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In August, Lu Yunshu went on a business trip.

While she was away, Jin Hanshuang brought home a puppy.

It all started when Jin Hanshuang and Du Mengying found a little puppy near a trash bin.

It was a small corgi that still had its tail and floppy ears.

It was filthy all over and running around in front of the trash bin, tongue hanging out and mouth wide open, smiling at all the passersby. Its jet-black eyes shone like gemstones.

Jin Hanshuang’s heart softened. She went to the nearby convenience store and bought a sausage to feed the little puppy.

The corgi was very obedient, not wary of people at all.

When Jin Hanshuang stretched out her hand and clicked her tongue twice, the corgi came scampering over, its ears swaying in the air.

It sniffed the sausage, then bit into it.

Its mouth opened and closed with each bite.

Jin Hanshuang and Du Mengying reached out to pet it.

At first, it avoided their hands, but after a while, it no longer cared and just focused on eating.

The sight made Jin Hanshuang feel distressed. “How come this puppy isn’t scared of people at all?  What if a bad person takes it away?”

Du Mengying said, “Then you can take it away before the bad people do.”

Jin Hanshuang replied, “Okay.”

“?”

Du Mengying said, “I was just joking?”

“I think your joke is very reasonable.”

And so, Jin Hanshuang took the little corgi with her.

She brought it to the vet for checkups and treatments, spending a fortune.

Since heaven had ordained for her to meet this little puppy, she couldn’t just leave it to die.

She even considered it very clearly:

Once the puppy was healthy again, she would find someone to adopt it.

That was the plan, but her plan couldn’t keep up with her heart.

After a while, she stopped wanting to find someone to adopt.

She wanted to become the adopter herself.

It was all because the corgi was so well-behaved and clingy.

When she waited at the hospital for the puppy’s vaccines, it would lie on her lap and nestle into her hand, either closing its eyes to sleep or looking up at her. Every once in a while, it would curiously watch the other cats and dogs.

Every day when the corgi saw her come up to its crate, the little puppy would leap up excitedly and bark in her direction. It was adorable and well-behaved, she couldn’t help but fall in love.

Jin Hanshuang couldn’t take responsibility for another person’s life, but she believed she could take responsibility for a single puppy’s life.

And so, she had a dog now. A real puppy.

Lu Yunshu knew everything, because Jin Hanshuang had been sharing every little moment about the puppy with her as if they were raising a child together.

She was very much in favor of keeping the dog.

Since she was away during the day so often, she thought having a puppy to keep Jin Hanshuang company was a good thing.

On the day the corgi came home with Jin Hanshuang, Lu Yunshu saw it for the first time through a video call. The little puppy, with its ears still pressed to its head, looked so tiny in Jin Hanshuang’s hands.

Its fur was still faded in color, but now it was clean. Its jet-black eyes continued sparkling like a newborn child who found everything fresh and interesting.

Jin Hanshuang pointed at the screen and said to the puppy, “This is also your mother.”

The corgi barked at Lu Yunshu, “Woof!”

“She called me Mom,” Lu Yunshu said.

Jin Hanshuang asked, “You understand her?”

Lu Yunshu nodded solemnly. “After all, we are the same species.”

Jin Hanshuang froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

They were kindred spirits.

“You’re so cute, little puppy Lu~”

Both the puppy in her hands and the puppy on the screen were adorable.

She loved them equally.

“I miss you,” the little puppy surnamed Lu suddenly said.

Jin Hanshuang set the corgi down, her brows and eyes soft as she gazed at Lu Yunshu. “I miss you too…”

Hearing this, Lu Yunshu began comforting her, “Just wait a little longer. I’ll be back in a couple of days.”

Jin Hanshuang nodded, her voice gentle. “Alright.”

Then she asked, “Has my wife been eating well and resting properly?”

Lu Yunshu mimicked her tone, “Yes, she has. There’s a nice restaurant near this hotel—I’ll take you there next time.”

Jin Hanshuang nodded, “Okay.”

Lu Yunshu asked, “What about my wife? Has she been eating well and resting properly?”

“Yes.”

“And does she miss me?”

“Of course.”

“That’s good.”

They laughed together, feeling childish.

Lu Yunshu said, “Next time we meet, my wife must hug me and give me a kiss.”

As Director Lu, she was handing over the script again.

Jin Hanshuang’s eyes narrowed. “Just one kiss?”

This actress wanted more scenes.

“There’ll be lots of people at the airport, so not too many kisses,” Director Lu said. “But when we get home, we can kiss for a very long time.”

She was very pleased with her added lines.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you to come back~” Jin Hanshuang picked up the little corgi, pinched its paws, and waved to Lu Yunshu. “Our little puppy is waiting for you to come back too~”

“Woof!”

The baby of the family was looking forward to their reunion as well.

