Chapter 287: To Stay or To Go
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After opening her pet clinic, Sun Xiaomeng had diagnosed many cats and dogs that had incurable diseases, and most of the owners would just choose to take them home—she couldn’t say they were wrong, because when humans had incurable diseases, their families might have decided to give up treatment, too.
There were a few owners that would choose to let their pets have euthanasia and save them from the pain—she couldn’t say they were wrong either, because surgeries did not necessarily succeed, especially when the pets had various cancers. Even when the cancerous tissues had been cut off, the cancer cells might transfer to other organs of the pets’ bodies at any time. Even for humans, they might not choose surgeries after they got cancer – they would just resort to expectant treatment.
In comparison, Wu Yue’s decision to let Little White receive surgery seemed more rare and precious. Little White was not a dog of a rare breed, it was just an ordinary Pekingese dog. And Wu Yue was not an extremely rich pet owner, she was just an ordinary person.
Sun Xiaomeng was afraid that Wu Yue might regret the decision she made in such a short time in the future. So, Sun Xiaomeng elaborated upon the details for her, including the risks of the surgery, the risk of getting infection, the risk of complications, and how expensive the operation and post-operation caring would be.
Wu Yue didn't say much, she just replied slowly and affirmatively. She chose surgery—when the surgery was done, Little White had the chance to survive. Without surgery, death would be the only result for Little White. She didn't want Little White to die, and didn’t even consider the option of mercy killing.
In that instant, Sun Xiaomeng felt that Wu Yue did not treat Little White as her pet. Instead, she thought of it as one of her family members, a companion in her lifetime. Whenever Sun Xiaomeng saw pet owners like Wu Yue, she felt like she had been cured and had found meaning in her profession. It's just that there were few curing pet owners like Wu Yue.
Most of the time, she would encounter pessimistic and mean pet owners who just abandoned their sick pets after they had been diagnosed with severe diseases.
Hearing this, Long Xian asked, "So, she will visit the clinic every day?"
"Yes, probably," answered Sun Xiaomeng, "At least she will come here every day until Little White has made it through the infection period after the surgery. After that, Wu Yue can pump out Little White’s urine by herself."
"I hope everything is going to be fine with Little White," Long Xian prayed for it sincerely. "Little White is lucky to have an owner that loves it so much."
"I hope every pet can encounter an owner that truly loves them." Sun Xiaomeng drank up the coffee and rinsed out her cup.
"When will the next reserved client arrive?" she asked.
Long Xian checked on the computer, "Three o’clock."
Sun Xiaomeng thought there was still some time, so she took her coat off from the hallstand and said to Long Xian, "I'm going out now and I'll be back by 3. During this period, if there are any walk-in customers, you..."
"I’ll call you," Long Xian answered before she could. "Sister Xiaomeng, are you going to the Amazing Fate Pet Shop?"
"Yes." Sun Xiaomeng took off her white gown and put on her coat.
"Ooh—" Long Xian dragged her voice on purpose.
"It's not what you are thinking." Sun Xiaomeng smiled lightly and decided not to explain.
Sun Xiaomeng flicked Long Xian's head, "No napping. No cellphone playing. I will check up on you through the monitor anytime."
"Understood, Sister Xiaomeng. Stop flicking my head. I’m not as smart as you are, what if I become more stupid by your flicking?" Long Xian covered the spot where her head had been flicked and begged for mercy.
Sun Xiaomeng left her clinic. She was wearing thick clothes today and wasn't afraid of the cold wind, but she still walked at a fast pace. In the past, she only thought Galaxy was very unusual, but now her mind was totally occupied by Richard. This African grey parrot had some kind of amazing attraction that drew her to solve the riddle.
Just like Wu Yue didn't treat Little White as a pet dog, but as a family member, Sun Xiaomeng didn't treat Richard as a pet bird, but as an intelligent creature with the ability of logical thinking.
Unlike Professor Wei Kang, she was just a veterinarian rather than a scientist or a university professor that was thinking of using Richard to make contribution for science. She just wanted to satisfy her own curiosity so badly that she even kept the secret to herself. Richard was an intelligent creature and she couldn't bear that people would treat it as another guinea pig or a specimen. As an intelligent creature, Richard had the right to stay wherever it wanted, instead of being taken away forcibly by anyone else. She could see the pet shop now, and Zhang Zian and Guo Dongyue were standing in front of the door, talking.
"Good afternoon."
She approached them and greeted them.
Because of the loud noises from the construction, they had not noticed her arrival until she began talking.
"There are no clients in my pet clinic, so I just came out for a walk." She made up a lie and did not tell them she came specifically for Richard.
She nodded towards Guo Dongyue to greet him, and Guo Dongyue returned the greeting likewise.
"How are the red-headed lovebirds doing?" she asked the question that she knew Guo Dongyue would definitely care about.
"They're doing fine." Zhang Zian stared at Sun Xiaomeng as if he had read her mind, "But I assume you didn’t come here just to ask this question, right?"
Blushing, Sun Xiaomeng apologized to Guo Dongyue and pulled Zhang Zian away.
"Why so mysterious?" he asked.
Stone-faced, Sun Xiaomeng said seriously, "What I'm about to say is no joke, please listen to me carefully."
"Okay go ahead."
"Do you know how smart Richard is?" she asked.
Zhang Zian thought about it, "Very smart, I guess."
"As smart as a human." She stressed that and said, "That's why I have a request."
"Tell me about it, and I'll consider whether I will grant your request." Zhang Zian replied calmly.
Sun Xiaomeng said in a roundabout way, "You know, your shop is under construction and it's messy and loud, so can you let Richard stay at my place during this period?"
"Your place?" Zhang Zian did not decline her request right away, instead he asked, "Do you mean your home or your clinic?"
"My clinic. It's quieter and there are no cats threatening it," she answered honestly, "Though I'm not there at night, Long Xian sleeps in the clinic in the evenings, so she can help take care of it."
"Why Richard?" Zhang Zian looked straight into her eyes, "Don't lie to me, and don't think I am an idiot."
Sun Xiaomeng became speechless.
"Because Richard is so close to me," she finally came up with a reason. "And I like it very much."
"But it's MY bird." Said Zhang Zian.
"No, it's not anyone's bird!" Sun Xiaomeng disagreed with him, "It's an independent individual, an intelligent creature!"
Zhang Zian waved his hands, "I don't like fighting with you. You know what, you say Richard has intelligence, then let it make the decision—to go with you, or to stay at my place. How about that?"
"Really?" Sun Xiaomeng could not believe he would agree so quickly.
"Really." Zhang Zian seemed extremely serious today.