Chapter 21
After a day of running his food stall, it wasn’t even 10 PM yet.
Jian Yunlan pedaled his tricycle back to his villa. Pushing open the door, he cheerfully announced, “I’m ho—”
Then, upon seeing the scene inside, Jian Yunlan promptly closed the door.
Clearly, he must have opened it the wrong way.
After a deep breath, he slowly reopened it…
Inside, the place was a complete mess.
The coffee table had been overturned, the vase had vanished, and the TV was askew. Sitting lazily on the sofa was a devastatingly handsome man with silver hair and dark skin. His golden eyes, filled with an exotic allure, were half-lidded in lazy disinterest.
His long hair was tied into a high ponytail, and his shirt had slipped down to his waist, exposing his tense, muscular upper body. His back was adorned with an intricate golden-red Taotie tattoo. A bead of sweat trickled down his neck, outlining his well-defined abs before disappearing beneath his waistband.
However, in complete contrast to this seductive scene, the Taotie was chewing on half of an air conditioner blade.
“Chomp, chomp, chomp.”
Jian Yunlan: “?”
The butler, who was beside the Taotie, had the expression of an old palace eunuch attentively serving the emperor. He smiled kindly and said, “Lord Taotie, there’s another kind of fan over here. Would you like to try it?”
Noticing Jian Yunlan’s return, the butler’s eyes lit up with joy.
“Young Master, you’re back.”
Look, the butler had taken excellent care of his most treasured handsome man. Now, he was ready for Jian Yunlan to enjoy!
The butler felt immensely proud—he had done his research. White-haired, dark-skinned handsome men were extremely rare in real life, and it was almost impossible to find a proper substitute.
He was determined to serve Lord Taotie well for the Young Master’s sake.
As a professional and competent butler, he would never ask unnecessary questions—like why Lord Taotie sometimes acted like a man and sometimes like a dog.
If a man suited the Young Master’s taste, it was only natural for him to have some special abilities, right?
Seeing Jian Yunlan, Taotie swallowed the last piece of the fan blade and grumbled with dissatisfaction:
“Human, this lord is hungry.”
Earlier today, he had gone grocery shopping for Jian Yunlan in the middle of the night. Because of that, Jian Yunlan had left him at home to catch up on sleep while he went out to run his food stall.
The result?
When Taotie woke up… he was starving.
And when he was hungry, he had to find something to eat.
What is this? A vase? Chomp chomp chomp.
What is this? An air conditioner fan blade? Chomp chomp chomp.
What is this? A television? …
Jian Yunlan looked at Taotie, then at the mess all over the floor, then at the butler, who was grinning like a proud aunt and inviting him to “enjoy” the dark-skinned handsome man.
What kind of hellish scene was this?!
Taking a deep breath—then another—Jian Yunlan forced a smile.
Seeing the faint hint of despair behind that smile, Taotie shuddered.
Jian Yunlan’s expression reminded Taotie of the time he barged into the underworld, causing chaos, while the overworked ghost messengers, exhausted from their 996 work schedule, trailed behind him, cleaning up his mess.
… Still breathing, but mentally checked out a long time ago.
Taotie grew wary. “Human, what do you intend to do to me?”
“Lord Taotie, for the sake of our long-term cooperation, some specialized training is necessary.”
Jian Yunlan spoke with a smile.
A bad feeling crept over Taotie.
*
An Hour Later – Bamboo Brocade Park, City Center
Bamboo Brocade Park was the go-to spot for pet owners in B City. It had spacious lawns perfect for playing frisbee with dogs, shady tree-lined paths, and riverside walkways. Besides dog walkers, you’d see people walking their cats, turtles, birds—someone even once brought their pet lizard to bask in the sun.
Dog owners gathered in small groups, proudly showing off their furry companions and showering them with exaggerated praise:
“Uncle Wang, your French Bulldog is amazing! Look at that physique, that little nose—wow!”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Auntie Yang, your Samoyed looks so lively and obedient!”
“When it comes to big dogs, no one can compare to Chairman Gu’s pack! Each one is smarter and stronger than the next—they even outrun police dogs!”
In the center of the crowd stood a middle-aged man in a traditional Chinese jacket, his graying hair making him look distinguished. Despite his age, he was full of energy. He held five leashes in his hands, and at his feet sat five well-trained, well-behaved large dogs—
A Border Collie, a German Shepherd, a Golden Retriever, an Alaskan Malamute, and even a Siberian Husky!
