The next evening, Lin Wan went out to throw away the trash and pick up a package.
Before leaving, she reminded Silas-the-dog—twice—to stay put and locked the door behind her.
On her way back, just as she reached the stairwell, raised voices drifted down from upstairs.
Among them was a sharp, familiar female voice.
"…This is the place! I checked it properly! It's this streamer!""She's the one with the crazy dog! It ripped Lily's wig off last time—she didn't dare go outside for days!""Today she HAS to pay! Compensation! And apologize!"
Lin Wan's heart sank.
It was one of the rival fans from before.
They were back.
And it sounded like they brought people with them.
She tightened her grip on the package, slowed her steps, and crept upward.
At the corner of her floor, she peeked out.
Her door was surrounded.
Six or seven people crowded the hallway.
The same girls from before—and two unfamiliar young men with sleazy looks, tight pants, loafers, flashy chains hanging from their necks.
One of them was kicking her security door repeatedly while swearing.
"Open up, dog-breeding b*tch!""Pay up! Emotional damages! Wig money! Lost work fees!""If you don't, we'll drag that mutt out and boil it!"
BANG! BANG!
The door shook violently.
Dust rained down.
Every neighboring door stayed shut.
No one dared to come out.
Lin Wan's hands went cold.
She was torn between rushing in or calling the police—
When suddenly—
BOOM!!!
A sound ten times louder than the kicking exploded from inside her apartment.
It was like a heavy object had slammed full-force into the door.
Everyone outside froze.
Then—
A roar erupted from within.
Low.Savage.Filled with wild fury.
This wasn't normal barking.
It sounded like a beast declaring territory.
The sound tore through the door, rattling eardrums.
"RRR—WOOUUGH—WOOF WOOF!!"
Claws scraped violently against the door.
The pounding continued.
It no longer felt like a dog was trapped behind it—
It felt like a mad wolf.
The two punks instinctively stepped back.
The leading girl forced herself to stay calm and shrieked,"What are you scared of?! It's just a dog! Let it out! Let it out and I'll—"
She never finished.
A sharp crack echoed from the lock.
The battered door finally gave way—
Opening into a wider gap.
A massive, muscle-packed dog head thrust through.
Fur bristling.Blue eyes blazing with icy violence.
Teeth bared.
Thick saliva dripping.
A living threat.
It was Silas.
But also—not.
This wasn't the sarcastic husky from livestreams.
This was pure aggression.
Pure protection.
Ten times more terrifying than before.
"AAAAH—!"
The girl closest to the door screamed and collapsed to the floor.
One of the punks grabbed a plastic baton from somewhere and swung it wildly.
"Get back! Die, you damn dog!"
The instant the baton came down—
Silas moved.
Too fast to track.
A gray-white blur exploded through the doorway.
He didn't retreat—
He surged forward.
He dodged the swing mid-air and bit down—hard—on the middle of the plastic baton.
CRACK!
It snapped in half.
The punk stared at the broken piece in his hand, mind gone blank.
Silas landed and lunged again.
His back legs fired like pistons.
He slammed into the other punk's chest—
Sending him staggering backward, crashing near the stairwell, barely stopping from tumbling down.
Silas didn't spare him a glance.
He turned.
Eyes locked onto the lead girl and the frozen group behind her.
His body lowered.
A relentless, crushing growl rolled from deep in his throat as he advanced—step by step.
This wasn't a dog anymore.
It was a pack leader, driving intruders from its territory.
"Help! The dog's insane! Run!" someone screamed.
The group finally broke.
They fled in total panic, crying, stumbling over each other, disappearing down the stairs.
All that remained—
Half a broken plastic baton.
And the sharp stench of urine in the air.
Silas didn't chase.
He stood in the middle of the hallway, chest heaving, white vapor blasting from his mouth.
He scanned the area until the threat was completely gone.
Then—
The violence drained out of him.
Fur settled.
Teeth retracted.
The killing cold in his eyes faded, replaced by deep exhaustion.
He turned.
Lin Wan stood frozen at the corner, package still in her arms, face pale, trembling.
She stared at him like he was a stranger.
What she'd just seen—
Wasn't the dog who secretly used her laptop.
Wasn't the sarcastic critic who scoffed at bad acting.
It was a real beast.
One that had unleashed everything to protect its territory.
Silas walked toward her slowly.
He stopped in front of her, lifted his head.
He wanted to get closer—hesitated—
Then gently nudged her leg with his nose.
A soft, questioning sound escaped his throat.
"…Whuff?"
Lin Wan's legs gave out.
She slid down the wall, the package falling from her hands.
She stared at his face up close.
The last traces of savagery lingered there—
But so did concern.
And something careful.
"You…" her voice shook."What you just did…"
Silas lowered his head and rubbed against her knee.
The gesture was light.
Apologetic.
Seeking approval.
Lin Wan slowly raised her hand, fingers still trembling, and touched the top of his head.
Warm.
Damp with sweat.
"Thank you," she whispered, emotions tangled."But… you were terrifying just now."
Silas stiffened slightly.
"And also…" she forced a shaky smile,"…incredible."
"Stronger than any police dog I've seen."
Silas lifted his head, blue eyes searching her face, trying to read her meaning.
Then—
Her phone vibrated.
An unfamiliar number.
Lin Wan hesitated.
Then answered.