Shang Xuci used to hate seeing others cry. To him, tears were the most worthless thing. He hadn’t cried for as long as he could remember. He’d been pricked by doctors, bullied by his stepmother’s servants, betrayed by those close to him, and even when his mother died, his eyes had only brimmed with tears—but never spilled them.
Tears, in his mind, only exposed a person’s fragility. Crying couldn’t solve anything.
But when he saw the boy’s tears, it felt as if someone had gripped his heart in a fist—tight, aching, and terrifying.
He couldn’t explain the feeling. Overwhelmed, afraid of losing control, Shang Xuci stepped forward and pulled him into his arms.
“Why are you crying?” His voice was low and soft, holding him as though he were the most fragile treasure in the world.
Jian Xun clung to his shoulders, his breathing uneven. When he came back to his senses, he quickly wiped away his tears.
Catching the faint scent of perfume on Shang Xuci and recalling Aunt Wang’s words, Jian Xun said unhappily, “You’re back.”
There was still a trace of a sob in his voice. He sniffed, his sorrow fading and giving way to displeasure—
as if it had been someone else crying moments ago.
Shang Xuci cupped the boy’s face, studied him, and asked again, “Why are you crying?”
Jian Xun had recovered by now. They were close—too close. Their posture felt almost intimate. He could feel the man’s warm breath against his skin, sending a tingling shiver down his spine.
And those dark, bottomless eyes… they were fixed only on him.
Jian Xun shook his head, forcing away the unwanted thoughts.
His heart was pounding. He swallowed, a faint blush of shame coloring his tone as he averted his gaze.
“I… I was watching a TV show. I… I couldn’t control myself.”
He stammered, bewildered.
Shang Xuci studied his face and saw no sign of a lie. His expression was unreadable. He let go of Jian Xun’s hand and shifted his gaze to the TV.
The drama was still playing, showing the female lead being tormented…
Shang Xuci: “…”
Jian Xun nervously tugged at the hem of his clothes, his hands twisting together as he stole glances at Shang Xuci’s face. Seeing that he said nothing, Jian Xun exhaled in relief—only to start feeling annoyed.
He hadn’t returned to Ludao Garden until eight o’clock that evening. After showering, changing clothes, and eating, he began packing his things. Only then did he notice that Uncle Zhao hadn’t prepared dinner for Shang Xuci. When he asked, he learned that Shang Xuci had gone to a drinking party.
While Aunt Wang was cleaning the living room, Jian Xun went to help. As they chatted, Aunt Wang glanced at her phone and said, “Oh my god, Mr. Shang went to Ye Se for dinner. He might not even be back tonight.”
Puzzled, Jian Xun asked, “Why? Does the food there smell that good?”
Could it really be better than Uncle Zhao’s cooking?
Aunt Wang shook her head, lowering her voice. “That’s not the smell of food.”
Noticing the young man’s curiosity, she winked and hinted, “It’s the smell of people.”
Jian Xun froze. “Eating… people?”
Aunt Wang, startled by his thought process, chuckled and whispered in his ear, “It’s the kind of place where men and women… have inappropriate fun together.”
Jian Xun’s face turned crimson.
No wonder Shang Xuci’s assistant had never taken him there—he’d gone to that kind of place for fun!
Time for fun, but no time for cats!
Jian Xun’s annoyance grew. He didn’t feel like going back to his room, so he grabbed the work from Aunt Wang’s hands and said, “I’ll help you!”
Aunt Wang eventually moved on to other topics, but Jian Xun wasn’t interested. He kept glancing at the wall clock, growing more impatient by the minute.
At one point, he transformed into a cat and went to the living room to ask the housekeeper to turn on the TV. He waited until nine o’clock, but Shang Xuci still hadn’t returned.
Sui Sui was furious and could only let out an indignant meow.
Then he grabbed the landline phone to make a call.
When Shang Xuci heard the meow, he softened his tone and promised, “I’ll be back soon.” Only then did the cat relent.
Finally, under the stunned gazes of the housekeeper and Aunt Wang, Sui Sui transformed back into a human and continued waiting in the living room.
Jian Xun changed the sofa cushion covers and stretched out to watch TV. It happened to be playing the domineering CEO-wife romance drama he had been following during his part-time job.
Before long, he was completely absorbed.
Just as the romance between the hero and heroine was heating up, the woman who had been kept as a substitute was in a car accident. Lying in the hospital, she was told she was pregnant. The heroine called the hero, only to be told that his true love had returned and he was on his way to see her.
The heroine sat alone on the cold hospital bed, covered in blood. Lowering her eyes, she whispered, “Let’s have the surgery.”
The scene of her abandonment began to unfold, the music perfectly capturing the heartbreak. Jian Xun—ever prone to crying—burst into tears.
And that was when Shang Xuci saw him.
Jian Xun still looked at Shang Xuci with longing.
Shang Xuci sighed. “Go to bed.”
“I can’t sleep.”
He followed behind Shang Xuci, and when he saw that he wasn’t heading toward the bedroom, he quickly said, “I’ll stay with you for a while.”
Shang Xuci almost asked in what capacity—aware that such a question could sound ambiguous. But now that he knew Jian Xun was Sui Sui, his cat, he figured cats didn’t understand such things. Seeing that aggrieved expression softened his heart, so he let him follow.
