Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Surprisingly, There’s Another Dog at Home
"Spare us! We won’t do it again, never again." The man in the red jacket waved his hands, begging for mercy. "Please, let me go."
Renee Jennings estimated the time; the police should be arriving soon.
She shoved the man hard to the ground, then turned to the panicked girl beside her. "Want to kick him a few times?"
Hearing this, Stella looked up at her.
Their eyes met, and a flash of surprise flickered in both their gazes.
Renee Jennings’s lips curled into a slight smile. "Don’t just stand there. Hurry up."
"Okay." Stella nodded, walked over to the man in the red jacket, and channeled all her strength into her right foot, kicking him squarely in the stomach.
Hearing his pained wail, her eyes turned cold, and she landed another kick.
Stella turned her head, her gaze fixed on the man in the printed sweater, who was curled up and rolling on the ground, clutching his arm.
"You’re next." She walked over and, without a word, kicked him twice. "Disgusting pig!"
The wail of sirens approached.
The police arrived at the scene to find two large men lying on the ground, crying out in pain, while two slender young women stood nearby.
"Alright, stop faking it." An officer squatted down and patted the two men on the shoulder. "Big, strapping guys like you, and you choose to be thugs? Get up. You’re coming with us to the station."
"Officer, we’re not faking it. It really hurts," the man in the red jacket gasped between words.
The officers had seen plenty of their type. They hauled the two men up from the ground, cuffed them, and led them to the police car.
Renee Jennings said softly, "My car is parked right over there. I’ll take her to the police station."
The officer nodded. "Okay, thanks for your trouble."
"It’s no problem." Renee Jennings looked at Stella. "Let’s go."
The officer also got into his car, thinking that Renee Jennings looked very familiar, but he couldn’t quite place her.
The red BMW drove through the night.
Bella sat on Renee’s lap, staring intently at the dapper little Bichon boy.
Stella sat rigidly in the passenger seat, holding Pippi. She turned to gaze at Renee’s beautiful profile and said softly, "Streamer, thank you for saving me."
"Don’t mention it." Renee glanced at her. "But why were you sitting there for so long?"
"I..." Stella pursed her lips, her voice muffled. "I have Pippi with me, so I didn’t dare go back to my dorm. A lot of hotels don’t allow pets, so I was just sitting there trying to figure out where to go."
Renee immediately guessed the reason. "Did you not work things out with your mother?"
"She..." Stella lowered her gaze, gave a bitter smile, and shook her head. "I don’t know what to say about her."
Renee’s fingertips tapped idly on the steering wheel. They soon arrived at the police station.
After getting out of the car and giving their statements, Stella stood with Pippi at the entrance of the police station to say goodbye to Renee.
"Streamer, thank you so, so much for today!"
Renee looked at her, her slender brows furrowing slightly. A flash of worry crossed her bright eyes. "What about you? What are your plans?"
Stella hesitated. "I’ll figure something out."
Afraid Renee would worry, she added, "Don’t worry about me."
"Alright." Renee nodded. "I’ll get going then."
Stella smiled and waved. "Goodbye, drive safe."
Renee opened the car door. Bella, who had been lying on the seat, immediately sat up. "Renee, where’s the Pippi boy?"
"He’s gone." Renee fastened her seatbelt, but a sense of unease lingered in her heart.
After driving for a short distance, she turned the steering wheel and headed back.
From afar, her headlights illuminated two lonely figures.
Renee slowed down and rolled down the window. "Stella, get in."
Pippi heard her voice, and his dark, glossy eyes lit up instantly. He yapped in delight, "It’s the streamer! The streamer is here!"
Stella turned her head to look at Renee, who had come back for her, and suddenly felt her eyes grow hot.
The car’s interior was pleasantly warm, and her frozen fingers gradually regained feeling.
"I’ll get you a hotel room." Renee pulled the car over to the side of the road and took out her phone to search for hotels.
Hearing this, Stella quickly shook her head. "No, it’s okay. I’ve already asked several hotels, and none of them allow pets."
Renee glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. "Then you can stay there by yourself."
Stella was taken aback. "But Pippi..."
Renee’s gaze fell on the fluffy Bichon. She smiled and said, "He can stay at my place for now."
At her words, the person and both dogs were stunned.
Stella said uneasily, "But that would be too much trouble for you..."
"It’s no trouble. I already have a pet at home, so one more won’t make a difference." Renee paused briefly before continuing, "I just don’t know if Pippi is willing."
Before Stella could speak, Pippi immediately yapped, "I’m willing! I’m willing!"
Bella was also very happy. "This is wonderful!"
"Pippi’s willing?" Stella asked.
Renee: "Yes."
Stella really had no idea where else to take Pippi at the moment, so she didn’t refuse again.
"Then I’ll entrust Pippi to you." She looked at Renee gratefully. "I can book the hotel myself."
She felt bad letting Renee not only take care of Pippi but also spend money to book a hotel for her.
Renee nodded. "Alright then. Let’s add each other on WeChat. Send me the hotel address, and I’ll drop you off."
"Okay, thank you," Stella said, thanking her again.
Renee dropped Stella off at the hotel entrance and went home with the two furry kids.
* * *
Rhea Dempsey woke up from a nap to find there was somehow another dog in the house.
She stared at Pippi, her brows furrowed tightly.
Bella anxiously ran circles at her feet while explaining, "Mom, don’t chase Pippi away! Renee brought him home."
Pippi kept his four paws together, sitting obediently in front of her. Imitating Bella, he yapped, "Mom, I’m a good boy. I don’t tear up the house."
Of course, Rhea Dempsey couldn’t understand what they were saying. ’This Bichon must be another unfortunate little dog,’ she thought to herself.
She sighed, consoling herself. ’Oh well. Raising one is no different than raising two.’ "Alright, little ones," she called out, "time to eat!"
Seeing this, Bella immediately told Pippi, "Mom said you can stay! She’s calling us for breakfast."
Hearing this, a delighted expression appeared on Pippi’s fluffy face. "That’s great! Mom is so nice!"
After breakfast, Bella suggested, "Pippi, let’s go play with Mom!"
"Okay!" Pippi readily agreed.
Bella went to the toy pile and picked up a red ball. "This one’s for you."
"Thanks, Bella!" Pippi was very grateful to her.
Without Bella, he probably wouldn’t have been able to fit in so quickly.
"Don’t mention it," Bella said, picking up a yellow ball for herself.
Rhea Dempsey was wearing her reading glasses and watching the news when she suddenly saw two furry kids sitting in front of her, one on her left and one on her right, each with a ball in its mouth.
Bella and Pippi yapped in unison, "Mom, we’ll play with you."
Rhea Dempsey pursed her lips, thinking to herself: ’These furry kids are such a handful. They just finished eating and now they want to play, just like little babies.’
She reached out with both hands, took the red and yellow balls, and threw them in two different directions.
Bella and Pippi transformed into swift cheetahs, instantly leaping forward.
After a few rounds, Bella trotted up to Rhea Dempsey, tongue lolling, and asked excitedly, "Mom, are you having fun?"
