135. Lone Shadow

Because we had been delayed quite a bit by the stray dog, when we finally stepped into the room, Aunt Lin and Lin Xiaoyu had already finished preparing the meal.

Seeing me walk in carrying a small dog, Aunt Lin looked surprised and asked, "Xiao Feng, where did you pick up that little dog?" Upon hearing this, Tietou immediately started to explain.

Hearing the commotion, Xiaoyu walked over, wanting to tease the puppy. However, having just emerged from a state of terror, the little dog trembled with fear and anxiety at the approach of a stranger.

Therefore, it could only remain in my arms as I gently stroked its head to comfort it.

Sensing that the stray dog was far too filthy, I knew I needed to give it a bath. Yet, worried about adding to its fright and seeing how emaciated and starved it was, I decided to feed it something first, allowing it to completely let go of its nervous tension toward me.

I asked Xiaoyu to bring over a few slices of beef and proceeded to feed it. At first, the stray dog did not dare to eat, but gradually, unable to resist the alluring aroma of the food, it finally began to eat with cautious hesitation.

I felt as though this stray dog was a reflection of my own shadow; how closely its past destiny mirrored my own! Thus, I decided to name it "Lone Shadow."

I fed it beef, chicken, and soft little bones, by which point I faintly looked upon it as if it were my own child. Seeing me feed the stray dog with such earnestness, Fatty did not dare to make any jokes about it, afraid of displeasing me.

Because the stray dog had been starved for too long, I did not dare to feed it to the point of being completely full, worrying that it might harm its stomach. Sensing that it had eaten enough, I picked it up and headed for the bathroom.

As a young woman, Lin Xiaoyu naturally possessed an abundance of sympathy for small animals, so she had already prepared warm water for me.

By this time, Lone Shadow had already come to view me as its pillar of support; the moment I picked it up, its front paws tightly clutched my arm.

When I placed it into the warm water, the little creature was initially afraid as well, but as I gently washed it, it gradually relaxed, even wearing an expression that bordered on enjoyment.

The wine and dishes had already been prepared and we could have eaten, but seeing me busy washing the puppy, Aunt Lin, Tietou, and Fatty could only wait patiently to the side.

I laughed and said, "Aunt Lin, Tietou, go ahead and eat! Don't wait for me." Aunt Lin smiled and said, "It's fine, let's wait a little longer. It's much livelier and more fun when everyone eats together!"

Fatty laughed and said, "Xiao Feng, you're the guest of honor tonight, and Aunt Lin cooked these dishes specifically for you. If you're not at the table, who dares to pick up their chopsticks?"

I couldn't help but curse, "Damn Fatty, you're always the one with the most to say. Weren't you unwilling to lend me money earlier?"

Fatty immediately cried out in protest, "I'm being wronged! Tietou, vouch for me. Xiao Feng's girlfriend drives a Rolls-Royce Phantom. There aren't even that many luxury cars of that tier in the entire Mingzhou City. With a girlfriend like that, who would believe you needed to borrow money from me?"

At the mention of money, Aunt Lin chimed in, "Tietou, we've already received the hundred-thousand-plus insurance payout from the car accident. You should go and return the money Xiao Feng lent us back then."

Upon hearing this, I quickly said, "Aunt Lin, I'm not short on money. I was just joking with Fatty earlier. Please don't ever bring up that money again."

Fatty also twisted the knife in, "Aunt Lin, just look at what kind of status Xiao Feng has now. Is he the kind of person who lacks money? His girlfriend has money to burn; he certainly doesn't lack a few hundred thousand—no, he probably doesn't lack a few hundred million."

Aunt Lin looked somewhat dumbfounded and asked, "Xiao Feng, didn't you just get married a few months ago? How do you have another girlfriend now?"

Fatty interjected, "This guy is insanely impressive. Less than three months after getting married, that fell apart, and now he's found an even younger, wealthier, and—goddamn it—even prettier girlfriend."

Aunt Lin asked in astonishment, "Xiao Feng, what on earth is going on?"

Seeing that Lin Xiaoyu also wore an expression eager to know, I smiled and said, "Aunt Lin, don't listen to this damn Fatty's wild rambling. That person isn't my girlfriend at all."

Fatty clamored, "Don't try to deny it! That beauty left behind ten thousand yuan to help you out, and Tietou saw it too. Oh, and right, as that beauty sat in her Rolls-Royce, she even shouted..." Imitating a woman's voice in a strange, mocking tone, Fatty continued, "'Feng, I love you! When the snowflakes start to drift, I'll be waiting for you to come and marry me... Haha!'"

Hearing this, Lin Xiaoyu asked excitedly, "Brother, is that true?"

Tietou nodded and said, "Yeah, Fatty couldn't possibly make up something like that."

By this time, I had finished washing the stray dog Lone Shadow, so I said, "Little sister, can you hand me the hair dryer over there?"

Lin Xiaoyu handed me the hair dryer and asked, "Brother Feng, who is that great beauty? Can you tell me?"

I casually replied, "Her name is Ling Xue, but she's not my girlfriend. She's the daughter of a billionaire family; how could someone like me ever hope to be in her league?"

Lin Xiaoyu muttered to herself, "Ling Xue... that name sounds so familiar, as if I've heard it somewhere before..." Suddenly, she cried out in pleasant surprise, "I remember! That Ling Xue is the daughter of the tycoon Han Qianli, right?"

Busy using the hair dryer to dry Lone Shadow's fur, I nodded absentmindedly and said, "Mm."

Seemingly recalling something, Lin Xiaoyu asked with trepidation, "Brother Feng, back then... was it because of her that you went in?"

Prompted by Lin Xiaoyu's question, Fatty and Tietou remembered as well. Fatty slapped his own thigh and exclaimed, "Xiao Feng, you are truly fucking awesome. Back in the day, you wanted to violate her... Who would have thought that now she'd actually end up trying to pursue you instead? It really is true that beauties love scumbags."

Ignoring him, I carefully dried Lone Shadow's fur and placed it down on the floor, whereupon the little creature stubbornly clung to the top of my foot and refused to leave.

I put down the hair dryer, washed my hands, and said, "Fatty, you really have the most to say. If you're unconvinced, go out and find one yourself! There are plenty of wealthy and beautiful women in this world; it just depends on whether you have the ability to win them over."

Fatty replied, "I'd love to! It's just a pity I don't have the strength for it, so all I can do is envy you."

Tietou said, "Alright, it's rare for us brothers to get together today. Come, come, let's drink! Let's get thoroughly drunk together."

During the New Year, every household's dining table was quite bountiful, and Aunt Lin had indeed prepared a table full of dishes to entertain me. We drank together, joked, and chatted.

As for the matter of my private life, although they were intensely curious, since I didn't bring it up, they felt too embarrassed to ask.

Lone Shadow had initially cowered on top of my foot, not daring to wander, but gradually its courage grew, and it began to walk around the surrounding area looking for food, prompting Xiaoyu and Tietou to start feeding it as well.

With too much alcohol consumed, the words began to flow, and so the story of my separation from Sister Li spilled out. Of course, the ambiguous affair between Sister Yang and me remained unsaid; after all, that was hardly a glorious thing to share.

Having just parted ways with Sister Li, I had immediately hooked up with another woman; I couldn't help but feel rather shameless myself.