Naughty Puppy Will Be Eaten by a Bad Woman - Chapter 10

Gu Xianyue was drunk, her voice soft, almost a whisper.

Lu Zhao heard every word clearly. Her gaze lingered on the ring on Gu Xianyue’s finger, her eyes now filled with a different kind of emotion.

“That must be someone you cherish deeply,” Lu Zhao remarked.

Gu Xianyue lifted her head, her long lashes trembling slightly as she stared intently at Lu Zhao.

The alcohol seemed to have stripped away her usual flawless facade, allowing Lu Zhao to catch a fleeting glimpse of…

Longing.

“It was my pet dog who passed away when I was very young,” Gu Xianyue said.

Lu Zhao’s expression softened with sympathy, but inwardly, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief that the ashes didn’t belong to a human.

Startled by her own dark thoughts, Lu Zhao patted Gu Xianyue’s shoulder out of guilt.

Gu Xianyue looked into Lu Zhao’s eyes, confirming that those clear, untroubled eyes held no confusion, but rather seemed to convey an apology for bringing up the topic.

She had grown accustomed to hearing dismissive remarks like “It’s just a dog” or “You can always get another one.”

Especially the men who had collaborated with her and then tried to woo her—almost every single one would ask about the ring’s significance, only to say things she hated hearing, making her feel like she was talking to a brick wall.

But today, against her usual instincts, she wanted to tell Lu Zhao the truth. Perhaps she wanted to test if Lu Zhao would react like the others.

Fortunately, Lu Zhao’s reaction pleased her greatly.

Lu Zhao seemed naturally empathetic, always able to pinpoint the core of her emotions.

Gu Xianyue grasped her wrist. “Want to see what she looks like?”

The distance between them suddenly closed. Lu Zhao could even smell the cool, alluring fragrance emanating from Gu Xianyue’s collar—the scent of cedarwood mingled with the rich aroma of red wine, utterly captivating.

Gu Xianyue’s gaze was deep and fathomless, like an ocean pulling her down, down…

She heard herself say, “Okay…”

Gu Xianyue smoothly took her hand and led her to the bedroom.

Lu Zhao lowered her gaze to their clasped hands, paused, and didn’t pull away.

She chose not to argue with a drunk person.

Gu Xianyue’s bedroom was elegant and comfortable, its wood-toned decor creating a sense of tranquility. Beside the two-meter-wide bed stood a floor-to-ceiling glass cabinet, illuminated by warm yellow LED strips that immediately caught Lu Zhao’s eye.

The reason was simple: the cabinet was filled with a dazzling array of collars.

It was obvious these belonged to Gu Xianyue’s pet dog, the one she had mentioned earlier. There were collars with bells, without bells, studded with rivets, adorned with various charms, and even diamond-encrusted ones. They came in every imaginable pattern and color, crafted from leather, fabric, and more—a vast collection that seemed to have it all.

Each collar was meticulously displayed within its own glass case, arranged in neat rows, protected from dust. Even the glass cases themselves were spotless, meticulously maintained.

This display clearly demonstrated how much Gu Xianyue treasured these collars, or rather, how much she treasured her pet dog.

As Lu Zhao gazed at the collars, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

How strange, she thought. I’ve never owned a pet in my life.

Growing up in poverty, she had relied on the basic provisions of the orphanage. During her growth spurts, when her appetite was insatiable, she often struggled to feed herself, let alone afford the luxury of keeping a pet.

She had no heart for play, not even with her close companions, who had been persecuted to death.

By the time she entered university, her demanding studies and part-time jobs left her with barely a moment to breathe. After graduation, mountains of work gave her no respite.

Because she couldn’t rely on anyone—and didn’t want to—she had to relentlessly squeeze every ounce of value from herself just to find a semblance of meaning in her existence.

Over the long years, she realized that owning pets was simply not meant for her. Initially, she lacked material resources; later, she lacked time.

Eventually, she understood that sometimes these two things were equivalent.

For Lu Zhao, being able to keep a pet or have a childhood companion to play with undisturbed was a source of happiness. Gu Xianyue’s loss of these things meant losing that precious time itself.

She didn’t see these creatures as lesser beings; she simply empathized with the pain of losing her own companions.

So Lu Zhao asked, “May I… open it and take a look?”

“Which one do you want to see?” Gu Xianyue asked.

Lu Zhao pondered for a moment before pointing to one of the collars.

It was a plain leather collar, its dark brown cowhide showing signs of wear. Among the other collars adorned with various embellishments, it seemed unremarkable.

Gu Xianyue paused, surprised. “Why did you choose this one?”

Lu Zhao tilted her head. “Hmm… I guess it just caught my eye.”

