Jian Xun devoured three cat strips in one go.
He had never tasted cat strips so delicious before; the flavor was beyond description.
Seeing the cat’s obvious fondness for the treat, Sister Zhang thought to herself that the snacks her son had brought back from abroad were truly special.
Smiling, Sister Zhang told Xiao Zhao to hold onto the rest of the treats while she busied herself petting the cat, expertly squeezing the strips. The soft, furry texture under her hands felt so comfortable. No wonder Chen Chi loved cuddling cats.
If Sui Sui liked her, she’d be happy to hold him in her arms all day long.
Jian Xun slurped up the strips, smacking his lips to savor them.
He glanced several times at the woman stroking him so gently.
Hmph. For the sake of the strips, I’ll show you my belly.
Jian Xun rolled over, revealing his soft belly.
This was a privilege even Chen Chi had never enjoyed. Even though Jian Xun was clingy and often lay on her lap for pets, he always followed the rules of cat etiquette: only the older man was allowed to touch his belly.
Sister Zhang, seeing the cat tumble over, covered her mouth in excitement. With trembling hands, she pulled out her phone to snap a picture.
Jian Xun tilted his head.
Didn’t people usually want to take a picture with him? Why was she just taking a picture of him exposing his belly? Couldn’t she have asked someone nearby to help?
While the woman was busy taking the photo, Jian Xun calmly covered his private parts with his tail.
Then he looked toward the young man who had come in with her.
The cat’s round eyes darted about. Not seeing him, Jian Xun instinctively glanced at the shelf.
That spot was empty.
The cat stood up, scanned the room quickly, and, upon confirming that the items were gone, leapt to the ground and dashed out the door.
Oh no! Someone stole from me!
Jian Xun, ignoring his injured leg, shot toward the set like lightning.
Sister Zhang froze for a moment, stunned. Did he just run off after eating?!
She stood, a little disappointed, brushed off the cat fur on her clothes, and slowly followed him outside.
On the quaint street, the crew huddled together, reviewing their movements and positions. The lead actor, Chen Chi, the female lead, Jiang Yuanqing, and Shang Yi, the guest musician, were all present.
After rehearsing their lines, the filming officially began.
During the scene, the director changed the musician’s role on the spot. Since the original actor had taken leave, Shang Yi, who had been playing a background musician, had to step into the part.
The change caught Shang Yi off guard. His character—a musician bullied for his low status—had to convey several emotions after being splashed with water: bewilderment, surprise, humiliation, forbearance, and finally, a return to composure.
Having never acted before, he was a little nervous. Fortunately, Chen Chi reassured him, telling him to just express himself naturally—neither too forced nor too stiff.
Shang Yi nodded.
In the crowd, Jian Xun could still smell the cleaning lady!
She was here too!
Was she behind all this? Was she trying to discredit Chen Chi? Or harm Shang Xu?
Did she want to witness the outcome firsthand?
Jian Xun didn’t have time to dwell on these questions. A cat’s abilities were limited, after all. He wanted to find the bottle and bring the evidence to the boss for investigation.
Now, his mind was set on destroying it. He couldn’t let her harm anyone here.
The moment he squeezed into the crowd, he stretched out a paw to grab the bottle—but suddenly, his body froze.
…
Yinfeng Entertainment
The President’s Office
Shang Xuci had just finished reviewing a document when his right eyelid twitched violently.
He paused his pen, closed his eyes, and rubbed them.
Fu Qian, bringing in tea, noticed and set the cup down gently. Just as he was about to speak, Shang Xuci opened his eyes.
“Does Sui Sui have a scene to film today?”
“It’s a scene where she just sleeps on the lead actor’s lap. Only about a minute of screen time,” Fu Qian replied. “Miss Shen Huan is with her, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Mm, I know.” Shang Xuci took a sip of tea. “I’ll pick Sui Sui up myself after work today.”
“Okay.”
Shen Huan was still in the bathroom when she received the message.
Damn it—she wasn’t sure if it was just overeating lately or a stomach upset, but she was a little constipated and had been in there for nearly half an hour.
Her legs had gone numb and weak.
She found a chair, sat down for a while, and then went to look for the cat.
Fortunately, someone spotted Sui Sui running toward the filming location, so Shen Huan headed straight there.
She had heard that last time Sui Sui ran to the esports building to watch the players, her cousin nearly went crazy when she couldn’t find the cat. After that, he gave her strict orders to keep the cat within her line of sight at all times.
Shen Huan, tempted by the generous salary, had solemnly sworn in front of her cousin to keep Sui Sui safe.
You’ve got to be kidding me! Sui Sui was such a well-behaved little cat—how could she just sit there and collect money for nothing?! She could even chase after celebrities!
The director had already called for action when Shen Huan saw the cat—who wasn’t supposed to be on stage—dash right onto the set. She lunged and caught it with the quick reflexes of an eighteen-year-old.
