He finally spoke.
Tang Mu quietly scanned the audience, his gaze settling on the reporter who had asked the question. His tone was calm yet firm.
Xu Rong’s expression twisted into a grimace. She glanced at Fang Xiuyuan. The man, standing a few meters away, gave her a small nod, then got up and walked out of the theater.
Shang Yi was furious, glaring at the person on stage.
Who was he?
How dare he claim his piece as his own?!
The camera focused on Shang Yi—a young man filled with doubt, yet his expression remained remarkably calm.
“You knew all along?” Shen Xiu turned to look at Shang Xuci.
Shang Xuci stayed silent. He had only promised Tang Manwen that Tang Mu would get the spot. He had said nothing about what Tang Mu was supposed to do.
But this was to be expected.
Shen Xiu shifted his gaze back to Tang Mu. Shang Yi’s performance wasn’t the complete piece. Tang Mu’s rendition, however, had seized the audience’s attention from the very beginning, and he had extended it, making the composition fuller and more moving. No wonder Shang Xuci had asked him to add another spot. So that was the reason.
Under the crowd’s watchful eyes, Tang Mu began telling a story.
In short, it was about a thief who stole delicious apples.
The audience—mostly foreigners—watched intently, though most of them couldn’t understand Chinese.
The livestream chat was exploding, and the media were snapping photos of the two of them.
[“Oh my god, this is gossip!”]
[“What? What the hell?”]
[“Who is this guy? He just accused me of plagiarism—where’s the evidence?”]
[“Calm down, just watch.”]
The livestream went viral, and the scene itself spread even faster.
The audience in the theater were either musicians or music enthusiasts, and upon hearing his words, the place erupted in an uproar.
Curious, inquiring eyes turned toward Shang Yi, their earlier praise now replaced by surprise and contempt.
Shang Yi frowned slightly, glancing at Xu Rong from the corner of his eye.
Tang Mu noticed and, seeing Shang Yi’s bewildered expression, pursed his lips before saying sarcastically, “You have a good mother.”
“What do you mean?” With so many people watching, Shang Yi was confused, but he knew he couldn’t lose his composure—or people might think he had plagiarized.
Xu Rong frowned, a little irritated. She had checked the list, and there was no such person as Tang Mu. Yet he was the last to appear, and his confidence on stage suggested someone was backing him.
She glanced behind her and saw Shang Xuci smiling at her.
Xu Rong’s heart sank.
Suddenly, the lights in the theater dimmed.
Outside, people were unsure what was happening, and the scene began to grow chaotic.
A cell phone screen lit up in the darkness. Shen Huan sent a message saying Sui Sui was looking for him and running around.
Shang Xuci exchanged a few words with Shen Xiu and left.
Just as he stepped out of the theater, a white shadow pounced on him.
“Meow~”
Jian Xun clutched Shang Xuci’s clothes tightly with his paws, standing upright for a hug.
Meow, meow, meow—a childish, aggrieved sound.
Woo… you didn’t even take me with you when you went out to play.
Shang Xuci pulled out a wet wipe and expertly cleaned the cat’s paws before picking it up.
The theater lights were still on, and people had begun streaming out, making the narrow hallway suddenly crowded.
Shang Xuci took a long step forward and walked out. As he turned the corner, a hurried woman accidentally bumped into him.
“Oh, excuse me.” The woman had long, milk-tea-colored hair and delicate features, but her voice carried a regal, queenly tone that contrasted with her seemingly fragile appearance.
As she apologized and started to leave, her arm was caught.
“Meng Jingxue.”
Meng Jingxue looked up, her eyes widening in surprise before she exclaimed with joy, “Shang Xuci?!”
Then she sneezed.
The familiar tone of her voice made it clear they knew each other.
The two of them walked out together, talking as they went.
The moment Shang Xuci spoke the woman’s name, Jian Xun was stunned.
He popped his furry head out and stared blankly at her.
Is that really Meng Jingxue?
The original heroine of the novel—Shang Xuci’s soulmate. According to the old man’s words, and in the original, unaltered plot, they were truly in love.
They had been childhood sweethearts. After Shang Xuci became disabled, they reunited by chance. Heartbroken over his condition, Meng Jingxue ignored her parents’ objections and chose to be with him, vowing to care for him for the rest of his life.