In truth, her gaze had immediately locked onto that collar, driven by an overwhelming urge to touch it.

Gu Xianyue smiled, opening the glass case to retrieve it while giving Lu Zhao a meaningful look. “This was her favorite collar, the one she wore the longest.”

Lu Zhao’s heart skipped a beat, the alcohol amplifying her emotions.

What a coincidence.

Lu Zhao picked up the collar. The leather felt as thick and sturdy as she had expected. As she ran her fingers over it, she could almost picture a young Gu Xianyue playing carefree with her little dog.

At that moment, an impulse surged through her mind, screaming:

Put it on.

Before she realized it, she had already brought the collar close to her neck.

Gu Xianyue chuckled softly.

Lu Zhao snapped out of her daze, realizing what she was doing.

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

The usually articulate Lu Zhao found herself stuttering, a rare occurrence. How could she have done something like this?

“It’s alright. Let me help you put it on. The clasp is in the back.”

Lu Zhao swallowed nervously. “Ah? This…”

Before she could finish, “This might not be a good idea,” Gu Xianyue had already taken the collar, wrapped it around Lu Zhao’s neck, adjusted the fit, and fastened the clasp.

The entire motion was fluid and effortless. By the time Lu Zhao could react, Gu Xianyue had already stepped back to admire her handiwork.

The collar surprisingly suited Lu Zhao perfectly. The dark leather contrasted beautifully with her fair skin, accentuating the delicate curve of her neck. Paired with Lu Zhao’s innocent, bright peach-blossom eyes, it gave her an endearingly docile appearance.

Though it was a pet collar, its craftsmanship was impeccable, making it look like a fashionable accessory when worn around Lu Zhao’s neck.

Gu Xianyue couldn’t help but compliment, “It looks beautiful.”

And it suits you perfectly, she thought, but refrained from saying aloud.

Though slightly tipsy, Gu Xianyue maintained a shred of rationality, unwilling to scare away her business partner.

Lu Zhao gently stroked the collar’s leather.

More than how she looked, she was struck by the strange sense of security it gave her, like the calming effect of a familiar object.

She tightened it slightly, savoring the subtle restraint, as if even her breath carried the collar’s mark.

My alcohol tolerance must have deteriorated, she thought. How else would such bizarre thoughts cross my mind?

Gu Xianyue watched Lu Zhao’s expression, gently stroking her ring.

After a long moment, Lu Zhao finally moved to unfasten the collar, but Gu Xianyue pressed her hand down.

“Don’t take it off. It’s a gift for you.”

Lu Zhao looked incredulous. “But… this is your important…”

Gu Xianyue smiled. “You like it, don’t you? Consider it a gift to… officially become friends?”

Gu Xianyue was right; Lu Zhao’s reaction could indeed be described as “liking.”

But beyond mere liking, Lu Zhao felt a complex emotion that made her reluctant to take it.

Yet this was something Gu Xianyue cherished…

After a fierce internal debate, Lu Zhao finally decided to accept it. “Thank you, President Gu.”

Gu Xianyue raised her wine glass and took a sip, then sat on the sofa in the room, gesturing for Lu Zhao to sit as well.

“Since we’re friends now, there’s no need for such formality. You can call me by my name.”

Lu Zhao had no objection. “Alright.”

She had never had many friends, but she didn’t mind Gu Xianyue’s approach.

Although she knew Gu Xianyue was fundamentally a profit-driven businesswoman, constantly calculating how to maximize her gains and willing to set up elaborate schemes to achieve her goals—a stark contrast to Lu Zhao’s own principles—she couldn’t deny that, setting aside their conflicting positions, Gu Xianyue exerted a tidal pull on her, drawing her closer with an irresistible force.

However… their positions couldn’t be ignored. Lu Zhao knew this all too well.

Even if they claimed to be friends now, it was merely based on their collaborative relationship.

Without their partnership, Lu Zhao doubted that Gu Xianyue, a General Manager of a major corporation, would ever interact with a mere reporter like herself. They belonged to entirely different worlds.

In Gu Xianyue’s eyes, Lu Zhao probably already had a price tag attached.

Suddenly, the rich red wine tasted bitter.

Lu Zhao’s phone vibrated again. She checked the notification and saw a message from Wei Ning:

Come find me at the Provincial Television Station when you’re done.

The message was brief, but Lu Zhao could sense the anger simmering beneath the surface.

She hadn’t consulted anyone before pulling off today’s stunt, and she could only imagine how her direct superior would punish her.

Tossing her phone aside, Lu Zhao rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.

The familiar taste of work stress washed over her.

Noticing Lu Zhao’s troubled expression, Gu Xianyue asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”

Lu Zhao didn’t hide the truth. “Nothing much. Just that my boss is probably going to yell at me for what I did today.”

