**Chapter 437: Are We Doggos Now?**
Wang Wenjuan peeked through the door and saw the three girls having a blast on the bed. Now that Xia Yu was a girl, she really didn’t have much to worry about. But she couldn’t help but remind them, “You can play, but keep it down! Otherwise, everyone outside will hear you!”
“Is it really that dramatic?”
Jiang Hanhang snuck up behind Xia Ling and wrapped her arms around her, dismissing Wang Wenjuan’s words. But since they had to save face in front of their future mother-in-law, she added, “Okay, okay. We’ll be quieter next time.”
“Good.”
With Jiang Hanhang, the loudest of the bunch, promising to behave, Wang Wenjuan let it go and turned to shut the door again. “Xia Yu, remember to come out for dinner when it’s time.”
Xia Yu thought, “…”
It was bad enough that these two little girls were bullying her; now even her mom was picking on her! For a moment, Xia Yu felt like life was just too tough. Can’t anyone not bully her for once?
Shoving the two little troublemakers off her, Xia Yu got out of bed, threw on some shoes, and completely disregarded her nightgown. After all, her dad and older brother had seen her in a skirt plenty of times before.
So, there she was, slipping on her flip-flops and making a quick getaway from the room she shared with Sister Little Ning. It was truly miserable having two little devils pestering her! Meanwhile, Xia Le was in the middle of feeding the puppy and teasing it.
What could he do? Sure, they all lived together now, but most were girls. He couldn’t exactly join in on their antics, especially with Lin Jie not around, and his brother no longer clinging to him.
That’s why, feeling bored, he decided to come and feed the dog. It seemed like the Golden Retriever Lin Jie had gifted him was a picky eater, refusing the kibble he offered, while the Little Husky Jiang Hanhang bought gobbled it up with gusto.
“Bro, why are you up so early?”
Seeing his older brother playing with the puppy, Xia Yu walked over and picked up the Golden Retriever, who was well-behaved. She bathed these two pups daily, so they were clean enough. The Golden Retriever and she had developed a solid bond.
But of course, the moment the Golden Retriever saw Xia Yu pick it up without grabbing the Little Husky too, the Little Husky started to fuss. It shook its head, abandoning the kibble Xia Le had given it, and nudged Xia Yu’s leg, seemingly begging for some lovin’ too.
But Xia Yu didn’t have that much strength! After half a year of feeding, both pups had grown substantially, and carrying just one was already a struggle, let alone two!
Like now, the Golden Retriever in her arms was restless, trying to rub its head against her chest, but Xia Yu captured its head beforehand.
Seeing his little brother flouncing around in a skirt again, Xia Le didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. How had it come to this? He thought Xia Yu had no semblance of a manly spirit left!
But now… he didn’t see anything wrong with Xia Yu in a skirt. What a twist! “The weather’s nice today, I’m planning to go hiking with Lin Jie. Wanna join?”
“Uh… no thanks.”
Hiking sounded exhausting! Xia Yu wasn’t that foolish. After finally getting a break, why would she want to hike? Plus, soon enough, they’d have to return to the family farm to help with a bunch of chores.
Xia Yu’s response didn’t surprise Xia Le, but he did have one favor to ask her.
“I need to take this little rascal too, but it didn’t eat what I gave it earlier. Can you help me feed it?”
“Fine.”
Xia Yu didn’t understand why this picky Golden Retriever only wanted to be held by her and Jiang Hanhang and only ate food served by them. In contrast, the Little Husky was an opportunist. If it was in a cage, it would chew on the bars or bang against them like a percussion solo.
Giving the Golden Retriever a pat on the head, Xia Yu finally set it down and poured kibble into its bowl.
To prevent the Little Husky from stealing food, after doing that, she picked up the pawing Little Husky. It was only fair; if she had held the Golden Retriever, then the Little Husky deserved her affection too.
Now satisfied, the Little Husky allowed Xia Yu to hold it without making a fuss or barking.
While they were happy, Xia Yu was in for some trouble. Sister Little Ning had set up a rule when the Little Husky came to their home: you can play with the dog, but you must wash your hands afterward. If you pet the dog, make sure to shower and change clothes, or no entering the room allowed!
And now, it seemed inevitable that Xia Yu would have to bathe.
But oh well, there were two little devils in her room waiting for her. Xia Yu wasn’t in a hurry to go back, so she plopped down on the sofa and lazily turned on the TV.
Her brother… really looked like a little sister now.
Watching the adorable Xia Yu, Xia Le couldn’t help but feel that thought again, but quickly brushed it aside. They had even peed together as kids! So, clearly, his brother couldn’t be a sister.
Smack!
He gave himself a little smack on the head, reminding himself not to overthink it. If he kept imagining his brother as a sister, that would be pretty disrespectful!
To distract himself, while the Golden Retriever munched away, Xia Le went to pack his hiking backpack, making sure to grab the essentials and contact Lin Jie and his buddies about where to meet up.
That’s right! Sure, Lin Jie had initially been interested in Xia Le because of Jiang Kekai, but now… he genuinely thought Xia Le was a brother worth making deep connections with. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have decided to invest in him so soon! After this summer, he would even take Xia Le along to the capital for school.
The five wealthy heirs of Peng City were gearing up to make their mark in the capital!
As he pinched the Little Husky’s ears and scratched its head, the pup let Xia Yu mess with it. After so much time together, it had learned what kind of person Xia Yu was, so it trusted and depended on her like a little kid.
But the good times didn’t last long. After seeing Xia Yu take forever to return to the room, Xia Ling and Jiang Hanhang couldn’t help but come looking for her. “Xia Yu! You’re not being a good girl, playing alone outside for so long!”
Xia Yu shot back, “Little Husky, get her!”
Little Husky: “…”
Well, it could differentiate between a hug and a full-on hug, at least.
