Shang Xuci gently pinched the soft belly of the little white cat and said, “I’m going to give you a bath, so don’t move around.”
Cats are afraid of water, and the moment Jian Xun’s cat legs touched the water, he instinctively bristled, his limbs trembling.
Meow!
Murder! He’s trying to murder a cat!
He was going to die…
Because one of the cat’s legs was injured, Shang Xuci had to be careful not to let it touch the water. Lacking experience, he moved slowly, and rarely, he even tried to comfort the cat with a little patience.
The cat’s fur was now soaked, no longer soft to the touch. Shang Xuci could still feel the little white cat’s fear—like it was struggling and resisting, letting out weak, pitiful mewls of protest—but in reality, it wasn’t thrashing around much at all.
He lathered up some soap and rubbed it onto the cat’s body—from head to back, then the little belly, the tiny tail, and finally the limbs.
“Open your paws.”
Shang Xuci had only said it casually, but to his surprise, the cat obediently extended its front paws, pitifully allowing him to rub its soft paw pads—even though it was trembling all over with fear.
If this were any regular cat owner, they would’ve already been overjoyed just from touching the belly. Not to mention how the cat’s fearful yet compliant behavior made it easy to pose however one liked—truly a cat lover’s dream! They’d never want to let go of those squishy paw pads.
Shang Xuci, however, took the whole thing very seriously, as if he were solving a complicated math problem. From start to finish, he didn’t care whether it felt nice or not. He just wanted to get it over with quickly.
After washing the cat, he still had to clean the bathroom again.
Over an hour later, the little kitten was finally free.
Jian Xun lay lifelessly on a clean, soft blanket, having lost the will to live. His once filthy, muddy paw pads were now a cute, healthy pink, and the water on his body had been thoroughly dried. He had undergone a full transformation into a clean, fluffy little white kitten.
There was even a little black spot on the tip of his snowy white tail—a unique mark.
Now, he felt much lighter all over and even a little more confident.
He strutted around the house, confidently inspecting every corner, and even sought out Shang Xuci for some cuddles.
After all, who could resist a freshly bathed, sweet-smelling, and irresistibly adorable kitty?
Jian Xun had still underestimated Shang Xuci. After finishing the bath and rebandaging the cat’s injured leg, the man hadn’t spared him another glance. He’d buried himself in work in the study and stayed there until evening.
Having slept deeply for a while, Jian Xun lay comfortably in his cardboard box, grooming his paws. Then, he crawled out in search of Shang Xuci, who just happened to be leaving the study to pick up a delivery at the door.
A cat bed, cat food, food and water bowls, a litter box, a pet carrier.
He had bought some essential supplies, with more items arriving in the coming days. Shang Xuci didn’t know much about any of it, so he simply bought the most expensive options.
After arranging everything, he poured out some food and milk for the kitten.
Right now, his biggest concern was whether the little thing would actually use the litter box.
He was also worried that if he smelled anything unpleasant, he might lose his mind.
Before going to bed that night, Shang Xuci placed a mat next to the cardboard box. Regardless of whether the little kitten could understand him, he pointed to the spot and said, “Sleep here. Your food and water are next to you. If you need to use the bathroom, go to the litter box.”
The kitten tilted its head, clearly not paying much attention to what he was saying.
After speaking, Shang Xuci got up and went back to his room.
The little kitten quickly followed behind him.
Shang Xuci glanced at the clock and said in a slightly softer tone, “I’m going to sleep now. You can’t come into this room, understand?”
Jian Xun craned his little cat head to peek through the crack, wanting to see what the big boss’s bedroom looked like—but in the next second, the door was shut tight.
Meow meow meow?
He couldn’t even just take a look?
After the lights went out, the room was pitch black. But with his cat eyes, Jian Xun could still see. He walked back into the room with reluctant little steps, climbed into the cardboard box, kneaded the soft little blanket a few times, and lay down.
Something felt off.
The unfamiliar environment made him restless and uneasy. Unlike the outdoors, there were no natural smells, no chirping bugs or birds.
The silence was disturbingly oppressive.
He closed his eyes, but couldn’t fall asleep.
Suddenly, he missed the cardboard box under the flowering card tree—it smelled like a real cat!
This place was way too clean. It had nothing.
The little cat sniffed with his twitchy nose, carefully taking in the scent of the blanket. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of something he really liked. He immediately began pawing at the blanket with his claws, scratching and tugging—until he dug out a piece of clothing!
It was the big boss’s shirt! And it still carried his scent!
Jian Xun, like he was high, clutched the shirt and sniffed it obsessively. His itchy little paws even popped off a button, which he then stashed in the corner like a precious collectible.
After burrowing into the shirt—still rich with that clean, comforting scent—he curled up inside. Surrounded by Shang Xuci’s scent, Jian Xun quickly drifted off to sleep.
In sharp contrast to the kitten’s peaceful slumber, Shang Xuci was wide awake with insomnia.
He lay on his side, then on his back, but no matter how he positioned himself, he couldn’t fall asleep.
He turned on a dim light, took a bottle of pills from the drawer, and swallowed a sleeping pill before picking up a book to help him relax.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, Shang Xuci went to his study to handle some school matters. Just as he was halfway through drafting an email, the doorbell rang.
“It’s you.” Shang Xuci opened the door, his brow slightly furrowed.
“Who else did you think it’d be?” Jiang Yuanyuan smiled as she held a bag of health supplements.
A woman’s voice!
