As soon as Qin Yue entered the door, she was tackled by a dog that darted out quickly. The dog excitedly pawed at her while whining, not like the starving, dying creature Huo Tingdong had described.

The dog had gotten much rounder since Huo Tingdong raised it. It was no longer as skinny as it used to be. Qin Yuezhi was knocked back a step by it and stumbled straight into the man's arms.

Qin Yue's hands hung awkwardly, not knowing where to put them. Finally, they landed on the head of the dog in her arms. She rubbed it for a couple of times before being met with a slobbery lick.

Have you named it yet?

She turned around and grabbed Huo Tingdong's clothes. Taking advantage of his inattention, she rubbed her saliva all over his expensive attire.

The man lowered his eyes, looking at her hand that was rubbing against something with delight, his brows slightly furrowed.

Qin Yue's movements stopped, she awkwardly grinned twice and sheepishly retracted her hand:

"You're quite the dog whisperer, aren't you? You've really taken good care of your pup. Look at him, he's put on some weight!"

"Heh," Huo Tingdong didn't expose her little trick, raised his foot, and walked past her. "Zhizhi, come over for dinner."

Qin Yuezhi: “??”

Although they were boyfriend and girlfriend, to be honest, their relationship wasn't very close.

Weaving…

She shivered, rubbing her arms where Huo Tingdong's intimate nickname had sent shivers down her spine. The way he said it so naturally...she suspected he'd called her that countless times behind closed doors.

Qin Yuezhi looked at the man's tall and straight back, letting out a speechless "tsk" sound. She couldn't tell, this man was actually quite a quiet and introverted type.

Frankly, those two words sounded rather pleasant coming out of his low voice.

Besides, didn't we just eat? Is this man treating her like a bottomless pit?

The dog, who had been excitedly wagging its tail and playing with her, immediately stopped when Huo Tingdong called out. It turned around and ran into the house.

Qin Yuezhi watched Huo Tingdong put on his gloves and grab a handful of dog food, placing it in the small bowl in the corner. She was stunned for a long time before finally speaking word by word: "What did you name it?"

Huo Tingdong turned his head to look at her: "Zhizhi, what's wrong?"

Qin Yuezhi now didn't think at all that these two words sounded good coming out of his mouth: "What's wrong? You dare ask me what's wrong?"

She was like a furious cat, baring her teeth and claws, wishing she could pounce and scratch Hua Huo Tingdong's face: "You called my name to a dog? What do you think I am? From now on, I'll call it Tingting, Dongdong..."

The woman's lips curled into a humorless smile as she sneered, "Sounds good?"

"The squeak of a rat is different from the weave of your cloth."

This explanation offered no solace: "Have you ever heard of a dog that barks 'chi chi'? I yap 'gaga'!"

“What do you mean, little girl? Don't throw words around like that.”

"???"

She felt like she punched a pillow, with no place for her anger to go. People with a heart of darkness truly see everything as filthy.

Huo Tingdong went to the restroom.

The dog named Zhizhi finished her food and then rubbed against her, acting cute, even showing her belly for a pet.

Its wounds were almost healed, the deepest and longest one had scabbed over.

Qin Yuezhi rubbed its head, the dog was very obedient and allowed her to touch it. She opened her mouth, hesitated for a long time, then closed it again. She really couldn't bring herself to speak.

No matter what, she couldn't overcome her psychological hurdles.

She suspected Ho Ting Dong did it on purpose. Why would he choose that name, of all names, to share with her?

“Doggo, was I the one who saved you?” Qin Yuezhi leaned down, meeting the dog’s innocent and clean eyes, “Look at this cold weather, it’s precisely the time to eat dog meat. If I hadn’t brought you back, you would definitely be in a dog meat soup pot right now, so shouldn’t you repay me?”

The dog blinked at her: “Hmm~”

"I gave you to him because I'm too busy during the day, and I just don't have time to take you for walks. And it would be heartbreaking to leave you alone in the house for so long, wouldn't it?"

"Hmm~" It even nodded.

This didn't make Qin Yue unhappy, although she knew it was just a coincidence.

Huo Tingdong came out of the bathroom and saw a man and a dog talking, seemingly without any hindrance.

Qin Yuezhi whispered to it, negotiating in a low voice: "Then I'll change your name for you. From now on, you'll be called 'Huo Tingdong.' Remember that? You're called 'Huo Tingdong'. Whenever I call this name, you come over. Do you understand?"

“...”

"Silence means consent, Huo Tingdong."

"..."

No response.

Qin Yuezhi feigned annoyance, pinching its ears lightly: "If you don't behave, I'll sell you to a dog meat shop."

"Don't scare it," Huo Tingdong walked over, "It just escaped from a dog meat dealer's hands. Those new wounds on its body were inflicted when it was escaping."

"Ah," Qin Yuezhi was startled by his silent approach and almost jumped. "How did you walk so silently? I was just scaring it, if I really wanted to sell it, why would I bring it back?"

Having heard that it had escaped from a dog meat vendor, Qin Yuezhi gently rubbed the top of its head with compassion.

What a poor little thing.

Ho Tingdong: “It can understand.”

"Alright alright, I was wrong. Go find your dad…" Qin Yuezhi pushed the dog towards Huo Tingdong's face and got up, "I've seen the dog too, I'll go back first."

"Have a drink?" Huo Tingdong took out a bottle of wine from the liquor cabinet. "Made by a friend's winery, it tastes pretty good. Want to try it?"

Now whenever Qin Yue sees alcohol, it's like seeing a time bomb, especially when she's alone with Huo Tingdong. She shakes her head, looking at him as if he were a venomous snake: "I quit."

Ho Tingdong didn't force him: "Then sit down, let me see the wound on your tongue."

"It's fine, it was just a bite and it's already healed..."

"Drink or watch wounds, choose one."

"......"

This is a typical case of the threshold effect. Ordinary people would definitely subconsciously choose the easier option, but Qin Yuezhi is not an ordinary person. She's bold and tough: "You can choose whatever you want, I won't choose any. Drinking and watching injuries are my business, and I have the right to decide whether to do them or not."

Seeing Huo Tingdong's hand raise slightly, Qin Yuezhi reminded, "Mr. Huo, forcing a woman to do something against her will is illegal. I can sue you."

Having said that, she triumphantly raised an eyebrow at him. This was the first time she had gotten the upper hand on Huo Tingsong! Being able to make the undefeated lawyer Huo eat his words was enough for her to brag about for a lifetime.

Ho Tingdong clamped his hand over her chin, and with a squeeze that didn't seem all that forceful, Qin Yuezhi involuntarily opened her mouth.

A man's voice, neither laughing nor serious, came down from above: “Strictly speaking, that’s true, but this kind of trivial matter wouldn’t usually be paid attention to. It would all be handled through private negotiations. Besides…”

(Editor in charge:the lorax novel)