After a long while, the grand drama by the lakeside slowly came to a close.

Lin Yu’an started the car and steadily drove Emily back to her cabin.

He wrapped his thick coat around Emily, who slept soundly in the backseat like a tired ragdoll cat.

He unusually lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, the spicy smoke curling up and drifting out through the car window.

Looking at the bold and clever woman in the backseat, he felt an unusual calmness in his heart.

The earlier madness, for him, was less a form of indulgence and more a necessary taming of the negative emotions accumulated inside.

He had released it, seen it clearly, and then locked it back in its cage.

When he helped the still slightly weak-legged Emily into the living room, a series of immature “woof woofs” and two wobbly figures immediately caught his attention.

In the corner by the fireplace, where a soft rug lay, two fluffy little creatures were curiously watching them.

They had beautiful fur in black, white, and brown, with charmingly chubby square faces, resembling two small, moving bears.

“Bernese Mountain Dogs?” Lin Yu’an’s gaze instantly softened as he squatted down and reached out to the two puppies.

“Yes, they are,” Emily replied, her voice husky from fatigue, as she moved to the bar and poured two glasses of warm water, handing one to Lin Yu’an.

“I was late to the party today because I went to pick them up from a friend’s place in Fairbanks. Her dog had a litter of six, and I chose the two strongest ones.”

She sat on the sofa, gently stroking one of the puppies that had come to her feet.

“After what happened last time, I decided to raise two dogs. They make great guard dogs—smart, loyal, and intimidating enough to deter most trouble.”

Lin Yu’an watched the two puppies, who were not a bit shy, joyfully wagging their tails and bouncing around.

One of them, braver than the other, had already started nibbling on his fingers with its little puppy teeth, carrying the distinct scent of a young pup.

The last bit of negative emotion inside him melted away completely at that moment.

Emily noticed the genuine fondness on Lin Yu’an’s face, a gentle smile touching her lips. She hadn’t expected this man to have such a tender side.

“You seem to really like them; I thought you weren’t the type to like small animals.”

“I really do,” Lin Yu’an replied honestly.

“Well then… let me give you one,” Emily made a decision that surprised Lin Yu’an.

“One will stay with me, and one with you, so they can still see each other often in the future.”

“And… I also hope to have something that, when you feel like killing me, you’ll see it and maybe not want to anymore.”

Lin Yu’an looked at her with a hint of a self-deprecating smile and didn’t refuse the gift that carried a special meaning.

He knew this puppy would become the first legitimate emotional bond between them, apart from that dark secret.

“Alright.” He nodded, holding the more lively male puppy in his arms.

“We need to give them names,” Emily suggested.

Lin Yu’an thought for a moment, looked at the energetic little guy in his arms, and smiled, “Since he’s so rambunctious, let’s call him Whiskey, in honor of that good bottle of George’s last night.”

“Whiskey?”

Emily laughed, finding the name fitting, “Then my little lady will be called Honey, hoping her temperament is as sweet as honey.”

Whiskey and Honey, their names were thus decided.

“But to become qualified guard dogs, pedigree alone isn’t enough.”

Emily turned serious, “They need professional training to become good guard dogs.”

“There’s a really skilled dog trainer in Wiseman named Ryan Anderson, who used to be the top instructor for the Los Angeles Police Department’s K-9 unit.”

“Top instructor? Then why is he here?” Lin Yu’an asked curiously.

“I heard he got tired of the rules and restrictions in the city, and seeing the police dogs he trained die in pursuit of criminals profoundly affected his mental state, so he resigned and returned.”

Emily explained, “He believes true companions should be running through the mountains, not chasing criminals through the concrete jungle. A partner shouldn’t be a tool.”

“Anyway, he’s very knowledgeable about training large working dogs. You can consult him for advice and… help me ask on how to train Honey too.”

Lin Yu’an noted the name and his story in his heart.

That night, Lin Yu’an didn’t leave.

Emily’s bedroom was spacious and comfortable. He took a satisfying hot shower, washing away days of fatigue and the scent of perfume on him.

When Lin Yu’an emerged from the bathroom, he found Emily removing her makeup in front of the mirror.

Nothing else happened between them; instead, they lay together like old friends, chatting for a long time.

Emily talked about growing up on a farm in Ohio, her love of animals, and how she eventually decided to move to Alaska to open a veterinary clinic.

During their conversation, they also made some plans for the future.

Lin Yu’an said, “I’ll be going out often later, whether to Fairbanks for supplies or hunting in the mountains.”

“Could you look after my greenhouse while I’m away? Like opening and closing the vents or checking the drip irrigation system?”

“Of course, no problem,” Emily readily agreed.

“In return, I’ll leave the training of Whiskey and Honey to you.”

These two puppies brought them a bit closer once again.

The next morning, just before dawn.

Emily was already dressed in a smart outfit for her trip. She planned to go to a supplier in Fairbanks to pick up some veterinary supplies she had ordered.

Before she left, she insisted on driving Lin Yu’an and the two little ones back to the woodland.

The Subaru Outback quietly drove along the forest path.

In the back seat, Whiskey and Honey, two little furballs, were cuddled together, soundly asleep, emitting faint snores, their bodies gently swaying with the car’s bumps, quite adorable.

