Chapter 44
Zhao Huailan’s face darkened again, and she instinctively shielded Jiang Xingbai.
Jiang Xingbai tugged at her clothes. “Mom, you can go out first. I’ll talk to Yichuan-ge.”
Zhao Huailan frowned disapprovingly. “Xingbai…”
“I know what you’re going to say.” He smiled. “I’m not that fragile.”
Zhao Huailan still disapproved, but Jiang Xingbai just smiled at her. “I’ll be fine.”
Unable to argue with him, Zhao Huailan glared at Lu Yichuan and left the ward with her bag.
The midday sun was harsh, casting a bright glare on the hospital walls, the leaves of the potted plants by the window drooping slightly.
Jiang Xingbai slowly finished his congee and smiled at Lu Yichuan. “To be honest, I didn’t expect you to be so blunt.”
The white kitten climbed out of Lu Yichuan’s jacket and sat on the table.
Jiang Xingbai looked at it for a moment, then picked a piece of fish from his bland meal. “Want some?”
Jiang Heng shook his head.
“Your cat is so clever, much more interesting than mine.”
After a moment of silence, Jiang Xingbai said abruptly, “You said you came to see me on Jiang Heng’s behalf. How do you know he wants to see me? Maybe he’s hoping I’ll die on the operating table.”
Lu Yichuan, sitting across from him, simply picked up the cat and placed it back in his lap.
“He wouldn’t.”
Jiang Xingbai chuckled. “So I’m the only heartless one, huh?”
The cat in Lu Yichuan’s arms meowed. The man was silent for a few seconds, then said, “Jiang Xingbai, it’s all in the past. It’s more important to focus on the future than dwell on the past.”
Hearing this, Jiang Xingbai’s smile faded. “Lu Yichuan, did you really just say that?”
“No,” Lu Yichuan replied, “Jiang Heng said that.”
“That’s right…” Jiang Xingbai sighed softly. “In your heart, you’re probably hoping I’ll die soon, so I can go accompany Jiang Heng. No, wait…” he chuckled again, “I’m not even qualified to accompany him.”
“I’ve realized I’m quite pathetic,” he said. “I know you hate me, yet I still insist on seeing you, calling you ‘brother.’ Do you find it disgusting?”
Lu Yichuan didn’t speak.
Jiang Xingbai stared at him for a while, then suddenly felt deflated.
“I find it disgusting too.”
“I’m disgusting, you’re disgusting, everyone is disgusting…”
“They feel guilty towards Jiang Heng, so they transfer that guilt onto me, without even asking if I want it. Yes, they’re good to me, incredibly so, but this kindness always carries the shadow of another person. Sometimes, I can’t even tell who they’re thinking of when they look at me.”
“Everyone says I’m so lucky. I didn’t have to fight or compete, the moment I came back, Jiang Heng died, and everything became mine…”
Jiang Xingbai chuckled.
“But how can the living compete with the dead?”
…
After he finished speaking, silence returned to the room.
After a while, a soft, furry touch brushed against Jiang Xingbai’s fingertips. He looked down and met a pair of beautiful cat eyes.
“Meow…”
Lu Yichuan said, “But that doesn’t mean they don’t love you.”
He glanced at the kitten, then continued after a brief pause.
“It’s like gardening. Because of their neglect, they missed the first flower’s growth. It’s natural to think of the first flower when caring for the second. But their extra care for the second flower isn’t because it’s a replacement, but because they want it to grow healthy and strong, to avoid the fate of the first.”
“You’re connected to them by blood; there’s no stronger bond than that. Life is short, and they lost Jiang Heng; they don’t want to lose you too.”
Jiang Xingbai fidgeted with his fingers and turned his head away.
After a long silence, he asked, his voice slightly choked, “Who said that?”
“Jiang Heng.”
Lu Yichuan looked at the cat, and the cat looked at Jiang Xingbai. After a few seconds, the cat turned to Lu Yichuan and meowed.
Lu Yichuan bent down, picked up the cat, the soft, furry bundle turning in his arms.
Jiang Heng looked at Jiang Xingbai, and after a few seconds, he meowed softly.
“Meow…”
Goodbye.
“Goodbye,” Lu Yichuan said. “I hope your surgery goes well.”
