Chapter Twenty-Six: This Doctor Is Quite the Talker

A blessing for pet owners, a blessing for pet owners indeed. The Good Needle Pet Hospital specializes in treating all sorts of difficult and mysterious illnesses in animals. Exclusively certified by the Department of Psychology, College of Agricultural Biology, Pennsylvania Agricultural University in Country M. If it’s just a minor illness, don’t come to me—if it’s infertility, please take a seat inside. One shot cures the illness, the needle is effective. Looking forward to your visit.

Inside the clinic, a group of burly men surrounded a doctor clad in a white coat. Two sat on either side of the sofa, glaring menacingly at him. Thick gold chains, tiny watches, tattoos peeking from their necks as frightening as could be. The leader sat atop the coffee table opposite the doctor, not even bothering to look his way. Behind him stood another burly man, peeling an apple with a machete.

The leader spoke, “Tell me Paul’s story again. Come on, tell it to me one more time.”

The sound of the blade slicing the apple sent terror through the doctor. The oppressive atmosphere made the other animals in the hospital shrink into the corners, too frightened to make a sound.

The doctor swallowed nervously, trembling as he said, “Paul... He was born three years ago in Florence, Italy, into the most esteemed Wen family. In that grand mansion, with its seven courtyards. From the moment he cried out, thanks to his pure bloodline and exceptional intelligence, he caught Professor Wen's eye. He was named—The Light of Florence! Haha…”

The leader glanced at him and continued stroking his cat. The two men beside him glared even harder.

The doctor swallowed again, forcing himself to continue, “As a Garfield cat of such pure lineage, he was certified by the CFA and recognized for show-quality from birth. He nearly got exchanged with Niuniu, the giant panda from our country. But in the end, he lost to the national treasure of Country Y—the divine eagle, Tang Dini. Haha…”

As the doctor finished, silence fell. The leader stared at him for a long moment.

The leader said, “What a pity. But with such an excellent breed, why did mating with my baby produce a whole litter of mongrels? Explain that to me!”

This time, the man wielding the machete produced a cage containing a litter of alley cats, their fur all colors.

The leader continued, “I don’t ask for much today. Just bring out Paul. I want to see him.”

The two burly men beside the doctor started to haul him up to go find Paul, but the doctor’s survival instinct kicked in—he struggled hard.

“Wait, wait, wait, let me speak, let me speak! I have another story. I have another story,” the doctor pleaded.

The leader didn’t even look up, “Let him finish.”

The doctor flashed a nervous smile at the two men, then continued, “Have you ever heard the story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai? Their love was truly moving. But because their parents interfered—objecting to their different backgrounds—the result was a tragedy that’s echoed through a thousand years!”

The leader responded, “Uncle of the child, you sure can talk.”

He nodded to the side. The burly man sitting next to the doctor stood, opening his coat to reveal an array of gleaming knives, all shapes and sizes. The leader casually picked one up and examined it, then the man sat down again. This entire performance left the doctor completely stunned—what kind of madness was this?

The leader spoke, “If today, I don’t see the mongrel that ruined my baby—”