“Sui Sui, my sweet Sui Sui, don’t run around!” she said, hugging the cat and pressing her face against it.
Jian Xun, however, had no interest in playing with her. He kept his eyes fixed on the set, struggling in her arms, even baring his claws in a flash of panic.
As the director signaled for the props to be brought over, he glanced at the nervous look on the musician’s face. Just as he was about to speak, Chen Chi said, “Let me demonstrate.”
Chen Chi gestured for someone to bring him some water—and it happened to be that bottle.
Jiang Yuanqing, playing the role of the person splashing the water, pursed her lips, brushed a strand of hair from her fair cheek behind her ear, and slowly walked over to hand him the bottle.
“No need,” Chen Chi said. “Just stand there and splash it on my face, according to the script.”
“That’s not a good idea,” Jiang Yuanqing insisted. “This water is flavored.”
Chen Chi shook his head. “Just splash a little on my face. Don’t get my clothes wet. We’ll wipe my face off and keep filming.”
Seeing he was determined, Jiang Yuanqing nodded.
She slipped into character, picked up the bottle, and lifted her hand to make the move.
Jian Xun’s breath caught.
I can’t let anyone get hurt!
In a split second, he slashed at Shen Huan’s arm with his claws. She cried out and released him, and Jian Xun took the chance to bolt forward.
As he ran, his sharp eyes scanned the set, his mind working at full speed.
The moment Jiang Yuanqing pulled the cork out and was about to splash the water, he lunged like lightning.
A blur of white—fast as a phantom—shot through the air. Its massive tail whipped down hard on their hands, sending both the bottle and the white blur flying through the air before they crashed to the ground.
“Ao—!!!”
The cat’s tail jerked violently as his body arched, a sharp, pained cry ripping from his throat.
Oh no! I’ve been hit!!
The little white cat’s eyes widened, its body trembling, tail tucked tightly between its hind legs as it tried to ease the burning pain.
[Drip—]
An invisible light instantly enveloped the cat. Jian Xun felt a warm sensation, but the searing pain still lingered.
A sharp, piercing meow drew everyone’s attention.
Acid splashed across the floor with a harsh, sizzling sound.
Hiss—
The highly corrosive liquid spread rapidly, releasing heat. The wooden floor emitted puffs of white smoke as it was eaten away, leaving deep pits and scars.
In just a few seconds, it was like a bomb had gone off in still water—everyone froze in shock before erupting into frantic discussion.
Sister Zhang and Xiao Liu’s eyes widened in disbelief.
How could this happen?!
How had that smelly water turned into sulfuric acid?!
Oh my god.
If even a little of that water had splashed on someone…
Sister Zhang didn’t dare think further.
The director and other crew members in charge broke into a cold sweat.
While everyone else was stunned, Jian Xun endured the pain and stood, limping toward the crowd. The woman had fled in panic, and he was determined to catch her!
It had all happened so quickly—he hadn’t had time to confirm her identity. But since no one else was hurt, his gaze locked onto the culprit.
Unfortunately, before he could get far, Shen Huan caught him.
Hearing the cat’s cries and seeing the corroded floor, Shen Huan’s face went pale and her body trembled. She couldn’t bear to imagine what would have happened if the entire bottle had been poured over Sui Sui.
She held the cat tightly, checking him over.
Jian Xun stared after the fleeing figure, unwilling to give up. The light in his eyes dimmed, but reassured that no one had been hurt, he lay quietly in Shen Huan’s arms.
When he had leapt, he’d caught the bottle mid-air to stop any leaks that could harm bystanders. With a quick, rolling maneuver, he had thrown himself clear as the bottle hit the ground. But the spot where his tail met his backside still burned.
It hurt.
And yet—he hadn’t even touched the water inside the bottle.
Damn it.
The cat in Shen Huan’s arms was still trembling, his meows growing weaker. The fur at the injured area was slightly corroded, the skin beneath flushed red.
Miraculously, the pain began to fade.
“Oh my god, oh my god!” Shen Huan gasped, her voice shaking. Without another thought, she rushed the cat to the hospital.
The set was in chaos. Both the person meant to throw the liquid and the intended target were still pale with fear.
Sensing the suspicious stares, Jiang Yuanqing shook her head. “It has nothing to do with me,” she muttered. Her hands trembled violently. If she had known what was inside, she would never have touched it.
Chen Chi’s assistant, initially frozen in terror, quickly rushed over to comfort her.
Chen Chi himself remained calm, merely pondering the intent behind the attack. He had an impeccable reputation in the industry and had never offended anyone. Who could possibly want to harm him?
What a vicious trick.
Chen Chi turned his gaze to Shang Yi, who bit his lip hard, his legs weak as he leaned against the wooden table behind him. His body trembled, and his face was pale.
Today, he wasn’t the only one involved in the water-throwing scene—anyone could have been the target.
