My Fierce Beta Husband is Surprisingly Sweet | Chapter 45 | A Bittersweet Homecoming | Novela.app

Shortly after military training ended, the students of Zunnan University welcomed their Mid-Autumn Festival break. Li Zhenting had originally planned to pick Li Zi up from the station, but to his disappointment, even though she had already bought her ticket, she received a call from her mother. Li Shian happened to be in the area for a business trip and decided to pick up both Li Zi and Yuan Ye on her way back. After all, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and since Yuan Ye was in the country alone, the Li family couldn't possibly let him spend it by himself. Li Zi had no choice but to message Li Zhenting: "My mom is driving me back, so don't come." Having not seen her for nearly a month, Li Zhenting had been looking forward to it for a long time. Before seeing the message, he had been happily planning his departure time, but there was nothing he could do. "Alright," he replied. Slumping onto the sofa in the lounge, Li Zhenting comforted himself. It didn't matter; they would see each other soon enough. Inside Li Shian’s car. She sat in the passenger seat while a chauffeur drove. Li Zi and Yuan Ye sat in the back. "Xiao Ye, have you adjusted to being back in the country? I should have come to see you sooner, but I’ve been quite busy lately. I’m really sorry," Li Shian said, turning her head slightly to smile at Yuan Ye. "It’s no problem at all. I’m doing great, and Sister Li Zi has been taking good care of me. Your work is more important," Yuan Ye replied, feeling a bit nervous. This was his first time spending a holiday alone with people outside his immediate family. Sitting in an elder's car, especially when it wasn't his own home, he was afraid of acting inappropriately. Fortunately, Li Shian was a very easygoing elder. As long as it didn't involve matters of principle, she generally didn't like putting on airs. Upon hearing Yuan Ye's answer, she gave her daughter a "well done" look and then reassured him, "When you come to my house, just treat it like your own. Don't be nervous. Your parents and I have been friends for so many years; we’ve long been like family." "Of course, if you’re really feeling shy, you can just hang out with your Sister Li Zi. People of the same age get along better. As for me, I’ve already become an unpopular old lady." In settings without outsiders, Li Shian would sometimes unconsciously reveal a glimpse of the personality she had in her youth. After all, she had once been a rebellious young woman who hated social pleasantries. Seeing the elder start to tease herself, Yuan Ye relaxed significantly. He adopted the same coquettish tone he often used with his parents: "Auntie Li, don't say that. You’re clearly still so young and beautiful; how are you old? People wouldn't even be able to tell you have a child as old as Sister Li Zi." "Hahaha, I like you, kid." Li Shian laughed heartily, adjusted her posture while looking in the vanity mirror, and said, "Well, of course. Back in the day, I was a campus belle. If your Uncle Yan hadn't been so head-over-heels for me—couldn't live without me, getting all jealous the moment I spoke to someone else—I would have had plenty of suitors." The chauffeur nearby twitched his lips: *Boss, you still have plenty of suitors now.* Li Zi had been quietly watching the scenery outside the window, but hearing this, she couldn't help but interject: "I recall Dad saying it differently. He wasn't the one who liked getting jealous, was he?" "Don't sweat the details." Li Shian choked on her words and shot her daughter a glare. Li Zi knew when to quit while she was ahead. Not wanting to undermine her mother further, she picked up her phone to harass Li Zhenting. "A bit bored." "Hmm? Isn't your mom picking you up?" Li Zhenting was using his free time for an extra workout session. Hearing the phone vibrate, he wiped his sweat with a towel and picked it up. "It's just boring in the car. What are you doing?" Li Zhenting glanced at the treadmill he had just stopped and replied: "Exercising." *At this hour, the gym?* Li Zi raised an eyebrow, a smile flickering in her eyes. "Is this a last-minute effort because we're about to meet?" "??? [Golden Retriever Confused Face.jpg]" "What do you mean 'last-minute effort'? What am I putting effort into? Do I even need to?" The man's indignant triple-question flashed rapidly in the chat box. Li Zi’s mischievous streak was somewhat satisfied. She curled her lips and continued typing. "Then take a photo. I'll check if you need to." The "typing..." status on Li Zhenting's end flashed for a long time, as if displaying his speechlessness. Five minutes later, a mirror selfie appeared in the chat. Perhaps because he was working out at home, he wasn't wearing a shirt. Tattoos of pear blossoms and intertwined vines coiled over his bulging muscles. Sweat trickled down his neck toward the hollow in the center of his chest. Behind him was a pile of fitness equipment. Li Zi admired it for a moment with satisfaction, long-pressed to save it, and then critiqued: "Indeed, you don't need to." "Heh, women." The retort came from the other side. Meanwhile, the "woman" was thinking that this trick worked every single time. The long car ride passed by as she teased Li Zhenting. It was only