Page 35

At that moment, Chu Zeshen spoke. "When I came in, I heard you say you'd give Mocha some meat."

Gu Bai looked at Chu Zeshen, the hopeless dog owner, and met his smiling eyes. Then he lowered his head and met Mocha's watery eyes.

The man and the dog were in cahoots.

He sighed. "Then give him another piece of chicken breast."

Uncle Li answered happily and went into the kitchen to prepare it.

Chu Zeshen said, "Try to indulge Uncle Li on our last night, or he'll make up for it all when we get back."

Gu Bai took a sip of soup. "Mocha's a little overweight. Are you going to take responsibility for his exercise?"

Chu Zeshen sounded like an irresponsible father. "He should lose some weight while we're away."

Mocha was a year and a half old, right at his most energetic age. His excess weight was only temporary; more running and a controlled diet would take care of it.

Without Uncle Li's extra feedings during their days away, Mocha would slim back down.

The chicken breast was soon cooked. Uncle Li put the meat in Mocha's bowl and expertly counted out the commands.

Gu Bai didn't much like chatting over meals. He liked to focus on eating, and fortunately, Chu Zeshen was the same.

They exchanged only a sentence or two.

"Have a glass?"

"Sure."

Gu Bai raised his wineglass in satisfaction and took a sip. The wine was richly fragrant without being harsh, with a hint of berries. There was a reason it was expensive; otherwise, no one would have kept it in a private collection.

If this marriage alliance didn't work out later on and the contract ended before the year was up, Gu Bai would even want to tell Chu Zeshen to skip paying him and just give him a few bottles of wine instead.

An hour after dinner, Gu Bai was playing games in the living room while Chu Zeshen played Frisbee with Mocha in the front yard.

Chu Zeshen had left his phone on the living room table. Half-reclining on the sofa, Gu Bai heard it ring and instinctively called for Mocha. Then he remembered Mocha was outside, so he had to get up and take the phone out to find its owner.

Without even putting on his shoes, Gu Bai stood in the doorway and called outside, "Chu Zeshen, your phone."

Although Chu Zeshen was six years older than Gu Bai, their mental ages were about the same, so Gu Bai always called him by his name.

Chu Zeshen came over. "My hands are covered in grass. It's not very convenient to answer."

With practiced ease, Gu Bai answered the call and switched on the speakerphone.

"A Ze, what took you so long to answer?"

Chu Zeshen said, "I was outside. Need something?"

Xie Wen said, "Of course I need something if I'm calling. Just reminding you not to forget tomorrow's ten o'clock flight. The private plane won't wait if you're late."

Gu Bai held the phone up in front of Chu Zeshen. With both hands hanging at his sides, Chu Zeshen took a step forward, moving closer to the phone-and to the person holding it.

"I won't forget. Anything else?"

Xie Wen asked again, "You're outside?"

Chu Zeshen was one step short of entering the house, so he could just about count as being outside.

"Mm."

Xie Wen immediately sighed in relief. "Good, as long as that spouse of yours isn't there. A vacation should be relaxing. Want me to arrange a pool party for the last two days? I've got plenty of friends over there..."

Gu Bai spoke. "I'm here. I've been listening the whole time."

Xie Wen cut himself off and gave an awkward, dry laugh. "Hahaha, you two really are inseparable."

Gu Bai said, "A pool party sounds fine. Mocha likes swimming."

Xie Wen blurted out, "My pool parties aren't that kind..."

Once again, Xie Wen was interrupted. Chu Zeshen said, "Then arrange a pool party Mocha can take part in."

Xie Wen gave a snort of laughter. "Fine, whatever you say."

Cursing inwardly, Xie Wen hung up.

Gu Bai lowered his hand and looked at Chu Zeshen in amusement. "Seems you attend pool parties quite often, Mr. Chu."

How could he not know about these activities of wealthy heirs? Even if he had never taken part, he had heard of them. He just hadn't expected Chu Zeshen to be someone who liked that kind of fun too.

Chu Zeshen didn't deny it. "Xie Wen hosts them. A Sheng and I just lend our names. Neither of us shows up at the venue."

Gu Bai asked, "Then what do you two go there for?"

Chu Zeshen said, "Business."

Gu Bai: ...

Chapter 19

At eight the next morning, Mocha had already eaten breakfast and was sitting obediently outside Gu Bai's room, waiting for the door to open. But not a sound came from inside.

After washing up, Chu Zeshen came out of his room and saw Mocha whining at the door.

Mocha had developed a habit of entering rooms as he pleased, and Gu Bai had only recently managed to break him of it with great difficulty. Now Mocha could only enter rooms with open doors.

As soon as Mocha saw Chu Zeshen come out, he immediately went over to his feet and stared straight up at him with watery eyes.

Chu Zeshen knew at a glance what Mocha's look meant.

"Want the door open?"

Mocha's tail wagged even more enthusiastically.

"I can't open it for you."

Mocha's tail slowed, its sporadic wags looking rather forlorn.

"But I can knock for you."

Mocha tilted his head at Chu Zeshen, as though wondering what those words meant.

Chu Zeshen walked up to the door, raised his hand, and knocked twice, neither too hard nor too softly.

Before long, a languid, impatient voice came from inside.

"Who is it?"

Hearing Gu Bai's voice, Mocha grew excited again and signaled for Chu Zeshen to keep knocking.

"Mocha."

The room fell silent, and Mocha began whining anxiously again.

Through Mocha's whining, a voice could faintly be heard from inside. "Mocha, my ass. Since when could Mocha talk?"

Chu Zeshen chuckled softly outside the door, then turned and went downstairs.

When Gu Bai got up and opened the door, all he found outside was a dog obediently waiting for his owner to get up. The person who had spoken was gone.

Seeing his owner up, Mocha hurriedly pounced at his feet. Still looking half-asleep, Gu Bai leaned against the doorframe and lifted a foot to rub against Mocha. "You little whiner. All you do is act cute all day."

Top