It’s the butt again!
The cat curled up—not because it felt comfortable, but because it was heartbroken, clutching its chest in agony.
Life felt hopeless.
Thinking of that protection mechanism, Jian Xun immediately turned to the control panel for help, swiping to see if there were any compensatory measures.
He couldn’t create cat hair immediately.
But could he shorten the hair’s growth time?!
He exchanged ten points for a small, hairy dried fish, his total instantly dropping.
Heartbroken, Jian Xun gnawed on the dried fish.
It had to grow quickly!
But growing hair took time.
The afternoon felt unusually long. Whenever the cat lay down, he’d think of his bare butt, and nothing seemed fun.
So he numbly began to do his chores.
Huffing and puffing.
The floor was mopped over and over again.
The dishes were washed again and again.
Laundry was hung out to dry, one piece at a time.
After feeding his little sister, Sanhua, he inevitably bumped into her while patrolling the yard.
She happened to see his butt first, and was so shocked she stuttered.
“Sui Sui, you—you… your butt!!”
Sanhua’s grandfather followed behind, frowning as he stared at his rear end.
It was too late to cover it. Jian Xun’s heart collapsed, and he stood frozen for five seconds.
“Ahem. I can explain.”
He recounted the whole story, making sure to emphasize the highlights of his cat life.
“So that’s how it is!” Sanhua’s round eyes filled with admiration as she softly said, “Brother, you’re so awesome and brave!”
Sanhua’s grandfather squatted down, carefully examining Jian Xun. He nodded in agreement with his granddaughter’s words, his gaze full of approval.
When his eyes flickered to the bald spot, there was no trace of disdain. On the contrary, it was like a medal of feline heroism!
Jian Xun felt deeply flattered by the praise.
Yinfeng Entertainment
Shang Xuci pushed the documents he was working on aside, resting his elbows on the table. His slender index fingers interlocked, his graceful chin resting lightly on the backs of his hands as he stared intently at the surveillance camera.
The jewel necklace he had given Sui sui not only had a tracking function but also allowed him to view surveillance footage.
What happened on set was exactly as he had expected—the culprit had deliberately avoided the camera, and no suspicious individuals were captured.
Sui sui had seen the murderer with her own eyes. Even if she hadn’t gotten a clear look at his face, his figure, clothing, and gait were enough to identify him.
Fu Qian had handed the lead over to professionals for investigation, and they had now located the man’s residence. After receiving the photo, he headed straight for Shang Xuci’s office.
Shang Xuci opened the first page expressionlessly. His narrow eyes widened slightly; a flicker passed through them before he lowered his eyelids. His calm demeanor finally betrayed a hint of self-mockery, mingled with anger.
Huh.
It was her.
Shang Xuci laughed inwardly, recalling a similar incident from his past life. Who had thrown the sulfuric acid? Was it intentional or unintentional? No one investigated at the time; someone had played it down and exaggerated Chen Chi’s injury.
They had simply said it was an accident—a cat had bumped into it.
That scene had originally been intended for Jiang Yuanqing and Shang Yi’s guest roles, but it ended up involving her and Chen Chi. The water was replaced with sulfuric acid, and Jiang Yuanqing, stunned by the sight of the man writhing in pain, just stood there.
That scene had originally been intended for Jiang Yuanqing and Shang Yi’s guest roles, but it ended up involving her and Chen Chi. The water was replaced with sulfuric acid, and Jiang Yuanqing, stunned by the sight of the man writhing in pain, just stood there.
That scene had originally been intended for Jiang Yuanqing and Shang Yi’s guest roles, but it ended up involving her and Chen Chi. The water was replaced with sulfuric acid, and Jiang Yuanqing, stunned by the sight of the man writhing in pain, just stood there.
This time, Shang Xuci discovered who had taken the blame for the boy’s death. The boy’s mother turned out to be Tang Manwen—the maid he had been desperately searching for over the years. She had done countless dirty deeds for Xu Rong.
The chronic, debilitating poison in his body had been administered by Tang Manwen. Later, she realized she had witnessed his grandfather’s death. Fearing Xu Rong would silence her, she resigned and sought help from her ex-husband, changing her name and moving to another city to start anew. It took years before Shang Xuci finally found her.
