Chapter 17 The Scheming Little Dog's Friend Staying at Dr. Cheng's House

Shen Zhui wanted to pull Cheng Guo into his arms and kiss her until her lips turned rosy and she was so weak and breathless that she could only cling to him.

Knowing full well why he was so anxious and upset when he first moved in, and knowing that he was jealous because of that watch, she kept quiet about it.

How could there be such a wicked older sister?

Shen Zhui thought to himself.

His eyes and brows radiated an irrepressible brilliance. He sat on the sofa, twirling the ring on his middle finger, the tattoo at the base of his finger faintly visible.

In the bedroom next door, Cheng Guo was being questioned by Ruan Ning.

“That’s how it is,” Cheng Guo said honestly, sitting on the bed, trying to get leniency. “I originally planned to call Shu Shu over to talk about it when you came back.”

Ruan Ning stood opposite her with her arms crossed, her head down and expressionless. Although she was shorter than Chen Zhui and her aura was also inferior to Chen Zhui's, Cheng Guo felt guilty and looked at her with a filter.

“Come sit down,” Cheng Guo called to Ruan Ning, “This sounds like a homeroom teacher scolding a student.”

Ruan Ning glanced at the large bed behind her and said with a sneer, "I don't sit in a bed that a man has slept in."

“I haven’t slept with him,” Cheng Guo said, her face flushed with embarrassment, as she pulled her to sit down. “He sleeps on the sofa outside.”

Ruan Ning was shocked: "So useless?"

Cheng Guo objected: "Why are you swearing?"

"I didn't scold you, I scolded Chen Zhui."

“…Something’s not right with what you’re saying,” Cheng Guo frowned. “Shouldn’t you be on my side? Why does it sound like you’re urging me…”

“I’m on your side. Think about it, for Chen Zhui, at such a young and vigorous age, to be able to endure sleeping on the sofa, either he really cherishes you and is very tolerant, or he simply can’t.”

As soon as Ruan Ning entered the house, she saw that Cheng Guo's house had changed drastically. Chen Zhui's things were scattered everywhere, and his intentions were obvious at a glance.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Guo was reminded of something.

When Shen Zhui first moved in, she didn't have any new bath towels. She gave him one that she had used once. Later, when she bought new bath towels, Shen Zhui refused to change them, saying he liked the old ones. She said the two were the same, but Shen Zhui looked at her and said they were different, the smell was different.

Another thing is that Shen Zhui takes a shower every morning. At first, she thought it was because the living room was too hot without air conditioning. But even after the air conditioning was installed, he still did it. She often saw his freshly washed underwear on the balcony in the early morning.

Things I didn't think much about at the time, but now that I've connected them...

"What are you thinking about?" Ruan Ning chuckled and nudged her arm. "Your neck is red."

“If I miss you,” Cheng Guo covered her neck, her eyes darting away, her words unusually difficult, “he should, he should be quite capable.”

Ruan Ning looked at her in shock, then burst out laughing and patted her shoulder, "Don't worry, your niece will lend you a hand."

"...I'm not in a hurry, don't do anything rash."

"Don't worry."

Cheng Guo remembered what Ruan Ning had mentioned to her, "You said before that you had something to tell me before I talked to Shen Zhui, what was it?"

“Oh, that,” Ruan Ning said, a slight smile playing on her lips as she recalled Chen Zhui’s earlier expression. “It’s alright now.”

Shen Zhui dug his own hole, so let him fill it himself.

Ruan Ning's "Don't worry" resulted in her taking Cheng Guo rafting on her next day off, and also inviting Shen Zhui and Shu Shu, who had specially switched shifts with someone else to participate in this activity.

Rafting is a leisure activity offered by a resort hotel in the western suburbs of Licheng. It is not officially open yet and is in the trial period. Ruan Ning obtained the trial voucher from a friend.

"Are there many people?" Cheng Guo asked, turning around from the passenger seat.

The four of them shared a car, with Shen Zhui driving and Ruan Ningshu sitting in the back.

The number of people doesn't matter to the three girls, but it's different for Shen Zhui. Being photographed traveling with three girls will definitely become tabloid news if it gets out.

Besides, who doesn't get wet while rafting?

Getting wet, beautiful women, and popular male stars—it's too easy to concoct a story.

“Don’t worry, I asked, only five people are going today. Four of us will be in the morning, and the other one will be in the afternoon. Oh right,” Ruan Ning suddenly asked her, “Do you still want to raise a Samoyed? One of my dog ​​friends lives here. I can ask her if you want one.”

She glanced at the driver's seat, "If you feel that you have something at home right now—"

"Yoyo!" Cheng Guo quickly interrupted, afraid that she would repeat the nonsense she had said to deceive people in front of Chen Zhui, and then she might get bitten again.

Shu Shu chuckled as he listened from the side.

Instead of contacting anyone, Ruan Ning asked Shen Zhui, "Shen Zhui, do you agree to Cheng Guo keeping a Samoyed at home?"

The two people in the back seat focused their attention on Shen Zhui. Cheng Guo smiled with her head down, feeling Shen Zhui's gaze slightly turn towards her. She heard him hum in a voice only she could hear, then raise his voice: "Not yet on duty, dare not object."

