Tang You had been listlessly lost in thought when the sudden brake jolted her body forward. The seatbelt yanked her back hard. She instinctively clutched her chest and looked at Xiao Zexing in confusion.
Xiao Zexing’s face showed no emotion—perfectly composed as ever.
From the side, his lashes were strikingly long, his eyes deep and still.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes briefly, and didn’t look at her.
Tang You thought she heard him sigh—or maybe she imagined it.
It was a red light ahead.
Two minutes left.
Tang You’s heart was uneasy.
Um… did she just say something wrong?
Xiao Zexing stared straight ahead, hands on the wheel, expression back to normal: “Sorry.”
Tang You wasn’t sure what he was apologizing for—the sudden brake?
After a brief pause, Xiao Zexing asked again: “Which hospital?”
“First to Jianan Pet Hospital to pick up Huhu, then back to Cuihu Longting,” Tang You said. Then she suddenly realized he might not know the neighborhood and added: “It’s near Dinghui—”
As she spoke, Xiao Zexing had already opened the navigation: “Got it.”
The car’s air conditioning was set low. Tang You was only wearing a thin spaghetti-strap dress. Outside was hot, inside was cold—the sudden temperature drop raised goosebumps all over her arms. She hugged herself. Before she could figure out how to speak, Xiao Zexing had already taken off his jacket and handed it to her, then turned up the temperature.
Tang You thanked him softly and draped the jacket over her lap, covering the pale skin.
Xiao Zexing asked: “How did you lose your phone and wallet?”
Tang You honestly gave a brief recap of what had just happened—though she carefully omitted the part about coming to shoot photos, saying only that she was with a friend.
She still had to protect yuko’s cover.
Xiao Zexing listened quietly. When the light turned green, he finally gave his verdict: “Idiot.”
Tang You felt like this conversation was officially impossible to continue.
But right now her mind was entirely on Tang Huhu. She didn’t have the energy to deal with “Xiao Weijing” anyway.
After the earlier fight with Tang Nan and Jiang Tao, she was tired. She had no mood or strength left to keep up the act. Better to say less and make fewer mistakes—she’d just play the role of a quiet little quail for now.
By the time they reached the hospital, they were past the appointment time. Tang You walked straight to Dr. Zhao’s office like she’d been there many times.
Dr. Zhao was standing and on the phone. When he saw her, he hung up with visible relief: “Miss Tang, you’re finally here.”
Tang You was full of guilt: “I’m so sorry. I didn’t have my phone with me.”
“The surgery went fine—very smooth. Remember: water after four hours, food after six. Keep a close eye on him for the next twelve hours, especially urination. If anything seems off, contact me right away,” Dr. Zhao instructed. “The Elizabethan collar should stay on for at least ten days to prevent licking and infection.”
Tang You asked: “Does he need pain meds? Huhu is very active—should I still take him out for walks these next couple of days?”
“Pain meds starting in three days. Walks are okay, but no jumping.”
“Thank you so much.”
After thanking the doctor, Tang You went to the corner table and cooed affectionately at Tang Huhu: “Huhu! Mommy’s here!”
Xiao Zexing stood to the side, calmly observing the yellow-brown dog still wearing his protective cone.
As a purebred Chinese rural mutt, Tang Huhu wasn’t even two years old yet but had already grown into a sturdy big dog. Right now, fresh from surgery, he lay listlessly on the table. His black-grape eyes looked at his owner, resting his muzzle on her arm, completely lacking energy.
Tang You hugged him and whispered comfortingly: “Good boy Huhu. Even without your little balls, you’ll always be Mommy’s good son. It doesn’t hurt anymore, right? Come here—let Mommy hold you…”
Xiao Zexing walked over and patted Tang Huhu’s head.
Huhu had a gentle temperament—good-natured for a big dog. He let himself be petted, his fluffy tail wagging lazily against the table.
Xiao Zexing ran his hand down along Huhu’s body, smoothing his fur, and once again caught that faint, sweet scent of vanilla milk.
Tang You was half-squatting; her hair was fluffy too. The jacket he’d lent her had been left in the car. Her pale arms hugged the dog; at her elbows, a soft pink flush showed—tender beyond reason.
Xiao Zexing asked Tang You: “Which ‘hu’?”
Tang You was surprised—he had pronounced it perfectly this time.
Probably because he’d been back in the country long enough and had adjusted automatically.
She answered: “The ‘hu’ from rice paste.”
Xiao Zexing straightened up. The shallow dimples appeared faintly on his cheeks: “Pretty cute.”
