Xu Rong was furious. She immediately recognized this as the cat that had pulled her hair at the sanatorium.
“Is this your beast?”
Seeing Shang Xuci put a precious gemstone necklace around the cat’s neck, Xu Rong felt utterly humiliated.
“Watch your mouth,” Shang Xuci said coldly, not even bothering to look at her. He took a step forward, then paused meaningfully. “Instead of playing petty tricks here, you should worry more about how you’re going to host your banquet.”
Hearing that, Xu Rong’s expression brightened again. She touched her belly and smiled. “Of course I’ll make it the best. I know exactly who to invite—and who not to.”
“Good.” Shang Xuci didn’t bother speaking further and headed straight to the old man’s residence.
As he approached, he handed the cat to a young lady tending the garden to take care of.
Just as Shang Xuci stepped inside, Xu Rong followed closely behind, glaring at the cat in the maid’s arms. Hatred and disgust filled her eyes.
Damn beast.
Let’s see who’ll look after you once Shang Xuci is gone.
…
Living Room.
Shang Jue sat on a luxurious leather sofa, wearing reading glasses and looking down at his newspaper.
When he heard a knock, the butler went to open the door.
“Young Master.”
Shang Jue looked up and reached for the teacup on the table.
“Grandfather,” Shang Xuci greeted politely and walked over to him.
“Feeling better?”
“Mm.”
“I called you over to have a meal together. I haven’t seen you in a long time. You should come by now and then—don’t leave your grandfather lonely and bored.”
In the past, Shang Xuci would’ve sneered and mocked words like that. But now, his mood was calmer and more restrained. He responded absentmindedly.
That evening, when Shang Wei returned from his social engagements, the whole family sat down for dinner.
Xu Rong had changed into a loose dress and sat stiffly, looking extremely unnatural. She had switched from using her dominant right hand to holding her chopsticks with her left, and her posture looked odd.
Shang Wei noticed and asked, “What happened to your hand?”
Xu Rong stiffened and instinctively drew back her right hand slightly. She smiled and said, “It’s nothing.”
“Let me see.” Sitting to her right, Shang Wei took her hand and lifted her sleeve. Two long scratch marks on her wrist were clearly visible. He frowned. “You call this nothing? What happened to your hand?”
It definitely didn’t look like a casual or accidental scratch.
Xu Rong glanced toward Shang Xuci and hesitated before saying, “Just a little kitten… I accidentally got scratched. It was my fault—I shouldn’t have gone for a walk in the garden.”
“Kitten?” Shang Wei frowned. “I thought we didn’t have a cat in the house? A stray got in? Butler Liu, how are you taking care of Madam?”
Butler Liu immediately bowed his head in apology. “Mr. Shang, it was my fault. I was going to drive it out, but… it’s not a stray. I…”
He looked toward Shang Xuci.
“Whose is it?” Shang Wei asked angrily. “Rongrong’s pregnant now. I don’t care whose cat it is—”
“Mine,” Shang Xuci interrupted calmly, cutting him off.
All eyes turned to him.
Shang Xuci’s cold gaze fixed on Xu Rong. “Aunt Xu, did you do something to my cat?”
“My little kitten is timid—he’s a poor, lame thing that can barely walk straight and hides from people,” Shang Xuci said casually. “He only ever defends himself when she senses danger and attacks bad people. Are you sure you’re talking about my cat?”
Xu Rong’s heart sank, and she lowered her head meekly.
Shang Wei gently patted Xu Rong’s hand and said softly, “Don’t worry.”
“Housekeeper Shi, there are surveillance cameras in the garden. Go check the footage and see what really happened,” Shang Xuci said as he set down his chopsticks. His legs were crossed, posture relaxed, his tone filled with absolute trust in the little white cat.
Housekeeper Shi looked troubled and glanced at the old master.
Shang Jue ignored the ongoing drama, picking at his food with calm indifference. “It’s rare for us to have a family meal together—can’t we just eat in peace for once?”