At that moment, Shang Xuci lost his patience entirely—his temper swinging to the opposite extreme as he carelessly stepped into the abyss.
I never imagined life could be so easy… If it weren’t for his cat, it probably wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.
Thinking of Sui Sui, Shang Xuci couldn’t help but check the surveillance feed.
Just then, he saw the cat staring at its own butt in the mirror, tears welling in its eyes.
Shang Xuci’s heart was inexplicably stirred. The unpleasant memories that had just surfaced burned with irritation, yet the sight of the cat instantly soothed him.
He lowered his gaze to check the time—it was exactly three o’clock. After reading the last page of information, Shang Xuci looked up at Fu Qian and said calmly,
“Thank you for your hard work. I hope you can get off work early today.”
His phone vibrated. The old man had sent a message asking him to return to the old house for dinner. He had apparently heard about something—and wanted him to bring the cat along.
Shang Xuci replied casually, planning to wrap things up and get home early.
…
Half an hour later
Huilong Street
Shang Xuci walked with his hands in his pockets, surveying the old neighborhood, now nearing the end of its renovation. To his left were newly rebuilt low-rise concrete buildings; to his right stood formerly dilapidated structures that had been refurbished and now looked far more presentable.
Outside the neighborhood, vegetable stalls lined both sides of the street, a constant stream of people passing by. At a glance, most were middle-aged, elderly, or children, all dressed simply.
Though renovated, the neighborhood’s planning and management remained chaotic. The gates to every building stood wide open, and even the unit doors beyond them were left ajar during rush hour.
Construction was still ongoing, and even with the map on his phone, Shang Xuci couldn’t pinpoint the exact location in this confusing maze. As he stood checking it carefully, a helpful woman approached, asking a few questions before giving him directions.
Shang Xuci’s lips curled faintly. In the sunlight, his handsome face gleamed with a luster like polished jade. His skin—untouched by sunlight for years due to illness—was pale and translucent. When expressionless, he seemed gloomy and unapproachable; but when he smiled, his demeanor was gentle and refined.
After several turns, Shang Xuci finally reached the house number.
He raised his hand and knocked.
A woman’s voice came from inside, her footsteps quick.
“Who is it?”
Jian Xun lowered his eyes slightly but didn’t answer.
The woman cracked the door open and looked up.
“Young… Young Master.” The woman’s face paled, and the apron in her hands slipped to the ground.
Shang Xuci didn’t even glance at her. He strode into the house, his eyes narrowing slightly as he surveyed the small, sixty-square-meter apartment. It wasn’t large, but it was neat and cozy, though the furniture looked a bit dated.
“Why are you staying here?”
Seeing him standing in the living room, Tang Manwen felt uneasy. She picked up her apron and clutched it, her heart racing. After Shang Xuci spoke, she hurried into the kitchen to pour tea, eagerly ushering everyone toward the sofa.
Shang Xuci gave her a look, and she sat stiffly across from him, as if he were the master of the house.
She knew exactly why she felt so evasive and uneasy under his gaze.
As they faced each other, Shang Xuci finally focused his attention on Tang Manwen.
Compared to over a decade ago, she had aged considerably—her hair was streaked with white, her features worn, her face etched with sorrow. She had grown thin, her slightly yellowed, withered hands resting in her lap. Shang Xuci remembered those hands striking him before.
As Xu Rong’s loyal dog, he had assumed she must have reaped many benefits. But now, it seemed she had not.
“Xu Rong treated you like this?”
Shang Xuci’s tone was dull, almost mocking.
Tang Manwen, knowing she was in the wrong, simply murmured, “I’m sorry,” and lowered her head.
If Xu Rong hadn’t been so ruthless, she might have said a few good words for him to save face. But now she truly regretted believing his lies—and causing his son to fall into depression.
The woman kept her head lowered, not daring to meet his eyes. Jian Xun sneered softly.
“I’m not here to hear you apologize.”
Shang Xuci, who had been sitting upright, leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on his knees as he fixed his gaze on her.
