Jian Xun stared blankly at the empty room for a moment. His beautiful sapphire-blue cat eyes blinked, then he quickly dashed off to check the kitchen, bathroom, and balcony.
Nothing!
Nothing!!
Absolutely nothing!!!
Everything was gone!
His little cat mat.
His cardboard box.
His tiny buttons.
The shirt he could only sleep with in his arms.
All of it!
Everything had disappeared!
The little cat looked up and stared accusingly at Shang Xuci, full of grievance.
Shang Xuci suddenly felt a pang of guilt. He had thrown away everything related to the cat, not knowing that just two days later he’d end up bringing him back again.
Hurriedly, Shang Xuci went to the storage room to find a new cardboard box for the cat.
Jian Xun sat on the floor of the balcony, staring at the clothes the big boss had hung out to dry, thinking about how he could pull them down.
The height made him give up. Instead, he found that shirt in the bathroom pocket, happily dragged it out with his mouth. But the shirt was too big, so the little cat stumbled and staggered as he walked. When Shang Xuci saw this, the kitten tripped and fell flat on his back, legs up in the air.
Shang Xuci was surprised—why was he dragging his shirt?
He walked over and picked up the shirt.
The cat clung to his leg, round eyes staring up at him, pitifully meowing. Taking advantage of Shang Xuci’s daze, he tentatively reached out a paw to hook the shirt back.
This was his.
Wasn’t it already given to him?
Seizing back the shirt, Jian Xun lifted his head and, holding it tightly in his mouth, dashed to the living room. His eyes lit up when he saw a cardboard box and he almost jumped for joy—until he got closer and realized it was a new one. He hesitated for a moment, then tossed the shirt inside.
Then he turned to Shang Xuci and let out an unhappy meow.
How could you throw away all my stuff!
“Meow—!”
Just look at yourself! Is this okay? You even hid the shirt you gave me. So stingy!
Jian Xun jumped onto the box and let out a series of fierce meows, his little expression full of righteous anger.
Clearly, the little cat had his own thoughts. Knowing that Shang Xuci had sent him away and then brought him back again, he was using that bit of guilt in the man’s heart to throw a tiny tantrum.
He could live with the food bowl being gone.
He could even accept the litter box being missing.
He could tolerate the loss of his mat.
But!
The cardboard box was his one and only treasure. He slept in it every day and had stashed inside some little trinkets that Shang Xuci didn’t want. It was full of his own scent—a cozy, safe little den that brought a cat so much comfort. And now it had been heartlessly thrown away.
Shang Xuci watched the little cat widen his eyes and meow over and over. He couldn’t understand exactly what was being said, but he could guess the general idea.
“Don’t be mad,” Shang Xuci tried to soothe the kitten, gently stroking his fur. “How about I give you this shirt too?”
It wasn’t until the cat started dragging his shirt into the box that he remembered—on the first day he brought the cat home, he had placed the same style of shirt in the box for him. He didn’t know why the kitten had such a fondness for his clothes, but he generously gave it to him now as compensation.
Jian Xun, however, didn’t appreciate the gesture. He was still angry.
He coldly lifted a paw and pushed the man away, then turned his back and sat facing away, clearly expressing his dissatisfaction.
Staring at the kitten’s indifferent back, Shang Xuci hesitated, then gently hooked the tip of the cat’s tail with his finger.
When had the big boss ever lowered himself like this? Jian Xun turned his head away and ignored him—but he didn’t swat his hand away with his tail either.
Shang Xuci sat on the sofa and pulled out his tablet to reorder all the cat supplies. He even made a point of choosing a smart litter box.
After placing the full order, he relaxed into the couch.
At some point, the little white cat crawled out of the cardboard box. He walked over to Shang Xuci, raised a paw to check that his pads were clean, then hopped up onto the sofa and lay down beside the man.
His tail trembled slightly as it tentatively brushed against Shang Xuci’s arm. He let out two soft meows.
Shang Xuci, holding a book, lowered his head when he heard the meows.
Thinking the cat might be unwell, he carefully checked the little guy’s body. Xiao Yuan had said the cat hadn’t had much of an appetite and had mentioned the bandage on his hind leg. He decided to give him a quick once-over.
He scanned him from head to paw, then turned him over to check his belly. There were no visible wounds, but when he gently pressed the soft belly—grrrrumble—a loud, hollow sound came from it.
Jian Xun immediately covered his eyes with his paws.
So… so embarrassing.
Don’t go pressing someone’s belly like that!
The little white cat let out a series of soft, embarrassed whimpers.
Jian Xun had no idea just how blissful his expression looked at that moment—he was practically purring and steaming with pleasure.
The big boss was actually petting him!
And not just a little—from head to tail.
Hmph! Before, when I rolled over and showed you my belly, you ignored it. Now you finally realize how soft and comfy a cat’s tummy is, huh?
Jian Xun hadn’t finished basking in the joy when those long, slender fingers slid down from his soft belly… and landed somewhere else.
“Is it a male?” Shang Xuci gently touched the spot. He had never interacted with cats before—or any small animals, really—so when he found himself poking around an unfamiliar area, he relied on instinct and guessed aloud.
Then he gave it a little squeeze.
The kitten instantly broke free and leapt into the air, landing belly-up with all four paws flailing like a startled fish. He scooted backward in a panic, tail clamping over his balls, fur puffed out in full alarm, eyes wide with shock and rage as he let out an outraged flurry of meows.
Pervert!!
He… he actually…
He actually squeezed the kitten’s balls!!
Shang Xuci froze at the dramatic reaction. Once he registered what had happened, he quickly apologized, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
“Meow meow meow!!”
Jian Xun turned his back on him, his whole posture oozing sulky indignation.
But unfortunately, his tummy started growling again—completely betraying his dramatic exit.
The cat food hadn’t arrived yet, but there was still some kitten milk in the kitchen. Shang Xuci remembered what Xiao Yuan had said and decided to pour some milk to see if the little guy would drink it. He could wait until the day after tomorrow, when Gu Ming was back, to take the kitten in for a check-up.
There were also still some of the kitten’s meds at home. First, he needed to change the bandage on its leg.
The little white cat sensed the man’s gentle care. With his back leaning against Shang Xuci, he sat upright on the sofa like a tiny human. He tilted his chin up slightly and leaned against the man’s chest, licking his paw with a hint of quiet trust.
“Meow…”
Still not used to the kitten’s sudden affection, Shang Xuci froze. Feeling the soft body pressed against his arm and hearing its pitiful little whines, he lowered his voice and went to pour some milk into a clean bowl.
“You hungry? Here, have a little milk.”
Jian Xun made a determined effort not to look at the milk.
Don’t… don’t think you can buy me off with a little bit of milk.
He refused to look, but the rich, fragrant scent wafting through the air was hard to resist. The cat’s nose twitched slightly, and Jian Xun couldn’t help but take a few extra sniffs.
Mmm… smells so good~
Shang Xuci noticed that the little white cat’s eyes were practically glued to the bowl, his mouth slightly smacking, even as he tried to put on a defiant expression. Shang Xuci picked up the bowl and held it in front of his face.
I won’t drink it!
Don’t think that just because you’re feeding me milk, I’ll forgive you for violating my feline privacy!
You villain!
That hand inched even closer.
It really smells amazing…
Just one lick.
Yes, just one lick!
Lick, slurp. Lick, slurp.
One lick turned into another. Lick, slurp, lick. Jian Xun had completely forgotten his “grudge” and was now fully focused on lapping up the milk.
It was so good.
Jian Xun’s resistance collapsed!
He buried his face in the bowl, drinking with enthusiasm—and harboring a little secret agenda too. His two front paws gently rested on the big boss’s arm, hugging it lightly, as he drank contentedly. His soft pink paw pads flexed in and out, and his ears twitched forward and back in delight.
Affection level up! Food acquired!
Absolutely worth it.
Seeing the little white cat about to dunk his entire head into the bowl, Shang Xuci gently grabbed him by the scruff to adjust his posture and placed the bowl on the floor instead.
The kitten looked up in confusion. As he licked the milk off his lips, a drop of milk hanging from his whiskers slid down and landed on Shang Xuci’s hand. The man pulled a tissue to wipe the kitten’s mouth, then another to clean his own hand.
“Drink slower.”
Jian Xun kept slurping away and watched the man walk into the bathroom.
…
The next day, Jian Xun’s cat supplies arrived. The seller had even included some free toys. Combined with the ones Xiao Yuan had given him, his cardboard box finally started to feel complete.
Jian Xun spent the whole day gathering things from around the apartment—anything that the big boss might not want, plus some random stuff Shen Huan had bought last time.
After a full day of running around, Jian Xun curled up in his recreated cardboard box with a dried fish plushie as a pillow and fell into a deep, cozy sleep.
Just like that, another day passed.
As the sun rose again, Shang Xuci took the little white cat to the vet.
Gu Ming gave him a check-up as well while they were there.
Shang Xuci sat with the little white cat in front of Gu Ming. The doctor held two examination reports—one for the man and one for the cat—and smiled. “Nothing serious.”
He pointed to the kitten and said, “Change the dressing on time, and make sure he gets vaccinated.”
Then he looked at Shang Xuci. “Just like you said—your health isn’t too bad, just a bit weak. With some proper care and rest, you’ll be fine. You can start by jogging to build up your strength.”
Shang Xuci nodded. In his previous life, he had kept up with fitness and had always maintained a good physique. He had never looked frail or sickly later on.
“This well-behaved kitty—are you planning to adopt him?”
“I am.”
Gu Ming raised an eyebrow, not the least bit surprised. “Got a name yet?”
“Not yet.” Shang Xuci calmly stared at the hand Gu Ming was using to scratch the kitten’s chin and replied in a low voice, “I’ll let you know once I’ve decided.”
Then he scooped the cat up and put him back into the pet carrier.
Jian Xun, in the middle of enjoying the chin rub: ??
They spent the entire morning at the vet. As soon as they stepped out of the hospital, Shang Xuci received a message from his father, Shang Wei, insisting he return to the ancestral estate today to see the old master.
The Emerald Estate.
The hedges on both sides of the path were trimmed with meticulous care, shaped into clever animal forms by the estate’s skilled gardener.
The garden was in full bloom, especially with roses and floribunda. Sunlight filtered through a thin veil of clouds, casting a vibrant glow across the meticulously nurtured foliage and petals.
The air was thick with the scent of flowers, attracting bees and butterflies that fluttered joyfully among the blossoms.
Shang Xuci walked along the winding path, carrying the pet carrier, completely unaware that the dazzling array of flowers was nearly too much for the cat inside.
Jian Xun, who had been quietly nestled in the carrier, was now staring wide-eyed at the vast, colorful sea of flowers. His warm little paws flexed restlessly—he was itching to get out.
“Meow!” Jian Xun called out from inside the carrier with a high-pitched mewl.
Let me out!
The once-quiet carrier was now squirming from the inside. Shang Xuci reached the ornate fountain at the center of the garden and looked up toward a nearby pavilion, where Xu Rong was chatting and laughing with others. Then he opened the carrier and let the cat out.
“Play here, but don’t run off—understand?”
Jian Xun began bouncing on his paws in place, barely able to contain his excitement. With a happy meow, he pounced after a butterfly.
Without even glancing back, Shang Xuci continued walking down the path toward the end of the garden.
Xu Rong sat in a traditionally styled pavilion, holding a cup of floral tea and chatting idly with her group of ladies. Among them, she held the highest status, and naturally, the others fawned over her. The smile at the corner of her lips never faded—until she caught sight of Shang Xuci walking in this direction. Her smile froze.
She picked up a fresh cup of tea and stood up to greet him.
Today, her makeup was elegantly understated, and she wore a silk mermaid-style dress in a vivid emerald green. It highlighted her curves perfectly and subtly accentuated the slight swell of her belly.
Perhaps because of the pregnancy, she had opted not to wear her beloved high heels.
“Xuci, you’re here. It’s so hot today—come sit in the shade.”
This path led directly toward the old master’s residence. Shang Xuci had taken it specifically to avoid having to drive straight to the house and deal with the annoying Shang family members. But even here, it seemed he couldn’t avoid them.
“Don’t call me that so intimately.”
It disgusted him.
Shang Xuci glanced indifferently at her exaggerated hand-on-belly gesture and was about to leave when his gaze paused on the gemstone necklace around her neck.
His brows furrowed slightly, lips pressed into a thin line. He stared at the woman, whose face was glowing with smug satisfaction, and sneered coldly, “You really do love taking what belongs to others.”
Xu Rong didn’t understand what he meant, and she had no intention of humoring him. She let out a coquettish laugh and said, “What are you talking about? Your father and I are legally married. I’m part of this family, and naturally, I’m the mistress of this household.”
Xu Rong had entered the picture early on, but had always been kept elsewhere. Even after she got the marriage certificate, she was never allowed to live in the Shang ancestral home. Only after getting pregnant again did the old master finally relent and let her move in. Of course, she had to make a show of it.
Just look—this courtyard that once belonged to Shen Yanran was now hers.
