CHAPTER 331: CHAPTER 331: ADOPTING LITTLE HUANG DOG

"Xu Jingjing, where did you get that little dog from? Take it back immediately," Xu Xiuxiu demanded without a second thought, glaring at Xu Jingjing. Her eyes were filled with threats. How old was Si Ya now? Couldn’t she have stopped Song Chengguang? Just let him bring the dog home like that?

Though she actually quite liked small animals and wasn’t opposed to having a little dog in the house, she certainly didn’t plan to let them randomly pick up a dog from outside. There were children in the house, the boy and girl twins were so small, their immune systems were weak. What if that little dog carried germs or diseases? She wasn’t being cruel; she simply didn’t have the courage to gamble with her children’s safety.

"Sis." Xu Jingjing helplessly succumbed to Xu Xiuxiu’s intimidating glare, but her face still showed hesitation. No choice, her little nephew was very insistent! It seemed a struggle was about to ensue between mother and son, and for some reason, Xu Jingjing felt a pang in her heart.

"Mom, let Chengguang keep it! Chengguang will take good care of it, won’t let it run around, or scare little brother and sister," Song Chengguang assured with great responsibility.

In fact, when she decided to bring home the little dog, Xu Jingjing had anticipated this outcome. She had already discussed it with Song Chengguang, but he was insistent. His little face was a picture of sorrowful stubbornness. Xu Jingjing adored Song Chengguang more than anything and couldn’t bear to see him upset, so she negotiated with the little guy on how to bring the little dog home and persuade Xu Xiuxiu.

"No way," Xu Xiuxiu still frowned in refusal. "Chengguang, if you like little dogs, Mom will take you to buy one tomorrow, but not the one you’re holding," Xu Xiuxiu tried to negotiate with Song Chengguang, her head throbbing.

"No! Mom, Chengguang really wants to keep Little Huang," Song Chengguang’s eyes brimmed with teardrops, on the verge of falling. He hugged the little dog tightly, and as he spoke, tears began to roll down his cheeks.

Little Huang, she had already named the little mongrel? Xu Xiuxiu thought irritably. Watching the little guy who usually didn’t cry even when Xu Xiuxiu occasionally scolded or spanked him for mischief, now he was crying over a little mongrel just because she said no. Hmph, Xu Xiuxiu felt even more annoyed.

"Song Chengguang," Xu Xiuxiu gritted her teeth as she called his name, hoping he would give up the idea of keeping the little mongrel. If negotiation failed, she would have to resort to forceful pressure.

Song Chengguang’s small hands trembled as he held the little mongrel, which also seemed to sense the danger and whined softly.

"Mom, you scared Little Huang, wah!" Song Chengguang’s emotions collapsed in a second. Holding the little mongrel, he looked up, opened his mouth wide, and wept heart-wrenchingly.

Who was actually frightened here? Xu Xiuxiu silently watched Song Chengguang with resignation.

"Sis, just let Chengguang keep it!" Xu Jingjing pled on his behalf. "He’s usually so well-behaved, and it’s rare for him to be so insistent. If you disagree, you might really hurt the child’s feelings."

Xu Xiuxiu, with a headache, looked at Song Chengguang and then at the little mongrel in his arms. The words of agreement struggled to come out. It wasn’t that she was cruel or unwilling, but in these times, without any veterinary hospitals for pets like stray dogs to get cleaned and vaccinated, how could she keep a dog at home without knowing if it was germ-free and healthy?

"Song Chengguang, are you sure you want to keep Little Huang?" Xu Xiuxiu asked in an especially serious tone.

"Uh-huh," the little fellow nodded, sniffling.

"Then keep it!" Xu Xiuxiu conceded, raising her hand to rub her forehead.

"Thank you, Mom, you’re the best," Song Chengguang immediately smiled through his tears and praised Xu Xiuxiu.

"You should be thanking and praising your little aunt," Xu Jingjing chided Song Chengguang as she tapped him on the head, her voice filled with indignation. "If it weren’t for your aunt pleading on your behalf, your mom definitely wouldn’t have agreed to let you keep Little Huang." Xu Jingjing adamantly defended her own contribution.

"Thank you, little aunt, you’re the prettiest aunt in the whole world," Song Chengguang chimed in, lavishing praise on Xu Jingjing.

Xu Jingjing puffed up her chest in enjoyment and then finally can’t help but laugh contentedly. She took Song Chengguang’s hand and together with the little mongrel Little Huang, they headed to the bathroom to wash and clean the little dog.

"But don’t get too excited just yet; I haven’t finished talking," Xu Xiuxiu spoke leisurely from behind the aunt and nephew.

"Uh," Xu Jingjing and Song Chengguang glanced at each other, then turned back towards Xu Xiuxiu with a sour look, clearly not expecting that Xu Xiuxiu hadn’t finished speaking. Their previous joy was premature. "Sis, what else do you have to say?"

"From now on, both of you will be in charge of its bathing, feeding, sleeping, poop-scooping, and walking. Do you think you can handle that?" Xu Xiuxiu listed the responsibilities of taking care of the little dog.

"No problem." The aunt and nephew nodded in unison, and soon, Song Chengguang’s happy laughter could be heard coming from the bathroom.

Xu Xiuxiu sat in the living room, shaking her head helplessly upon hearing Song Chengguang’s laughter.

Song Chengguang really seemed to adore Little Huang. He bathed him and carefully dried him off, worried that he might be hungry, he even poured some milk for him to drink. Watching Little Huang lap up the milk, he was so pleased he could hardly contain himself.

"Little Huang, are you full? Once you’re full, Chengguang will take you to bed," Song Chengguang cheerfully said, holding Little Huang and preparing to head to the bedroom.

"Chengguang, Little Huang’s bed is on the balcony," Xu Xiuxiu had set it up while the aunt and nephew were washing Little Huang, fearing precisely that Song Chengguang would want to sleep with Little Huang—and sure enough, her concerns were warranted.

"Mom, Chengguang wants to sleep with Little Huang," Song Chengguang said, reluctantly holding onto Little Huang and not letting go.

Xu Xiuxiu felt like her son was testing the limits of her patience, but fortunately Xu Jingjing had the presence of mind to soothe Song Chengguang, eventually persuading him to give up the idea of sleeping with the little dog.

"Mom, won’t Little Huang be cold sleeping out here?" Song Chengguang asked as he looked at the dog bed on the balcony, clearly worried.

Actually, the dog bed Xu Xiuxiu had prepared was quite luxurious, and even the blankets on it were top-quality material. Nevertheless, her son’s doubt left her feeling helpless. "No," she replied tersely.

"Oh!" Song Chengguang finally looked satisfied. He braved the cold wind on the balcony for a good while, watching over Little Huang, and only when he was truly sleepy did he reluctantly return to his bedroom to sleep.

Ever since Song Yuanhuan wasn’t around, Xu Xiuxiu nearly always woke up once a night to check on the three kids—to tuck them in. Tonight was no exception, and after leaving Song Chengguang’s bedroom, she detoured to the balcony off the living room.

Little Huang had been sleeping soundly with his eyes half closed, but when he heard footsteps, he opened his eyes, which were especially bright in the night. Worried that Little Huang might be ill, Xu Xiuxiu specially gave him some Space Water to drink and fed him a pink fruit before she could rest assured and return to her bedroom.