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Xiao Xiao became anxious at that time, whining beside Gu Xiaoxi’s feet as if protesting Young Master Quan’s suggestion.

A sly smile spread across Quan Shaoqing’s lips, clearly reflected on the kitchen’s glass mirror.

"Roar, roar, roar~!" Xiao Xiao had never been so angry before; the meat that had reached its mouth was about to be snatched away.

Quan Shaoqing stroked his hair and let out a cold laugh. A mere beast thought to compete with him? It clearly had no idea who its keeper was. It didn’t even recognize its master.

During dinner, Xiao Xiao lay on the ground, lazily closing its eyes, resisting the bowl of soup in protest—preferring to starve rather than eat it.

While eating, Gu Xiaoxi looked at Xiao Xiao and asked curiously, "What’s wrong? Why aren’t you eating?"

Without lifting its head, Xiao Xiao kept up its protest—it wanted meat!

Quan Shaoqing’s thin lips curved up, and he said to Gu Xiaoxi with a smile, "It doesn’t like beef soup. I think it’s better to forget it. I’ll find someone to send it back to the department to continue eating dog food."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao, unwilling to leave, showed its teeth and made faces at Quan Shaoqing.

As Quan Shaoqing spoke, he was about to pick up the phone and arrange for Xiao Xiao to be taken away.

Scratching her head, Gu Xiaoxi looked at Xiao Xiao again. Was it really so? The look on its face did seem very disdainful now. Could it be that the soup wasn’t cooked well and Xiao Xiao didn’t like it?

Gu Xiaoxi wrinkled her nose and sniffed the fragrant bone soup, filled with confusion.

Xiao Xiao, seeing that Gu Xiaoxi wasn’t making any obvious reaction, wasn’t sure if she understood its message. The resolute expression on Quan Shaoqing’s face, seeming determined to send it away, scared Xiao Xiao into quickly lying down and drinking the soup from the bowl.

Better to drink some soup than to have nothing at all; otherwise, its life as a dog would be a sorry one.

Watching Xiao Xiao’s antics, Quan Shaoqing found it amusing.

Although it seemed a bit hateful, he had to admit that this was a very spirited dog.

Especially since he had heard from Gu Xiaoxi about Xiao Xiao’s performance over the past few days. It had proven to be braver than Flying Tiger, more agile, and faster in its reactions.

At least when Flying Tiger chased Gu Xiaoxi, it ran headfirst into a wall. Yet Xiao Xiao, with its clumsy body, managed to dodge away and chased Gu Xiaoxi through the mountains for a month.

He knew Gu Xiaoxi’s capabilities; though she couldn’t be considered strong, she was exceptional compared to most people, particularly not to be underestimated when it came to Qinggong and Inner Strength.

The fact that Xiao Xiao could keep up with her for a month was indeed remarkable.

This feat alone was astonishing.

For dinner, Xiao Xiao only drank a bowl of soup, and it was then that it realized who the true master of the house was.

So, when Gu Xiaoxi went back to her room to shower,

Xiao Xiao sneaked into Quan Shaoqing’s study and began circling around his legs, occasionally biting his trouser hem in a bid for affection.

Quan Shaoqing was busy with work and, even though he noticed its efforts to please him, pretended not to see.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao didn’t overly disturb him, only rubbing up against him whenever he took a break, showcasing various cute gestures and pathetic, pleading eyes that could melt any heart.

After finishing his work, Quan Shaoqing finally looked down at Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao immediately lay down obediently at his feet, like a well-behaved child.

Gently stroking its head with his hand, he plotted in his mind.

Such a fine military dog couldn’t be allowed to become lazy and gluttonous—these bad habits had to be corrected.

As for how to correct them, Quan Shaoqing smiled, already having a plan in mind.

After showering and dressed in her pajamas, Gu Xiaoxi, with a water cup in hand, walked into Quan Shaoqing’s study and saw Xiao Xiao obediently following at Quan Shaoqing’s feet. Her eyes showed surprise, "Weren’t you full of hostility towards him before? This change is too fast."

It was a complete one-eighty, far simpler than when she had first tamed it.

Gu Xiaoxi just couldn’t figure out what Xiao Xiao might see in Quan Shaoqing that was so appealing.

When Quan Shaoqing turned his head and saw Gu Xiaoxi dressed in a pink pajama set, holding a cup of water, he approached her with a smile, "Here, drink some water!"

So attentive, so prompt...

Quan Shaoqing raised his eyebrows—was she buttering him up for some reason?

He pretended to take the cup casually and smiled, "If it were tea brewed by your hands, I think it would be even better."

"Don’t drink tea so late at night, otherwise you won’t be able to sleep," Gu Xiaoxi chuckled, standing by his side, taking the initiative to step forward and give Quan Shaoqing’s shoulders and back a massage.

Quan Shaoqing leaned back in his chair, enjoying her devoted care, feeling very satisfied. Especially because her small hands were soft and tender, exerting just the right amount of pressure on his shoulders.

He closed his eyes, enjoying himself tremendously and feeling extremely comfortable.

A sly smile flashed across Gu Xiaoxi’s eyes, and her exquisite little face, highlighted by the light, became brilliantly charming, "Caretaker, I have something to tell you."

"Speak!" Quan Shaoqing closed his eyes, remaining unruffled.

"Well, it’s nothing major, but you see, Xiao Xiao is quite impressive now, and there’s still some time before the Special Forces selection starts.

How about this, let me take Xiao Xiao for training.

Transfer me to the Anti-Terrorism Department’s military dog training base.

I hear the people there are very skilled," said Gu Xiaoxi in a gentle tone.

Quan Shaoqing felt a ticklish sensation in his chest as if a cat had scratched him, causing a strangely uncomfortable feeling. If only she would act coquettishly, he might be more pleased...

"Dog trainers need specialized training, and just completing all the components takes half a year. If you go now, before you even learn to train dogs, the Special Forces recruitment will have started," Quan Shaoqing said, his eyes closed, casting a dark shadow from his eyelashes under the light.

Gu Xiaoxi’s shoulder massaging halted and she unconsciously pressed harder, frowning as she asked, "What do you mean by that?"

She had a bad feeling in her heart...

He surely wouldn’t make any good decision.

Sure enough, the next second, Quan Shaoqing’s tone was indifferent as he said, "What I mean is, we let someone else take Xiao Xiao. As long as he likes to eat, we feed him well and then train him. You should stay in logistics, where your job is."

"What?" Gu Xiaoxi immediately took her hands off his shoulders and walked in front of him, standing angrily, "I don’t want to stay in logistics, I want to train dogs."

"No, you need to improve your Inner Strength. There’s plenty of time in logistics," insisted Quan Shaoqing.

Gu Xiaoxi stood to the side, looking unhappy, not wanting to hand Xiao Xiao over to someone else.

Over the past month, despite the many grievances between them, Xiao Xiao had shown Little Xi no quarter.

If Xiao Xiao were to be sent away, what fun would there be for her in the logistics unit?

She wouldn’t stand for it!

"I have time every day to practice Inner Strength. No matter what I do, it won’t affect my Inner Strength. I promise!" Gu Xiaoxi raised four fingers.

Quan Shaoqing shook his head decisively.

Damn!

Gu Xiaoxi held a breath of frustration inside her, finding this guy impossible to reason with.

Puffing her cheeks, she pulled over Quan Shaoqing’s chair, then placed her hands on the backrest and glared at him as she threatened, "Do you think Xiao Xiao is a good dog or not?"

Quan Shaoqing nodded.

"That’s right, a good dog shouldn’t be wasted."

"I didn’t say I wanted to waste him, as long as he’s a good dog. He’ll be transferred to the front lines," Quan Shaoqing countered.

"I..." Gu Xiaoxi gritted her teeth, this guy was deliberately antagonizing her, knowing full well that wasn’t what she meant...

She didn’t believe he couldn’t understand.

Quan Shaoqing looked at Gu Xiaoxi, and Gu Xiaoxi glared back at Quan Shaoqing, their eyes locked in a standoff.

In Gu Xiaoxi’s eyes, men would forever possess an air of noble elegance, even just sitting there exuded an aura of superiority. When he looked at her, those deep and dark eyes were inscrutable, one could never guess what he was thinking.

In Quan Shaoqing’s eyes, this woman with her picturesque features, her delicate little face angered, was like an adorable little girl, her cheeks flushing with a hint of bright red, stirring an urge to reach out and pinch them.

"I’m telling the truth. If you really want to go, you’ll have to find a way yourself. Taking shortcuts, those sorts of things aren’t for you," Quan Shaoqing extended his hand, wanting to pinch her smooth cheek.

Gu Xiaoxi, however, turned her head away, huffing coldly, "Fine, if you won’t help, then you won’t help. I won’t take shortcuts. I’m going back tonight. I can handle this myself."

"How will you handle it?" Quan Shaoqing raised an eyebrow. Actually, if she were to act spoiled just once, such a trifling matter would be nothing more than a phone call away.

He could sort it out for her in minutes.

"That’s none of your business. I’m leaving," Gu Xiaoxi said and then gestured for Xiao Xiao to come with her.

She was still in her pajamas. Leave? Where to?

Quan Shaoqing sat in his chair, a sneaky smile flickering in his eyes, "I’ll call Lin Mi to drive you."

Gu Xiaoxi’s steps toward the door suddenly froze. This Quan Shaoqing, neither threats nor bribes were effective.

She said she was leaving and he didn’t even try to keep her.

Such a clueless old man with no sense of romance, Gu Xiaoxi stomped her foot in annoyance, then turned back and stepped right in front of his chair. Towering over him from her higher vantage point, she looked down fiercely and said, "This is my house, why should I leave."

She had only been talking just now, thinking Quan Shaoqing might back down a bit, but instead, he was actually driving her away. That was too much.