…
Lu Yichuan, with the cat perched on his shoulder, passed by Zhao Huailan at the doorway.
Jiang Heng turned his head and watched as Zhao Huailan bent down and spoke to Jiang Xingbai. The warm sunlight enveloped them as they stood close together.
He had also been that close to her once, but later, he had wanted too much, and she had given too little, and they had drifted apart.
He didn’t deny that Zhao Huailan had loved him once, but now, things were different. It was too late for love, and he shouldn’t disturb them anymore.
Goodbye, Mom.
He whispered silently in his heart, then nuzzled Lu Yichuan’s neck.
“Let’s go.”
The man paused briefly at the doorway, then left, a faint scent of jasmine lingering in the air.
Zhao Huailan turned abruptly, looking at the empty doorway, a wave of grief washing over her.
This time, it felt like she had truly lost something…
A long avenue lined with camphor trees stretched out from the hospital entrance. The pet store where they were going to buy the toy mouse was just a ten-minute walk down the avenue.
Lu Yichuan decided to walk.
The dense foliage of the camphor trees blocked the sunlight, casting a cool shade. Jiang Heng clung to Lu Yichuan’s clothes and kneaded his shoulder, then nuzzled his neck, his voice muffled.
“Thank you for coming with me.”
Lu Yichuan stroked his head, sensing his sadness, wondering how to comfort him, when Jiang Heng spoke again.
“But…this is the last time I’ll see them of my own volition. From now on, I’m me, they are them. We’re no longer connected.”
He continued, “Jiang Xingbai’s surgery will be successful, and they will be a happy family. You and I, we’ll also be happy.”
“I don’t want the past to affect my present. Lu Yichuan, I hope you feel the same way too.”
Lu Yichuan froze.
The short-haired kitten nuzzled his neck and meowed softly.
“Of course, you might think I’m too kind, too forgiving, but they’re all living people. There’s no absolute right or wrong, and no one is perfect.”
“When we were younger, Mom and Dad were rarely home, and I threw tantrums and made a fuss all the time, so I understand Jiang Xingbai. The more you lack something, the more you fear losing it.”
Jiang Heng’s voice softened. “If we judge him from an outsider’s perspective, we might not be wrong, but it also makes us seem cold and heartless. We’re all human, not perfect characters in a story. If I were in his shoes, I might not even do as well as he did.”
He chuckled sheepishly. “Okay, fine, I’m soft-hearted. I want everyone to be happy. Anyway, this is the last time I’ll see them, so you can’t make fun of me!”
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, like a scattered galaxy.
Lu Yichuan stepped on the golden light, the wind ruffling his jacket, his tall figure looking thin and frail.
“I won’t make fun of you,” he said. “Rongrong is always kind to others, but who will be kind to Rongrong?”
Jiang Heng didn’t hesitate.
“Lu Yichuan will be kind to Rongrong.”
A smile finally appeared in the man’s eyes. “Lu Yichuan is kind to Rongrong, then who will be kind to Lu Yichuan?”
“Jiang Heng cares about Lu Yichuan.”
Not kindness, but care.
“I heard your conversation with Jiang Zhuo at the university entrance. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, but I don’t want you to see the Jiang family anymore. You’ve already done too much; none of this was your responsibility.”
“No matter what happens next, it’s between them and me. I’m an adult now, and although I’m not always very smart, I can make my own decisions.”
Jiang Heng, clinging to the man’s collar, climbed from one shoulder to the other, finding a comfortable position, and declared proudly,
“His Majesty the Cat decrees that Lu Yichuan’s shoulders are for carrying this cat, and nothing else.”
The man and the cat walked steadily along the camphor tree-lined avenue.
The small, silver-tipped ball of fluff, its tail held high, its eyes bright, said, “Look, we’re moving forward.”
And at the end of the path was sunlight.
The shadows were left far behind.
Little Jiang Heng went to the pet store and bought a fluffy toy mouse, a fluffy toy rabbit, a fluffy toy…
Lu Yichuan, his face wooden, put the toy cockroach back on the shelf.
The kitten, smaller than his shoe, circled his leg and pawed at the shelf.
“Meow…”
[Lu Yichuan, I want that cockroach.]
Lu Yichuan was firm. “Absolutely not.”
