WS - Chapter 49

Chapter 49

The dog that had been wobbling along at the back of the group, when Song Shiyue followed Yu Nianbing's gaze to look at it for the first time, immediately shed its earlier lazy, jiggling little fat rolls and pricked up its ears with a hint of alertness.

At the castle, the dog had indeed been terrified by Song Shiyue's bloodthirsty beast-like glare, and it remained cowed for a long time. During the plane ride over, if Wang Daming hadn't held it back, it would have kept as far away as possible. Even when they had caught fish earlier and accidentally ran into her, its cowardice hadn't worn off.

Then...

It got fed. Even though it was fish it caught itself.

It also got its head rubbed. Even though it might have been just by the way.

A creature like the dog still has a bit of a heart that admires the strong.

And that person who seemed very formidable appeared to have lost her earlier ferocity, now showing a somewhat friendly demeanor.

Was the real person the one with that bloodthirsty ferocity from before, or the present amiable one who didn't take its food?

The dog was a bit perplexed.

Because of its perplexity, and a strange desire to get closer, it ended up following along.

However, having been thoroughly scared before, even though it no longer sensed that aura now, when Song Shiyue stopped walking, looked its way, and called to it, the dog's first reaction was still to flatten its ears, tuck its tail, and stand straight with all four feet together.

Director Zhang, following further behind, had a clear view of this somewhat standoffish interaction on the floating screen, and couldn't help but glance sideways at Wang Daming. "Didn't you say this dog was trained and very smart?"

Having lost viewing access, Wang Daming, who knew nothing of the events ahead, was somewhat puzzled but still nodded and said, "Yeah, very smart. The trainer said that in terms of intelligence, it's probably one of the top five dogs in the Mingtan System. We paid a lot to rent it from the training base. It even sniffed out a fully sealed bag of potato chips before. Isn't that impressive?"

"..." Director Zhang frowned at Wang Daming, then recalled that he had turned on personal mode earlier. He touched his wristband to open the permissions and pointed at one of the floating screens. "Look at that dog, looking totally dumb. Just now when Song Shiyue called it, it just froze like that. It doesn't even know how to liven things up."

Liven things up?

Could a dog understand something that complicated?

Director Zhang's expectations were hard to describe, but Wang Daming still tried to explain: "This dog really is smart. During tests, it understood simple commands. Its senses and physical abilities are quite good, and its temperament is nice too. But for some reason, maybe it's just incompatible with Song Shiyue. This morning at the castle, it really didn't want to go near her."

Wang Daming's explanation clearly did not satisfy Director Zhang.

"If it doesn't want to get close to the guests, then what use is this dog?" Director Zhang said coldly. "We might as well cook it later."

Hearing this, Wang Daming grew anxious: "We can't eat it! The production team rented it; if we eat it we'll have to pay compensation to the canine training base."

"Heh..." Director Zhang had just been speaking offhandedly, yet Wang Daming took it so seriously; he really seemed dumber than the dog.

Director Zhang was not the only one who thought the dog was dumb.

"Alright, let's go." Yu Nianbing, looking at the dog standing stiff with its four paws almost stacked together, like a student called on by the teacher while sleeping in class, smiled and tugged at Song Shiyue.

Song Shiyue glanced back at the group that had already moved ahead, then turned again to look at the dog, which just stood there with no intention of coming over. She gave a small wave of her fingers with a slightly resigned smile, a gesture of "I'll let you off for now," then followed Yu Nianbing's pull and turned to continue forward.

But while Song Shiyue had let it go for the time being, Yu Nianbing's curiosity about the dog was piqued even more.

Barely taking a few steps forward, just catching up with the group ahead, Yu Nianbing couldn't help but look back again, wanting to see whether the dog, which seemed scared by Song Shiyue again, was following or still standing rigidly in place.

Oh, it was following.

Yu Nianbing watched the dog trot happily behind them, but before the smile at the corner of her lips could form, a sharp pain shot through the sole of her foot. She couldn't help but twist her foot, wrenching her ankle again.

"Careful." Song Shiyue, who had been walking beside Yu Nianbing, caught her in time.

"It's nothing... sss..." Yu Nianbing said it was nothing, but when she tried to rotate her ankle, she still gasped in pain.

"Looking back often while walking on uneven ground is dangerous. You need to watch the road." Song Shiyue's words carried a note of helpless admonishment, but her body moved nimbly as she crouched down and felt Yu Nianbing's ankle.

"Hey..." Yu Nianbing reflexively pulled her foot back.

But what kind of person was Song Shiyue? Quick-eyed and swift-handed, she could even catch mutant animals; there was no way Yu Nianbing could evade her.

"What? Not this foot?" Song Shiyue squeezed the ankle in her hand, then added, "It feels fine here, take off the shoe so I can look."

Song Shiyue's hand was very hot.

