In the air, a single cat hair slowly drifted down onto the pillow, gently rolling until it reached the man’s face.
The little kitten, startled into airplane ears, gave a startled “plop” and tumbled onto the bed in a round little heap.
He darted under the blanket like lightning, hiding himself completely—except for a perfectly round, chubby backside sticking out, as if hiding his head meant he couldn’t be seen.
Shang Xuci lowered his gaze to stare at the furry rump, then reached out and flicked it mercilessly. His voice held no discernible emotion.
“Back to your cat bed.”
He got up, “lifting” the kitten with precision and tossing him straight into the cat bed without missing a beat.
Then he put on his shoes, turned on the lights, and drew back the curtains. Sunlight from outside spilled onto his fair hands, and his mood brightened with it. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t had a pleasant dream in a long time—his cold expression now held a trace of softness, and the corners of his lips curved upward without him noticing.
Next, he pulled off the duvet cover, lifted the bedsheet, and picked up the cat bed—with the cat still inside—carrying it out of the bedroom.
He stuffed the bedding into the washing machine and went to the bathroom to shower.
Water splashed and flowed.
Shang Xuci closed his eyes, looking slightly relaxed and at ease.
Last night, he had fallen asleep the moment he closed his eyes. If it hadn’t been for Sui Sui, he might have slept until he woke up naturally.
…
In the living room.
Jian Xun was crouched inside a cardboard box, tugging at his own ears while staring toward the bathroom, his beautiful feline eyes filled with loneliness and regret.
Why did he have to fall asleep!
Falling asleep was one thing—but why did he have to get caught!
The little kitten drooped his head, consoling himself with the thought that Shang Xuci hadn’t scolded him.
At least… not yet.
Time to go have some kibble.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
He chewed while glancing toward the bathroom door.
Before long, Shang Xuci finished washing up and came out.
With his mouth stuffed full of kibble, the little white cat darted back into the cardboard box.
Breakfast arrived on time. Shang Xuci ate it at the dining table, and as soon as he took a long stride toward the sofa and sat down, the phone on the coffee table began to vibrate.
Just as the man reached out to answer the call, Jian Xun crept out of the cardboard box, and while Shang Xuci was distracted, climbed up behind him to the top of the sofa’s back cushion.
On the other end of the phone was a woman’s voice.
From their conversation, it seemed they were discussing Xu Rong hosting a banquet.
Jian Xun perked up his ears.
Most of the time, it was Shang Xuci listening while the woman spoke in a frenzied rush. Jian Xun didn’t catch all the details—only when the man suddenly called out the woman’s name did his eyes snap wide open.
Lin Yunsu.
Shang Ye’s biological mother.
The deranged mother who wouldn’t appear until much later in the story.
If he remembered the plot correctly, this banquet was, in name, hosted by Shang Ye for Xu Rong and Shang Wei, with the tacit approval of Old Master Shang.
The purpose was twofold: first, to let the other wealthy families and social elites know that Xu Rong had been accepted by the Shang family, debunking the rumors that she wasn’t recognized, and to set the record straight, resolving a grudge she had harbored for years. Second, it was Shang Ye’s way of congratulating Xu Rong and expressing gratitude to her and his father for raising him, now that he had successfully entered the company’s decision-making circle and begun formally working with the Shang Corporation.
It was also, in a way, an announcement.
In the original story, the “big boss” didn’t attend.
The company that should have gone to him was instead handed over to Shang Ye.
This so-called “stepson” was acknowledged by the family when Xu Rong presented a paternity test to Old Master Shang, confirming him as a member of the Shang household.
The outside world also knew that Shang Ye was Shang Wei’s illegitimate son—something everyone quietly accepted without comment.
Among the high-society ladies, no one told the old story of Shen Yanran and Shang Wei’s loving marriage anymore. After all, the wife hadn’t been dead long before the mistress moved in, bringing along a son even older than the legitimate wife’s child.
Jian Xun cast a sympathetic glance at Shang Xuci.
Because the big boss didn’t attend the banquet, he ended up getting cuckolded.
His fiancée, Jiang Yuanqing, grew increasingly ambiguous with Shang Ye, and after accidentally being drugged one night, she stumbled into her fiancé’s older brother’s room—and the two ended up in bed together.
The playboy Shang Ye, who loved to toy with women’s feelings, developed genuine affection afterward. That one night left him craving more, and he began pursuing her in earnest, eventually turning over a new leaf and winning the beauty in the end.
From that night on, Jiang Yuanqing’s heart belonged entirely to Shang Ye.
What was worse, after the vicious fiancée was caught cheating, she—knowing that Shang Xuci had long since blackened and would never spare her—decided to go down swinging. She publicly cursed and slandered him in front of others, mocking him for being wheelchair-bound and disabled.
It could be said that half of the “scandals” surrounding the big boss originated from his own fiancée.
