Shang Xuci remained silent, watching as the dirty little white kitten stared at him without blinking. Its beautiful blue eyes were clear and focused. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, “Is this for me?”
“Meow~” Yes, it’s for you. Eat up.
He had just witnessed the man dumping all his food into the trash.
Seeing that Shang Xuci hadn’t made a move, Jian Xun tilted his head in confusion. He glanced down at his little muddy paws, then awkwardly stepped on the ground a few times and shrank back slightly.
His biscuit was still sealed—very clean. He had tried one yesterday, and it tasted quite good.
The man turned and went back into his room. Not long after, he returned with a bowl filled with freeze-dried cat food.
Jian Xun was too weak to move, but he fixed his eyes on the bowl.
Shang Xuci placed it in front of him.
Jian Xun froze. “Meow?”
Is that for me?
“Eat,” Shang Xuci said, pushing the bowl a little closer.
This was the first time Jian Xun had so much food since turning into a cat. He looked up immediately, his eyes brimming with tears, gazing gratefully at Shang Xuci.
You’re such a kind and good person!
The little kitten eagerly leaned forward, trying to rub his fluffy head against the man’s hand, letting out a soft sound: “Mew~”
But before he could touch him, the man had already stepped away from the window. By the time the kitten reacted, another bowl had appeared in front of him—this one filled with cat milk.
Jian Xun hadn’t found any clean water in days. He had avoided drinking from puddles on the roadside because they were too dirty.
Now, seeing the fragrant milk, he forgot all about appearances and dunked his whole face into the bowl, drinking greedily and happily, making slurping noises—“slurp, slurp, slurp”—his tail and rear end raised high like a little puppy wagging its tail in joy.
Shang Xuci kept his distance, watching the kitten while slowly wiping the milk that had accidentally splashed onto his hand with a tissue.
The cat food and milk belonged to his cousin Shen Huan. The girl was a cat lover who often visited him at the sanatorium. When she noticed many strays around, she stocked his room with cat food and milk and would feed them whenever she came by.
Shang Xuci had never cared much for cats. To him, they were delicate and fragile creatures—not the type he liked.
This was the first time he had ever voluntarily fed a cat.
The little white kitten devoured everything like a noisy dryer at full blast, polishing off both bowls completely. Then, unable to resist, he licked his front paws clean. But when he looked up again, Shang Xuci was already gone.
To Jian Xun, Shang Xuci was now his great benefactor.
Patting his round little belly, the kitten walked away happily, tail swaying.
Today’s biggest achievement—finding Shang Xuci!
The little white cat was in quite a good mood. He headed straight for the trash can and began clumsily rummaging for useful items. An empty plastic container could be used to collect rainwater, a small cardboard box could help patch up his tattered paper nest, and a broken old umbrella could be propped up to shield his den from the rain. The best part? He found two beautiful little glass marbles!
There was no way Jian Xun, just a small kitten, could carry everything back at once. He had to make several trips to drag all his treasures home.
The last trip involved a mat—it was heavier than anything he had brought before. He staggered again and again with the mat in his mouth, his steps unsteady, but he refused to let go. With his body tilted, he squeezed through a fence, kept his eyes fixed ahead as he passed through the beautiful garden, and crossed the drainage ditch carefully without letting the mat touch the water.
It completely wore him out. Collapsing into the cardboard box, he fell fast asleep until nightfall, when a sudden startled yowl from a nearby cat woke him up.
“Oh my god! The goddess is getting adopted!”
The little white cat wobbled out of his box and struggled up onto the flowerbed ledge crowded with cats to watch the commotion.
He saw a woman crouching down to pick up a little calico kitten. Her gentle gaze blended with the warm orange glow of the streetlamp. She didn’t mind the calico’s dirty fur—she snuggled it close without hesitation, lovingly asking if it wanted to become her family and go home with her.
The calico meowed and soaked up the human’s affection, while the woman gently wrapped her in a soft, clean white towel and spoke warm promises. The calico couldn’t understand her words, but Jian Xun could—this human was giving the little calico a home.
So lucky!
The little white cat limped back into the bushes, rested his head on his paws, and stuck his butt in the air as he burrowed deeper. A few wildflower leaves brushed gently against his fur.
He wanted a home too.
But how could he get Shang Xuci to take him in?
Jian Xun went to ask the local feline boss of the area—a large tabby—and told him about the kind man who had fed him.
The tabby, who had always looked down on pampered pet cats who sucked up to humans, took the opportunity to teach the clueless kitten a lesson. He lectured earnestly: “Not all humans like cats. We’re not like those tail-wagging, fawning dogs. A cat’s life shouldn’t depend on anyone. You need to learn skills to survive on your own. What’s the point of trying to please humans?”
The little white cat drooped his head and let out a dejected meow.
Seeing the pitiful kitten, the tabby cat softened a bit—his big-brother instincts kicking in—and changed his tone.
“I heard sick humans have to take lots of bitter medicine. If you want to repay him, just give him a piece of candy.”
“But… I don’t have any money to buy candy.”
“I do,” the tabby cat said, flicking his tail.
“Can I trade you a glass marble for some candy?” He had run into the tabby earlier that afternoon while carrying his things home. The older cat had stared at his glass marbles. Jian Xun thought he was going to get bullied, but surprisingly, the big cat wasn’t hostile at all.
“Two marbles.”
Jian Xun hesitated in silence for a while, then clenched his teeth and said, “Okay.”
Those two marbles had been his treasures. He hadn’t even had time to warm them in his nest before they became someone else’s toys.
“From now on, I’ve got your back.”
Seeing how sensible the little kitten was, the tabby left, satisfied.
The little white cat crawled into an empty soda can and sulked for quite a while.
It’s fine. Once I become Shang Xuci’s cat, I can ask the big boss for more beautiful glass marbles, and tons of delicious food and fun stuff too!
…
Over the next few days, Jian Xun would go to the window of the big boss’s hospital room to watch him. Shang Xuci liked peace and quiet. He never touched or called to him, but every time Jian Xun showed up, there was always a bowl of cat food and a bowl of milk waiting.
Jian Xun was very well-behaved and never disturbed him—just happily ate his meals.
Sometimes he would invite the tabby cat he often saw to eat with him. The tabby had fully accepted Jian Xun as his little brother and would often share his life experiences and warnings about the dangers of the human world. Not all two-legged creatures were kind. There were even stories of cats being taken away and abused—tales that scared the little white cat so much he had nightmares.
One day, Jian Xun managed to climb up to the rooftop to sunbathe. Shang Xuci also stepped out of his room for a walk. Everything felt peaceful and perfect.
Until an unwelcome guest arrived.
“Well, you’re looking much better lately.”
Jian Xun instantly opened his eyes and peeked down from the roof. His round eyes widened to the max.
Is this the malicious woman from the novel? The one who comes with bad intentions?
Shang Xuci lazily lifted his eyelids, silently sizing up his stepmother. The woman in front of him was in her forties but looked barely over thirty, well-maintained, elegantly dressed, and gentle in demeanor. She was nothing like the grotesque image burned in his memory—kneeling in the flames, cursing and screaming like a madwoman.
This woman, named Xu Rong, looked delicate and gentle on the outside, but she was full of tricks. She climbed her way up from a nobody—an 18th-tier starlet—to winning Best Actress, all by relying on Shang’s father, her sugar daddy. Even though she knew he was just playing around and already had a family, she managed to hold on by being understanding, obedient, and clever—and by having a conveniently “timely” pregnancy. Eventually, she endured until the original wife passed away and successfully took her place.
Knowing that Shang’s father cared a lot about appearances, Xu Rong gradually faded from the entertainment industry and stayed home to play the role of devoted wife and mother. In the original story, she toyed with both Shang father and son like puppets.
She had “three sons” whom she schemed hard to produce: the first was stolen, the second was an idiot, and the third was fathered by her lover. She kept the truth hidden for many years, and by the time it was exposed, the Shang family was already on the verge of collapse. Shang’s father never even got the chance to know he’d been cheated on.
