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"Ming Jin, slow down. Uncle said Fendi was in the backyard. Nobody hid Fendi."

A child had run until his face was flushed red. "Someone did hide Fendi! Usually, Fendi comes running over as soon as I call. So many people came to the house today. There might be bad people among them."

Song Xiuling followed Guan Ming Jin at a brisk pace, afraid he might fall. His uncle had had this son late in life and practically wanted to cradle him in his palms every day. He couldn't let the boy get any bumps or scrapes.

Guan Ming Jin finally spotted his dog and called out loudly, "Fendi!"

Song Xiuling stopped. He saw someone reclining on a lounge chair, wearing sunglasses and looking perfectly at ease. The colorful evening glow shone on his fair face. His expression was relaxed and carefree, the corners of his mouth lifted as though he were enjoying the pleasure of the moment.

The evening breeze drifted gently past, carrying the scent of the sea. Song Xiuling felt as if he had wandered onto a beach for a relaxing vacation.

At the sound, Gu Bai sat up in his chair and glanced behind him. Seeing that it was someone he didn't know, he lay back down.

Guan Ming Jin saw another dog pinning Fendi down and biting, and cried out anxiously, "Move! Hurry up and move! Fendi, run!"

The quiet was shattered, but Gu Bai wasn't displeased. He said, "This is a friendly interaction between animals. You scared them so much they've stopped playing."

Guan Ming Jin said, "Fendi is never underneath when playing with other dogs. Is this your dog? Tell it to stop bullying Fendi."

Gu Bai said lazily, "That's because Fendi hadn't met anyone stronger."

Guan Ming Jin refused to concede. "Our Fendi is the strongest!"

Gu Bai competed for the title of strongest on behalf of Mocha, who held the title of king of the land. "Mocha, come here."

Mocha, who had been playing enthusiastically, immediately got up and ran to Gu Bai upon hearing his owner's command.

Gu Bai glanced at the child. "The strong obey their owners' commands."

Guan Ming Jin called to Fendi, who was still playing on the lawn. "Fendi, come here."

Fendi's ears twitched, but the dog ignored him and continued playing with the ball in its mouth.

Guan Ming Jin anxiously called again, "Fendi, hurry up and come here."

Fendi remained unmoved. With his pride wounded, the little boy looked ready to cry.

Gu Bai had no penchant for bullying children. He turned to Mocha and said, "Bring Fendi over."

Mocha trotted happily back onto the lawn and nudged Fendi. As soon as Mocha turned around, Fendi followed along behind.

Seeing the grass on Mocha, Gu Bai finally couldn't help getting up to brush the bits of grass off.

After silently watching everything from behind, Song Xiuling walked forward. "Hello."

Mocha turned warily and stood in front of Gu Bai.

Gu Bai gently patted Mocha's rump before saying to the person before him, "Hello."

Guan Ming Jin said to Song Xiuling, aggrieved, "Cousin, Fendi isn't the strongest."

Song Xiuling offered Guan Ming Jin a few words of comfort, saying he would take Fendi to school in a few days.

Gu Bai offered a reminder. "If you have time, it's better to do the training yourself. You can hire an instructor to guide you. A family pet doesn't need to know a lot of skills. It's not as if you're sending it to compete in all sorts of contests."

Song Xiuling accepted the reminder with a smile. "Thanks for the suggestion."

Gu Bai didn't reply and continued brushing Mocha off with his head lowered.

Watching the person before him patiently clean his pet, Song Xiuling couldn't help asking, "Are you a guest my uncle invited? Why aren't you eating in the front yard?"

Gu Bai said simply, "It's inconvenient with my pet."

"You can leave your pet with the butler. Your dog can play with Fendi, and you'll be free to eat in the front yard," Song Xiuling said. "I'll call the butler over now."

"No need."

As soon as Gu Bai finished speaking, Mocha suddenly slipped out of his hands and ran forward, leaping onto the person approaching.

Chu Zeshen raised a hand and stroked Mocha's head. "Calm down."

Gu Bai frowned. "Mocha is covered in grass."

Chu Zeshen looked up and swept a glance over Song Xiuling before saying, "It's fine. I'll clean Mocha up when we get home later."

Hearing Chu Zeshen's indulgent words, Gu Bai sighed helplessly. Never mind. He wasn't the one who would have to do the work.

Chu Zeshen said, "Come to the front yard. They've just brought out the shrimp you like."

At that, Gu Bai picked up the leash from the table and walked toward Chu Zeshen.

Song Xiuling recognized Chu Zeshen and nodded to him. "Ze Shen, long time no see."

Chu Zeshen nodded at him expressionlessly. "Long time no see."

Song Xiuling wanted to say more, but saw Chu Zeshen take the leash, clip it onto Mocha, and leave the backyard with the man and the dog.

Song Xiuling had a guess about the man's identity. He was probably Chu Zeshen's friend. He had heard his uncle say that Xie Wen had come to the island on vacation, and it seemed he had brought a group of friends along.

But his guess wasn't quite accurate. Chu Zeshen and that man were far closer than friends.

Their group sat in an inconspicuous spot. Because Song Xiuling was extremely interested in Gu Bai, he searched for him as soon as he reached the front yard, then found Chu Zeshen's group in a corner.

Chu Zeshen put the shrimp he had already peeled into the man's bowl. Xie Wen and Lu Shengfan, sitting across from them, were used to it and showed no surprise.

Watching the man smile as he ate the shrimp, Song Xiuling slowly knitted his brows.

Chapter 22

Gu Bai was the only one who enjoyed the first day's itinerary. After Xie Wen and the others returned from the Guan Family's dinner banquet, they looked as if their energy had been sucked dry, completely drained of vitality.

So they went back to their rooms early that night to rest.

The next morning, Xie Wen came downstairs yawning and saw Chu Zeshen and Lu Shengfan already sitting in the living room drinking coffee.

Their guiding principle for trips was to sleep until they woke naturally. They worked nine to five on ordinary days, so on vacation they would sleep their fill.

"Why are you up so early?" Xie Wen went to the pantry and made himself an extra-strong coffee.

Lu Shengfan said, "Breakfast is being kept warm in the kitchen."

The butler had brought people over that morning to prepare breakfast, with both Chinese and Western options.