Chapter Eighteen: Stirred Heart

Many times, Zhang Congwen found Song Jiawei to be quite a fascinating person. When he worked in sales, he was incredibly adept at reading people and navigating social interactions. Yet in ordinary conversations, he tended to blurt out whatever came to mind, rarely thinking before he spoke.

Zhang Congwen didn't feel that being unemployed at home was something shameful, but it wasn't something worth broadcasting either. So from beginning to end, he never mentioned his unemployment to Zhu Qingyan.

"Would you like to work at my father's company? The benefits are excellent," Zhu Qingyan asked casually.

Naturally, Zhang Congwen refused this offer.

If he went to work at Zhu Qingyan's father's company, a lot of people would probably think he was really just living off her. While Zhang Congwen didn't mind what people said about him, he also had to take Zhu Qingyan's feelings into account.

Even if he did want to live off someone, he would do it on his own terms, never as a hanger-on under someone else's roof.

Moreover, considering the attitude Zhu Qingyan's father had shown him before, if he really joined Zhu Chang's company, her father would likely grow even more suspicious. That would only invite unnecessary trouble.

And Zhang Congwen was a man who disliked trouble.

He also didn't like working under people he knew—it made him feel uncomfortable.

Zhang Congwen's refusal didn't surprise Zhu Qingyan in the slightest. So she suggested, "You're so good at training dogs—why not become a professional dog trainer? Then we'd really have to call you Master Zhang, the Dog Trainer."

As she spoke, Zhu Qingyan couldn't help but laugh, her smile rippling like the surface of a lake, captivating in its own way.

Song Jiawei's eyes lit up. "That's actually a promising idea! Master Zhang, the Dog Trainer—why not give it some thought?"

Although Zhang Congwen knew Zhu Qingyan and Song Jiawei were simply making a casual suggestion, it did tempt him for a moment. But the thought quickly faded.

In this city, there weren't any large dog training facilities, and those that existed rarely hired outsiders. Even if there were vacancies, someone like him, without formal dog training experience, could only start as an apprentice, and the wages would barely be enough to support himself.

Starting his own dog training business was even more out of the question. He didn't have the money to rent a space, nor was he skilled at networking or drumming up business. And most importantly, opening a company was just too much trouble.

He was, after all, someone who avoided trouble.

"Let's talk about it another time," Zhang Congwen said.

A meal, after all, must come to an end, and people must eventually part ways. Zhu Qingyan saw Zhang Congwen and Song Jiawei back to their rented apartment before driving off on her own.

"Congwen, honestly, I think you really should consider becoming a dog trainer. It's a career with potential," Song Jiawei said again once they were home. "As your old man, I know you. When Zhu Qingyan brought it up at dinner, you were clearly interested."

"Get lost! I don't have a son as skinny as a monkey," Zhang Congwen retorted gruffly.

"My nickname is Fatty," Song Jiawei shot back with a sly grin.

Zhang Congwen gave him a sidelong glance and couldn't be bothered to argue.

"Are you really not going to consider it?" Song Jiawei pressed, his expression turning serious.

Zhang Congwen voiced his concerns, and Song Jiawei nodded in agreement. "You make sense. Everything else is manageable, but when it comes to money, that's really our weak spot."

For some reason, Song Jiawei always wanted to be Zhang Congwen's father in name. Of course, Zhang Congwen had always wanted to be Song Jiawei's father in name as well. Yet, despite knowing each other for so long, neither had ever bothered to grant the other's wish.

"But it's still a backup plan. If the opportunity ever comes up, we could really give it a shot," Song Jiawei said solemnly, as if he were genuinely weighing the feasibility of such an idea.

Unlike Zhang Congwen, Song Jiawei didn't care much about money. He always lived by the principle that enough was enough. Song Jiawei, too, wasn't especially materialistic, but he thoroughly enjoyed the process of making money and was always thinking of ways to earn a little more. Yet he could never hold onto what he made, which was why, to this day, he and Zhang Congwen still squeezed into this rather shabby rented apartment.

In fact, Zhang Congwen could tell that Song Jiawei was also tempted by the idea of starting a dog training business. As Song Jiawei always said, working for others would never make you real money; if you wanted to truly prosper, you had to be your own boss. So he had always had an interest in starting his own business.

But that idea had never moved beyond the realm of fantasy. One reason was that he couldn't save money; another was that he never knew what kind of business to start.

"Weren't you eager to meet Zhu Qingyan yesterday? How come you didn't make any moves today?" Zhang Congwen, wanting to change the subject, brought this up.

"Well, now I've met her," Song Jiawei replied, completely indifferent.

"You know what I mean," Zhang Congwen said.

Song Jiawei straightened up, suddenly earnest. "I just like pretty girls and wanted to meet her, make a good impression. I'm not the kind of guy who chases after every pretty woman he sees, and I certainly don't want to be anybody's lapdog. A casual acquaintance is enough—no need to be too forward. If fate brings us together again, it will happen naturally. If not, having one more regular friend isn't a bad thing. Besides, you have more potential than I do—how could I poach my own brother's prospective love interest? Unless you let me call you big brother."

Following the principle of never letting a good deal slip by, Zhang Congwen almost blurted out that he would take him as a little brother and told him to say "big brother" out loud right then and there.

But he quickly realized the implication in Song Jiawei's words and couldn't help but curse, "Get lost." When it came to shamelessness, he really was no match for this scrawny "Fatty" in front of him.

He could only say, "You talk a good game, but I bet you didn't even manage to add her as a friend, did you?"

"Who says I didn't?" Song Jiawei said smugly, shaking his phone. Sure enough, Zhu Qingyan was in his contacts.

This damn Fatty had managed to add Zhu Qingyan as a friend behind his back, and he hadn't even noticed. If Song Jiawei hadn't confessed, he might have been in the dark for ages.

But in truth, Zhang Congwen was wrong to blame Song Jiawei. Song Jiawei hadn't done it secretly; it was all aboveboard.

It was just that at the time, Zhang Congwen's attention was entirely on the Alaskan Malamute and didn't notice what was happening.

"By the way, do you really want to get a dog?" Zhang Congwen changed the subject again.

"I've told you before I want a dog. Do you object?" Song Jiawei asked.

"Not at all," Zhang Congwen replied. "I've always liked keeping all sorts of pets. But are you really prepared? What breed do you want? Have you done your homework on dog care? Have you checked with the landlord? What if he doesn’t allow it? Have you bought the essentials—dog bed, toys, leash, that sort of thing? Are you ready to walk the dog and pick up after it every day? Have you found a nearby vet? Do you know what vaccines are needed? Don’t tell me this is just a whim."

Faced with Zhang Congwen’s barrage of questions, Song Jiawei was momentarily stunned. Though he had wanted a dog for a long time, the decision really was a spur-of-the-moment thing.

A bit deflated, he said, "The breed doesn’t really matter—just one that I click with. As for care, well, I have you to teach me on the spot. The landlord won’t be a problem; he’s pretty easygoing, and with my gift of gab I can convince him. Pet supplies I haven’t bought, but beds and toys can wait. Everything else will work itself out."

"But you’ll need dog food, right? What brand? What stage? How do you feed it? You should at least have an idea," Zhang Congwen said, his tone slightly admonishing.

He had seen too many pet owners get swept up in the excitement, buy a dog on impulse, only to discover all sorts of problems and end up giving it away or abandoning it. They had never thought things through.

He didn’t like that sort of person, and certainly didn’t want his friend to become one.