It was precisely because she appeared at his lowest point, like a ray of light that saved him, that he was able to let go of his hatred and find a happy ending with her.
But… wasn’t Meng Jingxue supposed to appear later?
Jian Xun fixed his gaze on her.
The woman kept sneezing.
Meng Jingxue glanced at the cat in his arms and instinctively stepped back.
“Ah, sorry. I’m allergic to cat hair.”
The lion cat shuddered, then jumped down from Shang Xuci’s arms. He gave the two of them a look before backing away obediently.
Her early appearance meant Shang Xuci’s death was no longer inevitable. He wasn’t crippled yet—and with her by the boss’s side, he could definitely avoid danger.
Jian Xun meowed at Shang Xuci, nudging his leg with his head, signaling him to move closer and talk to Meng Jingxue.
He could entertain himself for a while.
But…
Jian Xun stared at his own snow-white paws, a little crestfallen. If Meng Jingxue and Shang Xuci ended up together, he wouldn’t be able to stay by the boss’s side as often.
Meng Jingxue was better than him in every way. She was human, spoke the same language as the boss, was beautiful, capable, gentle, and considerate. A truly wonderful woman—a perfect match—who could help Shang Xuci in countless ways.
Most importantly, she loved him and was wholly devoted to him.
Her presence wouldn’t disrupt the plot.
Unlike him, who could only meow and ask for affection.
The white cat lay on the ground, ears drooping at its sides, its pouting mouth pressed against its paw as it tried hard to suppress its sadness.
Meng Jingxue had noticed the cat’s expression. From a distance, she observed it intently for a moment, then, with a touch of regret, averted her gaze. She said to Shang Xuci, “Ever since we were little, I noticed you weren’t interested in cats. I thought you’d never keep one.”
Seeing him cradle the cat as if it were a precious treasure, Meng Jingxue thought perhaps she had been mistaken.
Shang Xuci shrugged. “People change.”
“A-choo—That’s true.” Meng Jingxue covered her nose with a fair hand and slipped a business card into his palm. “I didn’t expect we’d meet here. I thought you’d forgotten me. My phone number’s on the card. Let’s talk tomorrow—are you free?”
The snow-white cat shifted position, crouching on the ground and furtively watching her.
Glancing at the cat, she smiled lightly. “It would be better if you didn’t bring that little cutie. I’d hate to be rude.”
Touching her nose, Meng Jingxue studied Shang Xuci’s expression.
Shang Xuci nodded. “The concert at sea hasn’t started yet. Contact me when you’re free.”
They parted ways, and Shang Xuci turned to look at the cat. Sui Sui refused to let him pick him up again, so Desolate followed behind him.
Shang Xuci suddenly stopped and scooped the cat into his arms.
“Why aren’t you happy, hmm?” His magnetic voice murmured against the tip of the cat’s ear, the last word trailing off with a hint of teasing allure. “She’s allergic to cat hair, not me. What’s Sui Sui afraid of?”
Jian Xun buried his head in the man’s chest, his little nose twitching.
She would be the mistress of the house in the future.
If the mistress couldn’t live with a cat, then the man certainly wouldn’t either.
If they got married, Shang Xuci would probably “abandon” him—keeping him somewhere else with plenty of food and entertainment, only visiting when he remembered. But with his busy work schedule, the chances of seeing him would be even fewer. Jian Xun would count the days by the door, waiting for him to come.
That daily cycle of anticipation and disappointment wasn’t the life Miao wanted.
He couldn’t imagine living without Shang Xuci’s care and attention.
Perhaps from now on, he needed to learn to adapt.
He would help bring the two of them together—but he himself would stay out of sight. By the time they were officially together, the story would already have changed.
Then he would live alone, surviving on the money he had saved…
Shang Xuci had no idea that, in just a few minutes, his cat had already decided the course of his life.
After making the bed, Shang Xuci lay down. The cat padded over and flopped down beside him.
…
The next day.
A fresh wave of gossip was circulating on the cruise ship. Shang Yi’s plagiarism scandal had already been trending the night before. Although Shang Yi had worked to suppress the trending topics, doubts still lingered.
His haters exaggerated the story and spread negative rumors online——claims that he had relied on family connections to get into a prestigious university, that he had somehow broken into the music industry by writing songs and composing for unknown amateurs, and that he had even expressed disdain for the lives of the poor during an interview.
Jian Xun slipped out for a walk, his cat ears pricked to catch the gossip.
When he learned Shang Xuci had attended the concert, he was furious.
Oh, so the big guy went to the concert without his cat?
After a few seconds of sulking, he stamped his paws and continued strolling. Occasionally, someone who liked cats would crouch down to pet him, but he quickly dodged away.
It was nearing lunchtime, and the crowd on the deck was gradually dispersing. Jian Xun turned his head, sniffed the air, and glanced around, hoping to spot Shang Xuci. He wondered how things had gone with Meng Jingxue yesterday. Had he gone out alone—locking him in the room again—to meet her?
The lion cat circled the hall several times, even returning to his room once, but saw no one. Guessing that Shang Xuci had probably gone to eat, he headed for the dining room, his long, fluffy tail held high.
The dining room was on the fifth floor. The elevator was crowded and took a winding route, so he decided to take the stairs.
He climbed to the fifth floor with a huff and a puff, pausing to catch his breath. The door ahead led into the cafeteria.
Jian Xun stepped forward and froze, his nose twitching.
The aroma of canned food.
Following the scent, he finally spotted a can. Who put this here?
Wasn’t anyone eating it?
Then it hit him—this was the cafeteria. The food was free. Since Shang Xuci had already paid for everything, it should be fine for him to have one.
Licking his lips, he glanced around to see if anyone was watching. He reached out a paw to hook the box beside him, pulled it closer, and carefully pried open the can using the edge of the box. Then he found a quiet corner and focused on licking it clean.
He completely forgot the reason he had come to the dining room in the first place.
The long-haired cat licked away diligently, completely unaware that someone had been standing behind him for a while, silently watching.
The restaurant was bustling with people eating and chatting, the atmosphere lively and noisy.
Just as Jian Xun was about to finish the last of the can, he felt a sudden poke on his backside. Before he could turn around, he was flipped facedown onto the floor.
Fang Xiuyuan lifted the heavy cat, examining him with a soft hum. “Is this the cat?”
His gaze lingered on the necklace around the cat’s neck for two seconds before he yanked it off.
…
That day was Shen Xiu’s birthday, and a small party was being held on the cruise ship. The guests were all friends of Shen Xiu, including Meng Jingxue and Shang Xuci.
Before the party even began, Meng Jingxue approached Shang Xuci to chat.
The two had sat at the same desk in kindergarten and had been classmates in elementary school. Shang Xuci was quiet and kept things to himself, while Meng Jingxue was outgoing—the complete opposite. She would share everything with him, big or small, and their relationship had been good.
Later, Meng Jingxue’s parents divorced, and she moved with her mother to another city. They never saw each other again.
“My mom remarried last year and just had a baby, so she’s been super busy. After graduation, I worked in a private hospital, but lately my dad has been pushing me to manage the family business…” She stirred her coffee and continued, “That’s how things are now. How about you? How have you been these past few years? You look pretty good.”
She knew that Shang Xuci had been in poor health since childhood. Back then, she would bring him homework, test papers, and new books, then tell him all the interesting things that had happened in class while visiting him in the hospital.
“Mm. I’m much better now.”
Meng Jingxue smiled. “I can tell.”
Shang Xuci’s lips also curved into a faint smile.
The birthday party lasted well into the evening. Shang Xuci drank a little and sat back in his chair, eyes closed.
The phone on the table vibrated. He reached out, picked it up, and answered.
“Shang Xuci, this is Fang Xiuyuan. I’m waiting for you on the deck next to the golf course on the 7th floor.” Fang Xiuyuan introduced himself, then rattled off a string of words before saying to someone—or something—beside him, “Why don’t you meow?”
Shang Xuci’s pupils contracted.
He heard a faint, weak whimper from a cat.
Fang Xiuyuan looked down at the cat, which was staring at him but refusing to make a sound. He kicked it hard, and the cat finally whimpered and tried to hide under the bed.
Pulling on the rope in his hand, he yanked hard, dragging the cat out so that half its body was exposed.
The cat didn’t give up. Using all four paws, it clawed at the rope around its neck and bit down hard, desperate to break free from its restraint.
“Your cat is truly… quite clever and adorable,” the man said, deliberately emphasizing his words.
Shang Xuci’s expression darkened, his tone turning icy. “Say that again?”
On the other end of the line, Fang Xiuyuan replied slowly, “I said… I’m holding your cat.”
Shang Xuci shot to his feet, gripping the chair so hard it cracked. Without hesitation, he said, “I’ll be right there.”
He grabbed his coat and strode out, warning in a low, deliberate voice, “Don’t you dare touch my cat.”
After hanging up, he checked the surveillance feed. The screen was pitch black, but the location matched the place Fang Xiuyuan had named—and along with it came the real-time video Fang Xiuyuan had sent.
The lion cat was caged, its body hunched. Its snow-white paws were dirty, its face covered in dust. It curled into a tight ball, clutching its tail, its expression a mix of fear and helplessness. It looked heartbreakingly pitiful.
Shang Xuci’s breathing grew heavy, and his fists clenched tight.
His cat!
Sui Sui!
What had Fang Xiuyuan done to his cat?!
Was Sui Sui injured?! Was he abused?!
Shang Xuci didn’t dare close his eyes, his feet pounding against the ground as he ran.
It was already completely dark. The guests had all retired to their rooms, and the medium-sized court was deserted.
The sea was eerily calm, the only sound the crash of waves against the rocks.
Jian Xun lay trapped in his cage, anxiety churning inside him, his beautiful cat eyes filled with regret and apology.
Mao Mao stared silently down the hallway, praying that Shang Xuci wouldn’t come—at least, not alone.
Based on his interactions with Fang Xiuyuan that afternoon, he knew the man was without a doubt mentally unstable and a sadist.
Thinking back to when Fang Xiuyuan had held him—just after he woke from anesthesia—he remembered the man’s gaze roaming over him, noticing the wounds on his hind legs and the newly grown fur on his tail and rear. Then he kept pinching and fiddling with them.
“Meow~”
Jian Xun stretched out his paws in defense, but found he couldn’t muster any strength. Instead, the man pinched his paw pads and pressed down hard.
The cat let out a fearful cry, but it was weak.
He flipped over and fell heavily to the floor.
Then Fang Xiuyuan stepped on his injured left foot and pressed down hard, like a heavy stone, crushing it again and again.
The cat trembled in pain, his pupils dilating for a moment.
Fang Xiuyuan slowly squatted down, grabbed the cat by the neck, and roughly turned him over. He gently stroked his head, then down his neck, over his belly, and to his tail.
He cupped the cat’s face and muttered to himself, “I once had a cat. It was so cute… so cute you wanted to destroy it. Just like a cat’s eyes.”
“They’re watery, big, and round.”
“What do you think they feel like when you pinch them?” the man asked seriously. “Bouncy? Soft like bubble tea? Or hard?”
Jian Xun’s cat-like eyes widened in fear.
“Meow~”
The soundless cry made Fang Xiuyuan laugh.
“Then it ran away. I caught it and broke all four of its legs. From then on, it couldn’t even crawl out the door…”
You pervert, you cat abuser—go to hell!!!
The lion cat’s ears flattened as he struggled.
The man sat on the bed, watching him silently. Jian Xun instinctively tried to drag himself away to find a place to hide, but there was nowhere. He could only watch helplessly as Fang Xiuyuan pulled out a rope and tied it around his neck.
Fang Xiuyuan kindly let him go until dusk, then grabbed the cat’s tail and lifted it high in the air. As the cat began to struggle and claw at him, he dropped it into the cage.
“Stay quiet.”
The memory ended, and Jian Xun knew he could only escape by lowering the man’s guard.
Now, what worried him most was how he would face Shang Xuci.
Shang Xuci stood before Fang Xiuyuan, his gaze first fixed on the cage, then shifting to Fang Xiuyuan himself.
Fang Xiuyuan, wearing a white coat, had one hand in his pocket and the other holding a baseball bat, his foot resting on the cat cage as he stared at Shang Xuci with a smile.
“Young Master, how many years has it been since we last met?” Fang Xiuyuan studied his face and expression. When he didn’t answer, Fang Xiuyuan kicked the cage twice and asked, “Do you know why I called you here?”
“To avenge the illegitimate child you had with Xu Rong?” Shang Xuci sneered, staring him down.
“Oh, so you know.” Fang Xiuyuan looked relieved as he squatted down and pulled the cat out of the cage.
