Chapter 50: Heh, Turns Out I’m the Only Single One
“Ao!” “Awoo!” “Ji ji!” “Meow!” “Woof!”
An animal symphony resonated through the pet shop. This particular piece was performed with great passion by Da Bai, the white dumpling, Molly, and the shop’s resident cats and dogs, presenting a “magnificent” audiovisual feast for everyone present.
Lin Xia was among the “lucky” ones to hear it live. So, how did he feel about this concert?
“I’m losing my mind…”
Lin Xia covered his ears, finally reaching the limit of his endurance. He strode forward, picked up the two loudest white fluff balls, tossed them onto the sofa, and stuffed a chew stick into each of their mouths. Then, he signaled Wang Jiaming to turn off his phone. The entire sequence was executed in one smooth motion, saving everyone’s ears.
The music cut off abruptly. The menagerie (tigers, dogs, and cats) was startled by Lin Xia’s domineering move and froze instantly, afraid to make even a peep.
Their expressions were full of panic and shock, like kids caught doing something naughty.
“Sorry,” Lin Xia apologized to Wang Jiaming for cutting the music.
“It’s okay… I didn’t expect that to happen either!” Wang Jiaming scratched his head sheepishly. He couldn’t deny that he was partly responsible for the animals going crazy.
“I don’t know what happened. Maybe your song really is just that infectious,” Lin Xia said. It was undeniable that Wang Jiaming sang well; his music had a contagious energy that made people want to get hyped along with it.
“Really?” Receiving Lin Xia’s affirmation made Wang Jiaming blossom with joy.
“Brother, I think you’ve got real potential. Go for it!” Wang Ziyu gave Wang Jiaming a thumbs-up.
“Thanks! Hahaha…” It was rare for anyone to appreciate his music, so Wang Jiaming couldn’t stop laughing, abandoning all attempts at modesty.
“I have a relative with a kid about your age. He was determined to do music, too—even dropped out of school for it. If only he had your talent!” Wang Ziyu patted Wang Jiaming’s shoulder, acting like they were old pals. “It’s a funny coincidence, his surname is Wang, too.”
Wang Ziyu’s relatives were from his hometown. The kid in question had run away from home because his family didn’t understand his desire to pursue music. Wang Ziyu’s mother often used this as a cautionary tale, lecturing Ziyu not to be like that kid and chase unrealistic dreams.
But Wang Ziyu didn’t see the kid as a bad example. He actually thought he was pretty cool. After all, not everyone had the courage to run away from home to chase a dream.
“That is pretty coincident. Where is he now? I’d actually like to meet him!” Wang Jiaming nodded.
Hearing about a poor soul with a similar experience, Wang Jiaming wanted to get to know him so they could get drunk and wallow in their frustrations together.
“I don’t know where he is, but his home is in Wensha County. Maybe he’ll go back for the New Year.” Wang Ziyu spread his hands. He rarely went back to his hometown, so he didn’t know much about the people or events there; most of what he knew came from his mother.
“Oh my god, what are the odds? My home is in Wensha County too!” Wang Jiaming slapped his thigh in excitement.
“Wow, what a coincidence!” Wang Ziyu exclaimed. Fate was truly wonderful! But wait… something felt off. Hold on!
“Is your dad named Wang [XX]?!”
They spoke in unison, asking for the name of the other’s father.
“He really is!” Wang Ziyu and Wang Jiaming collapsed onto the sofa, wanting to laugh.
This twist of fate was absolutely ridiculous!
After all this time calling each other “brother” as friends, it turned out they were actually relatives. Based on seniority and age, Wang Ziyu actually had to call Wang Jiaming “Elder Cousin.” They were paternal first cousins.
“Cousin! Brother! I beg you, don’t tell anyone my whereabouts, or I’m dead meat!” Wang Jiaming quickly slipped into the role of the desperate cousin. He nearly knelt down to stop Wang Ziyu from revealing his location.
“Brother… no, Cousin. Don’t worry. I, Wang Ziyu, may not have much, but I have yiqi—loyalty. Relax, I won’t say a word!” Wang Ziyu helped him up, making a solemn vow.
“Thanks, little cousin!” Seeing Wang Ziyu being so loyal, Wang Jiaming grasped his hand gratefully.
Having witnessed yet another “Reunion of Long-Lost Brothers,” Lin Xia began to suspect his pet shop was a feng shui treasure land for recognizing relatives. First, it was the Little Hamster and Chen Yaoguang, and now Wang Ziyu and Wang Jiaming.
Lin Xia thought about putting up a sign: If you’re looking for someone, come to the pet shop.
Smiling, Lin Xia turned around to check on the two white fluff balls.
Da Bai and the white dumpling had been frightened by Lin Xia’s sharp actions. After being tossed onto the sofa, they lay there with their heads hanging low, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Lin Xia was usually gentle, so they knew they must have really annoyed him.
When Lin Xia approached, the two white fluff balls stole a glance at him before quickly lowering their heads again, pretending to be very obedient.
“Awoo…” Uncle Tang, what do we do? Papa is angry… the white dumpling whispered to the Big Dumpling.
“Ao!” I don’t know. This is very distressing. Da Bai reflected on his behavior for a moment, recalling how silly he had acted, and felt incredibly regretful.
Good heavens, just because his body had reverted to the size of a cub didn’t mean his IQ and mental maturity should have dropped to a cub’s level too! Who was that tiger acting like a fool just now? The Big Dumpling refused to admit that tiger was him!
Lin Xia came over, and the two white fluff balls stopped communicating, waiting anxiously for his punishment.
“Why are your heads hanging like that?” Lin Xia asked, amused. He wasn’t actually angry, just overwhelmed by the noise. But seeing the Big Dumpling and Little Dumpling looking so scared and apologetic, Lin Xia thought that being a little fierce occasionally wasn’t a bad thing.
“Ao!” Honey, I was wrong!
“Awoo!” Papa, An An was wrong!
Both Big and Little Dumplings eagerly admitted their mistakes, hoping for leniency.
“What did you do wrong?” Lin Xia sat between the two white fluff balls, scooped them into his arms, and tapped their noses.
“Ao!” Everything I did was wrong! The Big Dumpling knew the best way to apologize was to humble himself completely and admit fault in everything.
However, Lin Xia couldn’t understand the Big Dumpling’s language. His coaxing words were effectively void.
“Awoo!” An An shouldn’t have yelled like that. Papa, sorry. An An knows he was wrong and won’t do it again!
While apologizing, the white dumpling rubbed his face against Lin Xia’s cheek ingratiatingly. No matter how angry one might be, faced with a sweet attack from the white dumpling, even the greatest rage would dissolve.
Seeing the cub acting cute to curry favor, the Big Dumpling refused to be outdone and rubbed against Lin Xia too. Being nuzzled by two affectionate fluff balls, Lin Xia felt incredibly blissful.
“Awoo…” Papa, An An really, really loves you… The white dumpling circled around, rubbing against him. Lin Xia felt that not only was his face ticklish from the fur, but his heart was ticklish too.
“Good boy, Papa isn’t angry.” Lin Xia’s heart melted into a puddle at the white dumpling’s behavior and confession. He couldn’t resist kissing the white dumpling, and the cub kissed him back.
“Ao!”
Seeing Lin Xia and the white dumpling being so lovey-dovey, the Big Dumpling wasn’t happy. He grabbed Lin Xia’s hand with both paws, demanding attention.
“You want a kiss too?” Lin Xia put down the white dumpling and stared at the Big Dumpling, thinking for a moment.
Looking at the Big Dumpling’s current form, it was impossible to connect him with the human Tang Yinlang. He was just a little tiger right now; a kiss wouldn’t hurt, right?
Under the Big Dumpling’s expectant gaze, Lin Xia slowly picked him up and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
“Ao!” The Big Dumpling howled excitedly, wishing he could announce to the world that he had received Lin Xia’s kiss.
