Chapter 2
That evening, Dad still refused to give up.
He had Auntie Sun bathe the retriever again, then moved its bed to the door of the master bedroom.
Mom had just soothed me to sleep when he came in with warm milk.
“Qiaoqiao, Niannian’s asleep now.”
“The dog has only just arrived. This is when it needs reassurance most. Let it stay in the room for a while tonight, or it’ll get anxious.”
I kept my eyes closed and pretended to sleep.
But inside, I grew colder and colder.
It had been the same in my last life.
Dad had brought Mom milk every day.
She had always been drowsy after drinking it.
Only later had I learned he was putting drugs in it.
The dose wasn’t large. Just enough to make her sleepy and slow to react.
With the retriever constantly trying to get close, Mom had had no strength to resist.
Mom took the glass but didn’t drink.
She glanced at me on the bed and said softly,
“Niannian had such a fright today. I’ll sleep with her in her room.”
Dad’s expression turned ugly.
“You’re going to disregard everything I’ve done for you because of the child? I’m your life partner. I’m the one who’ll be with you for the rest of your life!”
Mom stared at him.
“Yanchuan, that’s a harsh thing to say.”
I suddenly opened my eyes and called sleepily,
“Mommy, I want some water.”
Mom immediately put down the milk and came to pick me up.
Dad had to swallow the rest of what he’d been about to say.
I wrapped my arms around Mom’s neck and deliberately refused to let go.
“Sleep with me, Mommy.”
She kissed my forehead.
“All right.”
Dad stood beside the bed, his expression dark.
“Qiaoqiao, you used to know better than this.”
Mom’s face cooled too.
“Niannian is only five.”
“She’s frightened. What’s wrong with staying with her?”
Dad said nothing more.
As he turned to leave, the retriever suddenly darted in and lunged for Mom’s hand hanging over the side of the bed.
I was ready.
I snatched up a little blanket and wrapped it around her hand.
The retriever bit down on a corner of it.
Something flickered in Dad’s eyes.
“See? It only wants to be close to you.”
I stuck my own little foot out of the covers.
“Lick me, doggy.”
The retriever immediately let go in disgust and backed away.
I smiled.
Just as I thought.
It couldn’t swap lives by touching just anyone.
It only wanted Mom.
That night, Mom finally fell asleep.
I stayed wide awake.
I secretly set my smartwatch for kids to record.
From the balcony off the living room came Dad’s low voice and a woman’s voice, weak and shrill.
“Not today. Niannian wouldn’t stop making a fuss.”
“But the System says we have to establish close contact in the first seven days. At least half an hour every day during the forty-nine days.”
“If the target doesn’t trust the host body, the life swap will slow down.”
Dad said irritably,
“I know.”
“Just hold on. I’ve paid the hospital more. Nothing can happen to your body.”
Wen Mingwei’s tone changed.
“Yanchuan, I’m scared.”
Dad’s voice softened at once.
“Don’t be scared. Zhixia’s softhearted.”
“She’ll accept you sooner or later. She likes dogs, after all.”
I clenched my little fists.
So that was it.
Mom’s trust was the key to activating the System.
That meant I had to make Mom dislike the dog.
The more she disliked it, the better.
The next morning, Mom brought up Wen Mingwei.
“I haven’t heard from Mingwei in days. I’d like to visit her at the hospital.”
Dad was cutting his fried egg. His knife paused.
“No.”
Mom frowned.
“Why?”
“She’s in intensive care. Visitors can’t just walk in.”
“Your own health isn’t great either. Don’t go exposing yourself to illness.”
Mom fell silent.
I leaned against the dining table and looked up.
“Daddy, if Auntie Wen dies, will the doggy cry?”
All the color drained from Dad’s face.
The retriever jerked its head up at me too.
It looked as if it wanted to lunge at me and bite through my throat.
I shrank into Mom’s arms and burst into tears.
“Mommy, it’s glaring at me again!”
Mom held me close. When she looked back at the retriever, there was finally a trace of wariness in her eyes.