The following evening at 9:30 PM.

"Little dog!" Yu Qiao blocked Shen Zhu's path, grabbed his wrist again, and glared at him fiercely: "I told you, I'm going to your house tonight! I'm staying in your room!"

Dad said that if we want to take things further, we have to take over the other person's bed first!

“Young Miss, my home is too simple and not suitable for you.”

Yu Qiao reached out and grabbed Shen Zhu by the collar, baring her teeth and glaring at him fiercely: "I don't care, I said I'm going! You little dog, can't you understand human language?!"

“Miss, stop joking.” Shen Zhu explained helplessly, “My home is really dilapidated. I can’t afford a big house right now, and I don’t have a comfortable luxury bed.”

"..." Is she an idiot? She's made it so obvious! Doesn't the puppy realize she doesn't mind at all, that she's trying to make friends?!

Yu Qiao was so angry she gritted her teeth: "I don't care, I'm going!"

She refused to believe that Shen Zhu would abandon her on the side of the road!

Shen Zhu's dark eyes gleamed with a dark light as his gaze fell on Yu Qiao's small hand gripping his wrist.

He was reluctant to let Yu Qiao know how shabby his place was, especially since his mother was still at home. How could he introduce the young lady to her?

Standing at the hotel entrance, Yu Qiao glared at him fiercely: "You're so annoying! I'm not going into the hotel!"

Tonight, she's determined to sleep in the dog's bed! No one can stop her!!

“Young Miss.” Shen Zhu sighed helplessly, his dark, narrow eyes serious as he said, “I’m serious, my home is very simple, it doesn’t even have decent furniture.”

“If you go, you’ll just leave with a disgusted look on your face. When I make money, I’ll buy you a big house, okay?” he tried to reason with.

"No!" Yu Qiao gripped his fingers tightly, her eyes flashing. She stubbornly reiterated, "No one can change my mind, little dog. Either take me home, or you're going to drag me around in the street and make a fool of yourself."

"..." Their eyes met, and Shen Zhu saw the stubbornness in Yu Qiao's eyes. After a long while, a cool breeze blew by, and she shrank her neck.

"Let's go." Shen Zhu took off his black windbreaker and draped it over her shoulders.

Yu Qiao snorted, raised her chin, and stretched out her hand: "Stupid dog, don't you know how to hold my hand? The road is so bumpy, what if I fall?"

“Okay.” Shen Zhu’s fingertips trembled as he grabbed her hand.

"?" Yu Qiao frowned and directly gripped his fingers.

What an idiot! When a boy holds a girl's hand, their fingers should be intertwined. Don't you even know that?!

So stupid! ╮(︶﹏︶)╭!

Shen Zhu's gaze gradually wandered, his tense expression instantly crumbled, and his dark eyes revealed an uncontrollable excitement.

He pursed his lips, suppressing the urge to curl them upwards.

Approaching this slum, the houses are cramped and the doors are made of rough wooden planks. These houses are built around a dead-end courtyard with only one side for ventilation.

Shen Zhu led Yu Qiao up the stairs to the seventh floor. The young lady, who lacked exercise, was panting and sweating profusely.

Staring at the dent in the door, Yu Qiao's eyes were filled with complex emotions, including a hint of self-reproach.

The fact that the puppy is living in such terrible conditions is a dereliction of duty on her part as the owner!

Tomorrow, I must get the puppy a more comfortable house!

“Young Miss.” Shen Zhu pursed his lips, his gaze lowered, a hint of inferiority in his eyes: “It’s still early, I can take you home.”

The gap between the two was too big. Even if he saved every penny, he could only save a little over 400,000 yuan, which was only enough to buy a toilet in this city where land was so valuable.

But it doesn't matter, his startup has recently taken off, and the stocks he's invested in are quite substantial.

I believe that before long, he will be able to buy the young lady a luxurious villa and a golden cage inlaid with diamonds.

"No, open the door now!" Yu Qiao snorted and turned her head away.

Shen Zhu suddenly felt his mouth go dry. Just thinking about the young lady sleeping in his bed made him tremble with excitement.

Even his breathing became disordered.

His gaze drifted to Yu Qiao's fair skin; his bedding was rough and might rub her delicate skin red.

With a creak, the door opened.

"Xiao Zhuo, you're back?" A gentle, husky female voice came first.

Yu Qiao curiously peered over and was stunned. A thin but gentle and beautiful woman appeared before her. Her skin was pale and her lips were bloodless. She looked to be in poor spirits.