Jiang Heng tried to reach for it, his paw touching the price tag on the bottom shelf.
“…”
Who invented Munchkin cats? And why did they give them such long legs?!
The shop assistant chuckled. “These kinds of small insect toys are quite popular with kittens. The cockroach design is a bit scary, but don’t worry, we also have grasshoppers, crickets, praying mantises…”
Jiang Heng’s eyes lit up.
Lu Yichuan’s face darkened.
Ten minutes later, Jiang Heng left the pet store with a cricket plushie almost as big as his face.
Lu Yichuan held a toy mouse in one hand and a toy rabbit in the other, a cricket perched on his shoulder, his face expressionless.
The cricket plushie was actually quite cute, fluffy and round, not at all like a real insect. But for a man who hated bugs, just the name was enough to make him uncomfortable.
“Lu Yichuan, Lu Yichuan…”
Jiang Heng nudged him with his head. “Can you take a picture of me and my beloved Xiao Shuai?”
Lu Yichuan paused. “Who’s Xiao Shuai?”
Jiang Heng showed him the cricket plushie in his arms.
“Just one picture…” Jiang Heng pleaded. “The sunlight is so nice, commemorating our first encounter.”
It wouldn’t look this pristine for much longer.
Lu Yichuan took out his phone with a wooden face. Before Jiang Heng could even pose, he took a selfie with the kitten right up against his face.
Jiang Heng peered at the photo. “Lu Yichuan, you’re so lazy! You made Xiao Shuai look so ugly!”
“Not at all…” the man smiled. “I merely captured its inherent ugliness.”
Jiang Heng: “…”
Petty.
He thought to himself, I’ll put Xiao Shuai in your bed later.
It was already afternoon by the time they returned home.
As soon as they entered, Lu Yichuan frowned, noticing the open window.
He stopped, and Jiang Heng looked around. “What’s wrong?”
Lu Yichuan picked up the cat and held it close. “Someone’s been inside.”
Jiang Heng curled up against his chest, his paw pads touching something hard, but before he could react, Lu Yichuan’s words caught his attention. “A burglar?”
“I don’t know.” The man held the doorknob with one hand and texted the property management with the other, listening to the rustling sounds from inside, then opened the door.
The scene inside came into view.
Nothing seemed to be missing, except the cabinet where Jiang Heng’s food was kept was wide open, cat food spilled everywhere, cans and freeze-dried treats scattered around, and a familiar-looking, dusty, gas canister of a white cat was squatting on the floor, devouring Jiang Heng’s canned food.
Jiang Heng froze.
Jiang Heng was shocked.
Jiang Heng was furious.
“Meow!”
That’s my canned food!!!
Lu Yichuan’s eyelid twitched. He instinctively reached for the cat, but the cat was faster. Before he could react, Jiang Heng had jumped down and charged towards the gas canister.
The gas canister, like a small truck, was several times larger than Jiang Heng. Hearing his angry meows, it didn’t stop eating but instead ate even faster, as if it were its last meal.
Jiang Heng bit its tail, his fur bristling.
“Meow!”
That’s mine! Mine!
The gas canister didn’t even look up.
“Just one last bite, let me have one last bite…”
Jiang Heng pulled at its tail with all his might, trying to drag it away, but it remained rooted to the spot, its rear end shifting, pulling Jiang Heng off balance, and he landed on the floor with a thud.
Lu Yichuan picked up the kitten. “Don’t bite randomly, it’s dirty.”
Jiang Heng looked down from Lu Yichuan’s arms. Not only had his canned food been eaten, but several of his cat treats had also been devoured.
Cat treats! His reward for being a good boy!
Little Jiang Heng’s eyes welled up. “Lu Yichuan, from today onwards, I’m sworn enemies with that truck!”
Lu Yichuan: “…”
Under the forceful intervention of a human, the feline dispute was temporarily resolved.
The white truck…white cat looked longingly at Lu Yichuan putting the cat food and canned food back in the cabinet. Sensing the angry stare beside it, it licked its lips and said sincerely, “Your food is so delicious! Are you looking for another cat?”
Looking for you, my ass!
Jiang Heng swatted its face.
The white cat, with its thick fur, was unharmed. Jiang Heng, however, was knocked off balance.
“Thief! You shameless thief! Stealing my food!”
