Chapter 80: The Strategic Samoyed and a Familiar Face

Ever since Lin Qing had returned to this home, no one else had knocked on his door, apart from Su Yao, whom he had brought back this time.

Relatives with whom he had severed ties were even less likely to visit.

Nor had there been any recent incidents requiring a police investigation.

Therefore, eliminating those possibilities left only one.

It had to be related to the plan Su Yao had mentioned.

As these thoughts coalesced, Lin Qing’s mind began to form a clear conjecture.

Moments later, as Lin Qing opened the front door, a snow-white blur pounced, knocking him to the ground.

Despite the enthusiastic slobbering of a dog’s tongue, he remained remarkably composed.

He had anticipated this.

“Shirley, don’t be so rude.”

Su Yao, maintaining her seated posture, simply smiled and waved a hand.

Immediately, the large dog that had tackled Lin Qing ceased its antics, dutifully trotting towards Su Yao instead.

With its tail wagging and its beautiful appearance, it was utterly adorable.

“Allow me to introduce you,” Su Yao began. “This is Shirley, my Samoyed. She has sled dog blood in her veins.”

“Though she looks incredibly docile, even a bit goofy, she’s actually quite fierce!”

Su Yao stroked the dog’s head as Shirley nudged against her hand, then she introduced her pet to Lin Qing.

Since they had decided to exploit Wang Fanran’s weaknesses to lure him out, a ‘prop’ dog was naturally indispensable.

This had been part of their plan, set two days prior.

In Su Yao’s estimation, even if Lin Qing initially refused to help apprehend Wang Fanran, he would eventually be compelled to agree.

There was no need to worry about any other outcome.

“Fierce, you say?”

Lin Qing rose, dusting off his wrinkled clothes, then observed Shirley, who was still wagging her tail.

No matter how he looked at her, he couldn’t discern any trace of ferocity.

If she were truly fierce, she wouldn’t have pounced to lick him.

She would have bitten him directly.

However, upon hearing the skepticism in Lin Qing’s voice, Su Yao mused, ‘He still hasn’t noticed his missing clothes… they’re already in Shirley’s dog bed. She’s grown accustomed to his scent over the past few days.’

‘Still, since he hadn’t discovered it, there was no need to bring it up.’

‘She didn’t want Lin Qing to once again perceive her as a “bad woman.”‘

“The subsequent plan is quite simple,” Su Yao explained, stroking the dog’s head. “Given Wang Fanran’s deep-seated resentment towards you, coupled with his current illicit activities, once he sees you walking a dog, he’ll undoubtedly be tempted to steal it.”

“This will be the first step in his revenge.”

Su Yao outlined the complete plan, her hand still resting on the dog’s head.

No one was better suited than Lin Qing to serve as the bait to draw out Wang Fanran.

According to the intelligence gathered, Wang Fanran possessed a cowardly and bullying nature.

Having fallen to such a low point, he desperately needed a target for his frustrations.

This target couldn’t be too strong, which ruled out the troublesome students from school.

Nor could they be too weak, thus excluding Li Dong, who had failed in his attempt to harm someone.

Therefore, after Wang Fanran had repeatedly stumbled because of Lin Qing, Lin Qing had become the perfect target for his redirected hatred.

As for why she was so certain…

If Wang Fanran hadn’t harbored thoughts of revenge against Lin Qing, he wouldn’t have appeared in this very neighborhood to steal dogs.

Instead, he would have moved to other, easier targets, rather than remaining in a now-alert community, thereby increasing the difficulty of continuing his dog-napping activities.

Considering all these factors, Wang Fanran’s unwavering focus on Lin Qing, combined with his vengeful psyche, made the probability of luring him out over 90%.

“I understand.”

Lin Qing offered no objections to Su Yao’s meticulously crafted plan.

He, too, believed the chances of luring Wang Fanran out were high.

It was merely walking a dog after school.

It seemed like a minor inconvenience.

“Of course, to further provoke Wang Fanran’s desire for revenge, and to ensure Shirley doesn’t get agitated and bite anyone, I’ll need to accompany you on these dog walks,” Su Yao continued.

“For now, let’s schedule them for after you wake up each morning, during lunchtime, and after school in the evening.”

…

Lin Qing, however, had been far too naive in his thinking.

Walking the dog itself wasn’t troublesome, but Su Yao’s accompaniment transformed it into an entirely different ordeal.

She incessantly sought every conceivable opportunity to assert her presence before him.

If she could control his dreams, perhaps the bloody nightmares would cease, only to be replaced by an inescapable Su Yao.

She would extend those slender arms, gripping his neck tightly, leaving him utterly without escape.

“Wang Fanran harbors resentment only towards me; there’s no need for you to get involved.”

“While that’s true,” Su Yao countered, “Wang Fanran still believes himself superior to you.”

“So, seeing us together, intimately, will undoubtedly enrage him to the point of losing all reason. He’s already witnessed us kissing in the changing room, so he won’t suspect we’re merely putting on an act.”

Even as Lin Qing attempted to argue, Su Yao had already skillfully blocked every potential retreat.

Her subsequent words left Lin Qing utterly unable to refute her.

Su Yao, meticulously planning every step, had made all her preparations long before anything had even begun.

“Even so, three times is too much,” Lin Qing insisted. “Let’s cancel the morning walk. I can handle it alone.”

Despite his inability to logically counter her, Lin Qing still struggled.

Waking from nightmares each morning, he was often in a state of profound melancholy, and he saw no reason for Su Yao to witness him like that.

“Alright.”

Su Yao understood the wisdom of knowing when to stop, so she didn’t press the issue further.

Being able to continue meeting Lin Qing after school was already a rather significant step forward.

Excessive greed would only lead to a poor outcome.

This, however, did not signify a decrease in Su Yao’s covetousness; rather, it surged rapidly, fueled by suppression.

She would extend her already sharpened claws at the opportune moment.

To firmly grasp her prey.

“Today’s lunch should be waiting by the door too,” Su Yao said, her smile soft and gentle. “Go grab it and eat quickly. Then, when you take out the trash, we can do our first dog walk for the day.”

As she spoke, Su Yao’s smile was so tender, so mild, that it completely masked the formidable strength of her personality.

Although Su Yao had never formally investigated Lin Qing, she had observed him eating convenience store rice balls at school, noted his remarkably plain attire, and sensed the persistent loneliness that clung to him.

He had always been alone.

He was like a cat caught in the rain, its once soft fur plastered against its body, making it appear even more frail and pitiful.

Approach too suddenly, and it would only lash out with its claws.

Issuing a warning growl to deter anyone from coming closer.

Having previously heard from Lin Qing that his mother had passed away, confirming he now lived alone, Su Yao seized the opportunity while he went to fetch mineral water.

She immediately sent a text message instructing her bodyguards to deliver the dog and a bento box.

She was learning even more about Lin Qing.

And she was exceedingly pleased.

Lin Qing offered no opposition to Su Yao’s decided arrangements, and together they shared a remarkably delicious meal.

His previously empty home, with the addition of Su Yao and a dog, had become surprisingly lively.

It was unfamiliar, yet not unwelcome.

In fact, he rather liked it…

“Have you walked a dog before?”

“No.”

With their meal finished and appetites sated, it was time to embark on the dog-walking excursion.

Downstairs in the neighborhood, Su Yao turned her head to look at Lin Qing.

Upon seeing him shake his head, a faint smile played on her lips before she extended her hand, offering him the dog’s leash.

While Lin Qing stood utterly bewildered, Su Yao let out a sharp whistle.

Shirley, the Samoyed, bolted forward like a wild dog unchained, dragging Lin Qing along with her.

Watching Lin Qing being ungracefully ‘walked’ by the dog, Su Yao remained rooted to her spot, laughing uncontrollably until tears welled in her eyes.

“Little girl, what’s your relationship with Little Qing?”