Not a Scummy Alpha, But a Sweet Puppy (Transmigration Into A Novel) - Chapter 25

Gu Zhiyao’s “important matter” was none other than a summons from his father.

He was deeply reluctant. His assistant had just informed him that they’d found a candidate who met his requirements: Su Qiwen, the man Gu Zhibai had fired.

Not only had Su Qiwen’s uncle failed to save him, but he himself was soon expelled from the Gu Corporation. This led to a bitter quarrel between uncle and nephew. The uncle blamed the nephew for causing trouble and providing incriminating evidence, while the nephew exposed his uncle’s embezzlement, which had ultimately led to Gu Zhibai catching him. After exchanging accusations, they parted on hostile terms.

With Su Qiwen’s average skills, finding a job at a small company would have been easy. He might even have landed a minor management position. His years of experience at the Gu Corporation were undoubtedly a valuable asset on his resume.

However, Su Qiwen was arrogant and entitled. Having enjoyed the prestige of working at the Gu Corporation, he looked down on other opportunities. He quit after only a few days at each job. Fortunately, he had accumulated enough savings and owned a house, allowing him to remain idle at home.

Gu Zhiyao’s plan was simple: find someone who harbored resentment toward Gu Zhibai, bribe them, and have them take action against her.

He planned to trick Father Gu and Gu Zhibai into riding in the same car, eliminating both of them in one fell swoop. Wouldn’t that be perfect?

As he was on the phone with his assistant, Father Gu called, his tone icy as he demanded Zhiyao return home immediately.

Zhiyao seethed with anger. You old man, he thought bitterly, just wait until I find the right people. Then you’ll see what real trouble looks like.

Father Gu’s call wasn’t about anything new. It was about last night’s incident.

While the Gu family wasn’t the absolute top tier in Provincial City, they were still among the elite. Even so, Zhiyao’s arrogance and recklessness were beyond the pale.

Summoning all the doctors with a few phone calls to treat his girlfriend’s mother? Father Gu nearly laughed in exasperation. Why didn’t he show this filial piety when I was bedridden? Now he suddenly wants to play the hero?
It would have been one thing if Zhiyao had simply been lazy and irresponsible. With his sister carrying the family’s weight, he could have remained a carefree second-generation heir. The family could afford to support him.

Even the other spoiled young masters in town had the sense to avoid serious trouble. Why was Zhiyao so utterly hopeless?

Father Gu went for his morning walk, intending to find an old friend for a game of chess. Instead, he returned with an earful of gossip, only to be teased by his friend: “Your son is quite the spirited young man, full of energy and ambition! Did you hear what he said? ‘If you can’t cure Mrs. Ye, you’re all fired!’ Raging for the sake of a woman, how dashing!”

Father Gu was so humiliated he fled the chess game unfinished, rushing home to swallow two blood pressure pills.

To be fair, Father Gu had always been a staunch believer in fairness, a master of equitable parenting. He provided equal resources to both his children, yet Gu Zhiyao had also received preferential treatment from his mother. Perhaps this excessive indulgence had not only failed to cultivate his talent but also fostered a lawless nature.

Father Gu observed coldly: “At least he has a decent face. We’ll have him produce a few more children to pass down the Gu family’s good looks.”

“Do you even realize what you’ve done wrong?” he demanded, his voice laced with anger as he glared at his son from his wheelchair.

“What have I done wrong?” Gu Zhiyao frowned, his expression impatient.

“Last night, you made a spectacle of yourself treating some irrelevant old woman. The news has spread everywhere!” Father Gu slammed his fist on the armrest, his voice rising in fury. “You’ve utterly disgraced the Gu family!”

“She’s Wanwan’s birth mother, not some irrelevant woman!” Gu Zhiyao retorted loudly, showing no fear.

“Wanwan, Wanwan? You can date, but stay away from those shady types. And keep things under control,” Father Gu sneered. “Remember your position. Your future partner needs to be someone of equal standing.”

Hearing his father denigrate Wanwan, Gu Zhiyao couldn’t contain himself. He slammed his hand on the table. “My Wanwan is the kindest, most adorable woman in the world! She’s nothing like those shady types you’re talking about! I won’t let you speak of her like that!”

He rolled his eyes and scoffed. “Equal standing? You mean from the Liu or Xu families? Those brainless, decorative women can’t hold a candle to my Wanwan. I’ll marry her or no one!”

Gu Zhiyao’s gaze burned with intensity, his aura domineering. Cold, sharp light glinted in his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes, radiating pure masculine energy.

