Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Sense of Foreboding

“The credit for the dog's good training belongs to the trainer, but if Mr. Zhu hadn't laid a solid foundation, no matter how skilled the trainer is, the results might not have been so good.” Although Yang Baoqian felt uncomfortable, he forced the conversation to shift toward praising Zhu Chang.

Zhu Chang waved his hand dismissively. “You're mistaken. If it weren't for Xiao Zhang, I wouldn't have realized how many mistakes we made raising Tuan Tuan.”

Yang Baoqian grew even more uneasy.

From the moment he first met Zhang Congwen, an inexplicable sense of crisis welled up inside him. When he saw Zhang Congwen and Zhu Qingyan whispering together, he couldn't help but interject.

He regretted it immediately, wishing he hadn't stooped to Zhang Congwen's level.

Though Yang Baoqian had to admit that with a bit of grooming, Zhang Congwen could be considered somewhat handsome, he never took him seriously. Apart from his looks, Yang Baoqian saw nothing of value in Zhang Congwen. His clothes were clearly cheap, suggesting he wasn't wealthy. No matter how good he was at dog training, to Yang Baoqian, he was just someone who played with dogs. What future could such a person possibly have?

Yet as he listened to Zhu Chang’s family heap praise upon Zhang Congwen, Yang Baoqian couldn't contain his irritation. Someone he looked down upon was stealing the spotlight right in front of him, and it made him feel deeply uncomfortable.

He couldn't help but say, “Since Master Zhang is such an expert, why not come to my house later and help train my dog?”

Zhu Chang chimed in, “Baoqian’s always telling me his dog has problems. He’s been worrying about how to train it. Now that Xiao Zhang is here, if you’re free this afternoon, maybe you could help Baoqian out.”

Zhang Congwen initially wanted to refuse. He really didn't want to interact with Yang Baoqian at all. But since Zhu Chang and Zhu Qingyan were introducing him to new clients, he felt obliged, so he agreed.

At this point, Zhang Congwen was still unaware that he had been unwittingly drawn into a whirlwind of jealousy and rivalry. He, the central figure, had not yet realized his role. Had he known in advance, he would never have agreed to come eat at Zhu Qingyan's house and serve as her tool.

Though Zhu Qingyan’s actions were somewhat underhanded, it wasn’t her original intention to invite Zhang Congwen just to use him. The changes in Tuan Tuan had been so remarkable lately that Zhu Chang and Liu Mei frequently mentioned it to Zhu Qingyan, urging her to invite Zhang Congwen over for a meal to thank him.

No one expected Yang Baoqian to suddenly ask Zhu Chang if he could visit to learn about dog raising. Zhu Chang agreed without consulting Zhu Qingyan.

Zhu Qingyan understood Yang Baoqian’s intentions very well. Since she was already planning to invite Zhang Congwen for dinner, she simply included him, thinking it was a waste not to use him as a shield.

The only thing that frustrated Zhu Qingyan was that, despite mentioning over the phone that Zhang Congwen should dress nicely, he still showed up in casual clothes. It made her wonder if her communication skills were at fault, if she hadn’t made herself clear.

It wasn’t that Zhu Qingyan, like Yang Baoqian, despised Zhang Congwen’s shabby attire. It was more a subconscious belief that, since he was her chosen shield, Zhang Congwen ought to outshine Yang Baoqian in every aspect, crushing him thoroughly for maximum satisfaction.

To lose the first round so easily was a real blow to morale.

“I want to come too,” Zhu Qingyan said sweetly, seeing Zhang Congwen agree. If she couldn’t rely on her shield, she’d take matters into her own hands. She had already decided to act a little more intimate with Zhang Congwen later, just to annoy Yang Baoqian.

Yang Baoqian had been searching for a way to include Zhu Qingyan in the visit; unexpectedly, she volunteered herself, so of course he had no objection.

After lunch, Yang Baoqian said, “Let’s take my car.”

Zhu Qingyan refused immediately. “No need. Just give us the address, we’ll drive ourselves.”

Yang Baoqian was surprised. From Zhang Congwen’s attire, he didn’t seem like someone who owned a car. “Did Master Zhang drive himself here?”

Zhang Congwen shook his head, indicating he had no car. Yang Baoqian secretly nodded, satisfied that this fit his expectations.

He quickly said, “Then why not let Master Zhang ride with me?” He gestured toward a nearby car. Yang Baoqian’s real motive was to show off. His car wasn’t anything extraordinary, but it was more than what most people could afford.

To his disappointment, Zhang Congwen glanced at the car with no change in expression, leaving Yang Baoqian frustrated in his attempt to flaunt his superiority.

The truth was, Yang Baoqian had chosen the wrong arena to show off. He didn’t know that not only did Zhang Congwen not have a car, he couldn’t even drive, nor did he know much about cars. Compared to his knowledge of animals, his understanding of cars was like a drop of water to a barrel.

Zhang Congwen’s familiarity with cars extended only as far as recognizing popular brands like Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda, Audi, BMW, and Wuling.

As the saying goes: If I am sufficiently ignorant, you have no way to show off material superiority to me.

“No need. Congwen will ride with me. Isn’t that right, Master Zhang?” Zhu Qingyan directly helped Zhang Congwen decline Yang Baoqian’s offer.

Yang Baoqian ground his teeth in frustration. Especially at the end, when Zhu Qingyan’s “Master Zhang” carried an ambiguous undertone.

“Big Sister Zhu, your tactics are a bit underhanded,” Zhang Congwen complained mildly in Zhu Qingyan’s car.

Even he, slow as he was, now understood that Zhu Qingyan had invited him to serve as her shield. Especially after seeing Yang Baoqian, face flushed with jealousy, start his car, Zhang Congwen was all the more certain.

“Sorry, Master Zhang, just this once—help me out,” Zhu Qingyan smiled at him, pleading.

Zhang Congwen was helpless. Having been drafted as the shield, he could only play his part to the end. He grumbled, “At first, I couldn’t figure out why you insisted I dress nicely. Now I see.”

Zhu Qingyan sighed, “You’re one to talk. I told you to dress up, and because of you, all the taunts I prepared went to waste.”

Zhang Congwen shrugged, “All my clothes are like this. I don’t own anything nicer. If you’d told me what was up, I’d have borrowed a set.”

Zhu Qingyan blinked, as if she could see right through him. “If I’d told you in advance, you probably wouldn’t have come.”

“Heh!” Zhang Congwen didn’t deny it.

“What size do you wear? I’ll buy you two sets,” Zhu Qingyan offered, feeling guilty and wanting to make amends.

“Big sister, are you planning to use me as your shield long-term?” Zhang Congwen clearly hadn’t realized her intentions.

“I’ve got money to spend, so I’ll spend it. Is that so wrong?” Zhu Qingyan snapped.

She floored the accelerator, sending the car surging forward with a powerful thrust.