard nothing.

Clenching his fists, Lin An quickly walked away in the opposite direction.

A primary school nearby began classes at eight o'clock, and children would be around as early as seven, wandering near the school. A group of kids who arrived early surrounded a gaunt little dog, who whined and crawled on the ground as it noticed people nearby.

"Where's its mother?"

"Don't know, probably doesn't have one. Look how thin it is; must've been abandoned."

"So, is it going to die?"

"You take it home, it'll die without a mom."

"I don't want to; I have to go to school soon, and my mom would scold me if I brought it home."

"I don't want to take it either; this dog is so ugly."

"Indeed, it's really ugly. The puppies at my grandma's house are chubby and cute."

"It's so dirty, probably has fleas too. I definitely don't want to take it home."

The children chattered away, merely observing, while Lin An, peeking out from a distance, finally felt a sense of relief.

Although he couldn't hear what they were saying, it seemed as though everything was alright.

This was a shortcut to the elementary school, and as schooltime approached, more children gathered around the puppy, merely curious onlookers, prompting Lin An to slowly retreat.

Merely standing there had taken all his courage; the crowd was too much for his social anxiety to bear.

Lin An continued to wait in the less crowded alley until 8:20 before emerging, and only then did he muster the courage to enter the now-open registration office.

He had chosen this specific time to avoid the crowds, but while he had dodged the public, he couldn't escape the overzealous staff.

Initially yawning and indifferent, the staff's attitude changed dramatically when Lin An removed his mask and hat, revealing his face for the ID photo.

The excessive enthusiasm was more than Lin An's social anxiety could handle, rendering him stammering and flustered; had his panic not been so evident, the staff might have even pestered him for his contact details.

By the time Lin An left the office with his new ID card, he was drained and drenched in sweat. The staff's friendliness was torturous for him; he would have preferred neglect over such fervent attention.

Now that the streets were busier, Lin An grew increasingly nervous, wishing he could teleport home, yet he found himself drawn back to the alley.

School had started, and the alley was nearly empty. Lin An walked to where he had seen the puppy, but it was gone.

Perhaps one of the children had taken it.

That was for the best; someone to look after it meant the little one could grow up well.

Lin An glanced around before turning to leave, but a casual look revealed a dark patch on the ground not far away.

In this old part of town, the ground hadn't been resurfaced in decades. The alley's cracked pavement was patched with asphalt, which the children, out of boredom, often dug out with sticks.

Even in the cold weather, when the asphalt hardened, they would heat it to soften it before gouging it out.

In a smear of asphalt on the ground lay a tiny puppy, its body covered in black tar, eyes shut, motionless, its condition unknown.

Lin An panicked, realizing the puppy had been harmed after all. He instinctively reached out to touch the dog, lying there, possibly dead or alive.

But he hesitated halfway, remembering his obsession with cleanliness.

He looked around for someone to pass by and help the puppy, but the alley was deserted.

Unable to stand by as the puppy's life possibly slipped away, Lin An bit his lip and removed his coat.

Lin An's germophobia was severe; even looking at the asphalt on the ground made him feel nauseous, but he still spread his jacket over his legs and gingerly picked up the puppy with gloved hands, placing it inside his coat.

Throughout the process, he leaned back, turned his face aside, and watched the puppy from the corner of his eye.

He appeared highly disdainful.

Yet his actions remained gentle, carefully placing the little one inside the clean lining of his coat, which immediately became soiled.

The warmth of the coat contrasted the cold, hard ground, and the puppy weakly burrowed further inside, seeking comfort.

It was a relief to see it was still alive.

Removing his gloves, he held the coat with one hand and the gloves with the other, then tossed the soiled gloves into a trash bin and slipped on a new pair from his pocket.

Cradling the coat, Lin An looked up the address for a nearby pet hospital on his phone and decided to walk there as it wasn't far.

The pet hospital was a new establishment, its transparent glass facade and modern decor starkly out of place in the old district.

The red carpet in the center and the flower baskets on either side were still on display; although it was early morning, the place was bustling with noise and thriving with business, a terrifying sight for Lin An, as people crowded inside with their pets.

He stood at a distance, pulling out his phone to check the time – nine o'clock in the morning. Was the pet business really this booming so early in the day?

Looking at the little one in his arms, Lin An bit his lip, torn as he stared at the crowded throng, having thought the pet shop would not be so busy.

What to do now?

The little one seemed in bad shape, and any delay might worsen its condition. After much internal debate, Lin An resolved to take a chance, fueled by his desire to overcome his germophobia and social anxiety, without which his dreams would remain unfulfilled.

