PART 2
Gu Lin didn’t consider himself a sentimental person. At least, in the first twenty years of his life, no one had ever made him feel this way. He wasn’t even interested in love, but Lin Zheng’s appearance was like pulling a trigger in his body, causing previously unnoticed feelings to pour out.
And the object of these feelings was only one person: Lin Zheng.
It seemed that he had been waiting in this world for so long, just for this person’s appearance.
But while Lin Zheng had given him the taste of love, he had also given him the taste of betrayal.
Gu Lin placed his glass on the table and got up from his seat.
Yan Yang beside him asked, “Where are you going?”
Gu Lin: “To a friend’s place, and to try my luck.”
Yan Yang asked, “Don’t I need to go with you?”
Gu Lin walked out. “No, I’ll give you two days off. Have fun here and quickly coax your boyfriend back.”
Yan Yang shouted at Gu Lin’s back, “Mr. Gu is the best! I love Mr. Gu!”
The bartender knocked on the table, signaling Yan Yang to lower his voice and not disturb the other guests.
Yan Yang happily agreed.
On the other side, Lin Zheng, who had just gone out, sneezed.
He raised his hand and rubbed his nose.
Strange, the weather is fine today, and I didn’t eat anything wrong. Why does it feel like I’m getting a cold?
Then he sneezed several more times in a row.
That’s not right, this doesn’t feel like a cold.
When I was little, I heard someone say that sneezing several times in a row means someone might be missing you, or talking about you, or that something incredible will happen today.
But Lin Zheng wasn’t superstitious.
Sneezing is sneezing. There’s no need for so much explanation.
So Lin Zheng still went out.
He came to a small town in R City. It was a town with a slow pace of life. Compared to the city center, there were fewer vehicles. Many beautifully trimmed green plants lined the streets. He often saw elderly couples walking arm in arm, chatting and laughing. A few steps further, he would see children playing in groups, either squatting playfully on the ground with their toys, or chasing and frolicking on the road.
Lin Zheng walked along the flat road, wearing headphones, enjoying the rare peace.
How long can this life last?
Lin Zheng’s plan was to travel for two months, then find a place to settle down and enjoy the rest of his life comfortably.
The plan sounded perfect.
Lin Zheng walked along the road with his headphones on, listening to soothing, romantic piano music, his fingers occasionally tapping along with the notes. He stopped halfway, his footsteps halting.
He looked down and saw a very small Pomeranian stopping in front of his shoe.
He took off his headphones and heard the little Pomeranian “Woof” at him, its voice tiny.
Instantly, Lin Zheng was captivated. His heart melted.
Lin Zheng had never been able to resist small animals, especially young animals.
Just as he was about to squat down to pet the fluffy little darling, he saw the little darling lift a tiny leg and… urinate on his shoe.
Lin Zheng: “…………”
Wow.
Wow.
Is my shoe your designated spot to mark territory? If you want my shoes, just say so, I’m not opposed to giving them to you. But you just urinated on my shoes in the street, and there are no shoe stores around. Are you trying to make me walk barefoot in the street, get reported as a pervert, and end up being arrested by the police?
You have a cruel heart!
At this moment, the “culprit,” after finishing its business, stuck out its tongue and looked at him with big, watery eyes, the corners of its mouth curled upwards, as if laughing at him.
One must not suffer such humiliation.
He should teach this “criminal” a lesson, so he reached out his hand to the culprit, saying, “Come on, a hug~” The Pomeranian very cooperatively put a paw on his hand. After holding it in his arms, Lin Zheng narrowed his eyes and felt what true happiness was.
This fluffy feel, these watery eyes, no one wouldn’t like such a cute creature!
But how could such a small dog be alone on the street?
Lin Zheng looked around. There were few people around, and none of the few who passed noticed the little Pomeranian in his arms.
Looking at the Pomeranian in his arms, he thought, could it have been abandoned?
But after looking closely at the dog’s fur, it was clean and smooth, as if it had been well-groomed every day. It was clearly well-cared for. Besides, who would abandon such a cute creature?
If their pet is missing, the owner must be very worried and looking for it everywhere.
Lin Zheng looked at his shoes.
… He now desperately wanted to change his shoes.
