Taming the Fierce Hound | Chapter 28 | The Best Birthday Gift | Novela.app

Spring rain fell in a continuous drizzle, leaving a heavy dampness in the air. "Ugh..." Si Jiang pried his heavy eyelids open and looked out the window. The sky was a murky reddish-brown; dawn had not yet broken. His injured leg had been throbbing with a dull, persistent ache lately, a misery that was hard to put into words. He couldn't sleep well, and even walking was painful. The Si Jiang who had finally managed to regain some spirit had slumped back into a state of lethargic aimlessness. He lay on the carpet, staring blankly into space as he endured wave after wave of soreness and swelling. He rolled over, leaning down to massage the muscles of his injured leg. Before long, he was covered in a thin layer of sweat. *Am I not only going to be a cripple, but also haunted by the pain of old injuries for the rest of my life?* The thought left Si Jiang feeling utterly dejected. If he had known, he wouldn't have been so restless during the early days of his injury. Back then, he had actually thought about fighting back against his Master. As a result, he had tumbled down the stairs more times than he could count, inflicting fresh trauma on a leg that hadn't fully healed. Zong Yan had done her best to apply poultices and treat him. He knew that back then, even if his leg had truly been ruined, Zong Yan would never have sent him to a hospital. He was a captive, a prisoner, a sinner who had committed violence. In a sense, the fact that Zong Yan hadn't simply left him to die in the ruins was already terrifyingly kind. If it were him—if someone had targeted him like that—he would have kicked the person back into the rubble, flipped a stone slab over their head, stomped on it a few times for good measure, and walked away. How could he have possibly offered rescue? And now, although his relationship with Zong Yan was no longer what it used to be, and given her current attitude toward him, she likely wouldn't refuse if he truly wanted to go to the hospital. But the problem was, Si Jiang would never make that request. He didn't want to—and more importantly, he didn't *dare* to—step a single foot out of this place! He would rather die of pain. As long as he stayed tucked away in this room, he wouldn't suffer any harm. There would be no more neglect or disappointment, no more torment from nightmares, and no more spending countless major holidays huddled alone on a sofa. Only here, only by being Zong Yan’s pet, could he find peace. *It hurts like hell.* Si Jiang’s mind began to haze over. He took small, quiet breaths, careful not to make too much noise lest he wake his Master. She seemed very busy lately, going to bed late every night, and he didn't want to disturb her. He didn't know what time it was or how much longer this wave of pain would last. Si Jiang had been pampered since childhood; he had no tolerance for this kind of torture. Before long, he was tossing and turning, clutching his leg, and eventually, in a fit of frustration, he began to strike the area with his fist. "Don't do that." Zong Yan’s voice drifted down from above, thick with exhaustion. She asked, "Leg hurting again?" "Mm..." Si Jiang answered dejectedly, his mood sinking further. Zong Yan rubbed her head and rose from the sofa. "Wait a moment." She went into the kitchen and returned shortly with a hot towel. "Come sleep on the sofa. It might be too damp down here." Zong Yan told Si Jiang to stretch out his leg. She laid the hot towel over the scarred area and applied slight pressure with her palm. "Is that better?" "Much better. Thank you, Master." Si Jiang moved his leg in pleasant surprise, only to be held down by Zong Yan. "Good." Zong Yan stifled a yawn. The lack of sleep was giving her a headache, but she didn't say anything. She simply continued to apply the hot compress to her pet in silence. "Master... are you very sleepy?" "I'm alright." "But you look so tired. Why don't you give me the towel and I'll do it myself? You should sleep." "It's fine. It's just... my head feels a bit uncomfortable." Zong Yan explained her condition with some awkwardness. Headaches were a common occurrence for her; as long as it wasn't a severe migraine, she could endure it. At worst, she would just take a painkiller. But Si Jiang didn't see it that way. He reached out directly, his fingers pressing against Zong Yan’s temples. "Then let me massage it for you. Tell me if it's uncomfortable." She slowly massaged his leg. He rubbed her tense acupoints. In this silent exchange, the various pains gradually subsided. Drowsiness took hold, and they drifted into a sweet dream. Zong Yan flipped the towel over. Her hand rested on Si Jiang’s knee, where hideous, crisscrossing scars met her touch. The muscle and nerves beneath her palm twitched occasionally. *If he doesn't go to a hospital for treatment, it probably won't ever get better, will it?* But if she let him go to a hospital, she wouldn't be able to hide him from anyone. And yet... The warm sensation from her hand, the familiar sound of Si Jiang’s breathing, his defenseless sleeping posture, the way he had cried saying he wouldn't leave and didn't want to be abandoned, his submissiveness as he knelt beneath her without a hint of struggle... Zong Yan had once said she sought nothing and would not allow herself to develop any desires. She was a stranger to beauty and a passerby to happiness, which was why a broken, painful life held more attraction for her. Yet, through a twist of fate, she truly possessed a life that pathologically needed her. Unfamiliar emotions were sprouting in her heart; her long-frozen flesh and blood were struggling to break free from their shackles, beating for someone else. Si Jiang could suffer because of her, but when it came to other pains, Zong Yan’s resolve began to waver. *** In the afternoon, Bai Mao