Shang Xuci’s heart raced, his breath hitching.
He stared at the young man in stunned silence.
Although he had suspected it, seeing this scene unfold in reality brought a brief resurgence of emotion.
Shang Xuci took a deep breath, turned, and left. He needed to calm down.
Garden Courtyard
Meng Jingxue carefully sipped the scented tea in her cup. She noticed Shang Xuci’s absent-mindedness — no matter what she said, he only responded with a faint “hmm.”
“I’m short of a male companion for tomorrow’s dinner. How about you come with me?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“You agreed!” Meng Jingxue quickly set down her cup. “Then it’s settled. You’ll accompany me tomorrow.”
Shang Xuci, regaining his composure, glanced at her and changed the subject. “Isn’t Doctor Meng allergic to cats?”
Meng Jingxue blinked. “Yes?”
“I’ll take Sui Sui with me.”
Xu Huai would definitely attend the Xu family’s grandfather’s birthday party. He had to ask him something.
Sui Sui was unlike any other cat. After returning to the villa, he seemed transformed — sometimes lively, sometimes as still as a doll.
That day, when he left the dinner to look for the cat, Jian Xun had appeared in that remote place. His eyes, small movements, and little habits were all just like Sui Sui’s.
Thinking back further — to his first meeting with Jian Xun, and the way Jian Xun had protected the cat — everything that once seemed irrational now made sense, his suspicions confirmed.
Just now, seeing Jian Xun reveal his cat ears had filled him with mixed emotions. But now, he felt calm.
His mind, however, was no longer on anything else.
The sunset was intoxicating.
Shang Xuci sent Meng Jingxue away and returned to the cat house more quickly than usual. He searched inside and out, but the cat was nowhere to be seen.
The housekeeper and his men approached. “Sir, should we install it now?”
“Yes.”
The setting sun streamed through the glass window. Standing there, Shang Xuci’s expression was unwavering. He reached out to draw the curtains, then turned back and added, “Install one in my bedroom too.”
“Okay.”
With long strides, Shang Xuci went downstairs and sat at the tea table by the entrance, reaching for his phone to call Jian Xun.
Suddenly, a meow echoed from outside the door.
A rustling, low, and slightly unpleasant cat call.
Shang Xuci put down his phone, his eyes falling on the door.
Click—
The sound of something heavy dropping, the doorknob turning, and then a chubby, slightly dusty cat stepped in first.
Another followed, shuffling inside, kicking the door shut with its hind legs before heading straight for the paw pad. It placed all four paws on it, giving them a perfunctory wipe, then stared up at the entrance light in confusion.
Why aren’t they turning on the light?
Looking over, the cat spotted Shang Xuci sitting in the tea room, cup in hand, watching him. The cat’s eyes lit up, and he trotted over with a distinctly feline gait, unconcerned with the imposing figures around him.
So many big shots!
His expression was dazed, his steps swaying slightly, as if intoxicated.
He reached Shang Xuci’s feet, glanced up, and—without hesitation—leapt onto his lap, meowing and rubbing against his chest.
That wasn’t enough. Growing bolder, he reached out with his claws to tug at the man’s clothes, then stood on his hind legs to try climbing higher. But his legs were weak and trembling. Unable to continue, he simply gazed up at Shang Xuci, putting on his cutest act.
“Meow~ Woo!”
He stretched out his front paws, asking for a hug.
Afraid he might fall, Shang Xuci supported the cat’s rump. With the help, the cat climbed up, finally reaching Shang Xuci’s neck. His eyes were wet as he pressed his face into the back of Shang Xuci’s head, nuzzling, asking for a kiss.
Shang Xuci’s mind flashed to the image of his human, Jian Xun, and he instinctively turned away.
As if by accident, he turned back and curled the cat into a ball on his lap.
The cat, stunned, unfolded from the ball, stood up again, and turned to climb back.
Had he just been avoided?
Stick to it.
Don’t you want to stick to it anymore?
No!
I want to stick to it.
I absolutely have to stick to it!
The cat threw himself at Shang Xuci again. This time, Shang Xuci didn’t dodge. The cat nudged him fiercely, then nestled contentedly in his lap.
Shang Xuci stroked him, from head to rump, pinching and rubbing his paw pads as he murmured:
“Sui Sui.”
He gazed at the snow-white cat lying defenseless in his arms, letting him have his way.
From the day Sui Sui returned, he would remain by his side forever.
Whether it was Sui Sui or Jian Xun.
At first glance, Jian Xun’s identity seemed simple, but in reality, it was riddled with loopholes, with large portions of his past left blank. Shang Xuci had once ignored such gaps out of gratitude for a favor. But now that he knew Jian Xun’s true nature, his curiosity was piqued.
What was Sui Sui’s origin? A demon?
