SNOW CH78
Chapter 78: Destiny Returns to its Place
After its soul returned, Snowball went back to normal, obediently nestling in Fu Rangyi’s arms, wagging its tail and licking his hand. It panted with its tongue out, looking extremely happy.
“This couldn’t be the little puppy you found back in school, could it?” Li Qiao was hesitant to believe it. “Is it? It’s gotten so big?”
Fu Rangyi nodded.
“Really?” A hint of surprise appeared on Li Qiao’s face. He stroked the little dog’s head. “Do you still remember me? I fed you when you were little, too.”
After petting it, he sighed. “Back then, we didn’t even have time to give it a name; we just called it Little Dog.”
Fu Rangyi lowered his eyes. “His name is Snowball.”
“Snowball?” Li Qiao smiled and called the name a few times. The little dog heard and wagged its tail even more excitedly. “So cute. You must be quite old now, huh? We’ve both gotten so big. When you were little, you were so strong when you drank from the bottle. I could tell you’d definitely be a long-lived little dog.”
Zhu Zhixi stood to the side, watching silently, a complicated feeling in his heart. He had originally thought that finding Snowball would be a great relief, as it meant he no longer had to live in constant anxiety and everything could return to normal.
But he didn’t feel that way now. His heart was still heavy, finding it somewhat hard to accept.
He had already made all the preparations. If an early death was inevitable, he would enjoy every last second, cross off items on his bucket list one by one, and leave final instructions for his loved ones.
He had even spoken to Snowball in his heart many times, looking at the palm of his hand.
If our lifespans really were swapped, could you come back and stay with Fu Rangyi? He saved you before; he was your young master. He will be very, very good to you. Is this request a bit much? Because Granny raised you before, if you don’t like it, just come see him occasionally. He is a truly kind person.
In a few more days, you will become the luckiest little dog in the world. Other dog friends can only stay with their owners for a dozen or so years, but you can live for a very long time. I hope your illness can be cured too. Cancer is very painful, I know.
I don’t know how long my lifespan was originally. Can you see my countdown? I hope it’s a long time. I’m so afraid he’ll be overly sad and do something foolish, because he’s done it before. Oh, right, remember to lick his arm a lot. And you, pretend to be sick often, so he’ll worry about you. Thinking about having to take good care of you, he won’t be able to bear leaving.
He didn’t know if Snowball could hear these words, but he said them all anyway. Occasionally, he would wonder if these wishes were too heavy a burden for a small dog. Snowball had already done so, so much.
Therefore, while writing the letter last night, Zhu Zhixi silently retracted all those instructions in his heart.
He buried his face in the palm of his left hand, leaving only one sentence for Snowball.
Good dog, you are the best, best dog.
But now, Snowball’s soul was back in its body. Zhu Zhixi felt dazed. That tiny soul had resided in his body for dozens of days and nights. He was unaware of it when it was there, but the moment it left, he felt a genuine sense of loss.
Snowball’s life had been visualized as the numbers he saw, flowing away second by second. He saw it so clearly. He was the only one who could see it so clearly.
The pouring rain gradually subsided, turning into a drizzle, like a person who had cried their heart out slowly losing their strength, eventually only able to sob softly. His phone rang; it was a call from Liang Yi’en. People from outside the school couldn’t enter, so the three of them took the small dog out and returned to the car to wait for the others.
Xiao Yu appeared in human form. Upon seeing Snowball, he said softly, “There’s not much time.”
Li Qiao was the most bewildered of them all. “What do you mean, not much time?”
Fu Rangyi glanced at him.
He felt it was one thing for him to feel like he was losing his mind, but he didn’t want Li Qiao to see a supernatural phenomenon and think he was going crazy too.
So he made a blunt request, “Li Qiao, I want to eat the osmanthus rice cakes from that shop in the north alley of the school.”
Li Qiao looked baffled, but soon, he put on the fake-but-necessary smile he used for his patients. “Are you sure it’s still open? It’s been so many years.” After speaking, he muttered to himself, “You never even liked them before, I was the one who ate them…”
But Fu Rangyi said, “Then I’ll go buy them myself.”
