Yan Qing’s expression made Ding Qi realize—he messed up again.
Although he was angry, Yan Qing knew deep down why Ding Qi had done this. It was because he had casually mentioned before that he was a “dog person.”
“I already have a cat, and the reason I chose to keep a cat is because they can stay at home. As long as they have enough food, water, and litter, I don’t have to worry too much. But dogs are different. They need regular exercise and daily walks. Neither of us has that kind of time.”
Yan Qing tried to explain as calmly as possible. The Belgian Malinois seemed to sense the tension in the room. It lowered its tail and retreated to the edge of the sofa.
It seemed like the only villain in the house was Yan Qing himself.
Taking a deep breath, Yan Qing continued, “I really hate it when unstable couples get pets. These situations have an extremely high abandonment rate. Especially when one person isn’t particularly fond of animals. Pets often become the victims. At the pet hospital, it’s common for people to just toss unwanted cats and dogs to us. This is a life. This kind of ‘surprise,’ I don’t like.”
Ding Qi scratched the back of his head and nodded. “Got it. This was my oversight. So… should we return it?”
Yan Qing’s gaze shifted to the dog. As he locked eyes with its innocent, wet puppy-dog eyes, he spoke again, “What’s its name?”
“Fuqi,” Ding Qi replied glumly. “Keeping it will bring you ‘good fortune.’”
Yan Qing was dumbfounded. “You’re still in the mood to crack lame jokes?”
Ding Qi looked at him sheepishly. “Fine, fine, I deserve a beating.”
“…” Yan Qing was too exasperated to respond. He rubbed the dog’s head firmly. Fuqi stood obediently in place, tilting its head up to accept the affection.
Even as a retired police dog, it still had a dignity and energy that ordinary house dogs couldn’t match. Its sturdy, well-trained physique drew Yan Qing’s admiration, and his expression softened.
“Let’s get one thing straight—if we break up, the dog stays with me.”
Ding Qi was shocked and stared at him in disbelief. “You’d choose the dog over me? Fine! I’ll arrange for it to be returned right now. Who said breaking up is even an option? I won’t allow it!”
This wasn’t some melodramatic family soap opera. Yan Qing silently scoffed, his eyes catching sight of the leash on the coffee table.
Attaching the leash to Fuqi’s collar, Yan Qing patted the dog’s back. “Come on, Fuqi, let’s go for a walk.”
Seeing Yan Qing heading for the door, Ding Qi quickly followed. “I’m coming too.”
Trailing behind the man and the dog, Ding Qi lit a cigarette. If Yan Qing truly didn’t want the dog, he would send Fuqi to his uncle’s place. His uncle, a retired soldier, would be the perfect caretaker for a retired police dog, with plenty of space and a love for animals. Just the kind of “ideal dog owner” Yan Qing described.
Ding Qi’s eyes never left Yan Qing’s figure up ahead, and a smile crept across his face.
He really does like dogs, after all.
Yan Qing’s cat, meanwhile, lived at Ai Jun Bao Pet Hospital. Yan Qing spent most of his time there anyway, especially since he took over as the hospital’s director. He barely had any days off.
Ding Qi had left him with Fuqi and then turned around to head back to his job at the prison. On his way to work, walking the dog made Yan Qing regret not giving that guy a proper scolding.
The retired police dog wore a muzzle and a sleek black vest, exuding a commanding presence. When Yan Qing stopped, the dog instinctively sat beside his leg, perfectly trained.
Its arrival created quite the buzz at Ai Jun Bao Pet Hospital. The nurses, already animal lovers, couldn’t resist such a handsome Malinois, and even customers were drawn to it.
“Dr. Yan, where did this dog come from? Can we pet it?”
Requests to pet the dog came one after another, and Fuqi instantly became the star of the show.
Regardless of the pet, the first step before touching them is always to get the owner’s permission.
With Fuqi wearing a muzzle, there was no fear of biting, but Yan Qing still cautioned, “Be gentle and go slow.”
Fuqi’s black face looked a bit tense as it sniffed the people around it, collecting scent information.
People who worked with animals avoided wearing strong-smelling products, and Fuqi could sense their friendliness. Soon, its tail started wagging, and it obediently allowed itself to be petted, drawing a chorus of delighted “aww”s.
