Chuchu, the Giant Dog
The castle was incredibly vast. So much so that Amy had repeatedly warned us not to get lost.
"Here. If you get lost, press this. Then Chen or I will come find you." Amy handed me a small device.
The device, shaped like a tiny bear paw, had a squishy button on it. Finding the texture strangely addictive, I pressed it repeatedly.
Beep! Beep! Beep! A peculiar sound chirped from the bear paw.
"Don't press it right now," Amy murmured, pulling out her phone. It seemed that pressing the button sent a signal straight to her device.
"Can't you three just stay put and behave?" Amy asked one last time.
I shook my head and replied, "We'll just play for a little bit!"
It would be a tragedy to stay still after entering such a magnificent castle. I wanted to explore this place.
The backpack on my shoulders was stuffed with snacks to eat later. My daily allowance was five chocolates, two jellies, and four candies. I had packed every single one of them.
Shine and Rain stood side by side next to me. Their bags held a similar bounty of treats.
"Rain, you'll keep an eye on them, right?"
"Leave it to me!" Rain replied confidently to Amy's question. However, Amy still wore a highly skeptical expression.
She reached into her pocket and handed Rain a bear paw button just like the ones she had given Shine and me. "Here, take one too."
"Okay!" Rain stuffed the button into her pocket.
Amy and Victor still looked incredibly busy. I wasn't sure why Rain was so free, but since she could play with us, it worked out perfectly.
"Let's go!" The three of us set off to explore Amy's home. We marched out of the room with high spirits.
"Make sure you're back before lunch!" Amy's worried voice echoed from behind, but I simply waved my hand and called back, "Okay!"
I smoothed down the fluttering dress I was wearing. Out of all the clothes Ferman had sent, I had chosen the most modest one, but I still couldn't get used to it. My legs feel way too bare. I kept tugging the hem of the skirt downward.
"I know exactly where everything is, so just trust me!" Rain took the lead and began to march forward.
As we walked down the long corridor, we passed countless people. Every single one of them moved in silence—some pushing large carts, others cleaning various corners of the mansion, and some carrying massive loads of laundry.
"This is the library!"
"The library?" We stopped in front of a massive door. Carved into it was a large lion's head, just like the one on Ferman's office door.
Rain confidently reached out. The door creaked open, revealing an overwhelming number of bookshelves through the gap. Every single shelf was packed to the brim with thick volumes. The rich, heavy scent of old paper drifted out, stirring up distant memories.
"Is this really the library?"
"Actually, I don't know its official name. I just call it the library because it has a lot of books."
I liked reading, but I didn't have time for books right now. Our permitted playtime only lasted until lunch. Our goal was to map out as much of this place as possible before then.
"Alright, check." I pulled a sketchbook from my bag and began drawing a map. Leave Amy's room, go down the long corridor, and there's a massive library. I drew a large book to represent the library. For Amy's room, I drew a big pink heart. For Ferman's office, a blue star.
"Next!" We turned toward our next destination. Passing numerous rooms, we headed down the stairs. The place we arrived at was a room filled with displayed artworks.
"This is the Hall of Arts!"
"The Hall of Arts?" Rain explained loudly once again. "Actually, I don't know its official name either! I just call it that because there's a ton of art here!"
"Rain might actually not know anything at all," Shine whispered softly beside me. I gave a subtle nod so Rain wouldn't notice.
Regardless, I scribbled on my sketchbook again. What should I draw to represent art? I fell into thought. Hmm... Think, think. Ah, right. I could just draw *The Thinker*. I sketched a crooked human figure. The sitting posture looked more like someone on a toilet, but as long as I could recognize it, the map would serve its purpose.
"Is it okay for us to go inside?" Clutching the sketchbook to my chest, I cautiously stepped into the room. The vast space was lined with displays of incredibly expensive-looking items.
"I've been in here before, and nobody said anything," Rain said.
Though I hadn't noticed from the outside, a strange, unpleasant sensation hung in the air inside the room. A wave of aversion washed over me, making the hairs on my neck stand on end. "I don't like this place for some reason." I quickly backed out of the room.
The castle was truly enormous—far too vast to fit onto a single page of my sketchbook. "Let's take a little break." My hand was starting to ache from drawing the map so diligently. The three of us sat side by side on the stairs leading down the corridor and began pulling snacks from our bags. Chocolates, candies, and jellies—all sorts of sweet treats poured out.
"Rain, did you bring it?"
"Yep!" Rain answered confidently. She pulled a large plastic bottle from her bag. Inside was ice-cold cola.
"Thank you!" Amy had allowed us snacks, but she had strictly forbidden cola. That was why I had asked Rain to sneak some in for us. Rain had easily granted my request. I grabbed her hands and shook them excitedly. My eyes naturally crinkled into crescents, the corners of my mouth curving upward as a breathless giggle escaped my lips.