Each of them was clearly well cared for—robust, well-fed, and groomed to perfection.
Gu Tiancheng had no particular hobbies in life except for raising dogs, treating them better than his own son. His greatest pride wasn’t the thriving Gu Corporation he built from scratch, nor his sprawling estates or private jets, nor even ringing the Nasdaq bell—it was…
His dogs!
Every week, taking his dogs to Bamboo Brocade Park was Gu Tiancheng’s moment of glory. He basked in the envious praise of fellow pet owners, completely losing track of time and reality.
He even dared to boast that in all of B City, no one could raise or train large dogs better than him!
Suddenly, Auntie Yang pointed ahead and gasped, “That dog is stunning!”
The crowd turned to look.
“What a strong and majestic build!”
“Come on, no dog is prettier than Chairman Gu’s Dahei—wait, it really is impressive.”
“Whoa, look at those muscles, that frame—it can even rival Dahei!”
Gu Tiancheng’s face stiffened.
Dahei, his prized German Shepherd, was qualified to be a police dog. It took him great effort to bring it home, and it was his most cherished furry companion.
Who was it? Who dared to raise a dog that could outshine his beloved Dahei?!
Gu Tiancheng followed their gazes in a hurry.
On a nearby pedestrian path, a handsome young man was walking a large dog.
Immediately, Gu Tiancheng’s eyes were drawn to the dog.
—Its sleek silver fur, its powerful physique, the fluid grace of its muscles. Not to mention the two erect, fluffy ears, their tips tinged with flame-like blue and red hues, and those deep golden eyes that shimmered like gemstones. It was like a divine beast stepping out of a painting…
He had to admit, it was gorgeous.
Even more striking was its regal posture—head held high, exuding an aura of effortless dominance, its golden eyes half-lidded with indifference.
In other words, it had King Energy.
“It’s only slightly worse than my Dahei,” Gu Tiancheng grumbled sourly, reluctant to admit his beloved had been outshone. “Sure, it looks good, but training is another matter.”
Every true dog lover knew: raising a dog was 30% care, 70% training.
Plenty of large dogs looked impressive but were poorly trained—food aggression, disobedience, even biting people—all signs of a negligent owner.
Uncle Wang said, “That’s right, the more beautiful and imposing a large dog is, the harder it is to train. Not everyone has Chairman Gu’s talent for training dogs.”
Gu Tiancheng, who had just started to hunch slightly, immediately straightened his back!
However—
“Mao Mao, sit!” The young man spoke, palm held flat.
The large dog’s eyes showed a hint of reluctance.
Human, I am no mere dog. Why should I follow your commands?
The young man raised an eyebrow, leaned close to the dog’s ear, and whispered something. Then, he mouthed two words—
‘Wonton noodles.’
Wait… Wonton noodles?
Some observant onlookers, who managed to read his lips, scratched their heads in confusion.
What Jian Yunlan had actually said was: “Oh mighty and benevolent Lord Taotie, I shall make you wonton noodles when we get home!”
The dog’s ears twitched, and its expression showed obvious internal conflict.
After a brief struggle, it lowered its head and obediently sat down.
Its elegant and regal posture—front paws crossed as it sat—exuded an indescribable air of nobility, making the crowd murmur in amazement.
“It’s just ‘sit.’ Any dog can do that. Even my Xiao Qi can do it, let alone Dahei.” Gu Tiancheng scoffed. Xiao Qi was his Husky—naturally mischievous and difficult to train—but even it had learned quite a few commands.
But the next second—
“Mao Mao, spin!” The large dog spun in a graceful circle.
“Mao Mao, bow!” It stood on its hind legs, front paws pressed together, making a flawless bow.
“Mao Mao, dance!” As the young man played Fearless by Jay Chou, the dog’s ears twitched in rhythm. It twirled, rolled, and stepped to the beat, executing a majestic yet elegant dance.
Onlookers: “?”
Gu Tiancheng: “???”
Bro.
Are you kidding me?!
“Mao Mao, fly!”
Taotie: “…”
Human, do not push your luck!
…But fine, he would humor this mortal once more.
After all, he was the mighty and virtuous Lord Taotie! He smugly reassured himself.
