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nOn Saturday, when I was running my usual lap around Dongshan Lake, I heard a broadcast from the radio that the kung fu old man put on a chair. ‘There will be heavy rainstorms tonight. For citizens who are planning a night excursion, please bring necessary rain gear or change your plans.’

nI didn’t really believe them.

nThe weather forecasters were in a panic, ever since that sudden downpour that happened a while back. It caused heavy traffic jams in the city, and some people died when a few buildings collapsed. Every time there was a bit of rain, they would quickly warn everyone, afraid that someone would get rained to death.

nThat is why I didn’t bring any rain gear when I Ieft the house. I wore my dark gray casual clothes, a pair of comfortable running shoes, and went to to PuTai South Street.

nIt took only 15 minutes to walk here. This place was not that far from my home.

nThe purpose of this trip was to use the coupons that Xing Xing gave me.

nI took a closer look at the Shangdao Cafe Couples Coupon, and found that it expired tomorrow. So it would be useless if I didn’t use it today.

nI originally planned to go with my dad, but I didn’t expect him to be called by Director Cao on a last minute phone call. He said that it was the “HHH Enthusiasts Club” holding their first offline meeting, and since the old man was one of the founders, he couldn’t be absent.

nI was not interested in knowing what kind of illegal organization the “HHH Enthusiasts Club” was. In short, my dad abandoned me after that phone call, and left with the group.

nI could only eat this couple meal alone. It felt like a waste.

nIf I called Xiao Qin and asked her to come, she will probably come running even if she was unwell.

nBut forget that, I don’t want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings.

nPuTai South Street was a bustling area of Xicheng District. Today was coincidentally the weekend. Every few minutes, a car stops at the roadside, and then a fashionable male and female couple would exit while hugging each other and laughing.

nIf I listed store names starting from the place with the most cars, it would be: Home Inn, Shangdao Cafe, Fengyuan KTV… Basically, it was all places for entertainment.

nOn the same street, less than 50 steps away, there were barely any traffic in front of the pet hospital. Only a small van used for house visits was parked in front.

nThis was an established pet hospital that has been here for a long time. Although the store was small and didn’t have many employees, they always treated every checkup seriously, and they live up to the ‘love’ word in their store name.

nWhen my puppy was sick a few years ago, he got IV drips here.

nThat time, the principal of the hospital, Dr. Zhao, helped me a lot, so it still remains fresh in my memories.

nSince the puppy’s blood vessels were small and the heart was fragile, only the thinnest needles could be used. We used the slowest infusion rate, and it often took 4 or 5 hours to administer one bottle of medicine.

nDr. Zhao asked me every hour if I needed to use the washroom, and he would hold the puppy for me.

nAlthough I was very confident about my bladder, after he asked me multiple times, I had no choice but to use the washroom.

nWhen I came back, my puppy was peeing on Dr. Zhao’s leg.

nI quickly apologized, but Dr. Zhao waved his hand and said that it was normal. He said the puppy must have held it in for a long time. Since he peed on me, but not on you, it shows that he loves you very much!

nDr. Zhao then carefully handed the puppy to me, and went to change into a new pair of pants.

nAlthough the puppy’s illness was not cured, I didn’t have any complaints. Even if it was a human, some illnesses can’t be cured.

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nI was very grateful to Dr. Zhao for taking care of me and my puppy, so I came to see him today. If he is not too busy, wouldn’t it be nice to ask him to eat a meal with me?

nI pushed open the glass door of the Love Pet Hospital. I came across Dr. Zhao cleaning dog poop off the floor. Next to Dr. Zhao was a plump madam decked out in jewelry, holding a Shih Tzu in her arms. She apologized in haste:

n“Dr. Zhao, I’m really sorry. I don’t know why he didn’t just go at home? I didn’t expect that once he got the needle…”

n“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Dr. Zhao started to explain while wiping his sweat. “This is a normal phenomenon, and since the bowel movements are smooth, that means he should be fine soon!”

nAfter the plump madam bowed and thanked him, she quickly left with her dog.

nWhen she was leaving, she was visibly shocked when she saw my appearance. Later, when she realized that Dr. Zhao and I greeted each other like acquaintances, she then believed that I was not here to rob the place.

nDr. Zhao’s pet hospital store was not very big. After entering, you would be amazed by how narrow it was inside. If you looked to the right, you will see a row of booths for IV, a bit like the workbenches in offices, you can put dogs on the table. Usually owners would place their dogs on their lap, unless the dog was too big.

nTo the left of the booths, if you removed the stool, it only left a narrow path where one person and a dog could pass through. Two people would be pushing it.