The anesthesia hadn’t fully worn off yet. Huhu’s legs were still weak; he wobbled as he walked. Tang You was just about to bend down and pick him up when Xiao Zexing beat her to it, saying calmly: “I’ll carry him.”
Tang Huhu was very smart. He knew Xiao Zexing had come with his owner, so he obediently draped himself over the man’s shoulder, only letting out soft, low whimpers from deep in his throat.
Even though he had just lost his two little balls, Tang Huhu clearly hadn’t realized what had happened yet. When he saw Tang You approach and tried to lick her face, Xiao Zexing subtly stepped back a few paces—just enough to avoid it.
Tang You had been worrying about how to get Tang Huhu home. Now, with Xiao Zexing helping, she let out a huge sigh of relief.
Okay… actually, “Xiao Weijing” was pretty useful sometimes.
Once they were in the car, Xiao Zexing didn’t start driving right away. He glanced casually at his watch and asked Tang You: “What’s your WeChat ID?”
The question came out light and natural.
Tang You’s eyelid twitched.
This was like seeing a ghost in broad daylight.
In the past, Tang You had tried adding Xiao Weijing’s social accounts more than once—never successfully. She had also called him, only to be blocked every time. After being blocked twice, she had given up hope. And now “Xiao Weijing” was voluntarily asking for her contact information?
—Adding him on WeChat was actually perfect.
From now on she could bombard him anytime, anywhere—annoy him to death.
Even if she couldn’t see him in person, sending him clingy messages every day would still be great.
Tang You was just about to speak when Xiao Zexing calmly handed her his phone: “Add yourself.”
Tang You obediently took it, entered her WeChat ID, and—in order to make it easy to change the remark later—typed “Xiao Weijing” neatly in the verification message.
She handed the phone back.
Xiao Zexing took it, glanced down at the screen. Sunlight swept across his deep brows and eyes; his long lashes seemed edged in gold.
He let out a soft laugh, his tone carrying a subtle, meaningful note: “You’re quite obedient.”
Tang You responded with her best silly-white-sweet smile.
You’re the obedient one. If it weren’t for Old Master Xiao protecting me, I would’ve stopped entertaining your bullshit ages ago.
Miao Jiaxi was at home doing yoga with a face mask on. When the doorbell rang, she didn’t bother tidying up—just shuffled out in her slippers. Seeing Tang You’s face on the intercom, she grinned: “Youyou, why didn’t you—”
Her words stopped mid-sentence when she saw the man holding the dog beside Tang You. Her eyes locked on him and refused to move.
Tang Huhu—normally a big, imposing dog—looked like a soft, adorable puppy in his arms. The man stood tall and straight, exuding an extraordinary presence. His white dress shirt was neat yet relaxed. Miao Jiaxi genuinely believed no one in the world looked better in a shirt than him.
She sucked in a sharp breath. Suddenly she understood why Tang You hadn’t just come in. In a flash, she ripped off the face mask, rushed to change clothes, and hurriedly stuffed all the little erotic comics and clothes scattered on the sofa back into the cabinet.
Two minutes later, a fresh and radiant Miao Jiaxi opened the door with a smile and invited them in: “Youyou, this is—”
Before Tang You could introduce him, Xiao Zexing spoke calmly: “Hello. My surname is Xiao.”
Tang You quickly jumped in to add: “My fiancé.”
She immediately lowered her head in “shy” embarrassment and introduced Miao Jiaxi in a soft, sweet voice: “This is my best friend, Miao Jiaxi.”
Xiao Zexing set Tang Huhu down, straightened up, adjusted his watch, and gave Tang You a faint smile.
Only after he left did Miao Jiaxi grab Tang You and shake her wildly: “Fuck! A man this handsome and you’re still trying to sabotage the engagement?! Sister, wake up!”
Tang You was utterly helpless: “Just think about it. A guy this good-looking likes Wen Ling’s type. The first thing he did after coming back was sneak off for a private meeting with her. They’ve been tangled up for years—he paid her breach-of-contract penalty and gave her money to open a gym.”
Miao Jiaxi still looked heartbroken: “Rich, hot, and blind—what a perfect man. Just… the blindness is a bit inconvenient.”
Tang You squatted down and rubbed Tang Huhu’s meaty paws.
Huhu obediently rested his muzzle in her palm, slowly wagging his big fluffy tail.
Tang You smoothed the gentle big dog’s fur: “My grudge with Wen Ling can never be resolved. As long as Xiao Weijing is with her, I think it’s filthy.”
Miao Jiaxi tsked, squatted down, tilted her head, and asked bluntly: “Then who was the one whose heart rate shot to 500 just from being touched once?”
Tang You retorted: “That was just because it was my first time being that close to the opposite sex! I was scared!”
She absolutely did not believe she could fall for Xiao Weijing.
Even though, from their recent interactions, she had to admit he wasn’t half bad.
But as long as he had anything to do with Wen Ling, Tang You wanted nothing to do with him.
On Friday, she was bombarded with relentless calls to come home for dinner. Tang You refused multiple times, but Jiang Chenting was persistent and wouldn’t take no for an answer. With no other choice, Tang You finally went back.
Calling it “home” wasn’t quite accurate. To Tang You, it felt more like a battlefield.
Every visit meant another round of open and veiled sniping with that mother-daughter pair.
When she arrived, Tang You was surprised to find that neither Tang Nan nor Jiang Tao was there.
Only Tang Xiao and Jiang Chenting.
Tang Xiao was in the gym trying (unsuccessfully) to shrink his beer belly, while Jiang Chenting was busy in the kitchen.
Tang You was puzzled. She quietly slipped over and whispered to Jiang Chenting: “Where are Jiang Tao and Tang Nan?”
Jiang Chenting showed no displeasure at her directly using his mother’s name.
The lean, refined man wore an apron, his shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal a pair of clean hands.
While slicing tomatoes, Jiang Chenting answered her question: “They went to play golf. They won’t be back until tomorrow. Tangtang, do you want sweet-and-sour pork ribs?”
“Sure,” Tang You replied. “Golf? Doesn’t Jiang Tao dislike sports?”
Jiang Chenting lowered his head and neatly arranged the sliced tomatoes on a white porcelain plate. Some juice dripped down, staining his trouser leg with a dark mark.
He didn’t notice: “Stay over tonight. The bedding has already been sun-dried, and your room has been cleaned.”
Tang You hadn’t really wanted to stay, but hearing him say that—and knowing Tang Nan and Jiang Tao wouldn’t be there—she had no objections: “Alright then.”
After learning that mother and daughter were gone for the night, Tang You suddenly found Tang Xiao much less repulsive.
Even the air felt fresh and free.
Dinner was all prepared by Jiang Chenting—every dish one of Tang You’s favorites.
Though Jiang Tao and Tang Nan were utterly detestable, this stepbrother turned out to be unexpectedly decent.
Jiang Chenting was five years older than her. It was said that Jiang Tao had him at eighteen; his biological father was unknown, so he took his mother’s surname.
As a child, Tang You had hated Jiang Tao and Tang Nan fiercely and had bullied Jiang Chenting relentlessly.
She had never held back when tormenting him, yet Jiang Chenting always treated her like a real little sister.
He never got angry.
Even when Tang You deliberately shot him in the leg with a slingshot loaded with small pebbles, Jiang Chenting never scolded her. Instead, he took her to wash her hands and checked if she had hurt herself.
Over time, Tang You gradually came to respect him as a true older brother.
That night, Tang You tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She decided to get up and harass “Xiao Weijing.”
She had set his contact name as “Xiao Scum.”
She had originally considered “Xiao Dog,” but felt that was unfair to actual dogs.
Dogs were loyal—why insult them like that!
Tang You rubbed her hands together eagerly and sent him a probing message first: “Mr. Xiao, are you asleep yet?”
He replied quickly: “No”
Suppressing her goosebumps, Tang You typed: “It’s so late—why aren’t you sleeping? Don’t stay up, okay? I’ll feel bad TAT”
His response was extremely cold: “Mm”
Tang You was about to continue her act when his next message came right after.
“Why force it”
Tang You stared at the words, interpreting them as a polite way of telling her to give up.
What a joke. How could she possibly be the one to bring up breaking the engagement to Old Master Xiao? It had to come from Xiao Weijing himself. He was a grown man and the old master’s own grandson—blood ties would keep the old man from punishing him too harshly.
Plastic spouses walking together—whoever speaks first is the dog.
Tang You had no intention of bearing Old Master Xiao’s wrath.
Gritting her teeth against the sourness, she sent back in full coquettish mode: “I believe that if I try hard enough, one day the moon will come straight to me”
Xiao Scum: “Whatever comes rushing toward you won’t be the moon. That’s called a meteorite.”
Author’s note: Tiny little side scene:
Xiao Weijing, currently showering: Huh? Why is my hair dye coming off? And why is it green?