During the lunch break, the guests and their pets were guided to the resort's open-air restaurant.
Lin Wan deliberately chose a secluded corner table.
She poured water for Silas-the-dog.
As for herself—
She barely touched her salad, absentmindedly pushing leaves around the plate.
Silas lay beneath the table, resting in the shade, eyes closed.
At least—
That's what it looked like.
"Excuse me… are you Miss Lin Wan?"
A gentle voice spoke from beside her.
Lin Wan looked up.
Assistant Director Chen.
Gold-rimmed glasses.Refined appearance.
He held two cups of coffee.
He extended one toward her.
"You've worked hard this morning. The footage turned out excellent."
"Have some coffee."
"Thank you."
Lin Wan accepted it politely, forcing a smile.
But the assistant director didn't leave.
Instead—
He sat down across from her.
His gaze drifted naturally toward the husky beneath the table.
And his smile deepened.
"Your husky is truly remarkable."
"Not just intelligent."
He tilted his head slightly.
"That look in his eyes…"
"…it's not something you see in ordinary pets."
A warning bell rang in Lin Wan's mind.
Outwardly, she remained calm.
"He just has a bit of personality."
She shrugged lightly.
"Maybe he's a little dumb."
"But sometimes stupidity reaches a level where it becomes cool."
"Is that so?"
Chen adjusted his glasses.
For the briefest moment—
Something sharp flashed behind the lenses.
"I once had a friend who owned a husky."
"The build… the eyes…"
"…quite similar to yours."
Under the table—
Silas's ear twitched.
Barely noticeable.
Lin Wan tightened her grip on the coffee cup.
"Huskies all look alike, don't they?"
"Blue eyes. Three forehead markings."
Chen shook his head slowly.
"No."
His tone remained mild, yet layered with quiet insistence.
"They're not the same."
"My friend's husky came from a very distant breeding kennel."
"Extremely rare bloodline."
He paused.
Then lowered his voice.
"Descended from Arctic working dogs."
"Exceptionally high intelligence."
"Outstanding obedience."
"And…"
Another pause.
"An almost instinctive tracking talent for certain rare aromatic compounds."
Lin Wan's heart skipped violently.
Aromatic compounds.
Tracking instinct.
The black notebook's words flashed through her mind:
He trusts his sense of smell above all else.
Beneath the table—
Silas's eyes were now open.
Cold.
Locked directly onto Chen.
Predatory focus.
Chen continued as if unaware.
"My friend worked in fragrance research."
"He used to joke that the dog was wasted as a pet."
"It should've been a detection dog."
"Or perhaps…"
A faint smile curved his lips.
"…a search-and-rescue dog."
The air between them thickened.
Invisible tension coiling tighter.
"Unfortunately," Chen sighed softly,
"My friend went on a long trip and had to board the dog elsewhere."
"Not long after…"
"It disappeared."
"Never found again."
He looked at Silas beneath the table.
Then back at Lin Wan.
"He was devastated."
Lin Wan forced a laugh.
"That's really unfortunate."
"But Er-Dog here is just a silly troublemaker."
"His only talents are destroying furniture and ruining my mood."
"Perhaps."
Chen rose to his feet.
But his smile didn't waver.
"Still…"
He adjusted his glasses once more.
"Fate is a curious thing."
"Sometimes…"
"…what's lost finds its way back."
"To someone who needs it."
His gaze lingered on Lin Wan.
Meaningful.
Unreadable.
Then shifted briefly to Silas.
Before he gave a polite nod.
"Enjoy your break, Miss Lin."
"Let's do well this afternoon."
He walked away.
Unhurried.
But the chill he left behind was ice-cold.
Lin Wan stared at the untouched coffee.
Her fingers had gone numb.
"To someone who needs it…"
What did that mean?
Did Silas need her?
Or—
Did Chen's "friend" need this dog?
She slowly lowered her gaze.
Silas was already looking up at her.
No laziness.
No mockery.
Only piercing clarity.
And something else.
Something heavy.
Almost sorrowful.
Silas gently nudged her leg with his nose.
Then placed one paw lightly on her shoe.
Firm.
Steady.
Silent.
Lin Wan understood instantly.
He was telling her—
Danger.
The afternoon shoot unfolded under a strange, uneasy atmosphere.
Silas behaved unusually restrained.
He completed basic commands without theatrics.
Minimal sarcasm.
Minimal rebellion.
Assistant Director Chen never approached again.
He directed from afar.
Yet Lin Wan could still feel it—
That occasional, distant gaze behind the glasses.
Watching.
Measuring.
Waiting.
As filming neared its conclusion, the final segment began:
"Heartfelt Confessions Between Pet and Owner."
The setting—
A warmly lit lawn decorated with fairy lights and tiny tents.
Soft music filled the air.
Other guests embraced their pets, delivering touching or comedic declarations of companionship.
Then—
It was Lin Wan's turn.
She lifted Silas into her arms.
Silas's body stiffened.
Barely tolerating the indignity.
They stepped before the camera.
Lights glowing softly.
Music drifting gently.
And something unseen—
Quietly tightening around them.