Pet Romance

After working at the pet hospital for two years, the hospital’s headquarters in the nearby sub-provincial city needed staff rotation and planned to transfer some veterinarians. Both Shen Qian and Li Meili were on the list. Li Meili was naturally excited since Gao Changfeng’s unit was in the neighboring city, and although he often worked on cases, they would at least have more time together. For Shen Qian, who had never left this small city in her five years of memory, it was an opportunity to see the world. She discussed it with her mother, who unexpectedly and firmly opposed the idea. In Shen Qian’s understanding, her mother was a calm and strong woman; this unusual reaction rekindled Shen Qian’s long-dormant curiosity. Could her memories be tied to the neighboring city? Her mother’s unsettled look clearly conveyed: Yes, Shen Qian’s memories were indeed connected to that city.
“Mom, if you won’t tell me, can’t I explore it myself?”
“Qianqian, that place does not belong to you.” Shen Qian was slightly surprised, looking at the helpless and saddened expression on Shen Mu’s face. She only heard Shen Mu say, “The neighboring city is a first-tier city. First, the salary your education can earn will be quite tight; second, there’s no need to retrieve memories from there.” Shen Mu explicitly pointed out that her memories indeed had a part in the neighboring city. Shen Qian stared blankly at Shen Ma, but Shen Mu pulled out a yellowed photo from under the wine brewing jar. The photo showed a man, wearing a neat military cap with shoulder straps whose base color was sky blue, and possibly two large gold stars could be discerned. He sat upright on a chair, meticulously facing the camera. Shen Qian looked at Shen Ma with confusion. Shen Mu said, “This is your father, he’s in the neighboring city.” Shen Qian was shocked, “Then why…” Why are they here? “Because your father is a soldier, soldiers are not allowed to make mistakes,” Shen Mu laughed, “You were the result of a one-night stand between him and me.” Shen Qian felt like she was suffocating; she looked at Shen Mu, who had just removed the mask she had worn for years, silently shedding tears. Shen Qian did not know what had happened before she was twenty, but she knew it must have been something unpleasant, at least very distressing for Shen Mu, making her uncomfortable too. She hugged the frail Shen Mu, “I won’t be curious about past memories anymore.” And that matter was left unresolved for many days. But Shen Qian really wanted to see what kind of man could make her mother endure so much, giving birth to her alone? Going against morality and self-respect? Dragging her down for a lifetime? So, she left a note for Shen Mu and followed Li Meili to the neighboring city to meet this man. The note Shen Qian left for her mother was simple, with just a few lines, “I’m going to visit the man who gave me life. Mom, don’t worry, I won’t go looking for past memories, never.” Upon seeing this note, Shen Mu felt that some things could never be escaped; Shen Qian’s life was already intertwined with certain people and events in the neighboring city for a lifetime.