In the end, it was the two fish from the aquatic area that soothed the cat’s sorrow.
That evening, Sui Sui feasted on a whole fish. The lion cat, belly swollen and white, lay on the floor with its legs in the air, refusing to join Gu Zhen and the others for a walk.
The sky was gray, and night was approaching.
Shang Xuci was walking with his grandmother in a nearby park. Along the way, they met her sisters and began chatting. Gu Zhen finally had the chance to show off her grandson. The man was good-natured and stood beside the elderly woman with a smile—until they caught sight of a familiar figure.
“Grandma, I have to leave for a while. I’ll see you later.”
Gu Zhen cheerfully agreed.
Shang Xuci lengthened his stride and went after the man.
At first, he only caught a glimpse of the young man’s profile. It wasn’t until they reached a streetlight at the edge of the neighborhood that he saw his full face.
Shang Xuci lifted his eyes, his gaze falling on the neighborhood name, and frowned slightly. Seeing his furtive movements, Shang Xuci stepped forward and grasped his arm. “Shang Yi.”
The young man turned around and, upon seeing Shang Xuci, looked as though he had seen a ghost. He quickly ducked his head and tugged at his zipper, pretending not to recognize him.
Shang Xuci simply pulled back the hood of his sweatshirt and said expressionlessly, “You snuck back home.”
Shang Yi flinched, but when he met Shang Xuci’s cold eyes, he muttered, “Yeah, I did. What? Are you going to tell Grandpa?”
“If I did, you’d already be taken back.” Shang Xuci’s eyes flickered uncertainly. “What are you doing here?”
“I didn’t tell my mother I came back, so I couldn’t go home. I had to stay at a friend’s place. I’m right here,” Shang Yi said, without the slightest blush or a racing heart.
Shang Xuci cut him off directly: “You wouldn’t be sneaking around just to stay at a friend’s place. You’re here to see Tang Mu.”
“Yes, Tang Mu is my friend, I—” Shang Yi froze, realizing what had been said. “You knew! You set me up!”
“You want to see Tang Mu, but waiting here won’t work.” Shang Xuci checked the time on his watch and curled his lips. “If you want to see him, I can call him down.”
Shang Yi gave him a wary look and muttered, “Since when are you so kind?”
“Don’t believe me, then.” Shang Xuci shifted his stance, crossing his legs.
“Hey, wait.” Shang Yi tugged at his sleeve. “Help me get him down.”
After saying that, he hesitated, then asked, “Why are you helping me?”
Shang Xuci paused while typing on his phone, then said calmly, “Don’t you want to know the truth? Go and see for yourself. No matter how much others tell you, you won’t believe it.”
“…Fine. I’ll trust you this time.”
The night wind picked up. The thin sweatshirt did little to cover the young man’s emaciated frame, and he curled up against the chill.
Before long, someone walked out of the neighborhood. Tang Mu glanced at the two of them, his gaze finally settling on Shang Xuci. He politely asked, “Mr. Shang, would you like to come upstairs and sit for a while?”
“I’m not going,” Shang Xuci declined. “Is your mother not home?”
“She’s not here today.” Tang Mu turned to the young man, who was about his age. “Shang Yi, what are you doing here? Did you want to see me?”
“Yes. There’s something I need to make clear.”
Shang Yi was raised under the care of Xu Rong, and his path to music was laid out by his mother. From the moment he began to study, he was hailed as a genius. That was the only word he ever heard along his journey. Songwriting and lyrics were all managed by his mother, and it had always been this way.
But one day, someone called him a thief—twice, in front of the entire world. How could Shang Yi, a child praised as a genius, accept this so easily? Unable to get any answers from his mother, he dwelled on it day after day, running back only to figure out why things had come to this.
Tang Mu, looking far more mature than Shang Yi, said calmly, “It’s cold outside. Come with me. I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
He spoke slowly, giving Shang Xuci a deep look. No wonder Mr. Shang had said Shang Yi would come to him one day and warned him to be prepared. He hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
Shang Xuci said, “I’m going back to see Grandma, so I won’t be going up with you. Contact me if you need anything.”
