When the cold water surrounded Zuo Ning, it blocked off his senses and the only thing he could hear was his heartbeat. One after another. From strong and powerful to gradually being unable to sense any movement in your chest. If felt like he was sinking into a bottomless river, the flow of time was just like his life. He struggled to grab hold of something but it was in vain. It was as if no matter how hard he tried he would just keep sinking. Sinking into never ending darkness.
Lu Chenghe couldn't help but laugh when saw that the little short-legged rascal slipped into the water whilst running towards him. But soon he couldn't laugh anymore. Little Pudding was a natural in the water. Every day when he took a bath, Little Pudding would happily swim around. So when he saw Little Pudding falling into the swimming pool, Lu Chenghe just thought that he would have to blowdry his fur before going out to eat.
But Little Pudding didn't doggy paddle his way over as he thought. Instead, he struggled a few times before directly sinking like a stone.
Lu Chenghe's eyes changed in an instant. Before the bodyguards were able to react, he had already jumped into the water. He grabbed Little Pudding and carried him out of the water. The entire situation had only lasted a little over 10 seconds, but Little Pudding didn't begin coughing up the water but passed out instead.
Lu Chenghe thought that Little Pudding was choking and immediately picked him up and hit his back. Qi Wei quickly shouted to the bodyguards. "Go get a vet. If there's no vet on the island, get a doctor. Hurry!"
The bodyguards knew how tense their boss was and none of them dared to waste any time.
No matter how hard he hit Little Pudding, there was no response. His hand began to tremble slightly. In the middle of panicking, Qi Wei suddenly thought of the dog classes he had taken and quickly said, "Turn over, turn Little Pudding over. You hold Little Pudding, I'll open its mouth. If that doesn't work let's do CPR. The doctor will be here soon."
Lu Chenghe had never before paid attention to first aid measures for dogs and quickly followed Qi Wei's words. They finally to get a few mouthfuls of water out but Little Pudding still didn't wake up. It had only been mere seconds, there was no way he had fainted after drinking a few mouthfuls of water. Lu Chenghe began to suspect that Little Pudding had perhaps hit his head as he was falling.
At this time, the doctor had run over like his tail was on fire. Everyone who lived here was a VIP guest. If any of them had a slight accident, the hosts of the wedding could not bear the consequences. So for every few residences, there was a doctor prepared to respond to any emergency. This emergency concerned a VIP's pet. As a doctor who usually treated humans, he wasn't sure whether he would be able to fix the problem.
Behind the doctor were two assistants who carried all the medical equipment that could be useful. As soon as he came in he saw a man soaked to the bone giving CPR to a Samoyed laying on the ground. The doctor quickly ran over and first placed an oxygen mask over its muzzle then continued with the rescue.
Lu Chenghe quickly gave up his position, his face was so cold it was beginning to turn white. He looked at Little Pudding and said, "He hadn't even been in the water for a minute before he was carried up. If there's no water in the lungs, check his head thoroughly for any injuries."
The doctor quickly nodded. He could tell that the man cared a lot about his pet. If this dog really had an accident here, he might be held responsible.
The unconscious Zuo Ning saw a fragment of memory which was not his. At that time, he was still a human and had just gotten over the grief of his parents' death. He had finally accepted the cruel reality and decided to pull himself together and live a good life. That day after class, he planned to return home to clean up his parents' belongings since it was going to be the weekend. As he rode his bike down the bridge, he heard someone shouting for help.
Zuo Ning went over for a look and saw a group of about ten-year-old children playing by the riverside. Two boys had floated quite far and were struggling in the water. Zuo Ning immediately stopped his bike and jumped down to save the nearest child. When he turned back around, the other child had drifted further away.
At this time there were quite a few people gathering around. Zuo Ning only remembered current began to make him panic. In order to grab the other child in the water, he had to swim into the middle of the river. The last thing he remembered was holding the child and struggling for his life. But he sank quicker and quicker until the world became black.
Zuo Ning woke up and discovered he was in a hospital. He even had an IV hanging from his paw. He moved slightly and could see Lu Chenghe sitting not far away. Lu Chenghe was sleeping on the chair. This was the first time Zuo Ning saw such a dishevelled Lu Chenghe. Even when he purposely troubled him and messed up his clothes, Lu Chenghe was still the same handsome man, brimming with spirit.
It was the first time he had seen him like this, sitting in a chair with his head in his hands, looking very tired.
He thought of his last memory as a human. So… he had died, huh? In order to save that naughty kid. He wondered if the child he was holding onto was saved in the end. He really didn't know how he summoned the courage and dared to jump into that great river to rescue someone.
Now that he thought about it, maybe it was because he was alone in the world and it happened to coincide with his loved ones passing that he had no worries or fears.
