“Sui Sui.”
Jian Xun instantly opened his eyes. His body jerked, and in his panic, he slipped off the yoga ball, wobbling before plopping down onto the floor.
“Meow meow!”
Coach, I’ll start stretching right away!!
As his mind cleared, Jian Xun realized—it wasn’t the devilish Coach Liu, it was Shang Xuci!
The little cat’s eyes lit up.
Great!
Jian Xun happily curled his tail and bounded over, circling around the man’s legs and rubbing against them.
Are we going home? Are we going home?
The cat urged him on with impatient meows, reaching out a paw to pat him twice, all while sneaking glances down the hallway.
Hurry, hurry! Coach Liu will be back any minute!!
Shang Xuci took out a tissue and carefully wiped the cat’s paws, then picked him up, one arm supporting his rump. The cat naturally looped both paws around his neck.
“That’s enough for today.”
The little white cat immediately relaxed, tilting his head and drifting off to sleep from exhaustion.
When they got home, Shang Xuci headed to the bathroom.
Jian Xun sprawled on the cool floor, luxuriating in the comfort of cat life.
Tsk.
Home really is the best.
He rolled halfway over, then lay flat again, enjoying a pleasant nap.
“Meow meow~”
From the courtyard came the cry of Little Calico. Jian Xun’s ears twitched. He opened his eyes, got up, and went to grab the bag of cat food.
Carrying a small bag in his mouth, he walked into the courtyard. Little Calico was already waiting by the feeding dish.
Using his paw, Jian Xun tore open a small slit in the bag. The kibble poured into the bowl until it was full.
Little Calico’s nose twitched; smelling the fragrance, her eyes lit up instantly, and she began to chew without pause. Jian Xun watched her eat with the pleased expression of a proud old father.
After finishing her meal, Little Calico gave a polite and earnest thanks. Jian Xun asked where her grandfather was. Little Calico replied that her grandfather had something to do today and wouldn’t be coming to eat.
The two cats chatted for a while. By now, Little Calico trusted Jian Xun completely and led him to her home—which was still within Jian Xun’s territory—down the alley next to the parking garage.
It was a battered, tattered cardboard box.
Since Little Calico had been caught in the rain, Jian Xun wanted to help her.
He still had some delivery boxes at home and planned to replace hers with a new one.
Little Calico was instantly moved to tears.
Jian Xun patted her head and immediately went home to find a box.
After taking a shower, Shang Xuci came downstairs and heard strange noises from the storage room.
He walked over and saw the little cat stop pawing around, softly greeting him with a “meow.”
“Looking for a cardboard box?”
When they moved houses, the little white cat had stubbornly refused to part with his old box.
Shang Xuci, helpless, had packed every single one of the cat’s belongings and brought them along.
Now, judging by this behavior, was he planning to replace his box?
He noticed that the cat had chosen one that was relatively spacious.
Shang Xuci took it out for him. Jian Xun tried to carry it in his mouth but found it too big to walk with.
He didn’t want to transform in front of the big boss, so he pushed it step by step toward the courtyard.
From the cat’s actions, Shang Xuci could tell it wasn’t for himself.
Even though he was curious, he didn’t follow Sui Sui.
He had already heard the sounds of other cats in the yard over the past few days, and the cat food at home had visibly decreased.
He thought to himself— His cat probably has a… cat outside.
The corners of Shang Xuci’s lips curved slightly.
When Jian Xun returned, Shang Xuci had already gone upstairs to his study to deal with work.
The cat stayed alone on the first floor, taking care of his needs, grooming himself, and livestreaming games.
Half an hour later, he ran to the study door with his tablet in his mouth, paws pattering on the floor.
He set the tablet down, patted the door with his soft pink paw pads.
“Meow-ow!”
I’m coming in!
Shang Xuci glanced at the cat at the door but didn’t stop him.
The study was carpeted and plush.
It wasn’t easy for the cat to walk while carrying something, and his claws kept getting caught in the fibers.
Leaving a small “pit” with every step, the little white cat refused to put down his tablet, tilting his head back as he waddled forward with his heavy body.
He looked at Shang Xuci’s feet, then up at the large huanghuali wood desk, and decided he wanted to lie on top.
Although the wound on his right hind leg hadn’t completely healed, you couldn’t tell he had a limp if he walked slowly.
The height he could jump was gradually improving—
It was just that carrying the tablet made things harder.
Jian Xun circled the desk once, intending to use his old trick, but there were no books on the floor to use as a stepping stone!
Just as the little cat was hesitating, a small stool appeared right in front of him!
It had been hooked over by a long, straight leg.
The cat’s eyes lit up. All that time rubbing against the big boss’s leg hadn’t been for nothing!
Hehe, happy.
Using the small stool for leverage, the little white cat easily hopped onto the desk, padded over to Shang Xuci’s side, curiously sniffed the coffee in his cup, and then glanced at the man’s computer screen.
He placed his own tablet right next to the computer, side by side, and lay down less than ten centimeters away from the big boss’s mouse—
Flop down, stretch out a paw, swipe.
Open game livestream.
This time he was watching something a bit more advanced—not a single-player game, but a thrilling 5v5 battle.
Shang Xuci was wearing gold-rimmed glasses, a fountain pen in hand as he reviewed the documents he’d brought back.
His eyes stayed focused on his work until the booming announcer voice declared a pentakill in the game. He instinctively glanced over, just in time to see the cat flinch at the sound.
He withdrew his gaze and continued reviewing the documents.
[Victory——!!]
Jian Xun, equally excited, let out a loud meow.
“Meow!!”
We won!
The cat plopped his butt right on top of the mouse, making the spreadsheet on the screen skip to the next page.
“Sui Sui.” Shang Xuci’s eyelid twitched. Finishing the page he was on, he called the cat’s name.
Jian Xun turned his head with a blank look.
“You’re sitting on my mouse,” Shang Xuci said, his throat moving slightly before adding, “And turn the volume down a bit.”
“Meow-woo!”
Jian Xun looked aggrieved. He was just a little cat—how was he supposed to wear headphones? He could only use the speakers!
He reached out a paw to try lowering the volume.
Of course, he didn’t want to act too smart. What if the big boss realized the little cat had turned into a spirit?
He didn’t even consider the fact that the household chores he’d been doing already far exceeded a normal cat’s abilities.
Clack clack!
Jian Xun tapped the tablet to show that he didn’t know how to adjust the volume.
Shang Xuci rubbed his fingers together, then reached out to swipe the screen and turn it down.
Jian Xun happily turned back and continued watching the game in earnest.
Shang Xuci stared at the back of the cat’s head, letting out a barely audible sigh. A trace of indulgence flickered in his eyes—his cat really did love video games.
Of course, besides games, the little cat also enjoyed watching cartoons and over-the-top CEO melodramas—the kind full of tortured romance, stand-ins, “white moonlight” first loves, caged canaries, marriages of convenience, running away with a baby, and misunderstandings where the characters clearly had mouths but refused to use them.
This time, Sui Sui stayed in the study with Shang Xuci for a long while.
After watching the game livestream for more than an hour, the stream ended, yet the man was still working.
The cat switched to another channel—it happened to be the latest drama starring Chen Chi, the current top star known for both talent and beauty.
The show was called One Hundred Percent Romance, the very over-the-top CEO melodrama Jian Xun had recently been obsessed with.
On screen, the CEO wore a suit and a watch, always buttoning his shirt to the very top. Paired with gold-rimmed glasses, he radiated a cold, ascetic aura—the type that was both aloof and dangerously attractive.
Jian Xun turned to look at the real CEO.
The man sat upright, his posture straight, his expression focused. Half-lowered eyes, a high nose bridge, lips that were pale in color but naturally well-shaped.
Suddenly, the drama didn’t seem so appealing anymore!