He was speaking to Tang Mu, but Shang Yi was faintly dissatisfied. Even if he and Shang Xuci had a casual relationship, he was still his younger brother. How could Shang Xuci treat an outsider better than him?
So on the way, he asked without thinking, “What’s your relationship with Shang Xuci?”
Tang Mu didn’t answer. He only said, “You’re so well protected.”
Now Tang Mu understood why Shang Xuci hadn’t gone upstairs with them. With Shang Xuci there, Shang Yi would never believe a word he said—about what Xu Rong had done to his family, about how Shang Yi had unknowingly deprived him of everything. But with just the two of them, it was different.
He would peel back the cruel truth, bit by bit, for this young master to see.
It would be interesting to learn whether Shang Yi, like his mother, was just as black-hearted, or if he would simply feign ignorance and remain in denial.
Tang Mu lived in an old neighborhood with narrow stairwells, and there happened to be a power outage. He walked ahead, guided only by the dim glow of his phone. Shang Yi had never been to a place like this before. Dust coated the stairs, and the stone walls were mottled with age. As the staircase grew darker, fear pricked at him, and he hurried to follow Tang Mu closely, asking him to slow down.
Tang Mu thought darkly, Young Master really is different. He’s never set foot in a place like this. A sarcastic smile flickered in the shadows.
After that night, Shang Yi’s whereabouts became unknown. When Tang Mu told Shang Xuci what had happened, Shang Xuci only instructed him to let it be and not to keep tabs on him.
…
That evening, after returning to his grandmother’s house, Shang Xuci washed his hands and went to hold the cat. The big white cat was still fast asleep, its tail wrapped around his waist, its paws clasped around his neck, nestled against his chest in a deep slumber.
“Grandma, I told Brother Gu to pick you up for the hospital tomorrow morning,” Shang Xuci reminded her. “Focus on completing this course of treatment at the hospital. I’ll come visit you.”
After his conversation with Shang Wei that day, it seemed the company’s situation could no longer be hidden from the old man. The summons would come soon.
Gu Zhen smiled and said, “Don’t worry. Grandma hasn’t seen you married yet. You’ll definitely take good care of yourself.”
Shang Xuci was about to leave when the old lady reminded him, “When you have time, ask Meng Jingxue to come by. I haven’t seen her in ages.”
Shang Xuci parted his lips, wanting to say that he and Meng Jingxue had nothing to do with each other, but when he met the old lady’s eager gaze, he ultimately stayed silent.
I’ll explain after Grandma finishes her treatment.
Placing the cat in the passenger seat, Shang Xuci drove home.
Almost the moment he carried the cat into the bedroom and set it on the bed, Jian Xun woke up.
He squinted his eyes and watched the man lie down. Clinging to him, his tail rhythmically patted Shang Xuci’s belly, like a child coaxing him to sleep, purring softly.
Once the man’s breathing had evened out and he had fallen asleep, the cat, wide awake, opened its eyes, stood, and stretched.
It rolled around the bed again and again.
Can’t sleep, so bored. Want to play.
The cat quietly slipped down to the floor, its gaze fixed on the tablet on the bedside table. It was the same size and had the same cover he’d played with before. Jian Xun jumped onto the table, entered the password, and successfully unlocked it.
The password hadn’t been changed!
The lock screen and start screen were still the dried fish he’d set before!
Jian Xun glanced back at the bed, adjusted his posture, and focused on surfing the internet.
After staying up until three o’clock watching the little female cat, Jian Xun finally yawned and crawled back into bed. At daybreak, he slipped out from under the covers, glanced at the man still asleep, tiptoed out to open the door, and returned to his room to change back into his human self. He cooked and ate breakfast in the staff area, then went back to his room to fetch the small leather shoes drying on the balcony.
When he appeared before Shang Xuci, canvas bag slung over his shoulder and full of energy, he found him waiting at the door. Jian Xun took the elevator with him down to the parking lot, and together they drove to the company.
