For a veterinarian, a day off simply means shifting the location for replying to clients’ messages from the pet hospital to home.
Ding Qi was scrolling through the latest movie releases, unable to decide on what to watch. The current movie market felt uninspiring—nothing seemed worth the ticket.
He turned to Yan Qing for suggestions, only to see him sigh silently, put down his phone, and step out onto the balcony for some fresh air to calm himself.
Yan Qing’s phone screen hadn’t locked yet. Curious, Ding Qi leaned over to peek. It was a message from the pet hospital’s front desk nurse. A client wanted to buy medicine for their pet and had dropped by the hospital on the off chance it was available. The message included a photo of the pet in question.
Yan Qing’s reply was polite and to the point: “I’m not an exotic pet specialist. Please consult a vet who specializes in exotic pets.”
Ding Qi opened the attached photo. At first glance, the thumbnail was unclear—it looked like a plump, bright red sausage. When he enlarged it, he fell silent.
Walking out to the balcony, Ding Qi stood beside Yan Qing, hesitated, and finally asked, “Do people keep slugs as pets?”
Yan Qing responded calmly, “Yes. Respect other people’s pets. Please use its proper name: a gastropod.”
Ding Qi was quiet for a moment before blurting, “I don’t know why, but I suddenly feel like buying salt.”
A grin crept onto his face. “Dr. Yan, are you afraid of slimy creatures?”
“No,” Yan Qing denied quickly. “Don’t make me say anything disrespectful about someone else’s pet.”
Ding Qi burst into laughter and pulled him into a hug, leaning in for a kiss. Yan Qing dodged backward—this was an open balcony without any privacy!
After regaining his composure, Yan Qing returned to the sofa and picked up his phone again. But Ding Qi wasn’t ready to give up just yet. He flopped onto the couch, inching closer to Yan Qing bit by bit, like a cat stalking its prey.
Meanwhile, Juzi the cat, having just woken from a nap, stretched lazily, drank some water, and munched on a bit of kibble. Spotting Ding Qi’s swinging foot, Juzi pounced, bit it playfully, and darted away.
The slick floor caused Juzi to stumble and hop in place for a moment before regaining balance.
“Ah!” Ding Qi exclaimed dramatically. “Yan Qing, your cat bit my foot!”
Yan Qing, still typing on his phone, replied without looking up, “It’s just playing with you. Play with it for a bit.”
Ding Qi slid off the couch, grabbed Yan Qing’s ankle, and nipped it gently.
Startled, Yan Qing yanked his feet up onto the sofa, his eyes wide. “What are you doing?”
“I want to play with you too,” Ding Qi said, his eyes brimming with unrestrained desire. “You won’t say no, will you?”
Yan Qing thought for a moment, then put his phone down. “Weren’t we going to watch a movie this afternoon?”
“Nothing good’s out,” Ding Qi said, staring straight into Yan Qing’s eyes. “Besides, you’re more interesting than any movie.”
Yan Qing wasn’t particularly in the mood for a movie anyway.
He smirked slightly, propping his chin on one hand while hooking a finger into Ding Qi’s collar with the other. “You’re only going to play with me?”
Ding Qi was utterly captivated by Yan Qing’s gaze. “Who else would I want to play with but you?”
From the dog bed, Fu Qi suddenly lifted his head, ears perked. His internal “keyword detector” had honed in on every mention of the word “play.” How could his two humans play without including him?
“Woof! Woof!” Fu Qi charged out of the bed, skidding on the floor and slamming into Ding Qi from behind.
Ding Qi, who had been fully immersed in the moment, was now fuming. He picked up one of Yan Qing’s slippers and raised it high.
Sensing danger, Fu Qi spun around and bounded back to his bed, lying flat and pulling his ears back in a gesture of surrender.
A good dog doesn’t mess with slippers!
According to the five principles of peaceful coexistence between humans and pets, the dog bed was a safe zone, untouchable by slipper-wielding humans.
“Pfft—hahahaha!” Yan Qing laughed so hard his stomach hurt. This was the joy of having pets, he thought.
Defeated, Ding Qi put down the slipper. Clearly, any further “games” with Yan Qing would have to wait.
“Ding Qi.”
Hearing Yan Qing’s voice, Ding Qi turned around—only to feel something soft press against his lips. Stunned, he froze, then quickly cupped the back of Yan Qing’s head to deepen the kiss.
“Let’s take this to the bedroom,” Yan Qing whispered.
