Chapter 39: Thirty-eighth Chapter: Seeking the Truth
Lu Jingheng pulled his sleeve down over the injection site and leaned in. He watched Gu Yunsheng tending to his own wound with a deep frown, as if focusing all his attention on that injuryâalmost as if he were the one hurt.
“That wound looks pretty deep. I’ll take you to the hospital.” His voice was filled with worry and concern. As if afraid Gu Yunsheng would refuse, he repeated himself: “Come on, Iâll take you to the hospital. Let a doctor take a proper look.”
Looking at Lu Jinghengâs tense expression, a sliver of warmth flickered in Gu Yunshengâs heart, but his tongue remained sharp. “Iâm fine. Itâs just a scrape. But you, being bitten by a rabid dog like that… you’re the one who should go to the hospital. If you mutate, don’t blame me for not warning you.”
Lu Jingheng was amused by Gu Yunshengâs joke. He looked up, staring into Gu Yunshengâs eyes, and said word for word: “Me, mutate? Don’t worry. Even if I turn into a zombie, I won’t touch you.”
After saying that, Lu Jingheng rolled his eyes at Gu Yunsheng. He turned to look at Er Gouzi, who was lying on the floor not far away. Aside from constant panting, the dog didn’t seem as vicious as before.
Lu Jingheng was about to step forward to check on the dog when Gu Yunsheng grabbed him.
“Have you lost your mind? He hasn’t returned to normal yet. Do you want to get bitten again?” Gu Yunsheng scolded in a low voice, his tone carrying an underlying note of tension.
Lu Jingheng muttered somewhat defiantly, “I just want to see how he is. Heâs foaming at the mouth. Is he really going to mutate?”
Gu Yunsheng ignored Lu Jinghengâs banter. His brow was furrowed tightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes as he thought to himself: Todayâs events are too suspicious…
First that nonsensical phone call, then Er Gouzi suddenly losing control. There must be a connection.
Seeing Gu Yunshengâs serious face, Lu Jingheng also tucked away his joking mood and asked, “Do you suspect someone is behind this?”
“I can’t rule out that possibility.” Gu Yunsheng nodded.
“I think so too. Even though Er Gouzi is a bit of a troublemaker sometimes, heâs never bitten anyone, let alone gone into a frenzy like today,” Lu Jingheng added, watching Gu Yunshengâs contemplative state.
Listening to Lu Jingheng, Gu Yunsheng walked to the window. He looked down at the endless stream of cars, replaying everything that happened today in his mind, trying to find a clue.
“Could someone have injected Er Gouzi with some kind of drug?” Lu Jingheng guessed. “I saw on the news before that there’s a type of drug that can make animals manic and even attack humans.”
“It’s possible,” Gu Yunsheng murmured. “It seems I need to investigate this thoroughly.”
He turned and walked to the balcony, digging out a long-unused dog crate from a corner. Then, he put on thick protective gloves and cautiously approached Er Gouzi.
Er Gouzi seemed to sense Gu Yunshengâs approach. He struggled to stand up, but his body seemed out of his control. He could only lie powerlessly on the floor, letting out low whimpers.
“Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you,” Gu Yunsheng comforted him softly. His tone was incredibly gentle, like he was soothing a wronged child.
He slowly moved closer to Er Gouzi, then took advantage of the dog’s weakness to quickly pick him up and place him in the crate.
Er Gouzi paced restlessly in the cage, letting out bursts of mournful cries, but Gu Yunsheng ignored him. He locked the crate and moved it to a corner of the balcony.
“Reflect on yourself in there,” Gu Yunsheng said coldly, his tone devoid of any emotion.
Watching this scene, Lu Jingheng suddenly felt a bit creeped out. He felt as if Gu Yunsheng had turned into a different person; his gaze was frighteningly cold.
“Uh, Yunsheng, are you okay?” Lu Jingheng asked cautiously, worried that Gu Yunsheng had been traumatized by today’s events.
Gu Yunsheng turned back and glanced at Lu Jingheng. A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, but it vanished quickly.
“Iâm fine,” he said flatly. “Iâm going out for a bit. Stay here and take care of your Er Gouzi.”
“Where are you going?” Lu Jingheng asked. “I’ll go with you.”
“No need,” Gu Yunsheng refused, his tone carrying an almost imperceptible trace of fatigue. “I can go by myself. You stay here and watch the dog. Iâm afraid he might escape the cage. What if he jumps off the balcony and hurts someone else?”
Lu Jingheng wanted to say more, but he was stopped by Gu Yunshengâs gaze.
It was a look he had never seen beforeâfilled with vigilance and defensiveness, as if everything around them held a hidden danger.
“Jingheng,” Gu Yunsheng lowered his voice, his tone solemn. “I have a feeling today’s events aren’t that simple. That phone call, and Er Gouziâs abnormal reactionâthey’re both too suspicious.”