“Shang Wei, if you’re truly worried about the baby in her belly, then call a doctor to check on her. And try coming home more often to keep her company.”
At these words, Xu Rong could clearly sense the old master’s dissatisfaction with her. She quickly lowered herself, softening her voice. “I’m fine. It was my fault. No matter whose cat it was, I shouldn’t have tried to pet it so rashly.”
“I’m not even sure if it was Xiao Ci’s cat. If it was, I apologize.” Xu Rong raised a glass of juice in a toast to Shang Xuci.
“I don’t accept it.”
The atmosphere turned tense.
Shang Wei slammed the table and shouted angrily, “Is that any way to speak to your aunt?!”
Shang Xuci replied, “Do you not understand human speech either?”
The man’s expression was cold and severe. On closer look, his sharp, commanding features bore a striking resemblance to Shang Jue’s. When his gaze swept across, Shang Wei actually felt an invisible pressure.
He almost instinctively turned to the old master, who shot him a warning look. Shang Wei clenched down on his boiling emotions.
Shang Xuci showed no regard for Xu Rong’s dignity. He made no effort to hide his disgust during the meal and was the first to leave the table.
After he left, the old master also got up and walked away.
Shang Wei’s face darkened. He snorted coldly. “That boy is completely ungrateful—he doesn’t greet anyone, doesn’t show respect. If the old master weren’t here, I’d give him a real lesson!”
In Shang Wei’s eyes, Shang Xuci was just a sickly child, an unlucky presence. So young, yet already cold and distant—he didn’t know who had taught him to be like that, but he had never liked the boy.
And now, over a cat, the boy had embarrassed him in front of everyone. Shang Wei felt utterly humiliated and tried to suppress his anger.
Xu Rong leaned against him, putting on an understanding expression. “It’s okay. As long as you care about me, that’s all that matters.”
…
Garden.
Shang Xuci was searching everywhere for the cat.
He wanted to call out the cat’s name, only to suddenly realize—he hadn’t actually given the kitten a name yet.
Just as he was about to call out the universal “Mimi,” a small puffball darted out and clung to his leg, meowing nonstop.
The kitten’s white fur stood in stark contrast against his black leather shoes. Shang Xuci picked up the cat with one hand and, upon seeing the once-white face now smeared with dirt like a patchwork cat, his serious expression melted into a soft smile.
“How did you get your face so dirty?”
“Meow meow!”
Jian Xun had been all set to tell the big boss about his heroic afternoon battle with the evil woman, but the sudden gentleness stunned him. His round eyes widened, and his little whiskers quivered.
Happiness had come too suddenly.
Lying in the cat carrier, Jian Xun relished the moment.
Shang Xuci didn’t rush home. He cut a bouquet of flowers from the garden and placed them in front of his mother’s grave.
The man stood quietly for a while, his dark phoenix eyes lowered, staring at the headstone. His hands hung still at his sides, and his breathing was as calm as a silent ocean in the dark.
Jian Xun looked at the woman’s gentle smile in the photo on the tombstone, and his nose stung.
Today was the boss’s mother’s birthday.
…
Apartment.
The cat carrier was placed by the entrance. Shang Xuci opened it, and Jian Xun spun in circles on the spot at the door, stepping gingerly.
After walking around the garden all day, his paws were a little dirty. Afraid of soiling the clean floor, he decided to clean himself first. Jian Xun began meticulously grooming his fur right there in the entryway.
Tired after a full day of play, he curled up in his cardboard box and quickly fell asleep.
Toward evening, in a drowsy haze, Jian Xun heard the sound of the door opening and footsteps carrying something. He peeked out from the box—
Wow! So many cat snacks!
There were cat biscuits in a bowl, canned food beside it, and even meat sticks.
Jian Xun swallowed hard.
Shang Xuci opened one of the cans for him.
The little white cat buried his face in the food, munching away… The boss was truly a good person!
After eating, he collapsed on the floor, his round belly facing up.
Once he had rested enough, the happy kitten turned his gaze toward the study.
The light in the study was on, and the door was left slightly ajar. Jian Xun crept over and paused at the entrance, his expression serious and conflicted.
The dim orange hallway light stretched the kitten’s shadow long and slanted across the floor. Through the crack in the door, he saw the man sitting with his back to him in a tall chair, his silhouette lonely.
This was probably a tough moment for the boss—today was his mother’s birthday.
Jian Xun had a mother too. But his mother didn’t love him.
The boss’s mother must have loved him very much. But fate was truly unfair—it took her away far too soon.
Jian Xun turned around and went to the kitchen to retrieve his hidden treasure. After pulling it out, he wagged his tail and walked back to the study door. Lifting a paw, he hesitated for a moment before nudging the door open with his body and slipping in gracefully.
A harsh, eye-stinging smell of smoke lingered in the air. Jian Xun, with his sensitive nose, immediately picked it up. He shook his head and resisted the urge to sneeze.
He dropped his gift at Shang Xuci’s feet and tapped his leg with a paw.
“Meow-awoo!”
Stop smoking—it’s bad for your health!
Just as he finished meowing—“Achoo!”
A powerful sneeze burst out before he could hold it back. His little body trembled from the force, and his back legs almost gave out beneath him.
He flopped over with the motion, twisting his body, placing his soft pink paw pads over his head, arching his back, and flashing his belly with a blink—pure, calculated cuteness.
Shang Xuci saw the cat, pinched out the cigarette between his fingers, and tossed it into the trash. But he showed no reaction to the kitten’s antics. His gaze remained cold, even indifferent.
Jian Xun was very sensitive and was almost scared stiff by the man’s indifferent look. He lay flat on the floor, afraid to move.
Only after Shang Xuci looked away did Jian Xun quietly scoot his little bottom closer to him.
He glanced around the room, trying to find a way to climb onto the desk and present his gift, but he didn’t dare take the most direct path.
The kitten looked longingly at the hem of the boss’s trousers, gave the pant leg a quick little tap, then glanced at his indoor slippers, mind racing.
How could he get up on the desk?
He craned his head back, staring up at the tabletop—so far that the back of his head was nearly touching the floor.
Shang Xuci was nearly 1.9 meters tall, with long legs. The study desk was custom-made to match his height, taller than standard desks.
That height wasn’t something a disabled kitten could reach with a single jump. He’d have to come up with another plan.
Across the room, there was a small stack of books on the floor that hadn’t been shelved yet. Jian Xun crept over with the item in his mouth, crouched by the desk, and tried to climb the books to make the jump.
Once on top of the books, he reached out a paw and measured the distance to the tabletop. He couldn’t reach—but he might be able to jump.
Sitting on the stack, the little white cat’s round eyes sparkled with determination. He gently tested the book surface for a stable foothold, shifted his weight back, and bent his one good hind leg to prepare for the leap.
With all his strength, Jian Xun sprang upward and forward. As he took off, he focused on keeping his balance, his ears adjusting slightly, his tail swinging to steer…
Jump—
But he was just a bit short. His front paws managed to grab the edge of the desk, and with a quick adjustment, he clumsily hauled up his dangling hind legs—finally making it onto the desk.
Shang Xuci was right in front of him.
Jian Xun panted heavily and looked back at the floor behind him, his eyes filled with a sense of accomplishment.
Then he looked at Shang Xuci, whose face was hidden behind the computer screen, and slowly wobbled over.
Shang Xuci was spinning a cigarette between his fingers, his expression cold and his whole body radiating a low-pressure aura.
Jian Xun swallowed nervously, mustered up his courage, and walked up to him. Pretending not to notice the boss’s expression, he kept his head low and focused on his steps.
He gently pawed at Shang Xuci’s loosely clenched fist with his soft little pads, then pushed the candy he’d been carrying into his palm.
“Meow~”
Don’t… don’t be sad. Don’t feel bad.
A piece of candy will make it better.
They’re all bad people.
They were all awful.
But I’ll stay with you, always.
The little white cat meowed softly.
His voice was low and gentle, with a hint of pitiful sweetness, as if trying to comfort and please at the same time. Shang Xuci looked at him, his deep black eyes unfathomable.
The cigarette in his hand had been pawed away, replaced with a candy—one that matched the same color as before, a “cat-and-human bonding candy.”
Shang Xuci pressed his lips into a flat line. Where did it even find this candy? Did it climb all the way up just to give him this? Who told it he had a soft spot for this kind of candy?
The gloom clouding his heart was quietly replaced by something strange and unfamiliar. Unlike the warm feeling of being depended on, this was light and fluttering, like a ray of brightness brushing away dust in a dark corner, skipping gently across the room with just the right distance.
Not annoying.
A very comfortable kind of affection.
Shang Xuci’s mood lifted suddenly. He had actually been comforted—by a kitten, and in such an unexpected way.
The man patted the cat gently and told him to wait there.
A minute later, Shang Xuci returned to his chair with a cat teaser wand gifted by an online shop—his first attempt at playing with a cat.
His movements were casual, but the kitten couldn’t help fixating on the toy. His eyes followed the motion of the wand, and his head swayed left and right in sync.
Because of the kitten’s injured leg—and the fact they were still on the desk—Shang Xuci kept his movements minimal.
Even so, Jian Xun was already happily playing.
He pounced at the fluffy white feather on the toy without a hint of discouragement.
He was determined to catch it!
The cat’s natural hunting instinct kicked in. Jian Xun crouched into position, then made a bold leap toward the toy—but his injured back leg gave out, and he slipped, flipping backward midair.
Shang Xuci reacted quickly, catching him before he hit the ground, and gently set him back on the floor.
A near miss.
“Meow-woo,” Jian Xun said.
Thank you… for catching me.
Shang Xuci gently petted his fluffy little head.
Hmm. Very nice to the touch.
The intimacy level had suddenly jumped up a lot—Jian Xun was super happy! He gave the boss’s cat-head a little hug and bounced away.
He had to find something even more fun for Shang Xuci!
Seeing that the kitten’s attention was no longer on him, Shang Xuci casually opened a file.
Jian Xun trotted out of the study, tail wagging excitedly, and wobbled over to his cardboard box. He jumped onto it, opened just one flap, and hung halfway inside with his butt sticking out as he rummaged through his treasures.
His white tail swayed back and forth in the air while his little paws shuffled and dug around inside.
A button?
Nope. That was his favorite toy.
Candy?
Nope. He was saving that to give to the boss next time.
Dried fish pillow?
Nope. He couldn’t fall asleep at night without hugging that.
Shirt?
Nope. That was a gift from the boss in the first place.
…
He pawed through his whole pile of treasures, but nothing felt right. With a little huff, Jian Xun sat down on the floor, his tail swishing in frustration.
What a poor little cat.
He had nothing!
He really wanted to give the boss something special again.
That way, he’d have another reason to play with him.
Just as he was drooping in disappointment, something caught Jian Xun’s eye. His instincts, buried deep in his bloodline, were suddenly triggered again.
Found it!
The little cat crouched low, fully focused.
A few minutes later, the fluffy white kitten marched back proudly, his steps crisp and confident, tail raised high like an antenna, swaying with pride.
“Wu!”
He stopped in front of Shang Xuci.
Shang Xuci hadn’t looked up from his computer, one hand holding a pen, the other dangling down in front of the kitten, palm open.
Jian Xun lifted his little head and carefully placed something into his palm.
Shang Xuci curled his lips into a faint smile and finally looked down.
Pfft—
A huge, fat, white moth was wriggling frantically in his hand.
Thank God my kitten never did that 😭🙏
Oh boy… I feel sorry for Shang Xuci there at the end. Thankfully my cat never did that, but I’ve seen online videos of cats bringing “treasures” to their owners.