However, she did not wait until the next day. That very night, just as Li Zi was preparing for bed, a faint sense of unease began to gnaw at her heart.
She turned on her heel, descended the stairs, crossed the living room, and headed toward the small alcove.
*I’ll just take one look; Golden should be asleep by now,* Li Zi thought.
She gently pushed aside the gate at the entrance and peered through the darkness at the figure lying on the floor. He was resting quietly in his bed, seemingly unaware of her presence.
*Yes, he must be sleeping.*
Li Zi felt a slight sense of relief and was about to leave when her sense of smell suddenly caught a strange odor.
It was somewhat metallic—the scent of dog food mixed with an inexplicable, foul stench.
While it was normal for a dog’s room to have an odor, this particular smell was unusual.
Li Zi reached back and switched on the light. She looked toward the source of the smell—the dog food Golden had eaten that afternoon had been entirely vomited up, almost completely undigested. Amidst the brown vomit, streaks of dark red blood were visible.
Even as the lights suddenly flared to life, the usually alert dog only twitched slightly. He did not open his eyes, his shallow breaths making it seem as though he had already drifted into another world.
"Golden!"
Li Zi hurried over and patted his head anxiously. Golden’s eyes flickered violently as if he were struggling to wake. Fortunately, after nearly half a minute, he managed to open them, looking around in a dazed and exhausted search for his target.
"Golden, are you okay?"
The familiar voice sounded above him. *Ah, it’s my little mistress.* Reassured, he moved slightly and rested his head on Li Zi’s lap.
*I’m so tired... but she’s calling me again. She really is quite clingy.*
*What will you do without me to accompany you?*
*I’ve stayed by your side for so, so long...*
Li Zi felt Golden’s body; it was terrifyingly hot. A dire premonition seized her, and she immediately decided to take him to the pet hospital.
Since it was so late and she didn't want to disturb the others, Li Zi picked Golden up herself, grabbed his medical record booklet, and hurried toward the garage.
She had actually obtained her driver’s license long ago, and her parents had gifted her several cars, but she felt she had little need for driving and had never brought a car with her to Zunnan City.
She never expected that after all this time, the reason she would finally get behind the wheel was to take her dog to the doctor.
Li Zi placed Golden in the passenger seat, buckled his seatbelt, and quickly slid into the driver’s seat to start the engine.
She opened her phone to search for 24-hour clinics. At this hour, the pet hospital where she usually took Golden for checkups had long since closed.
After scrolling for a while, she finally found a chain clinic that seemed reliable.
Checking the reviews and seeing no troublesome complaints, Li Zi imported the address directly into the car’s navigation, stepped on the gas, and drove out of the estate.
The pet hospital was about five kilometers away. With the roads clear at night, it was only a ten-minute drive before Li Zi reached her destination.
Golden remained lying there as he always did, his eyes quietly fixed on her the entire time.
"Golden, it’s okay. I’ve brought you to see the doctor."
She stroked his head, trying to soothe him.
Out of courtesy, she put his leash on before carrying him into the clinic.
"Is there a doctor available? My dog isn't well."
The girl on duty at the reception desk was startled to see her rush in so frantically with a dog in her arms.
"Yes, we have a doctor on duty. Follow me."
"What’s the dog’s name? A Golden Retriever, right? How old is he? What are the symptoms?" she asked as she led Li Zi inside.
Li Zi pulled out Golden’s booklet and handed it to her, indicating that it contained a wealth of information.
The girl took the booklet, flipped through it briefly, and said, "His name is Golden? What a cute name. Hmm, he is quite up there in years."
Li Zi managed a strained smile, but her heart felt colder by the second.
Golden’s spirit showed no signs of improvement. Even though he was in a place he usually disliked most, he remained listless.
"Right here. Dr. Wei, we have a patient."
The girl pushed open a door, and Li Zi followed her inside.
What followed happened very quickly. Li Zi mechanically recounted the day's events and Golden’s recent physical condition once more. Upon hearing Golden’s age and symptoms, the doctor frowned and brought out a set of medical instruments to examine him.
Li Zi stood to the side, watching his movements and catching the occasional glance Golden cast toward her through the gaps in the doctor’s silhouette.
Scene after scene of the past—every moment shared with Golden over the last decade—surfaced in her mind.
In her previous life, she hadn't kept a dog. She had been a rather self-centered person, unwilling to divide her time and energy for an animal.
But after being with Li Zhenting, she often heard him talk about how he had longed for a dog of his own as a child. Thus, in this life, when she happened to pass a pet shop, a sudden whim led her to adopt a dog and a cat.
The cat had been given to other relatives many years ago because Li Shian eventually discovered he was allergic to cat hair, but Golden was deeply loved by the whole family and had remained by their side ever since.
This was her first experience raising a pet across two lifetimes. Perhaps it had started for Li Zhenting’s sake, but she had long since been moved by the dog’s selfless, pure love, and she regarded Golden as a vital member of her family.
She was always busy, busy, busy—always making others wait for her.