With this realization, determination set in his eyes, and he strode confidently toward the pet hospital with the puppy in his arms.

But upon reaching the entrance, he involuntarily veered away from the hospital's door.

Standing at a distance, he couldn't bring himself to enter; the place was too crowded and the mix of scents was overwhelming. His legs seemed to act on their own, quickly turning away from the hospital.

His germophobia and social anxiety struck simultaneously. People inside the glass window had noticed him, and standing outside, Lin An wished he could become an inconspicuous stone.

The environment inside was truly terrifying for him. Although it was a new establishment, it seemed more dangerous than a wilderness in Lin An's eyes.

He tried several times to enter, once mustering all his courage to step inside, but retreated swiftly, almost swallowed by the crowd.

Staring blankly at the pet hospital's glass door and then despairingly at the puppy in his embrace, he felt utterly helpless; he couldn't even bring himself to enter the hospital, let alone save a dog when he was beyond saving himself.

Pale yellow flyers were scattered on the ground, but Lin An, engrossed in self-reproach, failed to notice them. Carried by the cold wind, the flyers tumbled away, advertising the hospital's grand opening today, offering free pet health checks.

A newly opened shop might not be known to many, but the offer of anything free was bound to attract a crowd, hence the overwhelming scene that troubled Lin An.

He waited there for a long time, but the crowd at the pet hospital only seemed to grow.

Despite the bright sunshine, the March weather was still chilly. The warmth had seeped out of the coat in Lin An's arms, and he walked home dejectedly to think of another solution.

Picking up the dog might have been a disservice to it. If someone else had found it, it might already be receiving care at the hospital. Now, because of his fear, it suffered in the cold wind.

He chastised himself for standing there foolishly for so long, too scared to enter. Dreaming of wilderness adventures seemed like foolish fantasy for someone like him.

Growing more despondent by the minute, Lin An trudged on until he neared his home and noticed a pet supply store across the street.

The store looked run-down, and Lin An couldn't remember what it used to be, likely because he seldom went out, hardly taking note of the neighborhood shops.

Realizing the puppy hadn't eaten, Lin An mustered some energy and crossed the street to buy something suitable for the puppy to eat.

He observed the shop entrance for some time; finding no other customers, he pushed the door open and entered, reassured by the emptiness.

The bell over the door jingled, announcing his entrance. A man lounging on a recliner against the wall looked up with an air of impatience.

The man seemed to have just woken up, his hair unkempt, exuding an aura of neglect, and he appeared somewhat intimidating.

Nervous, Lin An held the puppy and hemmed and hawed, unable to articulate his purpose clearly.

The man stood up and loomed over Lin An, scrutinizing him from his economic attire to his humble bearing, which screamed 'inexpensive', and finally rested his gaze on the bundle in Lin An's arms.

"What pet is that you're holding? A cat? You looking to buy cat food?" the man asked bluntly after Lin An struggled to speak.

Lin An's face reddened; unaccustomed to conversation, he fumbled awkwardly before finally opening his coat to reveal the puppy inside.

"Whoa, that's filthy. What is that, a dog? It's in such a state. You should take it to a pet hospital, not here. I don't treat dogs," the man said with a grimace, stepping back.

Lin An, feeling embarrassed, gently covered the little one again and murmured, "I can't bring myself to go to the hospital."

"What?" The man didn't catch what he said.

"I'm afraid to go to the hospital."

Hesitant to go to the hospital? The pet shop owner looked puzzled at Lin An. What's there to fear about a hospital, the cost being too high?

"Tsk, if you can't afford it, don't pick up these things. Don't expect me to be charitable and save it; I'm broke too," the pet shop owner, assuming Lin An brought the dog to guilt-trip him into helping, immediately declared his stance, "This is a business, not charity. Anyway, this little thing doesn't look like it's going to last long. If you don't want it, just throw it out."

Lin An felt extremely embarrassed, his cheeks burning red behind the mask. He wanted to leave immediately, but the puppy had nothing to eat, and it was too late to order online with his phone.

"I, I wanted to buy something it could eat," Lin An explained with his head lowered.

"Oh, buying stuff, huh?" Realizing his misunderstanding, the shop owner didn't apologize, but merely glanced at the dog. It was so small, motherless, and thin, unlikely to live long. Feeding it dog food seemed wasteful, but he wouldn't turn away business.

"Such a big puppy can only drink goat's milk. We have powdered goat milk here. Which kind do you want? The cheapest is 19 yuan per bag, and there are also options for 49 and 89 yuan. The most expensive one is 150 yuan per can. Which one would you like?"

