” Chapter 1 Part 2 Nick’s Flattery and Dog “Training” That flattery from Nick at the time made me feel quite good.
While driving, I glanced at him in the rearview mirror, sandwiched between the mother and daughter, and lectured him like a senior.
“Nick, it’s good for young people to be ambitious, but what’s more important is keeping your feet on the ground.” Nick also looked back at me in the mirror, the sharp lines of his dark face showing an expression of having been taught a valuable lesson, and he nodded seriously.
“Hey, what company do you need to interview with?
Our family’s group can’t make space for one more?
Nick, listen to your dad and come work at our family’s group.
Your sister can mentor you.
She’s the one who handles everything up and down the group.
I’m already semi‑retired.
You’re the man of the family now; it’s time for you to contribute.” Father‑in‑law’s head‑of‑the‑family tone made me knit my brows.
It was not that I bore any grievance against him; I simply did not want Nick getting too close to Diana.
I thought for a while and then interjected, “Dad, why not let Nick work at my company?
My import‑export trading company may not be big, but it’s a good place to gain experience.
He can grow from small to big step by step.
What do you all think?” My words sounded quite reasonable, but in fact, this was my real thought: I wanted to keep an eye on this Nick.
My sixth sense told me I absolutely had to keep Nick away from Diana.
“Brother‑in‑Law, Dad, I’d rather go out and make it on my own.” Looking at Nick’s black face in the rearview mirror, with that uniquely youthful stubbornness, I took it at the time as the natural pride and refusal to admit defeat of a young man.
Looking back now, how did I ever believe his nonsense?
“Alright, let Nick help celebrate Dad’s 60th birthday first; it’s only a couple of days away.
Let him rest at home, and we’ll discuss the rest later.” My wife suddenly spoke up and was immediately seconded by Mother‑in‑law.
My father‑in‑law and I looked at each other, and when we saw the two ladies had already spoken, of course we could not say more.
My wife sat on Nick’s left, leaning her hand against the car window, turning her head slightly as she looked at the younger brother she had not seen in years, and asked with concern about his life in America.
“Nick, what do you usually do there besides studying?” “Training dogs.” Nick answered without thinking, then scratched his head somewhat shyly, revealing the bashfulness typical of a big boy.
“Training dogs?” Hearing this unusual hobby, the four of us in the luxurious executive Maybach all turned to look at him.
Seeing all eyes on him, Nick smiled even more bashfully.
“Mom, you know how open things are over in America.
I don’t like messing around with some of my classmates.
Instead, I find that dogs are very human, easier to communicate with.
Especially those with problems, the hard‑to‑handle ones after you tame them, the sense of achievement is huge.” None of the four in the car realized that what Nick was saying at that moment was complete nonsense.
His so‑called “training dogs” actually had another meaning, one that was particularly obscene and shameless.
“When I get a chance, I’ll show you what I can do in front of Mom and Sis.
I guarantee you’ll be stunned.” Maybe it really was destiny.
The moment Nick finished saying that, my phone rang.
I glanced at the caller ID: it was my mother, Lydia Yue.
“Hello, Mom.” “Mm, we’ve just picked up Nick and are on our way back from the airport.” “What, Harry’s causing trouble again?” “You’re in a meeting now?
Alright, alright, I understand.” Once I hung up, the others all turned curious eyes toward me.
One hand on the wheel, I rubbed my nose with the other and smiled a bit awkwardly.
“Well, you know how two years ago I had my childhood friend Derek Zhao divert a top‑breed police dog puppy from the force and gave it to my mom?
My dad’s been gone for years, and I wanted to give my mom some emotional support.” “I don’t know what’s gotten into that dog lately, but it’s always harassing the neighborhood’s female dogs.” “You know the people who live around my mom now are all big shots who insist on having the last word.
If it weren’t for my mom’s position as the city’s third‑in‑command, the deputy Party secretary for political and legal affairs, they would’ve kicked up a huge fuss long ago.” “I don’t know what’s wrong with Harry.
He’s been making trouble every few days and has almost driven my mom crazy.
She can’t bear to give him away she’s grown attached.
And the dog is especially smart and human‑like.
Just now my mom called to say he pried the cage open himself, jumped over into the neighbor’s yard, and is over there harassing their dog.” After I finished talking, I was so embarrassed that I wanted to crawl into a hole.
Not sure what to do, I saw Father‑in‑law in the front passenger seat shake his head with a gentle smile.
“Mother‑in‑law is our city’s deputy Party secretary for political and legal affairs, and there’s still a ‘acting’ in front of her title.
Who knows how many eyes are on her right now?
We can’t let a dog ruin things for her.” Mother‑in‑law, who was both my mother’s in‑law and long‑time close friend, nodded repeatedly at that.
She had personally witnessed how much effort it had taken for my mother to climb from an ordinary police officer to her current position.
She cast a glance at Nick.
“Nick, didn’t you say you can train dogs?
Why don’t you go help Aunt Lydia give it a try?” My wife, knowing my mother’s recent troubles, also chimed in at Mother‑in‑law’s suggestion.
“Yeah, our top student has come home; it’s the perfect chance to show off.”