Jian Xun clenched his little paws. He had to stop all of this.
First, he had to make sure Shang Xuci attended the banquet. That part was already taken care of—the big boss had agreed, though Jian Xun didn’t know why he’d changed his mind.
Next, he needed to make sure the big boss took him along.
Hmm… not very likely. He’d probably have to sneak there himself.
Jian Xun was already mapping out his escape route.
For the next two days, he barely slept, worried that the big boss would find out and lock him in the house.
The little white cat crouched on the balcony. He could escape from here, but finding the big boss’s car and sneaking inside wouldn’t be easy. After thinking it over, Jian Xun finally set his sights on the bag Shang Xuci would be putting in the car.
Since he was going to a banquet, as the big boss’s cat, he had to look his best. Jian Xun decided to wear the cat outfit Shen Huan had given him—it was just the thing to cover up his bald backside!
The day before, he had dragged his necklace box out of the cardboard box, scampered over to Shang Xuci, and placed it on the desk, nudging it forward with his front paws.
“Meow.”
He patted the necklace box—his intention crystal clear.
Shang Xuci sat upright, eyes fixed on the video conference on his computer. His thin lips spilled a few fluent sentences of English before he wrapped up his remarks and clicked the mouse to end the meeting.
He didn’t open the necklace box right away. Instead, he pulled a cat hairbrush from the drawer and began brushing the kitten’s fur, deliberately avoiding the bald spot on his backside, knowing Sui Sui was sensitive about it.
The kitten cooperated beautifully. When the grooming was done, he was dressed in his little cat outfit and adorned with the green emerald necklace, exuding an instant air of nobility.
The lion cat sat there quietly like a refined young gentleman. Though still small in stature, one could glimpse the imposing presence he would grow into.
Even Shang Xuci couldn’t resist pulling out his phone to snap a few photos.
…
At the Shang family banquet.
Jian Xun had successfully stowed away in the car and arrived at the event without a hitch.
Unfortunately, the moment he got out of the car, he was spotted by Shang Xuci.
“Sui Sui?” Shang Xuci’s brows knit slightly. “Why did you come along?”
The little white cat stared at him with wide, round eyes, not making a sound.
Glancing at the time, Shang Xuci scooped him up and cradled him in his arms.
“Forget it.”
He carried the cat into the Shang estate, casually opened a room, and placed him inside.
“Stay here quietly. I’ll come get you when it’s over.”
After closing the door, Shang Xuci headed toward where the old master lived.
Shang Jue was trimming and watering the potted plants in the courtyard. Without looking up at the sound of footsteps, he said, “You’re here.”
“What did you call me over for, Grandpa?”
“I remember today is your mother’s birthday?”
Shang Xuci replied coolly, “Grandpa remembers, but some people seem to have forgotten.”
His tone was flat, devoid of any emotion.
Shang Jue sighed, lifting his head to look at his grandson.
“Shang Wei, that boy, just isn’t right in the head—forgetful, too. Don’t take it to heart.”
Shang Xuci’s lips curved into a mocking smile. Shang Wei’s head really wasn’t right—aside from his own birthday, he couldn’t remember anyone else’s.
“I asked you here today to talk about Xu Rong,” Shang Jue continued. “You’ve seen for yourself—she may not have made great contributions to our family, but she’s worked hard. The fact that you were willing to attend her banquet makes me very happy.”
He paused before going on.
“She’s looking out for her son’s future, and I can understand that. But in my heart, you’re still the most suitable choice. After you graduate, come to work for the company.”
Jian Xun didn’t know how the plot had shifted—because in the previous life, the old master had said nothing of the sort. Even in his final days, when he was lying in a hospital bed, he had called Shang Xuci a mad dog—cruel to his family, ruthless in cutting off every possible escape route.
But what family did Shang Xuci have left? After his grandmother’s death, he was alone in the world.
Shang Xuci was genuinely surprised by the old master’s change of heart. Whether it was born of guilt or something else, anything that belonged to him—he would hold on to it tightly. Even if he didn’t want it, he would take it, only to destroy it with his own hands later.
His decisions would be his to make.
The morning sun gradually rose. In the grand villa of the Shang estate, the living room bustled with preparations—glasses clinking, chefs and waiters moving about to ready the space for the incoming guests.
Xu Rong was still in the dressing room, putting on her makeup. She was the star of the day and had prepared three different outfits. Her brows and eyes were curved in a gentle smile, her demeanor soft, her whole being radiating happiness.
She had been waiting for this day for far too long.
At last, with a final touch of fiery red lipstick, a mature and elegant beauty emerged. She gave herself a confident smile in the mirror, then walked gracefully out of the dressing room to begin greeting the female guests.
