Chapter 73 Worse Off Than a Dog

Chapter 73: Treated Worse Than a Dog

Xie Muchen initially thought Ling Jue’s comment about getting a dog was just something he said without thinking—after all, he had never liked having living things around.

He hated trouble.

Yet, the day after the engagement party, he heard that Ling Jue had personally gone to a kennel and came home with an Alaskan Malamute.

Ji Xiuhang, who had just landed in South Africa, was venting, “I heard that dog has quite the temper. It made him wait there all afternoon, coaxing it like a revered ancestor before it finally agreed to go with him. Tell me, how can he be so patient with a dog, yet force me to lie low overseas? My stomach is already missing food from back home.”

His tone was full of resentment.

Ji Xiuhang also knew the kennel owner, who was so surprised by Ling Jue’s patience he had to gossip about it.

Little did he know that Ji Xiuhang himself was already green with envy over the “treated worse than a dog” comparison.

Hadn’t he only made a tiny mistake? Getting shipped off like this was a bit too much! If only Ling Jue had shown him even a tenth of the gentleness he’d shown that Alaskan Malamute…

On the other end of the line, Xie Muchen couldn’t hold back his laughter. “Who told you to expose his secrets in public?”

Last night’s couples’ game had nearly been the talk of the town.

So much for the heartless playboy—clearly, he was just a tsundere simp.

Ji Xiuhang felt a twinge of guilt for a second but still shot back, “Wasn’t I just creating an opportunity for the two of them? With his attitude—pretending to be a stranger when he clearly cares to death—by the time Qin Shuyi has kids, he might finally realize it.”

Given Ling Jue’s domineering nature, Ji Xiuhang didn’t want a brother who’d break up families and steal other men’s wives.

Xie Muchen couldn’t help but laugh. “Fair enough, but no one told you to go all out right in his face.”

Ling Jue’s expression last night had been truly spectacular.

Ji Xiuhang chuckled too.

If given the choice again, he’d still do it.

Watching the animals leisurely wandering the distant grasslands, he piped up again, “Speaking of which, why did he suddenly decide to get a pet?”

Xie Muchen replied, “Let me ask you, who likes Alaskan Malamutes?”

It was only after hearing that Ling Jue had insisted on that proud, large dog that Xie Muchen suddenly remembered—Ling Jue had actually visited kennels before.

It was to pick out a gift for Qin Shuyi.

Back then, during a meal, Ling Jue had brought up the topic with concern, saying that while Qin Shuyi seemed gentle and well-behaved, she had a preference for large, imposing dogs that looked difficult to handle. He’d even worried that one day, while out for a walk, the dog might run off and drag her slight figure along with it.

He’d asked them if getting a cat might be better.

Neither Xie Muchen nor Ji Xiuhang had ever kept cats or dogs, so they had zero advice to offer. They could only sense the subtle bragging hidden beneath Ling Jue’s seemingly casual complaints.

In the end, though, they never got a dog.

Qin Shuyi had refused.

Since Qin Shuyi didn’t want it, Ling Jue certainly wouldn’t bother getting a pet for himself, so the dog-picking plan naturally fizzled out.

But back then, Xie Muchen had heard that Qin Shuyi liked Alaskan Malamutes.

Ling Jue’s shortlist had included several with exceptional pedigrees.

Ji Xiuhang suddenly understood.

His expression then became unreadable.

Some people, huh? He tells a few hard truths, and they get upset.

Yet behind the scenes, even when getting a dog for himself, he subconsciously chooses the breed someone else likes.

What’s next? Planning to have his ex-girlfriend come play with his dog?

While the two brothers gossiped about their contradictory friend, Ling Jue, on the other end, was frowning as he studied the “trouble” he’d brought home.

The premium dog food prepared for it was met with disdain, while an ordinary carrot was its favorite thing.

After a standoff between man and dog, Ling Jue finally placed both options in front of it. Only then did the dog settle down to eat. Now, full and content, it happily gnawed on a bone.

