The gray, murky sky suddenly began to drizzle.
The fine rain fell on Yunmu's head, trickling down her fur, reaching the corners of her mouth. She stuck out her tongue and licked.
Cold. Salty. Just like the rainwater that had once filled that can so long ago.
But this time, when she closed her eyes and opened them again, lifted her head—there was no longer the kind, gentle old man.
Her ears drooped lower. Yunmu looked sorrowfully at the large pit before her. Her round eyes rolled, brushing away the tears that blurred her sight.
Inside the pit sat an urn. Yunmu seemed to catch a faint scent of the old man.
Somehow, she seemed to understand—she would never see him again.
Time passed. The people around her began to move, burying the urn bit by bit, covering it with soil until it disappeared from sight. Then, they began to raise the gravestone.
Looking at the small mound behind the headstone, Yunmu suddenly sprang to her feet, running toward it. She clawed at the soil, desperately trying to reach the old man.
"Take it away."
A cold voice rang out, tinged with barely perceptible sadness. Suiyu's face was hard as stone as he glared at Yunmu, his eyes utterly devoid of warmth.
Soon, someone stepped forward and grabbed Yunmu's paw, pressing down on her neck. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free from the heavy hand pinning her down.
The fear she had once known surged through her body. Memories of her time as a stray—those cruel people, the countless beatings—rushed back.
Yunmu thrashed desperately, yelping pitifully, tears streaming down her face. Her cries filled the sky, floating across the air like a chorus of sorrow.
Just as she was about to break free, the hand pressing on her suddenly lifted. Yunmu froze for a moment, then, realizing the opportunity, prepared to bolt.
But when she turned her head, she met a pair of icy eyes and a pale, almost sickly face.
The old man had said this person was "Big Sister"—family. And family was good. So Big Sister must be good.
Yunmu retracted her flailing paws and looked at Suiyu with wide, pleading eyes.
Even though she felt no warmth from him, even though this was only the second time she had seen him, she slowly lifted a paw and gently touched his leg, trying to show affection.
But as soon as her paw made contact, Suiyu maneuvered the wheelchair backward, avoiding her touch, his eyes openly filled with disdain and irritation.
"Shut up. If you bark again, I'll bury you too," Suiyu said coldly, then maneuvered the wheelchair away from Yunmu.
Yunmu flinched at the sharpness of his voice. She lowered her head and looked at her paws, noticing they were smeared with dirt and mud, filthy and sticky.
No wonder Big Sister looked down on her!
Yunmu lifted her head.
"Aw… aw… aw~"
Big Sister, I'm sorry~
But a sharp glance from Suiyu immediately made her whimper more quietly. She was still scared.
Eventually, the silence returned. Only the soft patter of rain filled the air. Suiyu stared quietly at the gravestone, lost deep in sorrow.
Yunmu seemed to sense his sadness. Slowly, she edged closer to him, careful not to get too near.
She let out a small, tentative whimper.
Big Sister… has Grandpa really… gone forever?
Her soft cries reached Suiyu's ears, only worsening his mood. If this dog hadn't belonged to Grandpa, he would never have allowed her to be here.
Seeing that Suiyu still ignored her, Yunmu let out a few more soft whimpers, then obediently fell silent. She lay down beside him, quietly staring at the gravestone ahead.
The gravestone belonged to an old man—the same old man who had been Yunmu's owner. A gentle, kind grandfather.
Yunmu still remembered that day vividly. She had been curled up beside a filthy trash bin, starving and hungry for days. Her eyes caught a can, and she smelled the scent of fish—but inside, it was only filled with rainwater.
Yunmu stuck out her tongue and licked.
Cold. Salty.
"Such a poor little dog…"
A voice reached Yunmu's ears. Instantly, she lifted her head, bared her teeth, and tensed every muscle, ready to bolt at any moment.
"Easy, don't be afraid. Here, I have a chicken drumstick for you," Yun Zhongwei said shakily, pulling a drumstick from a plastic bag. He placed it nearby and stepped back a few paces.
He gave her a gentle smile. "Go on, eat, little poor thing."
Yunmu glanced at the old man. Her nerves didn't relax. She sniffed carefully—the rich scent of meat filled her nose.
She swallowed, but still didn't move.
If this had been before, she might have rushed forward without hesitation. But now, she didn't dare. She knew that something so tempting could also take her life.
Or, if she lowered her guard, she might be met with a harsh beating.
Yun Zhongwei seemed to notice her caution. Smiling warmly, he said, "I won't hurt you. Don't worry."
He set down the small folding stool he was holding and sat on it. Then he pulled another drumstick from the bag and ate slowly, saying as he chewed, "See? Nothing at all."
"Woof! Woof!" Yunmu barked at him twice.
Perhaps it was because she hadn't eaten in so long, or perhaps she sensed a trace of warmth from Yun Zhongwei. Slowly, she edged closer to the drumstick, sniffing it carefully for a long time. She tried a small bite, then gradually ate the entire drumstick.
…
"Let's go."
The sudden voice pulled Yunmu out of her memories. She lifted her head and looked at the person in the wheelchair.
The rain had stopped. The sky brightened, and the sun broke through.
It was as if the rain had fallen only to mourn the departed, and now, with the storm passed, their soul had departed as well.
Yunmu stood and shook the water from her fur. She thought to herself that she would be wandering again—perhaps never meeting another kind person like the old man.
Suiyu guided the wheelchair slowly toward the outside.
The assistant, Sun Qi, asked, "President Sui, what about the dog?"
Suiyu paused for a moment before saying, "Take her back to the villa."
"Yes, President Sui."
Yunmu took one last look at the gravestone. Reluctantly, she turned and barked a few times toward Suiyu's retreating figure.
Big Sister, I'm leaving now. Goodbye!
Hearing her barking, Suiyu frowned slightly but said nothing, continuing on his way.
Once Suiyu disappeared from sight, Yunmu stepped forward, ready to sprint—but several men dressed in black blocked her path. Ignoring her struggles and cries, they forced her into a car.
"Aw—aw—aw!" What are you doing?!
Yunmu knew these people were part of Big Sister's entourage, so she wasn't afraid of being hurt. She just didn't know what they intended.
She howled the whole way. Her courage slowly gave way to worry.
Her tail thumped against the seat again and again, making a loud clatter. Finally, Sun Qi lost his patience.
"Shut up, ancestor! I'm taking you to President Sui's villa. Stop barking!"
"President Sui doesn't like dogs," he added. "You'd better behave from now on. Don't cause trouble."
Hearing that, Yunmu froze, and fell silent.
Her tail wagged gently. So… we're going to see Big Sister, she realized.
Does that mean… Big Sister is going to be my new owner?