"Mmh..." Rain mumbled, her eyes darting away as she watched me smile.
"Is the coast clear?" I cradled the cola in my arms and scanned our surroundings. This was Amy's home. That meant everyone working here was essentially under her command. If anyone caught me drinking cola and reported it to Amy, my daily chocolate allowance would undoubtedly plummet.
"There's no one," Shine replied, looking around.
I let out a sigh of relief and pressed the bottle to my lips. The cold liquid rushed down my throat. The sharp carbonation stung, but I didn't pull away. I drank until I reached my limit, finally pulling the bottle back. An involuntary gasp escaped my lips. "Ahhh~!" I squeezed my eyes shut against the thrilling sting of the fizz. Before I knew it, the bottle was gently slipped from my hands and into Shine's.
As I shivered from the fizzy rush, Shine pressed her lips to the opening of the bottle. *Gulp.* Her small mouth moved as if nursing the bottle, taking in the cola.
"Um, Shine?"
"Mmh." Shine answered without removing her lips from the bottle. Watching her strange behavior, I asked, "Aren't you going to drink?"
"Mmh-mmh."
When she first took the bottle from me, I thought she wanted a drink. But apparently, that wasn't it. She was just holding the bottle in her mouth, suckling on it. The liquid inside hadn't decreased at all. With a soft *pop*, Shine finally pulled her lips away and asked, "Do you want more, Jeff?" A thin, translucent thread of saliva stretched from her lips.
I nodded and replied, "Yeah." It was a rare treat, so I wanted to drink as much as possible while I had the chance. At my response, Shine handed the bottle back. "Here." The rim of the bottle looked rather wet. I stared at it with a complicated expression.
"Aren't you going to drink?"
Unable to answer her question, I fell into a dilemma. Should I wipe the rim? Or just drink it? Shine had put her mouth right where mine had been, so it was only fair for me to do the same, right? But it looked a little—no, very—wet and sticky.
"Jeff, if you don't drink it now, Amy might catch us."
"Ah, right." At Shine's warning, I quickly opened my mouth and clamped onto the rim. Just as expected, a slightly sticky, wet sensation filled my mouth. But it was only for a fleeting moment; the rushing torrent of cola immediately washed it all away. The drink carried a faint, subtle scent of Shine.
*Gulp, gulp.* When the bottle was about half empty, I turned my head, sensing an intense gaze from the side.
A massive body. Fluffy white fur. Sturdy-looking legs. Paws that looked larger than Victor's fists. Floppy ears, and a tail pointing straight to the sky.
What is this? My thoughts slowly pieced together. As I stared blankly at this sudden, unfamiliar creature, the furball's mouth slowly began to open. From its slightly parted jaws, a long pink tongue slipped out.
Woof!
"Yikes!" As the furball barked, Rain jumped in fright. I was incredibly startled too. I grabbed Rain, pulling her behind me to shield her. This thing! It's a massive puppy! No, it was far too large to be called a puppy. Calling it a giant dog would be much more accurate. "It's a dog!"
Woof!
As if responding to my shout, the furball barked again. *Whoosh, whoosh.* Its long tail wagged so hard it practically spun.
"Oh, it's just Chuchu," Rain sighed in relief, stepping forward as if she recognized the dog.
The furball, apparently named Chuchu, also seemed to know Rain. As Rain extended her small hand, Chuchu trotted over and pressed its head against her palm.
"That dog's name is Chuchu?"
"Yeah. He's a cute puppy."
"He doesn't look like a puppy to me." He was taller than Rain, so he definitely wasn't a puppy. "You've grown so much! You used to be smaller than me!" Rain vigorously petted Chuchu's head. She seemed almost envious of Chuchu's impressive height.
Peeking through his long fur, Chuchu's eyes were revealed. His gaze was locked dead-on Rain's backpack. "Is Chuchu a pet here?"
"Yeah. Mister Ferman raises him." The moment Rain turned her head to answer my question—
Chuchu, who had been staring at Rain's bag, moved with a speed that defied his massive bulk. Lowering his body in a flash, his snout lunged forward. His wide-open jaws clamped firmly onto Rain's yellow chick bag. Rain's jaw dropped in sheer shock. I panicked and reached out as well, but Chuchu was faster.
*Thud-thud-thud-thud!*
Heavy, rapid pawsteps echoed down the hall. Chuchu took off, clutching Rain's bag in his mouth. In the blink of an eye, his retreating figure was already at the far end of the corridor.
"Ah!" Rain shrieked, collapsing to the floor.
Rain had just been mugged by a dog.