When the car slowly stopped in front of Lin Yu’an’s cabin, the tranquility of the engine’s shutdown seemed to wake them.

Whiskey was the first to open its sleepy eyes, wobbly standing up, nudging the car window with its wet little nose, curiously surveying this new territory.

Lin Yu’an opened the car door, and the two little guys instantly shot out like cannonballs, eagerly jumping out of the car, diving into the grass that barely passed their ankles.

Honey appeared more demure, carefully sniffing the wildflowers on the ground.

Whiskey, on the other hand, was like a little wild bull untethered, frolicking and rolling on the grass, chasing its tail, occasionally letting out a couple of lively yet innocent “woof” sounds.

“They seem to really like it here.” Lin Yu’an leaned against the car door, a smile on his face.

“They just like anywhere they can run around.”

Emily also got out of the car, walked over to him, watching the puppies frolic in the morning light, her eyes full of tenderness.

“Lin.” She suddenly turned her head, softly calling out to him.

Lin Yu’an turned back, meeting her clear blue eyes.

Emily tiptoed, leaned in, and pressed a gentle kiss on his lips.

The kiss was brief, lacking last night’s passion, but filled with emotional warmth.

“Take good care of them, especially Whiskey, it’s too mischievous.” She looked into his eyes, speaking earnestly.

“I will.” Lin Yu’an nodded.

After seeing Emily off, Lin Yu’an looked at these two new family members beside him, feeling an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.

This enormous cabin, with the arrival of these two little lives, instantly felt less empty.

David and Mike won’t be back for a few more days, which is just enough time to visit that legendary dog trainer.

He decided not to go directly to Ryan but to have Old George, the local connector, make the introduction first.

He found two spare leather leashes and put temporary collars on Whiskey and Honey.

The two little ones were evidently intrigued and somewhat displeased by the restraint, with Whiskey trying to bite the leash with its teeth.

Honey, however, simply sat down on the ground, looking at Lin Yu’an with innocent big eyes, as if silently protesting.

Lin Yu’an laughed and lifted them one by one, placing them in the spacious back seat of the Ford Explorer, then drove to Old George’s house.

When Old George opened the door and saw Lin Yu’an and the two adorably clumsy Bernese Mountain Dog puppies emerging from beside his feet, he opened his mouth in surprise.

“Lin! Did you and Emily rob a bear’s nursery last night?” Old George burst into laughter.

He crouched down, letting Whiskey and Honey lick his calloused hands.

“Emily gave them to me.”

Lin Yu’an explained with a smile and handed Honey to Old George: “This is the sister, named Honey, belonging to Emily. The one in my arms is the brother, named Whiskey, and he’ll be staying with me.”

“Whiskey and Honey?”

Old George chuckled meaningfully: “Great names! They sound like the perfect night!”

Lin Yu’an briefly explained his purpose: “I heard there’s a dog trainer named Ryan Anderson in town, and I want to learn from him how to train these little ones so they can become excellent guard dogs.”

“Ryan?”

“You’ve found the right person! That kid’s a real expert.”

“Several of the best hounds in town, including Barton’s bear-tracking hound that can track half a mountain, were trained with his help.”

“But Lin, you should know that in Alaska you’re not allowed to use hounds to hunt large animals. If they’re just guard dogs accompanying you, that’s fine.”

“Thanks for the reminder, George, I understand.”

George nodded and went inside, picking up an old satellite phone.

“Wait, I’ll call him; he’s a nice guy, just a bit… reclusive, and not fond of strangers dropping by unannounced.”

“Ever since he quit the Los Angeles Police Department and came back, he spends all his time with his dogs, more than with people.”

“He mainly earns his income by helping people train dogs, and he has quite a few clients in Fairbanks.”

“But you don’t need to worry about the fees; he doesn’t charge community residents for help.”

“If you want to thank him, you can bring some trout for him; he’ll make it into dog food for his pups.”

Old George dialed the number, chatting familiarly with the other person like an elder to a younger one, briefly explaining Lin Yu’an’s situation.

He especially mentioned his heroic act at the supermarket confronting the gunman, knowing that for Ryan, a former police officer, this would naturally earn his favor.

“Yes, that Chinese kid, he’s incredibly skilled… Mm, he’s here with me now, brought two Bernese Mountain pups, wants to learn from you… Hahaha, I knew you’d be interested!”

After hanging up, Old George gave Lin Yu’an an OK gesture: “Done, he wants you to go over now, he’s waiting for you at his training ground.”

Having received permission, Lin Yu’an thanked Old George again.

He recaptured the two pups who were going wild in the living room, and put them back in the car.

Then following the address given by Old George, he drove his Ford Explorer to the other end of Wiseman Town.

Ryan Anderson’s home was set on a wide-open field, surrounded on three sides by tall spruce forests.

This place was remote, like an independent kingdom secluded from the world.

As Lin Yu’an’s car entered the long gravel drive, the first thing he saw was a large professional training ground enclosed by a high chain-link fence.

On an incredibly spacious grassland, he finally saw a neatly kept cabin.

There, he met for the first time, the former Los Angeles Police Department’s ace K-9 police dog handler—Ryan Anderson.

————

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep