It was the last week before the New Year. Some colleagues were on leave, others had already gone home, and the office was nearly empty. The efficiency project Shang Zhitao had been building had passed testing and approval. It would go live officially after the holiday.
With nothing left to do, she found herself with a rare moment to browse other websites at her desk. Lumi came back with a cup of water and caught her looking at dogs online.
"You like dogs?"
"I do. I want one." Shang Zhitao nodded. She'd read that dogs liked to stick close to their owners, curling up at your feet with nothing else to do. She imagined it: on a snowy or rainy day, or just when she was bored out of her mind, having something warm and adorable beside her. It had to feel good.
"I happen to have a friend who runs a kennel out in Tongzhou. Want me to take you to pick one out?"
"Huh? Right now?"
Shang Zhitao really did admire how her mentor seemed to know everyone. It was as if there wasn't a single thing in all of Beijing that Lumi couldn't get done, or a single person she couldn't win over.
"Of course right now." Lumi pulled on her coat. "Days like this, when you can slip away from work, don't come around often. What are we waiting for?"
Shang Zhitao started getting dressed too. She saw Kitty rise from her desk. Kitty was wearing a black dress and a pair of knee-high boots that day, and for once she actually smiled at them. "Where are you two off to see dogs?"
Lumi looked ready to say something like "none of your business," but Shang Zhitao got there first. "Tongzhou." That killed the argument before it could start.
They put on their coats and headed for the door. Kitty followed them out.
None of the three said a word in the elevator. Shang Zhitao's phone rang, and she picked up. "Hello, Manager Wang."
It was a supplier who'd been added to their vendor list that year, the one whose services they'd used for the Suzhou event.
"I'm at the office," Shang Zhitao said, smiling.
"You're right downstairs from us?"
"Sure, I'll be right down."
She hung up and turned to Lumi. "Old Wang's here. Says he was passing by and wanted to stop in."
They stepped out of the elevator and saw Manager Wang sitting on the ground floor, two red New Year gift boxes beside him. Kitty walked in through the back entrance of the coffee shop, glanced at the gift boxes, glanced at Shang Zhitao, and pushed through the door without a word.
"It's the New Year, so our company prepared spring couplets for our clients. We got a set ready for the two of you as well."
"No, we can't accept that." Lumi turned him down flat. "The gift box is a small thing, but our work isn't. No need to stand on ceremony, Manager Wang. Let's grab a meal sometime instead. The gift can wait."
"Right." Shang Zhitao nodded beside her and added, "No need to be so formal."
The three of them made small talk for a bit before saying their goodbyes.
Lumi drove them to the underground garage, and once they were in the car she said, "You'll run into a lot more of this. Trust me, don't take anything. Though I know you're not the type anyway."
Shang Zhitao nodded. "I'm too much of a coward for that. I don't want to end up in prison at my age. My parents would have to take the high speed rail just to visit me. Too much trouble." She said it lightly, but the truth was her own sense of right and wrong wouldn't let her do it. Take one thread from the people, and how could you ever face them again?
"This industry's full of it. Everyone in marketing walks a fine line. Today it's a gift box, tomorrow a silk scarf, the day after a handbag, and slowly, that's how people fall." Lumi was watching the road as she talked. "Mostly because I don't need the money anyway!"
When she said "the day after a handbag," Lumi suddenly thought of the four untouched bags sitting at home. Had Luan Nian bought those, or were they gifts from a client? The thought crossed her mind and she shook it off just as quickly. Luan Nian wasn't that kind of person. He lacked for nothing himself, and he had that streak of aloof pride running through him.
Shang Zhitao couldn't quite figure out how Luan Nian had picked up the habit of handing over gifts so casually. He gave them the way you'd toss aside something you didn't need, a present left on the sofa that you were expected to take with you when you left, something in the back seat you grabbed on your way out of the car.
It took up a lot of space. And how much did she even own? When she'd moved apartments, that bag alone had needed its own box. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was running a side business in luxury packaging.
While she was thinking this over, Lumi reached into the back seat and handed her a small box. "It's New Year, so this isn't for you. It's for your parents."
"Why are you giving my parents something?" Shang Zhitao felt like she was holding a hot potato.
"If I'm giving it to you, you take it! It's not for you anyway, it's belts, one for each of them. Tell them thanks for the pickled vegetables they made me, they were delicious. Hope you bring back even more next time you visit home."