But if he left the little Pomeranian alone, it wouldn’t be safe. If he took it away, the owner might miss it.
Lin Zheng struggled for a long time, finally deciding to wait.
He’d wait for half an hour.
After half an hour, if the owner didn’t come, he would take the dog to the police station.
Lin Zheng sat on the steps in front of a coffee shop that wasn’t open, petting the dog and waiting.
Time ticked by, and he changed his posture several times. He rested his chin on his hand, buried his face in the fluffy fur, lifted the Pomeranian to give it a high five, and measured its leg length to tease it about its short legs.
Almost half an hour had passed. Lin Zheng checked the time and looked to both sides of the road. Just as he was about to take the dog to the police station, an elegantly dressed old lady saw the little Pomeranian in his arms and rushed towards him, covering her mouth in disbelief. “My baby, I finally found you!”
After confirming, Lin Zheng knew that the old lady was the pet’s owner. He watched the Pomeranian happily held in the old lady’s arms and finally felt relieved.
“Thank you very much, you’re a good person.”
“You’re welcome.”
The old lady noticed Lin Zheng’s wet shoe. “Oh, your shoe!”
Upon closer inspection, the old lady immediately realized that it was her baby’s handiwork. She told Lin Zheng that recently, for some reason, this little dog liked to do this on other people’s shoes. Lin Zheng thought, no wonder it was so skilled; it wasn’t the first time.
Although he repeatedly said it didn’t matter, the old lady insisted on inviting Lin Zheng to have lunch at her home as an apology and a thank you, looking as if Lin Zheng not accepting would make her feel guilty.
She said she lived in this neighborhood, not far from here, and her children were all very interesting, asking Lin Zheng not to be shy.
Lin Zheng knew that neighborhood and had been there a few times.
Lin Zheng didn’t want to make the old lady uncomfortable, so he finally agreed.
On the way back, the old lady told him how the Pomeranian came to be in her family, how much her family loved the little creature, and then her self-blame after accidentally losing it. Lin Zheng comforted her, saying that it was fine as long as she found it, and the Pomeranian seemed to be in good condition.
“That’s because it was lucky enough to meet you, you’re a good child.” Saying this, the old lady opened the half-height gate in front of her and said to Lin Zheng, “We’re here, this is where I live.”
Lin Zheng followed her in, walked along the stone path between the two lawns, and entered the house with the old lady.
The old lady lent Lin Zheng her bathroom and gave him a brand-new pair of shoes.
After a while, her children came back, and the housekeeper was preparing lunch.
After hearing the old lady’s story about the little Pomeranian’s adventure, they all thanked Lin Zheng.
The old lady had two daughters and a son. The two younger daughters were doctors, and the older son was a senior executive at a bank. Coincidentally, the older son, Rick’s wife was also Chinese, named Lin Ya.
This made Lin Zheng feel a sense of familiarity.
The old lady’s family was very hospitable, constantly pouring drinks for Lin Zheng.
“So you lived in A City before?”
Lin Zheng took a sip of juice. “Yes.”
“What a coincidence!” Lin Ya excitedly held Rick’s arm. “My husband lived in A City for a long time before. He made a lot of friends there, and that’s where I met him. Tomorrow is our baby’s first birthday.”
Meeting someone from your hometown was exciting for Lin Ya, even more so than for Lin Zheng.
Lin Ya said that Lin Zheng looked familiar, and then said that it might be because they both had the surname Lin, saying it was a familiar feeling from fate.
The two exchanged contact information.
Finally, Lin Ya asked Lin Zheng to come to her baby’s birthday celebration tomorrow if he was free.
Lin Zheng agreed.
He couldn’t help but feel that the old lady was right. This was indeed a very interesting family.
As they were chatting enthusiastically, the housekeeper came out and told them that dinner would be ready in ten minutes.
Rick raised his hand to check the time. “Ten minutes should be enough.”
Lin Ya asked, “Is he almost here?”
Rick looked at his wife. “Yes.”
Lin Zheng sipped his juice, not understanding what they were talking about.
Seeing Lin Zheng’s puzzled expression, Lin Ya smiled and told him, “It’s my husband’s friend. He will be here today and have lunch with us.”
Author’s Note: Lin Xiaozheng: “The juice is delicious~”