The Early Spring

Shаng Zhi Тao wаs а wоmаn оf action.

During thе lаst week bеfore thе Lunаr Nеw Yеаr, сolleаgues were either on vасatiоn or hаd gоnе hоme, lеаving оnlу а handful оf peoрlе in the оffice. Thе efficiеncy imрrоvеmеnt рrоjеct modеl shе had bееn wоrking on hаd pаssеd testing and арprоval and was sеt to officiаllу lаunch аfter the holidау.

Suddеnly finding hеrsеlf with littlе tо dо, shе toоk thе rarе oрportunitу to brоwsе оther wеbsitеs аt hеr desk. Lumi returned with а cup of water аnd saw her loоking at dogs оnline.

“Dо уou likе dogs?”

“Yes. I want to get one.” Shang Zhi Tao nodded. She had read online that dogs love to stick close to their owners, often curling up at their feet. She imagined how nice it would feel to have such a cute companion by her side during snowy or rainy days, or simply when she was feeling bored and alone.

“I happen to have a friend who runs a kennel in Tongzhou. Want me to take you to pick one out?”

“Huh? Right now?”

Shang Zhi Tao truly admired how her mentor seemed to know everyone. It was as if there was nothing in all of Beijing she couldn’t handle, no one she couldn’t manage.

“Of course, right now.” Lumi put on her coat. “These are the perfect days to sneak out of work. Why wait?”

Shang Zhi Tao also put on her coat and saw Kitty stand up from her desk. Today, Kitty was wearing a black short dress and a pair of over-the-knee boots. Uncharacteristically, she smiled at them and asked, “Where are you going to see dogs?”

Lumi was about to say, “None of your business,” but Shang Zhi Tao cut in first: “To Tongzhou,” effectively nipping their bickering in the bud.

As they headed out, Kitty followed them.

The three of them remained silent in the elevator. Shang Zhi Tao’s phone rang, and she answered, “Hello, Manager Wang.”

It was a supplier they had onboarded this year. Shang Zhi Tao had used their services for the Suzhou station event.

“I’m at the office,” Shang Zhi Tao said with a smile.

“You’re downstairs at our company?”

“Sure, I’ll be right down.”

After hanging up, Shang Zhi Tao said to Lumi, “Old Wang is here. He said he was passing by and wanted to drop in.”

When they stepped out of the elevator, they saw Manager Wang sitting on the first floor with two red Lunar New Year gift boxes beside him. Kitty entered the café through the back door, glanced at the gift boxes, then looked at Shang Zhi Tao before pushing the door open and going inside.

“It’s the New Year, and our company has prepared Spring Festival couplets for our clients. We’ve also prepared a set for the two of you.”

“No, we can’t accept these. The gift boxes are trivial, but our work is important,” Lumi refused directly. “Manager Wang, there’s no need to be so polite. Let’s have a meal together sometime, but please keep the gifts.”

“Yes,” Shang Zhi Tao nodded beside her and said to Manager Wang, “There’s no need to be so formal.”

The three of them exchanged a few more words before parting ways.

Lumi led Shang Zhi Tao to the underground garage to get the car. Once inside, she said, “Things like this will happen often from now on. Trust me, don’t accept anything. Of course, you’re not that kind of person anyway.”

Shang Zhi Tao nodded. “I’m too timid. I wouldn’t want to end up in prison at such a young age. My parents would have to take the high-speed train just to visit me—how exhausting would that be?” She said it casually, but her sense of justice wouldn’t allow her to do such a thing. Not taking so much as a needle or thread from the people—how could she face them afterward if she did?

“Things like this are common in our industry. People in marketing are always walking a fine line. Today it’s a gift box, tomorrow a scarf, the day after a bag, and slowly but surely, you’re done for.” Lumi spoke while driving. “Besides, I don’t need that kind of money anyway!”When Lumi mentioned "a bag the day after tomorrow," she suddenly remembered the four untouched bags sitting at home. Were those bags bought by Luan Nian or given by clients? The thought popped into her mind, but she quickly shook her head—Luan Nian wasn’t that kind of person. He lacked nothing himself and carried an air of aloof pride.

Shang Zhi Tao couldn’t grasp how Luan Nian had developed the habit of casually giving bags as gifts. He presented them so lightly—leaving a gift on the sofa for you to take when you left, or handing you something from the backseat when you got out of the car.

They took up so much space. How many belongings did she even have? When moving, those bags alone would fill an entire box. Anyone unaware might think she was trafficking in luxury packaging!

As she was lost in thought, Lumi reached into the backseat and handed her a small box. "It’s the New Year season. This isn’t for you—it’s for your parents."