…Though, if he were honest—
Wonton noodles. Slurp, slurp.
With a short sprint, Taotie coiled his hind legs and launched himself into the air.
His silver fur billowed in the wind, and for a full five seconds, he hovered mid-air, golden eyes blazing like fire, truly resembling a divine beast descending from the heavens.
The crowd gasped in awe.
“Wow, incredible!”
“This dog is unbelievably intelligent.”
“I’ve raised dogs for years, but I’ve never seen one like this.”
Gu Tiancheng ground his teeth, feeling a pang of jealousy. He grumbled, trying to save face, “This is nothing. If I hired a professional trainer for Dahei, he could…”
The crowd gave him sympathetic looks.
A lifelong dog enthusiast, outshone by a young man—this had to sting.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure brushed past Gu Tiancheng, bumping into him.
He immediately felt his pocket lighten.
His wallet was gone!
“A thief! There’s a thief!” Auntie Yang shrieked.
Gu Tiancheng patted his pocket, his face turning pale. “My wallet was stolen!”
The ID, credit cards, and cash inside weren’t important. What mattered most was the photograph of his late wife—a picture of her before illness ravaged her body, smiling serenely as she embroidered tiger-head shoes for their unborn child.
Since her passing, he had never remarried. That photo was his last emotional anchor, something he had always carried close to his heart. He never imagined it would be stolen on a busy street.
Gu Tiancheng broke into a cold sweat.
His German Shepherd, Dahei, trained as a police dog, immediately took off in pursuit, barking fiercely. But the thief was on an electric scooter, speeding away. His figure grew smaller and smaller—soon, he’d be out of sight!
Suddenly, a voice rang out:
“Mao Mao, chase!”
A silver blur streaked past them like lightning.
The figure moved so fast it was like a gust of wind, quickly leaving Dahei, Xiao Qi, and the other dogs far behind. It closed in on the fleeing thief, relentless as a white phantom of death.
Then, it pounced!
The thief never expected that even with his electric scooter at full speed, he would be caught—by a dog.
“Holy crap, what the hell—A DOG?!”
A massive force, carrying an overwhelming aura of bloodlust, pinned the thief to the ground with crushing dominance.
The large dog towered over him, its dark golden pupils glowing lazily with a faint red light, exuding the terrifying presence of a top-tier predator.
“Aaahhh! Lord Dog, I was wrong! I won’t steal ever again, wuwuwu…” The thief sobbed uncontrollably, snot and tears streaming down his face as he frantically kowtowed.
Taotie: “…”
‘Lord Dog’?!
How dare you!
Taotie’s gaze darkened, revealing his sharp, gleaming fangs.
…The thief’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted from sheer terror!
Hmph, weak and pathetic. A mere rat.
Taotie stepped off the thief with a leisurely air and nonchalantly groomed his fur with his paw.
The police arrived soon after.
Hearing that “Mao Mao” had single-handedly taken down the thief, the officers clicked their tongues in amazement. “This dog is incredible! What a well-trained animal. Even our police dogs could learn a thing or two from Maomao.”
Other dog owners also gathered around, showering praise:
“That’s right!”
“Paw Patrol saved the day!”
“The owner trained him well. Large dogs are hard to discipline.”
“Such a brave and exceptional dog.”
Puffed up with pride, Taotie raised his head high, basking in the endless praise and completely losing himself in the moment.
…He was getting way too good at playing the role of a dog.
“It’s not that big of a deal,” Jian Yunlan said modestly, holding Taotie’s leash with a smile. “I’m just an amateur.”
Gu Tiancheng retrieved his wallet and carefully inspected it. His wife’s photo was perfectly intact, not even a crease in sight.
When he looked back at Jian Yunlan and Taotie, his attitude had completely changed—now filled with open admiration and appreciation.
Not long ago, he had been feeling sour and dismissive about Jian Yunlan’s superior dog training. But now—
Jian Yunlan deserved his skills. This was what it meant for young talents to emerge!
And the dog—what a good dog! Fierce yet kind-hearted. His own Dahei had a long way to go and should strive to reach this level!
Overcome with emotion, Gu Tiancheng clasped Jian Yunlan’s hand. “Young man, you and Mao Mao really saved me today. I can’t thank you enough—you’re my lifesaver!”
