After Gu Jianing left, Amber fell silent.
Her pups—Hongying, Leiting, and the others—could sense that their mother seemed troubled.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Hongying, ever the attentive daughter, stepped forward and nuzzled her mother gently, her eyes filled with concern and affection.
Amber looked at them and sighed. “Have I ever told you that I was once a military dog?”
The pups shook their heads.
No, their mother had never mentioned that before.
“Mom, if you were a military dog, why are you with our human mom now? Did you retire?” Hongying asked, puzzled.
Amber shook her head. “Not exactly.”
“Something happened.”
“I haven’t told you how I met Xingxing’s mom, have I?”
“Let me tell you now…”
Though the memory wasn’t too distant—only a few years ago—for Amber, it was something she would never forget, no matter how much time passed.
“The day I met Xingxing’s mom was the day I was trapped under a boulder, about to be left behind…”
Amber slowly recounted the events of that day.
She had been pregnant with them at the time, yet she insisted on going out to save lives.
But then she was buried under a massive rock, and her human partner at the time chose to save others—and abandon her.
“Mom…”
Hearing this, Hongying and the other pups’ eyes welled up with tears.
If—if their mother had died back then, they might never have been born.
“It was Xingxing’s mom who saved me… and saved all of you, still in my belly at the time.”
“Because of that, I started thinking about retiring.”
“At first, I resented him—my partner. But later, I realized his choice wasn’t exactly wrong.”
“In the eyes of humans, dogs and people are both living beings, but they aren’t seen as equals.”
“How many people would think a dog’s life is as important as a human’s? No—it doesn’t even need to be more important, just equal would be enough.”
“I know his choice wasn’t wrong, but I was still disappointed in him.”
“I realized my mindset had changed. I wasn’t fit to be a military dog anymore.”
“So I chose to retire. I chose to stay with Xingxing’s mom.”
“Her family… they’re rare. They treat dogs and people as equals.”
“In Ningning’s eyes, I’m her friend. That’s why, when it’s time to make a decision, she doesn’t make it for us. She asks us, lets us choose for ourselves, follow our own will.”
“How could I not want to protect someone like Ningning?”
“Xingxing is the same…” As Amber spoke, Leiting suddenly remembered earlier that evening—when that man’s knife came at him, Xingxing hadn’t hesitated to throw himself in front of him to block it.
“Exactly. Because Xingxing sees you as friends, as family, he acted without a second thought.”
“But how many other people would do the same?”
“When a knife comes at you, most wouldn’t even think to use you as a shield—if they didn’t push you into harm’s way first.” Amber’s voice was heavy with emotion as she listened to Leiting talk about Xingxing’s bravery.
“But… that’s my experience. My perspective.”
“The reason I’m telling you this isn’t to stop you from becoming military dogs, or to interfere with your decision.”
“It’s so you understand the reality before making your choice.”
“If you become military dogs, you must be ready to put your lives on the line. You must put the country and its people above all else.”
“If you can accept that, then go ahead and become military dogs.”
“If you’d prefer a more peaceful, free life, then I know Xingxing’s mom, Xingxing, and Yueyue will always treat us well.”
“Alright, go think it over. Give me your answers tomorrow morning.”
After speaking, Amber turned and left, leaving her four pups to ponder her words.
Gu Jianing, standing by the window, had overheard Amber’s words and couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.
Now, the only question was—what decision would the four pups make?
There was no doubt that Hongying, Leiting, and the others were talented. Especially after taking the Intelligence-Boosting Pills she had given them, they had become even smarter.
If they chose to become military dogs, they would undoubtedly achieve great things.
Jianing had no intention of interfering with their choice.
Though initially, she had hoped Hongying and Leiting would stay as companions for Xingxing and Yueyue, she respected whatever path they chose.
Whether human or dog, dreams, aspirations, and ambitions—they all deserved support.
…
The next morning, Jianing, Amber, Xingxing, and Yueyue gathered before the four pups.
Xingxing and Yueyue had also heard about the military’s invitation for Hongying and the others to become military dogs.
So, they wanted to be the first to know their decision.
“Mom, we want to become military dogs,” the four pups finally declared in unison.
“Mom, I loved what we did last night—helping humans, catching bad guys, sniffing out danger. I loved that feeling,” Shandian was the first to speak.
As the eldest, Shandian had always been the quietest, but also the most steady and independent.
Though he hadn’t been a military dog before, last night had been like his first mission.
He loved the thrill of chasing down criminals, the rush of the hunt.
It was as if his blood burned with purpose—as if it was in his very genes.
“Mom, I know there are risks. I know we might be abandoned one day. But I’m not afraid. I don’t want to overthink it—I just want to run forward and do what I’m meant to do.” Shandian’s eyes were filled with determination.
Amber was stunned for a moment, then stepped forward and nuzzled her son’s head. “Good. Mom supports you.”
In that moment, she saw in Shandian the spirit and conviction of a true military dog.
So, she would stand by him.
Next, it was Lijian’s turn.
“Mom, I know I’m the weakest among my siblings. But I want to achieve something great. I want to be a military dog—I want to make you proud of me one day!”
“You silly child.” Amber’s voice trembled with emotion.
“Strength doesn’t matter. You’re all my children, and I love you all the same.”
Then, Leiting and Hongying stepped forward—each throwing themselves into Xingxing and Yueyue’s arms.
“Wuwu… Hongying, are you really going to be a military dog? I’ll miss you so much!” Yueyue’s eyes were red-rimmed. “But even though I’ll miss you, I support you! Hongying is a girl, just like me—but girls can be strong too, super strong!” She clenched her little fists.
Hongying nuzzled her gently. “Yueyue, I won’t be here to protect you anymore. You have to protect yourself.”
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