The brakes didn’t stop in time, and he bumped straight into the back of Shang Xuci’s heel.
The little cat clutched his head.
“Meow—ow.”
Ouch, ouch, ouch—it hurts so bad!
Seeing Sui Sui suddenly dart out, standing upright with his front paws covering his head, Shang Xuci set the plate down on the table. He lifted the little cat, who had buried his face, and asked, “What’s the rush?”
“Meow meow meow.”
My dried fish!
The little white cat flailed all four legs in the air, wildly protesting.
“Meow meow meow meooow!!!!”
Jian Xun licked his lips, lifted his head, and meowed with utmost seriousness—an entire passionate speech that Shang Xuci didn’t understand a single word of.
He put the cat back down and walked over to the storage cabinet.
Jian Xun hopped onto a chair, his two front paws gripping the edge of the table, eyes locked on his dried fish.
One piece of dried fish.
Two pieces of dried fish.
Three pieces of dried fish.
Four pieces of dried fish.
Five pieces of dried fish.
All accounted for!
After finishing the count, Jian Xun heard noises over by the cabinet. He glanced longingly at his dish one last time, then hopped down and shoved the trash bin under the table.
Heh. This way, the big boss won’t throw out my dried fish!
Having pulled off his little scheme, Jian Xun saw Shang Xuci walking back. He quickly ducked his head, pretended to lick the fur on his chest, then sneakily peeked at the bag in Shang Xuci’s hand. What was inside?
Shang Xuci opened the package, and an unusual fragrance instantly overwhelmed the little cat’s taste buds. His eyes went wide in disbelief, neck craning to see.
Wearing gloves, Shang Xuci poured a small portion of sardine cat treats into the dish.
“Do you want to eat this?”
Jian Xun swallowed, hesitating.
This brand was the one Shen Huan had recommended—the kitten should like it.
But he didn’t move.
…
Shang Xuci had no idea what Sui Sui was thinking. From the little cat’s actions, it was obvious he really wanted to eat. His expression was hilarious—tangled up between temptation and pride.
He set the dish beside the cat bowl and went into the study.
The moment he left, Jian Xun tiptoed over in tiny cat steps and began nibbling at the food.
Hmph! He wasn’t giving in! He was just being considerate—can’t waste food, right?
In the study, watching the monitor as the kitten ate so earnestly, the corners of Shang Xuci’s lips slowly lifted.
He spent the whole afternoon in the study. The kitten never came in. Later, when he went to the bedroom to fetch a jacket, he found a piece of candy on the desk.
Meanwhile, Sui Sui was curled up asleep in the capsule pod of the cat tree.
After observing all day, Shang Xuci noticed something unusual about the kitten’s behavior.
That night, after showering, Shang Xuci walked into the living room and said, “Sui Sui, do you want to sleep in the bedroom tonight?”
The little white cat froze, then turned his head away with feigned disinterest. Paws moving stiffly in unison, he crawled into the cardboard box.
Tch. First you banned me from the bedroom, and now you suddenly invite me? Do you think you can cuddle a cat just because you want to?!!
Jian Xun scoffed in his heart, but his body betrayed him—eyes half-closed in bliss, he kneaded the cardboard box like mad.
Hmph, hmph.
Now you know how wonderful this little cat is, don’t you?
The moment Shang Xuci spoke, he regretted it. The kitten didn’t even glance his way and went straight into the cardboard box.
Was he… being rejected?!
A flicker of surprise passed through Shang Xuci’s phoenix eyes. He pulled a ball from his pocket, crouched in front of the box, and tried again, “Want to play ball, Sui Sui?”
The little white cat stayed silent, rump sticking up, pointedly turning his back on him.
And Shang Xuci instantly understood.
Sui Sui was angry—and he held grudges.
He sat back on the sofa and messaged Shen Huan, only to confirm that Sui Sui was upset because he’d been away from home too long.
He had worried that once he left, Sui Sui would feel lonely being home all alone. He’d even arranged for someone to come over and play with him. But clearly, it hadn’t worked.
Shen Huan had once given him a handbook on cat care. He had never bothered to read it. Faced with this situation, he quickly dug it out.
One. Indoor cats are prone to insecurity. Cats are highly territorial animals. They need their own private space, but at the same time, owners must provide a sense of security and emotional reassurance. If a cat suddenly starts eating more, or is sleeping all the time, it’s because in their little hearts they’re thinking: “If I finish eating, Mama (or Papa) will be home,” or “When I wake up, Mama (or Papa) will be back.”
Two. Cats need companionship. In their world, their human is their everything. Many owners, for various reasons, don’t have time to play with their cats. But long-term lack of companionship and interaction can cause a cat’s temperament to worsen, making them dislike contact with people. Owners are advised to spend more time playing with their cats.
Three. A cat’s lifespan is short. Compared with humans, their lives are heartbreakingly brief—usually only about fifteen years. And in those fifteen years, their owner is their whole world. Aside from eating, drinking, and using the litter box, a cat spends every day thinking about their human. Do you ever miss your cat? Do you treasure every single day together? Do you respect your cat enough not to force cuddles or smother them with affection?
After just a few short pages and sentences, a strange, tingling warmth spread through Shang Xuci’s chest. He closed the book, his mind replaying the three lines that left the deepest impression.
From the moment he picked Sui Sui up until now, he had indeed given very little in return. He hadn’t made a point of keeping him company. Apart from providing food and water, he hadn’t really been there for the kitten. Most of the time, it was Sui Sui who stayed with him in the study.