Even through the white cotton socks, Yu Nianbing could feel the warmth around her ankle.

So hot that she felt a bit restless inside, and her face even grew warm.

"No need, it's fine." Yu Nianbing pulled her foot back, speeding up her words, "I just accidentally stepped on a pebble and lost my balance. It's fine now. Really."

Song Shiyue saw that Yu Nianbing was struggling fiercely, afraid that she might fall again from the exertion. She thought for a moment and let go.

Yu Nianbing, who had been pulling her foot back forcefully, suddenly lost the opposing force and indeed tilted backward.

But she was promptly caught by Song Shiyue, who had stood up in time.

So this time, what was warm was her lower back.

This time the commotion was a bit louder, and the group ahead heard the sound and stopped about ten paces away.

Ning Chuyang ran back a few steps and called out to them, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Then she was waved off by Yu Nianbing.

"Are you really okay?" Song Shiyue watched Yu Nianbing take two steady steps on the ground, but still couldn't help asking one more time.

"It's fine." Yu Nianbing moved her leg again; the ankle had only hurt for a moment, and after Song Shiyue's squeezing, it was okay. The sole of her foot where she stepped on the pebble still had a little ache, but it wasn't a problem, no need to mention it. If she mentioned it, the shoe would surely be pulled off in the next second.

Come to think of it, this was the first time Yu Nianbing had truly experienced that with someone of Song Shiyue's strength, resistance was absolutely useless.

"Really, it's fine." Seeing that Song Shiyue still seemed hesitant, Yu Nianbing couldn't help but affirm again and urge, "Let's go, the others are waiting ahead."

"Okay, okay, wait a moment." Though Song Shiyue agreed, she didn't seem about to move forward. Instead, she stood still, turned her head to look around, and then quickly walked toward the woods on the left.

"Where are you going?" Yu Nianbing lifted a foot to follow, but was held back by a stop gesture from Song Shiyue, who didn't even look back.

Song Shiyue left quickly and returned just as fast.

She barely reached the edge of the woods before she came back with a vine.

Oh, she didn't walk back.

Yu Nianbing watched as Song Shiyue pulled a vine at the forest edge, then headed to the back. In no time, she returned leading the dog, which was walking with its front and back legs on the same side.

"It probably still isn't used to us and is too shy to come over. Here, take it and walk it for a bit." Song Shiyue placed the other end of the vine into Yu Nianbing's hand.

Yu Nianbing held the vine that was practically shoved into her hand, and looked down at the dog, which was standing with its four paws almost stacked on one spot, looking as comical as a wobbling doll.

This was not shyness at all, it was clearly fear, right?

Yu Nianbing actually wanted to say no need, it would be better to let it go free, and she would just stop looking back.

But...

Yu Nianbing followed the stiff, straight-standing dog's figure and looked upward.

The freshly and hastily pulled vine still had many branches and leaves, but the section leading up to her hand had been stripped smooth and clean.

Yu Nianbing squeezed the looped vine knot in her hand that Song Shiyue had specially made for easy leashing; it was completely free of roughness.

This thoughtful gesture...

Yu Nianbing looked down at the dog staring blankly at her, silently apologized to it, saying she'd let it go free soon, and then tightened her grip on the vine loop.

And so, the two of them and the dog set off again.

The group ahead had continued on when Yu Nianbing waved to indicate nothing was wrong.

Ning Chuyang, however, had been waiting for them in place.

After a few steps, the three met up, and Ning Chuyang couldn't help but bend down to pat the dog's head. "The production team's dog is quite cute."

The dog was unmoved by Ning Chuyang's friendly gesture; it only raised its head to look at Yu Nianbing and Song Shiyue, then tilted its head as if thinking, and then ran to Yu Nianbing's leg, pressing close.

Sure enough, that very formidable person smiled at it!

In the dog's simple canine life, there had always been one thing it didn't quite understand.

These beings called humans were strange. Sometimes, its friendliness toward one person would make another person very happy, even happier than if it had been directly friendly to that other person.

It was a very strange experience, but unexpectedly useful.

As long as you picked the right person.

The dog wagged its tail, enjoying Yu Nianbing's head rubs, occasionally pressing back against her hand, but its eyes were on Song Shiyue, watching her gaze grow ever warmer, watching the approval and satisfaction in her eyes.

It had picked right.

The dog believed it had found a safe way to follow the strong. But this was not enough...

Yu Nianbing was also a bit surprised. The dog had clearly been quite afraid of Song Shiyue earlier; how had it transformed into a different dog after being leashed?

Cute and sensible, obedient and lively...

When people walked, it walked; when they stopped, it stopped; when they reached out a hand, it lay flat...

Clearly it was a dog's face, yet Yu Nianbing could almost read pure joy on that face.

Did it like... being leashed that much?

About ten minutes later.