The receptionist was already accustomed to the boss’s new routine. Even though the two of them had their own private elevator, Jian Xun noticed nothing unusual.
After the CEO’s elevator doors closed, Fu Qian, who had just arrived at the employee elevator, drew a wave of curious glances.
Everyone knew that Fu Qian, with his intimidating face and reserved demeanor, was actually a kind person. Someone couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Fu, is that new guy Jian Xun related to the boss? President Shang takes him everywhere.”
“More than that. This isn’t the first or even the second time I’ve seen him in the boss’s car, right?”
“They always go to and from work together.”
“We just took the private elevator together again. Mr. Shang seemed in a good mood.”
Most of the people in the elevator were from the same office, close colleagues chatting idly about gossip.
As one of the boss’s trusted favorites, Fu Qian didn’t know how to answer the question. He had his own suspicions, but since he hadn’t verified them yet, he dared not speak carelessly.
When the elevator reached the 19th floor, Fu Qian reminded them, “The boss doesn’t like people discussing his personal affairs. You’d better be careful.”
With that, he stepped out of the elevator.
Still, the name Jian Xun was now firmly on his watch list.
As Jian Xun entered the office area, he keenly sensed that everyone was watching him with teasing smiles. He quietly sat down at his workstation. The woman beside him swiveled her chair over and asked, “You were with the boss again today?”
Jian Xun nodded. “Yes.”
His answer was so matter-of-fact. After all, wasn’t it normal for an assistant to come and go with the boss?
Simple-minded, Jian Xun didn’t understand the hidden implications. Tang Jing, who treated him kindly, asked whatever came to mind, and he answered without reservation.
“So you’re living at the boss’s house?!” Tang Jing blurted out in surprise. Realizing everyone around them was listening, she quickly sat back down and muttered under her breath, “No wonder, no wonder…”
“No wonder what?”
“Nothing, nothing,” Tang Jing said with a smile. “No wonder the boss treats you so well.”
Jian Xun ignored her teasing tone and simply agreed. “The boss is a very nice person.”
At noon, Jian Xun placed two lunch boxes on the table. A passing female colleague exclaimed in surprise, “Xiao Xun, are you eating two lunches?”
“No, one’s for the boss.”
Just then, Jian Xun’s phone buzzed. It was Shang Xuci, replying to his lunch message. He immediately stood up and headed toward the boss’s office, a smile spreading across his face.
Behind him, a group of female colleagues gasped at his words.
“I knew it, they must be living together! Even sharing lunch boxes.”
“No wonder the boss hasn’t been to the cafeteria lately. Turns out he has a loving lunch made by his wife.”
“Haha, I can’t take it anymore!”
…
After lunch, Jian Xun returned to his workstation to rest, only to find that his female colleagues now looked at him with even more affection than before.
In the afternoon, Jian Xun received a call from Xu Tutu, asking him to come home early.
After work, Jian Xun returned to Ludao Garden, packed his bags, and briefly greeted the housekeeper before heading back to Xu Tutu’s place.
The young man, his left leg in a cast, lounged lazily on the sofa with a thermos in hand, the TV playing in the background. When he turned and saw Jian Xun, his eyes lit up.
“You’re back?”
Jian Xun set the food on the table and hurried over. “What happened to your leg?”
“I was brave enough to help someone and got hit by a car,” Xu Tutu said. “The doctor said it’ll heal with some rest.”
Seeing Jian Xun’s worried frown, he quickly added, “Really—give it a few months and I’ll be up and running again.”
“A few months…”
“Well, the company gave me leave, and the driver compensated me. I’ll be staying home to recuperate. You don’t know how urgent it was. The old woman could barely walk, and she was frail. If I hadn’t saved her, she might have died…”
As he listened to Xu Tutu’s story, Jian Xun caught a few key words and immediately asked, “When… when did this accident happen?”
Xu Tutu raised both thumbs slowly. “Three days ago.”
