After that day's exhilarating snowball fight, their bonds grew even stronger.
Even Lin Anran felt that the respectful distance between her and Ye Jingchen had lessened, replaced by a tender warmth.
Ye Jingxing packed his belongings and headed to the deep mountains to film within two days. Before leaving, he wished he could take Nuan Nuan with him, though he knew it was just a wish.
Qiuqiu's weight finally garnered the attention of Ye Jinghuai.
"Nuan Nuan, Qiuqiu is a bit too fat. We need to get it on a diet," Ye Jinghuai said, frowning as he watched Qiuqiu, who had just finished a chicken leg and was now lying flat on the ground. The dog's neck was almost invisible.
Ye Jinghuai knew Nuan Nuan loved Qiuqiu very much and usually indulged it. Qiuqiu wasn't like a typical playful husky; after meals, its favorite activity was lying down, let alone destroying the house.
"Daddy~ Qiuqiu is so cute! We shouldn't always say Qiuqiu is fat, it'll be unhappy," Nuan Nuan disagreed.
"Awooh~" (My little one treats me the best.) Qiuqiu walked over and nudged Nuan Nuan.
"Nuan Nuan, Qiuqiu is indeed cute, but we have to consider its health. Being this overweight is not good," Ye Jinghuai said, stroking his daughter's head.
"Moreover, if it continues like this, Qiuqiu might get sick later and its lifespan will be affected. Don't you want Qiuqiu to accompany you for a longer time?"
"No, no! Nuan Nuan doesn't want Qiuqiu to get sick." The little girl's head shook like a rattle drum.
"Qiuqiu, don't die. Nuan Nuan doesn't want you to die." Nuan Nuan hugged Qiuqiu, tears streaming down her face like a flood from an opened sluice gate.
"Awooh?" (I'm not dead yet, little one!)
"Nuan Nuan, second brother doesn't mean that. Second brother means we must start having Qiuqiu exercise more and lose weight, so Qiuqiu can grow up healthy with Nuan Nuan," Ye Jingzhi quickly came over to wipe Nuan Nuan's tears.
"Really?" Nuan Nuan's little nose was still sniffling.
"Of course. We just need to have Qiuqiu exercise more and slim down."
"Okay~ Qiuqiu, from now on, Nuan Nuan will take you to exercise. Qiuqiu, you can't be lazy anymore." Nuan Nuan hugged Qiuqiu's neck to comfort it.
"Awooh~" (Whatever my little one says goes.) Qiuqiu lowered its head and rubbed against the little dumpling on its body.
"Oh, right. From now on, we can't give Qiuqiu so much meat. It should mainly eat dog food, with meat only in moderation," Ye Jinghuai suggested.
"Awooh? Awoooowoo~" (Boss, don't deprive me of the joy of eating meat.) Qiuqiu wagged its tail at Ye Jinghuai in a very fawning manner, occasionally nudging against his calves.
"Qiuqiu, keep it up! Nuan Nuan believes you can do it." Nuan Nuan clenched her fist towards Qiuqiu.
"Awooh~" (I can't!) Qiuqiu lay on the ground in despair.
Next, the three of them devised a series of weight loss plans for Qiuqiu.
Nuan Nuan, concerned about Qiuqiu's health, woke up early that day, ready to take Qiuqiu for a run.
"Qiuqiu, keep it up! We must persevere. Daddy said persistence is victory."
Nuan Nuan held Qiuqiu's collar tightly, trying to pull it out of its dog bed. However, despite her face turning red, Qiuqiu remained lying on the ground, refusing to move.
"Awooh~" (I'm persisting, but I really can't. Little one! Let Daddy sleep a little longer.) After speaking, Qiuqiu lay down again.
"No, Qiuqiu. Nuan Nuan is going to get angry! If you do this, Nuan Nuan won't talk to you anymore!" Nuan Nuan pretended to be angry and let go of the dog leash.
"Awooo~" (Little one, Daddy was wrong. I'm coming.) Qiuqiu proactively picked up the dog leash from the ground and handed it to Nuan Nuan.
"Awooh~" (Let's go, little one.)
"Qiuqiu is so good!" Nuan Nuan patted it with satisfaction.
"Nuan Nuan, Qiuqiu, I'm here! Let's go!" Ye Jingzhi appeared, dressed in sportswear, full of energy.
"Okay~ Qiuqiu, let's go!"
Ye Jingzhi originally planned to run around the villa complex, but Qiuqiu started playing tricks not long after they went out. In the end, Ye Jingzhi had to drag it, barely managing to circle the villa a few times.
