Chapter 53.1 - Declaring The Elite Dog

In the end, Lu Chenghe still failed to rush back home for the new year. After video chatting with his mother, he saw Little Pudding hanging around the table full of all kinds of vegetable and meat dishes, unwilling to leave. Lu Chenghe simply picked him up and then watched Little Pudding longingly glancing at the dining table. Lu Chenghe then indifferently and coldly said. “Don’t even think about it tonight. These are all intensely flavoured food. You cannot eat them.”

Zuo Ning held his face with his two paws and looked at the table. He was extremely miserable. “Wuwuwu…” It was the New Year though, so let me indulge this one time. I won’t die.

Qi Wei, who had been helping set the table, saw the pitiful thing and couldn’t help but go over and rub its head. “You can’t. If you eat all these things, your beautiful fur will all fall out.”

Zuo Ning stretched out his paw to swat Qi Wei’s hands. He didn’t need others to add anything when he was talking with Lu Chenghe! It was the New Year, couldn’t you at least say something nice?

As Lu Chenghe continued to be indifferent, Zuo Ning began to act like a demon in Lu Chenghe’s arms. He moved here and there, whimpering and sobbing. He acted just like a child who wasn’t allowed to eat sweets. He only lacked a snivelling nose and a talking mouth.

Lu Chenghe naturally could not let him have his way all the time. He knew that it was not good for him and could even lead to physical illness if eaten, so it didn’t matter whether it was the New Year or not, he could not indulge him. However, since Little Pudding hated dog food, he also didn’t want to force him to eat it. Although the food on the table couldn’t be given to him, Lu Chenghe had the kitchen cook something that was to Little Pudding’s tastes but was not too intense for his body.

Although pan-fried dishes with oil were not good for dogs, occasionally having a small amount was still acceptable on the premise that they exercised every day. Otherwise, that could lead to pet obesity and even pancreatitis. So Zuo Ning, who had only eaten the steak two days ago, thought that Lu Chenghe would not immediately give him another meal. But he didn’t expect a super large cut of steak to be brought over and even placed on a separate small table.

Lu Chenghe carried Zuo Ning to the side of the small table. If he sat on the floor, he only needed to slightly lower his head to eat. After the huge slab of meat was carried out, other dishes were also steadily brought over.

Qi Wei finished setting up the dining table watched from the side and said, “Whoa. Little Pudding, what you’re eating is much better than what we’re eating. Your one meal is comparable to an entire year’s worth of food for us.”

Zuo Ning hadn’t thought that he would really not need to eat dog food tonight. Although he couldn’t recognise a majority of the dishes on the table, they smelt incredibly delicious.

When Lu Chenghe left to pick up another phone call, Qi Wei went over and squatted next to Zuo Ning. He placed a plate of food in front of him and said, “Your papa Lu treats you very well. These ingredients were all delivered today. Only your papa Lu can get a delivery in the middle of this heavy snowstorm. Look, look at this pot of boneless chicken. You know, what you’re eating isn’t chicken at all, but solid gold. Tsk tsk, this thing is usually limited to a few Michelin starred restaurants in the world. You couldn’t eat it unless you made a reservation one or two years in advance.”

As he spoke, he swallowed his saliva and squeezed closer to Zuo Ning. “Little Pudding. How about splitting your food with me? This top-grade wagyu, most people eat it by the gram, but you eat it by the half kilo. And this fish, do you know what you’re eating? In the past, a tuna of more than 200 kilos was sold for more than 10 million. That is the kind of fish you’re eating right now. I can’t even bear to give it to my precious son to eat.”

Lu Chenghe turned his head as soon as he finished talking with his older brother on the phone. He saw his assistant squatting at the small table, coveting his Pudding’s dog food. If Qi Wei hadn’t been so talented, he felt that he would definitely look for a replacement for this crazy assistant. “Qi Wei.”

Qi Wei instantly stood upright. “Yes, boss! What is your order, boss!”

Lu Chenghe ignored his ability to flip his attitude so quickly and said, “Go call them over. It’s the New Year, they don’t need to be on duty tonight. Let’s eat dinner together.”

The ‘they’ that Lu Chenghe referred to were to bodyguards who constantly followed them around. Everyone was unable to go home for the New Year so this New Year’s Eve dinner wouldn’t naturally be eaten together. “Okay, I’ll go right away.”

Just as Qi Wei had raised his foot, Lu Chenghe said, “In the future, don’t say anything weird to Little Pudding. He can understand everything. Don’t lead him astray.”

Qi Wei’s mouth twitched. “Understood, boss.” After speaking, he turned and ran away.

He didn’t expect his boss to have somehow evolved into a dog slave, to the extent that the illness seemed to be worse than his. In fact, he also felt like his son could understand his words, even if the times when his son ignored him happened more often. But he had never thought that his son would be led astray by another person’s weird words. The boss’s brain circuits could really not be understood by ordinary people like him.

When Lu Chenghe saw Little Pudding staring blankly at the dishes without eating them, he thought that was because he didn’t dare to eat it without being told to. So he went over and placed the steak that Pudding had happily eaten last time in front of him. “Eat. These are all yours. Tonight you can eat as much as you want.”

Zuo Ning turned to look at Lu Chenghe. I’ve already been scared to death by what your assistant said. So expensive. He was a little afraid to eat it. But it was only a thought. Since Lu Chenghe wanted him to eat it, he opened his mouth, rolled his tongue, and two pieces of meat were swept into his mouth.

Mm~~ This is the taste of happiness. So delicious. This dog’s life is satisfied.

Lu Chenghe saw Little Pudding’s eyes narrowed in happiness and took a few pictures. He then posted it on Weibo with the caption: Happy New Year.

During the New Year, there was still a group who only played on their phones and didn’t eat any food. They quickly rushed over to like and leave a message:

【Such a happy little expression. What delicious things are you eating?】

【Oh, my Little Pudding. Happy New Year~ How much New Year’s money did Little Pudding receive this year?】

【Happy New Year Little Pudding. In the new year, you must keep being healthy and beautiful!】

【Pudding is beautiful today as always. The sweet smile while eating is so cute. Even during New Year’s Eve, I am being tempted to steal this dog. If I’m caught, you must take responsibility!】

【Awoooo, long time no see Little Pudding. Although the background is only curtains and you aren’t wearing a pretty little skirt, since you are so cute, I will forgive you.】

Zuo Ning was eating happily so he didn’t care about any pictures. He ate a bite of beef, then a bit of fish. Although it was only lightly seared and was only seasoned with salt, the taste was still excellent!

After he tasted the fish, he then moved on to the chicken. The taste that just melted in the mouth really showed the special Michelin skill. He felt that apart from the chicken soup that his mum used to cook, he had never eaten such delicious chicken. The bones had already been removed so each bite was full of deliciously tender meat! There wasn’t really a need for any seasoning. The original taste of the ingredients has all been brought out.

Lu Chenghe casually glanced at his screen and saw the words 'New Year’s money'. It was the first year that Little Pudding had lived with them and he had forgotten to prepare New Year’s money. He thought for a bit then turned to go to the living room. He remembered that there were some empty red envelopes somewhere. He pulled open a drawer and found some that were prepared before, then he went upstairs and put a little cash inside.

“Little Pudding, Happy New Year.”

Zuo Ning turned and saw Lu Chenghe handing over a red envelope. His parents said that he would only be considered a real adult after he graduated from university and began working. Only then will it be his turn to give them red envelopes. So until then, he would still receive red envelopes every year from his parents.

He thought that he wouldn’t receive any this year. Unexpectedly, Lu Chenghe had given him one.

Lu Chenghe watched Little Pudding stare at him blankly and thought that he didn’t understand what it was. “This is called a red envelope. Later I will teach you to give New Year greetings. Later when you see someone, give them your greetings and they will give you a red envelope. When you have red envelopes, you can buy lots of delicious food.”

Lu Chenghe rubbed Little Pudding’s head. “Continue eating. I will put this away first. When the time comes, I will put it in your little bag and when we get home, I will store it somewhere for you.”

Zuo Ning saw Lu Chenghe rising to leave and quickly called out, “Woof!” Lu Chenghe!

Lu Chenghe turned back to look at him. Zuo Ning stretched out his paws and Lu Chenghe also reached out and held onto it without thinking. “What’s wrong?”

Zuo Ning grinned widely, “Woof!” I don’t have anything to give you, so I will just give you myself as a New Year’s present.

When the bodyguards stationed outside the villa came over, Lu Chenghe had let go of Little Pudding. He patted his head and let him eat before telling them to take a seat. The table was full of Chinese cuisine that looked, smelt, and tasted great. Since it was the New Year, the dishes should naturally be authentic Chinese.

Although they were not celebrating the new year at home, it was at least lively. His bodyguards originated from the army so after Lu Chenghe invited them to drink alcohol, they began to get louder. Additionally, Qi Wei was a person who had a boisterous personality when he wasn’t working and had gotten familiar with a few of the bodyguards over the past few days. So they naturally began to buzz with activity.

The TV in the living room continued to broadcast the New Year’s broadcast that would go ahead no matter the circumstances. As Zuo Ning was eating yummy food, he had turned his head to watch what was happening on TV. In the past, he thought that all rich people were noble and glamorous, living like the nobles of Europe. It turned out that Lu's New Year was so down to earth. For a moment, he even felt like he had returned to childhood, the snow floating outside while the adults talked loudly indoors.

Lu Chenghe didn’t like drinking that much, but he still had a few mouthfuls in this atmosphere. In the new year, there was no need to rain on anyone’s parade. However the others all knew restraint and after toasting him a few times, they went to trouble Qi Wei and didn’t bother him anymore. Like this, Lu Chenghe sat on the side eating and watching Little Pudding. He watched as Little Pudding ate happily, then immediately turned his head and focussed on the TV the moment it was a little boisterous. When whatever attracted him had passed, he would then turn his head back to eat his food, just like a little kid who was unable to concentrate on one thing at a time.

Noticing his gaze, Little Pudding turned his head to look at him with a piece of meat hanging from his mouth. Lu Chenghe smiled slightly when he saw that silly appearance.

Naz's note: No chapter title because I honestly couldn’t figure out what it was telling me. I shall edit it in when I get to the second part!

Otherwise, I think this chapter was pretty self-explanatory. Just gotta say, red packets/envelopes are given kind of on a case by case basis. Sometimes the cutoff is when a child gets married, sometimes it's when they get a stable job.

As always, let me know if you enjoyed~ Even if I don't reply to each message, I do read them when I need to be motivated haha. Thanks for reading~