But his most beautiful moment in life was gone. He had even entertained the idea that this short period of life as a dog was a good dream about being wealthy. Now it seemed that he had actually reincarnated after death. But he had not drunk Grandma Meng's soup and thus still remembered his past self.
Zuo Ning let out a sigh as he accepted his fate. Lu Chenghe had closed his eyes to rest them but opened them as he heard movement. He saw the little guy who was at death's door previously stick his paw out to claw at the pillows. But he obediently didn't touch the needle in his paw.
When Zuo Ning saw that Lu Chenghe had moved, he raised his head to look at him. Maybe it was due to his near-death experience, but his entire body felt very soft as if he didn't have any strength to move. So he could only stretch out his paws, but couldn't get up.
Zuo Ning whined.
Lu Chenghe moved the chair closer to the table Little Pudding was lying on. He gently rubbed his head. "Be good. After getting shot we can go home."
Zuo Ning twitched his ears and looked at Lu Chenghe doubtfully. He wasn't angry? He wasn't even scolding him? Was he going to settle his punishment at a later time?
"Wuwu…" It really was an accident this time. I really slipped. Even if you punish me, I will never admit it!
When he saw that miserable expression aimed at him, Lu Chenghe could hold back a smile. He rubbed the cold little paw with the needle in it. "You're body's more comfortable now, hm? So you have more to say, hm?"
"Wu." Uncomfortable. Super uncomfortable. My body has no energy. My head also hurts. I even remembered how I died in my last life. It was too scary.
Lu Chenghe stroked Little Pudding's back. "Ok, don't be scared. It's alright. Let's see if you will still dare to play in the water."
After a thorough examination, they found that his heart and lungs were fine and his head hadn't suffered any injuries. Apart from the fact that the body had suffered a shock and some biometrics were a bit high, everything else was normal. He was a very healthy baby. So regarding the fact that he fainted after not even a minute underwater was attributed to him just getting a fright.
Lu Chenghe really had no words for how cowardly Little Pudding was. It even made him think he had a head injury. Although it was a false alarm, the feeling he got when he saw Little Pudding laying there unmoving... Lu Chenghe had no plans to experience it again.
After the IV finished, Lu Chenghe carried him back to the villa. Lucas was really well prepared. Although there was only one vet on the entire island, they came in handy when necessary.
After leaving the medical hall, Zuo Ning found out that the sky was already dark. He didn't even know what time it was. Even though the path back was lit up by lights, there wasn't a single person in the surroundings. Lu Chenghe hadn't even brought his bodyguards. The pitch darkness made such acts as kidnapping really easy!
As he was thinking about it, Zuo Ning's sharp ears heard the sound of a girl crying. Every single strand of fur immediately stood on end.
Lu Chenghe could feel that Little Pudding had suddenly become stiff. So he looked down at him. "What's wrong?"
Even though Zuo Ning was powerless, he still nervously exhausted all his strength to tightly hold on to Lu Chenghe's neck. "Awoo." Did you hear a girl crying? Or was I the only one who heard it? So scary!
Lu Chenghe stroked his body. "Scared of the dark? We will be home soon."
When Zuo Ning realised that Lu Chenghe really hadn't heard anything, he tightened his hold. A girl crying in the middle of the night plus only he heard it! This dog was going to die of fright!
Zuo Ning only released a breath when they returned to the brightly lit house. He had been scared and on edge the whole way that a female ghost would rush out to claim his life and had truly used up the last of his energy. So the entire dog flopped like jelly onto Lu Chenghe's body.
Qi Wei saw the dispirited and downcast Little Pudding and said with a little distress. "Didn't they say that it was nothing that a night of sleep can't cure? How come he looks so lifeless, is he hungry? What do you want to eat Little Pudding? I'll make it for you."
Maybe because remembered the death of his past life drained too much energy, but Zuo Ning wasn't hungry and just wanted to sleep. Lu Chenghe saw that Little Pudding really had no spirit. Even when his favourite snack was delivered to his mouth, he didn't have any intention of opening it. So Lu Chenghe just rubbed his head. "It's alright if you don't want to eat. Sleep first. We'll talk more tomorrow."
Zuo Ning opened his eyes a tiny bit to look at Lu Chenghe. Tonight, he felt that Lu Chenghe was acting very strangely. Lu Chenghe was shockingly gentle and tender and acted submissively to him like he had been possessed. But Zuo Ning didn't have enough energy to think too hard. Under the soft patting of Lu Chenghe, Zuo Ning quickly sank into sleep.
Zuo Ning felt that this night of sleep was really comfortable. It felt like he hadn't slept in hundreds of years, but his sleep was not deep. It was like he was unconscious but aware. When Lu Chenghe got up and went outside to do something, Zuo Ning had the feeling that he was distantly aware and 'saw' it all.
The next moment, Zuo Ning startled into wakefulness because… he saw himself turn into a human. He was naked and lying on the bed. But this waking state seemed like he was merely awake in a dream. His whole body felt like it was being pressed down by something. He desperately wanted to open his eyes but was unable to.
He kept struggling until he perceived himself actually waking up. He sensed his awareness centring back on his body. He felt like his battery had been recharged by the restful sleep. He felt like he was full of energy as he stood up. Zuo Ning then lowered his head and blankly gazed at his doggy paws. Was it a dream? He clearly saw himself becoming a human. Could it be that because he had remembered his last moments as a human yesterday that he mixed up dreams and reality?
Zuo Ning turned his head to glance out the window. The weather was pleasant. The sun was high in the sky but it was not too hot, unlike the dry heat on the day they had landed. He could feel the cool breeze blowing across his skin.
Skin?
Zuo Ning jumped in fright. He quickly jumped from the bed and dashed in front of the full-body mirror.
The image reflected was a pure white Samoyed. Because it had been raised meticulously, its fur was white and thick. The dark eyes looked especially bright in the middle of all the white and its mouth was a little open which made it look like an angel smiling. Although the fur was a little messy from sleep, the appearance was still eye-catching. No matter which angle you look from, the dog was still gorgeous.
Zuo Ning twisted his body. The tail behind him also followed his movements and swayed a couple of times. No change. Nothing had changed. So he must have been dreaming.
His ears drooped in sadness and his heart, which was beating wildly, began to calm down. Zuo Ning looked around and found that Lu Chenghe wasn't here. So he shook his fur and, with one last glance at the mirror, turned his head to look for him.
Just when he was standing up to leave, the light shone on the reflection of himself in the mirror and there was a sudden flash. He remembered that he had 'seen' what Lu Chenghe did after he woke up. He even remembered what Lu Chenghe was wearing today. But what he 'saw' was not him seeing things in a wakeful state, but under the same feeling that he got when he saw himself turning back into a human.
Zuo Ning's paw shook a little. If Lu Chenghe truly looked the same today as the image that he 'saw', then does that mean… he wasn't actually dreaming?
Right, there was also a watch. Zuo Ning remembered that he saw Lu Chenghe put on a small black watch that he didn't really like into order to match the clothes he was wearing. The clothing could be attributed to Zuo Ning seeing them when he was half asleep, but the watch was usually stored in an accessory room which was outside the bedroom. Which meant that unless he got up and followed Lu Chenghe, he would have no prior knowledge about him wearing the watch.
When he thought of all these little details, he could no longer wait. He was eager to determine whether it was his imagination or whether he had gone through some sort of change.
He charged out the door and found only one bodyguard in the downstairs living area.
The bodyguard was nominated to stay behind and look after Little Pudding. He had gone up a few minutes ago to check on Little Pudding and noted it sleeping like the dead. He believed that it would continue sleeping for a while and thus decided to report the situation to his boss. He didn't expect that Little Pudding would wake up just as he decided to sit down.
"Little Pudding, quickly come to eat. You didn't eat much yesterday."
Zuo Ning stood on the staircase and barked at the bodyguard. "Woof!" Where's Lu Chenghe?
Either the bodyguard managed to catch the brainwave or he was already planning on saying so, "Your owner had something to do and won't be back for lunch. Be good and eat. After you finish your owner will be back. Come down quickly."
Zuo Ning diligently sniffed the air for Lu Chenghe's scent. He wanted to go look for him. Although he wasn't sure whether he could find him, he couldn't wait a minute longer to verify his hypothesis. If he could turn back into a human then it would signify a true rebirth.
Since becoming a dog, his life seemed to be quite good. In reality, he had merely been hypnotising himself to feel apathetic towards his dog life, but the unknown future always terrified him. If he could turn into a human then it didn't matter if he could return to his previous identity, it was something he didn't dare think about.
When the bodyguard had turned to the kitchen to prepare his food, Zuo Ning jumped downstairs, opened the front doors, and charged out of the villa. He saw the bodyguard begin to chase him as he pushed open the fence and ran wildly as he worked doggedly to distinguish the correct direction via smell.
The dog had run away. The obedient Little Pudding had unexpectedly run away. The bodyguard was so horrified that he was about to have a heart attack. Although they were on a private island, the area was still fairly extensive. If the doggy ran away but dutifully waited somewhere to let them rescue him, it would be fine. But the worry was that he would fall into some sort of pit, or in some body of water and have an accident. The bodyguard originally thought that staying at home to watch the dog would be more relaxing than following the boss, he didn't imagine that he would encounter an insurmountable obstacle!
Zuo Ning wildly rushed around and believed this was the first time in his life he had ever run this fast. The air constantly showed him Lu Chenghe's position, and he could see the bodyguard speedily chasing him from the corner of his eye. He quickened his steps and continued onward.