All these women were offering congratulations and praise. Among them were several wealthy ladies who had once looked down on her—yet here they were now, fawning over her. Xu Rong felt a surge of satisfaction and pride, her hand unconsciously moving to touch her belly.
The gesture immediately caught the attention of the female guests, who asked if she was expecting again. Their eyes brimmed with both jealousy and envy.
No wonder the Shang family was suddenly willing to host a banquet for her.
…
Meanwhile, Jian Xun was locked in a room. He made a circuit around it, confirming that the only way out was through the door.
A clock hung on the wall—by the look of it, the official start time hadn’t arrived yet. He wasn’t certain exactly when Jiang Yuanqing and Shang Ye’s little incident was supposed to happen, but to be safe, the earlier he started keeping watch, the better. Judging by the room, no one was likely to come by, so he’d have to find a way out himself.
Calm down, Jian Xun.
The little white cat sat on the floor, carefully studying the doorknob. He remembered when Shang Xuci had carried him in, the man had simply pressed down on the handle and opened the door—it wasn’t one of those old-fashioned knobs you had to twist all the way around.
He padded quietly over to the door, tail swaying. Then he rose onto his hind legs and reached up with his front paws toward the handle.
He was just a little too short. Stretching up on tiptoe didn’t help… still couldn’t reach.
Dropping back to the floor, the cat picked up a pillow from the bed and dragged it over in front of the door. Stepping onto it, he hooked his front paws onto the underside of the handle, then began gently pushing or pulling, adjusting his posture again and again to find the right direction and force. At last, with a firm pull, the handle turned—and the door slowly creaked open, leaving a narrow gap.
Sui Sui, you really are one clever little cat!
Pride written all over his face, Jian Xun dropped back to all fours, carried the pillow back to the bed, then returned to the doorway. Peeking his fluffy head out to check both sides of the hall and finding it empty, he withdrew, then stepped out with a graceful feline gait, tail held high in triumph.
The house was huge, and he got a bit lost. Circling through the garden paths, his once-pristine white paws picked up bits of dirt. Finding them a little grimy, he stepped lightly on a few leaves to shake some of it off, deciding he would lick them clean only after finding his target.
Before long, Jian Xun reached the living room.
The hall was gradually filling with guests.
Jian Xun wasn’t sure which part of the program they had reached when a sudden wave of surprised gasps and cheers rippled through the crowd. Stretching his neck, he still couldn’t see what was going on, so he leapt onto a tall stool—and there they were: Jiang Yuanqing and Shang Ye, dancing the opening waltz!
He quickly began scanning the room for Shang Xuci.
His gaze swept around and around, but he couldn’t spot the man anywhere—the crowd was too thick, blocking his view. Hopping back down, he slipped through the throng like a fish in water, weaving between the female guests. Many of them wore extravagant gowns, their wide skirts providing perfect cover to keep him from being noticed.
After making a full circuit, he still couldn’t find Shang Xuci. Stopping in place, he began licking his fur.
Nearby, the voices of several women drifted over.
“Isn’t Jiang Yuanqing engaged to the younger master of the Shang family? Why’s she dancing with the elder one instead of her fiancé?” one woman said offhandedly.
“Oh, you don’t know? The second young master has been frail and sickly since childhood—and they say he brings bad luck to those around him. Being his fiancée is nothing special. You can still divorce after marriage, so what’s a dance?”
“That’s true. And Shang Ye is handsome, already working in the family business. I hear this banquet is more than just for Madam Xu’s sake.”
“Do you think the second young master will come? I’ve looked around and haven’t seen him.”
“He’s probably lying in some hospital bed, haha. Poor thing.” The woman’s tone dripped with schadenfreude. She had once pursued Shang Xuci at school only to be coldly rejected, and now that she had the chance to mock him, she wasn’t going to let it slip away. “He’s out of favor—moved out of the Shang estate, probably broke.”
“Now that Madam Xu’s been accepted by the family and is carrying a child, of course the second young master—without a mother and unloved by his father—will be at a disadvantage. Wouldn’t be surprised if even his share of the inheritance gets taken away. Just bad luck for him.”
“Exactly. If I were Jiang Yuanqing, I’d also find someone better.”
Every cutting remark about Shang Xuci reached Jian Xun’s ears loud and clear.
He was furious!
Why—why did the big boss have to endure this kind of gossip and contempt when he had done nothing wrong?!
They were all awful people.
The women kept on gossiping, but Jian Xun couldn’t listen anymore.
He had always thought wealthy young ladies would be well-mannered, but clearly these ones weren’t. Their snide remarks went on and on.
Jian Xun extended his wicked, dirty little paws—time for revenge!
The little white cat crept up silently behind one of the women, sharp eyes locking onto his target. Then, all of a sudden, he leapt, planting his muddy paws right on the hem of her gown.
Step!
Step. Step. Step!!
That’s what you get for talking bad about the big boss!