The white cat looked guilty. “I really didn’t come here to steal your food. I snuck in because I was looking for you. But you weren’t home, and then I smelled the delicious food in the cabinet and couldn’t resist…”
Jiang Heng continued to scold it. “You’re shameless! You ate my canned food, fine! But why did you eat my cat treats?!”
The white cat said honestly, “Your cat treats smelled delicious too.”
Jiang Heng: “…”
Under his reproachful gaze, the gas canister curled up, looking like a giant, fluffy dumpling.
Lu Yichuan finished cleaning up, sat down with Jiang Heng in his arms, and looked at the white cat. “Do you know it?”
Unpleasant memories resurfaced. “No, but I saw it lurking outside the wall last time. It said it wanted to take me away.”
The man’s eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping over the white cat. “I’m curious, where were you planning to take my cat?”
The white cat stared at Jiang Heng, shocked that he had betrayed it so easily.
Jiang Heng couldn’t help but say, “Don’t look at me like that, we’re not even friends.”
He took the opportunity to complain to Lu Yichuan, “And it told me to stay away from you, said you had ulterior motives, that I belonged with it.”
Hearing this, Lu Yichuan’s eyebrows rose slightly, but he didn’t look angry, instead smiling faintly.
“So, you not only know my cat, but you also know me.”
He stood up and looked down at the white cat. “I have a good memory, but I don’t think we’ve met.”
The white cat trembled and didn’t dare to speak, burying its head and inching towards the door, trying to escape Lu Yichuan’s gaze.
Lu Yichuan watched as it dragged its dirty fur across the floor, cleaning the paw prints it had made. Just as it was about to reach the door, he spoke, his voice unhurried.
“I have a friend who…enjoys eating cat meat. He’s quite particular about it too. He likes to shave the cat first, then find the plumpest part of its body and carve it out with a knife. Then he bandages the cat and waits for the flesh to grow back, then he…”
The closer he got to the door, the slower the gas canister moved, until finally, it huddled by the door, trembling.
Lu Yichuan approached silently, his voice lowering, “He also likes catching cats, especially fat ones. He likes to approach them stealthily, pretending to be friendly, then, when they’re not paying attention, he reaches out…”
As he spoke, he grabbed the white cat by the scruff of its neck.
The white cat’s eyes widened, and it let out a piercing shriek.
“Meow!!”
It struggled frantically in Lu Yichuan’s grasp, its weight almost making him lose his grip.
He frowned and said coldly, “The more a cat struggles, the more excited he gets, the more he likes it, it means the meat is firmer.”
The white cat instantly froze.
Clearly terrified, it let out a human-like sob, its body elongating and shifting in Lu Yichuan’s hand, transforming into a naked, white-haired man right before his eyes.
Jiang Heng was stunned, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him, his jaw dropping…
“Meow??”
The next moment, a hand covered his head.
Lu Yichuan stepped back, carrying the cat, even he momentarily speechless at the sight.
Because the naked man crouching on the floor was the man who had given him the red string.
Before he could react, the man started crying, loud, heaving sobs.
“I don’t taste good! I really don’t! Please don’t eat me!”
“I was wrong! I won’t steal canned food anymore! Don’t eat me!”
Lu Yichuan: “…”
Jiang Heng: “…”
Jiang Heng tried to push Lu Yichuan’s hand away, but he couldn’t.
He asked tentatively, “Did a cat just turn into a human in front of us?”
After a few seconds, Lu Yichuan replied, “If our eyes aren’t deceiving us, then yes.”
But how could a cat turn into a human?
If other cats could turn into humans, then…
He closed his eyes, suppressing his racing heart, and seeing the naked man in front of him, he decided to keep his eyes closed. “You…”
Before he could finish, there was a knock on the door.
The property manager’s voice came from outside. “Mr. Lu, we heard you had a burglar, so we came to check.”
Lu Yichuan paused, then whispered to the man on the floor, “Don’t make a sound,” and went to answer the door, still carrying the cat, which couldn’t see anything. He stood in the doorway, his tall frame blocking the view inside. “Sorry, I was mistaken. It was just a stray cat that got in.”
“Oh,” the property manager said. “Do you need us to catch it for you? We’re quite good at catching cats.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the crying inside intensified.
