Chapter Four: True Nature Revealed

Zhu Qingyan nodded and immediately jogged over to fetch a harness-style leash. It was clear she was just as curious about how Zhang Congwen planned to train her family's Tuan Tuan.

"Do you have the collar-style leash, the kind that goes around the neck?" Zhang Congwen looked at the leash in Zhu Qingyan's hand and shook his head slightly.

Zhu Qingyan looked puzzled. "Aren't they all just leashes? Is there a difference?"

Zhang Congwen explained, "Harness-style leashes are designed with the dog's comfort in mind, but they offer much less control. Collar-style leashes aren't as comfortable for the dog, but the control they provide is far more effective."

"So there's so much to it?" Zhu Qingyan's curiosity was piqued. She shook her head. "We only have this kind, not the collar-style you mentioned."

"We'll make do with this for now, but you'll need to get a collar," Zhang Congwen said. He took the leash from Zhu Qingyan, untied it from the harness, fashioned a collar out of the leash, and handed it to Liu Mei, indicating she should put it on their dog.

Liu Mei looked confused but cooperated. She asked, "We're not taking it out for a walk—why put a leash on it at home? It's uncomfortable."

It was clear Liu Mei was somewhat reluctant.

Zhang Congwen smiled mysteriously. "Just a little experiment to test my theory."

In truth, Zhang Congwen wanted to say, "Just a little experiment to prove my ability to you," but such words were not easy to say aloud.

Liu Mei became even more curious. Even Zhu Chang, who had been listless in the corner, turned to watch.

The collar was quickly fastened, and Zhang Congwen continued, "I still need Uncle Zhu's help."

Zhu Chang looked unwilling. "Why do you need me to help with dog training? I don't know how to train dogs."

Zhang Congwen replied, "No matter how skilled the trainer is, the dog must eventually be handed back to its owner. If the owner is inattentive, even a well-trained dog can regress. Ultimately, the owner's involvement is crucial. But we're not at that stage yet; for now, I just need you to cooperate with a few simple actions."

Zhu Chang remained unwilling, but with Liu Mei glaring at him, he finally stood up from the sofa. "What do you need me to do?"

"Not just yet," Zhang Congwen said. Then he turned to Liu Mei with a serious look. "Aunt Liu, you must hold onto the leash firmly; otherwise, Tuan Tuan might bite someone."

Seeing Liu Mei nod, Zhang Congwen addressed Zhu Chang and Zhu Qingyan, "In a moment, I want you two to do something intimate, like pretend to hug."

"No other actions?" Zhu Chang felt awkward. Fatherly love is often reserved; most fathers play the strict role. Though Zhu Qingyan was his daughter, hugging felt too intimate for him, especially in front of an outsider like Zhang Congwen.

Zhang Congwen only smiled.

"Come on, Dad!" Zhu Qingyan urged, a mischievous glint in her eye. She very much wanted to see her father embarrassed.

Zhu Chang looked helpless but finally pretended to hug his daughter, though he pulled away almost immediately.

"What next?" Zhu Chang asked, eager to move on.

Zhang Congwen looked helpless. His movements were so quick, he might as well have been a rabbit chased by a dog.

The action was meant for Tuan Tuan to see, and even Zhu Qingyan hadn't reacted in time, let alone their dog.

Liu Mei glared at Zhu Chang again. "Qingyan is your daughter; what's wrong with hugging your own child? Does she have thorns? If you won't hug her, let Zhang do it."

This time, Zhu Chang did not give in, but glared back, as if to say, "Who would push their own daughter away?" Realizing she had misspoken, Liu Mei quickly corrected herself. "Just get on with it. Stop dawdling."

Zhang Congwen hurried to smooth things over. "It has to be you, Uncle. It won't work if I do it."

Zhu Qingyan laughed until her eyes squinted, opening her arms to Zhu Chang. "Dad, come here."

Zhu Chang, resigned, finally pretended to hug her, carefully keeping his body at a distance, making it seem very stiff. But unexpectedly, Zhu Qingyan suddenly threw her arms around her father.

"Hehehe," Zhu Qingyan was quite pleased with herself.

Suddenly, Tuan Tuan, who had been quietly lying in Liu Mei's arms, burst out and lunged at Zhu Qingyan.

Earlier, Liu Mei hadn't really taken Zhang Congwen's warning to heart; she didn't believe her Tuan Tuan would suddenly lash out and bite someone. Luckily, Zhang Congwen had given her some advance warning, so she was alert.

As soon as the Bichon rushed out, Liu Mei quickly yanked the leash back, causing the dog to somersault in midair and land on the sofa.

The dog glanced at Liu Mei, then turned and barked furiously at Zhu Qingyan.

The whole family was startled by this sudden turn of events, and Zhu Chang immediately put distance between himself and his daughter.

Even so, the Bichon did not stop barking.

"What happened? It's never acted like this before," Liu Mei gripped the leash tightly, afraid the dog might break free and bite Zhu Qingyan. Zhu Chang and Zhu Qingyan may not have sensed it clearly, but Liu Mei felt it acutely.

The dog's backward somersault had not been caused by Liu Mei's pulling, but rather by the force of the Bichon's charge forward. The leash was only so long; when it reached its limit, the dog's momentum flipped it over.

It was like tying a five-meter rope around someone's neck and telling them to sprint ten meters. When the rope reaches its limit, the person will be knocked down by their own inertia.

Liu Mei was certain that without the leash, Tuan Tuan would indeed have bitten Zhu Qingyan.

Zhu Qingyan's face was pale with fright. Although Tuan Tuan had bitten her before, it was never as vicious as today.

"Stop barking!" Zhu Chang stepped in front of his daughter and scolded Tuan Tuan loudly. It was clear he loved his daughter more than the dog.

If he valued the dog above his family, no trainer could help.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Chang's scolding made the Bichon bark even more fiercely, now targeting Zhu Chang.

Now, the dog's true nature was revealed.

Liu Mei wanted to calm Tuan Tuan, but Zhang Congwen quickly stopped her. "Don't touch it now."

But Liu Mei's love for dogs overrode Zhang Congwen's warning. She reached out, and before she could touch Tuan Tuan's head, the dog sensed her and snapped at her.

"Ah!"

Fortunately, Liu Mei reacted quickly and withdrew her hand in time, avoiding a bite.

After that snap, the Bichon seemed to realize it had done something wrong; its eyes cleared and it curled up in a corner.

The whole family rushed to ask if Liu Mei had been bitten. When she shook her head, they finally relaxed.

"No more training," Liu Mei, who had initially agreed to train the Bichon, was now ready to give up. "It was fine before, but now it's gotten so much worse. No more training."

The scene had truly frightened her.

"Train it! We must train it!" Zhu Chang, who had once opposed training, now stood firm, frowning. "If we can't train it, the dog can't stay. We can't keep a dog that bites people."