Carefully, Jian Xun scooted closer toward the man’s hand, his cat eyes fixed on those seemingly magical fingers—the handwriting they produced was elegant and free-flowing.
He watched intently as the man wrote, until his eyelids began to droop. Before long, his head was resting on Shang Xuci’s wrist, and he drifted into a drowsy sleep.
Shang Xuci’s pen stilled completely.
His long, narrow phoenix eyes flicked to the time, then he closed the file and carried the cat out of the study with one arm.
Passing by the cat bed, his steps slowed noticeably. The cat in his arms nuzzled against his chest.
Two seconds later, Shang Xuci took a long stride forward—naturally heading to bed with the cat.
The little white cat, dreaming of something, smacked his lips a few times and clung to Shang Xuci’s neck, rubbing his cool skin while sleeping soundly.
By morning, on the dark-gray bed, the man lay with his eyes closed, posture neat, breathing steady, the fringe of his hair slightly mussed.
In his dream, the sky began to rain.
Shang Xuci walked along the road, opening his umbrella. The rain wasn’t heavy, and there was no wind, but no matter how he tilted the umbrella to the left, raindrops still landed on his left arm. Over time, the moisture spread into a sticky sensation, and his brows furrowed deeply. He just wanted to get home quickly to wash it off.
Yet no matter how fast he walked, the road never seemed to end—and the rain never stopped.
The feeling triggered his obsessive cleanliness, making him physically uncomfortable.
In the dream, his frustration mounted. When no method worked to get rid of the sensation, he even considered abandoning that arm entirely— But reason pulled him back…
Shang Xuci’s eyes snapped open, and his gaze immediately shifted to the culprit behind his nightmare.
Hanging onto his arm was a cat, clinging like a koala to a tree, its mouth slightly open and a small puddle of drool seeping out—sticky and messy…
Shang Xuci slowly closed his eyes, took in a sharp breath, then, after a moment of silence, opened them again and called the cat awake.
Jian Xun smacked his lips twice, his expression blank and dazed.
He noticed Shang Xuci calmly staring at him but still had no idea what had happened.
Stretching lazily, his paw pads brushed against something damp on the bedsheet. Looking down at the arm he’d been resting on, his eyes widened.
This… was this his doing?!
Shang Xuci lifted the quilt, grabbed his clothes, and headed for the bathroom, while Jian Xun froze in place.
He… he had drooled last night? And on the big boss’s arm?!
Jian Xun hadn’t forgotten that the other man had a cleanliness obsession—someone who couldn’t even tolerate cat fur on the floor. How could he possibly endure drool?
The cat was overwhelmed with guilt.
It’s over.
What if the big boss never lets him into the bedroom again?
Head and tail drooping, Jian Xun stared at his own paws.
The next second, he flopped onto the bed, utterly dejected.
No—he had to do something!
Sitting up, Jian Xun washed his face with his paws, his gaze firm as he turned toward the bedsheet and sprang into action.
When Shang Xuci passed by the bedroom door, he saw the little cat tugging the left corner of the sheet toward the middle, then doing the same with the right. He repeated the process with both sides at the foot of the bed.
Once the sheet was folded neatly, the cat clamped it in his mouth and hopped down.
It was so big that walking was a struggle, but he kept going.
When he reached the doorway, Shang Xuci quietly stepped aside, watching as the cat dragged the sheet all the way to the washing machine…
After breakfast, Shang Xuci left for work.
He saw the cat lying on the cat tree, looking at him with a pitiful, furrow-browed expression, as if he had bullied the cat.
“Sui Sui, come here,” Shang Xuci called.
He opened his arms, and the cat rushed toward him without hesitation.
Shang Xuci’s heart instantly melted.
That morning, he’d only called the cat—he hadn’t meant to blame him at all.
But the cat’s cautious demeanor made his heart give a slight, aching tug.
Picking him up, Shang Xuci pressed his forehead against the cat’s.