She had forgotten that life is fragile, as fleeting as a mayfly.
After a detailed examination, the doctor sighed and said to Li Zi, "It’s his time. Spend as much time with him as you can. I’ll administer a painkiller in a moment to make his passing more comfortable."
Uncontrollable self-reproach, regret, and sorrow transformed into a torrent of tears that spilled from Li Zi’s eyes.
"Golden..."
Her lips trembled, unsure of how to accept this sudden reality.
Seeing his mistress weep, Golden suddenly stood up, scrambled off the table, and walked toward her.
"Woof-woo."
*Don't cry.*
He sat by Li Zi’s feet, looking at her with concern.
As he always did, he nudged Li Zi with his head, seeking his mistress's attention.
Li Zi’s tears fell even harder. She knelt down and hugged Golden’s head, her body shaking slightly.
It was a quiet night.
Li Zhenting had been handling a few business orders and hadn't gone to sleep yet.
Just as he was about to take a shower and get some rest, he suddenly received a call from Li Zi.
The tearful voice on the other end immediately made his heart clench, and what Li Zi said next left him frozen in place.
Golden... was leaving?
By the time he snapped back to reality, he didn't even have time to think. He grabbed his keys and rushed out.
With few cars on the road at night, he roared through the silent streets on his motorcycle and soon arrived at the clinic Li Zi had mentioned.
"I’m looking for Golden, the Golden Retriever," he asked the receptionist urgently.
The girl at the front desk pointed in a direction, and he hurried over immediately.
When he pushed the door open, both Li Zi and the dog looked toward him.
"Woof-woo!"
Golden was overjoyed to see him and let out a soft bark.
Li Zi was crouched on the floor, her eyes red as she looked at him.
A thick wave of bitterness welled up in his heart as he walked toward her.
"Golden, old pal, it’s me."
He also knelt before Golden, forcing a smile as he tried to give him a high-five.
Golden adored this "comrade-in-arms." He stuck out his tongue and licked Li Zhenting’s face.
*You’ve come too, my friend—the lover of my favorite little mistress.*
"What’s going on? I was waiting for you to hit the streets with me tomorrow. Remember how cool we used to be..."
Li Zhenting smiled, trying to joke with him, but as he spoke, his voice grew lower and lower.
"Are you going to abandon our duo?" he asked hoarsely.
"Woof, woof, woof."
Whether Golden understood his words or not, he only looked at him with concern and lingering affection.
"Don't go, okay?" Li Zhenting asked him again.
Golden simply stuck out his tongue again to lick his eyes. It was only then that Li Zhenting realized his own tears had fallen at some point.
"Talk to Golden for a bit. I’m going out to wait for my parents," Li Zi said. She had already said everything she wanted to say to Golden and stood up, deciding to let the two of them have a moment alone.
Li Zhenting nodded without refusing, but he asked Li Zi, "Are you okay?"
Li Zi shook her head without a word and stepped out.
"Golden, remember the first time we met?"
"You and Li Zi were being bullied by that drunk man. I rushed in to save you, otherwise you would have been dragged away. You remember, right? You were so small back then."
"I climbed your family’s wall and you nearly scared me to death."
"But later, we became brothers, didn't we?"
"Actually, I always wanted to raise a dog, but I never had the chance. After meeting you, I felt satisfied."
"I had you to wander the streets with me; you led me to find Li Zi during her vulnerable state; you stayed by my side whenever I was hurt. Even though you aren't my dog, it wasn't any different, was it?"
"Old pal, you’ve had a happy life, haven't you?"
"Is there anything else you’re worried about?"
Li Zhenting stroked Golden’s body, his voice carrying a slight tremor as he asked.
"Woof."
Golden let out a soft bark toward the door.
Li Zhenting understood his meaning instantly. He closed his eyes, then opened them, promising, "Alright, I understand. I’ll take good care of Li Zi."
"Woof!"
Golden nuzzled him.
*You take good care of yourself too, my human friend.*
His warm gaze seemed to pierce through the torrent of time, always looking passionately at every living soul he loved.
*Golden, you’ve had a happy life, right? In the next life, be my brother, or be my child. Let’s stay together even longer, okay?*
Li Zhenting didn't speak these thoughts aloud, but Golden seemed to sense something and nodded toward him.
Not long after, Li Zi’s family arrived. They rushed into the room and were briefly startled to see Li Zhenting.
But they immediately turned their attention to Golden, surrounding him with reddened eyes.
Li Zhenting silently withdrew from the room and found Li Zi standing in the shadows outside the main entrance.
Seeing him approach, Li Zi beckoned to him.
The two leaned against each other for support.
In the garden of Li Zi’s home, a new patch of land was planted with flowers.
A cute, bone-shaped monument was placed there.
The inscription on the stone read:
"To my closest friend, Golden. You lived like the golden morning sun; may you always be by my side."
***
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My Fierce Beta Husband is Surprisingly Sweet | Chapter 46 | The Final Farewell | Novela.app | Novela.app