“You! Are you rebelling against me?!” Father Gu glared, trembling with rage.

“You meddle too much, old man,” Gu Zhiyao sneered, tilting his nose upward and shooting a disdainful look. “I’m not Gu Zhibai, that fool who lets you pull his strings.”

Gu Zhiyao knew he’d be getting rid of his father soon anyway, so he refused to swallow his anger. Besides, the old man had dared to speak ill of Wanwan, the woman he held dear. That alone was enough for Gu Zhiyao to sever ties.

“How dare you speak to me like that!” Father Gu, accustomed to absolute authority in his home, had never faced such defiance.

His breathing grew ragged, blood rushed to his face, and his complexion flushed crimson.

“You! You unfilial son!” Father Gu clutched his chest, choking on his own rage. The air caught in his throat, unable to rise or fall, causing the veins in his neck to bulge violently and his face to darken to a purplish-red.

“You!”

Father Gu’s trembling finger pointed at Gu Zhiyao, shaking like an electric shock. He shuddered violently, his eyes snapped shut, and he collapsed unconscious.

Gu Zhiyao: Huh?

Did he really faint from anger?

Though Gu Zhiyao desperately wanted to leave the old man to his fate, the family estate was full of people. If Father Gu truly died, he’d be trapped.

He yanked open the door and bellowed down the stairs, “Someone come quick! The old man’s passed out!”

Chaos erupted as Father Gu was rushed to the hospital, his ward conveniently located next to Ye’s mother’s.

Fate, indeed, works in mysterious ways.
Unable to refuse Gu Zhibai’s “warm hospitality,” Jiang Zhenmian stayed at her house that night, planning to return to school together the next day to retrieve their belongings.

After dinner, Jiang Zhenmian diligently washed a large bowl of strawberries, carefully removing the stems from each one until only the bright red, fragrant berries remained, neatly arranged side by side.

Gu Zhibai naturally relished this attentive service.

“Speaking of living alone, Sister, why haven’t you considered getting a pet?” Jiang Zhenmian asked casually. “This house is so big, it must feel awfully empty with just one person.”

“Having a pet is a lot of work,” Gu Zhibai sighed. “I’m just too busy.”

Just because she’s busy? Jiang Zhenmian’s eyes darted around. “Then do you like cats more or dogs more, Sister?”

Gu Zhibai pondered for a moment. “Hmm… I think I prefer dogs, especially larger breeds.”

“Oh, speaking of which, I saw a really funny video today!” Jiang Zhenmian pulled out her phone and held it up for Gu Zhibai to see. “Look at this border collie—it even does exercises!”

Gu Zhibai watched intently, bursting into laughter moments later.

Jiang Zhenmian seized the opportunity to ask, “Sister, do you like Border Collies?”

“I do,” Gu Zhibai replied. “Why? Are you thinking of getting a dog?”

“What? Is my intention that obvious?” Jiang Zhenmian feigned shock, her mouth gaping wide enough to fit an egg. She had planned to secretly buy a puppy as a surprise, but her plan had been exposed.

“Alright, stop making faces,” Gu Zhibai said with a smile, reaching out to close Jiang Zhenmian’s jaw. “Having a dog is a lot of work. Are you sure you want one?”

“You have to walk them every day, bathe large breeds, and spend time playing with them. Border Collies are particularly sensitive and need constant companionship.”

Gu Zhibai had clearly considered getting a dog herself, but ultimately realized that her work schedule, with daily commutes and frequent overtime, left her with no time for one. She had reluctantly given up the idea.

“Actually, I’ve been thinking about it,” Jiang Zhenmian said, her eyes earnest. “I could quit my job and make a living freelancing. That way, I’d have much more time at home and be much more free.”

Since the initial promotion of her Classic of Mountains and Seas series, her popularity had skyrocketed, her fanbase growing daily. Commissions flooded in, but she had been turning them down, citing her recent busyness.

With Jiang Zhenmian’s current skill level, she could easily make a living as an artist. Moreover, while she had adapted well to office life and outwardly seemed to enjoy group activities, she actually loathed interacting with people, except when she was cursing them out.

To Gu Zhibai, this announcement was like a popular kid suddenly declaring they wanted to become a shut-in, utterly baffling.

“This dog… it’s not like we absolutely have to keep it,” Gu Zhibai said hesitantly.

There’s no need to make such a huge sacrifice, quitting your job just to raise a dog.

“Originally, I planned to become a freelance artist after graduation, earning money by taking commissions. But…” Jiang Zhenmian glanced at Gu Zhibai, a hint of guilt in her eyes, and cleared her throat. “But I only applied to Gu Corporation to get closer to you.”