“Last Friday—was it you who brought sulfuric acid to the Jing Teng crew to commit the crime? The plan failed halfway through, didn’t it?”
At his words, Tang Manwen’s eyes widened, panic flickering in them. She swallowed hard.
“You’re here to ask me that?”
You’re not here to settle old scores?
Tang Manwen hadn’t forgotten how she had treated this legitimate young master at Xu Rong’s command.
Then she remembered—the Jing Teng crew was filming on Shang Jia’s land. Rumor had it that Shang Xuci was now the owner of Yinfeng Entertainment and had invested in this project. If anything went wrong, the company would surely be held responsible.
Her brow furrowed, agitation in her expression.
“I didn’t mean to… I just wanted revenge on Xu Rong. I gave her a chance!”
“So you wanted to destroy Shang Yi?”
Tang Manwen bit her lip, looking at Shang Xuci before speaking slowly.
“Young Master, don’t you want to? Shang Yi has taken everything from you.”
“No one can take what’s mine.”
Unless he no longer wanted it.
Tang Manwen’s expression twisted, uncertain of his intentions. She tried to defend herself.
“I was just furious at the time and wanted to teach Shang Yi a lesson. The sulfuric acid wasn’t concentrated enough, and no one was hurt at the scene.”
Shang Xuci almost laughed in anger at her forced composure.
If anyone had been hurt, she wouldn’t be sitting here right now—and he wouldn’t be speaking to her so calmly.
“No one was hurt,” the man said, his face dark, his presence oppressive. “But my cat was hurt.”
Tang Manwen stared at him in disbelief, her voice sharp.
“That cat is yours?!”
Shang Xuci had always hated furry animals as a child. Now, all this for a cat? She found it hard to believe.
“Nonsense,” Shang Xuci snapped.
Tang Manwen quickly processed his words. If he had found this place, then he must know everything she had done. Without another word, she dropped to her knees.
“Master, I’m so sorry your cat was injured. I’ve let you down before. I know an apology is meaningless, and I know I’ve broken the law, so I kowtow to you.”
Tang Manwen bowed her head and struck the floor hard.
Shang Xuci narrowed his eyes, his brows drawing together.
“Please be magnanimous and let me go—for now. I just want to help my son get back everything that belongs to him. I also want to make peace with Xu Rong. I beg you to grant me this.”
Shang Xuci’s expression didn’t change.
“I warned you before—Xu Rong is not a good person. She’ll do anything to achieve her goals. You didn’t believe me. Now that it’s backfired on you, isn’t it a little late to seek revenge?”
“I didn’t understand before. I didn’t see clearly. It’s my fault.”
A trace of pain and regret flashed across Tang Manwen’s face.
“But my son is innocent. I don’t want to implicate him, nor do I want him to know about the awful things I’ve done. My fault is—”
“Of course it’s your fault,” Shang Xuci cut in, his eyes flicking to the family portrait hanging on the wall. “You let your son witness you beating and kicking another child, and you still expect to be a kind mother in his eyes?”
Tang Manwen’s head jerked up, her expression shifting suddenly.
“You poisoned me as a child at Xu Rong’s behest. Every time she told you to pull my hair, hit my arm, or force me to kneel—he was there.”
His tone was cold and calm, as though he were recounting someone else’s past.
Tang Manwen froze. She hadn’t known. No wonder her son had asked if he could change jobs, and no wonder his attitude toward her had gradually grown cold.
Pa—
Tang Manwen slapped herself hard across the face.
“It’s my fault!”
Another loud slap followed.
“I deserve to die!”
“I’m not human!”
…
Without another word, she slapped herself.
Shang Xuci frowned.
“That’s enough,” he said unhappily.
Tang Manwen froze, her expression blank.
“If you truly want to repent, then tell me everything—about my poisoning and my grandfather’s death.”
…
The weather suddenly changed. The sun slipped behind the clouds, and a dark layer hung low in the sky. A few raindrops, as big as beans, landed on the floor—followed by heavier and heavier rain.
When Shang Xuci left, the rain wasn’t too heavy. Without an umbrella, he walked straight toward the parking space.
What Tang Manwen had told him was almost exactly what he’d guessed in his previous life: Xu Rong had removed his grandfather’s oxygen tube, hastening his death—and his father had been involved.
His fingers curled slowly into fists.
Sitting in the car, Shang Xuci’s face was dark. He searched his pockets for a long time before finally finding half a pack of cigarettes.
After finishing one, he restarted the car and set the navigation for home.
On the way, he passed a pet supply store, pulled over, and went inside to buy a few things.
…
At five p.m., Jian Xun was lying in the porch, waiting for Shang Xuci to return.
When the door opened, the little white cat lashed its tail wildly and meowed sweetly at him, as if eagerly showing off the fruits of its labor to claim credit.
It patted the floor, the cupboards, and the washing machine.
The floor gleamed, the cupboards were spotless, and the rows of clothes drying on the balcony were neatly arranged.
Shang Xuci picked up the cat with one hand. Feeling the smooth curve of its butt, he narrowed his eyes, tapped its nose with his fingertip, and smiled.
“Sui Sui is really capable.”
A praise for the cat.
He carried it into the living room and set it down.
From the shopping bag, he took out the items he’d bought.
“Take a look—do you like them?”
Jian Xun froze. A gift for me? Bought just for me?!
“Mia, mia, mia, mia!”
The cat hopped around like a little rabbit, desperate to cuddle with him.
It rubbed its head vigorously against his legs, his hands—anything it could reach. The plum-blossom paw pads were placed neatly on the white fluffy decorations; it grabbed them, examined them, then happily dragged them into the cardboard box.
He wanted to wear them himself!
Seeing the cat, tail held high, purring as it walked off with the gift in its mouth, Shang Xuci suddenly felt a strange sense of satisfaction—more fulfilling than buying luxury goods for his grandmother. The joy Sui Sui brought him made him forget the day’s unhappiness.
No wonder some people love cats.
He brushed a hand over the slightly damp hair on his forehead, then froze. This hand had just been holding a cat.
Staring at his clean palm, Shang Xuci fell into thought. It seemed his tolerance for cats had grown without him realizing.
Never mind—he had to shower anyway.
Shang Xuci stood and headed for the bathroom.
…
Cardboard box.
Jian Xun was still fiddling with the gift the boss had given him, turning it over and over, trying to figure out how to wear it. Then, with a flash of golden light, his claws began to move.
The cardboard box swayed—thump, thump.
Once he had it on, Jian Xun strode toward the bathroom with an exaggerated gait. First, he wanted to check himself out in the mirror, then run to the boss to show him!
Jian Xun stared into the mirror, admiring himself.
It fits perfectly. It fits perfectly!
He couldn’t wait for the boss to see and praise him again.
Jumping down to the floor, he padded briskly to the bathroom door and squatted there obediently, tail twitching.
The sound of running water faded. Seeing the figure inside getting dressed, Jian Xun took a few steps back.
Click—
The door opened, letting out a wave of mist. Shang Xuci’s tall figure emerged, wiping his hair with a towel. Feeling a light brush against his legs, he said,
“The floor inside is wet. Let’s get out first.”
Jian Xun quickly followed him out.
Look at me, look at me!
…
In the hallway, the clingy little cat meowed non-stop. Shang Xuci looked down—
—stunned.
Jian Xun was like a butterfly, strutting like a crab with his head tilted back, ears twitching, his expression full of pride.
After his brief “runway show,” he became too shy to look at the boss. He closed his eyes and struck a pose, waiting for praise.
When no words came, he cracked one eye open.
Why is the boss smiling?
The cat tilted his head, puzzled.
Shang Xuci suppressed his laughter, squatted down, and tugged at the cat’s “hat,” his voice rich and low.
Instantly, the tips of the white cat’s ears turned crimson, and he covered them with his front paws. But the man’s voice still rang in his ears—
“That’s the clothing I bought you…”
Shang Xuci’s eyes were deep as he coughed lightly, adding politely,
“It covers your butt.”
…
Jian Xun: What?
Huh?!
What!!!
This wasn’t a cat headband—this was cat underpants?!
The cat was horrified.