Gu Xianyue thought of Wei Ning, the news center director who seemed to have a close relationship with Lu Zhao.

“Wei Ning?”

“Hmm, how did you know?”

Gu Xianyue didn’t answer the question directly. Instead, she said in a flat tone, “She’s close to you, so she probably won’t do anything to you.”

Tong Wei hadn’t yet given her Wei Ning’s file, so her words still carried a hint of bitterness.

“Even though she’s my adoptive mother, we’ve always kept personal and professional matters separate.”

Lu Zhao assumed Gu Xianyue already knew about their relationship. After all, it wasn’t a secret at the station.

If Gu Xianyue could uncover her precise physical data, it was only a matter of time before she learned about this connection as well.

Besides, Lu Zhao had always relied on her own hard work, a fact everyone could see. She had nothing to fear from gossip.

Gu Xianyue, however, was secretly surprised.

Maintaining her composure, she calmly took a sip of red wine.

So I misunderstood.

Just an adoptive mother.

Now that she understood Lu Zhao and Wei Ning’s relationship, Gu Xianyue felt the thorn that had been lodged in her heart finally loosen.

The way she looked at Lu Zhao subtly changed.

Under the influence of alcohol, some subconscious feelings she had been deliberately suppressing surfaced.

Gu Xianyue admitted she felt a certain fondness for Lu Zhao, though the reasons were complex. Perhaps it was simply that Lu Zhao reminded her of her cherished childhood companion, Little Dog, filling a void in her heart with memories of one of the few truly happy periods in her life. Or perhaps it was a degree of pity stemming from Lu Zhao’s disability… Or perhaps it was something far more superficial, a simple attraction to Lu Zhao’s docile and innocent appearance.

There was also a hint of envy she refused to acknowledge—Lu Zhao possessed a reckless courage that Gu Xianyue might never attain in her lifetime.

But whatever the reason, it was insignificant.

She had learned a crucial lesson from her mother at a young age: no emotion lasts forever; only oneself can be a constant companion.

Her mother had divorced her father early on, after he started a new family elsewhere.

Instead of arguing or making a scene, her mother raised her alone while building Qingcheng’s largest medical equipment conglomerate from scratch.

A woman didn’t need to rely on any man to be strong—sometimes, they were even stronger. Her mother, Gu Yu, was a perfect example. Gu Xianyue had realized this at a very young age.

Although Gu Yu was strict to the point of harshness, sometimes even forgetting to show her adequate human warmth, Gu Xianyue had to admit that her mother was an incredibly strong and self-sufficient woman.

It was precisely because of this that Gu Xianyue had realized early on that she didn’t need to follow society’s prescribed path of marrying a man and having children to find happiness.

Of course, discovering her attraction to women had also happened early in life.

While she hadn’t yet developed feelings for any specific person, she instinctively sought out the strengths in women and preferred to appoint female subordinates.

So when she realized she felt a special fondness for Lu Zhao, though a momentary panic flickered through her, she quickly regained control of her emotions.

As she watched Lu Zhao’s gaze drift into a distant haze, she sensed the other woman was lost in thought.

It was in that moment that Gu Xianyue glimpsed a sliver of Lu Zhao’s true self, unmasked and unguarded.

Not strong, nor fragile, but rather an indifference toward the world, as if nothing truly concerned her.

Yet this impression felt absurd, completely at odds with Lu Zhao’s actions.

Before she could unravel the contradiction, Gu Xianyue softly called out, “Lu Zhao.”

Lu Zhao quickly regained her composure. The momentary haze in her eyes vanished, replaced by her usual poised smile. “What’s wrong?”

Gu Xianyue shook her head, letting the red wine dull her senses as she closed her eyes.

She couldn’t be sure if Lu Zhao was one of her kind, nor could she risk revealing her shallow affection, fearing Lu Zhao might unilaterally terminate their collaboration.

She had calculated this risk meticulously. Venture capital was her forte, and she never pursued ventures with excessive risk and uncertain returns.

Besides, it was just a fleeting fondness.

In the darkness behind her closed eyelids, she sensed a shift at the other end of the sofa. Then Lu Zhao’s gentle voice drifted into her ear.

“Gu Xianyue, you’ve had too much to drink. Let me help you to bed.”

Lu Zhao’s voice was particularly pleasant when she spoke casually, without the dramatic inflections she used in news reports. The relaxed tone instantly closed the distance between them.

Gu Xianyue seemed to have overestimated her alcohol tolerance and underestimated Lu Zhao’s. She cracked open her eyes to see Lu Zhao crouching beside her, meeting her gaze as she lay back.

This seemed to be the first time Lu Zhao had called her by her full name.