Chapter 88

She spoke while picking up the dog again and kissing it twice.

Xie Shiqing said, “Is Pine Mushroom very cute?”

Kissing and kissing again, was it really so good to kiss?

Zhong Ning stroked the dog’s chin. “Yes, do you want to hold it too?”

The beauty, as pale as snow, lowered her head. Between her brows lingered a trace of melancholy. She sat on the sofa, her vacant eyes facing Zhong Ning’s direction, a bitter smile on her lips. “It’s just a bit of a pity that I can’t see what it looks like.”

She had really lost weight during this period, and it wasn’t just Zhong Ning’s illusion from feeling distressed. Her sharp chin could barely hold any flesh, and the bit of weight she had finally gained had drifted away as lightly as autumn grass seeds.

Zhong Ning still felt uncomfortable inside, as if a layer of gloom had shrouded her heart, but she couldn’t bear to watch her beloved sitting there so pitifully, like she had been abandoned.

There were so many feelings in this world that could change overnight, but liking was not one of them.

She let out a long sigh in her heart and eventually sat down beside her. Her leg leaned against the other’s leg, shoulder pressed to shoulder, as if they were a pair of twins who had never been separated since birth, relying on each other.

Pine Mushroom was lifted up by her and placed on their joined legs. Its damp nose nudged against Xie Shiqing’s palm, and its fluffy tail brushed over Zhong Ning’s hand, as if it were a small bridge connecting them together.

Zhong Ning took hold of Xie Shiqing’s hand, guiding it to feel every inch of Pine Mushroom’s body. Her fingertips moved to the nose, and Zhong Ning said, “It’s a mixed of black and pink, with more black.”

When her fingertips moved to the mouth, Zhong Ning traced a circle around her hand. “The area around the mouth is all white, its eyes are blue, and the ears are gray.”

“Its back is light gray, and dark gray, the belly is white, and the fur is a bit wavy. Our Pine Mushroom is a little curly-haired dog.”

“Let me see, the paw pads are black.”

She murmured on and on, touching Pine Mushroom from head to tail. Strangely enough, the dog didn’t struggle at all but obediently lay there, letting them pet it.

Xie Shiqing’s mind, however, was entirely elsewhere. She didn’t care what this dog looked like and didn’t even like dogs.

What she wanted was simply Zhong Ning’s attention.

Just like before.

Just like now.

Look at me, talk to me, smile at me.

This was how it ought to be between them.

Xie Shiqing slowly tilted her head over and gently rested it on Zhong Ning’s shoulder. In her ear, she listened to her soft voice. “I suddenly feel like spending my whole life this way.”

After she spoke, she was stunned for a moment herself, as if the words hadn’t passed any review in her mind and had slipped out of her mouth on their own.

Zhong Ning, however, laughed—a truly indulgent laugh. “It’s fine to cuddle it now, but in a few months, Pine Mushroom will weigh dozens of pounds. Won’t it crush our legs numb by then?”

“Then let it lie next to us.”

“Little dogs know how to act spoiled by reading people’s faces. Border Collies are even more clever. By then, if it comes over whining for a hug and nudging my palm, I won’t be able to say no.” Zhong Ning spoke while laughing, as if this scene had already appeared before her eyes.

Xie Shiqing listened, and her palm seemed to feel the unique dampness of a dog’s nose. In her ears, she hallucinated the soft whining sounds of a puppy.

Warmth.

She suddenly realized.

So this was warmth.

The warmth of family, a true family.

Did she really want to spend her whole life like this with Zhong Ning?

Xie Shiqing wanted to say something dismissive and sneer inwardly, but she couldn’t think of a single word. All that came to mind was the beautiful illusion Zhong Ning had described.

Without even realizing it herself, a soft smile had rippled across her lips.

After thinking for a while, that urge to contradict had quietly disappeared.

Border Collies were dogs with extremely high intelligence, and they longed for high-quality training and interaction. To raise one casually like an ordinary little dog was a bit of a waste.

Besides, for a Border Collie, training wasn’t a burden. This was exactly what it loved.

Judging by its appearance, its pedigree naturally needed no further proof. Since it was Xie Shiqing who wanted this dog, it must be of the finest bloodline and best form. Even so, Zhong Ning still looked into the certificates and discovered that Pine Mushroom’s parents were both competition-grade dogs—one was a champion in agility trials, and the other was a beauty contest winner.

“Wow, our Pine Mushroom is so impressive.” She pinched the little dog’s ear and muttered, “Looks like I’ll have to set up a training plan for you.”

She had never delved into this area before, and her schedule wasn’t exactly relaxed, so she could only resort to using her special abilities and hired a professional dog trainer to come over.

The trainer even brought two dogs along. One was a German Shepherd named, and the other was a local breed called His Majesty. Both dogs were very calm, their coats sleek and smooth, their eyes bright and spirited—just one look and it was clear they were full of vitality and highly intelligent.

The trainer said these were her teaching assistants.

She didn’t live here but stayed in a villa next door. Zhong Ning didn’t bother asking about her salary. There was no need to guess—it must have been an astronomical figure.

She spent the entire afternoon with the dogs, learning a lot about dog care and training. Pine Mushroom was also an exceptionally smart little dog. Even before coming here, it already knew many commands.

Because it was born in the home of an agility trainer, Pine Mushroom had been deeply interested in all kinds of obstacles since puppyhood. The trainer’s suggestion was to focus the training to develop its talent and work in that direction.

Zhong Ning also watched several agility competition videos, including one featuring Pine Mushroom’s mother, though she was now retired.

The way the dogs ran gracefully across the arena was truly dazzling. Zhong Ning was instantly captivated, and when Xie Shiqing returned home in the evening, she was still holding her tablet, completely absorbed in watching.

Xie Shiqing waited for a long time but didn’t receive the welcoming embrace she expected. The hand hanging by her side clenched tighter and tighter, her neatly trimmed nails sinking deep into the flesh of her palm.

“Ning Ning.” She finally spoke. “I’m home.”

Only then did Zhong Ning realize she had come back. The woman in the dark blue loose cheongsam stood in the doorway, her deep black eyes hidden in the shadows.

She had been so focused on the videos that she hadn’t even heard the sound of the car.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep