At the entrance of Blue Bay Park.
Renee Jennings parked her electric scooter and glanced at her watch. It was fifteen minutes until four-thirty.
She stuck her hands in her pockets and strolled leisurely.
Along the way, she saw many cats and dogs and overheard them complaining to each other about their owners. The smile on Renee Jennings's lips grew wider and wider.
A small corgi: "My owner is such a weirdo. He tries to talk like me every day."
A little bichon: "Is he as weird as my owner? He picks up my poop every day and plays with it!"
The small corgi: "Oh my god! My owner likes to play with my poop, too!"
Renee Jennings: "..."
She was bent over laughing, earning strange looks from the people out for a stroll.
Renee Jennings managed to stifle her laughter just as she met up with Zephyr Lockwood, finally suppressing her smile.
Zephyr Lockwood said politely, "Miss Jennings, hello. Thank you for making the trip."
"It's no problem," Renee Jennings said coolly. "Where's the dog?"
Zephyr Lockwood pointed to the west. "In that pavilion over there."
"Well, well, if it isn't that damn girl, Renee Jennings!" Old Hag Crawford had come to Blue Bay Park to dance, and her eyes were darting all over the place. Sure enough, she spotted someone she knew.
"Why is the man with that damn girl so old?" Old Hag Crawford muttered. Then, a thought struck her, and her eyes lit up. 'That damn girl is being kept by an old man!'
She immediately took out her phone and started recording.
Several hexagonal pavilions with upturned eaves, giving them a quaint, antique charm, were built in Blue Bay Park's recreational area.
In one of the pavilions, Renee Jennings saw a dazed Alaskan Malamute. A few people were nearby, including an old man in a wheelchair with his back to her.
The old man reached out and patted the Alaskan Malamute's large head.
Zephyr Lockwood explained, "That's Luca. The old man in the wheelchair is my father."
Renee Jennings nodded. "First, tell me about Luca's situation."
Zephyr Lockwood said in a gentle voice, "Luca has suddenly lost his appetite recently. He's lost interest in food and playing, often just lies on the floor dejectedly, and his breathing is always heavy. Sometimes, he even cries."
"He occasionally looks out the window, so we thought he wanted to go out and play."
"The first few times we took him out, he was still excited, but once we were outside, his mood would plummet."
"After that, whenever we tried to take him out, he just wouldn't go."
"We had Luca get a full physical, and the report shows he's perfectly healthy."
"Since there's nothing wrong with him physically, it must be a mental health issue."
"We then hired a psychological counselor to treat Luca, but he was completely uncooperative."
While Zephyr Lockwood spoke, Renee Jennings was observing Luca.
His ears were drooping, his eyes were dull, and his tail dragged on the ground, as if sorrow had stolen even the strength to wag it.
He had the hopeless look of someone who had given up on life.
It was the first time Renee Jennings had seen sadness made manifest in a dog.
Zephyr Lockwood was still talking.
"Luca has always had a gentle personality, but one time he actually scratched the counselor and barked furiously at my father."
"My father watched Luca grow up. Seeing him like this hurts my dad more than anyone. He can't eat, he can't sleep, and he's getting thinner by the day. I'm truly afraid he's going to fall ill."
Zephyr Lockwood's brow was tightly furrowed, and his tone was pleading. "The day before yesterday, I happened to see that you could communicate with dogs, Miss Jennings, which is why I wanted to ask you to take a look at Luca."
Renee Jennings said softly, "I'll give it a try."
"Thank you for being willing to help," Zephyr Lockwood said gratefully.
As they walked into the pavilion, Renee Jennings suddenly saw two familiar figures and raised an eyebrow slightly.
"This is Miss Jennings, whom I've specially invited. She can communicate with dogs," Zephyr Lockwood said, introducing Renee Jennings to everyone.
"Miss Jennings, we're counting on you for Luca!" Old Mr. Lockwood, in his wheelchair, looked at her with excitement.
Renee Jennings smiled faintly. "I'll do my best."
She crouched down in front of the Alaskan Malamute. "Hello, Luca. My name is Renee Jennings."
Luca ignored her.
'Another annoying therapist!'
"Uncle, are you sure she can understand dogs?" a sharp, delicate voice suddenly interjected. "I think you've been scammed!"
Renee Jennings glanced lazily to the side, her eyes falling on the girl who had spoken, and next to her, the freeloader Evan Shepherd.
Zephyr Lockwood frowned and chided, "Sharon Dawson, don't be rude!"
"Uncle, you really have been scammed!" Sharon Dawson said indignantly. "Chase and I know Renee Jennings! She can't understand dogs at all. She's just a common swindler!"
Renee Jennings: "..."
Zephyr Lockwood's expression was grim. "I witnessed Miss Jennings's ability with my own eyes."
Evan Shepherd put on a concerned expression. "Uncle, I'm afraid that was just an act to trick you."
"Uncle, don't be fooled by her," Sharon Dawson said, her tone dripping with disgust. "She's just bitter that Chase rejected her and got together with me, so she's deliberately trying to scam you out of your money!"
Renee Jennings: "..."
'This is getting more and more ridiculous.'
When Old Hag Crawford heard a man and a woman accusing Renee Jennings of being a scammer, her eyes darted, and she rushed into the pavilion, shouting, "I can vouch for that! Renee Jennings really is a scammer!"
Renee Jennings was speechless.
'Why did this woman have to join in on the fun?'
"I'm Renee Jennings's neighbor! I can't even count the number of men she's scammed on two hands!" Old Hag Crawford exclaimed excitedly. "She's best at scamming old men, you all need to be careful!"
"Uncle, you heard that, right?" Sharon Dawson said, grabbing Zephyr Lockwood's sleeve. "She can't understand dogs at all!"
"What? Understand dogs?" Old Hag Crawford said in surprise. "That's hilarious! Her family doesn't even have a dog, how could she possibly understand them!"
The hope that had just been kindled in Old Mr. Lockwood was extinguished again. An irresolvable sorrow settled between his brows, and his voice was heavy. "Zephyr, let's go home."
"Dad," Zephyr Lockwood said, not swayed by the others. He sounded resigned. "We're already here. Let's just let Miss Jennings give it a try."
"Uncle!" Sharon Dawson stomped her foot in anger. "I already told you, she's a scam—"
"Enough!" Zephyr Lockwood cut his niece off in a low voice. "I invited Miss Jennings here. If you question her, you're questioning me!"
Renee Jennings raised her eyebrows.
'So this Zephyr Lockwood isn't a fool after all.'
Sharon Dawson stared at Renee Jennings's bright, beautiful face and said through gritted teeth, "Fine! If Renee Jennings can cure Luca, I'll pay her fee!"
"If she can understand dogs and cure Luca, I'll get on my knees and call her Grandpa!" Evan Shepherd scoffed.
Old Hag Crawford also sneered, "If Renee Jennings can understand a dog talking, I'll get on my knees and let her kick me around like a ball!"
Since they were all so eager to be proven wrong, Renee Jennings wasn't about to refuse.
A smirk played on her lips. "All right. But my fee isn't cheap."
"Miss Jennings, I'm so sorry..." Zephyr Lockwood said, his face full of apology.
Renee Jennings had never said she could definitely cure Luca; he had only invited her with the mindset of giving it a shot.
"It's fine." Renee Jennings shook her head, then reached out and ruffled Luca's head. "Luca, you can tell me what's on your mind."
Luca abruptly stood up and backed away, glaring at Renee Jennings with disgust. "Go away! Annoying therapist! You don't understand my pain at all! Even if I told you, you wouldn't get it!"
With that, he flopped back onto the ground.
Sharon Dawson said mockingly, "See, Uncle? Luca's reaction is the same as before!"
Renee Jennings ignored her and spoke gently to Luca, "If you tell me what's hurting you, maybe I can help."
Luca suddenly shot to his feet and stared at Renee Jennings, his back arched like a drawn bow.