Page 25

Since it was a little late, the parking spaces near the pet store were already full.

The car stopped outside the store. Gu Bai got out with Mocha and said to the person inside, "There's nowhere to park. Go take care of your things. I can take a taxi home later."

Gu Bai closed the car door, and Chu Zeshen drove away from the store.

Mocha had been to this pet store several times and knew the staff well. A staff member led the dog into the bathing room.

During that hour or so, Gu Bai would usually order a coffee at the café next door, then return to the pet store to play with the cats and dogs.

He planned to do the same today.

Just as Gu Bai reached the entrance and was about to push the door open, it opened, and Chu Zeshen, who had just driven away, walked in.

Gu Bai asked in confusion, "Why did you come back?"

Chu Zeshen said, "I was finding somewhere to park."

Gu Bai smiled helplessly. "Are you really that worried about the two of us?"

Chu Zeshen did not answer the question directly. He glanced inside and asked, "Has Mocha gone in for a bath?"

"Just went in. It'll probably take a while. There are other pets ahead." Gu Bai paused, then asked, "Want some coffee? My treat."

In the end, Gu Bai ordered two coffees and spent an hour playing with the cats and dogs at the pet store with Chu Zeshen.

After the bath, Mocha's coat gleamed, and the fur was so smooth that it was hard to resist stroking it.

Gu Bai took Mocha's leash and asked Chu Zeshen, "Taking us home would hold you up, wouldn't it?"

Chu Zeshen lowered his eyes to look at him, his tone consultative. "Would you like to come meet my friends with me tonight?"

Gu Bai checked the time. It was about time for dinner. He did not mind going, but he still had Mocha with him.

"Does the place you're going allow pets?"

Chu Zeshen said, "They booked a private room."

Gu Bai agreed. "It's time for Mocha's dinner too. I'll buy some canned food. Can we head over after Mocha finishes eating at the pet store?"

Chu Zeshen gave a hum of assent.

Since Mocha had behaved so well during the bath today, Gu Bai also bought some freeze-dried steak as a snack after the main meal.

Once they were in the car, Gu Bai said, "I'll call home and tell them we won't be back for dinner."

Uncle Li answered the phone. Hearing that they would not be home for dinner, he said cheerfully, "Understood, Young Master Gu. Have a lovely date with the young master tonight."

For a moment, Gu Bai did not know what to say. He could only give a casual reply and hang up.

He thought that little incident was over, but unexpectedly, Chu Zeshen asked what Uncle Li had said.

Gu Bai looked out the window awkwardly. "He said he understood."

In the back seat, Mocha suddenly grew excited at the sight of something and pawed at Gu Bai.

Mocha swept away the little bit of awkwardness inside the car.

"Mm, this isn't the way home. We're going out to have fun."

Hearing Gu Bai say this, Mocha became even more excited. After a nap at home that afternoon, the dog was now full of energy.

They were eating at a private kitchen restaurant in a secluded location with an atmospheric interior. This was the sort of place Gu Bai had most enjoyed visiting in his previous life.

Formal restaurants were for business dinners, while places like these were meant to be visited with friends.

Gu Bai did not know whether Chu Zeshen had called ahead, but the staff said nothing when they saw him arrive with a dog on a leash. They even considerately asked whether any special meals were needed.

Places frequented by the rich generally had high standards. They had probably seen plenty of people bring pets along for meals and specifically prepared food for them.

Gu Bai said, "A bottle of pet milk, please."

The staff member acknowledged his request and led the two of them to the private room.

When the door opened, Xie Wen and Lu Shengfan turned toward the entrance in unison.

They saw Chu Zeshen walk in with a dog on a leash.

Xie Wen immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "A Ze, you gave me a fright. Could you be clear next time? If you're bringing a dog, just say you're bringing a dog. Why say you're bringing someone?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone suddenly stepped out from behind Chu Zeshen, and the breath Xie Wen had just released caught again.

Chu Zeshen came in with a person and a dog. Once the door closed, he bent down and unclipped Mocha's leash.

Lu Shengfan was much calmer than Xie Wen. He nodded to Gu Bai. "Hello, I'm Lu Shengfan."

Gu Bai replied politely, "Hello, I'm Gu Bai."

Xie Wen followed with his own introduction. "Xie Wen."

Mocha was the sort of dog who got excited around people and was not afraid of strangers at all. After getting familiar with the private room, the dog began sniffing Xie Wen and Lu Shengfan.

Xie Wen was so curious about the person Chu Zeshen had brought that he could not resist asking, "A Ze, aren't you going to introduce us?"

Chu Zeshen passed the menu to Gu Bai and said calmly, "Border Collie. Mocha."

Xie Wen gave a dry laugh. "Do you think I'm blind and can't tell that's a Border Collie?"

Chu Zeshen continued, "My spouse, Gu Bai."

Gu Bai heard Chu Zeshen introduce him so solemnly. Wasn't "my spouse" a little too formal? It was probably out of respect for me as his partner in an arranged marriage.

It was a perfectly normal way to introduce one's spouse, but the words hit Xie Wen like a blow to the head, leaving him unable to get that breath out.

Xie Wen muttered, "Fuck." All his shock was contained in that one word.

Lu Shengfan said, "A Ze, this is a bit sudden. Why haven't you mentioned it before?"

Chu Zeshen said, "We only registered our marriage last week. You're the first people I've told besides family."

Xie Wen said with some dissatisfaction, "What do you mean, we're the first people you've told? I heard the rumor that you'd gotten married from someone else first thing this morning. You were a full half day late telling us."

Lu Shengfan glanced at Gu Bai, who was reading the menu, and said to Chu Zeshen, "It probably came from Chu Ningwei. How did he find out?"

Chu Zeshen said indifferently, "Grandpa came over for dinner on the weekend, and their whole family showed up uninvited. They offended my spouse, so Grandpa and I warned them."

Hearing him say "my spouse" over and over gave Xie Wen goosebumps. So this was what Chu Zeshen was like after getting married. He could even hear a hint of showing off in it.