After My Contract Marriage with the Aloof Omega (GL , ABO) - Chapter 6
After finishing breakfast, Fu Yumian went out to walk the dog in the garden.
Lu Qingzhuo, having nothing better to do after her meal, decided to follow along. After all, Fu Yumian had helped her so much standing by to observe and lend a hand wouldn’t make her an ungrateful person.
On the lush green lawn, a few gardeners were busy weeding. A girl dashed past the two of them, chasing after a dog.
“Yeye! Slow down! Be careful, President Fu!”
This was the first time Lu Qingzhuo had seen Fu Yumian’s dog, a snow-white Samoyed, nearly half a person’s height and very sturdy. When it leaped toward Fu Yumian, Lu Qingzhuo’s heart clenched, afraid she might be knocked over if she wasn’t careful.
But Fu Yumian’s strength was clearly greater than Lu Qingzhuo had imagined. She steadied the wildly wagging, affectionate Samoyed and took the leash from a servant.
Lu Qingzhuo had never owned a dog growing up. As a child, she had adored cute little puppies, but one day, she was chased for hundreds of meters by an unleashed aggressive dog that suddenly appeared out of nowhere and bit her calf.
Since then, she had been afraid of dogs even cats with fierce expressions made her uneasy.
“President Fu…”
Keeping a safe distance from the Samoyed, Lu Qingzhuo was about to compliment how cute the dog looked when the fluffy-eared Samoyed suddenly fixed its bright eyes on her, its pink tongue lolling out as it bounded toward her excitedly.
In that instant, Lu Qingzhuo’s face turned deathly pale, her legs weakening as she took a step back. By the time Yeye pounced, she had already mentally prepared her last words.
She squeezed her eyes shut, but the expected pain and impact never came. Instead, she felt a firm grip around her waist, her back pressing into a soft, fragrant embrace. When she snapped her eyes open, the arms around her had already withdrawn, as fleeting as a passing breeze.
Didn’t Fu Yumian have mysophobia?
Why had she suddenly acted so heroically?
And hugged her from behind, no less.
Lu Qingzhuo met Fu Yumian’s calm gaze as the latter spoke in a light, slightly lilting tone, “You’re afraid of dogs?”
“A little,” Lu Qingzhuo admitted. Her already fair skin had turned nearly translucent from fright, the faint blue of her veins visible beneath. “I was bitten as a child. I still get nervous around large dogs…”
She cast a timid glance at the half-sized Samoyed, her gaze lingering on its snow-white, fluffy fur as she forced a weak smile.
Yeye was adorable, but she simply couldn’t bring herself to enjoy the company of such a sweet, soft pup.
“He’s very well-behaved, but…” Fu Yumian glanced at Lu Qingzhuo, who was desperately trying to hide behind her, and gave a helpless smile. “He only jumps on people he likes.”
“Really?”
Lu Qingzhuo peeked out in surprise. Yeye was grinning at her, tail wagging furiously, its front paws eagerly trying to wrap around her legs.
Such an enthusiastic little dog.
“Mhm.”
Fu Yumian nodded.
Lu Qingzhuo felt her awkward hesitation must look unappealing in Fu Yumian’s eyes. Since this was the other woman’s beloved dog, she ought to try pleasing this Samoyed. But having never interacted with pets in her life, only virtually “raising” dogs through online videos, she completely lacked hands-on experience with pets.
The Samoyed tugged at its leash, panting excitedly at Lu Qingzhuo while wagging its tail and shaking its head vigorously. Seeing her hesitant to approach, the dog grew both anxious and thrilled, practically itching to break free and leap into her arms for cuddles.
“Woof! Woof!”
Its pitiful barks finally spurred Lu Qingzhuo into action under Fu Yumian’s encouraging gaze. Mustering courage, she took her first step forward and extended a hand toward the fluffy white dog.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
Ecstatic, the Samoyed grinned widely, its tongue licking her wrist with warm, velvety strokes.
Lu Qingzhuo gently stroked the dog’s thick, plush head, just one touch was enough to hook her. Unable to resist, she kept petting it for what felt like ages.
“So soft!” Her eyes sparkled as if she’d cracked open a surprise egg, turning to beam at Fu Yumian. “It’s so well-behaved, and the fur feels amazing!”
Seemingly understanding the praise, the Samoyed wagged its bushy tail even faster, spreading its front paws wide, begging to be hugged.
Fu Yumian watched the scene with quiet satisfaction until Han Tian handed her a phone. Passing the leash to Lu Qingzhuo, she moved to a nearby bench to take the call.
Her gaze lingered on the heartwarming interaction between the woman and the dog, an unconscious smile curling her lips, one she didn’t even realize was there.
“Yeye! You’re so adorable! How can you be this cute?”
Lu Qingzhuo cooed, rubbing the Samoyed’s fluffy head while its smooth tongue lapped at her fingers and forearm, ticklish yet wonderfully soothing.