After this incident, the Big Dumpling restrained himself significantly. His behavior became more steady, slowly returning to his human personality. Although he occasionally couldn’t help but act cute or silly, a CEO’s elite temperament couldn’t be completely lost just because of a few silly moments!
With the two white fluff balls sorted out, Lin Xia went back to work. The Big Dumpling and Little Dumpling followed him, one on the left and one on the right, like the left and right guardians of a demonic cult leader.
“By the way, what did you and Molly come here to do today?” Lin Xia asked Wang Jiaming. Unknowingly, Wang Jiaming had been at the shop for a long time without stating his purpose.
“…” Wang Jiaming struggled for a moment before telling the truth. “I was bored to death at home, so I just wanted to come over and sit for a bit.”
After the Spring Festival holiday, schools were about to start. Teacher Luo had gone back to school to prepare, leaving just him and Molly at home. He was bored, and since Molly wanted to go to the pet shop anyway, he decided to bring her over to hang out.
Lin Xia felt black lines forming on his forehead. He took in pets here, not people. When did this place become a shelter for humans too?
But one extra person didn’t impact the shop much, so Lin Xia let him be, as long as he didn’t fight with the cats, dogs, or Molly.
Wang Jiaming didn’t idle around either. When Lin Xia and the others were busy, he actively helped out, giving the pet shop another source of free labor.
The morning passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was lunchtime. Lin Xia invited Wang Jiaming to eat with them to thank him for his help.
“Small kindnesses are not worth mentioning!” Wang Jiaming said pretentiously, waving his hand to indicate there was no need.
“Cousin, just eat with us. Going back to eat alone isn’t as lively as eating together,” Wang Ziyu tried hard to make him stay.
“Who told you I’m alone?” Wang Jiaming gave Wang Ziyu a mysterious look. As he spoke, Wang Ziyu felt like he could smell the sour stench of a public display of affection. “I have to go back and cook for Teacher Luo. Don’t miss me too much—I’ll be back in the afternoon!”
With that, Wang Jiaming left dashingly. Molly said goodbye to Lin Xia and the others, then flew after Wang Jiaming, leaving Wang Ziyu standing in the wind, utterly confused.
“Brother Lin, what did Cousin Jia mean by that?” Wang Ziyu wasn’t sure if he understood correctly. Wang Jiaming’s words seemed to imply he was sprinkling “dog food” (flaunting a relationship).
“He probably means… he has someone to eat with. Young man, get a clue!” Lin Xia patted Wang Ziyu on the shoulder and walked away just as dashingly to find his two white fluff balls.
Wang Ziyu watched Wang Jiaming’s retreating figure. It seemed Jiaming was arguing with Molly again; Molly flew off his shoulder, and Jiaming rolled up his sleeves to catch the bird.
Turning his head, he saw his boss, Lin Xia, holding the menu card, sitting between two fluff balls, intimately discussing what to eat later. Those two fluff balls must feel amazing to touch; just being nuzzled by them must be incredibly comfortable.
Wang Ziyu felt mentally exhausted. After looking around, it turned out he was the only one left solo, without even a dog by his side.
Sob sob sob, what should I do?! Wang Ziyu felt utterly desolate. Suddenly, he thought of Weifeng.
Weifeng, that Husky… although silly, was quite obedient. Having a pet like that wouldn’t be bad.
Sob sob sob, no, I can’t hold it back anymore. I want to fall in love too…
Author’s Note:
Mini Theater
Wang Jiaming: “Teacher Luo, I’ve finished cooking. Please enjoy~”
Teacher Luo: “Honey, I didn’t expect you to be so domestic~”
Wang Jiaming: “You flatter me~”
When Wang Jiaming served the food, Teacher Luo was dumbfounded.
“Just instant noodles?” He had looked forward to it for so long, and this was it?
“Yup~ I only know how to cook instant noodles. Don’t you like them?” Wang Jiaming looked at him expectantly.
“Mmh, I like them!” To protect Wang Jiaming’s enthusiasm, Teacher Luo henceforth fell into an ocean of instant noodles…
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