Chapter 75: The Fuse

Song Changfeng’s home was in Pingcheng, about twelve hundred kilometers from Anyang City. The flight took a little over two hours.

After packing Aofeng’s things, Song Changfeng took him to the airport. Along the way, Aofeng couldn’t help but keep glancing at him. He had a nagging feeling that something was on Song Changfeng’s mind. Even when they were packing earlier, he’d seemed off. Though Song Changfeng was usually quiet, there was a clear difference between being taciturn and having nothing to say.

At the airport, they had to part ways briefly again. Aofeng went to the live animal transport cabin, while Song Changfeng boarded economy class. Since this trip was for personal reasons, Aofeng didn’t get the same treatment as last time. After going through multiple checks and arriving in the cargo hold, Aofeng found himself surrounded by other animals.

There were cats and dogs, of course, but also rabbits and parrots. Aofeng even spotted a duck in a small cage near the door, which struck him as odd. Since when did ducks become pets? Humans really had strange tastes. Still, this duck was pure white with sleek feathers, definitely better looking than the average duck.

He stared at it for a while, then grew bored and closed his eyes to rest. The two-hour journey passed in a flash. As soon as they landed, Aofeng felt a wave of warmth rush over him, the breeze carrying the scent of flowers. It was refreshing and invigorating.

In January, Pingcheng’s lowest temperature was still around twenty-four degrees Celsius, a world apart from the subzero chill of Anyang City. While Aofeng didn’t feel cold there, breathing through his exposed nose had been uncomfortable. Sometimes he was tempted to lick it like other dogs, but the thought of hygiene stopped him.

Here, the pleasant temperature made him feel like he was soaking in a hot spring, warm all over. He almost wanted to lie down and nap on the spot.

But he couldn’t just yet. He had to wait for Song Changfeng to come pick him up. Aofeng wondered if that guy would make a fool of himself. He clearly remembered Song Changfeng boarding the plane in a down jacket with a scarf wrapped around his neck. If he stepped off the plane dressed like that, he’d definitely draw a lot of attention.

The thought made Aofeng chuckle to himself. But after laughing, he felt a little bitter. He wore the same coat year-round now, and there was nowhere to change even if he wanted to.

Just then, he heard Song Changfeng calling his name from not far away. Aofeng turned and saw that the down jacket was long gone. Now he was wearing a light shirt and casual pants, perfect for the weather. Well, he was a local after all. Of course he’d know how to dress for the season.

Outside the airport, Song Changfeng hailed a taxi. After giving the driver an address, he got in with Aofeng. This driver was clearly not as chatty as the one in the capital. After they got in, he only said, “Please fasten your seatbelts,” and then fell silent. Song Changfeng didn’t seem interested in conversation either. He stared out the window at the passing scenery, his face as expressionless as ever.

Once they left the highway, the car turned onto a winding mountain road lined with lush greenery. The air was especially fresh. After driving a bit further, buildings began to appear in the distance. Judging by the surroundings, it looked like a pretty nice place. Aofeng wondered if this was near where Song Changfeng lived.

As they got closer, Aofeng saw it clearly. It was a resort. Judging by the brands of the cars parked outside, it was definitely high-end.

Aofeng had never been to a place like this before. Now that they were passing through, he couldn’t help but be curious. He pressed his face to the window, eyes wide as he tried to take everything in.

The car came to a sudden stop at the entrance of the resort. After paying the fare, Song Changfeng got out and led a very confused Aofeng off the car.

What was going on? Were they really going to spend money at a resort before heading home? So this was the real Song Changfeng, huh? Thick eyebrows and all¹, but secretly the type to splurge.

Song Changfeng didn’t seem to notice the look on Aofeng’s face. He just led him straight inside. Aofeng followed nervously, worried that the security guards at the entrance might stop them. These guards weren’t your average old men either. They were all tall and muscular, with bulging biceps visible beneath their sleeves, clearly not to be messed with.

But to his surprise, the guards didn’t stop them. Instead, they smiled and waved at Song Changfeng in greeting. Song Changfeng smiled back and waved as well.

So he was a regular here! Even the security guards knew him well enough to greet him with a smile. Aofeng couldn’t help but get curious. What kind of place was this that even someone like Song Changfeng, with his personality, would keep coming back? He was starting to look forward to it himself.

Inside the gates, the surroundings were peaceful and quiet. All he could hear was the gentle sound of flowing water and the melodic chirping of birds. As they walked, Aofeng’s initial anxiety gradually gave way to calm.

After passing a few uniquely designed buildings, a two-and-a-half-story villa came into view. In front of it was a large garden filled with flowers, enclosed by a white fence. Green vines climbed along the fence, dotted with small yellow blossoms. Occasionally, a breeze would carry the faint scent of flowers through the air, making the whole garden feel vibrant and alive.

Aofeng followed Song Changfeng through the fence and garden to the front door of the villa. Song Changfeng reached out and rang the bell. A moment later, there was a soft click, and the door slowly opened.

A woman in a tailored suit stepped out, her face expressionless. The moment she saw Song Changfeng, a flicker of joy flashed in her eyes, but her tone remained flat as she spoke. “You’re back?”

“Mom,” Song Changfeng said.

So this was Song Changfeng’s mother. Aofeng looked at the woman and nodded to himself. No wonder they were mother and son – they both had the same stoic expression. Still, judging by the way the garden was arranged, she was probably one of those warm-hearted types beneath a cold exterior.

“Come in.”

Song Changfeng didn’t step inside. Instead, he shifted to the side, revealing Aofeng who had been standing behind him. “This is the police dog I trained. His name is Aofeng.”

Song’s mother furrowed her finely shaped brows. “You’ve never brought a police dog home before.”

“The base didn’t allow it before. Now it does,” Song Changfeng explained.

“Does your job really have to mix with your personal life?” Her voice rose slightly. It was clear she was getting annoyed.

The cheerful look on Aofeng’s dog face vanished, replaced by a blank stare. Uh-oh, looks like Song’s mom isn’t too thrilled about him being here!

“He’s not just part of my job. He’s part of my life too.”

“…Come in then.” Seeing how immovable Song Changfeng was, his mother gave in.

Aofeng followed him inside with his tail drooping, doing his best to make himself invisible. There was no helping it – the tension between these two was strange, and he definitely didn’t want to be the spark that set off an argument.

But Aofeng was clearly overthinking it. All the way through dinner, the two never argued. Even though Song’s mom didn’t seem too welcoming, she was still gracious. She even had someone prepare a special dog meal for him, not pretending he didn’t exist.

After finishing his bland dinner, Aofeng looked at the mother and son sitting silently across from each other at the table, eating without a word. He couldn’t help but sigh. How long was this kind of life going to last?

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Translator’s Notes

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1. Thick eyebrows and all: A reference to the Chinese description ‘nóng méi dà yǎn’ (浓眉大眼). Traditionally, these features represent a classic, upright hero. It is often used humorously to express mock shock when a seemingly ‘righteous’ or ‘serious’ person does something unexpected or indulgent. ↩