nHowever, I know that it’s a completely different place within the depths of the hospital. There were not only operating rooms, staff lounges, but also large rooms for pets.

nToday, only two IV booths were being used out of a total of eight. Sitting outside was the vet intern, Xiao Ding. He just graduated from the University of Agriculture. He’s pretty tall and slightly chubby, and he likes to go to Internet cafes to play Dota. Once he starts playing, he gets bloodshot eyes, and keeps screaming in the microphone: “NOOB! HACKER!”

nEven if he’s an incredible level 50 on HaoFang (TN: clan system platform, basically form clans for games like Dota, SC, or CS, etc..), he becomes silent whenever he comes face to face with a pretty young girl. He becomes too nervous to speak, as if it was a blind date or something.

nToday, Xiao Ding sat by the IV drip booths, holding a large golden retriever in his arms, blushing without saying a word.

nBased on this situation, I’m guessing it’s a female student sitting inside?

nSince Xiao Ding was too big, I couldn’t see what the female student behind him looks like, and the female seemed to be intentionally avoiding me, or is it just my imagination?

nI explained to Dr. Zhao why I came and asked if he was free. He shook his head and said that he had a bad stomach recently. He could only eat vegetables, and he might have to visit the hospital later. If I had to find someone to accompany me, I could wait for Xiao Ding after was finished his work.

nI thought that was also fine. Xiao Ding was a refined person as long as he was not playing Dota.

nBefore I even went to talk to Xiao Ding. He took the golden retriever in one hand and a drip bottle in the other and disappeared to the back rooms in an instant. I didn’t know if he or the dog wanted to use the washroom.

nAs soon as he left, the female student hidden behind him was revealed.

nThe uniform was from 28 Middle.

nLong black hair that extended past the waist and scattered behind her back like a waterfall.

nSitting on a stool with both knees held together, there was a sickly dalmatian pup receiving IV treatment on her knees.

nIn order to not to let the puppy feel jolts, she held the same posture. Who knows how long she’s kept this uncomfortable posture.

nShe lightly stroked the back of the puppy with her left hand and held the puppy’s furry paws with her right hand. Her gaze was full of kindness and seemed to encourage the other party to keep fighting.

nWho else could it be? It was the class leader, Shu Sha.

nI don’t really care when you bring your dog to see the vet, but why were you hiding? I was talking to Dr. Zhao for a while, you probably knew that I was here. You couldn’t even greet me?

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nEh? Now that Xiao Ding left, and we locked eyes. You still don’t talk to me? Not only are you not speaking to me, but you’re also blushing? Is it that embarrassing to be acquainted with me?

nI walked over in a huff, and sat down where Xiao Ding was sitting.

nThe class leader subconsciously shifted her body a bit further, but accidentally startled the dalmatian sleeping on her knees. The class leader’s eyes were filled with guilt and stress, and she needed to be pacified. She was finally able to put the puppy to sleep.

n“Is it that embarrassing?” I asked with folded arms.

nSeeing that she could not avoid answering, the class leader muttered for a while, then replied: “A bit.”

nEh? You can’t even act a bit polite? I can’t believe you actually admitted that it was embarrassing to be acquainted with me! You could have lied and just said you didn’t see me!

nI wanted to ridicule the class leader, but since she was bringing a pet to come here to see a doctor, she probably felt pretty bad. Since I am a man, I will not bother her here.

n“What, is your dog sick? How long has it been?”

nThe class leader vaguely replied: “I don’t know…”

nYou don’t know? Look at how carefully you are treating the puppy, like a baby who is not even a month old. You care about pets, you are also responsible for the family’s meals, how would you not know how long your dog has been sick? Is it that difficult to tell me the truth?

nSeeing that I was chatting with Shu Sha, Dr. Zhao came over curiously.

n“Do you guys know each other?”

nThe class leader hesitated and spat out a “no”, I followed up and quickly replied:

n“Yeah, we’re classmates, she’s our class leader.”

nSeeing that I rushed to say something, the class leader stopped talking, and looked down to take care of the puppy.

nIf Shu Sha does not want to chat, I will just chat with Dr. Zhao.

n“Dr. Zhao, what’s wrong with her dog? What sickness is it? Can it be cured?”

nDr. Zhao rubbed the stubble on his chin.

n“Xiao Ye, this isn’t Shu Sha’s dog, it’s a stray dog that we took in.”

n“Huh? If it’s a stray, why is Shu Sha holding it during IV treatment?”

nShu Sha hung her head even lower. Her face started burning up, as if I discovered something shameful.

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