Jian Yunlan replied, “Oh, it’s nothing. As a model citizen, this is just my duty.”
Gu Tiancheng laughed heartily. “Here’s my business card and my phone number. You must visit my home someday. Give this old man the chance to repay you properly!”
He handed over a business card, the golden letters gleaming: Chairman of Yuanzhou Group.
Anyone else would have been ecstatic.
—Yuanzhou Group’s Chairman! Having him owe you a massive favor? This was a life-changing opportunity, practically a ticket to instant wealth and status!
But Jian Yunlan barely glanced at it.
Gu Tiancheng? Never heard of him.
He had been setting up a small stall outside Yuanzhou Group’s building for days and only now realized the company’s owner was named Gu.
What a classic novel surname, Jian Yunlan mused.
Wait… could the main character’s love interest also have this surname? Nah, no way. That’d be too much of a coincidence. Haha.
He casually stuffed the card into his pocket, not planning to follow up. In his mind, this was just a random good deed, nothing worth making connections over.
Do the deed, then walk away—hiding both merit and fame…
Gu Tiancheng, still deeply moved, continued, “I don’t have many hobbies. I just love raising dogs. Maybe we can exchange training tips in the future.”
“Oh?” Jian Yunlan’s interest was piqued.
“I only started raising dogs recently, and there’s a lot I don’t know. If you’re willing to teach me, that’d be wonderful.”
Gu Tiancheng chuckled. “Hahaha! You just started raising dogs? Young man, you’re too humble.”
With such exceptional training skills, yet still claiming to be a beginner—Gu Tiancheng thought to himself—This kid has the rare virtue of humility, something you don’t see in today’s youth.
The more he looked at Jian Yunlan, the more he liked him. He nodded repeatedly in approval.
What a fine young man!
*
Across the Multiversal Livestream
[…]
[Of course, Boss Jian doesn’t recognize Chairman Gu. Why am I not surprised?]
[So Lord Taotie is actually this adorable and badass? (bleeding) (bleeding to death) Wasn’t he once the terrifying, bloodthirsty ancient beast who dominated the multiverse?!]
[HE REALLY DOESN’T KNOW GU TIANCHENG!!]
[What kind of cosmic jackpot did Boss Jian hit?! Not only does he have Gu Tiancheng owing him a huge favor, but he’s also completely won the chairman’s admiration. In the original novel, Chairman Gu was a powerful, deeply calculating figure. Who would’ve thought his biggest passion was… dog training?!]
[New viewer here—Wait, the streamer doesn’t recognize Gu Tiancheng? Hahaha! What’s next? Is he gonna say he doesn’t know the male lead of Paranoid Possession?! No way he’s that oblivious, right??? Old viewers, please tell me he’s just pretending, right? QAQ???]
[Silence.]
[Silence is tonight’s Cambridge Bridge.]
[He… might actually not know…]
*
Wednesday, 6:30 AM
With a swish, the curtains were drawn open.
Bai Shi looked at her boyfriend in bed and gently whispered, “Baby, time to wake up.”
Zhang Mo sleepily opened his eyes and yawned, “Wife, why are you up so early…?”
He glanced at his watch and screamed, “Six-thirty?! Are you serious?!”
As a product manager, his schedule was different from regular people. He often worked until 8 or 9 PM, sometimes even 10 PM, so his work hours started later—clocking in at 10, or even 11, was acceptable.
Usually, Zhang Mo would sleep until at least 9 AM, then rush out the door with a piece of toast to catch the 9:20 bus.
But today, Bei Shi had woken him up at six. This was inhumane!
Zhang Mo rolled his eyes back, nearly fainting.
“You’ve always wanted me to drive you to work,” Bei Shi’s voice was soft and gentle, but for some reason, it carried an inexplicable eeriness. She smiled, “Today, I’ll take you to work~”
After a moment of dazed silence, Zhang Mo felt touched.
So that’s why Bei Shi woke him up early.
Before, whenever he missed the bus and asked her to drive him, she always did so reluctantly.
For an agent who lived in an upside-down schedule, getting a good sleep was no easy feat.
But today, Bei Shi had actually volunteered to drive him to work and woke up early for it!
This was like the sun rising from the west.
It seemed that despite her usual cold words, deep down, his wife truly loved him.
