Chapter Forty-Five: The Guests at the Pet Shop

Shengyao stayed at the clinic for lunch, helped wash the dishes, and only then was urged by Bai Xiao to leave the ward.

“Didn’t you say you’d take the cat for its vaccination? Go on, don’t linger too long and keep Boss Le waiting,” Bai Xiao said.

“I’ll come back this evening.”

“Alright.”

“Rest well.”

Bai Xiao laughed. “I’ve been resting all day, you know.”

Shengyao smiled, then left the ward.

Bai Xiao didn’t cling to him or see him off at the door. She watched as Shengyao walked out, then returned to her bed and played with her phone.

Shengyao took a few steps, stopped in the hall, glanced at the consulting room down the corridor, hesitated for a moment, then walked over and knocked on the door.

Inside her ward, Bai Xiao put down her phone, her gaze falling on the door, her face vacant, without any expression.

From the consulting room came a voice: “Come in.”

Shengyao pushed open the door, finding the doctor in his usual attire, sitting behind his unchanging desk. Shengyao nodded in greeting, closed the door behind him, and sat by the desk.

“What’s the matter?” the doctor asked calmly.

Shengyao’s eyes swept over the document tray on the desk. It was empty—no medical files.

“I’d like to ask about Bai Xiao’s condition. She’s been hospitalized for some time now... Is her health alright?” Shengyao’s question hung in the air, his heart tightening.

The doctor’s hands were folded on his lap as he replied, “You see her every day. Do you think she’s well?”

Shengyao couldn’t answer.

The Bai Xiao he saw each day appeared healthy, her complexion rosy, movements normal, showing no signs of illness. But Bai Xiao was no ordinary person. She had come back from the dead; it couldn’t simply be said that she looked normal and was therefore perfectly healthy.

The doctor continued, “I’m treating her according to your wishes. The outcome depends on your cooperation. What are your thoughts?”

Shengyao was at a loss.

He felt Bai Xiao was doing fine now, but couldn’t shake his worries.

“The previous patients... Liu Yu, and Mao Mao...” Shengyao began cautiously, “Their situations seemed different. Liu Yu, before...” He hesitated, looking at the doctor, uncertain how the doctor viewed those whose bodies had mutated into monsters. From Mao Mao’s case, it seemed the doctor knew Shengyao had been secretly investigating the clinic’s patients. But just how much did the doctor know?

Shengyao decided not to ask directly, but instead said, “Liu Yu mentioned paying medical fees. I haven’t paid mine yet either. Is it settled after all treatment ends, or is there another way?”

Most of the doctor’s face was hidden behind a mask, but Shengyao could see the deep blue eyes, and it seemed the doctor was smiling—not a gratified, joyful smile, nor a warm, kindly one. The blue eyes curved slightly, the smile within them enigmatic.

“I’ve already received a very good ‘treatment fee.’ You don’t need to worry about any further costs,” the doctor replied.

Shengyao heard a barely perceptible giggle from the doctor’s fingernails.

Goosebumps rose on his back, a chill washed over him, yet he could do nothing to resist.

“Is there anything else?” the doctor asked, a hint of dismissal.

Stiffly, Shengyao stood. “Alright. I’ll be back this evening. Goodbye.”

The doctor nodded.

Shengyao walked a couple of steps, opened the door, then paused.

He turned back to the doctor. “Bai Xiao is ready to be discharged, isn’t she?”

The doctor’s blue eyes sparkled, but he did not answer.

Shengyao didn’t press further, leaving the consulting room and thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

…

Inside the Little Darling Pet Shop, Boss Le was giving a bath to a stray dog named “Darling.” True to its name, Darling stood obediently in the sink, allowing Boss Le to scrub it clean.

Shengyao entered, carrying the cat carrier, and saw Boss Le’s back and the dog’s head peeking out from in front of him.

Darling seemed to remember Shengyao, barking twice, then looking up at Boss Le and barking again, as if to remind him there was a customer.

Boss Le turned and deftly directed Shengyao, “Xiao Sheng, done with the shots? You’re quick today. Put Chubby in the pet cage.”

Shengyao smiled, took the orange cat from the carrier, and placed it in the pet cage.

Inside the cage were several stray cats Shengyao had caught, as well as two puppies. Unlike the silent cats, the puppies barked excitedly upon seeing Shengyao, tumbling about energetically.

Shengyao squatted and played with the puppies through the cage, chatting with Boss Le. “Chubby is the last one, and the last shot is done.”

“Grey and White will be picked up tomorrow, and Chubby has a reservation for next week. All the ones you brought in have found owners—quite satisfactory,” Boss Le said, then asked, “You mentioned wanting to keep a pet?”

“Yes, I’d like a dog. Are these two spoken for?” Shengyao asked.

“Yeah, someone reserved them. I just brought them from the kennel yesterday. They only want one. What kind of dog do you want?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Shengyao replied.

He had no particular preference. Bai Xiao’s ideas changed constantly—sometimes she liked big dogs, sometimes she thought puppies were cute, sometimes she fancied the happiness of having both cats and dogs. If she chose a cat, she found every breed adorable and wanted to pet them all.

“Are you sure about getting a dog? It’s a lifelong commitment. Dogs only live a dozen or so years; once you take one in, you’re responsible for its retirement and end-of-life care. Losing a dog can be heartbreaking. Keeping a dog is troublesome—more so than a child. Kids grow up, but dogs will always depend on you, and you’ll never see the day they repay your care,” Boss Le said seriously.

Shengyao hesitated.