Gu Zhibai raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a teasing smile. Jiang Zhenmian chuckled awkwardly. “You know what they say: ‘The nearest pavilion sees the moon first.'”

“Besides, I can bring you lunch every day, so you won’t have to eat in the cafeteria when you’re busy.”

Gu Zhibai retorted with a pointed remark, “You really came prepared, didn’t you?”

“Are you sure about this?” she asked. “Quitting your job to stay home can be lonely. No one to talk to during the day, no friends to go out with anymore.”

“It’s fine, I don’t need friends,” Jiang Zhenmian said, moving closer to nuzzle Gu Zhibai’s neck. “Having you is enough. You wouldn’t stop talking to me or refuse to go out with me, would you?”

“Is two people even considered a gathering?” Gu Zhibai asked with a smile, tilting her head to the side as Jiang Zhenmian’s hair tickled her neck.

“A date, a gathering, what’s the difference?” Jiang Zhenmian replied. “If I had to choose, spending time with you is a thousand times better than hanging out with a crowd.”
“Are you tired of me already?” Jiang Zhenmian asked, sitting up abruptly and wiping away fake tears. “I’m always clinging to you, making myself look so clingy. If you’re really annoyed, just say so. Why beat around the bush and make me feel bad?”

Gu Zhibai sighed deeply, caught between humoring Jiang Zhenmian and trying to move past the topic.

When Jiang Zhenmian got dramatic, she could go on forever if left unchecked. Gu Zhibai had learned this the hard way over the past few months.

During their usual chats, Jiang Zhenmian typed at lightning speed, sending messages one after another without pausing. Gu Zhibai could barely get a word in. Eventually, she figured out how to keep up for a few rounds, but she always lost in the end, overwhelmed by Jiang Zhenmian’s experience and ending up owing her a string of absurd favors.

Once, they had arranged to have dinner together, but Gu Zhibai was running late, about half an hour behind schedule, due to work. Jiang Zhenmian immediately started acting up, this time quoting not Daiyu’s lines, but those of Shopkeeper Tong. Gu Zhibai apologized, but Jiang Zhenmian merely huffed, insisting it wasn’t enough and demanding she say, “I’m a bad girl.”

Gu Zhibai, torn between laughter and exasperation, relented and said the words. Jiang Zhenmian instantly transformed, devouring two mouthfuls of food with gusto.

Though she couldn’t win verbal sparring matches with Jiang Zhenmian, Gu Zhibai had discovered a foolproof tactic that worked every time.

Gu Zhibai raised her hand to caress Jiang Zhenmian’s cheek, leaned in for a quick kiss, and lingered with their lips pressed together, whispering, “I’ll do whatever you want, okay?”

This was Jiang Zhenmian’s weakness, a devastatingly effective attack. Jiang Zhenmian hummed in response, abandoning her act and melting into Gu Zhibai’s arms like putty, clinging to her and kissing her relentlessly for a long, shameless moment before finally pulling away.

Their lips parted, both their faces flushed. Jiang Zhenmian licked away the lingering moisture on her lips, blinked rapidly to conceal the hunger and desire in her eyes, and then complained, half-teasing, “Sister, you’re cheating.”

“If you don’t like it, I won’t kiss you next time,” Gu Zhibai teased back, retreating to advance.

“No, no! Who said I didn’t like it?” Jiang Zhenmian interrupted hastily, then muttered under her breath, “Still, you’re cheating.”

Gu Zhibai pinched Jiang Zhenmian’s cheek before turning serious. “You want to resign? Fine, but you’ll have to wait until this project is finished. We won’t find a suitable replacement on short notice.”

Jiang Zhenmian stopped fooling around. “Of course. But there’s not much work left anyway. Most of it’s with the Publicity Department now. We should be done by the end of the month.”

“So…” Jiang Zhenmian conjured her phone from thin air, her face lighting up with excitement. “We can start looking at kennels!”

“Border collies don’t come in many colors. Do you prefer merle or black and white, Sister?”

Dogs from reputable kennels were pricier, but they came with several advantages. First, their purebred lineage ensured excellent temperament and appearance. Each pup had striking features, with thick eyebrows and bright, expressive eyes.

Second, they were microchipped, preventing them from getting lost.

Finally, these puppies had undergone socialization training before being sold. Border collies, being particularly intelligent, could learn basic commands like “follow,” “shake,” and “sit” with ease.

Puppies raised around humans from a young age naturally weren’t afraid of people. They were even affectionate, bonding quickly with their owners.

