Chapter 108 Eating secretly
After the annual meeting, the company's work pace slowed down significantly.
Everyone is looking forward to the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, and even daily meetings are filled with a relaxed atmosphere.
That morning, Pei Song was sorting out the operational data of the "Leling Home" when his cell phone suddenly rang.
It was Pei’s father who called.
"Songsong," Pei's father said in an unquestionable tone, "You must come home on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month so that we can get together as a family."
Pei Song paused.
He doesn't like his father's relatives. Every time they get together, it's full of temptations and comparisons.
Especially because of the last time he rejected the blind date, his relationship with Grandma Pei has completely reached freezing point.
Thinking of this, Pei Song rubbed his temples: "Dad, I'm busy with work..."
"No matter how busy you are, you have to come back," Pei's father interrupted him, "You have to do your job to save face. You are not a child anymore, don't be willful."
Pei Song pinched his eyebrows and felt annoyed.
This is the sadness of traditional family relationships. Even if they are not in harmony with each other in their hearts, they have to get together during the Chinese New Year, as if only in this way can they prove to the outside world that the family is complete.
"Okay." He finally agreed.
After hanging up the phone, he stared at the phone screen for a while until the meeting reminder rang and he came back to his senses.
In the conference room, Zhou Feng was explaining in detail the implementation plan for the second phase of the "Happy Elderly Home" project.
"Based on the experience of the first phase, we have made new plans for the integration of medical resources," Zhou Feng switched to the PPT, "Harmony Medical has confirmed the technical solution for remote diagnosis and treatment."
Pei Song took notes mechanically, his thoughts occasionally drifting to the upcoming "family drama".
After the meeting, Shi Yanchen called him and asked, "What's wrong? You were absent-minded during the meeting."
"Nothing," Pei Song pursed his lips, "I just need to go back home in a couple of days."
Shi Yanchen's eyes rested on his slightly tired face: "Do you want me to go with you?"
"No," Pei Song shook his head, "I don't want those people to dirty your eyes again."
Shi Yanchen wanted to say something, but Jin Shuning knocked on the door and urged him to go to the next meeting.
When Pei Song returned to Heguangli at night, he just opened the door and saw MAX squatting on the ground with his ears shaped like airplane ears, looking at him with a guilty look on his face.
"What's wrong with you?" Pei Song squatted down and found that MAX's mouth and front paws were stained with red pulp, and there were a few pieces of dragon fruit skin scattered on the ground.
"Cheating?" Pei Song patted MAX's head, "Are you still afraid?"
MAX lowered his head and let his tail droop, looking as if he admitted his mistake.
Pei Song looked at its hair covered with juice and said helplessly: "Let's go take a bath."
MAX immediately took two steps back, but under Pei Song's stern gaze, he still followed him into the bathroom obediently.
As soon as Pei Song turned on the shower, MAX began to twist and turn restlessly.
"Don't move," he said as he made bubbles for MAX, "Who told you to eat secretly?"
As he was speaking, he heard the sound of a door opening behind him.
"Taking a shower?" It was Shi Yanchen's voice.
"Well," Pei Song said without turning his head, "guess what I found? This guy ate dragon fruit and made himself look like a little cat."
"Then you won't punish it?" Shi Yanchen walked closer.
Pei Song smiled and rubbed MAX's ears: "It has its own little personality now. No matter how well-trained a rescue dog is, it is essentially a greedy puppy. What's more, it left its mother when it was young, suppressed its nature and accepted strict training, and made such a great contribution to mankind."
"Just be soft-hearted and indulge it, be careful that it becomes lawless." Shi Yanchen said softly.
"I'm not being soft-hearted," Pei Song patted MAX on the back, "In fact, I'm a little happy to see him stealing food. It means he really considers this place his home, feels safe, and can express his nature freely, being a happy puppy."
Shi Yanchen was about to say something when MAX shook his hair violently, water droplets splashed everywhere, instantly soaking Pei Song's shirt.
"MAX!" Pei Song exclaimed and took a step back. The shower head slipped from his hand and the water poured over him defenselessly.
The soaked fabric clung to his body, outlining his figure completely.
The graceful waistline and clear collarbone are faintly visible under the translucent fabric.
He looked down at his clothes and was about to say something when he caught a glimpse of Shi Yanchen standing there motionless. The burning gaze made Pei Song feel like even his ears were burning.
The mist in the bathroom made the atmosphere even more ambiguous.
"Go change your clothes," Shi Yanchen suddenly took a towel from the rack, squatted down and covered MAX with it, and said in a low voice, "I'll help MAX dry."
Pei Song nodded hurriedly as if he had been pardoned, and almost fled.
After returning to the room and changing his clothes, he took a deep breath to calm his heartbeat, then went back with the hair dryer to blow dry MAX's hair.
Shi Yanchen and MAX have already gone to the balcony.
MAX was rolling happily on the ground, making his freshly dried fur a mess.
Shi Yanchen half-knelt aside, letting it run wild, with a rare gentle smile on his face.
It was a dark night, and the lights of the city shone through the glass, softening the two figures.
"You've got yourself dirty again." Pei Song walked over, his voice unconsciously lowered.
Shi Yanchen looked up at him, his eyes still carrying the same heart-pounding heat from before.
Pei Song felt his face getting hot again, so he quickly squatted down and pretended to concentrate on blowing MAX's hair.
"I won't give you a bath anymore," he muttered as he blew, "You splashed me with water. Next time, I'll send you straight to the pet store."
MAX rubbed his hand with her head in a flattering manner, and her wet eyes softened his heart.
"This guy is really good at acting like a spoiled brat," Shi Yanchen said with a smile, "I know you can't do anything with him."
MAX seemed to understand their conversation. He wagged his tail happily and circled around Pei Song's legs.
"Okay, okay," Pei Song said helplessly, "Isn't it okay if I don't get angry with you now that I know you're likable?"
Shi Yanchen scratched MAX's chin: "Next time, if you want to eat something, just come to me directly, no need to be sneaky."
Pei Song glared at him and said, "Just let it get away with it."
"Oh, right," Shi Yanchen thought of something, "I saw a dog communication button that can record different voices and let MAX express his needs by pressing the button."
"I've seen this before," Pei Song's eyes lit up, "but I don't know if it's useful."
"You can try it," Shi Yanchen said, "For example, record 'I'm hungry', 'I want to go out and play' and so on. It's so smart, it should be able to learn it quickly."
Pei Song imagined MAX pressing the button with his paw and couldn't help laughing: "What kind of voice should we record? Should we use our own voice?"
"Of course you have to use your voice," Shi Yanchen said, "it loves to hear you speak the most."
Their shoulders touched, their breaths mingling.
At this moment, even the sound of the wind outside the balcony became gentle.