Lin An didn't know which one was best, as he had never owned a pet before, but assumed the most expensive must be the best.

"The one for 150 yuan," Lin An said softly.

Huh? The owner was surprised he chose the most expensive one, especially since Lin An didn't seem to wear branded clothes. He looked at Lin An, who seemed meek and took several other items off the shelves.

"This is a bed for the dog, this is a toy, and this is nutritional paste. Do you want these? They're quite expensive. Keeping a pet these days is costlier than raising a person."

Lin An had actually planned to find the puppy a home once it was better, as he couldn't keep a dog at his place. But even for a temporary stay, it probably needed these things.

"Yes."

"All these together will cost over 500 yuan," the shop owner said, testing the waters.

Seeing Lin An accept the price, the owner looked meaningfully at the puppy in Lin An's arms and suddenly said, "I can see you really care for dogs. There aren't many kind-hearted people like you these days. This dog won't last a few days without a vet visit and might have various illnesses. Since you're hesitant to go to the hospital, why not leave it with me? The shop isn't busy, and I can take it for treatment, though the cost..."

Lin An had been worried about this issue and was surprised the pet shop owner offered to help. He immediately looked at the owner with bright, grateful eyes and said, "I'll pay."

The pet shop owner had been waiting for this response and smiled broadly, his demeanor much friendlier than before.

"That's good then. Checking and treating the puppy won't be cheap. Give me 5,000 yuan for now, and if it's not enough, I'll ask you for more later. I've been running this shop for years, so don't worry about me disappearing. I'm a man of my word. Let's exchange phone numbers and addresses. Once the puppy is better, I'll deliver it to your home."

Lin An added the owner's contact information and transferred the money. He watched the pet shop owner close the shop and then leave with the puppy wrapped in a coat.

Carrying a bunch of items for the puppy, Lin An watched the owner's figure recede into the distance, finally feeling relieved and headed home.

Although he didn't particularly like the pet shop owner, Lin An was grateful for his help in taking the puppy to the vet for treatment.

Back home, Lin An disposed of his used mask and gloves, took a bath and washed his clothes, then took out the dog's items, cleaned them, and placed them in another bedroom.

He planned to find the puppy a home once it was better and would give these items to the adopter.

True to his word, the pet shop owner soon sent Lin An a message.

The shop he visited was the new one where Lin An had stood outside for a long time.

Photos from the pet shop, images of the puppy's check-up, and various receipts were sent to Lin An periodically, who scrutinized them carefully while sitting on the sofa.

"It underwent various tests, costing 2,500 yuan. I know the doctor there, and he gave me a 500 yuan discount because we're acquainted."

"The dog is severely malnourished and has parvovirus. The tar on its body couldn't be removed, so we had to shave it."

"The doctor said its chances of survival are slim."

"He suggested keeping it at the pet hospital for treatment. The money you gave is already spent, and I've had to front over 2,000 yuan more. This hospital's fees are exorbitant, almost like extortion."

The sender shared various receipts with Lin An, who, despite his social anxiety, wasn't foolish and realized the man was hinting at needing more money.

Is pet hospital care this expensive nowadays?

Searching online, Lin An found that pet care can indeed be costly, especially in certain pet hospitals.

In the end, Lin An still transferred the money.

Over the next few days, the pet shop owner diligently sent daily updates with videos and photos of the puppy, detailing the medicines prescribed and items used, each incurring a cost.

Therefore, Lin An had to transfer money to him daily.

A week later, the puppy finally began to recover. Shaved and somewhat ugly, it had gained a bit of weight and looked more spirited.

After a few more days of observation, the puppy was ready to be discharged from the hospital.

Lin An seized the opportunity to ask the pet shop owner to help find an adopter, assuming he knew many pet owners who might be interested in adopting the puppy.

However, the pet shop owner hesitantly explained that he could find a home for a purebred, but no one wanted a mutt like this one. Most stray dogs were mutts, and this puppy's fur hadn't fully grown back, making it patchy and unattractive. Most people value the appearance of their pets, and such an unappealing mutt would be hard to give away even for free.

Lin An disliked the way he belittled the puppy. Over the past few days, he had grown fond of the little creature in the videos, who had progressed from being motionless to wagging its tail and drinking milk.

"Why don't you keep it, Lin An? You've already spent over 10,000 yuan on this dog. Wouldn't you regret giving it away? Others might not care for it and abandon it after a few days. You've been so kind to this dog; you're sure to take good care of it. If you need anything, come to my shop. I'll provide you with the best quality items. And if it falls ill again, you have me to turn to."

