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She expanded the gym she already had, adding the media room and a few punching bags. Now it was fully equipped, with plenty of space for her to practice boxing.

After a good hour of exercise, she showered and headed to the main house, feeling refreshed.

Just as she walked through the villa's front gate under her umbrella, she spotted a slender girl with long black hair hanging loose, her head slightly bowed as she watched the little white dog in front of her. The puppy had its whole head buried in a porcelain bowl, noisily gulping down goat's milk.

It was a rare sight.

At this hour, seeing Yu Qing on the first floor was truly unusual.

Perhaps hearing her approach, Yu Qing looked up toward the entrance.

Rain and mist spread out behind the newcomer. Beneath her black umbrella, a pair of light-colored eyes seemed to hold an inexplicable glimmer as they rested on Yu Qing.

But when Yu Qing tried to get a better look, the other woman had already lowered her gaze to the little white dog, whose belly was round with food.

"Good morning, Miss."

Her voice was calm and slightly husky, with an inexplicably alluring quality.

Yu Qing nodded and replied, "Morning."

The day before, she had spent the whole day playing the piano and painting with Yao Ningran, without sleeping at all. That evening, she had kept thinking about the housekeeper who had run away, waiting until after ten.

Once she finally lay down, she must have drifted off at some point without realizing it.

She woke groggily in the early hours, thinking she would be unable to fall asleep again as usual. But when she opened her eyes, she saw the puppy still sleeping obediently nearby.

She watched it for a while, then somehow fell asleep again.

The next time she woke, it was half past six in the morning.

Thinking the puppy might be hungry, she didn't linger in bed. After washing up, she brought it downstairs and waited for the housekeeper to prepare some goat's milk for it.

No one in the household usually drank goat's milk, so they had sent someone out to buy some.

Yu Qing rubbed the puppy's firm, watermelon-shaped belly. As Xiang Changge came over to her, she suddenly said, "About what you mentioned the day before yesterday, turning the golf course into a pasture—I agree."

"You were right. It's a waste to leave the course unused."

"If we raise cows and sheep, Xigua can have fresh milk every day."

Xiang Changge: "..."

She gave the system dog, which had just polished off a bowl of goat's milk and was now licking the milk from its lips, a complicated look. For the first time, she understood what it meant to be a pampered pet.

When she had brought it up with Yu Qing a couple of days ago, Yu Qing had looked at her as if she'd just witnessed the collapse of all civilization.

And now?

It had taken just one night for the system dog to win its owner's affection—and persuade her to turn the golf course into a pasture, all so it could drink fresh cow's and goat's milk every day!

Xiang Changge closed her eyes to steady herself, then gave the system a cold snort. It was still in her head, shouting emotionally, "Yu Qing, you're the best! Tongtong will be your puppy for a hundred lifetimes!"

"Who knew you had such a way with people?"

System: "..."

Why didn't that sound like a compliment?

"Good."

Xiang Changge put on a smile devoid of feeling and said to Yu Qing, "Now that the puppy's full, Miss, you should go have breakfast too."

"By the way, it's eaten plenty, so don't save any leftovers for it."

Yu Qing: "..."

Why did she always have to make snide remarks?

-

Puppies really were the cutest things in the world. A fluffy little bundle, with bright black eyes and pink paw pads. Their paws were soft and springy in your hand—so much fun to play with.

Yu Qing spent the whole morning playing with the puppy. Even when Xiang Changge wasn't around it, she could hear it yapping wildly in her head.

Finally, Xiang Changge warned that if it made one more racket and disturbed the neighbors, she'd send it to guard the gate at the foot of the mountain. The system angrily helped Xiang Changge block its voice, and at last she enjoyed a moment of peace.

After lunch, Ge Bufan came over.

When she saw the new puppy, Ge Bufan let out a strange cry too—though only Yu Qing could hear it.

"Wow, a puppy! A cute little puppy! Come let big sis kiss you, let me pet you, let me pet you! Hehehe!"

Xigua's tiny ears trembled with fear, and it leaped into Yu Qing's arms. It refused to come out for half an hour.

With nothing else to do, Ge Bufan could only gaze longingly at the puppy and help Yu Qing make treats for it.

They cut chicken breast into long strips, wrapped them around carrots or apples, and baked them in the oven. The result was a nutritious snack that was perfect for a puppy.