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Lu Yunshu finally returned to City A.

As promised, Jin Hanshuang came to pick her up at the airport.

The moment they saw each other, they ran into each other’s embrace.

Jin Hanshuang held Lu Yunshu close and rubbed her back. “My Yunshu has worked so hard~”

And right after that, she kissed her on the cheek.

Jin Hanshuang didn’t want to traumatize Lu Yunshu’s assistant, who was standing right there.

She turned to the assistant. “Xiao Zhu, you’ve worked hard too.”

Assistant Xiao gave a shy smile. “It’s my pleasure.”

Jin Hanshuang asked, “Would you like to go out for dinner with us?”

Assistant Xiao waved her hands. “No, no! You and President Lu should eat together. I’ve got an appointment, so I’ll head off first!”

She looked at Lu Yunshu as if she was waiting for her permission to leave.

Lu Yunshu gave a slight nod. “Be safe on the way back and get some good rest.”

The assistant agreed and bid them goodbye.

Jin Hanshuang linked arms with her wife, watching the assistant leave. “This child is still socially anxious.”

Assistant Xiao was one of Lu Yunshu’s most reliable employees. While she struggled in social settings, she was very capable at her work.

Lu Yunshu suddenly said, “I’m socially anxious too.”

Jin Hanshuang glanced over.

With a straight face, Lu Yunshu added, “When we’re out together, I only want to talk to my wife.”

Jin Hanshuang: “?”

What kind of social anxiety is that!

Jin Hanshuang pinched her face. “You’re just a naughty little puppy faking it.”

Lu Yunshu kissed her hand, grinning slyly.

They left the airport and walked to Jin Hanshuang’s car.

After getting in, Lu Yunshu realized that Jin Hanshuang had brought her flowers.

It was a bouquet of fresh, lovely white daisies.

Sure enough, her wife always had a gift ready every time she came back from a business trip.

“Do you like them?”

“Of course.”

Lu Yunshu hugged the flowers to her chest, her eyes curving.

She snapped a picture of the bouquet and posted it to her Moments.

The caption was simple:

[I’ve returned home.]

[A gift from my wife.]

Then she put down the flowers and took Jin Hanshuang’s hand.

Jin Hanshuang turned her head.

Lu Yunshu had already leaned over.

A kiss fell on her lips.

Satisfied, Lu Yunshu sat back.

“We didn’t kiss on the lips before, so now I’m making up for it.”

Jin Hanshuang laughed. “You…”

Lu Yunshu took Jin Hanshuang’s hand and rested her face in her palm.

Exhaustion was written all over her features.

“Hanshuang, I’m so tired. I want to sleep.”

Jin Hanshuang’s heart instantly ached.

Her gaze softened. “You don’t want to eat?”

“I already ate on the plane. I’m just a bit tired now.”

Jin Hanshuang stroked Lu Yunshu’s face. “Take a nap in the car. We’ll be home soon.”

“Mm.”

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They arrived at home.

This time, there was a new family member greeting them.

The sound of the door opening awoke the puppy.

Already familiar with the sound, it came scampering down the hallway.

The moment Jin Hanshuang and Lu Yunshu stepped inside, they were greeted by the little puppy. It sat on the floor, its tail wagging furiously.

The corgi barked twice at Jin Hanshuang.

When it saw Lu Yunshu, it took two steps back and tilted its head. It barked again, studying this new stranger in its home.

Lu Yunshu crouched down and held out her hand.

First, she let the puppy sniff it and get used to her scent.

Then, she reached out to pet it.

Seeing that she meant no harm, the corgi bravely ventured forward.

Its tiny heart-shaped nose sniffed around her fingers while its tail swayed lightly.

Lu Yunshu patted its little head.

The puppy didn’t resist.

She scratched it under its chin.

The puppy’s tail wagged even faster.

It flopped onto the floor, rolling over to reveal its round belly.

Lu Yunshu laughed.

As expected, all dogs loved being petted.

Xiao Fanfan also had a dog at home, and that was how Lu Yunshu had honed her dog-petting technique.

“What’s its name?” Lu Yunshu asked.

“Xiao Ba,” Jin Hanshuang said, “Because I found her in August.”^[1]

It was a silly name, but not too silly.

Lu Yunshu lowered her gaze and called out softly, “Xiao Ba…”

After playing with the puppy for a little while, she scooped it up and carried it into the living room.

She sat down on the sofa to rest.

Seeing them get along so well, Jin Hanshuang was relieved.

She carried Lu Yunshu’s suitcase and bag into the cloakroom, then transferred the daisies into a vase.

When Xiao Ba saw Jin Hanshuang go into the cloakroom, the little puppy tried to run after her.

But Lu Yunshu scooped it back up with one hand. “Don’t go disturb Hanshuang, stay here with me.”