Yu Nianbing, leading the dog, watched it walk a step or two ahead, its tail wagging happily, its two chubby hind legs almost twisting into pretzels, and felt a bit bewildered.

"It... does it like being leashed better?" Yu Nianbing finally couldn't help but ask.

Ning Chuyang, walking on Yu Nianbing's left, laughed. "Dogs don't prefer being leashed. I think it's very obedient. The production team wasn't leashing it before. Why don't we let go too? Judging by its behavior, it should follow us on its own, right?"

Is that so...

If it were ten-odd minutes earlier, Yu Nianbing would have been certain that as soon as she let go of the vine, the dog would either stand there dumbly or quickly run away.

But now.

Yu Nianbing looked toward Song Shiyue.

Song Shiyue on the right, lost in thought about who knows what, didn't seem to notice the conversation and just kept walking forward on her own.

"..." Yu Nianbing reached out and tugged at Song Shiyue's sleeve.

"Hm?" Song Shiyue glanced at Yu Nianbing somewhat absently, then smiled. "Leashing the dog? If you want to leash it, leash it; if you want to let go, let go. Just do whatever you want. Even if you let go, I can tie it back up for you."

Whatever she wanted, huh...

No matter what she wanted, she would help...

Hmph, it must still be to repay that so-called "life-saving grace" from before.

Song Shiyue's words made Yu Nianbing feel a flash of happiness, but soon after, she inexplicably felt a bit annoyed.

"Then shall we untie it?" Ning Chuyang said with a bit of excitement. "Let's see if it still follows us?"

Yu Nianbing glanced at Song Shiyue again; the latter's face was full of indulgence.

Annoying...

Yu Nianbing lowered her eyes, crouched down, and untied the vine from the dog's collar.

The three didn't delay, and continued on their way.

But the joy on the dog's face quickly faded completely.

I knew it would be like this!

I knew that doing only this much would still lead to being abandoned!

But...

Even for someone so formidable, to be abandoned this quickly—it's just too much!

The dog stood dumbly, watching the three figures walk farther and farther away, and couldn't help but let out two low whimpers.

"It didn't follow?" Ning Chuyang kept her voice low, resisting the urge to look back, but couldn't help saying, "It was so affectionate earlier, but as soon as we let go, it wouldn't come."

"Maybe it was just an act for survival earlier." Yu Nianbing still hadn't let go of that inexplicable irritation in her heart, and she didn't bother to hide it in her words.

"Survival?" Ning Chuyang didn't quite understand.

Song Shiyue, however, understood.

Afraid of her? That was normal.

The weak are meat, the strong eat—that's the law of nature.

But Yu Nianbing... talking like that, was she throwing a tantrum?

Song Shiyue looked to the left; at the same time, Yu Nianbing on her left also looked to the left.

Was that it?

Song Shiyue turned her head back to the front, then suddenly looked left again, only to see that Yu Nianbing, who had just turned back, also quickly looked left again, so quickly that it seemed she wrenched her neck.

"Did you twist it again?" Song Shiyue, amused, placed her hand on the back of Yu Nianbing's neck as she hissed softly.

Silence was Yu Nianbing's protective coloration.

But this really doesn't feel like a hand that could grind stone into powder...

Yu Nianbing felt the hand on her neck rubbing with just the right pressure, only a bit too hot... suddenly she thought of roast duck. When roasting a duck, did the duck neck also feel this hot?

After that little interlude, the dog received even less attention.

Even those two faint and pitiful whimpers were buried under the sudden incident, unnoticed.

As expected... being cute alone is useless.

The dog whimpered twice and quickly turned around.

"Your useless dog is back. The moment it's off the leash it wants to run wild." Director Zhang warned Wang Daming with a cold expression. "I think later you should find a segment to reward the leash to those people. Otherwise this dog has no purpose, and the money to rent it is wasted."

What could Wang Daming say? He just nodded in agreement.

The dog sprinted all the way, heading straight for Wang Daming's feet. With a sudden stop, it kicked up a layer of dust onto Wang Daming's shoes.

Before Wang Daming could be moved that the dog, though ignoring the guests, still had him in its heart, the dog started whining continuously.

It followed Wang Daming step by step, whining.

"So annoying." Director Zhang turned to glare at Wang Daming. "Why is it suddenly so annoying?"

"Cough... this barking, this posture..." Wang Daming was saying when the dog nudged his calf again. "It means it's time to eat, it wants food."

"Only knows how to eat; wonder who it learned that from." Director Zhang grumbled with a dark expression, waving his hand. "Feed it."

"But we just fed it at noon." Wang Daming hesitated.

"Feed it. So annoying." Director Zhang was full of irritation, not caring at all whether the dog would overeat.

"Fine... fine..." Wang Daming couldn't oppose Director Zhang, and began rummaging in his bag.

One minute later...

Song Shiyue looked at the opened can of dog food at her feet, with a small chunk missing, and fell silent.

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