“Really…” He sighed, patting the dog’s head. “Just like some people—you have to stroke them the right way.”

The dog didn’t understand human words, but in a good mood, it was willing to acknowledge its owner, who seemed ill-tempered but was surprisingly patient.

It narrowed its eyes and nuzzled against his hand.

The soft touch made Ling Jue pause. The corners of his lips lifted slightly. “Even the way it acts cute to win favor reminds me of her.”

Just as he was amusing himself by feeding the dog, his phone rang.

It was a matter from the company.

After a moment’s thought, he decided to take the dog to the old mansion first.

To accommodate it, he had already moved from his spacious apartment near the company back to his private villa.

However, he disliked having too many people around during ordinary times, so the staff would leave once their tasks were done. Thus, there was no one available to look after the Alaskan Malamute at the moment.

Moreover, he didn’t feel comfortable entrusting it to servants or unfamiliar people.

There was only one person—not particularly close or intimate with him—yet someone he could trust with his back without hesitation.

…

At the old mansion.

Qi Manjun was sitting in the living room, reviewing documents her secretary had delivered.

Many matters no longer required her personal attention, and over the past two years, she had intentionally stepped back from work, so she wasn’t particularly busy now.

Hearing that the young master had returned with a dog, she adjusted her shawl and stood up in surprise.

She happened to meet Ling Jue standing at the entrance, holding a leash.

The two faced each other quietly. Ling Jue pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke. “I’ll be staying at the old mansion for the next few days, but I might be quite busy. Could you help look after it?”

Qi Manjun’s heart stirred slightly.

This was the first time since Ling Jue was a child that he had asked her for help.

Their family wasn’t accustomed to asking favors of others.

"Achilles' heel"—the phrase surfaced in her mind.

At twenty-seven, a tender spot had finally grown within her hardened shell, allowing herself a point of vulnerability.

Why now?

"Of course," she nodded gently.

"Thank you," Ling Jue said.

They lapsed into silence again. Qi Manjun asked him, "Are you moving back in today?"

"I still need to go to the company later. I'll come back tomorrow," Ling Jue replied.

Qi Manjun then asked, "It's already dinnertime. Would you like to stay for dinner before you leave?"

Since he'd just asked for a favor, Ling Jue didn't refuse.

Mother and son had not shared a meal together since Qi Wanting's funeral.

Apart from the occasional uncontrollable tears while haunting the hospital and cemetery, and the breakdown on the first night, Qi Manjun seemed to have quickly pulled herself together after her brother's death, once again the cold-hearted, unbreakable head of the Qi family.

Ling Jue wasn't one for offering comfort either. Everyone deliberately avoided sentimental topics, numbly moving forward with life.

They had been distant for years, and Qi Manjun didn't push to bridge the gap.

She looked at the dog, its eyes bright and alert, showing no fear of strangers. "Does it have a name?"

"Caesar. Ling Caesar," Ling Jue answered.

Qi Manjun smiled and beckoned to the dog. "Caesar, want to go for a walk in the garden?"

Surprisingly, Caesar, who was often difficult with Ling Jue, was unexpectedly friendly toward Qi Manjun.

Hearing the call, he happily trotted over.

Ling Jue wordlessly handed over the leash.

Qi Manjun said with a smile, "I'll take him for a walk. You can sit for a while; dinner won't be long."

Ling Jue nodded silently, casting a warning glance at the now-frolicking Alaskan Malamute.

Not long after Qi Manjun left with the dog, another unexpected person appeared.

Ling Mufeng looked at his son, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. He greeted him with a stern face, then put down the cake he was holding and asked coldly, "Where's your mother?"

Ling Jue, holding the company documents Qi Manjun had passed to him, replied with equal lack of emotion, "She went to walk the dog in the garden."

Ling Mufeng's expression shifted from impassive to alarmed, filled with urgency and anger.

"Walking the dog?!"

"How could you let her walk the dog? She's allergic to dog hair!"

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