Qin Lie glanced around but couldn’t see any trace of the dog.
His eyes darkened, and he ground his teeth:
“Shen Ran, stop playing tricks! Get in the car! We’re going to finalize the divorce!”
There was a sharp edge of frustration in his voice—whether from Shen Ran’s broken promise or being outdone by a dog, he couldn’t tell.
“I’m not going! This dog is badly hurt, and I have to save it.”
Shen Ran stood, cradling a pitiful little pup in her arms.
The little thing was covered in dirt-colored fur, its round body curled up, looking weak and limp.
“This dog is called Little Potato. She belongs to Granny Wen next door. It’s not easy for her alone—her children have all passed away. This little dog is her only companion. How could you leave such a sweet dog behind?”
As she had mentioned before, there were only three sentient animals on this street: the white cat she had just adopted, the green parrot at Editor Zhang’s house, and now, Little Potato.
Earlier, as the car passed by, Shen Ran had sharply sensed the pup’s inner cries for help.
The mischievous pup had wandered off on its own, trying to leap from a wall to a tree to catch a sparrow.
It missed, fell, and broke its little leg.
To make matters worse, a black snake hidden in the damp leaves bit its thigh.
Probably venomous, Little Potato could no longer move and lay there groggy, unable even to cry out.
The area was secluded, rarely visited.
If Shen Ran hadn’t heard its pleas, Little Potato would have likely died there.
“Its leg is broken, and it’s been bitten by a venomous snake. We need to get it to a veterinary station immediately!”
Seeing her anxious expression, Qin Lie felt an unfamiliar stirring in his chest.
Had Shen Ran ever been this compassionate before?
The answer was no.
Not just animals—she could lash out at anyone who annoyed her.
When they first married, before tensions escalated, he had suggested getting a dog to keep her company, given his frequent missions.
She had been furious, scolding him mercilessly, calling him useless, and mocking the dog.
He still remembered that look of loathing.
Yet now, to avoid divorce, she was willing to hold a dog she had once despised.
He couldn’t tell if she was pretending or genuinely concerned.
“Little Potato! Little Potato! Where are you? Please respond!”
A voice called out anxiously from nearby.
Soon, a frail, white-haired old lady came running.
“Little Potato!”
Seeing the pup unconscious in Shen Ran’s arms, she almost tripped in her haste.
“Granny Wen, be careful!”
Shen Ran steadied her and explained the pup’s situation.
Upon hearing the pup had a broken leg and was bitten by a snake, Granny Wen was frantic.
“What do we do now? There’s no veterinary station nearby. The closest one is near a small pig farm in the suburbs, but that’s too far. Even by bus, it’s over an hour away, and I don’t know if Little Potato can survive that long!”
Shen Ran suggested, “Why don’t we go to the nearest hospital first? The doctor can give Little Potato an anti-venom injection, then we can take it to the veterinary station for further treatment.”
Granny Wen nodded. “That could work. I can take Little Potato myself.”
The nearest hospital was a 20-minute walk, 5 minutes by car.
Shen Ran worried: “Granny Wen, let me have Qin Lie drive you there. He’s faster.”
She blinked at Qin Lie, who was a soldier—helping those in need came naturally to him.
Qin Lie: “Granny Wen, Shen Ran is right. I can drive quickly; Little Potato will get treatment sooner.”
Granny Wen hesitated. Of course, she wanted the pup saved as soon as possible—delays were dangerous.
“Are you two on your way somewhere else today? I don’t want to trouble you.”
Before Qin Lie could speak, Shen Ran interjected:
“No trouble at all! We were just driving around nearby.”
Qin Lie ground his teeth. He knew it—Shen Ran had no intention of finalizing the divorce today.
“Then you’re coming too!”
Without waiting, he added, “I was planning to anyway.”
Shen Ran rolled her eyes. This man was acting grumpy first thing in the morning—wasn’t he supposed to be finalizing the divorce? Why the attitude?
She slid into the back seat.
Granny Wen carefully climbed in with Little Potato, glancing at Qin Lie as he drove.
She thought the young couple must have argued and decided to stay quiet, to avoid adding stress.
The hospital was only five minutes away by car.
Qin Lie took Little Potato in his arms and showed his officer ID to get priority treatment.
Shen Ran followed closely, helping Granny Wen.
The hospital had all necessary medications, including anti-venom.
The doctor quickly administered the serum and lightly bandaged the pup’s broken leg.
Concerned about other potential injuries, the doctor suggested:
“Better have a vet check on the pup afterward for a thorough assessment.”
Granny Wen agreed. “Thank you, doctor. We’ll head to the vet now.”
Little Potato, well-fed by Granny Wen, was a plump three-month-old weighing ten pounds—quite heavy to carry.
Shen Ran offered, “Granny Wen, let me hold Little Potato.”
The old lady smiled warmly. “Thank you, Ran.”
Shen Ran had rarely gone out while living at the Shen residence, so neighbors didn’t know her well.
Granny Wen had heard gossip, all negative—but seeing her now, the rumors seemed baseless.
The girl was beautiful, her eyes bright—she was clearly an outstanding young lady.
“Come on, stop dawdling!”
Shen Ran held Little Potato, glancing at the unusually silent Qin Lie beside her.
His behavior was strange—sometimes distant, sometimes complicated.
Earlier, he seemed surprised she would hold the pup. Did he think she wouldn’t do such a thing?
But the original Shen Ran had been unpredictable—one moment cheerful, the next irritable.
Shen Ran didn’t think she’d been exposed.
She and Qin Lie hadn’t spent much real time together.
Most of it had been arguing—loud, constant, exhausting arguments—barely even knowing each other’s habits.
And now, with the divorce imminent, why should she care what he thought?
Who cares?
Do as you wish.