Reading the message from the pet shop owner on his phone, Lin An felt tempted, but remembering his obsession with cleanliness, he knew he couldn't possibly keep a pet.

Dogs shed hair, need to eat and use the toilet, and can even destroy things in the house. Could he really tolerate all that?

If he couldn't bear these things and had to give the dog away again, it would be better not to adopt at all from the start.

A dog's life is only about a dozen years, and their owner is everything to them, their home. If one is to take responsibility, it should be for the dog's entire life.

Lin An felt like a failure, incapable of anything and full of flaws. Taking responsibility for a dog's life seemed too burdensome for him, and he lacked the confidence to shoulder it.

Lin An didn't sleep at all that night, lying in bed thinking about this matter, and ultimately decided to find a new home for the puppy. If he could find a loving and suitable adopter, the puppy would surely be happier than with him.

Early the next morning, with dark circles under his eyes, Lin An searched for adopters on his phone. Since the pet shop owner couldn't find a suitable person, he would look online. In a city as large as Chuxi, there must be someone willing to adopt the puppy.

Just as he registered information on the adoption platform and was about to upload the puppy's photos, his home's security door started banging loudly.

Startled, Lin An almost dropped his phone.

It wasn't the delivery time, so who could be knocking at the door?

"Xiao An, Xiao An," called the person outside affectionately.

Lin An had no friends and few knew where he lived. The most recent person who knew his address was the pet shop owner, and the voice sounded like his.

Rushing to the door, Lin An peered through the peephole and saw the pet shop owner's face, smiling kindly.

Why was he here?

Although he had left his address, Lin An hadn't expected him to come without prior notice. He had never had visitors before and stood at the door, hesitant to speak, pretending no one was home.

"I brought the puppy over. It's recovered from its illness. Staying in the pet hospital is just a waste of money. Look, isn't it much livelier than in the video I sent you?"

Anticipating Lin An's peephole vigil, he lifted the puppy by the nape of its neck, showing it to Lin An, swinging it from side to side.

The puppy, held casually by its neck, stiffened its body as it swung back and forth, whimpering softly, clearly uncomfortable.

Lin An panicked immediately, opening the door quickly. His eyes were fixed on the puppy, unable to look away. He hadn't expected the man to bring the puppy over. Gazing at the dog suspended in mid-air, he instinctively wanted to take it, but quickly put on gloves before carefully taking the puppy.

Even through the gloves, he could feel the puppy's warm body, which had indeed improved a lot since he first found it. Lin An looked at it, his eyes filled with tenderness.

Perhaps sensing Lin An's scent, the puppy in his hands stopped whimpering, pushed forward, and buried its little head in Lin An's hands, sniffing around.

Caught off guard by the sudden visit, Lin An forgot to wear a mask, and the pet shop owner's gaze openly admired his unmasked face.

Lin An didn't think himself particularly handsome; wearing a mask outside was more a result of social anxiety.

Initially interacting with the puppy, Lin An became increasingly stiff under the owner's blatant stare, who, sensing Lin An's discomfort, averted his gaze and picked up something from the door.

"These are the best medicines prescribed by the pet hospital, along with some popular dog toys from my shop, perfect for a puppy like this."

His words seemed to assume Lin An would keep the dog.

"I see you don't like going out much, right? I understand, it's that social anxiety thing with young people nowadays, right? When the dog gets bigger, it'll need dog food. I'll deliver it to your door. I have to go now. I've been caring for this dog recently, and my shop hasn’t been open much, all my regular customers are gone."

After saying this, the owner left without giving Lin An a chance to respond.

In fact, during this time, the pet shop had been operating normally. The owner had only visited the pet hospital in the beginning to leave the puppy there. Knowing the hospital staff, he received updates and photos of the puppy, which he then forwarded to Lin An.

Not far from leaving, he received a transfer from Lin An.

The amount exactly matched the prices of the items he had just delivered.

The pet shop owner smiled, thanked Lin An a few times, and then leisurely left.

"Quite a profit, indeed. Made over ten thousand in just half a month, and now that he has the dog, it'll be even easier to sell things to him."

The pet shop owner was a slick character, familiar with all sorts of people. He knew whom to provoke and whom to avoid, often discerning this within hours of interaction.

And Lin An, he categorized as the naïve and wealthy type. Willing to spend so much on a stray dog picked up off the street. Add to that Lin An’s timid, reclusive nature, his reluctance to interact or be indebted to others, and his decisive purchasing — probably also motivated by a desire to repay a favor.