“Hey, hey, I’ll go.” Li Qiao sighed, unbuckled his seatbelt, and before getting out, instructed Zhu Zhixi, “Keep an eye on your husband.”
“Okay,” Zhu Zhixi nodded, then suddenly rolled down the car window. In the suddenly noisy car, he shouted a loud thank you to Li Qiao.
Li Qiao, holding his umbrella, stood there and took out his phone, typed something, then turned back and waved his phone at Zhu Zhixi.
A message arrived shortly after.
[Muzi Shanqiao: You really need to watch him. I just talked to his attending doctor and asked about his pheromone disorder. He might really have the condition I mentioned, the reverse marking phenomenon between an A and a B.]
Zhu Zhixi stared at the line of text, his heart growing heavier. But soon, Xiao Yu spoke, telling him, “Hold Snowball’s left front paw.”
He didn’t do it immediately. Instead, he took one last look at his own countdown.
[1 day 23 hours 01 minute 23 seconds]
Then, he smiled at Snowball and said, “Snowball, shake.”
Upon hearing the command, Snowball immediately placed its little paw in Zhu Zhixi’s hand. It stared with its beady black eyes, its mouth slightly open, tongue out, as if it were still smiling. The paw pad was small, soft, and very warm.
For some reason, Zhu Zhixi’s nose suddenly tingled, and he pressed his lips together. Fu Rangyi noticed and raised his left arm, gently wrapping it around his shoulder.
It was the same that rainy night when he found him by the trash can near the police station. Zhu Zhixi remembered that scene; he had gently held Snowball’s paw.
“Does it still remember?” Zhu Zhixi asked. “That I found it.”
But Xiao Yu said, “Memories are attached to the body. Its soul and body have been separated several times and for too long. It has already lost most of its memories.”
“There’s not much time,” he said. “We need to switch it back as soon as possible.”
The silent Liang Yi’en suddenly asked, “Is your power enough for the exchange?”
Xiao Yu looked at him, not answering immediately, but finally said, “Just about.”
Liang Yi’en opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, remaining quiet.
But Xiao Yu said softly, “This was a mistake in our work. I need to take responsibility.”
Hearing this, Zhu Zhixi almost let go. “Will you die because of us?”
Xiao Yu shook his head, reassuring him, “Don’t worry, we are not living beings. We don’t have the concept of death.”
In the end, he couldn’t say the rest out loud, converting the remaining words into a telepathic message for Liang Yi’en alone.
You kept asking me why you could give me power, what the source of that power was. I only told you it was the same principle as delaying the countdown. I didn’t lie to you. The source of power is love. So, Xiao En, thank you.
At that moment, a spark-like light appeared, expanding from a tiny point between Zhu Zhixi’s hand and Snowball’s paw. The golden light soon enveloped the entire car, illuminating every corner with a bright, warm glow. His eyelids grew heavy, and Zhu Zhixi subconsciously closed his eyes. Snowball did the same. The strands of human hair and the dog’s fur floated upwards, as if a gentle breeze was blowing from below, causing dust to dance lightly in the air.
Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock…
The sound suddenly became muffled, as if someone had closed a window, blocking out the sound of the falling rain. Gradually, the rain stopped, and he could no longer hear that tormenting sound.
But in that instant, countless images flashed before his eyes. The perspective was peculiar, very different from how he usually saw the world—very low, very close to the ground. Pairs of feet walked densely toward him, the crosswalk had never been so close, the grass was as tall as a grove of trees, and a puddle was like a small lake.
Soon, a pair of feet stopped in front of him. A person crouched down, and an umbrella handle landed on the ground. The field of vision suddenly shifted upwards. He saw the most familiar face, much younger than now, not wearing glasses but a muzzle and a collar. A hint of melancholy was in his brows, and he didn’t look happy.
It was the teenage Fu Rangyi.
“Still alive…” He frowned slightly, his thumb wiping across the view, making it clearer. “Are you a rat?”