Xu Rong, all elegance and poise, slowly walked over to him with a perfect smile. She lifted the box in her hand and said, “Last time, I didn’t consider your taste carefully. The food I made didn’t suit you. But this time, I specially learned a few dishes from the head chef. They’re all your favorites.”
“Shang Wei isn’t here. No need to pretend.” Shang Xuci’s expression was cold and indifferent.
She had said the exact same thing in his previous life.
Xu Rong’s smile froze slightly, but she kept going. “I know you resent us, but… we had our own difficulties too.”
She sighed softly, as if she truly had some unspoken hardship.
Shang Xuci sneered inwardly, lowering his pitch-black phoenix eyes. He sat down silently on the park bench, expressionless and unresponsive.
Xu Rong grew a little awkward.
From the rooftop, Jian Xun clearly saw the woman’s fake, sweet face twitch with a trace of ferocity.
She’s about to break character.
Shang Xuci had no interest in continuing the act. He stood up, his tall figure instantly casting a shadow over her. His gaze turned sharp and icy, no longer the gentle, bookish air he usually carried—now cold and brooding.
He leaned down slightly, lips parting lightly.
“Aunt Xu, your so-called difficulties… just mean that other men’s beds weren’t too bad either, huh?”
“What did you just say?!”
Xu Rong’s eyes widened with rage. Flushed with shame and fury, she raised her hand, ready to slap him.
But before she could strike, a white blur dropped from above and landed on her head. Quick as lightning, the kitten reached out its claws and yanked at her hair with a vengeance—left and right, not forgetting to throw in some fierce “meow-meow punches.”
“Ahhh—!!” Xu Rong screamed, clutching her head in panic.
The kitten was small and not very strong, but it still hurt. Her carefully styled hair was now a total mess, like a bird’s nest, strands falling across her shoulders. Her elegant appearance was completely ruined. Furious and flustered, she shrieked, “You beast! Damn stray cat!!”
Her expression turned so vicious, she looked like she wanted to eat the cat alive. But the little kitten had already dashed behind Shang Xuci for protection.
Xu Rong frantically grabbed at her tangled hair—large clumps had come out, and there was even a hint of blood. She was livid and lunged to catch the cat—
Just then, a familiar flash sounded from behind her, making her body instantly freeze.
“If you don’t want to end up on the trending searches in utter disgrace, then get lost.”
Xu Rong’s eyes widened abruptly. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted someone behind a tree filming with their phone. She hastily pulled her clothes tighter around herself, covered her face in a panic, and fled quickly.
After she left, Shang Xuci suddenly broke into a violent coughing fit. His chest heaved with every breath, and all the color drained from his face. He looked so weak it seemed he might collapse at any moment.
Enduring the pain, Shang Xuci turned to look for the cat. The little white cat’s pale blue eyes were fixed on him, full of worry.
“I’m fine…” Shang Xuci, as if guided by instinct, reached out, wanting to pet the cat. But the kitten trembled and backed away, disappearing into the bushes without looking back.
Gone…
Shang Xuci lowered his gaze, fingers curling into a tight fist.
Maybe it’s better this way.
The man sat back down on the bench, leaned his head back, and slowly closed his eyes, trying to calm his breathing and regain composure.
“Meow~”
A soft kitten mewl broke the silence. Shang Xuci’s body tensed, and he opened his eyes.
The leaves in the flowerbed rustled quietly as they were pushed aside. A white tail swayed above them, bobbing up and down. The kitten’s paws parted the grass, and a fluffy little head poked through—its mouth holding something.
The little white cat moved in an awkward, lopsided way, struggling to walk up to him. He leapt onto the bench, tucked in his paws, and shakily extended a gray-dusted little paw.
Lying right on it—was a piece of candy.
The kitten looked up at him, head tilted, eyes sparkling brightly. With a soft little mewl in a baby voice, he said: I brought you some candy!