Chapter 2
Edward Quan ·
Once my hair was dry, I asked, “Is Trì Kính still out?”
The butler actually thought for two seconds before answering.
“He hasn't returned.”
A small disappointment settled in my chest.
Even if ours was a loveless arrangement, did he really have to go off enjoying himself at a time like this?
He couldn't care less about me. How depressing.
I lay in bed listening to my secretary's work report.
When I discussed our project's progress with Thẩm Nghiễn Bạch, he started crying again.
“Could I pull out of the project? I'm scared every day now... I keep feeling as though someone's going to come after me with a knife...”
By the time I'd calmed him down and finished discussing work, I was exhausted.
I hung up.
Something soft brushed my fingertips.
Nguyên Bảo was nudging his head into my palm.
I happily rubbed it.
“Everyone says Thẩm Nghiễn Bạch is my one true love. Ridiculous. He's my junior from university, we share the same goals, and he's handsome. Does that mean something has to be going on between us?”
Nguyên Bảo burrowed into my arms and licked my face, tickling me into laughter.
“Cry, cry, cry. That's all he ever does. If it weren't for the project, if he weren't so talented, I wouldn't waste my time soothing that walking tear factory!”
I rubbed the dog's muzzle.
“Stop licking my face. Lick my hand.”
I let go of him and held it out.
“Come on. Give Mommy a lick.”
I waited.
Nothing.
Just as I was about to withdraw my hand, something warm and damp touched its back.
A little at a time.
Soft, warm, faintly tingling.
That felt nice.
I lay down with my hand hanging over the edge of the bed.
“Good boy. Keep going.”
05
With such an aloof owner, Nguyên Bảo probably hadn't had much practice licking people.
He was tentative at first, hesitating before venturing a few licks across the back of my hand.
I'd heard dogs responded well to praise, so I softened my voice.
“Nguyên Bảo, you're so good at that. Mommy feels much better.”
His enthusiasm promptly increased.
He worked from my fingertips across my palm, slowly covering every patch of skin, even the spaces between my fingers.
Soon my hand was unpleasantly wet.
I washed it, came back, and patted the bed.
“Nguyên Bảo, want to sleep with Mommy tonight?”
He really was obedient.
The mattress dipped as he climbed up.
I lay down and gathered him into my arms.
Too many worries were keeping me awake.
Then Nguyên Bảo, nestled beside my pillow, started licking my ear.
He was thoroughly committed, working his way from its rim to the lobe. I couldn't push him away. Whenever I stopped him, he gave a pitiful whine.
At first it tickled.
Once I got used to it, it felt rather soothing, like ASMR.
I meant to wash afterward.
Instead, I drifted off.
06
When I woke, I reached out and found a tuft of curls.
Warmth filled my chest.
I leaned over and kissed him.
Smooth. Soft.
Wait.
“Nguyên Bảo, why isn't there any fur around your mouth?”
Nguyên Bảo answered.
“Because you kissed Nguyên Bảo's owner.”
I froze.
“Trì Kính? Why are you in my bed?”
We'd only shared a bed on our wedding night.
To sleep. Nothing else.
He was proud and impossible to tame, deeply dissatisfied with our arranged marriage. Normally, he couldn't get away from me fast enough.
Yet his answer was:
“I was worried you'd wake up in the night and wouldn't be able to see.”
“...”
Who was he kidding?
His mother must have made him.
07
My guess was that his grandfather had put pressure on him.
Why else would Trì Kính stay home with me all day?
The trouble was, we barely knew each other. Shut in the same room, we could practically have sliced up the awkwardness and served it.
Thank goodness for Nguyên Bảo.
“Why do you keep rubbing against Mommy's leg? Want some egg yolk?”
I broke off half a yolk, put it on my palm, and bent down.
A couple of little clicks of my tongue.
“Come on. Eat.”
He was quite restrained.
A few exploratory licks, then he swept up the yolk.
The warmth of his tongue tickled my palm, making my fingers curl involuntarily.
Nguyên Bảo whined.
I was puzzled.
“I'm feeding you. What are you complaining about?”
Trì Kính, who'd been silent beside me, finally spoke.
“Maybe he's choking.”
I quickly poured a little water into my cupped palm.
“Here, Nguyên Bảo. Drink.”
Such a good boy.
He rested against my hand and licked it clean in moments.
His tongue brushed my palm, leaving it tingling.
Something seemed off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
After breakfast, the butler offered to take me for a walk behind the villa.
For once, Trì Kính volunteered.
“I'll do it.”
The butler fetched the dog's leash, but for some reason he couldn't get it onto Nguyên Bảo.
I took it from him and scolded affectionately.
“Why won't you behave? Don't you want to be Mommy's good boy anymore?”
He really did understand every word.
As soon as I finished, he obediently stretched out his neck.
Delighted, I rubbed his curls and tugged the leash.
“Good boy!”
For some reason, the butler broke into a violent coughing fit.
We'd barely stepped through the villa gates when the roar of a supercar approached.
It could only be Trì Kính's flashy younger brother, Trì Lan.
“Holy shit! Breaking news! You two are really going for it!”
I blinked.
“What?”