The last time Shang Zhitao had gone home, she'd brought back the pickles Da Zhai had made, jars and jars of them filling half a suitcase, quite the sight. She'd given Lumi two jars, and Lumi had gotten hooked, so Shang Zhitao just handed the rest over to her.
"If you like them that much I'll bring more, but you giving gifts is a whole different thing..." Shang Zhitao looked a little embarrassed.
"Is that any of your business? Just take it. Don't make me mad."
They bickered the whole way to the kennel. The man who ran the place had a bit of a punk look to him, and when he saw Lumi he clapped her hard on the shoulder. "You getting a dog?" The two of them clearly knew each other well.
"My friend here is." Lumi turned to Shang Zhitao. "Tell him what kind of dog you want. He knows every kennel around here, and if he doesn't have what you're looking for, he can take us to someone who does."
"I want a Samoyed, or maybe a Golden Retriever," Shang Zhitao said seriously. She liked Samoyeds because they looked like little snowballs, and Golden Retrievers were obedient and smart. Either one would do.
"I've actually got a fresh litter of Samoyeds. Show quality, top marks on coat, bone structure, and length. Want to take a look?"
"Sure."
She followed him inside and found herself facing a whole litter of little snowballs.
The man gave her some advice. "Picking a dog is about connection. Call to them. Whichever one comes to you first is bound to be the sharpest one, and the one most drawn to you."
Right.
Shang Zhitao crouched down. Called out. How was she supposed to call a dog? Woof! She let out a bark of her own. The kennel owner had never seen anyone call a dog quite like that before, and he burst out laughing. "You're a funny one, kid."
Lumi was laughing beside her too. "That's just how she is. A little empty upstairs."
And sure enough, one of the puppies came scrambling over at the sound of her bark, all soft fur, nipping at her fingers, wanting to play. Shang Zhitao's heart melted on the spot. She scooped the puppy into her lap, and it seemed just as taken with her, rolling over to show its belly for a rub. Maybe this was what the owner meant by connection.
Shang Zhitao held the little snowball, unwilling to put it down, and looked up at the kennel owner. "How much?"
"No charge."
"Huh?" Shang Zhitao had checked prices before coming. Show-quality Samoyeds weren't cheap, they could run into the thousands or even more. Free didn't make sense. But Lumi had already leaned down, scooping the puppy up by the scruff and heading for the door. "It's free, so why aren't you moving? Before he changes his mind?" The puppy went along without complaint, all four paws dangling as Lumi carried it out, looking utterly dopey.
"Take good care of him. Once he's a bit bigger, bring him back to see his parents. He's already had one shot, you'll need to get the rest done yourself. Want the crate, or are you just carrying him out?"
"Carrying him out. But let me at least pay you something? I looked it up, show-quality dogs go for eight, ten thousand. I feel bad taking him for free."
"Are you out of your mind? What's there to feel bad about? This is my brother!" Lumi was already pushing Shang Zhitao toward the door. "We'll grab a meal sometime, deal? Now go, you need to buy a crate, dog food, and probably some new clothes for him too, don't you?"
They got in the car, the puppy curled up in Shang Zhitao's lap. Lumi glanced at the dog, then at Shang Zhitao, then let out a low whistle. "Shang Zhitao, why does the dog you picked look so much like you?"
"How does it look like me?" Shang Zhitao lifted the puppy up to eye level. They stared at each other. The puppy barked once.
"Look at that expression! That face!" Lumi was laughing so hard her stomach hurt. "Dopey as anything, just like you!"
Huh?
Am I dopey?
Shang Zhitao held the puppy up and asked him, "Am I dopey? Luke?" The puppy tilted its head. Dopey.
"What did you name him?" Lumi thought she'd misheard and asked again.
"Luke." Shang Zhitao answered seriously. "It's a good name. It settles a score."
Shang Zhitao had wanted a dog named Luke from the start. Luke, come here. Luke, sit down! Luke, stop! Luke, good boy! How satisfying would that be. She laughed out loud. "Calling him Luke is going to feel amazing. Next time I get worked over at the office, I'll come home and give Luke a piece of my mind instead. Luke, is this how you're supposed to work? If you can't do the job, don't bother. Luke, why did you pee inside? If you can't manage that, get out. Luke, look at the other dogs, then look at yourself." Shang Zhitao's impression of Luan Nian's tone and expression was uncannily close, brows drawn, face cold, wearing the exact look of someone begging to be smacked. Lumi was in stitches, doubled over the steering wheel laughing. "That does settle a score, doesn't it. I should rename my pet lizard when I get home too. I'll call him Lu An." Lu. An. Luan. "Lu An, you little brat! Who do you think you're staring down, Lu An! Keep it up and I'll starve you!"
