The High-Class Pet Dog

In less than half a month, Chi Yu had narrowly escaped death twice.

The Jin family, somehow informed of Chi Yu's misfortune, wasted no time. The ever-diplomatic Madam Jin, dragging along an unwilling Jin Yao, arrived at the hospital, burdened with expensive gifts.

Last time, Chi Yu had made it clear that she wanted to break off the engagement with the Jin family. The Jin couple, thoroughly shaken, initially thought it was just a childish spat, not expecting Chi Yu's fury to erupt so fiercely.

Chi He paid no heed to the Jin family, and simply declared the engagement null and void—over a phone call, without even meeting face to face. Jin Yao's father had nearly fallen to his knees on the other end, pleading with Chi He for one more chance for his son.

Upon returning home, Jin Yao received a brutal beating, and, with a face bruised and swollen, was forced to apologize to Chi He. Only then was the matter of the broken engagement temporarily shelved.

Madam Jin, far more cautious than her last visit, perched on the edge of the chair, scarcely allowing herself to settle.

Chi Yu glanced up slightly, and Madam Jin instantly rose to her feet, eagerly asking if Chi Yu needed water or if she'd like an apple peeled.

Chi Yu was seething with anger, desperate for a release, and these two—mother and son—had conveniently delivered themselves to her.

Thinking back, when she was last driven into the hospital by rage, she had done nothing to them. That was far too merciful.

Without responding, she let Madam Jin sit there in awkward silence until the tension in the air became unbearable. Jin Yao, who had been sitting and playing on his phone, stood up, his face darkening, before Chi Yu spoke casually, "Auntie, do you remember Ning Jin?"

Before Madam Jin could reply, Jin Yao lost his temper and shouted, "Chi Yu! If you're upset, take it out on me, but leave others out of it!"

"Others?" 

How absurd.

Chi Yu couldn't be bothered with him and continued addressing Madam Jin, "Honestly, last time wasn't such a big deal. You see, I have a hobby—I like collecting limited edition items."

She blinked, feigning distress.

"Limited editions, by nature, are meant to be unique, and fewer people should have them. But Jin Yao, fully aware that I owned a pair of running shoes, went and bought Ning Jin the exact same pair. Now how am I supposed to wear them without losing face?"

Madam Jin knew Ning Jin all too well. 

That low-born wretch had already interfered more than once between Chi Yu and Jin Yao, ruining what could have been a decent relationship.

In fact, the moment she sensed something was amiss, Madam Jin had considered taking care of Ning Jin. If it hadn't been for Jin Yao's hunger strike at home, threatening his own life and extracting a promise from her not to touch Ning Jin, that wretched girl would've long been sent to some remote backwater, far away from any trouble.

"Don't worry, dear. Your uncle and I have already strictly cut off Jin Yao's allowance. This kind of thing will never happen again."

Madam Jin almost grovelled in her attempt to curry favor with Chi Yu.

Chi Yu glanced at Jin Yao, who stood there, fists clenched, glaring at her with gritted teeth. Seeing his discontent brought her a strange joy.

"Auntie, you're too kind." In an instant, Chi Yu donned a sweet expression, taking Madam Jin's hand affectionately and giving it a playful shake.

"When I'm discharged, you and uncle simply must come over for a meal."

Her words signaled that her anger had cooled, and a great weight was lifted from Madam Jin's heart. Relieved, she exchanged a few more pleasantries.

Then, with a sudden shift in tone, Chi Yu's voice became coy. "Auntie, I'd like to have a word with Jin Yao alone."

Madam Jin, thrilled at the opportunity to escape, quickly stood up. "I'll go for a walk downstairs. Take your time, talk things through."

As Jin Yao watched his mother leave the room, confirming she was truly gone, he paced to the side of the bed, his handsome face now filled with disgust.

"All you know how to do is use our engagement to blackmail me. Is there anything else you're capable of?"

Chi Yu smirked. "Oh, there's plenty more. Care to find out?"

Jin Yao: "..."

He thought of the flicker of malice in his mother's eyes earlier and, worrying that she might cause trouble for Ning Jin, bit back his pride and reluctantly apologized, "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking last time. It won't happen again."

Chi Yu raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

"Ning Jin is innocent. I hope when my mother returns, you can tell her to leave Ning Jin alone."

"I won't." Chi Yu's voice left no room for negotiation.

Jin Yao felt he had already compromised enough. 

Chi Yu's relentless demands were simply too much!

He glared at her, eyes burning with hatred, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. In a fit of anger, he reached out, trying to grab her by the neck.

Chi Yu reacted quickly, slapping him across the face.

Jin Yao's head snapped to the side, and the malice drained from him like water from a broken dam. Cold sweat ran down his back.

Now fully conscious of the grave mistake he had almost made, he knew he should apologize to Chi Yu.

But his pride, as a young man, refused to let him utter the words.

"Do you feel humiliated?" The girl's voice was crisp, like wind chimes swaying beneath the eaves, light and melodious, but with a chill that pierced to the bone.

Jin Yao stared at Chi Yu and a perfect description for her flashed through his mind— a venomous beauty, cold-hearted as a serpent.

Though her face was as delicate and flawless as a porcelain doll, she evoked no warmth. Instead, she was someone one wanted to flee from, to be as far away from as possible.

Chi Yu threw off the covers, her legs dangling from the side of the bed, her pale feet swinging lazily. 

Though she smiled, her words sent a chill down his spine.

"Your misfortune is that you were born into the Jin family, destined to bear the weight of restoring your family's honor."

"You need to please me. If you can't do it standing, then kneel."

"If I'm satisfied with your submission, the Jin family will prosper for another year."

"You say we're engaged, but in reality, you're nothing more than a glorified pet dog."

"We both know the truth, yet you insist on playing dumb, forcing me to tear away the pretense, making everything unbearably awkward."

"So tell me, should I keep pretending you're human, or should I put a leash around your neck?"

The room fell deathly silent.

Chi Yu's words had trampled Jin Yao's pride, crushing it into the ground, grinding it into dust, leaving it utterly deformed.

He couldn't find his voice, his throat seemed blocked with ice, and his entire body froze.

Chi Yu gazed at him with cold pity. "Tell me, do you want to be a man or a dog?"

Jin Yao's head drooped low, his chin almost touching his chest. From this angle, he saw Chi Yu's feet, smooth as jade, as if carved from the finest porcelain—perfectly beautiful.

It was a simple choice, with no third option.

Jin Yao bent his knee, kneeling on one leg, and gently slipped her feet into her slippers. His voice, unnervingly calm, said, "The weather is quite nice today. How about we go outside for some sunshine?"

He extended his hand, palm up, in an offer of a handshake.

Only equals shake hands.

Servants, or dogs, must offer the back of their hand, waiting to support their master.

Chi Yu smiled, but instead of taking his hand, she looped her arm through his and they walked out of the room together.

Neither of them knew that Ning Jin would be arriving at the hospital at that exact moment.

So, as they stepped out, the three of them stood face to face, equally astonished.

Chi Yu's surprise was just surprise.

Jin Yao's held a trace of panic.

Ning Jin's stemmed from witnessing their intimate gesture.

Hadn't Jin Yao always hated Chi Yu? How could he allow her to get so close to him? 

(Chapter End)