There was no one else on the island, and Shang Xuci couldn’t see him. Unafraid to strip off his clothes, he called out to Sui Sui and prepared to gather some firewood nearby.
Jian Xun wanted to tell him there was still some sturdy wood left near the cabin. Considering the boss’s mobility issues, he planned to go along and help collect it.
Waving his cat paw to reassure the man who couldn’t see him, Jian Xun gave up the pretense. He had been physically abused by Fang Xiuyuan, and now that he had relaxed, his left leg began to ache.
He walked on three legs, hopping and skipping, avoiding the use of his left foot as much as possible.
The boss needed him.
No matter how painful it was, he would endure it.
Hold on, Sui Sui.
Jian Xun mentally encouraged himself, raised his head, and felt a rush of energy.
He led Shang Xuci to a spot with dry sticks, using his cat ears to scan the surroundings for safety. He checked for any dangerous creatures, like worms, and only after confirming there were none did he return to Shang Xuci’s side to help gather small pieces of firewood.
Man and cat collected sticks together. On the way back, the cat trotted ahead, holding one in his mouth to lead the way, afraid the other might fall.
He walked for a while, then stopped.
Looked back to see if the boss had caught up.
They didn’t venture deep into the forest, instead sticking to the flat areas.
Shang Xuci walked slowly back and forth three times before stopping. His clothes and pants were now dry, so he changed and sat down in front of the cabin again.
Jian Xun began licking his paws. After cleaning them, he set them back on his legs and gave a scratch. When he felt his clothes were dry, he leaned against Shang Xuci, hands in his pockets, and dozed off.
After a nap, he woke up to patrol.
The cat’s head drooped sleepily. As soon as he closed his eyes, he thought about catching fish for Shang Xuci to grill that night.
Yes, he’d catch a big, fat one.
Two, actually—one for each of them.
With two smacks of his lips, the cat drifted into a deep sleep.
Shang Xuci lowered his eyes, his dull gaze fixed on the cat in his arms. With a gentle expression, he pinched its ears and soft paw pads.
Luckily, Sui Sui was there to keep him company.
Unconsciously, Sui Sui’s place in his heart had grown beyond that of a mere servant. When consciousness returned, he realized his unusual behavior and joined in with the others.
If it had been the old Shang Xuci, he would have scoffed at the idea of jumping into the sea for a cat, calling it suicidal. But now, it had actually happened.
Sui Sui was his family.
Shang Xuci even selfishly entertained another thought—he might as well have the cat neutered when they got home. He couldn’t imagine Sui Sui finding a partner and no longer revolving around him.
The man lowered his eyes, gently squeezing the cat’s paw pad.
Sui Sui was his.
Jian Xun didn’t sleep for long. Curled up entirely in the man’s arms, the “soft” paw pad made him stretch in pure comfort.
He completely forgot about his surroundings.
After resting, he jumped off Shang Xuci’s lap, stretched like in a yoga pose, and gazed at the sea.
He wanted to catch two fish before dark.
He didn’t know how to tell the boss.
Jian Xun meowed twice, then stayed close to him. He waited until the man stopped petting him, then looked up to make sure he was dozing with his eyes closed. Only then did Jian Xun leave the cabin.
Tonight’s dinner depended on the cat!
The cat walked alone toward the beach, his body swaying unevenly.
If Shang Xuci hadn’t been blind, he would have seen that the cat was limping badly on his hind legs. His left leg, which had almost healed, had been crushed again by Fang Xiuyuan, making the limp all the more obvious.
Jian Xun endured the pain, not wanting Shang Xuci to notice his condition.
Just wait for help to arrive.
The lion cat found a spot on the shore with good visibility, shallow water, and plenty of fish. He squatted low, four legs together, body crouched, eyes locked on the fish gliding beneath the surface.
Keep your eyes on the target. Choose the moment. Reel it in.
Despite his injured hind leg, the cat’s speed wasn’t hindered. With his agility, he quickly caught his first fish.
Then, he went for the second.
Shang Xuci closed his eyes for a moment, then instinctively reached for the cat beside him. It wasn’t there. He waited patiently for a bit, then called Sui Sui’s name—but there was no response.
He frowned. In his haste to find the cat, he banged his head against the wooden shed, gasping in pain.
Without the cat, he was visibly unsettled. In his current state, Sui Sui was the only companion who could give him courage. Without him, Shang Xuci felt as if he had been abandoned by the world.
Even though he knew the cat wouldn’t leave him—perhaps it had only gone off to take care of a natural need—he still felt a sudden wave of loss for no apparent reason.
That sense of loss, tinged with loneliness and panic, was swept away by a soft, cat-like whimper.
The white lion cat appeared, head held high, a large, bobbing fish clamped in its mouth. Limping slightly, it dropped the fish at the man’s feet.
“Meow!” It patted the fish with a paw, its tail brushing against Shang Xuci’s hand.
I’m back from hunting!
The puffing of the fish caught Shang Xuci’s attention. Trusting Sui Sui, he reached for the object, only to discover it was indeed a fish.
“Sui Sui, you went fishing?” Shang Xuci calmly hid his earlier panic, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Is this for me?”
“Meow!” Jian Xun replied with a crisp cry, turning to fetch his own catch.
The little guy had caught two fish, and Shang Xuci couldn’t help but praise him. “Sui Sui is amazing.”
Jian Xun happily stepped forward and rubbed his head against the man’s hand.
Shang Xuci set about trying to start a fire.