when the car stopped outside the house that Li Zi ended her chat with him. "I'm home. See you tomorrow." "...Oh." Li Zhenting had been sitting on a yoga mat in the gym for nearly an hour; his legs were almost numb. Seeing that she had ditched him after using him for entertainment, he didn't mind. He tossed his phone aside and restarted the treadmill. Tomorrow it is, then. When Li Zi entered the house, she felt a strange silence. Looking around, she didn't see the familiar figure with the wagging tail. She asked Aunt Wang, who usually looked after the house: "Aunt Wang, where's Golden? Why don't I see him?" Aunt Wang, who had been happily welcoming her home, saw her smile fade at the question. She sighed, her tone laced with worry: "Golden has been very quiet these past few days. He doesn't like to move much, just lies in his bed and eats very little. I asked the vet if he was sick, and the vet said he's just getting old, so it's not surprising. They said to just spend more time with him." The excitement of coming home dissipated instantly. After putting down her luggage, Li Zi immediately walked toward the small alcove. A yellow body with dull fur was curled up in the dog bed, face hidden between his front paws. His belly rose and fell slowly with faint breaths. Even as Li Zi approached, he didn't wake up, appearing utterly exhausted. "Golden?" She called out softly. Golden’s eyes twitched and opened halfway, looking toward the source of the sound. "Woof!" Seeing his little mistress whom he hadn't seen for over a month, Golden’s eyes visibly brightened. He braced his limbs and stood up immediately, though his movements were nowhere near as light and quick as they had been years ago. He walked to Li Zi’s feet, lifted his front legs to rest them on her, and wagged his long tail happily. "Woof, woof, woof!" Li Zi stroked his head and glanced at the food bowl nearby. The dog food inside was indeed mostly untouched. She knelt down worriedly, looked into Golden’s eyes, and said: "Why aren't you eating? Do you feel unwell?" Golden made a low whimpering sound in his throat and stuck out his tongue to lick Li Zi’s face, as if trying to explain something. Li Zi let him lick her, then brought the food bowl over and placed it in front of him, saying seriously: "You have to eat well, okay?" The Golden Retriever’s eyes, as clear as they had been for years, gazed at her. He glanced at the bowl, remained silent for a moment, and then actually lowered his head. He slowly took the kibble into his mouth and chewed, though eating seemed somewhat difficult. Li Zi brushed his fur and praised him: "Our Golden is such a good boy, so obedient." Hearing this, his tail wagged again. Li Zi did not let go of her worry. After all, she had been a doctor and knew what these symptoms meant. A dog's lifespan is only so many years. If they live past ten, they are considered long-lived and happy dogs, and the owners are lucky. But companionship always reaches its end; life gains meaning precisely because there is a conclusion. No matter how reluctant people are, no matter how unwilling, they cannot stop the arrival of parting. Footsteps sounded behind her; it was Yuan Ye, who had followed her. "Is Golden okay?" he asked, standing by the door and looking at the girl and the dog. "He can eat, so he should be okay," Li Zi answered gently. The worry on Yuan Ye's face faded slightly. He had loved dogs since he was a child and had several at home. Two of them had passed away from illness a few years ago, which had made the whole family very sad. During New Year's Eve, he had noticed Golden and gotten along quite well with him. "Can I pet him?" He walked over and knelt down, asking cautiously. "It's fine. Golden likes interacting with people." Li Zi moved aside slightly to let him pet Golden’s back. Yuan Ye broke into a smile, immersing himself in petting the dog. Sensing the change in the person beside him, Golden turned his head to look. Seeing a familiar face, he gave a small bark as a greeting. "Hello, Golden! It's me. We've met before, do you remember me?" Yuan Ye extended his hand near Golden’s nose, letting him sniff. Golden was very cooperative; he took a sniff and then licked him. "Good boy, good doggie!" He was delighted and instinctively began praising the dog in English. Seeing the two of them interacting well, Li Zi left them to play and walked out. She sent a message to Li Zhenting: "I'll bring Golden to see you tomorrow." Li Zhenting replied a few minutes later: "Sure. Why the sudden decision to bring him?" "It's nothing. Since the college entrance exam, I've had less and less time to spend with him. I want to play with him more while I have the chance." Although Li Zi’s words didn't reveal Golden’s current condition, Li Zhenting sensitively sensed something. He sent a voice message: "Okay. We'll spend plenty of time with him." *** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 黎世安 | Li Shian | Li Zi's mother. 严叔 | Uncle Yan | Li Zi's father (Yan is his surname). 王姨 | Aunt Wang | The Li family's housekeeper/helper. 小冶 | Xiao Ye | Diminutive/affectionate name for Yuan Ye. 校花 | Campus belle | A term for the most beautiful girl in a school/university. 桃花运 | Romantic luck | Luck in love or having many suitors. 呵，女人 | Heh, women | A playful, slightly cynical internet slang term used in banter.