Looking at Bei Shi, who was all dressed up, Zhang Mo grew even happier. She had put on makeup, dressed beautifully, and even wore perfume—just to take him to work!
This kind of treatment only happened back when they first started dating.
Zhang Mo got up, washed up, and changed into fresh clothes. Though sleep-deprived, he felt like he was floating. He shaved, put on his best suit, and sprayed on cologne.
In the hidden compartment of the bathroom drawer sat a diamond ring—one he had saved up for a long time to buy. Zhang Mo had been pondering when the perfect time to propose would be.
Maybe today was the day!
Happily, he slipped the ring into his pocket. For a hardworking, love-struck office worker, nothing was more nourishing than sweet romance.
All the frustrations of his job disappeared, and Zhang Mo felt his exhausted body revitalized.
When he finished getting ready, Bei Shi had already put on her shoes, looking strangely radiant.
“Baby, let’s go now?” she asked with enthusiasm.
“Now?” Zhang Mo was surprised. “It’s only seven.”
It only took 40 minutes to drive to work, and he didn’t start until ten.
“Yep, yep,” Bei Shi nodded firmly. “What if there’s traffic? Or long lines? You can’t be late—you need to leave a good impression on the boss.”
What impression? He wasn’t some new intern—he had worked at Yuanzhou Group for seven years!
But as a devoted husband from Sichuan Province, Zhang Mo always followed his wife’s decisions unconditionally.
He nodded, “Alright, let’s go then.”
Although they hit the morning rush hour, they still arrived at Yuanzhou Group by 8:30 AM.
Watching Bei Shi skillfully reverse and park her Tesla, Zhang Mo’s heart swelled with love. She was so cool—not only did she wake up early to drive him, but she was so gentle to him. How did he get so lucky?
What do I do if my wife loves me too much.jpg
But even after parking, Bei Shi didn’t say anything or urge him to get out. Instead, she sat still, her gaze sharp and focused on a corner near the office building.
Zhang Mo: “?”
Zhang Mo: “Wife, what are you looking at?”
If he remembered correctly, that spot… was where the fried rice stall usually set up.
Bei Shi coughed, withdrew her gaze, and smiled. “Oh, nothing. There was a little cat there. It looked delicious—uh, I mean, adorable.”
Zhang Mo: “Oh, okay.”
Silence fell between them.
After a moment, Zhang Mo picked up his briefcase hesitantly and said, “Wife… I’ll get going now. Drive safe on your way back?”
But Bei Shi suddenly grabbed his hand.
She seemed hesitant, as if she were gathering courage. “Wait, don’t go. I need a favor.”
Zhang Mo’s heart skipped a beat.
Could it be… that Bei Shi felt the same way?
She had dressed up so beautifully and treated him so warmly today—was she planning to propose too?
Was she about to ask him… to spend the rest of their lives together?
Zhang Mo touched the ring box in his pocket, swallowed nervously, and felt his heart race. He started rehearsing his response in his head.
So exciting. So nerve-wracking.
Meanwhile, Bei Shi continued watching the fried rice stall, scanning the area for any potential ‘rivals.’ She also swallowed nervously.
So exciting. So nerve-wracking.
Seconds ticked by. Suddenly, the crisp chime of a tricycle’s bell echoed from a distance.
“It’s time…” Bei Shi murmured, her eyes burning with anticipation.
“Yes, it’s time, but our love is eternal,” Zhang Mo gazed at Bei Shi, his eyes equally passionate.
With endless tenderness burning in his heart, Zhang Mo stepped out of the car, dropped to one knee, and said, “My love, after all these years, there’s something I’ve been keeping in my heart, something I’ve always wanted to tell you…”
His hands trembled as he pulled the ring from his pocket. “I want to ask, will you ma—”
“…IT’S TIME TO EAT FRIED RICE!”
Bei Shi’s eyes locked onto Boss Jian’s fried rice stall in the distance. Drooling, she waved her arms excitedly and, abandoning all pretense of dignity, sprinted toward the stall with the enthusiasm of a wild ape, shouting:
“Zhang Mo, hurry up! What are you standing there for?!”
She turned back, only to see Zhang Mo still kneeling on one knee, clutching the diamond ring.
Zhang Mo, on the verge of tears, looked back at her.
“……”
“……”
All these years of love and devotion—completely wasted!
Oh no…hahaha
Poor Zhang Mo??