“Why do you want a dog? Is it because your girlfriend likes them?” Boss Le lifted the clean Darling onto the table and began drying it.

Standing at the door, Shengyao watched Boss Le’s practiced movements, his gaze slowly losing focus. “I hope that, if one day I leave this world, she’ll have some companionship.”

Just like how Mao Mao found a kitten for Lu Meimei.

Dr. Wang at Pegasus Pet Hospital had mentioned Mao Mao’s passing to him today. Lu Meimei had entrusted Pegasus with Mao Mao’s cremation. She and Zhou Hai had said their goodbyes, and now they had to care for the kitten, Whale—this little life Mao Mao gave them now filled their days, leaving no room for grief.

Shengyao wanted to find Bai Xiao a spiritual anchor as well.

They had lost their parents and couldn’t regain old friends. Now they only had each other. In the end, they would both die, and it was unlikely they’d be fortunate enough to leave this world together.

Recalling the thirty-five years without Bai Xiao, Shengyao felt as though his heart had stopped—joy drained away, leaving only a shell, living like a walking corpse.

He didn’t want to endure that pain again, nor did he wish for Bai Xiao to experience it.

If a pet could accompany Bai Xiao after he was gone, lessen her grief, wouldn’t that be a good thing?

Such a pet would carry their shared memories, filled with joyful recollections. It wouldn’t be an inert object boxed away, nor merely a witness—it would be alive, with thoughts of its own, an independent existence needing their love. They would grow to love it. That love wouldn’t be deeper or heavier than what they felt for each other, but it would be enough to help them through the sorrow of losing a beloved.

“Then you should get married and have children,” Boss Le’s sudden remark snapped Shengyao from his thoughts.

Shengyao was stunned.

“Cats and dogs only live a dozen or so years. When they die, you’ll still be alive. If you want a long-lived pet, like a parrot, that would suit your purpose, but not many like those. Your girlfriend wants a dog, right?” Boss Le asked sensibly.

Shengyao instinctively replied in the affirmative.

“I think your girlfriend is quite simple—she just thinks dogs are cute and wants one. You’re overthinking it, and quite pessimistic. When it comes to getting a dog, bring her next time and let her choose,” Boss Le decided, turning on the hair dryer to dry Darling’s fur.

The buzzing filled the little pet shop, putting an end to their conversation.

Shengyao felt somewhat helpless, but had to admit Boss Le had a point.

He decided to visit the nearby market for some ready-made food to add to his and Bai Xiao’s dinner.

“I’m heading out!” Shengyao called to Boss Le, then headed for the door.

As he turned, he saw a woman standing at the entrance.

She was made up and dressed like a typical office lady from a TV drama. Her gaze swept over the pet cage, her expression troubled and conflicted.

“Looking to buy a pet?” Shengyao greeted her, then called out to Boss Le inside, “There’s a customer.” Boss Le seemed not to hear, raising his hand in acknowledgment, as if responding to Shengyao. So Shengyao played the role of shop assistant for the moment.

“These cats are all reserved, and one of the puppies too. If you’re interested, you’ll have to wait for the others to choose first. What kind of pet are you looking for? Boss Le has connections with kennels and catteries—he can find you anything,” Shengyao said, adopting the demeanor of a diligent salesman.

The woman remained at the doorway, not entering. Her hands gripped her purse strap, and she glanced at Shengyao, as if organizing her thoughts to answer, or like a shopper confronted by an enthusiastic clerk, unsure how to decline.

Shengyao smiled. “You’re welcome to just browse.”

The woman glanced behind her, then stepped into the shop, determined. Her face looked tired, and even the puppies’ antics drew no reaction.

“I... I want a dog,” she said softly. “Preferably a big one, the kind that can... guard the house.”

Shengyao was surprised. “A large dog? By ‘guard the house,’ do you mean... not for city living, but for the countryside?”

She pursed her lips, lowered her head, and glanced behind her again. “No, it’s for the city... I live in a high-rise with elevators. The apartment is spacious, and there’s a lot of green space and a park nearby, so walking a dog is convenient.” She hurriedly explained, sounding more like she was applying for online pet adoption than shopping at a pet store.

Shengyao looked past her, out the pet shop door.

Suddenly, the noise inside the shop ceased.

Boss Le walked out, leading Darling, finally noticing the new customer.

“Oh, hello! Looking for a pet or pet supplies?” Boss Le asked.

Darling approached the pet cage, barking at the puppies, as if in conversation.

The woman glanced at Darling and replied, “I’m here for a pet. I want a big dog, one that can guard the house—bigger than this one...”

“A bit bigger? The popular breed now is Samoyed—good-looking and with a nice temperament. It’s a medium-sized dog, suitable for our area,” Boss Le explained.

The woman shook her head. “Samoyeds are docile, aren’t they? And not that big... I want a German Shepherd. They’re fiercer, right?”

“German Shepherds are prohibited here—you can’t keep them in this city. You want something fiercer? For basic guarding duties, any dog can be trained for that, no need for a special breed. If you’re thinking of keeping a dangerous breed as described online, first, it’s banned in cities, and second, you likely couldn’t handle it—too risky,” Boss Le said.

The woman looked disappointed.

Shengyao suddenly said, “If it’s for security, you’d be better off installing surveillance at your door. There are lots of electronic locks and doorbells with built-in cameras now, all connectable to your phone. You could also talk to your building management about checking the security footage for suspicious people. If you find any, you could take the evidence to the police.”

Boss Le was taken aback.

The woman suddenly looked up, surprised at Shengyao.