Ruan Ning and Shu Shu burst into laughter. Ruan Ning asked Cheng Guo, "Guo'er, are we still going to make a date?"

Shen Zhui turned his gaze to the side again.

Cheng Guo raised her hand, touched her forehead with the back of her hand, and cursed inwardly at these two women who loved to watch the drama unfold, but said, "I'll see if a dog falls from the sky today."

There was another burst of laughter in the back seat, and then a laugh came from the driver's seat.

They arrived at the hotel in a lively atmosphere. Ruan Ning's friend had reserved two guest rooms for them to rest. Cheng Guo was afraid that the two of them would try to get her and Shen Zhui to share a room, so after parking the car, she didn't go into the hotel room but took a sightseeing bus directly to the rafting project.

The project is located in the back mountain, passing through several outdoor recreational areas. Chen Zhui was wearing a baseball cap, which covered his striking eyebrows and eyes, but he was still frequently noticed because of his outstanding appearance. Cheng Guo reached into his bag and hesitated, touching his mask.

In the sweltering heat of July, although the western suburbs are much cooler and the sun is still scorching, wearing a mask in such weather can be quite stifling.

"Give it to me." Shen Zhui held out his hand to her, and Cheng Guo handed it over.

"Is it convenient for you to go out after becoming famous?" she asked.

When they broke up, his career was just starting out. Afterwards, she completely removed him from her life, like an addiction, and didn't pay any attention to him for over a year.

“I don’t go out much,” Shen Zhui said, holding the ear loops up to his ears and pulling his mask up. His arms hung down, almost touching hers. “Besides filming movies, I do animation and take classes.”

Correspondingly, they are either on film sets, in studios, or at schools.

Most of the time I drive on the road, and this is the first time I've ever ridden in a tourist sightseeing bus that completely exposes me to the public eye.

"Let's pick them when we get to the project site."

Cheng Guo was still worried that he was hot.

The sightseeing bus dropped the four people off at the entrance of the attraction and returned. Just as the four were about to go in, a white Samoyed ran towards them, followed closely by several small snowball-like fur balls.

"Mick!"

Ruan Ning pronounced the name accurately, and the tall Samoyed circled her twice with its pink tongue lolling out. It then bypassed Chen Zhui, pricked up its ears, tilted its head, and looked at Cheng Guo curiously, as if it wanted to approach her but was hesitant because of something.

The smaller ones had no scruples and practically rolled to the feet of the group.

"Guo'er, a dog really fell from the sky!"

Shu Shu excitedly squatted down and gave the little Samoyed a rub.

Cheng Guo also squatted down and took the opportunity to pet the Samoyed, whose owner she didn't know, a couple of times.

"Mick!"

Just then, someone called out from afar, and the white Samoyed turned around, barked as if in response, and ran back with several smaller puppies.

Shu Shu, suppressing her excitement, screamed softly. Cheng Guo, whose hand had fallen to the ground, stood up and looked in the direction of her gaze. A tall man was standing not far away.

He looks familiar; it's like I've seen him somewhere before.

"Boss Xu," Ruan Ning called out, glancing towards Cheng Guo.

Shu Shu tugged at Cheng Guo's arm, and Cheng Guo's eyelids twitched. At that moment, she realized why the person looked familiar: it was Xu Qingnian.

She had seen his photos on his WeChat Moments.

Cheng Guo followed Ruan Ning over, glancing at Shen Zhui discreetly. Shen Zhui was still wearing a mask and seemed unresponsive.

Cheng Guo was relieved.

Ruan Ning had already exchanged pleasantries with Xu Qingnian. From what she heard, Xu Qingnian had originally arranged to come in the afternoon, but something came up and he wanted to come in the morning instead.

“That’s perfect, let’s go together,” Ruan Ning said with a smile, clapping her hands and glancing at the faces of the people around her. “I haven’t introduced you yet.”

"This is Shu Shu, Dr. Shu."

Shu Shu nodded gently, then pinched Cheng Guo hard with her nails.

I don't know if she was happy to see a handsome guy or excited by the excitement.

"This is Dr. Cheng, he is—"

“Mr. Xu,” Cheng Guo quickly interrupted Ruan Ning, extending her hand and smiling, “Cheng Guo.”

Xu Qingnian looked at her, his dark, clear eyes curving into a smile, and extended his hand, "Hello, Dr. Cheng, I am Xu Qingnian."

Cheng Guo's heart skipped a beat, but she managed a forced smile and withdrew her hand.

Shen Zhui, who hadn't been paying much attention to this area, suddenly noticed something.

Ruan Ning's lips twitched briefly before she tried to straighten them out. She introduced Shen Zhui, "This is Dr. Cheng's, um, friend."

Xu Qingnian smiled and looked at Shen Zhui, extending his hand.

Shen Zhui sized him up for a few seconds, then slowly removed his mask, revealing a face that had dominated the summer's movie screens. Without much expression, he reached out and shook Shen Zhui's hand. "Shen Zhui, you're staying at Dr. Cheng's house—"

He paused deliberately, a slow smile playing on his lips. "Friend."

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Author's note: I'm experiencing writer's block...

Today's episode was a bit short [crying emoji][crying emoji]