Chapter 26
Jiang Heng thought he wouldn’t see Lu Yichuan for the next few days, but unexpectedly, he returned that afternoon.
His clothes were almost completely soaked, his cap pulled low, obscuring most of his face. He was shivering, his exposed jaw sharp and cold.
Jiang Heng squatted by the door, watched him for a moment, and meowed tentatively.
Lu Yichuan took off his cap, squatted down, and patted him, his fingertips as cold as the rain. “What? Bored?”
Unable to communicate properly, Jiang Heng simply rubbed against him affectionately. “Meow…”
Lu Yichuan, don’t be sad. Being a cat is much more fun than being a human.
Lu Yichuan didn’t understand what he meant. He stroked his chin, the gold watch strap inevitably brushing against him.
Jiang Heng naturally remembered this watch.
After his college entrance exams, he had worked at his family’s company for a month, earning his first paycheck ever.
It wasn’t much, only four or five thousand yuan.
The day after he received his salary, he went to the mall and chose this watch.
Jiang Heng had no discerning eye for fashion and simply liked shiny things. The watch had cost almost all of his salary, but he had been happy.
But he had regretted it the moment he gave it to Lu Yichuan.
The man was refined and understated, his accessories discreet yet expensive. A single tie clip of his could cost tens of thousands of yuan. His own several-thousand-yuan watch, which looked like a nouveau riche purchase, looked out of place on Lu Yichuan’s wrist.
Even Jiang Heng, with his lack of aesthetic sense, felt that the watch looked like a flower stuck in cow dung when he saw Lu Yichuan wearing it.
Uncharacteristically shy, he had tried to take the watch back, but Lu Yichuan easily dodged him.
Lu Yichuan was already a head taller than him and always looked down at him when they spoke, but it never felt condescending.
“Little Jiang Heng, there’s no taking back a gift once it’s given.”
The man raised his hand. Jiang Heng jumped, trying to reach for the watch, but only managed to brush against his arm, getting his scent all over himself. “It’s too ugly, I don’t think it suits you. Why don’t you give it back to me? I’ll get you a better one next time.”
Lu Yichuan stood still, letting him fuss. After he finally tired himself out, he glanced at his long eyelashes and said slowly, “What’s ugly about it? I think it looks good. Gold represents wealth and prosperity.”
Jiang Heng looked at him suspiciously. “Do you really think so?”
It was summer, and soon the watch strap was warm from Lu Yichuan’s body heat. “When have I ever lied to you?”
“But I’ve never seen you wear anything gold…”
The man lowered his eyes at the right moment. “You know, I don’t have much say in things at the Lu family. There are many things I can’t control.”
Jiang Heng’s heart instantly ached for him. “Th-then you can wear this. If anyone asks, just say it was a gift from me.” He pulled Lu Yichuan’s hand down and touched the shiny watch face, clearly cherishing it. “But my salary isn’t that high, so I couldn’t afford solid gold.”
Lu Yichuan comforted him, “It’s best not to flaunt your wealth. I think gold-plated is just right. I won’t be heartbroken if it’s lost. When we have more money, we’ll buy a solid gold one to keep at home.”
Jiang Heng was easily appeased. “I think you’re right. Don’t worry, when I start working and have money, I’ll definitely buy you a big gold watch.”
While he spoke, Lu Yichuan simply looked at him, the spot where the boy’s hand touched his skin burning like fire, making his throat dry.
“Rongrong…” Lu Yichuan withdrew his hand, clenching his fingers to suppress the sudden urge. “How much did this watch cost you?”
Jiang Heng tugged at his clothes sheepishly. “N-not much. My salary isn’t very high. My brother said since I wanted to work, he would pay me an intern’s salary. I only have five hundred yuan left after buying this, but it’s still enough to treat you to hot pot.”
Hearing this, Lu Yichuan found the urge in his heart even harder to suppress.
“So you spent all your money on me?”
The boy blinked, looking slightly confused. “If not on you, then who? You spend your money on me, so naturally I should spend my money on you. Do you think it’s too little?”
“Not at all.”
Lu Yichuan chuckled and touched his face.
But suppressing his desires only led to a stronger rebound.