"Why are you giving my parents gifts?" Shang Zhi Tao felt uneasy, as if holding something hot.

"Just take it! It’s not for you anyway—belts, one for each of them. To thank your parents for making pickles for me. They were delicious. Hope you bring back more this time."

On her last trip home, Shang Zhi Tao had brought back pickles made by Da Zhai, filling half a suitcase with jars—quite a sight. She gave Lumi two jars, and Lumi fell in love with them, eventually polishing off the whole supply.

"If you like them, I’ll bring more. But why give gifts…" Shang Zhi Tao felt a bit embarrassed.

"Who asked you? Take it, don’t make me angry."

The two bickered all the way to the kennel. The person there looked somewhat punk and gave Lumi a hearty slap on the shoulder upon seeing her. "You getting a dog?" They seemed quite familiar.

"My friend is." Lumi turned to Shang Zhi Tao. "Tell him what kind you want. He knows all the kennels around here. If he doesn’t have it, he’ll take us to pick from someone else’s."

"I want a Samoyed or a Golden Retriever," Shang Zhi Tao said seriously. She liked Samoyeds—they were like snowballs—and Golden Retrievers were obedient and smart. Either would do.

"My place just had a litter of Samoyeds—show-quality dogs. Top-tier in fur, bone structure, and length. Want to take a look?"

"Sure."

Shang Zhi Tao followed him inside and saw a litter of little snowballs.

He even gave her advice: "When buying a dog, it’s about fate. Call them over. The one that comes to play with you first is definitely the smartest and most connected to you."

Oh.

Shang Zhi Tao crouched down and called—but how? Woof! She let out a bark. The kennel owner burst out laughing—he’d never seen anyone call dogs like that. "Pretty funny, girl."

Lumi chuckled too. "That’s just how she is—a bit clueless."

And sure enough, one little puppy, hearing Shang Zhi Tao’s bark, scurried to her feet—fluffy and adorable—and playfully nibbled her finger. Shang Zhi Tao’s heart melted. She lifted the puppy onto her lap, and it seemed to adore her, rolling onto its back in her arms for belly rubs. Was this what the owner meant by fate?

Shang Zhi Tao hugged the little snowball, reluctant to put it down, and looked up at the kennel owner. "How much?"

"No charge.""Huh?" Shang Zhi Tao had looked it up before coming—show-quality Samoyeds weren't cheap, ranging from thousands to tens of thousands. How could it be free? But Lumi bent down, grabbed the puppy by the scruff of its neck, and walked out: "It's free, so why aren't you leaving? Waiting for the owner to change their mind?" The puppy was obedient, letting itself be carried with all four paws dangling, looking utterly silly.

"Take good care of it. Bring it back to see its parents when it's a bit older. It's already had its first shot; you can handle the rest. Do you want to carry the cage or just take the puppy?"

"I'll just carry it. But I should still give you some money, right? I saw online that show-quality dogs cost eight to ten thousand. I'd feel bad."

"Are you crazy? Why feel bad? This is my brother!" Lumi pushed Shang Zhi Tao out: "Just treat me to a meal another day! Hurry up, don't you need to buy a cage and dog food? And maybe some new clothes for the little guy?"

The two got into the car, the puppy nestled in Shang Zhi Tao's arms. Lumi looked at the dog, then at Shang Zhi Tao, and exclaimed: "Damn, Shang Zhi Tao, why does the dog you picked look so much like you?"

"How so?" Shang Zhi Tao lifted it up to eye level, and the puppy let out a soft "woof."

"Look at that expression! That face!" Lumi laughed until her stomach hurt: "Dull and clueless, just like you!"

Huh?

Am I dull?

Shang Zhi Tao picked up the puppy and said to it: "Am I dull? Luke?" The puppy tilted its head—dull.

"What did you call it?" Lumi thought she misheard and asked again.

"Luke," Shang Zhi Tao replied seriously. "It's a good name, a satisfying one."

Shang Zhi Tao had always wanted a dog named Luke. Luke, come here! Luke, sit down! Luke, stop! Luke, good boy! How satisfying. She chuckled to herself: "Luke sounds so imposing. When I'm upset at work, I'll come home and take it out on Luke. 'Luke, how are you doing your job? If you can't handle it, you're fired!' 'Luke, why did you pee indoors? Get out!' 'Luke, look at other dogs, then look at yourself.'" Shang Zhi Tao mimicked Luan Nian's tone and expression perfectly—frowning, cold-faced, looking utterly punchable. Lumi was in stitches, laughing against the steering wheel for a long time: "That does sound satisfying. I'll go home and rename my lizard son too—call him Luan." Lu, An—Luan: "Luan, you're such a jerk! Who are you glaring at, Luan? Keep glaring and I'll starve you!"