"Hoo hoo~ Hoo~ I'm not this tired even after training at school every day. Is it you or me who's trying to lose weight!" Ye Jingzhi sat by the roadside, panting heavily.
"Awooh~" (I can't walk anymore.) Qiuqiu lay on the ground, tongue hanging out.
"Qiuqiu, you can't be lazy! We have to persevere." Nuan Nuan stood with her hands on her hips, looking at it sternly.
"Awooh~" (Can we try a different method?) Qiuqiu felt like it was about to die.
"Nuan Nuan, little uncle thinks dragging Qiuqiu like this isn't working. Why don't we take Qiuqiu out to play games instead?" Ye Jingzhi suggested.
Then, Ye Jingzhi grabbed his things and took Nuan Nuan and Qiuqiu to the park next to the villa complex. There was a large lawn there, often frequented by residents with their pets.
"Qiuqiu stays at home every day and doesn't have playmates. If we bring it here, maybe it can make some other dog friends, and it can lose weight while playing."
"Yes~ Little uncle is so smart!" Nuan Nuan's eyes lit up.
"Awooh~" (I don't want to play with those stupid dogs.)
"Heh heh! Qiuqiu, I'll throw the frisbee out like this, and you'll fetch it back for me."
Ye Jingzhi squatted in front of Qiuqiu with the frisbee, explaining and demonstrating to it.
"Awooh~" (I'm not fetching it.) Qiuqiu turned its head away, unwilling to pay attention to him.
"Qiuqiu, watch this!" Ye Jingzhi threw the frisbee with all his might.
Qiuqiu watched the frisbee arc through the air, remaining still on the ground.
"Qiuqiu, why aren't you moving? Don't dogs love to play?" Ye Jingzhi nudged the motionless Qiuqiu, discouraged.
"Little uncle, let Nuan Nuan try!" Nuan Nuan said eagerly.
"Nuan Nuan, you're not strong enough to throw it far."
"Nuan Nuan wants to play."
Seeing Nuan Nuan's longing eyes, Ye Jingzhi relented.
Qiuqiu, of course, gave face to Nuan Nuan. Unfortunately, Nuan Nuan couldn't throw it far. Qiuqiu took a couple of steps and retrieved the disc.
"This won't do. This has no effect at all. Nuan Nuan, it's better if little uncle does it!" Ye Jingzhi frowned at the situation.
"Yeah! Qiuqiu, if you don't listen, Nuan Nuan won't want you anymore!" Nuan Nuan said indignantly.
"Awooh~" (I'll fetch it.)
"Watch this! Here you go." Ye Jingzhi threw it with all his strength, and Qiuqiu also dashed out at its maximum speed.
However, due to lack of exercise, it couldn't keep up after only running halfway.
At this moment, a majestic German Shepherd suddenly rushed out from the side, jumping high and catching the frisbee.
"Awooh?" (You stinky dog, who told you to snatch my disc!) Qiuqiu was immediately indignant.
"Ermao, come back!" A figure hurried over from a distance.
Ermao, carrying the frisbee, walked past Qiuqiu with its head held high. When the two dogs met, Qiuqiu seemed to see contempt in Ermao's eyes.
"Awooooh~" (You dare to look down on me? Come back here!) Qiuqiu was furious and lunged forward to bite it.
Ye Jingzhi quickly stepped forward to hold it back.
"Awooooh~ Awooo~" (Don't pull me! Let me go bite that little slut!) Qiuqiu made fierce gestures while barking back at Ye Jingzhi, trying to get him to let go.
Ye Jingzhi inexplicably let go.
"Awooh~ Awooh?" (Why did you actually let go?) Qiuqiu suddenly felt the pulling force from behind disappear and instantly deflated.
"Woof woof woof!!" Ermao walked to its owner, placed the frisbee in his hand, and then barked twice at Qiuqiu.
The sound was deep and powerful, full of authority. Qiuqiu was startled and hid behind Ye Jingzhi with its tail tucked.
"Pfft~ Why don't you go for it!" Ye Jingzhi watched the cowardly Qiuqiu with amusement.
"Awooh~" (I won't stoop to its level.)
"I'm truly sorry. My Ermao really loves playing frisbee, and I was in a hurry to leave today and forgot to bring it. I've been watching you for a while, and I saw your dog doesn't know how to play. I guess it's itching for action."
Ermao's owner was a kind-faced man in his thirties or forties with a hearty smile. He approached apologetically, looking quite embarrassed.