Lu Jingheng also set aside his playfulness. He walked to Gu Yunshengâs side and asked in a low voice, “Do you suspect that the real world is also being affected by that novel…?”
Ever since Gu Yunsheng returned from the hospital, they had both vaguely realized that the world in that novel might not be as far away as they imagined.
“Itâs just a guess.” Gu Yunsheng shook his head, but his tightly furrowed brow betrayed his true thoughts. “I must go and find out exactly what is going on.”
After saying that, he patted Lu Jinghengâs shoulder, his tone carrying an unquestionable firmness. “If Iâm not back in two hours, you shouldâ”
“No! I can’t let you go and take risks alone!” Lu Jingheng grabbed Gu Yunshengâs wrist, his eyes determined. “We are best brothers, aren’t we? Whatever happens, we face it together!”
“Jingheng, listen to me…” Gu Yunsheng gently patted Lu Jinghengâs hand, trying to calm him down. “This matter is more complicated than you think. I don’t want to involve you.”
“There are some things I must resolve myself.”
“But you don’t even know who the other party is. Where are you going to look?” Lu Jingheng frowned, asking worriedly. “Are you just going to wander around without any clues?”
Gu Yunsheng pondered for a moment. He knew Lu Jingheng was right; the most critical thing now was to find a breakthrough.
“You’re right. I need to clear my head from the beginning.” Gu Yunsheng rubbed his temples, trying to steady himself. “Think carefully. Before Er Gouzi started acting strangely, did we go anywhere special or come into contact with any strange people?”
Lu Jingheng tried hard to remember. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead and said, “Right! I remember now! A few days ago, I took Er Gouzi to a pet hospital for vaccinations. Could it have happened there…?”
“Which pet hospital?” Gu Yunsheng immediately pressed, a sharp glint in his eyes.
“Itâs the new one that opened near our place. What was it called… ‘Pet Love for Life’?” Lu Jingheng said, sounding a bit uncertain.
“Pet Love for Life…” Gu Yunsheng repeated the name in a low voice. The image of the strange doctor he had met that day at the hospital surfaced in his mind, and a faint sense of unease rose in his heart.
“I’m going to that pet hospital now to see what’s fishy,” Gu Yunsheng decided on the spot and started to head out.
“Wait for me!” Lu Jingheng hurriedly followed, grabbing Gu Yunshengâs arm. “I’m going too!”
Gu Yunsheng stopped and turned to look at Lu Jingheng, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. “Jingheng, I said…”
“Don’t say it, I know what you want to say.” Lu Jingheng interrupted him, his tone firm. “You want to say it’s too dangerous and you don’t want me involved, right?”
He looked into Gu Yunshengâs eyes and said word for word, “Yunsheng, we are brothers. We said weâd face any difficulty together. You can’t just leave me behind!”
Looking at the determination in Lu Jinghengâs eyes, the desire to protect him wavered for a moment. He knew Lu Jingheng was right; they were brothers and should advance and retreat together.
Moreover, two people meant extra strength.
With that thought, Gu Yunsheng took a deep breath and nodded. “Fine, weâll go together. But you have to promise meâyou listen to me in everything. No acting on your own, got it?”
As the sun set, staining the sky a brilliant orange-red, Lu Jingheng quickly followed Gu Yunsheng out the door.
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over them, stretching their shadows exceptionally long.
Gu Yunsheng walked in front. His silhouette looked somewhat thin against the sunset, as if he might be swallowed by the twilight at any moment.
Lu Jingheng looked at his back, a surge of warmth in his heart. He reached out, wanting to pat Gu Yunshengâs shoulder, but silently withdrew his hand.
He thought to himself that no matter what happened, he would protect Gu Yunsheng, shield him from the wind and rain, and be his strongest pillar of support.
After the two had walked a distance side by side, Lu Jingheng looked up at the sky and then at the map on his phone. He turned to Gu Yunsheng and said, “That pet hospital seems a bit far. Letâs call a taxi.”
Preoccupied with heavy thoughts, Gu Yunsheng just nodded slightly without speaking.
At this moment, his mind was filled with that strange phone call, Er Gouziâs sudden loss of control, and that place called “Pet Love for Life.” He had no room for anything else.
A taxi slowly pulled up in front of them. Gu Yunsheng snapped back to reality, opened the door, and signaled for Lu Jingheng to get in first.
Lu Jingheng sat in the car and said to the driver, “Master, to Pet Love for Life Pet Hospital.”
His tone carried a trace of anxiety that was hard to detect.
The taxi started smoothly, merging into the congested evening traffic. Seeing Gu Yunshengâs furrowed brow and the anxious gaze he cast out the window, Lu Jingheng instinctively reached out and gently placed Gu Yunshengâs hand into his own warm palm.
The driver observed the two young men through the rearview mirror. One had a grim face and a deep frown, while the other looked worried, constantly checking on his companion.
Not only that, but both of them had injuries, and their clothes were rumpled as if they had just been in a fight.
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