Shang Xuci had once dismissed such notions. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, animals were forbidden from becoming demons. But now that he himself had been reborn, he could no longer entirely disbelieve.
Still, he didn’t dare ask Jian Xun. The young man clearly wanted to keep this secret from him. Shang Xuci feared that, like last time, Jian Xun would disappear—feared that he would leave him, feared he would never find the cat again.
He couldn’t bear the thought of losing Sui Sui a second time.
Shang Xuci carried the cat back to its bed, tucked in the quilt, and returned to the house.
…
The Xu Family’s Birthday Party
Shang Xuci brought the snow-white cat along. As he stepped out of the car, he ran into Meng Jingxue. Upon seeing her sneeze, the big white cat instinctively jumped to the ground and squatted behind Shang Xuci.
The Xu family’s housekeeper recognized him and quickly stepped forward. “We have a special play area for cats. Would you like me to take yours there?”
Before Shang Xuci could answer, the cat took the initiative, walking over to the housekeeper with a bright “Meow!”
Shang Xuci said, “Take him there.”
“Don’t worry, we have someone to look after the cats,” the housekeeper assured him.
“Let’s go together?” Meng Jingxue touched her nose and smiled.
Shang Xuci went straight to the room where Old Master Xu was staying. He explained that Old Master Shang was recuperating and couldn’t visit his old friend in person, so he had come to deliver the gift on his behalf.
Old Master Xu was delighted.
Once the pleasantries were over, Shang Xuci sent a message to Xu Huai.
Since the two had started working together, Xu Huai’s career had flourished—but that also made him a target. The Xu family had tried to lure him back.
The Xu family wasn’t short of talent, but by Shang Xuci’s generation, its descendants had begun to decline. Some had ended up in jail, some in the hospital, and some—obsessed with love—had abandoned the family business entirely, moving abroad with their wives. The rest were a hopeless bunch.
When New Domain and the Xu family’s company were competing for the latest smart-car market, Old Master Xu discovered that the mastermind behind the scenes was actually a member of the Xu family—a sign, perhaps, of a return to one’s roots.
Shang Xuci knew Xu Huai’s character, but he didn’t know what the Xu family had said to him. He had tried to persuade Xu Huai to return to them.
In the end, Xu Huai hadn’t taken part in the Xu family’s affairs, and Shang Xuci hadn’t pressed him. This time, however, he wasn’t here to talk about work.
The two sat together in a quiet corner of the balcony.
Xu Huai wore loose casual clothes, his hair brushing his shoulders. He looked haggard and listless—nothing like the refined young man Shang Xuci had first met.
Seeing him in such a state, Shang Xuci could guess the cause. It made him all the more grateful that his precious child had returned; otherwise, he himself wouldn’t be faring much better.
“Haven’t you found him yet?”
“I’m not as lucky as you. I hurt him, and now he doesn’t want to see me.” Xu Huai smiled bitterly.
“Cats need to be coaxed,” Xu Huai continued. “I knew he held a grudge, but I still did something to upset him. I deserved it…”
Perhaps because Shang Xuci had gone through a similar experience, Xu Huai couldn’t help but pour out his emotions.
Shang Xuci listened quietly, then poured him a glass of wine. He asked directly, “Is it because he’s changed?”
Xu Huai’s body stiffened, and he slowly raised his eyes.
…
It was almost nine o’clock when the sky began to rain.
Seeing Xu Huai passed out drunk at the table, Shang Xuci had him carried back to his room. He sat outside for a long while, letting the slanting rain soak his white shirt and send a chill through him. Only then did he put on his coat and get up to look for the cat.
Cat House
The lion cat hid in a cardboard box, bored and avoiding the other cats. Only after the caretaker went to rest did he transform back into a human, crouching in the corner with his legs tucked in.
Even though they had brought him out “to play,” he was still being left in another cat’s room. The big white cat was not happy at all.
Besides Jian Xun—the lion cat—the room also housed a tabby cat, an orange cat, a Jianzhou cat, and a cow cat.
The “cat boss” was the tabby. Unlike Xu Tutu, the tabby was openly hostile toward Jian Xun and even said something baffling: “You smell like him.”
He? Who?
The big white cat looked bewildered.
The tabby circled him and said arrogantly, “This is my territory. You’d better not mess around, or I’ll be rude.”
Tsk, your room isn’t even as big as my toilet.
The big white cat sneered in disdain and found a spot to lie down.
The other cats were curious, sniffing at him, but the big white cat showed no interest. He simply curled up and waited obediently for Shang Xuci to come take him home.
While glancing around the room, he spotted a familiar photo on the wall—it was his brother, Tutu!
Is this Tutu’s owner’s house?!
Jian Xun recalled how Xu Tutu had once told him that, before he learned to transform, he’d been anxious whenever his owner wasn’t home during the day. Later, once he grew older and more capable, he would go out to play, returning only when his owner came back.