The lighter made things easier, but with the sea breeze and damp wood, it wasn’t simple to ignite. Jian Xun fetched more dry grass and stood on the windward side to block the gusts.
At last, the fire caught, and Shang Xuci began grilling the two fish.
The process took a long time and was rather difficult, but the aroma that filled the air made it worthwhile.
Shang Xuci hadn’t eaten all day. On the boat earlier, he’d only had some wine and a piece of birthday cake for his uncle’s celebration. He was already starving, and the smell of grilled fish made his mouth water.
He tore off a piece of roasted fish and offered it to the cat first.
Jian Xun meowed, took a bite, then called out to Shang Xuci, urging him to try it too.
Shang Xuci took a bite. Though it wasn’t salty, it had a distinct, refreshing fragrance.
Thanks to the cat’s timing, the fish was grilled to a golden brown—its skin crispy, its flesh tender. Surprisingly, it tasted quite good.
“Your fish is delicious.”
Jian Xun had cooked fish for Shang Xuci many times before, but this was the first time he’d been praised for it. Pride swelled in his chest, and he puffed himself up, tilting his head to watch the man eat.
Shang Xuci was starving, yet he ate gracefully—slowly and methodically, one bite at a time—as if the fish were a rare delicacy.
Jian Xun couldn’t understand it. How could he enjoy a simple grilled fish without any seasoning so much? He’d tasted it himself; it wasn’t even as plump as the ones he used to catch in the neighborhood pond.
Gradually, his focus on Shang Xuci’s eating shifted into open admiration for his face.
A young master like Big Boss, raised in luxury, must have tasted every kind of delicacy. And yet here he was, savoring this plain grilled fish—a sight so satisfying that the cat almost wanted to catch two more right then and there.
But night had fallen, and he didn’t want to leave Shang Xuci alone. He stayed by his side, his tail brushing lightly against the man’s hand.
He remembered how unwelcome he’d been in the Jian household. Once, when he’d been sick and no one was home, he had woken up in complete darkness. The feeling of being unable to cry out, yet terrified of the dark, had left a deep mark on him. He figured Big Boss must feel the same way now.
Companionship was something he excelled at.
Besides… he had promised Grandpa Sanhua that he would go with him. He didn’t know the old man’s intentions, but since Grandpa Sanhua had helped him save Shang Xuci, he would go along and see what happened—hoping to return to Big Boss as soon as possible.
His mission wasn’t complete yet.
Thinking of this, Jian Xun checked the panel again. The plot had already shifted by 60%. Shang Xuci’s premature blindness still aligned with the original plan, but it was unexpected. His subsequent actions would now change—at least he wouldn’t be blinded and disabled again.
The sea breeze blew, the stars shone brightly, and the waves gently lapped the shore. The crackling of burning wood added a touch of warmth to the quiet island.
Shang Xuci used the temperature to tell day from night. The difference here was significant, and he felt a chill beneath his suit, but fortunately, there was a fire.
He bent his knees and held the cat in his arms, covering it with his clothes. It was a natural blanket for the cat and kept his own waist and legs warm. The cat purred comfortably in his lap, and sleep soon claimed him.
Man and cat depended on each other for survival. With the cat catching fish and leading him to clean water, life wasn’t too difficult.
At night, he would warm himself by the fire, enjoy the breeze, and imagine the stars—though he could not see them.
Jian Xun, however, remained a little anxious. He didn’t know when the rescue team would arrive, and he worried that Shang Xuci’s eye treatment would be delayed. While fishing, his gaze lingered a little longer than usual on the vast ocean.
Back home, I transformed into a chatty cat, meowing to myself to ease my anxiety.
On the third day, the rescue team arrived.
Before leaving, Shang Xuci had a few photos taken of the cat. He wanted to see the island once his eyesight returned—especially Sui Sui on the island, the sight that had given him immense courage.
Hua pai shu
Gu Ming examined Shang Xuci and said, “Your head hit a reef, and there’s a blood clot in your brain, causing temporary blindness.”
He let out a breath of relief. “Fortunately, your eyesight will return after surgery. It’ll take about a month to recover.”
Shang Xuci nodded, his tone calm. “When will the surgery begin?”
“The day after tomorrow,” Gu Ming replied. “It’s not difficult—leave it to me.”
He then handed Shang Xuci his clothes and pushed a wheelchair toward him.
“I need to talk to the little one, too.”
“Sui Sui has been squatting at the ward door, waiting for you.”
As the door opened, a white cat pounced on me, rubbing against my legs.
“Meow.”
After rubbing against me for a while, it looked up at Gu Ming, as if asking about Shang Xuci’s condition.
Gu Ming raised an eyebrow and squatted down to pet the cat’s head. “He’s fine. He’ll be able to see again soon after the surgery.”
Jian Xun’s eyes lit up, and he rubbed against Gu Ming ingratiatingly.
Gu Ming smiled and said to Shang Xuci, “Your cat is quite intelligent—and he really cares about you. If I’d known you’d refuse my suggestion of getting a cat, I would’ve gotten one myself.”
He scratched the cat’s chin, his petting hand skillfully moving all the way down.
Jian Xun narrowed his eyes in pleasure, but when he heard Gu Ming say Shang Xuci had refused to raise him, he immediately opened them wide and looked at Shang Xuci with a wronged expression. Seeing that his eyes were lifeless, the cat’s aggrieved gestures felt like striking soft cotton—powerless.
“Huh?” Gu Ming touched the cat’s leg, paused, and frowned.
Shang Xuci “looked” in his direction.
Gu Ming’s voice deepened. “Sui Sui’s leg is broken.”