Was this a flashback of life before death?
Zhu Zhixi suddenly understood that in the end, this was the only memory Snowball had left.
Eventually, Fu Rangyi’s face also blurred. The golden light vanished, and the car returned to how it was before. So did they.
Zhu Zhixi opened his eyes. Snowball was still wagging its tail excitedly at him, as if nothing had happened, and it didn’t know what had happened.
In his vision, in the palm of his left hand, the countdown that had followed him all winter was gone.
A hand reached out, and knuckles brushed against Zhu Zhixi’s face. Only then did he realize he was crying.
“It’s done,” Xiao Yu said in a low voice. “The countdown is back now.”
Zhu Zhixi opened his mouth, about to ask, but Xiao Yu answered first. “I know what you want to ask. The remaining time wasn’t reset to zero. It can see it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Snowball whimpered once, then continued to smile with its tongue out. The intertwined fates had thus returned to their rightful places, as peacefully as an ordinary dream.
The rain stopped completely. The gloomy clouds scattered slightly, and a faint rainbow appeared in the sky. Li Qiao also happened to return, carrying two large bags of steaming osmanthus cakes, a smile on his face, humming a tune.
“You’re in luck, kid. The shop is still in the same spot, as if it was waiting for you to come.” He opened the car door and got in. “The owner even recognized me, said he remembered I especially loved to eat this, and he never expected to see me again. What a fateful encounter.”
“You all try some, they’re really delicious. I bought the ones that just came out of the oven.” Li Qiao turned to distribute the rice cakes to them. “Hey, handsome white-haired guy, is your hair bleached? How much did that cost?”
Zhu Zhixi took an osmanthus rice cake and stuffed one after another into his mouth, making himself look like a hamster. After just a few chews, he started crying again.
Li Qiao was startled. “Hey, what’s with you…” He took some tissues from the center console, stuffed them into Fu Rangyi’s hand, gesturing for him to help wipe the tears. “Is it that delicious?”
Zhu Zhixi nodded and lowered his head. Snowball actually climbed into his lap, trying to stand up and wave its paws, as if it wanted to help lick away his tears.
Such a caring little dog.
“So, we… what now…” His mind was a mess. For a moment, he didn’t know what to do or what to say.
“Let’s take it back,” Fu Rangyi gently dabbed at his tears with a tissue. “Granny has been looking for it for so long, she didn’t dare to have surgery because of it. She’ll be very happy to see Snowball back. The final moments should be left to the person who took care of it its whole life.”
His tone was calm and casual. After speaking, he broke off a small piece of rice cake, blew on it to cool it down, and placed it in front of Snowball. Only when its little paws held the small piece did he turn his head to look out the window.
There wasn’t enough room in the car, so Liang Yi’en and Xiao Yu took a separate taxi.
Zhu Zhixi turned his head and stared at their backs outside the car window. He saw Xiao Yu’s hand, hanging by his side, move towards Liang Yi’en’s hand, as if trying to hold it. But just as they were about to touch, his hand became transparent, seemingly disappearing into the moving air.
There were only the three of them left in the car again. Li Qiao set the navigation, glanced at the rearview mirror, and asked Fu Rangyi, “Aren’t you having any?”
“No.”
“Then why did you make me buy them?”
“Zhu Zhixi has never had them,” Fu Rangyi said.
Li Qiao was speechless. Right, someone who didn’t like it as a child, why would he suddenly crave it as an adult? “…You’re something else.”
Zhu Zhixi began to cry quietly again.
Li Qiao sighed. “Is it really worth being this moved? It’s just an osmanthus cake.”
Zhu Zhixi cried until his mouth puckered. “Just leave it… hurry up and drive, Li Qiao.”
“Alright, alright.” Li Qiao was helpless.
And so, in a strange atmosphere, they returned to the hospital. Fu Rangyi hadn’t fully recovered and was a bit out of breath, but time was precious. He didn’t hesitate for a second and took Zhu Zhixi to Granny‘s hospital room.
