A few days later, early in the morning, Zhang Chang was rushing to catch a flight. In his hurry, he accidentally locked both his keys and Tokyo Tower inside his apartment. By the time he managed to get a locksmith to open the door, it was clear he’d miss his flight. Left with no choice, he called Duo Duo. Fortunately, she had just woken up and hadn’t left for work yet. Without hesitation, she came over and took Tokyo Tower with her.
Zhang Chang was away for a week. Worried about Xi Gua and Tokyo Tower, who didn’t usually get along, and knowing Duo Duo was busy with work, he felt guilty about the trouble. Every evening, he called Duo Duo to check in.
Duo Duo maintained her usual calm tone. “It’s fine. They don’t fight anymore. Looks like they’ve gotten used to each other.”
“Really, thank you for all this.”
“No need to be so formal. Just focus on your work.”
Her straightforwardness had always been part of her nature, but Zhang Chang now felt a peculiar warmth in it. It was clear she didn’t treat him like an outsider. As they interacted as friends, he began to understand her approach to relationships. It was much like how she treated Xi Gua—seemingly distant at first, but quietly giving her all in her own way.
Some scenery is beautiful from afar. Some you only appreciate when you get close. And some you only realize is beautiful after you’ve left it. Zhang Chang began to seriously reflect—had he let something truly valuable slip away?
When Zhang Chang returned from his trip, he went to Duo Duo’s place to pick up Tokyo Tower. By now, the two dogs, having lived and eaten together, had become like close companions. As usual, Xi Gua greeted Zhang Chang with overwhelming enthusiasm, covering him in slobber, while Tokyo Tower wagged its tail nearby, seemingly enjoying the spectacle.
Duo Duo squatted down, hugging Tokyo Tower and laughing. “After just a few days, I’ve gotten a bit attached. Every day, I take both dogs out for a walk. Tokyo Tower wants to go west, but Xi Gua insists on going east. I can’t handle them both. Even the security guards at the property management office laugh at me and ask why I gave them such strange names—one called Tokyo Tower and the other Xi Gua. They say the names are completely mismatched.”
Zhang Chang took Tokyo Tower home, carrying its sleeping basket in one hand and its food bowl in the other. But as he freed up a hand to punch in the building’s door code, Tokyo Tower suddenly yanked free from his grip, spun around, and dashed off. It turned out Duo Duo had just come downstairs with Xi Gua, and Tokyo Tower, fearless and carefree, ran straight for Xi Gua to play.
Zhang Chang stood there, looking both frustrated and amused, while Duo Duo couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Her laughter was radiant, and her cheeks revealed deep dimples. Zhang Chang found himself wondering—how had he never noticed this before?
On the lawn, Tokyo Tower and Xi Gua romped around joyfully. Growing tired of standing, Zhang Chang and Duo Duo sat down on a nearby bench. Zhang Chang talked about the scenery and local specialties from his trip, while Duo Duo shared amusing stories about Tokyo Tower and Xi Gua’s antics over the past few days.
As the sky gradually darkened, a security guard on patrol passed by and greeted them, “Miss Han, so your boyfriend is back?”
Before Duo Duo could respond, Zhang Chang had already answered, “Yes, I’m back.”
When the security guard had walked away, Duo Duo turned to look at Zhang Chang.
Zhang Chang said, “I admit my intentions aren’t entirely pure, but I hope you’ll give me another chance.”
Duo Duo replied, “Didn’t you say our personalities don’t match?”
“If Xi Gua and Tokyo Tower can grow fond of each other over time, why can’t we give it a try?”
Xi Gua and Tokyo Tower. Perhaps… why not give it a try?
[The End]
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