Back then, he had only played nearby, never venturing too far. Xu Huai didn’t restrict his freedom, and it wasn’t considered running away.
The real “runaway” happened the first time Xu Tutu transformed into a human. Xu Huai’s distant and unaccepting attitude drove him away.
Later, Xu Tutu happened to run into Xu Huai at school and was caught. He was brought home again, where Xu Huai apologized, gave him his freedom, taught him about the human world, and allowed him to live as either human or cat.
The second time he ran away—from then until now—Jian Xun had asked him why, but Xu Tutu had been evasive and unwilling to explain. Jian Xun hadn’t pressed.
It was obvious it was Xu Huai’s fault!
Look at the cat in this room!
Look at the arrogant demeanor of this so-called Cat King! Jian Xun’s gaze shifted to the tabby cat sprawled on the cat climbing frame, leering down at him with condescending eyes, as if daring him to move so it could teach him a lesson.
This cat’s appearance and personality were exactly like Xu Tutu No. 2—and it even had a double. No wonder Xu Tutu had run away from home. Who would want to endure such injustice?
Jian Xun pictured the scene and felt an immediate kinship.
When he had first come home and seen the cat in the boss’s arms, he had almost torn it apart!
“Sui Sui.” The doorknob turned, and the man’s voice called out. The big white cat immediately darted to the door.
Shang Xuci picked up the cat, adjusted its position, pinched its pink paw pads, and curved his thin lips slightly. “Let’s go home.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the big white cat pressed against his shoulder, its nose twitching as it sniffed at his mouth.
“Meow~”
Have you been drinking?!
“Don’t move.” Shang Xuci caught the cat’s arm and gently set it down before pulling out his phone to call a designated driver. He had originally planned not to drink during this trip, but after hearing Xu Huai’s confession, he had ended up sharing a few more drinks with him.
When the bus was almost at the Xu house, Shang Xuci stood at the roadside with the cat in his arms.
A heavy rain had delayed the bus. Shang Xuci held the cat close under an umbrella.
The fresh scent of rain and the thawed east wind after the beginning of spring lingered in the air. The clamor of the city faded in the downpour. Raindrops pattered on the ground, rooftops, and lush green leaves, weaving a peaceful, beautiful scene.
At the bus stop, Shang Xuci huddled under the umbrella with the cat, as if they were the only two in the world.
Jian Xun loved this feeling, purring uncontrollably, his paws kneading in contentment.
“Sneezy—”
The cat in his arms suddenly sneezed. Shang Xuci, still holding him, reached to touch his tail, which was curled around his arm. It was slightly damp from the drizzle carried by the wind.
Frowning, Shang Xuci took off his coat and wrapped it around the cat.
The sturdy lion cat lay on his father’s chest like a small baby, bundled up with only his furry head exposed. His ears twitched, and his claws gripped the fabric over Shang Xuci’s shoulder, trying not to let it slip.
The ten-minute journey stretched to half an hour. Shang Xuci sat in the car with his eyes closed, resting.
In the enclosed space, the intoxicating fragrance of his scent grew stronger to Jian Xun’s senses.
Shang Xuci kept his eyes shut even when the navigation system announced they were almost home.
The cat, motionless on his chest, stared intently at his face. His 28-inch side-slicked-back hairstyle, slightly parted and shaved at the sides, lent him a sharp, masculine air. Quietly, the cat extended a paw and stealthily poked the man’s handsome face, savoring the smooth feel of his skin—and pressing harder without thinking.
Then he was caught.
As the car rolled to a stop, the man opened his eyes, lowered them, and fixed his gaze on the cat. His voice was slightly hoarse. “Don’t move.”
The cat blinked innocently, trying to play cute. “Meow~”
Once they were home, the cat immediately began licking his fur. Shang Xuci took his pajamas and went into the bathroom to shower.
When he came out, the cat was squatting in the doorway, staring at him.
After blow-drying his hair, Shang Xuci sat in the teahouse with his cat in his lap, sipping hangover soup.
The cat lay sprawled across his legs without the slightest dignity, occasionally smacking his lips in deep sleep.
Jian Xun was dreaming. He dreamed of things falling from the sky like leaves. When he walked closer—wow—it was raining money!
The cat, dressed in luxurious clothes, performed a magical transformation. Pointing his arms toward the sky, hips twitching, he chanted a spell—Transform!
He rolled over from his prone position, four legs in the air, his soft white belly rising and falling with each breath. His two front paws waved unconsciously in the dream, his hind paws stomped against Shang Xuci’s body, and his front paws pointed skyward.
“Meow, meow, meow!”
Shang Xuci glanced down at the cat. Eyes shut, lips smacking—he was actually talking in his sleep!