Shang Xuci sat in the tea room to sober up. He felt a little unsettled, leaning back on the sofa and rubbing his temples.
Jian Xun had smelled the alcohol on him since the moment he hugged him. He stepped closer, took his hand, and said, “I can massage you. It’ll make you feel better.”
Shang Xuci lowered his hand and closed his eyes.
Jian Xun immediately began, his warm palms gently cradling Shang Xuci’s head. Starting from his forehead, he slowly and rhythmically moved toward his temples. His touch carried a soothing magic, like a gentle stream washing away the day’s fatigue.
With his fingertips, he pressed lightly against the scalp, working from the nape of the neck upward to the crown, then back to the forehead, repeating the process in a steady rhythm.
Shang Xuci’s breathing grew slow and deep, his expression relaxing into peaceful contentment.
Sui Sui had massaged him before—kitten paws on his legs or shoulders—but never had he been so absorbed.
After being away from home for just a few months, he had mastered this technique with the skill of a seasoned pro. Shang Xuci couldn’t help but ask, “Where did you learn this?”
Jian Xun watched his expression during the massage; at least he looked relaxed, not displeased.
“I learned it while working,” he answered honestly.
When the massage ended, Shang Xuci sat up, poured two cups of tea, and pushed one toward Jian Xun. Flattered, Jian Xun drank it in one gulp.
Shang Xuci, feigning casual curiosity, asked, “Have you ever worked in a massage parlor?”
Jian Xun pursed his lips. “Yeah. I trained for a week, but I never got a permanent position. I quit—it was basically free labor.”
Shang Xuci interlaced his fingers and asked evenly, “Is this how you served customers?”
“Boss, have you never been to a massage parlor?” Jian Xun looked at him. “We don’t massage people on chairs. We do it on the bed.”
On the bed.
Shang Xuci’s grip on his teacup tightened, unbothered by the scorching heat. His pale fingertips flushed red.
His eyes darkened; so did his expression.
Jian Xun noticed and tried to read his thoughts. He drained his third cup of tea, yet the man still said nothing.
He then suggested, “How about we go to bed too?”
Shang Xuci’s temples throbbed. His emotions were close to breaking, his mind on the verge of collapse. He gritted his teeth and said, “Jian Xun, you know you can’t say that so casually?”
Jian Xun immediately understood what he meant. Lifting his teacup, he explained, “We’re just masseuses—nothing else. Why can’t I say that casually?”
He stared at Shang Xuci, his tone confident but edged with sarcasm. “We’re a legitimate massage parlor. Real masseuses, not the kind who eat and drink with customers and have women hanging off them!”
Jian Xun was a little angry. If it weren’t for the fact that he’d been waiting for Shang Xuci to come home so he could take care of him and talk with him, he would have turned into a cat and smacked him with his paw. Who would give him a massage only to be misunderstood like this?
Shang Xuci had never seen Jian Xun angry before. Seeing the young man’s pouting lips, his chest rising and falling, and his clenched fists resting on the table, he was just about to explain when Jian Xun suddenly stood up and said, “I’m going to bed.”
Without giving Shang Xuci a chance to respond, he ran out.
Shang Xuci narrowed his eyes, then headed to the bathroom for a shower. When he returned to his room, he saw the large white cat smoothing out the sheets.
“Ahem.”
He cleared his throat. Sui Sui froze, then plopped himself down in the center of the bed, turning his back on him.
Shang Xuci sat on the edge of the bed and reached out to touch him. The cat swatted his hand, pointedly refusing the contact.
“Sorry, I’m late.” Shang Xuci lowered himself to his eye level, speaking sincerely. “I just ate—I didn’t touch anyone.”
Sui Sui lowered his head, cautiously approaching and locking his gaze on him.
Then, without warning, he thrust out his little cat fists and punched him on the shoulder.
“Meow!”
That’s for criticizing me!
That’s for doubting me!
You bad guy!
Shang Xuci didn’t dare move. If not for the cat’s obvious irritation, he might have thought he was just drooping his shoulders. Thinking of the massage Jian Xun had given him earlier in the tea room, he realized he was venting his anger.
Good boy, Sui Sui, don’t be mad.” Shang Xuci softened his voice, coaxing him into forgiving him
After a flurry of punches, the cat finally allowed him to take his paw. Then he leaned in and sniffed him—face, neck, chest, then hands. Once he confirmed he only smelled of shower gel, he flicked his tail in satisfaction.
Shang Xuci lifted the quilt and patted the spot beside him. “Go to sleep.”
The big white cat gave him a sidelong glance before leaping onto the bed and stepping directly onto his stomach.
He wants to sleep on me!
Shang Xuci took a deep breath. His belly felt heavy, and he wanted to change his sleeping position. He reached out and patted the cat’s rump. The cat moved forward a step, planting itself directly on his chest before lying down again. Its paws rested on his collarbone, its head tucked under his chin. Warm breath fanned over his neck and chest, seeping into his limbs.
Even though he tried to appear relaxed, Shang Xuci still felt uneasy. The weight on his chest made breathing difficult, and he struggled to support himself. When the cat began to purr, he carefully rolled onto his side and wrapped it gently in his arms.
He thought, Sui Sui really needs to lose some weight.