As if it understood Lu Yunshu, it didn’t try to run into the cloak room again.

Lu Yunshu laughed and began teasing the puppy.

She tickled it while sitting, then tickled it while laying down.

Jin Hanshuang had a connection with Xiao Ba, and so did Lu Yunshu.

When Lu Yunshu lay on her back, so did Xiao Ba.

As if they had known each other forever.

One person, one dog.

I look at you, you look at me.

Lu Yunshu laughed and squeezed Xiao Ba’s cheeks.

By the time Jin Hanshuang came out of the cloakroom, the two were already asleep.

Lu Yunshu was lying on the sofa with Xiao Ba nestled in her arms.

Both their chests heaved up and down.

The noisy outside world seemed distant at that moment.

Jin Hanshuang silently walked over and crouched down to look at them.

One big puppy, one little puppy—both adorable.

Her heart softened at the sight.

She fetched a light blanket and covered Lu Yunshu with it.

Leaning down, she gently kissed her face. “Rest well, my Yunshu.”

That very evening, they saw Xiao Ba’s ears standing up for the first time.

Jin Hanshuang happened to be recording.

One of Xiao Ba’s ears slowly straightened up like an inflating balloon, filling to the top with a duang.

Then the other ear followed with another duang.

Now both ears were awake!

Lu Yunshu and Jin Hanshuang’s eyes lit up.

Xiao Ba stood there watching them with an innocent expression, completely unaware of why its moms were so excited.

The next second, it barked twice and grinned. Even though it didn’t know why its moms were so happy, it wanted to share in their joy.

After replaying the video, Jin Hanshuang lovingly scooped Xiao Ba into her arms.

She showered the little puppy with kisses. “Baby, you’re so cute~”

And she didn’t forget to kiss her other “puppy” either.

She said to Lu Yunshu, “You’re so cute too~”

Lu Yunshu was amused by Jin Hanshuang’s even-handed attitude and slipped an arm around her waist.

She kissed her back with a smile. “My baby is also cute.”

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Shen Wenxin knew her stepmother had adopted a little corgi with its tail intact.

When she had the chance, she came over to visit Xiao Ba.

The puppy had learned how to shake hands and sit on command, though sometimes it would lose balance and fall if it wasn’t sitting firmly.

When it tumbled, its whole body became soft and mushy. Even when it sat back up, it was still soft like jelly and impossibly cute.

Shen Wenxin teased it with a toy. “You’re too adorable.”

Lu Yunshu, sitting beside her, nodded.

That’s right.

Their Xiao Ba was the cutest corgi in the world.

Xiao Ba didn’t see where it was going as it messed around with the toy and stumbled straight into Jin Hanshuang’s arms.

At that moment, Jin Hanshuang’s phone rang from the other room.

She thrusted into Lu Yunshu’s arms and gave the puppy a gentle pat. “Be good and stay with mom. Your mama needs to take this call.”

Then she left.

Now it was only the two of them and the puppy in the living room.

Shen Wenxin saw Lu Yunshu wave Xiao Ba’s paw as if greeting her.

Lu Yunshu said, “Xiao Ba, this is your sister.”

Recognizing Xiao Ba as her sister meant acknowledging Lu Yunshu as her mother.

Shen Wenxin said, “When it comes to you, I am definitely not its sister.”

Lu Yunshu glanced at Shen Wenxin, then looked down at Xiao Ba and said smoothly, “Come on, Xiao Ba, call her Auntie.”

Shen Wenxin: “?”

Lu Yunshu looked at Shen Wenxin again. “Don’t like this title either?”

Then she lowered her head. “Xiao Ba, call her President Shen.”

Shen Wenxin: “…”

Shen Wenxin said, “I’m afraid if it really does start talking, you’ll be scared to death.”

Lu Yunshu didn’t respond right away.

After a while, she said serenely, “I’m touched.”

“?”

“You’ve grown up. You know how to care about your mother now.”

“…”

Shen Wenxin said, “Sometimes, I really want to give you a good smack.”

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The author (热到昏厥) has something to say:

Shen Wenxin’s killing intent rises, rises again, and keeps on rising.

I originally thought that today would be the last extra chapter, but I didn’t manage to write the scene I wanted. So barring any surprises, there will be one more tomorrow, and then the whole story will finally be complete! This time for sure!

Thank you so much to everyone who’s read this far. I’ve opened up a raffle. There will be 200 winners, each receiving 100 JJB. The drawing will be held next Monday evening. Anyone who is fully subscribed is eligible~

Thank you all for supporting the official release. Thank you (bows).^[2]

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^[1] “小八” or “xiǎo bā” literally means “little eight” in Chinese.

^[2] If you haven’t already and have the means, please consider supporting 热到昏厥 on jjwxc with the help of this guide.

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