Jian Xun craned his little head, trying hard to get a clear look at the woman’s face—but in the end, all he managed to glimpse were a pair of red high heels.
In the book, only Jiang Yuanqing was known for wearing red heels—she was the big boss’s fiancée.
Shang Xuci led her into the study.
Jian Xun secretly followed, sneaking behind them. He wanted to see what this woman—who would later cheat on the boss and pretend to be an innocent white lotus—actually looked like. He had to recognize her clearly for the future.
To a little kitten, the study door was like a towering wall. He couldn’t jump high enough to reach the handle. The door wasn’t locked, only slightly ajar, with something behind it blocking it from opening all the way.
Just a little more, and he’d be able to squeeze through.
Jian Xun anxiously paced outside the door, occasionally stopping to press his ear against it, trying to catch what they were saying.
Unfortunately, all he could hear were indistinct voices—he couldn’t make out any of the words.
…
Inside the study.
The minimalist walls were lined with shelves of books. In the center stood a clean, spacious desk with a computer on top and a few books stacked beside it—nothing more.
Shang Xuci sat upright in his chair, calmly pouring tea for his guest.
The woman across from him wore a black dress. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders like seaweed. She had fair skin and big eyes, with doll-like features paired with the charm of a mature woman.
Elegant in posture and refined in aura.
If Jian Xun could’ve seen her, he would’ve genuinely admired her beauty. There were few natural beauties like her even in the entertainment industry—not to mention, Jiang Yuanqing had once been a fairly decent actress.
She stared directly at her fiancé, who was two years younger than her, her beautiful eyes filled with mixed emotions. She had always thought he was on the verge of death, yet here he was—looking surprisingly well.
Still, Jiang Yuanqing really didn’t like Shang Xuci. No matter how many gifts he sent her each year, no matter how many resources the Shang family poured into her career—it wasn’t because she was his fiancée, but because they owed her.
Back then, to save Shang Xuci during a sudden medical emergency, Jiang’s mother had proposed—while kidnappers were at their door—that her own son, who was about the same age, switch places with Shang Xuci. That swap ultimately led to her brother being torn from them and killed.
Jiang Yuanqing hadn’t been particularly close to her brother, but family was family. So yes, she hated Shang Xuci—mostly, she just couldn’t stand him. It seemed like anyone associated with him would end up with nothing but bad luck.
After sitting down, she said nothing at all. She wanted to see how long Shang Xuci could hold out in silence. Someone so cold and emotionless—what kind of life would it be to actually live with a person like that?
To her surprise, Shang Xuci really didn’t speak. The silence stretched so long that she was the first to lose patience.
Leaving a beautiful woman like her just sitting there without a word?
As expected—what a boring, unpleasant man.
She was the same as ever. Even though she knew full well that Shang Xuci was cold and unfeeling, she still came to his door looking for trouble. The two of them were never from the same world to begin with. She needed to find a way to break off the engagement—ideally, even transfer it to someone else.
Thinking of Shang Ye, Jiang Yuanqing smiled faintly and tucked her hair behind her ear with a graceful motion.
She said, “I heard you were discharged today. My mother asked me to check in on you. You look much better.”
“Mm,” Shang Xuci replied perfunctorily.
How long had it been since he’d last seen Jiang Yuanqing?
In his previous life, after he became disabled, Jiang Yuanqing had eagerly broken off the engagement and thrown herself into Shang Ye’s arms, her gaze toward him filled with nothing but contempt.
He remembered exactly what she had told Jiang’s mother:
“He was already a sickly burden—now he’s disabled. Do you seriously expect me to marry a cripple? I’ve had enough, Mom. You don’t know how disgusted I feel every time I visit him in the hospital. I’ve said so many caring words I’m ready to puke. Now he’s just a useless man with no standing in the Shang family. Are you really going to push your daughter into a pit of fire? My brother is gone—do you want to ruin me too?”
Every other sentence was about him being “disabled.” Only then did Shang Xuci realize how laughable he had been. The Jiang family had always played the game well—when he was on the rise, they clung to him; the moment he fell, they kicked him aside.
He had long since seen through the Jiang family’s opportunistic nature. Shang Xuci didn’t even bother wasting another word on the woman.
“What are your plans now that you’ve been discharged?” Jiang Yuanqing tried to make conversation. She sounded casual, but in reality, she was probing.
After all, Shang Xuci was the rightful heir. Although Shang Ye was the eldest son, he was an illegitimate child without legitimate status. The moment Shang Xuci graduated, it was obvious who would take over that position.
Shang Xuci’s tone was flat and indifferent: “Finish school first.”
Jiang Yuanqing had asked this same question in his previous life too—different time, different setting, but the intent had been the same.
Back then, his grandfather had just passed away. Devastated, Shang Xuci gave up his studies and joined Shang Group directly. He quickly rose to prominence with ruthless efficiency, becoming a thorn in the side of certain people.
But the Shang Xuci of today was no longer the naïve, inexperienced youth he once was. He knew all too well how to deal with these kinds of people now.
Hearing his answer, Jiang Yuanqing visibly let out a sigh of relief.
Shang Xuci curled his lips into a mocking smile.
Silence fell over the room once more. The atmosphere grew awkward. Jiang Yuanqing simply wanted to go through the motions—offer a few words of concern and leave as soon as possible.
Shang Xuci wasn’t really listening anymore. His gaze drifted toward the door—
A suspicious little cat paw was reaching in through the gap beneath it.