“If you kneel down, kowtow, and admit your wrongdoing, I’ll return this little cutie to you.”
Jian Xun’s eyes widened. He didn’t dare make a sound, fearing the boss would be hurt because of him.
Shang Xuci’s expression didn’t change; he didn’t even look at the cat. His hands clenched at his sides, a dark, murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
“Is this how you threaten me?” Shang Xuci whispered. “Even though it’s my cat, it’s not worth throwing away my dignity.”
Fang Xiuyuan’s expression shifted slightly.
“If you don’t care about the cat, why are you here?” Fang Xiuyuan asked.
“Doctor Fang, what did you do to my grandfather, to me, and to the Shen family?” Shang Xuci’s tone was cold as he paused briefly. “Do you think I’ll let you go?”
“The child was just a warning.”
“Oh? It seems negotiations have failed,” Fang Xiuyuan said carelessly. “I—”
“You weren’t acting alone in what happened to my grandfather. Who ordered you?” Shang Xuci cut him off, his voice sharp.
“The truth is… no one ordered me,” Fang Xiuyuan said lightly, smiling. “I was the one who poisoned you since childhood, and I was the one who killed your grandfather. But you’ve never had any evidence. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten away with it for all these years.”
“Really?” Shang Xuci’s eyes narrowed.
“This cat is quite heavy,” Fang Xiuyuan remarked, lifting the cat—now nearly slipping—by one hand. He glanced toward the sea beyond the railing, then tossed the baseball bat to Shang Xuci.
“How about this: if you won’t kneel and kowtow, you’ll use this stick to smash the hand you used to call Shang Wei the other day.
“Well, I’m not a devil. I won’t kill you. I just want you to feel the pain of losing my son. How about it?”
Shang Xuci snorted coldly. “And I’m supposed to believe you?”
“It’s just a cat. What use do I have for it?” Fang Xiuyuan replied indifferently.
“He hasn’t even meowed. What did you do to him?” Shang Xuci asked gravely.
“I only gave him anesthesia, nothing more.” Fang Xiuyuan waved the paw he had stepped on earlier. “Right, little cutie?”
Jian Xun shuddered, not daring to look at Shang Xuci, and let out a soft meow.
He wanted to be rescued, but he didn’t want Shang Xuci to get hurt.
Shang Xuci remained silent.
He knew Fang Xiuyuan was a lunatic. Even if he broke his hand, there was no guarantee he would let Sui Sui go.
“Look, little cutie,” Fang Xiuyuan said, fiddling with the cat’s soft ears. “He doesn’t really care about you.”
Pa-pa-pa!
The cat gathered all its strength and swiped at his face with its claws!
He exhaled sharply in anger.
No way!
He had been hurt for him!
Woo-woo!
You wicked man!
You big bastard!
Unforgivable!
Fang Xiuyuan was incredibly strong. The rope tightened around the cat’s neck, constricting with each pull. The cat’s hind legs kicked frantically, its eyes gradually closing.
“Don’t—” Shang Xuci shouted, then paused before saying, “I’ll do it.”
He didn’t dare gamble.
Shang Xuci squatted down, gripped the baseball bat in his right hand, and struck his left hand with a sharp, powerful blow. He bent over, groaning, his face turning pale.
“Very good. Five strokes,” Fang Xiuyuan said in a mock-compassionate tone.
Jian Xun, who had endured in silence through the pain, could no longer hold back. He thrashed violently, biting and scratching.
The sudden outburst made Shang Xuci look up at the cat.
“Sui Sui.”
Fang Xiuyuan savored the pained expressions of both man and cat, his smile deepening.
After Shang Xuci finished as ordered, Fang Xiuyuan clicked his tongue twice at the man’s pale face and murmured, “It’s not enough.”
Rather than merely witnessing Shang Xuci’s physical pain, Fang Xiuyuan wanted to see his mental collapse after losing something precious.
He smiled, then suddenly loosened his grip—
The cat was thrown into the sea.
Jian Xun’s body plummeted, hitting the water hard before sinking into the depths. He faintly heard Shang Xuci scream his name, a sound filled with heartbreak.
As he fell, the cat closed his eyes in regret and remorse.
I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have run out of the room.
I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have been greedy for that bite of food.
I’m sorry… I let the bad guys catch me and use me as a threat.
In truth, I wasn’t even a good cat.