Pampering My Cute Pet

Yu Wan was a homebody. From childhood, her favorite activities were reading at the library and at home. Because she didn't often go out, she didn't have many friends. However, Yu Wan was beautiful, the cute and adorable kind. During her school days, with her straight bangs and shoulder-length bob, she charmed countless boys.

Many confessed their feelings for her in school, but they were either brushed off by Yu Huan or by Yu Wan herself. Yu Wan knew very well that she wasn't interested in them. Compared to romance, her obsession with books overwhelmingly trumped the appeal of having a boyfriend. If she had to choose between reading a novel and having coffee with a boy she barely knew, she'd choose the novel every time.

Jian Yunong was also a novel enthusiast. She once lamented, "How can someone who reads romance novels all the time ever find a satisfactory boyfriend?"

Yu Wan replied, "Exactly. Authors always write about the kind of warmth and scenarios they long for but can't find in real life. It's like comforting themselves, believing that somewhere out there, such a person exists. He might love someone else, but he lives in your heart."

Jian Yunong sighed, "Yu Wan, no wonder you have such a hard time finding a boyfriend."

Yu Wan smiled but didn't reply.

Growing up, she'd never even experienced the typical puppy love or secret crushes. Sometimes, she would admire handsome men with Jian Yunong, exclaiming, "He's so handsome!" But she'd forget about them in the blink of an eye. Perhaps she truly didn't pay attention to the people around her.

But the day she met Shen Qingzhou, Yu Wan realized she wasn't as oblivious as Jian Yunong claimed, nor as heartless.

She discovered she had unusual feelings for Shen Qingzhou, an inexplicable attraction whenever she was near him. When she saw him smile at his dog, her heart melted.

Perhaps, this was what having feelings felt like. Yu Wan thought she needed to explore these feelings, to spend more time with him.

After sleeping until noon, Yu Wan got up, got ready, and headed out. Today, she was meeting with two screenwriters. Yu Wan arranged to meet them at a restaurant, and since she hadn't eaten yet, she decided to treat them to lunch.

After the meal, the three began to formally discuss the script.

"This subplot can't be changed. If we change it, the subsequent plot points will be difficult to develop," Yu Wan said, frowning.

"But if we keep it, we'll have to film a lot more scenes."

Yu Wan was in a dilemma. The novel was like her child; removing any part of it pained her. "Let me think about it. Let's discuss the next point first."

"Okay."

As they were discussing, the screenwriter sitting opposite her suddenly nudged her partner. "Lin Yeyu! They're coming over here!"

"Is that Shen Qingzhou? They're actually here together!" The screenwriter was a little excited. Hearing the name Shen Qingzhou, Yu Wan instinctively turned to look.

Several people were walking towards the restaurant, among them Shen Qingzhou and Lin Yeyu were the most eye-catching. However, the restaurant was upscale and quiet, so people didn't rush up to ask for autographs.

"Is there something going on between them?"

"They'd be a good match, I think."

Yu Wan watched as Shen Qingzhou approached. Hearing the two screenwriters' conversation, she felt a pang of discomfort. A good match? How were they a good match?

When they were only six or seven meters away, Shen Qingzhou's gaze shifted and landed on Yu Wan. Yu Wan was staring at him, and when their eyes met, she was startled.

He looked at her and suddenly stopped in front of her.

The people following Shen Qingzhou stopped, looking curiously at Yu Wan's table. The two screenwriters at the table were also stunned. What was going on? Did they overhear their conversation?

Yu Wan looked up at him. "Mr. Shen?"

Shen Qingzhou suddenly leaned down close to her, and at an angle where others couldn't see, dropped a key onto her lap. His voice was low and slightly deep, "My house key. Go take care of Hongdou. I'll be back later."

His voice, only audible to the two of them, his warm breath against her ear, sent a slight tingle down her spine.

Yu Wan was stunned for a moment, then pursed her lips and let out a small "Oh."

Shen Qingzhou straightened up, without another glance at her, and walked away. The people behind him looked curiously at Yu Wan. Lin Yeyu, after following Shen Qingzhou for a few steps, also looked back at Yu Wan, her expression unreadable.

"Yu Wan, do you know Shen Qingzhou?" the screenwriter asked. "I was in a production crew before and met Shen Qingzhou once. He's very strict when filming. Have you been in a crew before, Yu Wan?"

Yu Wan shook her head. "No…"

"Then what did he say to you just now? He was so close." The screenwriter was envious.

Yu Wan coughed. "Nothing. Um, let's get back to work. Let's finish these episodes today…"

The two screenwriters were clearly curious. Shen Qingzhou, such a cold and aloof person, and that posture just now…if you were inclined to read into it, it was quite suggestive. But since Yu Wan wasn't saying anything, they didn't dare to ask more.

Yu Wan flipped through the documents, her mind wandering. Although she knew it was only because of Hongdou, the moment he leaned down, the tension in her heart had tightened. If he had said one more word, that string would have snapped.

Before going home, Yu Wan went to the supermarket.

While shopping for groceries, she called Shen Qingzhou. At that moment, Shen Qingzhou was at a dinner table discussing work with his colleagues.