As for the only downside—the high price—Gu Zhibai didn’t consider that a drawback at all.

The moment she decided to get a dog, Gu Zhibai naturally prepared to spend money, even considering which room to convert into a dedicated kennel.

“Meteor,” Gu Zhibai said slowly after a moment’s hesitation.

The kennel’s website featured videos of puppies for sale, along with their parents’ pedigrees, all champion-level dogs with award-winning lineages.

Gu Zhibai clicked on one of the videos. A small, gray-black-and-white Border Collie puppy with a round body was bouncing around energetically. Though young, it already knew how to shake hands and roll over.

Next to the video were photos of the puppy: playing fetch in the grass, standing solemnly and gazing straight ahead, its dark, blue-tinged eyes round and clear, its nose perfectly unblemished. It was utterly adorable.

Gu Zhibai fell for it instantly. The puppy was only two months old and couldn’t be shipped by air until it turned three months old, but it could be reserved in advance.

Once she made up her mind, she didn’t hesitate. “It’s decided. I’ll take this one.”

“Huh? You’ve only just looked at one. Don’t you want to see the others?” Jiang Zhenmian asked, tilting her head.

“No need,” Gu Zhibai replied, shaking her head. “It’s just too cute.”

Gu Zhibai pulled out her phone, added the kennel’s official WeChat account, exchanged a few messages, and immediately reserved the female puppy, paying a 30% deposit.

The four-figure deposit seemed like four yuan to Gu Zhibai.

After making the payment, a faint smile curved her lips. She turned to Jiang Zhenmian and said slowly, “I’m planning to clear out the guest room downstairs and make it the dog’s den.”

Taking Jiang Zhenmian’s hand, she led her to the guest room door and pushed it open. The thirty-square-meter room contained a bed and a wardrobe, with a window overlooking the greenery outside. When the curtains were drawn back, the trees were covered in a dusting of snow.

“The space is big enough,” Gu Zhibai said, pointing around the room. “We can put a large bed here, some chew toys over there, and its food bowl over here.”

She’s thought of everything, Jiang Zhenmian thought to herself. She must really love dogs.

“We should probably change the wallpaper too,” Jiang Zhenmian added to Gu Zhibai’s grand plan.

“You’re right,” Gu Zhibai agreed, surveying the room. She was also dissatisfied with the current plain white wallpaper.

“Speaking of which, what should we name her?” Jiang Zhenmian asked. “Since she’s a girl, we can’t give her a weird name.”

“Do you have any ideas?” Gu Zhibai asked, her own mind racing.

“I’m terrible at naming things,” Jiang Zhenmian said, wrinkling her nose. “All I can come up with are names like ‘Richie,’ ‘Toast,’ or ‘Lucky.’ Maybe we should skip it? They’re too ordinary.” She waved her hands dismissively.

Gu Zhibai struggled to get the words out. “Actually, I’m… not good at naming things either.”
The two women stared at each other, a silent, awkward moment passing between them.

“It’s okay,” Jiang Zhenmian said, breaking the silence with a shrug. “We still have a month. We’ll figure something out eventually.” She resorted to procrastination.

Gu Zhibai visibly relaxed, about to reply when her phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed it was Mother Gu.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Gu Zhibai’s face, but she answered anyway.

The woman’s voice on the other end was shrill, but Jiang Zhenmian couldn’t make out a single word from the distance. She could only tell that the caller was ranting furiously before slamming the phone down.

Gu Zhibai’s expression was strange and complex, a hint of amusement lurking beneath the surface. Before Jiang Zhenmian could ask, she said, “Gu Zhiyao has angered my father so much that he’s been hospitalized.”

“What?” Jiang Zhenmian exclaimed, astonished. “Did manna fall from heaven?”

Gu Zhibai couldn’t hold back her laughter. “My mom just called. They had another fight, and it made my dad faint. They rushed him to the hospital, but he woke up almost immediately. Then they started arguing again, and now he’s out cold for good.”

She sighed dramatically, but her tone was clearly gleeful. “The old man’s going to be out of it for at least ten days, maybe even half a month.”

Jiang Zhenmian looked at her seriously. “Do we have any champagne? Let’s open a bottle.”

“Ha ha!” Gu Zhibai felt utterly delighted, better than she could have ever imagined. “You’re truly my lucky star.”

“A lucky star deserves a hundred kisses as a reward!” Jiang Zhenmian tilted her head back, seizing the opportunity to steal a kiss.

Gu Zhibai leaned in and kissed her lightly, chuckling. “Ninety-nine more to go.”

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