Chapter 338 Leo, the big guy

The next day Song Xueyun was jogging in a neighbourhood park when she saw Han Nanxian cuddling with a big dog. He was practically lying on the ground while the big dog was licking his mouth and cuddling with him. She had to agree that it was a cute scene to watch and she may or may not have taken a secret picture.

Instead of jogging, she was standing there and watching Han Nanxian playing with the dog. It didn’t take long for him to notice her presence behind him. When he saw her, he patted the dog and stood on his feet.

“Good morning, ” Han Nanxian greeted her. Seeing her dressed in black leggings and a crop tank top, he was surprised.

“Good morning, ” Song Xueyun greeted back. She was a little awkward this morning but he was doing fine with forgetting what happened last night.

The dog came running walking toward her alongside Han Nanxian and began staring at her with big wide eyes.

“Hi, ” Song Xueyun waved at the dog.

“Aren’t you afraid of dogs?” Han Nanxian questioned.

Song Xueyun blinked. “Not anymore.”

“Oh, ” Han Nanxian lightly responded, staring at his dog who held its paw when Song Xueyun extended her hand.

“He is an intelligent boy, “Song Xueyun gushed and shook hands with the dog. ” Whose dog is it? However, the owner is…the dog is taught so well. And he is so well behaved.”

“Uhuh…”Han Nanxian scratched his head. “It’s my dog.”

Song Xueyun looked at him in confusion. “No, it is not.”

“It is, “Han Nanxian said.

“Then, why did I not see this boy around the house?” Song Xueyun questioned. If the dog really belonged to Han Nanxian, he should have brought it with him. Clearly, he was lying. The question was why was he lying?

“I thought you were still afraid of dogs…” Before he could complete his sentence, he heard her gasp. She pointed her finger at him and said, “Nanxian, you were assuming once again. Instead of asking me, you assumed again.”

“Last time, you saw a dog you climbed all over me. Did you forget how scared you were?” Han Nanxian questioned.

“It was seven years ago, ” Song Xueyun pointed out. “We have changed a lot since then. I don’t have the same fears I had seven years back. Some fears, I have conquered and other fears I have forgotten long ago.”

“I’m sorry, ” He said in a soft voice.

“I hate when you say sorry all the time, ” Song Xueyun said.

“Why? Should I say sorry for hurting you?” Han Nanxian asked.

“You are still suffering and your problems are bigger than mine, ” Song Xueyun said. “Last night, I felt like a jerk for behaving like that with you. I get it we are not the same people anymore and since you didn’t want to be friends with me, you left. It’s okay. I should move on as you did.” She turned to look at him and extended her hand, “Nanxian, let’s be civil and polite. Or maybe let’s get to know the adult version of each other. Who knows we may end up becoming friends again?”

“I would rather you stay mad at me, ” Han Nanxian said and went ahead with his dog. What did she say? Stay civil and polite. Thank you! He would prefer this woman to be raging mad at this. He didn’t like these walls between them. Anger is just like a big strong wave of water that destroys all the boundaries and walls. If she turned civil and polite to him, he would end up becoming just a stranger in her life.

He agreed that he fucked up by pushing her away from his life but he gave that fucker Lu Xuan a chance and the little fucker didn’t even know what he pushed away. No, the little boy could cry his heart out but he would be damned if he left that boy to steal this girl.

“Where are you going?” Song Xueyun asked in bewilderment.

“Home, ” Han Nanxian said.

Song Xueyun began running after him. “Where are you taking your dog?”

“To his home, ” Han Nanxian said.

“Why are you not taking him with you?” Song Xueyun questioned.

“Your building doesn’t allow pets, ” Han Nanxian reminded her. This was the other reason apart from the fact that Song Xueyun as scared of dogs that he had to leave his dog with its temporary caretaker. He could imagine sleeping without a roof for one night but he couldn’t imagine sleeping with his dog wandering out. They had a special connection. He brought his dog with him in his private jet to China. He usually prefers flying in commercial planes but for this big guy, he had to use his jet and contribute to carbon emission.

“That was an old rule that changed a month ago but they failed to change the boards, “Song Xueyun told him. ” The old woman in apartment number 302 fought tooth and nail with management for her pet. She made it possible for all of us to have pets.”

“She sounds like a really good dog lady, ” Han Nanxian commented.

“Her pets are rats, ” Song Xueyun said, holding back her laugh as she saw his widened eyes. He was on the verge of having a panic attack.

“Can we please change the building?” Han Nanxian questioned.

“Oh, Nanxian rats still scare you shitless, ” Song Xueyun laughed.

“That’s because you didn’t see those ugly and scary rat babies like I did…” Han Nanxian said, shivering. “The rat mother bit me so hard. I was seven!”

“I still want to ask you why the rat bit you. Just what were you doing?” Song Xueyun questioned.

Han Nanxian didn’t say anything for a long time. “My father… he was trying to discipline me because I was throwing a tantrum. He said if I don’t take my medicines, he will lock me in the rat room which was basically the abandoned store room. That week…I was poked with a number of needles because they had to run a number of tests. And they used to feed me so many medicines. I only wanted something sweet but it was bad for my health. I was a willful child who doesn’t understand what was good for him.”

Song Xueyun stared at him. “You were seven! You had every right to be wilful and ignorant. And it was normal for a sick seven-year-old boy to throw a tantrum… how could he lock you in the store room? It’s so inhumane.”

Han Nanxian just shrugged.

“I would never punish my child like that, ” Song Xueyun said.

“I won’t let you, ” Han Nanxian nodded.

Song Xueyun didn’t understand his meaning and went on saying, “This type of punishment is not healthy. It just traumatised you for life.” She kind of side-hugged him and he leaned on to her, absorbing all the care that she was showing to him.

“You can bring your dog home, “Song Xueyun said. “But first you have to tell me his name.”

“Leo, ” Han Nanxian said and the dog barked.

“His name is Leo?” Song Xueyun laughed and Leo pounced on her to hug him.

Han Nanxian nodded his head.

“What’s the story behind this?” Song Xueyun questioned.

“Leo’s story?” Han Nanxian asked and Song Xueyun nodded her head. “He is a big dog. He has attachment issues. You can’t leave him alone. He always wanted constant human interaction. Physical touch is his love language. He has separation anxiety. If I leave him for long hours, I need to constantly video call him and talk to him or it gets hard for him. I know people think it’s a dysfunctional dog but I can’t abandon him. He just needs extra love and care. The shelter where I adopted him was about to put him to rest… It was a kill shelter and they thought it was better to end Leo’s suffering…”

“Oh my God, ” Song Xueyun hugged the dog and stroked its fur.

“I adopted him because we bonded with each other. It’s been more than six years and we are together and Leo has worked on his separation anxiety a lot, ” Han Nanxian told him. “He is old and wise now.”

“I’m very glad that Leo found you, ” Song Xueyun smiled. She looked at the handsome big guy and ruffled its fur, “Handsome guy since you are going home, as an elder it’s my responsibility to buy you gifts. We are going to the pet store and getting you everything you want.”

“He has everything, ” Han Nanxian told her.

Song Xueyun looked at the dog and said, “Well, there is never enough treat, right Leo?”

Leo barked in yes and Han Nanxian shook his head in resignation. If she was taking the role of mommy, he couldn’t say anything, could he?”

Song Xueyun stood on her words and brought many treats for Leo. Both of them made the apartment ready for the dog and later brought him home. She was so happy seeing the dog at home that she could not express it in words.