contacted her, saying he wanted to treat her to dinner. Zong Yan’s first instinct was to refuse. But Bai Mao sent a pitiful message on WeChat: "Senior, today is my birthday. Can we go eat together?" "Just consider it my birthday gift, okay?" Zong Yan’s heart softened, and she could no longer refuse. She waited at the school gate, and soon, a cheerful figure came jogging over. Bai Mao had changed his hairstyle again, making his round eyes look even more innocent. He blinked and waved at Zong Yan. "Senior! I'm here!" Zong Yan had never had someone so full of vitality in her life. No matter who it was, encountering such a person would brighten their mood. She was no exception and found herself relaxing involuntarily. "Bai Mao." "Senior, thank you for spending my birthday with me~ I knew you were a good person." The youth skipped along beside her. "Otherwise, I would have been so miserable, spending my birthday all alone." "Where are your friends?" Zong Yan asked. Someone like Bai Mao surely had many friends. "Well..." Bai Mao drew out the sound before speaking candidly. "My old friends are all away at other schools. As for the ones here... I'd rather spend my birthday with you, Senior." His personality had been a bit different since he was a child—sensitive and delicate—so he found it hard to like many of his male peers. "I see." As expected, Zong Yan didn't offer any judgment. She simply nodded to show she understood. Bai Mao smiled happily. He knew Senior wouldn't be like other people, criticizing him for being unsociable or not tactful enough. She respected his inner feelings because she was also a genuine and pure person. Passing a dessert shop, Zong Yan stopped and told Bai Mao to go into the restaurant first; she would be right there. Bai Mao was a bit confused but obediently went ahead. Zong Yan stepped into the unfamiliar shop, picked out a small cake, and was about to leave. Remembering something, she stopped and asked the clerk, "Excuse me, what time do you close?" "We close at eight in the evening." "Alright, thank you." She would come back once more before going home. When Zong Yan handed the cake to Bai Mao, he nearly jumped for joy. "Thank you, Senior!" He hadn't expected at all that Zong Yan would buy him a cake. He was dying of happiness! Bai Mao couldn't wait to open the packaging. He set the small cake in front of him, took out his phone, and began snapping photos incessantly. Zong Yan was puzzled. "Don't you like it? Why aren't you eating?" Bai Mao: "It's because I like it too much that I can't bear to eat it yet. I have to take pictures to record and save the memory~" This was the first thing Senior had ever given him. Zong Yan had never eaten cake and didn't know what it tasted like, nor had she ever celebrated a birthday, so she couldn't quite understand Bai Mao’s behavior. She simply flipped through the menu, letting Bai Mao enjoy his excitement for a while. "Senior, when is your birthday?" Bai Mao asked, cradling the cake. "...According to my ID, it's at the very end of winter." "Huh?" What a strange way to put it, as if she didn't care about her birthday at all. Bai Mao thought for a moment and immediately guessed the reason. Most of his cheerful mood vanished instantly. He knew Senior’s family background wasn't great, but he hadn't realized it was so bad that she didn't even celebrate her birthday... It must be so hard. The youth, who had grown up wrapped in the love of his family, felt his nose prickle. "Then has your birthday for this year already passed? Ahhh, I should have prepared a gift for you." He felt a secret pang of regret. *Stupid Bai Mao, why didn't you ask Senior about her birthday before! No wonder you've been single for so many years!* "It's fine," Zong Yan nodded. "I received a very good gift that day." "That's good then!" Bai Mao felt happy for her. As he spoke, he pushed the cake forward and said to Zong Yan, "Then Senior, let's eat the cake together! We'll count it as celebrating your birthday too!" Zong Yan took the spoon, scooped a corner of the colorful cake, and put it in her mouth. The sweet fragrance exploded on her taste buds; it was a flavor that made one feel happy. While Bai Mao ate, he kept talking. "Senior, the cake you bought is really delicious. Oh, I also know a few other great dessert shops. If you have time later, you can go try them with me. I promise you won't be disappointed." A gentle song played in the shop, and the spring sunlight fell upon them. Zong Yan tasted the fluffy, smooth cream and felt a long-lost sense of relaxation. A vibration in her pocket broke her enjoyment. Zong Yan paused, set down her spoon, and reached into her pocket to feel the phone. It was Si Jiang’s phone, which she had been keeping ever since Chen Bai contacted him. Chen Bai had only been sending intermittent greetings, and Zong Yan had handled them with simple replies in Si Jiang’s tone. Chen Bai had been quiet for several days. Today, however, he suddenly called again. Zong Yan decisively declined the call and sent a WeChat message: "Busy now, will contact you later." But Chen Bai called again. Again and again, no matter how many times Zong Yan hung up, he persisted in dialing back. An ominous premonition crept into her heart. Taking advantage of Bai Mao going to the restroom, Zong Yan took out the phone, frowning as she considered how to respond. She saw a message from Chen Bai: "PICK! UP! THE! PHONE! I know you aren't Si Jiang." Her hand froze. "If you don't pick up, I'm calling the police right now." "Zong Yan." *** | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 白袤 | Bai Mao | A junior student at Zong Yan's school; characterized as cheerful and innocent. | | 咸鱼 | Salted fish | Slang for someone who is lazy, lacks ambition, or is in a vegetative/lethargic state. | | 穴位 | Acupoints | Pressure points used in traditional Chinese medicine/massage. |