City of Exotic Beasts.

Summary

Gao Yang converses with the Heavenly Dog, who reveals his troubled past. The Heavenly Dog recounts a childhood filled with neglect and chaos, primarily due to his mother's alcoholism and unstable relationships. After his parents' separation, he was left with a mother who often abandoned him for mahjong, leaving him to fend for himself. Despite the hardships, he clings to memories of fleeting happiness, like watching cartoons and celebrating his fourth birthday, when his mother abruptly left him. This abandonment left a lasting scar, prompting him to fantasize about a different life where they were together. Ultimately, he learns to mask his pain, pretending to have a mother to avoid revealing his loneliness.

Full content