“Rongrong is so capable, earning so much money on his first job.”
“I’m not that capable…” Jiang Heng tugged at his clothes, his eyes clear. “Since I’m so capable, can I be rewarded with a strawberry cake from the shop near the university?”
“Besides cake?”
Jiang Heng counted on his fingers. “The fried skewers from the backstreet, the spicy hot pot from my favorite place, and that new barbecue place my classmate told me about, it’s supposed to be really good…”
All junk food he wasn’t usually allowed to eat.
Seeing that Lu Yichuan remained silent, Jiang Heng pouted. “I’m not that greedy. Just one or two things is fine.”
He took out the remaining five hundred yuan from his pocket, trying to bribe him. “A normal hot pot meal doesn’t cost this much, right? Is there anything you want? I can treat you.”
The man’s voice was unhurried. “I don’t want anything. I only hope…”
He looked at the boy in front of him. “That Rongrong will grow up quickly.”
“Lu Yichuan, I’m already eighteen!”
“Really? But you still act like a child.”
“It’s your fault! Which pillar of the nation, fresh out of high school, has to ask permission to eat fried skewers? I’m eighteen, I can earn my own money, I should have the right to spend it however I want!”
“An eighteen-year-old adult only thinks about eating fried skewers?”
“What else is there?”
Lu Yichuan was momentarily speechless.
Finally, he said,
“Little Jiang Heng, waiting for you to grow up is going to be a long journey.”
He hadn’t expected that he wouldn’t have the chance to see him grow up.
…
Jiang Heng snapped back to reality and looked at the watch on Lu Yichuan’s wrist.
Four years later, the watch looked the same as when he had given it, except for a few faint scratches on the shiny surface, probably from being dropped. The scratches were so faint that they were barely noticeable amidst the glittering gold.
He unconsciously leaned closer, narrowing his eyes to get a better look.
Was it his imagination, or was the time on the watch wrong?
Before he could see clearly, Lu Yichuan pushed his head away.
He pulled his sleeve down to cover the watch. “You can’t play with this. Mimi, stay here for a bit, I’m going to take a shower.”
Lu Yichuan went to the closet to get his clothes, the kitten trotting after him and almost bumping into him when he turned.
As Lu Yichuan undressed, the kitten squatted at the foot of the bed, staring up at him.
Lu Yichuan took off his jacket and lifted the hem of his T-shirt, about to take it off, when he saw a gleam in the kitten’s glassy eyes.
“…”
He lowered his shirt, chuckled, and headed towards the bathroom with his pajamas.
Jiang Heng felt a flicker of disappointment but didn’t think it was his fault. Seeing Lu Yichuan leave, he followed him.
He hadn’t intended to follow him into the bathroom, but his low perspective and his close proximity to Lu Yichuan’s heels made him lose track of where he was going.
When he realized Lu Yichuan had stopped, he was scooped up into the air.
His view suddenly rose like a rollercoaster, and when Jiang Heng came to his senses, he was face to face with Lu Yichuan.
“Little pervert, you’re not allowed in here.”
Jiang Heng turned his head and finally saw the showerhead above Lu Yichuan’s head.
He flailed his short legs in the air.
No, listen to my explanation…
But before he could formulate a coherent sentence, he was placed on the mat outside the bathroom door.
Click. The door closed firmly, and through the frosted glass, he could vaguely make out a tall, slender figure.
Jiang Heng froze.
The sound of running water brought him back to reality. He quickly turned around, facing away from the bathroom.
His face felt warm.
It wasn’t that he had never seen Lu Yichuan shower before, but that was before high school, when they could still comfortably share a bathtub and play with rubber duckies…
Well…Jiang Heng had been the one playing.
But after Lu Yichuan started high school, whether due to adolescent self-consciousness or teenage rebellion, he not only refused to bathe with him but also started changing clothes in private.
Jiang Heng hadn’t expected to see this again after so many years.
He thought, it was a good thing Lu Yichuan hadn’t showered with him back then, otherwise, seeing his own skinny, chicken-like body, he would have dug a hole and buried himself alive.
After a while of random thoughts, Jiang Heng remembered his purpose for following Lu Yichuan.