Still, he rarely hugged or smothered the kitten. On one hand, he couldn’t tolerate heavy shedding—even with brushing, holding the cat meant fur sticking everywhere. On the other, he had never regarded Sui Sui as a fluffy toy. The little cat was an individual with his own will. He wouldn’t constantly squeeze him, snuggle him, or smother him with kisses… He respected the kitten’s privacy as a being.
Your own cat, you coax yourself.
After coming up with a few “apology” plans, Shang Xuci put the book back and went to the bedroom to rest.
All this time, Jian Xun had been keeping his ears perked, waiting to be coaxed. He listened as the sounds in the living room faded, footsteps moved from the living room to the study, and finally into the bedroom. His little heart sank halfway down.
See?! I knew it!! The big boss totally doesn’t understand a cat’s heart!
Jian Xun scratched at the cardboard box a few times in frustration, then curled up to sleep.
No matter how sad or upset he was, when mealtime came—this little cat still had to eat.
Jian Xun pawed a few times at the automatic feeder. Seeing the bowl filled to the brim with kibble, he snorted softly and started eating in big mouthfuls, completely unaware that someone was standing behind him.
Shang Xuci watched Sui Sui devour his food, then quietly stepped back a few paces and turned toward the bathroom.
After breakfast, Shang Xuci sat on the sofa, legs crossed. The black shirt he wore had its top two buttons undone, his sleeves casually rolled up. His long, pale fingers held a cat teaser wand, and the moment the kitten finished eating and turned around, his hand gave it a little flick.
The fuzzy toy on the wand dangled colorful feathers, with a few small bells attached that jingled as it moved.
Jian Xun was instantly drawn to the noise. His eyes followed the swaying feathers involuntarily, head turning side to side, body wriggling low to the ground as if preparing to pounce.
The teaser toy successfully awakened Sui Sui’s playful instincts. Like a spring, he darted forward. With agile leaps and elegant pounces, he caught it—biting and tackling triumphantly.
Just like that, cat and man played for half an hour, until the toy finally stilled. Shang Xuci picked him up and gently stroked his fur.
Jian Xun froze in shock, not daring to move.
The big boss… is petting me this gently?!
What shook him even more was the man’s deep, magnetic voice—sincerely apologizing to the cat!
In a soft voice, Shang Xuci said, “Sui Sui, I’m sorry for leaving you alone at home all this time. I told you when I left, but…”
“Well, you’re just a little kitten—you couldn’t understand anyway.”
“Next time, I’ll try to only take short trips, and I’ll come home on time every night…”
The man’s low, soothing voice, paired with his comforting strokes, wrapped the kitten in indescribable happiness. Hearing his explanations and promises, the grievances bottled up in Jian Xun’s heart burst like a dam, spilling out all at once.
“Meow-woo~”
“Meow meow meow.”
“Meow-ow.”
Finally! You understand how hard it is to be a little cat!
Unable to hold back, Jian Xun leaned in close, rubbing his head again and again against Shang Xuci’s palm.
He even gave his thumb a gentle bite.
With everything said, Sui Sui reverted back into the clingy little kitten he once was.
And this was only Shang Xuci’s first step in his apology plan—an explanation.
The second: personally learning recipes to cook cat food.
While Shang Xuci busied himself in the kitchen, Jian Xun dragged over the bag of dried fish, dropped it at his feet, and looked up.
“Meow!”
Open me a bag of dried fish.
Shang Xuci casually picked up the cat dish and generously poured in five strips of dried fish for the kitten.
Meanwhile, he was still working on the kitten’s dinner.
Enjoying the boss’s cuddles, enjoying the boss’s hand-feeding, enjoying the boss’s personally cooked cat food—plus watching their intimacy meter skyrocket—Jian Xun had been walking around these past two days with the wind at his heels.
He knew the big boss was showing goodwill, but he didn’t dare push his luck. Still, he tested the waters—tail held high—as he pushed open the bedroom door right in front of Shang Xuci.
When he saw the man press his lips together without stopping him, he swaggered inside.
And with one kick, he sent the cat bed that the boss had placed there flying!
Hmph! I, Sui Sui, already walked into the bedroom in front of the boss—why would I still sleep in a cat bed?!!
That kick sent the bed straight to the doorway.
From the doorway, the man called out evenly, “Sui Sui.”
Just two syllables—and Jian Xun instantly chickened out.
He let out a meek meow, hurried over, and slowly shoved the cat bed back to its original spot.
“Meow.”
Sui Sui, you can’t even last one second…!
Silently cursing himself for turning into a soft little pushover in front of the big boss, Jian Xun nevertheless obediently lay down on the cat mat, eyes fixed on the fluffy mattress.
Heh. He’d get back to his old tricks later.
He waited until the breathing on the bed turned steady, then the kitten leapt up with practiced ease. This time, the blanket didn’t need to be tugged. He crept close to the man’s face, gazing at him intently.
The boss’s sleeping face was so handsome!
And he smelled so good!
Unable to resist, Jian Xun leaned closer to sniff, then rubbed his head against him.
“Meow~”
I really, really like the boss.
If only the boss liked me back.
Keeping just a little distance, Jian Xun pressed himself against the corner of the blanket, tucked in his white-pawed “mittens,” and closed his eyes, purring.
Hearing that familiar purr, Shang Xuci’s body relaxed.
“Sui Sui. Sleep.”
And this time, he didn’t throw the kitten off the bed. Instead, his warm arm reached out, pulling the little cat into his chest, holding him close in an embrace as they fell asleep together.