He glanced at the caller ID and answered the phone. "Hello."

"Am I disturbing you?"

"Tell me."

"Oh, okay. I wanted to ask what time you'll be back. Do you need dinner tonight?"

Shen Qingzhou glanced at the lavish spread before him. "I'll be back at seven. I need dinner."

"Okay, then I'll feed Hongdou and Dianxia on time. As for your dinner, I'll make it later."

Shen Qingzhou thought it sounded a bit strange, being lumped in with the two pets.

"Mr. Shen, do you have any dietary restrictions? Do you eat spicy food?"

"No restrictions," Shen Qingzhou thought for a moment. "Not too spicy."

"No problem!"

Shen Qingzhou hung up the phone and realized everyone at the table was looking at him.

Director Shen's phone call sounded a bit… intimate. Coming back at seven, huh? However, although they thought it, no one dared to ask. Shen Qingzhou's eyes were cold as he swept his gaze over everyone. "Continue."

Yu Wan bought the ingredients and walked home. She brought Yu Diandian out and then used Shen Qingzhou's key to open the door to 702.

Yu Diandian and Hongdou hit it off immediately and went off to play together. Yu Wan went into the kitchen to prepare their food.

"Dinner's ready, you two! Come quickly!"

Yu Diandian and Hongdou came running at the sound of her voice. Yu Wan set down the two bowls, watching the pets eat happily. She smiled and took a picture of them from behind with her phone.

She posted it on Weibo: Dianxia has a dinner companion.

Soon, people replied:

"Dada, you got another one?"

"Why no front view?"

"Dada, can you please nurture your novel? I'm waiting so long, grass is growing."

"Is this a new pet? So big, it's not Dada's, is it?"

Weibo notified her of a new comment from someone she followed.

YourMomCanFly: Where did this big dog come from? It looks so much like Yu Diandian.

Yu Wan, sitting on the floor, replied: Neighbor's.

YourMomCanFly: Oh my god, you…

A few seconds later, Yu Wan's phone rang. Jian Yunong quickly blurted out, "What's going on? You haven't hooked the man, but you've hooked the dog? Yu Wan, smooth moves."

Yu Wan rolled her eyes and joked, "It's called a roundabout tactic. What do you know?"

"Learned something new today," Jian Yunong said. "What about the man? Show me a picture."

"Find it online yourself."

"Online? What do you mean? Don't mess with me, show me how handsome he is."

Yu Wan sat on the floor, watching the two dogs eat. "If you want to see, search online. There are pictures online."

"…A celebrity?" Jian Yunong asked cautiously.

"Yeah."

After a moment of silence, "Who?"

"Shen Qingzhou."

"…Holy crap!"

After Jian Yunong unleashed a barrage of curses, Yu Wan calmly hung up the phone. Was it that shocking that Shen Qingzhou lived across from her? Was it that shocking that she was currently in Shen Qingzhou's house?

Was it necessary to curse her ancestors?

After a while, Jian Yunong sent a WeChat message: Comrade Yu Wan, on behalf of the general public, I'm telling you, you've stepped in dog shit.

Yu Wan smiled: Don't be too jealous.

Jian Yunong: (poker face)

Hongdou and Yu Diandian finished dinner just after five o'clock. Yu Wan estimated he wouldn't be back for another two hours, so she ran back to her apartment to get the script for Wolf Smoke, some snacks, and her flip-flops. Shen Qingzhou's slippers were too big for her.

Yu Wan sat on the sofa she'd seen the furniture company deliver earlier with the script in hand. As expected of high-end furniture, as expected of someone who enjoyed the finer things in life—this sofa was so comfortable!

Yu Wan ate snacks while revising the script, while Hongdou and Yu Diandian ran around the house. She didn't know how much time had passed before she fell asleep on the sofa.

When Shen Qingzhou returned home, this was the scene he saw: a slender figure lying on his favorite sofa, completely relaxed, one foot dangling in the air, looking very comfortable. Beside the sofa, Hongdou and Yu Diandian were nestled next to her, sleeping. One person, two dogs, a perfectly harmonious picture.

Shen Qingzhou slowly approached, looking down at the sleeping figure. He glanced at the dining area; clearly, dinner preparations hadn't even begun.

"Yu Wan," he called her name.

The figure on the sofa turned over and continued sleeping.

Shen Qingzhou's eyes narrowed. He reached out and lifted her arm. In her dream, Yu Wan was a child again, and Yu Huan was pulling her out of bed, telling her to go to school. She refused, sitting on the edge of the bed, clinging tightly to Yu Huan's waist, yelling that she didn't want to go to school.

Shen Qingzhou froze, his temples throbbing. He looked at Yu Wan clinging tightly to his waist, took a deep breath, and said, "Yu Wan!"

Yu Wan woke up with a start, blinking in confusion. Who was calling her?

Three seconds later, Yu Wan realized something was amiss. She slowly raised her head, and when she saw Shen Qingzhou's cold and stern expression, and then realized she was clinging tightly to his waist…

Her mind short-circuited for a moment. Blinking, she stammered, "You're back."

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