He seemed to be in good spirits, responding normally, even joking around, not at all like someone wallowing in grief.
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
See! He had been right. Time healed all wounds, especially after four years, enough time to have a child and send them to kindergarten, let alone forgetting someone.
Jiang Heng felt a tinge of melancholy, but overall, he was happy.
Seeing that Lu Yichuan was doing well, he decided to reward himself with a cat treat.
While the man was showering, Jiang Heng trotted over to the cabinet. Lu Yichuan hadn’t closed it properly when he poured the cat food earlier, leaving a small gap, and he had seen it.
Other cats might not know how to open a cabinet, but was he just any other cat?
He skillfully opened the cabinet door, located the bag of treats, retrieved one with an awkward but purposeful movement, and tore open the package with practiced ease.
When Lu Yichuan came out of the bathroom, Jiang Heng had already finished two treats and was engrossed in his third. Seeing the man looking down at him, he froze, the half-eaten treat falling from his mouth unnoticed. He waved a paw, trying to look innocent.
“Meow…”
The man squatted down, picked up the half-eaten treat, and said, his face not showing any anger, “You like these?”
Jiang Heng had always had a weak will. He had only managed to grow up healthy thanks to Lu Yichuan’s strict control over his diet. Even junk food required his permission; one could imagine the kind of life he had lived.
He glanced at Lu Yichuan, feeling guilty.
After all, cat treats were like snacks; eating too many wasn’t good for his health and could make him a picky eater.
He was prepared to be scolded, but instead, Lu Yichuan offered him the remaining half of the treat, smiling gently. “Eat if you like them, I won’t mistreat you.”
The aroma of the treat wafted into Jiang Heng’s nose, and he couldn’t resist licking it. Seeing that Lu Yichuan was sincere, he was deeply touched and burrowed into his arms.
Lu Yichuan, you’re so nice! You’re much more generous to a cat than you were to me. I swear, I’ll be your cat forever!
Such a small cat, yet so strong. Lu Yichuan felt a tightness in his chest from the impact.
He lifted the cat, seeing its eagerness, its desire to express its devotion in human words, and paused. “You like me that much?”
“Meow!”
“You like me that much…” The man drawled, his fingertips brushing past the corner of the kitten’s eye. “I like Mimi very much too.”
Jiang Heng smiled shyly, not noticing the lack of warmth in the man’s eyes.
Time passed. After a few weeks, Jiang Heng was no longer a pink-skinned cat. A short layer of fur had grown back.
Although he still looked strange, at least he wasn’t bald anymore.
He sat in front of the full-length mirror, examining himself.
He was much leaner than when he first arrived, probably because he was growing quickly. He hadn’t gained much weight, just longer and thinner. As for his height…
Jiang Heng looked down at his short legs.
It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay!
He comforted himself. He would grow taller eventually.
As for his fur color…
Jiang Heng turned around, examining himself from all angles. All he saw was a layer of pale white fur.
Was he a white cat?
Could he star in laundry detergent commercials then?
A few seconds later, Jiang Heng snapped out of his daydream and smacked his head against the mirror.
It was all because of those additive-filled cat treats!
Lu Yichuan had been busy recently. Zhao Shuo occasionally mentioned it when he came to the dorm, something about an event with his tutor, frequent meetings and outings.
But he was still very attached to Jiang Heng.
Not fondness, but attachment.
He would hold him as soon as he came home, not petting or playing with him, just holding him quietly, and whenever Jiang Heng left his sight, he would be retrieved.
Jiang Heng found it strange and observed him for a long time but couldn’t figure it out.
He was too dense to even tell whether Lu Yichuan was happy or sad.
But besides his occasional silences, Lu Yichuan seemed mostly positive and motivated, like he had truly moved on.
…
The sound of meows from the balcony interrupted Jiang Heng’s thoughts.
He went to the balcony and saw several cats peeking out from the branches of the plane tree.
A calico, a reluctant-looking orange tabby, and a timid tortoiseshell.
“Meow.”
“Come play!”
Jiang Heng ran towards them excitedly.
“Meow!”
Coming! Coming!