“Three days ago?!” Jian Xun was stunned. “If I hadn’t been coming back this weekend, you wouldn’t have told me?”
Xu Tutu gave a guilty laugh. “No, why wouldn’t I tell you? We cats are the most loyal. You’re my little brother. If something happens, I’ll definitely tell you.”
Jian Xun glanced at the unwashed dishes in the kitchen and the half-eaten takeout boxes on the coffee table. He said firmly, “Until your leg heals, I’ll come back every day to take care of you.”
Xu Tutu thought to himself, This isn’t good… Jian Xun has such a strict schedule. I usually stay up late watching TV and playing games. If he comes every day, he’ll supervise me!
“This is… this is too much trouble for you,” he protested.
“We cats are the most loyal. You’re my big brother. I have an obligation to take care of you,” Jian Xun replied without wavering.
Xu Tutu nodded slowly. “Okay, alright.”
At least he’d still have his freedom during the day.
Jian Xun rolled up his sleeves and started cleaning the house. Xu Tutu followed his movements with his eyes, all the while asking about work.
Jian Xun thought for a moment, then told him about the strange looks and affectionate smiles his colleagues had been giving him.
Xu Tutu frowned. “Why? What did they ask? What did you say?”
“Nothing much, just about my relationship with the boss.” Jian Xun picked cat hair off the floor, then suddenly, on a whim, asked, “Brother Tutu, can you still turn into a cat like this?”
“Of course.”
Bang—
A massive tabby cat, nearly the size of a human, sprawled across the sofa. Cat hair drifted down through the air, landing right on the patch of floor Jian Xun had just mopped.
Jian Xun: “…”
He really shouldn’t have asked that question.
The huge tabby cat lay on its side, tail swishing as it stared at him. “Let’s get back to the topic.”
Jian Xun obediently told his eldest brother everything he knew.
“Your relationship doesn’t exactly look like that of a boss and employee,” Xu Tutu said. “You live at the boss’s house because you used to be his housekeeper—that’s understandable. But you ride in the boss’s car every day to and from work. Of course people are going to gossip.”
Jian Xun was baffled. “The boss is a nice guy. It’s just a side thing.”
“He can’t just keep doing that every single day.” Xu Tutu peeled an orange and popped a slice into his mouth. “What kind of boss waits for his employee to go home with him, both to and from work?”
Xu Tutu wasn’t just exaggerating. Every time he accidentally rode the same elevator as the boss at his own company, it felt like the sky was falling. Who would want to see the boss twice a day—commuting both ways?
If he didn’t know that Jian Xun’s boss was also his poop scooper, he’d honestly think the guy was a masochist.
“I don’t wait every day.” Jian Xun thought carefully. Something about it did feel off.
“Exactly.” Xu Tutu looked satisfied. “So just stagger your hours with his.”
Jian Xun thought for a moment and nodded. “Okay.”
That night, Jian Xun lay in bed scrolling on his phone, checking possible routes. He could ride his bike to the main entrance, then take the bus to the subway. After changing lines, he could get off, transfer to another bus, and ride two more stops to reach the office—a total of about an hour.
If he started from Xu Tutu’s house, he wouldn’t need a bike. There was a bus stop right downstairs; he could ride one stop to the subway, then follow the same transfer route. The commute time would be about the same.
Still, it felt so far.
Jian Xun cleared his mind, turned over, and opened Taobao. What he needed now was a bicycle.
Ludao Garden, study.
Shang Xuci set down his coffee cup and glanced toward the door. No one was there—not even a cat.
He carried the empty cup to the cat room, but there was no sign of Sui Sui.
In the living room, he poured himself another glass of water and asked the housekeeper, “Where’s Jian Xun?”
“He went home.”
“Home?” Shang Xuci frowned slightly, his fingers absently rubbing the delicate porcelain cup. He remembered that Jian Xun had no relatives, barely enough money for rent, and had been living in the Ludao Garden staff dormitory. Now he suddenly had a home?
Shang Xuci lowered his eyes, silent.