"You, it's you..." Xue Wei's pupils dilated, her thin body swayed precariously, and her eyes gradually moistened, revealing an excited expression.

It's her!

It was her!

That girl from back then!

"Mother?" Shen Zhu's long, slender brows furrowed slightly. "You know Miss Yu Qiao?"

"No!" Xue Wei shook her head violently, muttering to herself, "I don't know her, I don't know her..."

“Auntie…?” Yu Qiao was stunned and grabbed Shen Zhu’s arm, not knowing what to do.

"It's alright." Shen Zhu shook his head gently at her, then went over to help Xue Wei up: "Mother, she is my friend, her name is Yu Qiao, she's staying at our house tonight."

Xue Wei's eyelashes trembled, and her cloudy eyes stared intently at Yu Qiao. The gaze was too intense, and Yu Qiao became nervous and hid behind Shen Zhu.

“Child, don’t be afraid of me.” Xue Wei choked up, her expression loving and moved. She stepped forward and took Yu Qiao’s hand.

What?! How could she be afraid!

Can't you speak properly? How awful!

But this was the puppy's mother, and Yu Qiao could only scream inwardly while forcing a smile: "I'm not afraid of you."

"That's good, that's good..." Xue Wei murmured repeatedly, sometimes looking at Yu Qiao with tears in her eyes, sometimes hesitant to speak.

This made Yu Qiao feel uneasy and uneasy.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Shen Zhu frowned, his dark eyes scrutinizing Xue Wei, sensing the subtle atmosphere between them.

Xue Wei suddenly realized what was happening. She forced herself to look away from Yu Qiao, but she couldn't help glancing at her out of the corner of her eye.

Thank God, one day she was able to get so close to that child!

But deep down, she still felt a sense of unease. Xue Wei suppressed her excitement, shook her head, and reluctantly let go of Yu Qiao: "I'm fine."

"I just think this child is really beautiful."

“Hmm…” Shen Zhu withdrew his probing gaze and moved it to Yu Qiao’s face. He thought for a moment and said, “Mother, Yu Qiao is tired. I’ll make her a bed. You should rest early too.”

"Okay, okay..." Xue Wei suppressed the metallic taste rising in her throat and couldn't help but cough a few times. After thinking for a moment, she reminded her, "It's cold now, remember to boil water for her to soak her feet."

She turned her head again, her expression gentle and kind: "Child, soak your feet before you sleep, it will be very comfortable."

"Auntie will make you breakfast tomorrow morning."

"Okay, thank you, Auntie." Yu Qiao blinked and nodded.

After hesitating for a few steps, Xue Wei reluctantly walked towards her room. As she entered, she paused and said seriously, "Xiao Zhuo, you'll sleep in the living room tonight, on a makeshift bed on the floor."

"She's a girl, you have to be careful about her reputation, and you're not allowed to stay in the same room with her."

"I understand." Shen Zhu's gaze fell on Yu Qiao's delicate and pretty little leather shoes, and he thought somewhat vaguely, "Then I'll go while the young lady is asleep..."

As long as he knows what he did, that's fine.

“Child.” Xue Wei’s serious face broke into a kind smile. “If you need anything, you can call me.”

This is the puppy's mother. Yu Qiao suppressed the urge to hum and obediently nodded: "Okay, Auntie, get some rest. Goodnight."

"Good night." Xue Wei entered the room with a smile and closed the door.

"Phew~" Yu Qiao patted her chest nervously and glared at Chen Zhu: "Auntie seems to like me a lot."

"The young lady is beautiful and kind; everyone will like her."

"Smooth-talking." Yu Qiao couldn't help but curl her lips upwards.

"Come on, I'll take you to my room."

Shen Zhu's room was simple, with only a large bed, a large wooden table, and a wardrobe, but the room was neat and clean, filled with his crisp cedar scent.

"I'll go boil some water first." Shen Zhu turned and left.

Yu Qiao's little leather shoes clicked on the floor. She tilted her head back, looked around proudly, and finally sat down on the bed in a deflated mood.

The puppy's room was so clean, there weren't even any DVDs or comics.

It does look like a very well-behaved puppy.

“Young Miss.” Shen Zhu held a wooden basin in his hand and placed it in front of the bed. His dark eyes paused for a moment, then he slowly squatted down. He looked up at Yu Qiao with wet eyes.

"Little dog, will you wash your master's feet?" Yu Qiao's lips curled up, her delicate eyebrows curving.