Lu Chenghe was on a beautiful beach, having a discussion with a foreign friend about a collaboration. They had maintained remote contact and now that there was a rare opportunity to meet face to face due to a mutual friend's wedding, they naturally had to talk a bit more.
The captain of the bodyguards had been standing behind Lu Chenghe, alert to his surroundings when he received the news in his earpiece. His face darkened a little. They couldn't even keep an eye on a dog, what a waste of the huge annual salary the boss paid them! He looked at the boss calmly. The boss was currently negotiating with the foreigner, he had to find the right opportunity to make his report. That Little Pudding was the apple in the boss��s eye. He had even bought a private plane to bring it along. Everyone could tell how important it was. If it disappeared then all of them would be sent packing.
While they both raised their glasses and toasted each other, the captain stepped forward and whispered a sentence in the boss's ear.
Feldman was sitting opposite Lu Chenghe and saw his eyes change. Originally he was slightly smiling but suddenly they cooled. They had known each other several years and he had never seen Lu Chenghe change like this. So he was curious. "Lu, what's wrong? What happened? Is there anything I can help you with?"
Lu Chenghe had decided to excuse himself but was interrupted by a bark. He turned his head and saw his Little Pudding panting in the distance. When the dog saw him looking at it, it barked again and then rushed towards him.
Feldman's guards instantly became more alert while Lu Chenghe's guards released a sigh of relief. They instantly felt their hearts settle back in its place when they saw the little ancestor was so lively.
Lu Chenghe brought Little Pudding into his arms when he jumped on him. He began to gently pat the dog when he saw him panting. Then Lu Chenghe turned towards Feldman and said, "Apologies, this is my pet dog. I was just told it had run off, but it was actually searching for me. If there are any objections, we can reschedule."
Feldman dismissed his bodyguards and laughingly replied, "No need. My wife loves all kinds of dogs. We even raise a few types. Yours is very cute. It seems to have followed your scent? It looks like it loves you a lot."
When Lu Chenghe observed that Little Pudding wasn't panting as much, he told the bodyguard to retrieve a small bowl. He smiled at Feldman. "Yes, he really loves me and is also very clingy."
Zuo Ning, who was lying on top of Lu Chenghe's body, felt that his chest was about to burst. His head was buzzing and he panted heavily. He had lived for so many years and, including the time he participated in the 1000 metre race in high school, had never run this fast before. Lu Chenghe held a bowl of water in front of him and he immediately drank straight from his hand. When he finally regained his spirit he discovered Lu Chenghe's clothing and then the black watch on his wrist.
Zuo Ning was stunned. So it was real. It was exactly how he saw it before. Then was it real when he saw himself sleeping on the bed as a human?
Zuo Ning felt a bit flustered now. If it was real, then how did he turn into a human? From drowning? But when he saw himself, he was still in that room in the villa and didn't wake up in another person's body. Did that mean that he could directly turn into a human from his current body? So what were the conditions to turn into a human?
If he doesn't change once when he is wide awake, he didn't dare believe it was real. Although it was not scientific to be able to turn a human into a dog, he was also very clear that he should be dead. So the possibility that it was reincarnation was big, but he didn't know why he didn't forget his human memories. But a dog turning into a human, that was even more incredible and unexplainable.
Zuo Ning finished panting and lay on Lu Chenghe's body in serious contemplation. He wasn't even aware when Lu Chenghe had finished his chat. When he became aware of his surroundings, he saw that the foreigner had already left, leaving him and Lu Chenghe in the area while the bodyguards patrolled in the distance.
Zuo Ning lifted his head and saw Lu Chenghe staring back at him. He instinctively stretched out his paws and placed them in Lu Chenghe's palms. "Awoo?"
When he realised what he did, he froze. Before he thought that he would spend the rest of his life like this and was willing to play stupid in exchange for not having to worry about basic necessities in his later life. But now that he thought he had a chance to change into a human, if he continued to have no boundaries he wouldn't be able to face himself if he turned into a human!
Lu Chenghe felt that Little Pudding's spasms today were more severe than usual. He even ran out of the house and was able to find him. Honestly, when he heard the bodyguard say that Little Pudding had run off, he was so angered that he planned on punishing him severely when they found him later. But he didn't think that he would see Little Pudding running over with just a turn of his head. Little Pudding probably followed his scent the entire way over. This made him feel conflicted.
Perhaps it was due to the unfamiliar environment and people that made him afraid. So when he couldn't see Lu Chenghe when he woke up he was anxious and ran out of the house. Lu Chenghe wanted to scold him a couple times, but now that he saw how sticky and dependent Little Pudding was, he couldn't say anything.
In the end, he just rubbed the dazed Little Pudding and helplessly said. "You… So clingy. What am I going to do with you?"