He pulled out his phone to record the cute, ridiculous scene.
The corners of his lips curved faintly.
After coughing twice, he carried the cat back to the bedroom to sleep.
Lying in bed, the dream shifted.
The cat tried every magical transformation he knew but still couldn’t turn into a human. Frustrated, he began picking up coins with his paws.
After collecting a small pile, he rushed off to buy dried fish. Several large boxes clattered around him. The cat gnawed greedily, grunting until his white belly bulged into a little mound. Then he stretched and continued picking up coins.
Suddenly, the ground gave way beneath him. Coins and dried fish tumbled into the void. Jian Xun fell with them. Looking down, he saw a vast lava field. Even before he landed, the heat surged up to meet him.
Terrified, the cat flailed, digging at the air with all four paws in a desperate attempt to climb back up—
Jian Xun woke with a start. The quilt felt unusually hot. He immediately noticed Shang Xuci’s body temperature was far higher than normal. Slipping out from under the covers, he gently pressed a paw pad to Shang Xuci’s forehead.
!!!
The cat froze. Why is he so hot?!
“Meow?!”
The big white cat pressed a paw to Shang Xuci’s shoulder and pushed hard, trying to wake him.
But the man lay unresponsive, as if in a coma.
Jian Xun tried to transform into a human, but it felt like being trapped in a dream within a dream—no matter how he tried, he couldn’t change.
Jumping out of bed, the cat turned on the light and patted his face gently. This time, Shang Xuci’s eyes opened, empty and lifeless, without focus or reaction.
This could be serious—he needs a doctor.
Jian Xun dashed downstairs to the housekeeper’s room. He jumped at the doorknob only to find it locked. Panic swirled in his chest. Why is this happening now?!
He scratched frantically at the door, meowing as loudly and desperately as he could.
The housekeeper, hearing the distressed cries, got up and opened the door.
Seeing him emerge, Jian Xun meowed urgently. He couldn’t transform right now—he was so anxious, it was as if the words were on the tip of his tongue in human language.
The housekeeper, noticing the cat’s agitation, immediately sensed something was wrong.
The cat tugged at the housekeeper’s trouser leg and walked ahead.
Still unsure, the housekeeper asked, “Did something happen to the master?”
He knew that Sui Sui had been carried into the master’s room to sleep with him that night. The cat’s urgent behavior could only mean something had happened to Shang Xuci.
“Meow!”
Letting go of the trouser leg, Jian Xun headed upstairs, the housekeeper following close behind.
Inside the bedroom, the housekeeper touched Shang Xuci’s forehead. “It’s burning! He’s running a fever!”
He quickly called the family doctor.
The doctor arrived shortly after and administered a fever-reducing injection.
Once the doctor left, the housekeeper dozed off nearby. The cat curled up beside Shang Xuci, quietly leaning against him. Before long, a young man appeared in the room.
He gently nudged the housekeeper and said, “Grandpa Housekeeper, go rest. I’ll take care of the boss.”
After the housekeeper left, Jian Xun replaced the towel on Shang Xuci’s forehead with a fresh cold one, propping himself up on his arm and watching over him.
By dawn, Jian Xun had drifted off to sleep. When he woke, Shang Xuci was still unconscious. The housekeeper took over and told Jian Xun to have breakfast and get some rest.
Jian Xun carried the clothes Shang Xuci had changed out of the bedroom.
It wasn’t until noon that Shang Xuci finally opened his eyes.
“Sir, you’re awake! I’ll have Jian Xun bring you your medicine.”
When Jian Xun entered, Shang Xuci sat up, rubbing his temples, recalling how he had fallen asleep holding his cat before the fever began…
“Boss, take your medicine.” Jian Xun, seeing he was awake, tried to hide his relief as he brought the spoon to Shang Xuci’s lips.
Shang Xuci shook his head and took the bowl. “I’ll do it myself.”
He tipped his head back and drank it in one go.
Noticing a few strands of white cat hair clinging to his clothes, Shang Xuci glanced around. “Where’s the cat?”
“I put him back in the cat house,” Jian Xun replied quickly. “Do you want me to bring him over?”
Shang Xuci gave Jian Xun a long look. “No. I don’t want him catching anything.”
Jian Xun murmured, “That’s impossible. He slept with you all night, you know.”
“What did you say?”
“Ah—I said human illnesses can’t be passed to cats.”
The housekeeper interjected, “It was Sui Sui’s frantic knocking and constant meowing that made me realize you were sick, sir.”
“And Jian Xun stayed by your side all night,” he added.
“Ah, it was nothing,” Jian Xun said quickly, lowering his head with a shy flush. “It’s what I should do.”
Shang Xuci parted his lips slightly and said, “I’ll add 500 to your salary.”
Jian Xun: !!