Wen Ning's gaze shifted from Big Flower to Lin Hao.
"You really surprised me today."
Wen Ning said, a little stunned by how much Lin Hao had changed.
Lin Hao was looking down, trying to pry the puppy off his leg.
At those words, he looked at Wen Ning and suddenly smiled.
"Do you think I've changed a lot?"
There was a hint of acceptance in Lin Hao's voice.
"Wen Ning, let me be honest with you."
His voice sank, like a stone finally settling on the ground. "After my lifespan was cut short, during those days when I lay in bed unable to move, I hated you every single day.
"Really. I hated you to my very bones.
"I kept thinking, what's so great about you, Wen Ning? You just run an agency. If you had that kind of power, why did you still have to take years off my life?
"All I did was kill a few cats and dogs. Was that really necessary? I'd done it so many times growing up.
"When I got caught stealing and beaten up, or chased down and beaten over money I owed, did anyone ever care about me? Why did killing a few cats and dogs mean I had to suffer such a harsh punishment?"
"I cursed you for months. Every day."
Wen Ning watched Lin Hao. The wind blowing through the ruins tossed his graying hair into a mess. The black puppy was clinging to his finger with all four little paws, gnawing and nibbling, its tail wagging as though it had a motor attached. Wen Ning was silent for a few seconds before asking the question he most wanted answered.
"Then what made you change?"
Lin Hao pulled his finger out of the puppy's mouth, wiped the slobber on