"But being indebted to me isn't something one can easily repay."

The puppy was left behind, and Lin An, holding it, seemed lost, as if cradling some precious treasure, placing it gently in the dog bed in his bedroom.

The light yellow dog bed had been cleaned and was ready, with the puppy obediently standing inside, exploring its new territory.

So adorable.

Lin An squatted beside it, taking a few pictures of the puppy to post online.

After a while, the puppy lay down in the bed and fell asleep. Lin An left the bedroom to clean the items brought by the pet shop owner, but soon after, howling sounds came from the bedroom where the puppy lay.

Thinking something had happened, Lin An hurried into the bedroom, only to find the puppy lying in its bed, looking up at him with innocent eyes.

It seemed fine. Maybe it was hungry?

Clumsily, Lin An prepared the goat milk powder he had bought and brought the small bottle to the puppy, which immediately started suckling vigorously.

Eventually, it finished the entire small bottle, its belly appearing somewhat round.

But as Lin An went to the kitchen to wash the bottle, the puppy began to howl again.

The moment it saw Lin An, the howling stopped, and it looked up at him with its small, innocent eyes.

Finally, Lin An had no choice but to sit beside it on a small stool, and the puppy finally settled down and slept peacefully.

Lin An couldn't find an adopter. For many days, his posts received not even a single reply.

During these days, Lin An cared for it. The puppy grew very fond of him, wagging its tail excitedly whenever it saw him and clumsily running over to nuzzle him with its little, unsteady legs. Even when Lin An moved away, the puppy thought it was a game and continued to cling to him.

At night, it whimpered continuously until Lin An, resigned, appeared, after which it would sleep peacefully.

For Lin An, this time was a mix of pain and sweetness.

It was his first time caring for a small animal. Watching the puppy depend on him wholeheartedly filled a void in his heart. Every action of the puppy was amusing to him — its clumsy run, the effort it put into suckling, and even its dreaming, with its little legs kicking in sleep.

Watching it grow fatter day by day, Lin An felt truly happy during these days.

The only hardship was the puppy's messiness. For someone with a cleanliness obsession, it was a nightmare. The dog bed was hardly ever clean, and Lin An couldn't keep up with the cleaning.

The adoption post online remained unanswered, save for one comment.

"So ugly, it shouldn't be scaring people."

There were even likes on the comment.

Meanwhile, under the posts of the cuter, breed dogs, everyone commented on how adorable they were and expressed a desire to adopt one.

Sitting on the small stool, Lin An read that comment several times before finally making up his mind.

Since no one liked him or the puppy, they were perfect for each other. He decided he would take good care of the puppy.

Even if the puppy was messy, with a bit more diligence, he could still keep things clean.

After deleting all the adoption posts online, Lin An felt much lighter. Perhaps deep down, he had always longed to care for a small animal.

"What should I call you? Although my life is a failure, I hope you can be happy. You're still a little one, and I'll protect you well."

The little puppy sat in its bed, attentively watching Lin An as if it understood his words.

"How about I call you Xiao Fu?"

The light yellow puppy wagged its tail at Lin An and barked softly in agreement.

……

From that day on, Lin An lived up to his promise, relying solely on each other and always protecting the puppy.

But now, in the Moos Underground City, Lin An, having lost his sanity, looked at the terrified dog cowering in his arms, his mind consumed by a bloodthirsty urge.

As a huge stone loomed overhead, ready to fall, Lin An bared his teeth at the puppy in his arms, his expression ferocious.

The frightened puppy glanced at its master and then obediently lowered its neck.

Some dogs, after being hurt by their owners, see them as enemies, but most, even if hurt, will still run towards the familiar call.

Xiao Fu was smart. It probably knew what Lin An was thinking, yet it just lowered its head and stayed in his embrace, showing no sign of wanting to escape.

Facing the fresh flesh before him, Lin An, mouth agape, suddenly froze.

"I hope you can be happy. I will protect you well."

"Xiao Fu."

In that moment, Lin An remembered his promise, tears falling onto the dog's fur: "Why didn't you run? Silly dog."

He held Xiao Fu tightly until the very end.

As the boulder fell, numerous icicles and metals served as support. The ground beneath Lin An collapsed, turning the icicles to dust and deforming the metal, lessening the impact of the boulder.

At the last moment, the ground's collapse protected both him and Xiao Fu.

When the small robots broke through the boulder and everyone found them, Lin An was unconscious, but Xiao Fu was awake. It succeeded not only in being protected by its master but also in protecting him in return.