The soft, furry touch made his gaze soften, and his low, pleasantly husky voice murmured, “Tonight I’ll come home early. You’ll have the bedsheet ready, won’t you?”
Jian Xun, still sulking, heard the words and blinked his eyes wide in disbelief.
His fluffy tail swished rapidly.
He nodded earnestly, wrapped his paws around the man’s neck, rubbed against him, and let out two sweet, sticky meows.
After soothing the cat, Shang Xuci headed out the door.
After he left, Jian Xun’s eyes grew misty— The big boss was too good to him!
Today, he wasn’t just going to wash and lay out the bedsheet— He was going to cook for him, too!
Since moving into the new place, Jian Xun hadn’t been idle.
He had already familiarized himself with the entire surrounding area— Every neighbor’s house and yard, front and back, left and right, he’d been to them all!
He knew who had a pond, whose pond was bigger, and whose pond had the biggest fish!
Oh—and, most importantly, who kept dogs.
Heh, all within the cat’s grasp.
Today’s plan: catch fish.
He had even decided on the dish—pickled fish soup! (Suancai Yu).
No time to waste—it was time to hunt!
Jian Xun clenched his little cat paw into a fist, raising it to the sky in determination.
He picked a house that had fish but no one home.
The little white cat stealthily slipped into the yard, skillfully scooped out a fish, and then swaggered right out the back door.
There were already vegetables in the fridge, so he wouldn’t need to spend the big boss’s money at the supermarket— Though he did want to check out the seafood section’s fish…
Jian Xun shook his head and went over the list of ingredients he’d need for the afternoon.
Once the checklist was done, he went to make the bed— Transforming into his larger form to hang up the freshly washed clothes and sheets to dry.
Then he sat on the sofa, chewing on dried fish as a reward to himself.
At three in the afternoon, the cat curled up on the soft couch stretched lazily.
It was time to cook!
He went into the kitchen, tied on the pink apron Shang Xuci had bought for him, turned on the tap, and washed his paw pads and claws.
While washing, he kept his body slightly away from the sink—he didn’t want any other part of himself getting wet.
Cats generally hated water, and Jian Xun was no exception.
While rinsing vegetables, he muttered under his breath, reciting the recipe’s steps from memory.
Then he dragged over a small stool, stood on it, turned on the stove, and poured in the oil.
For two busy hours, he worked nonstop, finally plating the dish and placing it on the dining table.
Exhausted, he collapsed onto the cool floor, his body slowly shrinking back down.
So tired…
Click.
The door opened.
Jian Xun immediately straightened up and trotted over to greet the man with a playful, affectionate air.
“Sui Sui, I’m back.”
Shang Xuci caught the aroma of food wafting through the house.
Glancing at the table, he bent down to rub the cat’s head.
“Thanks for your hard work, Sui Sui.”
Jian Xun’s tail wagged wildly.
“Meow-ah, meow-woo!”
Eat, eat!
Shang Xuci sat at the table while Jian Xun pushed over a small stool.
Standing on it, just like always, he kept the man company during the meal.
Pickled fish, hot-and-sour potato slices (shredded potatoes were still beyond him for now), and tofu–egg–cabbage soup.
Perfect—one meat, one vegetable, one soup, just as familiar.
This wasn’t his first time eating a meal cooked by the cat, but each time still felt strangely novel.
Picking up his chopsticks, Shang Xuci glanced at the cat, who clicked his tongue in impatience and urged him to eat.
Shang Xuci picked up a piece of fish and, for once, didn’t bother with his usual strict table manners.
He teased, “Sui Sui, can you only cook fish?”
After all, there was fish at every meal.
If the plate of fish wasn’t always perfectly intact, he might have suspected the cat was stealing bites.
At his words, Jian Xun shot him a look, then hopped down to the floor.
A moment later, the cat came back carrying a cookbook in his mouth.
He placed it on the table, pushed it toward the man with his paw, and gave it a firm, confident slap.
Of course not!
Pick any dish from here—you name it!