When they finished, there was still plenty of time, so Ge Bufan thought it over and made some cranberry- and blueberry-flavored nougat with Yu Qing, using marshmallows and milk powder.

Xiang Changge had been busy with the golf course, but when she heard the two of them were making nougat, she timed her arrival to coincide with the sweet aroma filling the kitchen.

Aside from the pieces Ge Bufan took home, she left Yu Qing one piece of each flavor, then packed up all the rest.

This was what Steward Xiang said at the time: "Miss, candy is high in calories. You shouldn't eat too much."

Yu Qing already had little appetite, and she barely exercised. If she ate too much candy and got enough energy that way, she'd be even less inclined to eat proper meals.

Xiang Changge still had a task to make sure her employer ate three meals a day on time. She was only looking out for her employer—not because she thought the nougat was delicious.

After Xiang Changge left, the kitchen felt a little quiet, so Ge Bufan quickly found something to say to break the silence.

She remarked that although Steward Xiang wasn't there with them, he seemed to have eyes and ears everywhere, as if he'd installed a live surveillance system, and that he was very responsible.

Then she turned to how lucky Yu Qing was to have hired such a responsible housekeeper. She made sure to spread the praise evenly, complimenting them both.

Yu Qing listened in silence, looking at the two pieces of nougat left in her hand. She wanted to say something but held back.

For some reason, she had a feeling that those candies wouldn't make their way back to her.

She'd made them herself, and she wanted to eat a few more.

-

Chu Keke came over the next day. Ge Bufan had spent the previous afternoon making puppy treats and nougat with Yu Qing, and Yu Qing seemed to have gotten tired out. Today, she refused to do anything at all.

So Xiang Changge called Chu Keke over to explain foreign novels to Yu Qing, who was lounging on the sofa.

On a gloomy, rainy day, Yu Qing sat comfortably on the sofa, holding the silky-soft puppy and listening to Chu Keke read her a story.

Whenever she started to doze off, the puppy would show off its puppy skills, licking her wrist or nudging her with its head.

Thinking it needed to go outside, Yu Qing would get up and take it out.

In the two days since the puppy arrived, Yu Qing's routine had become a little more regular.

That evening, the system pranced around smugly in Xiang Changge's head. "That's right! Our puppy can save the world!"

Xiang Changge felt like it was doomed. It really thought it was a puppy now.

Chu Keke had wanted to tell Xiang Changge what happened after that night, but Xiang Changge had been busy buying cows, sheep, and pasture grass. Chu Keke never found the chance.

It wasn't until the third day, when the rain stopped and the sky cleared considerably, that Xiang Changge had a little free time. She felt Yu Qing was starting to lose interest in the puppy, so she thought she might invite all three of them over to barbecue in the garden—or do something else equally pointless.

Yu Qing didn't object.

That morning, before the trio of temporary workers arrived, someone else showed up first.

It was Zhou Jiayi, who had once been an assistant to Yu Qing's parents.

When Xiang Changge led Zhou Jiayi into the reception room, he kept studying her from behind.

Xiang Changge noticed, but said nothing.

This time, Zhou Jiayi didn't have to wait long. After about ten minutes in the reception room, Yu Qing arrived.

As usual, she wore no makeup. But perhaps it was just Zhou Jiayi's imagination—he thought she seemed much more energetic.

More notably, as she approached, a fluffy little White Tusong dog followed closely at her side.

The puppy had a beautiful coat and wore a pink-and-white bandana patterned with little strawberries. Its yellow-brown ears bounced with every step, and Zhou Jiayi couldn't help sneaking a few extra glances.

"When did Miss Yu get a puppy? It's adorable," he said admiringly.

Yu Qing replied coolly, "Just in the last couple of days."

Xiang Changge remained just as composed as she asked the housekeeper to serve Zhou Jiayi a cup of tea. Seeing her standing at Yu Qing's side, Zhou Jiayi asked, though he already knew the answer, "And who might this be?"

"My housekeeper, Xiang Changge."

Yu Qing kept her eyes on the puppy circling her feet, her manner toward Zhou Jiayi casual.

Zhou Jiayi didn't mind. If anything, he was used to it.

"So you're Steward Xiang. Pleased to meet you." Zhou Jiayi smiled and greeted her.

Xiang Changge nodded without a word.

Zhou Jiayi wanted to say something, but faced with these two equally taciturn women, he felt anything he said would be useless.