Granny, who had finished her surgery, was awake but her reactions were a bit slow. When she saw Snowball, her cloudy eyes shifted as if in a daze, but soon she realized something and weakly called out, “Snowball.”
Although Snowball had lost many of its memories, this call it had heard its entire life awakened its instinctive love for its owner. It raised its head in Zhu Zhixi’s arms.
“Snowball? Is that you…” Granny gripped the bed rail and propped herself up. “Oh, Snowball.”
Snowball’s head tilted slowly. After a few seconds of reaction, it suddenly began to struggle, letting out urgent whimpers. Zhu Zhixi knew it had recognized its owner and carefully placed it back in Granny’s arms.
Granny cried with joy, hugging and kissing Snowball many times. When she looked up, her face was covered in tears. “You found it? Where did you find it? Thank you so much, thank you…”
Zhu Zhixi shook his head gently. “Snowball came to the hospital on its own. It must have been very worried about you.”
Granny’s joy was written all over her face. She checked Snowball’s body all over, then held it and rocked it gently, as if holding a baby.
“Thank you, thank you so, so much.”
Zhu Zhixi shook his head, holding back his tears with a smile. “It’s good that you found it.”
Granny reached out, took Zhu Zhixi’s hand, and said to him, “Child, you are the kindest child I have ever met. A good child like you will surely live a long, peaceful, and healthy life.”
Zhu Zhixi’s heart was in turmoil. He had never felt so conflicted. It was as if the countdown had never left him; he was still afraid of the moment it would reach zero, because he knew it would inevitably come. He also knew that the joy and happiness of finding Snowball now would, at that moment, transform into an even heavier pain, falling upon Granny‘s frail shoulders. This was the weight of love.
Somehow, although the window was tightly closed, a gust of wind inexplicably rose in the room. Even more miraculously, the gentle wind brought with it a snow-white feather.
Zhu Zhixi was stunned and reached out to catch the light, floating feather.
At that moment, a familiar voice emerged in his mind.
Zhu Zhixi, Snowball has something to say to you.
Zhu Zhixi looked at Snowball. Snowball was nestled in Granny‘s arms, its beady black eyes also looking at him.
Xixi. Thank you. For extending my final moments. If it weren’t for you, I could only watch helplessly as Granny passed away, and watch bad people bully my young master. You gave me so many opportunities to fulfill all my wishes.
But I’m just a little dog. You have too many things to do, I can’t help you. You have to accompany him yourself.
Don’t pretend to be sick, he will worry.
Xixi, you are the best, best person. Your life will be as happy as mine was.
Snowball’s Mental Journey
- Leave my owner, so she doesn’t spend so much money treating a dog.
- Have to find a safe place to die. The area near the dirty, tall bin is very safe.
- Not dead yet? Then… doggy wants to go see the young master who gave doggy a second life. I wonder where he is.
- Found a super, super good person. I’ll bring this person to meet my young master.
- Why did the countdown disappear? Then doggy will first go run around in the park, roll in the grass. I always had to be on a leash before.
- Tired of running. I’ll go play where the young master found me. Almost got caught by the school security guard, so dangerous.
- Where did the countdown go?
- I smell danger. Both my masters are in danger!
- That’s great, super-good Xixi saved Granny. He really is the best, best person in the world.
- Go check out Little Flower Pet Shop. Huh? This isn’t a pet shop anymore.
- Bad guy! I’ll bite you to death! Ouch…
- So the countdown is on Xixi… It hurts, doggy has to hide, can’t be beaten to death by the bad guy.
- Why is the young master’s mood getting worse day by day? So sad. Doggy can smell it, he smells bitter.
- Can Granny be cured? Her heartbeat is different!
- How can I go home… Where is doggy’s home…
- The young master is in so much pain, what should I do! Doggy has to go save him! Who can save him?
- We swapped back, phew… I’m relieved. The young master doesn’t smell so bitter anymore.
- Huh? It’s my owner! I’m back! Quick, take me to the park to play with the ball!
- If everyone is happy, then doggy will be very happy too.