Chapter 21 – “A Perv… Not Wearing Any Clothes…”

Ding‑a‑ling, ding‑a‑ling.

At 6:30 a.m. Li Huanhuan’s alarm blared.
Rubbing bleary eyes she crawled halfway up, yawned twice, and flopped back down.

Two minutes later the alarm rang again. She yanked the quilt over her head.

After what felt like only a few more minutes she bolted upright—nearly 7 o’clock!

“Crap!”

Leaping off the bed she startled His Majesty the Cat, who cracked one sleepy eye, turned the other way and went on snoozing.

She dashed into the bathroom, splashed water on her face, gulped a glass of water, grabbed phone and keys, and hurried across the hall to unit 150.
Keyed in the door code and slipped inside.

“Woof‑woof!”

Husky “Barbecue” was already waiting at the entry, leash in his mouth.
She clipped it on, pocketed a poop‑bag from the drawer, and hustled downstairs.

Unlike Qin Shi, she couldn’t jog a full loop round the park. Half an hour of walking and she was winded, so she unclipped the leash in a quiet field and let Barbecue sprint crazy circles. Business done, leash back on, the two headed home.

Upstairs she opened a can, checked kibble and water, then trudged back to her own flat.
Still not yet 8:30—about when she usually got up anyway.

Morning, noon and evening the routine repeated.
A week later she’d actually grown accustomed to dog‑walking; half‑hour strolls no longer wiped her out.

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That afternoon at 1:30 Qin Shi returned from an away match.
Assuming Dongfang Jiao had Barbecue out, he texted her, dropped his luggage, and jumped in the shower.

While he was under the water, Li Huanhuan came back with the dog. Not hearing the shower, she unclipped Barbecue and, as usual, carried the water dispenser toward the bathroom to clean it.

Clack. The shower shut off.

Wrapped only in a white towel around his waist, hair still dripping, Qin Shi yawned lazily, opened the door— and froze.

Li Huanhuan, holding the dog’s water tank, was walking in from the balcony.

Panic! He slammed the door and dove back inside, covering his face with the towel.

Li Huanhuan almost dropped the jug. Had she just seen… a naked man?

A pervert?!

But… the smart lock had been fine when she came in, and Barbecue hadn’t barked. That must mean the apartment’s owner—150‑neighbor—had come back early and was just out of the shower.

Embarrassed to death, she called out, voice shaking:

“Um… hello? Is that the neighbor from 150?”

“Mm.”
(Qin Shi, lowering his voice, hoping she wouldn’t recognize him.)

The voice sounded different from the one she’d heard in Jiao’s car—maybe because he was embarrassed? She quickly added:

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were home. I’ll put Barbecue’s dispenser on the balcony—you can wash it later.”

Inside, Qin Shi just grunted in agreement.

After settling the jug she headed for the door, still mortified.

“I’ll be going then. You’re… okay, right?”

“Fine,” the hoarse voice replied.

Barbecue tried to follow her out; she patted his head.

Outside, she locked the door and wondered: with the owner back, maybe she wouldn’t need to walk the dog anymore? And… had she just glimpsed abs?

The figure looked taller and leaner than the “chubby cousin” she’d met in the car…

---

In the bathroom Qin Shi waited until the outer door shut, then peeked: empty except for a disappointed husky.

He exhaled in relief—then dialed Dongfang Jiao.

Ten minutes of scolding and apology later, he understood exactly why Li Huanhuan had the keys and why she’d walked in on him.

“Should I tell her she doesn’t need to walk Barbecue anymore?” Jiao asked timidly.

Qin Shi thought of the upcoming series—which meant more travel—and glanced at the dog, who was wagging happily.

“No,” he said at last. “Ask her to keep helping.”

After all, the mutt had inherited his owner’s determination.

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And so Huanhuan’s accidental fitness program continued—while the “pervert” next door plotted the perfect moment to reveal who he really was.