The two laughed together while Luke, in Shang Zhi Tao's arms, pondered its new name. After a while, it seemed to decide it was quite imposing too, suddenly standing up and letting out a fierce little "woof!"

"Good boy, Luke. Give sister another bark."

With Luke, Shang Zhi Tao felt this year was truly complete. Carrying it into the apartment, she said to Sun Yu and Sun Yuanzhu: "Come see my little snowball."

The three adults surrounded Luke, unable to resist petting it. The little thing was incredibly cute and endearing—when petted, it would open its tiny mouth and pretend to bite. A moment later, it would roll onto its back on the floor, showing off all its tricks. Nothing like luke at all, but so much more fun. Shang Zhi Tao thought to herself.She couldn't bear to lock Luke in a cage, afraid he would feel mistreated. Sun Yuanzhu found leftover materials from assembling the bookshelf last time and fenced off an area on the balcony for him, then bought dog treats online, worried Luke might suffer from malnutrition. Sun Yu, concerned that Luke might get cold, took apart a quilt and hand-sewed a dog bed for him, saying as she stitched: "Don't you dare chew on this—it's not easy to sew." As for Luke, sensing he was being treated exceptionally well in this household, he kept himself busy—rubbing against one person's leg one moment, scratching another's pant leg the next.

Seeing how adorable Luke was, Sun Yu said to Shang Zhi Tao, "You know, Luke really has such a good temperament."

Of course he does—much better than Luan Nian.

At night, as Shang Zhi Tao tried to sleep, she heard Luke whimpering under the bed, his little paws pattering restlessly on the floor. She turned on the bedside lamp and sat up. Luke immediately sat upright on the floor, then after a few seconds, propped himself up and placed his furry little front paws on the foot of the bed, letting out a soft whimper that trailed off with a hint of dejection.

"Do you want to sleep with me?" Shang Zhi Tao asked him.

"Woof!" Luke barked, as if to say, "Yes! With you! Right now!"

Shang Zhi Tao picked him up and placed him on the bed. "But don't pee on the bed, okay? I know you probably don't understand, but you're still too little to hold it in!" Little Luke sat on the bed, tilting his head and gazing at Shang Zhi Tao with round eyes, as if deep in thought. Then he let out another "Woof!"

Perhaps he meant: I'll try my best not to pee.

Shang Zhi Tao chuckled, turned off the light, and in the darkness, little Luke found a spot right beside her hand. His furry body pressed tightly against her arm, his head resting on her wrist as he let out a soft whimper. Shang Zhi Tao's heart melted with an indescribable tenderness—this was her Luke, a Luke who insisted on sleeping beside her at night. She placed her hand on his head and whispered softly, "Luke, be good, and don't learn from luke."

With Luke by her side, the emptiness in her heart finally felt filled, as if she no longer needed Luan Nian to fill that void.

Luke was perfect in every way, except he was still too small and needed to go out to pee in the early hours of the morning. If she didn't take him out, he would whimper and fuss indoors. So, Shang Zhi Tao would wrap herself in a down jacket, hair disheveled, and take him downstairs to relieve himself. In the small garden below, there was still snow on the ground. Luke hadn't yet learned to lift his leg to pee, so he would squat, his hind legs bending, and pee right onto the snow with a splashing sound. His legs were short, so after he finished, the fur around his bottom would get wet. Shang Zhi Tao would have to take him back upstairs and wipe him clean with a warm towel.

Watching her go through all this trouble, Sun Yu teased her, "When luke can help you take care of Luke, then your life will be complete."

Shang Zhi Tao paused for a moment while wiping Luke's bottom, then continued.

Since getting a dog, she had to wake up even earlier. The lack of sleep left dark circles under her eyes.

On the second-to-last day before the New Year, she ran into Luan Nian at the company. Surprisingly, he asked her, "You're here so early?"

"Ah..."

Luan Nian glanced at her and asked, "Shall I pick you up tonight?"

"I can't... I have something to do tonight..." Shang Zhi Tao said seriously.

"I have to go home to walk the dog."

"You have a dog?"

"Mm-hmm. If I don't walk him, he'll pee indoors. And he needs to go downstairs to pee in the early morning..."

"What about your roommates?"

"They've all gone home for the holidays." Shang Zhi Tao waved her hand. "Sorry, I can't go to your place!"The elevator doors opened. She stepped in ahead of Luan Nian, thinking to herself how strange it was—ever since having Luke, her own lustful thoughts had vanished!