No matter who it was meant for, today’s “accident” would have happened to them. If it hadn’t been for Sui Sui, he couldn’t even imagine the consequences…
Chen Chi’s fists had been clenched so tightly that only now did he notice the sweat on his palms. The cat who had saved him was being hurriedly carried out by Shen Huan. Without a second thought, he followed.
The head of venue security immediately ordered all relevant personnel to stay in place as the investigation began. The scene was chaotic, but fortunately, no one was injured, and the tension in the air began to ease. The director led them to review the surveillance footage.
The prop in question had been prepared by the props team and became the key focus of the investigation. Sister Zhang and Xiao Zhao nervously insisted that it hadn’t even been on the purchase order…
…
Shang Xuci’s home
Jian Xun slowly opened his eyes, finding himself lying in his cat bed. Looking again, he realized the bed was placed on the boss’s large desk.
The room was empty. The study door stood open, and a cup of hot coffee on the table was still steaming—Shang Xuci must have just stepped out.
Jian Xun stood and glanced down at the necklace around his neck. Suddenly, he noticed his hind legs felt stiff. Looking over his shoulder, he saw that his backside and tail were wrapped in bandages.
Then it came back to him—being rushed to the veterinary hospital by the panicked Shen Huan, with Dingli also present. The doctor had examined him, given him painkillers and anesthesia. He had reached out and grasped someone’s hand with his paw, then his eyes had closed, and everything faded into darkness.
Before closing his eyes, he seemed to see Shang Xuci walking straight in.
When he opened them again, he was back at the boss’s house.
Outside the window, night had already fallen. Jian Xun, head tilted, lay limply on the soft cashmere blanket, like someone floating in a breaststroke position.
He tried to wag his tail, but it wouldn’t obey—as if it were detached from his body, completely numb.
What was going on?
Jian Xun lifted his plump, soft hips and turned his head to look.
His tail was wrapped up!
“Meow? Mrrrow?!”
Jian Xun tried to recall. He remembered that he had accidentally splashed a little sulfuric acid, and it had landed on the tail at the base of his buttocks.
Right now, he just wanted to hug his tail!
But since he couldn’t, Jian Xun buried his head deep into the fluffy blanket.
Shang Xuci went to the bathroom, and when he came back, he saw a pair of pointed, furry ears poking out of the kitten’s nest on the table. The little cat was twisting its body coquettishly, staring dazedly at its own backside before slumping down with a discouraged expression.
Shang Xuci quickened his pace into the room. His clenched fists finally relaxed; his usual graceful movements were no longer so composed, and a faint, fleeting smile tugged at his lips.
Hearing footsteps, Jian Xun looked up to find Shang Xuci already beside him, staring intently.
Out of habit, Jian Xun leaned over to rub against his hand affectionately—but the man dodged him.
There was no gentle touch, no tender gaze. Expressionless, Shang Xuci turned him over, avoiding the area wrapped in gauze, and carefully examined him from head to tail.
While inspecting, he observed Sui Sui’s expression—obedient, clear-eyed, and looking at him with complete trust, allowing him to do as he pleased. At that, Shang Xuci’s expression finally softened.
“Anywhere else uncomfortable?”
Shen Huan had called to tell him something had happened on set, and that Sui Sui was injured and at the veterinary hospital. The news nearly made Shang Xuci stop breathing.
He hadn’t even asked for details. His car had been forcibly stopped midway, and the rest of the job was handed over to Fu Qian while he drove straight to the hospital.
Shen Huan and Chen Chi were waiting in the hospital corridor, both looking grim.
Even though the doctor said it was only a minor injury and nothing serious, Shang Xuci still wasn’t reassured. He called Gu Ming, who was away on a business trip and would only return the next day.
By then, the anesthesia had worn off, but the cat was still fast asleep, which worried him even more.
On the way home, Shen Huan explained what had happened and apologized repeatedly for not keeping a closer eye on the cat.
Thankfully, Sui Sui woke up once along the way, let out a big yawn, shifted positions, and went right back to sleep.
Once home, Shang Xuci took out the handmade bamboo basket he’d ordered online, placed a soft cat mat inside, spread a small plush blanket on top, and carefully settled the kitten inside. He then carried the basket into the study—he wanted to be there the moment the cat woke up.
When Shang Xuci greeted him with concern, the little white cat lifted its head and meowed sweetly, patting his arm with its paw.
A classic cuddle-seeking move.
Seeing the kitten looking alert and spirited, Shang Xuci let out a breath of relief.
He began to lecture the cat. “When it comes to bravery, just do what you can. If it’s too dangerous, hide. Let humans handle human justice. What can a little kitten like you really do?”
Shang Xuci pinched the cat’s ear without mercy.
He continued, “Kittens only need to do kitten things—eat, drink, play, and sleep every day. Isn’t that good enough?”
Jian Xun held his slightly pinched ear, thought it over carefully, then shook his head with determination.
No.
He refused to be a lazy cat!