The two of them laughed together. Luke sat in Shang Zhitao's lap, seeming to mull over his new name. After a while, maybe deciding it suited him fine, he suddenly stood up and let out a small, fierce bark. "Woof!"
"Good boy, Luke. Say it again for me."
With Luke in her life, Shang Zhitao felt this year had turned out complete. She carried him through the door and called out to Sun Yu and Sun Yuanzhu. "Come look at my little snowball."
The three adults gathered around Luke, unable to stop petting him. The little creature was impossibly cute, the kind that made everyone dote on him. Whenever you reached for him, he'd open his tiny mouth and pretend to bite. A moment later he'd flip onto his back on the floor, showing off every trick he had. Nothing like Luan, Shang Zhitao thought. Far more fun than Luan ever was.
She couldn't bear to shut Luke in a crate, afraid he'd feel wronged. Sun Yuanzhu dug out the leftover materials from the bookshelf they'd assembled and fenced off a corner of the balcony for him. He also went online and bought dog treats, worried Luke wasn't getting enough nutrition. Sun Yu, afraid Luke would get cold, tore apart an old quilt and sewed him a little bed by hand, muttering the whole time, don't you dare bite this, it wasn't easy to make. Luke, seeming to sense he'd landed in a household that adored him, kept himself busy, rubbing against one person's leg, then scratching at someone else's pant cuff, never sitting still.
Watching how adorable Luke was, Sun Yu said to Shang Zhitao, "I have to say, this dog has a wonderful temperament."
Of course he did. Far better than Luan Nian.
That night, as Shang Zhitao was falling asleep, she heard whimpering from beside the bed, little paws pattering on the floor, sounding restless. She turned on the bedside lamp and sat up. Luke immediately sat down properly on the floor, then a few seconds later pushed himself up, resting his fuzzy little front paws on the foot of the bed, letting out a low, mournful whine.
"You want to sleep with me, is that it?" she asked him.
"Woof!" Luke barked, which probably meant yes, with you, right now.
She lifted him onto the bed. "Just don't wet the bed, okay? I know you can't understand a word I'm saying, you're too little to hold it in yet." Little Luke sat on the bed, head tilted, round eyes fixed on her, as if he were thinking it over. Then he barked again.
Probably meant: I'll try not to.
Shang Zhitao laughed and turned off the light. In the dark, Luke found a spot beside her hand, his soft body pressed against her arm, his head resting on her wrist, and let out a small sound. Something in her chest went unbearably soft, unable to put a name to it. A Luke who belonged only to her, who had to sleep beside her every night. She rested a hand on his head and murmured, "Be good now, Luke. Don't turn out like Luan."
With Luke around, that empty space in her chest finally felt full, and somehow she didn't need Luan Nian to fill it quite so much anymore.
Luke was perfect in every way except one: he was still too small, and needed to go out to pee in the middle of the night. If she didn't take him out, he'd whine around the apartment until she did. So Shang Zhitao would bundle herself into a down jacket, hair a mess, and carry him downstairs. The little garden below still had patches of snow, and Luke hadn't yet learned to lift his leg, so he'd just bend his back legs and let it go right on the snow with a splattering sound. His legs were so short that by the time he finished, the fur on his backside would be soaked. Back upstairs, she'd have to wipe him down with a warm towel.
Watching her get put through the wringer, Sun Yu teased her. "Once Luan can help you take care of Luke, your life will really be complete."
Shang Zhitao's hand paused mid-wipe, then kept going.
Having a dog meant she got up even earlier now. Lack of sleep had left dark circles under her eyes.
On the second to last day before the New Year, she ran into Luan Nian at the office. For once, he actually asked, "You're here this early?"
"Ah..."
He glanced at her. "I'll pick you up tonight?"
"Can't. Tonight doesn't work for me..." Shang Zhitao said it with total seriousness.
"..."
"I have to go home and walk my dog."
"You got a dog?"
"Yeah. If I don't walk him he'll pee in the apartment. And he needs to go down in the middle of the night too..."
"Where's your roommate?"
"She went home for the holiday today." Shang Zhitao waved a hand. "So no, I can't come to your place tonight!"
The elevator opened, and she stepped in ahead of him, thinking to herself how strange it was. Ever since she'd gotten Luke, she hadn't felt the slightest interest in anything else.