Chapter One: He Is a Dog
Zhao Baitong had never done anything rebellious in her life.
Except this once, when she walked out of a lesbian bar with her colleague and was caught in the act by Fang Zhixu.
It was late autumn. She wore a short jacket and a fitted lambskin skirt that hugged her perfect curves, her long, slender legs exposed to the night air. As she stepped outside, she found Fang Zhixu leaning against his Red Flag sedan, exhaling smoke, his expression dark as midnight.
They locked eyes for a single second, and Zhao Baitong immediately yielded.
She told her colleague to go ahead and got into Fang Zhixu's car.
Inside, the atmosphere was oppressively tense. Neon lights flickered beyond the windows, and the night stretched on endlessly.
Fang Zhixu let out a cold, derisive laugh, his voice icier than the darkness. “When a man can’t satisfy you, you go looking for thrills at a lesbian bar. Zhao Baitong, you’re really making something of yourself.”
His hands gripped the steering wheel as he turned it—an ordinary gesture, but in his hands, it was strikingly masculine, full of presence.
The orange streetlight reflected off the engagement ring on his left hand, stabbing at Zhao Baitong’s eyes, weighing heavy on her heart.
It was this very hand that had engineered the most advanced aircraft components, catapulting his aerospace company to the forefront of the industry and making him the most sought-after chief engineer.
Now, these hands—this man—would belong to someone else.
A sharp pain shot through Zhao Baitong’s heart.
“I almost forgot to congratulate you, Zhixu. Happy engagement.”
Today was Fang Zhixu's engagement. That unease in her chest was what had driven her out in search of distraction.
She’d chased him hopelessly for three years, loving him with all her heart.
But in the end, the moment his first love returned home, she was unceremoniously cast aside.
Yet if it hadn’t been for his initial flirtation and ambiguous advances, how could she have fallen so hard?
Fang Zhixu tugged at his collar, revealing his sharp Adam’s apple. “There’s something I need to tell you. Meng Tang wants to see you tomorrow.”
Meng Tang was Fang Zhixu’s first love.
Just over a month ago, when Zhao Baitong was at the supermarket buying essentials, she’d run into Meng Tang, who was walking hand in hand with Fang Zhixu, their fingers entwined.
She’d frozen for two seconds before turning and fleeing.
Zhao Baitong struggled to breathe. “Why does she want to see me?”
“She ran into you at the supermarket and learned we were together for three years. She’ll only feel at ease after meeting you herself.”
Few people knew about Zhao Baitong’s three-year relationship with Fang Zhixu; their affair was a well-kept secret.
Years ago, the Fang family had chosen her as a charity beneficiary, and she’d visited their stately home a few times. Meng Tang knew her. When they crossed paths at the supermarket, Meng Tang must have read the truth in her expression.
Now the current wants to meet the former—first love needs to see if the ‘cinnabar mole’ has been thoroughly excised from the man’s heart.
And Fang Zhixu himself was the one to bring it up.
“Sorry, I can’t. I’m scheduled to perform surgery at the animal hospital tomorrow—I’m the lead vet.” Zhao Baitong’s refusal was clear.
Fang Zhixu seemed not to hear her.
“Meng Tang rarely asks me for anything. I don’t want to disappoint her.” The blue light of the dashboard illuminated his flawless features. “I can get you the day off at the hospital.”
Zhao Baitong opened her mouth to refuse again.
He twisted the ring on his middle finger, his voice rough and gravelly. “Don’t make this difficult for me, Baitong.”
As a child, Zhao Baitong had been fair and delicate, born into a wealthy family. After witnessing her parents’ murder, trauma left her skittish and withdrawn. Sent to an orphanage, she refused to speak and quickly became the target of bullying.
No one stood up for her. Even if she complained, it was useless—she never cried or tried to please, and fortune never tipped its scales in her favor.
She’d learned early to avoid conflict whenever possible, because she had no one to rely on.
After she truly became involved with Fang Zhixu, he gave her three years of stability. She couldn’t bear to make things harder for him.
“All right.” She smiled as she agreed, deciding this would be her last act of gratitude, after which the three of them would have nothing more to do with one another.
“And another thing,” he glanced at her, “don’t dress like this again.”
The dominance and contempt in Fang Zhixu’s gaze made Zhao Baitong shiver.
“Why not?”
“Because you look—like a hooker.”
Zhao Baitong was so angry she could barely speak. She was gentle and obedient by nature, endlessly considerate when she was with Fang Zhixu. Normally, she dressed for comfort, never daring to wear anything so bold or revealing.
Nor had she ever worn such alluring makeup.
But tonight at the lesbian bar, she’d attracted plenty of attention from women.
Amid the frozen silence, the Red Flag sedan finally pulled up outside her apartment.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and got out, unwilling to stay another second.
Her colleague from the bar, Li Xueya, seemed to have timed her messages perfectly.
“Chief Engineer Fang spends his engagement night with you instead of his fiancée—something’s up!”
“You still got any of your old stash left? If old flames spark up, make sure to use protection, or you’ll be the one who suffers.”
“Sometimes I think the animal kingdom is more rational. To avoid breeding, they just neuter the males.”
Still fuming, Zhao Baitong tapped out her reply.
“If he were a dog, I’d definitely get him neutered.”
Li Xueya: “If he’s not a dog, what have you been fawning over for three years?”
Zhao Baitong: “He’s a dog.”
Head down, focused on her phone, she was typing the last word when a shadow fell over her.
She looked up, eyes widening, and quickly hid her phone behind her back. “You—what are you doing up here?”
Fang Zhixu held a cigarette between his thin lips, his deep eyes narrowed. “What’s making you so nervous?”
“I’m not nervous.”