"Coco... Yes, even though the name is foreign it suits her really well, it's just as cute as she is haha" said Grandpa Zhang and passed me the box with little Coco inside it.
I carefully took it in my arms and stared at her thoughtfully. She has thick, grey fur, large erect ears, which seem to be listening to everything that's going on around her, as well cute and narrow Amber eyes. She looked like a small wolf pup.
'When I go to the library on the weekend, I will go and research more about this type of dogs. I will make sure to give her the life she deserves.'
'For now however, we need to quickly let her recuperate and grow up a bit more and then we can start with training her.' I smiled thoughtfully at this thought...
"Grandpa Zhang, Uncle Zhang, I will now take care of her. I will give her some milk and then bathe her after her nap. We also need to give her some nutrients and she needs all the necessary injections, I hope this isn't much trouble"
"It's no trouble boy, no trouble at all." Grandpa Zhang looks at me as he says this and then gives her all the injections needed.
I carefully held Coco in my arms and fed her with a bottle of milk. She sucks the milk like she's afraid that someone will take it away from her, even her paws are wrapped around the milk bottle. She is very pitful right now, but I promise to raise her to be in excellent health and shape.
After bathing her, she was probably already very tired so I quickly dried her fur and let her rest. I spent the rest of the day uneventfully, working in the pet shop and occasionally playing with Coco. I swear she is the most beautiful dog I have seen. She is like a little lucky star in my eyes...
******
Like this, with time flying so quickly, I didn't even realise that it's nearly the ned of summer vacation.
Every day on a weekday i woke up at 6AM, went out to exercise for 1 hour, changed my clothes and went to meet with Tao Rong in his cousin's breakfast shop and at the same time, enjoyed delicious breakfast for free!
Me and Tao Rong have also become very close. There is so many things we have in common that it's very easy to start a conversation, it feels like we have know each other for decades...
Unfortunately it is much harder to stop the conversation as we don't have much time together in the morning since I walk to the pet shop at 8AM every weekday.
Eventually, Tao Rong started walking to the shop with me to talk a bit more and from the day he went inside the shop, since he was very curious about my workplace, he came in nearly every day after seeing my beautiful Coco.
Coco also liked him very much and played with him to his hearts content so I didnt say anything as I know that him playing with Coco is helpful since her type of a dog has to be very active.
After I said that I will take care of Coco, I went to the library to research about her breed. I realised that these dogs are very active and independent and thus, they need to let out all their energy in order to not get bored or frustrated.
I read that it is better to train her from little to socialise with other dogs and humans so that when she grows up, she won't bite humans around her as these dogs tend to have a stronger prey drive. This shouldn't be a problem because form what I cans see, she is a very friendly little girl that loves to play with all animals, even turtles, but she never hurts them. She also loves to play with Tao Rong, Uncle and Grandpa Zhang.
Obviously, she loves me the most. Everyone can see that I am her priority. Even though she is only 2 months old, she can already recognise who is her master. She is very loyal.
One time, when Tao Rong and I came for awalk to the park with her, she was playing with other dogs a few metres away and Tao Rong slapped my shoulder playfully, it was a bit too strong and I winced. Coco immediately noticed this and ran to Tao Rong, started barking with her puppy like voice and nearly bit him.
From the time she was healthy enough to go out and play, I started to train her, so she is a very obidient puppy. I love her very much and everyone can see that.
Grandpa Zhang even said that when I start high school, I can still come into the pet shop whenever I want because they already treat me as family so whenever I have time I can come in and help in the shop.
This warmed my heart a lot. I decided to treat Uncle and Grandpa Zhang like family from then on. I am very grateful to them for everything, especially for letting me raise Coco.
I also went to the library on every weekend after exercising with Coco. I came in and made another deal to make two paintings for Director Huo instead of one. I made them two big canvas paintings and got paid 9,000RMB for both of them, and I also got a pretty good deal as I got to keep the rest of the art supplies that I used.
I decided to hold them in Grandpa Zhang's house which is right next to the pet shop since this is too much for me to bring to my house and also, I am too scared to leave them in my house as they are too precious, and you never know what wicked ideas this family of mine has.
My savings as of now, together with the pay for the 2 months of work have reached around 19,000RMB after taking away money I spent on my daily expenses and Coco, so I decided to buy a mobile phone on the day the exam results are announced.
******
It was 8AM when I came into the pet shop and it is also the day when my exam results are coming out. I actually don't care about them very much since I know how well I did.
It seems that some other people however, was very nervous...
"Grandpa Zhang, Uncle Zhang, why are you all looking at me like this? Did I do something wrong?" I ask and walk to the back of the pet shop to meet the already excited Coco. I take her into my arms and walk back to the two men whoa are still standing still.
Usually, they would already be cleaning the whole shop, but today they were acting different. They just stared at me for a long while and then Grandpa Zhang smiled until you could see his fake teeth popping out.
"Xiao Wei, be good and tell Grandpa and Uncle... Is today your exam results day?" says Grandpa Zhang
Oh, so this is what it was about. Exam results.
"Yes they were probably already published on the official website. Why?"
"Why have you not checked them yet? Are you worried that you haven't done well? Don't worry, Uncle will still celebrate with you no matter what result you get" Says Uncle Zhou and smiles. I realised that he now often smiles in front of me and Grandpa. He is still very serious and emotoonless when it comes to dealing with others, even Tao Rong.
"Hey what nonsense are you spouting you brat! Xiao Wei did excellent in his exams. I believe in him and most importantly, I will be the one to take him out to play today!" Says Grandpa Zhang and hits his son with a cane while I look at this scene dumbfounded.
"Tsk, old man, you're already old so you shouldn't go out so much. Give your junior a chance instead and let me take Xiao Wei to play."
I quickly realised that they are fighting about me and laughed out loud, my smile was now wide enough to show my bright tiger teeth.
"Hahaha! Don't worry Grandpa, Uncle, to celebrate today we can go to your house next door and I will cook a feast for us haha! I am actually very good at cooking so don't worry about starving with me kekeke!"
"Also, we can check my scores now, I am very confident in getting into No. 1 High School"
Uncle Zhang quickly takes out his laptop and gives it to me. I get onto the government website and put in my student ID number. A few seconds later the page loads and uncovers all my grades.
*Achieved 99% in the exams:
English: 100 out of 100
Chinese: 149 out of 150
Mathematics: 100 out of 100
Physics: 100 out of 100
Chemistry: 100 out of 100
History: 100 out of 100
Politics: 100 out of 100
Total Score: 749*
Grandpa Zhang and Uncle Zhang both took a deep breath and stopped talking for a while.
"This... Xiao Wei, I didn't know you were such a genius..." Ubcme Zhang says, obviously looking very surprised, to the point that even his expressionless face can't be put on anymore.
Grandpa Zhang then laughed out loud and said "haha hahaha! Xiao Wei I knew that you can do it."
Before they could say any congratulations, my phone started ringing.
*Teacher Rong*
'Is he calling to congratulate me?' I think as I answer the call.
"Hello, teacher Rong. Why are you calling?"
"Haha, Han Xue Wei, this is amazing! I knew you will excel! Quickly, come to the examination venue, there are reporters waiting to interview you because you ranked as the first in our province together with another person from Beijing but he attended No. 1Middle School!"
"Xiao Wei, it is practically impossible for a No.30 Middle School Student to rank that much in the exams! You have suprassed everyones expectations of you!"
I actually though about what kind of sensation I would bring with my exam results, but I never expected that there are even reporters who want to interview me... Oh well, I can't stay low-key anymore...