She suddenly regretted never considering pet ownership before. Who wouldn’t love an angel like Yeye?
“What should we play?” Glancing at Fu Yumian, who seemed occupied, Lu Qingzhuo lowered her voice to avoid disturbing her. She led the dog into a shaded grove and waved a frisbee teasingly. “Want to play fetch?”
Yeye clearly adored the game. The moment Lu Qingzhuo flung the disc, the dog bounded after it like a giant marshmallow bouncing across the grass.
Retrieving the frisbee, it trotted back and dropped it at her feet, eager for another round.
They lost track of how many rounds they played until exhaustion finally caught up with Lu Qingzhuo.
A maid, who had been smiling at the heartwarming scene, hurried over with chilled spring water and a silk handkerchief. “It’s too hot out, Madam. Why not rest with Yeye for a while?”
The title “Madam” still felt surreal to Lu Qingzhuo especially when used in Fu Yumian’s presence. It always gave her the odd sensation of playing an elaborate game of make-believe.
By now, Fu Yumian had finished her call. Her lips moved slightly, as if silently beckoning them over.
“Come on, Yeye,” Lu Qingzhuo murmured, picking up the leash. “Your mom’s calling us.”
Lu Qingzhuo walked over to Fu Yumian holding the dog leash, gently rubbing the dog’s head with a smile. “What did you call me here for, President Fu?”
Fu Yumian glanced up at Lu Qingzhuo. Fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, and her originally pale cheeks now carried a faint pink hue. Her lips, moistened by the spring water, looked full and rosy.
“Shen Shijun will be here soon.”
“Huh?” Lu Qingzhuo, who had been engrossed in petting the Samoyed’s chin, froze at these words. She wasn’t prepared yet, how could they just have the other party come over like this? It seemed rather lacking in sincerity. “President Fu, didn’t we agree to meet at the Celadon Club in two days? Why is she coming now?”
Fu Yumian frowned slightly, as if recalling something unpleasant. “She lives here too, taking her pet out for a walk.”
Just as Lu Qingzhuo was wondering about her reaction, she heard a voice from behind.
“President Fu, out walking the dog?”
Turning around, Lu Qingzhuo saw a low-key woman in casual wear and sunglasses approaching, leading a… well, a light pink miniature pig.
The pig looked nearly half the size of the Samoyed at this point, it should probably be called a regular-sized pig. It was hard to imagine what kind of feed had made it grow so big.
Shen Shijun had thoughtfully dressed it in clothes and tied a pink bow around its head. The pig trotted daintily toward the Samoyed, both animals looking thoroughly delighted.
Fu Yumian stood up and pushed the Samoyed behind her, signaling a servant to take it away.
Confused, Lu Qingzhuo asked, “What’s wrong, President Fu? Your Samoyed’s little friend is here, won’t you let them play together?”
Fu Yumian glared at the ugly, pudgy pig with undisguised disdain. “What friend? This damn pig has sneaked off with my Samoyed several times and even taught it to dig up dirt with its nose!”
Lu Qingzhuo: “…”
So this was how President Fu acted in private, even when cursing at a pig, she still managed to sound refined.
“What’s with that look, President Fu? You’re like this every time you see my Tangtang. Anyone would think she’d stolen rice from your house.”
Listening to this absurd exchange, Lu Qingzhuo could hardly believe that even these high-profile figures bickered like ordinary people.
Shen Shijun’s gaze shifted to Lu Qingzhuo, who was still holding the leash. Removing her sunglasses, she revealed a pair of amber eyes.
She looked remarkably young, appearing to be in her early thirties at most, though in reality, Shen Shijun was already in her forties. Time seemed to have left no trace on her face.
“You must be Lu Qingzhuo.”
Lu Qingzhuo quickly extended her right hand with a polite nod. “Director Shen, it’s an honor. I’m Lu Qingzhuo.”
Shen Shijun shook her hand, scrutinizing her from head to toe before finally settling on her face with an approving nod. “Excellent physical attributes. I’ve seen many beautiful people in my years of filmmaking, but your type is quite rare.”
“You’re too kind, Director Shen,” Lu Qingzhuo replied with an embarrassed smile, his humble demeanor proving quite endearing. “I’ve often seen you on the big screen but never had the chance to interact. Seeing you in person suddenly before me, I truly didn’t react in time.”
“There will be plenty more opportunities for interaction in the future,” Shen Shijun mentally noted Lu Qingzhuo’s name, then turned with a smile toward Fu Yumian who’d been left aside. “President Fu’s taste is impeccable. Just days ago you assured me the actors chosen would be the most beautiful, and seeing them in person now, you certainly didn’t lie.”
Fu Yumian’s current expression didn’t seem particularly pleasant, whether from the pig currently gnawing at her trouser leg or from the pig owner’s remarks was unclear.
Through her transparent glasses, Lu Qingzhuo could tell President Fu looked like she wanted roasted suckling pork chops for lunch.