The woman smiled provocatively, her face full of smugness. One hand rested on her belly, radiating confidence and entitlement.
She used to bully Shang Xuci in secret when he was little, and now that he was grown, wasn’t he still under her thumb? All of the Shang family’s money had to go through her hands before he got any allowance. When the boy had stubbornly refused to take money—perfect. With no money, what could he possibly do?
After reaching adulthood, Shang Xuci had never returned to the Shang household nor accepted a single cent from them. He had relied entirely on himself during those early years, living frugally.
But that was the old Shang Xuci—the proud and defiant young man from before.
He wasn’t that person anymore.
Shang Xuci directly used the inheritance left to him by his maternal grandfather to acquire a company that, in his previous life, had become a top-tier enterprise under his leadership. To him, money was just a number.
He couldn’t tell whether Xu Rong was pretending to be clueless or had truly become foolish after getting pregnant. His expression was cold and flat as he extended his hand:
“Ms. Xu Rong, try to have some self-respect.”
His thin lips parted slightly as he sneered, “The gemstone necklace around your neck belonged to my mother.”
“What’s the matter? Is Shang Wei so broke now he can’t even buy you jewelry? Or is it that once someone becomes cheap enough, they start coveting what belongs to others?”
Shang Xuci showed no mercy, his words a direct insult aimed at them both.
Xu Rong’s expression faltered, her hand instinctively flying up to cover the necklace. Only then did she realize what he had meant from the beginning when he spoke of “someone else’s.”
Her face gradually turned ugly. She hadn’t expected Shang Xuci to show up today. Some of her girlfriends had come by to help her choose flowers for an upcoming banquet, and she had deliberately snuck into Shen Yanran’s room to steal the necklace. Then, in front of them, she had casually shown it off—pretending it was a gift from her husband.
Anyone with ties to the Shang family’s business would immediately recognize that this billion-yuan gemstone necklace was a token of love from Shang Wei to his original wife, the heiress of the Shen family. It was also a symbol of the rightful matriarch of the Shang household.
At first, Xu Rong hadn’t known this. Though she had made good money as an actress and had seen the upper class up close, she wasn’t truly part of that world. The wives of other elite businessmen had always looked down on her.
Just a pretty face, a second-rate actress with no class—nothing compared to Shen Yanran. The only advantages Xu Rong had were her tricks in bed and a fertile womb.
Xu Rong had tried every trick in the book—coyness, flattery, manipulation—to get Shang Wei to give her Shen Yanran’s jewelry. Shang Wei agreed to let her take anything except that particular necklace. If the old master saw it, he’d be furious. The Shen family wouldn’t take it lightly either. It wasn’t just a valuable gemstone—it was a gift from one of the most prestigious aristocrats overseas to Shen Yanran, a symbol of true upper-class connections.
It’s no exaggeration to say that, if the Shang family were ever in crisis, this necklace alone could turn things around. Knowing that, Shang Wei shamelessly spread the story that it had been a gift from him to Shen Yanran, since very few people knew the truth.
Shang Xuci was one of them.
Furious and flustered, Xu Rong yanked the necklace off and angrily threw it into his hand.
Shang Xuci grabbed her wrist and said coldly, “Ms. Xu, be careful. If this gemstone suffers even the slightest damage, you couldn’t repay it even if you acted for ten lifetimes.”
“Ah! It hurts!!! Let go of me!” Xu Rong screamed, her wrist aching like it was being crushed. She hadn’t expected this so-called sickly man to have such strength. She flailed and yelled, trying to break free.
Meanwhile, Jian Xun, who had been in the garden chasing butterflies, was tired and ready to rest. But upon hearing the woman’s voice, he immediately rushed over—only to see Xu Rong bullying the boss again from a distance!
What a wicked woman!
Boss, don’t be scared—kitty’s here to save you!
Jian Xun darted over at lightning speed. This time, he didn’t have the perfect sneak-attack angle like last time, but he still ran straight in and hissed fiercely in warning.
Bad woman, stay away from the boss!
Shang Xuci looked down at the little kitten, who had arched its back, fur bristling, baring its claws. He released his grip, casually wiped his hand with a tissue, and effortlessly scooped up the kitten.
Then, right in front of Xu Rong, he calmly fastened the priceless gemstone necklace around the neck of the flower-faced white kitten.
Jian Xun tilted his head: Meow meow?
Jiji el joven amo si que sabe humillar