With daily walks to work, playtime during the day, and another walk home at night, Fuqi was getting plenty of exercise. Yan Qing, on the other hand, was starting to feel drained.
The next time he saw Ding Qi, he was definitely going to have a word with him!
Working in shifts meant no real holidays. A day off without being called back was already worth celebrating.
The nature of Ding Qi’s work at the prison made frequent communication with the outside world impossible. Over time, those bonds tended to fade.
He hadn’t made new friends in ages. His social circle consisted of old acquaintances and colleagues.
His old friends were scattered across different cities, and no one wanted to see coworkers even on their days off. In the past, Ding Qi hadn’t looked forward to his days off either. But now, he did.
He glanced at the time. Just a bit longer until his shift ended, and then he could head back to see Yan Qing.
As he approached the workshop, Ding Qi’s expression shifted. He became stern and aloof, his demeanor icy and unyielding.
When the heavy doors opened, he tensed up, every nerve on high alert. Dealing with this group of individuals, even the slightest lapse in vigilance was unacceptable.
The sound of sewing machines droned on endlessly. Several prison guards stood at strategic positions, keeping every inmate within their sightlines. Overhead, surveillance cameras rotated continuously, ensuring no blind spots.
The noisy environment and repetitive work felt like an eternal cycle. Locked in the prison, ten or twenty years could stretch on indefinitely.
One inmate, holding a pair of scissors, suddenly broke from his work. Splitting the handles apart, he raised the sharp blade and thrust it toward his own neck.
Ding Qi was the first to notice something was wrong. The guards around him quickly realized as well and rushed over to wrest the blade away.
An inmate attempting self-harm or suicide in prison was a major incident. Every guard present would face serious consequences, possibly losing their uniforms and switching to prison garb themselves!
The inmate struggled violently, the scissors waving uncontrollably in the chaos. No one knew where the sharp blade might strike next.
Ding Qi seized an opportunity and reached for the scissors. Pain shot through his arm as the blade slashed deep into his wrist. Blood gushed out, pooling on the floor in a bright red stain.
Despite the pain, Ding Qi didn’t let go. Gritting his teeth, he wrenched the weapon away and stepped back, panting heavily. Blood dripped from his wrist, leaving a crimson trail on the ground.
His heart pounded like a drum, the thudding almost deafening. Cold sweat drenched his body, pouring out faster than the blood.
At least, for now, it was over.
—
Finishing his last appointment of the day, Yan Qing stretched and prepared to leave work on time.
He checked his phone, replying to a few messages, then switched accounts. There were no new messages from Ding Qi. He switched back and opened his call log.
No missed calls either.
Ding Qi had sent him a work schedule earlier. Tomorrow was a day off, so he should be heading back to the city tonight. Usually, by this time, Ding Qi’s messages would already be popping up.
Packing his things, Yan Qing glanced at the orange tabby in the cage. The cat, with its paws tucked under it, stared at him quietly. As Yan Qing reached out, the cat rose to rub its head against his hand.
Yan Qing gently stroked the cat’s head, feeling guilty. “Sorry, Juzi. I promise I’ll take you home next time.”
“Meow,” the tabby responded, rubbing against him even more.
Still no word from Ding Qi. After a moment’s thought, Yan Qing decided to call him.
The phone rang a few times before someone picked up.
“Hello? Dr. Yan? Which hospital are you from?”
The voice on the other end wasn’t Ding Qi.
It took Yan Qing a moment to process before he answered, “I’m a veterinarian at Ai Jun Bao Pet Hospital.”
The person on the other side let out a loud sigh. “Oh, a vet! You scared me! I thought something happened to Ding Qi’s family, and a doctor was calling to notify us. I almost didn’t pick up.”
Yan Qing’s voice faltered. “What… what do you mean?”
The person explained, “Ding Qi’s artery got cut by one of the inmates. He’s been sent to the hospital. I’ve got his personal belongings and was about to bring them over.”
Yan Qing’s voice trembled. “Which hospital is he at?”
“First Hospital,” the person replied, then asked, “What did you need Ding Qi for?”
Yan Qing hung up, sitting down heavily on a bench. He didn’t move for a long time.
His legs felt like jelly. He couldn’t stand.
