Chapter 31
Jiang Heng woke up at noon, climbed out of his cat bed, and looked around. Lu Yichuan was nowhere to be seen.
He had sensed something was off with Lu Yichuan after yesterday’s meeting with Jiang Zhuo. But as a cat, unable to speak, he had pawed at Lu Yichuan’s pants leg to no avail.
Later, seeing him asleep on the balcony, he had even dragged a blanket over him with his small body, wanting to check on him when he woke up. But he had inadvertently fallen asleep on Lu Yichuan’s lap, and when he woke up, Lu Yichuan was gone.
Jiang Heng paced around the dormitory like a distraught widower, realizing there was nothing he could do.
Which only made him more distraught.
While he was at a loss, the calico cat climbed in from the plane tree on the balcony.
Seeing it, Jiang Heng’s first instinct was to suggest a game of hide-and-seek.
“Not playing. Not in the mood today.”
“I didn’t come here for that,” the calico cat said. “Big Orange is missing.”
“…What?”
Several other cats climbed onto the balcony, joining them on Lu Yichuan’s balcony.
A feline conference.
Jiang Heng, the smallest but smartest, was surrounded by the others. “What happened?”
The calico cat said, “I went looking for Big Orange two days ago and couldn’t find it. I thought it had gone off to play somewhere, but I haven’t seen it since.”
“And it’s not just Big Orange, several other cats are missing too.”
Although there were many stray cats at A University, they all had their own circles, and someone would surely notice if they disappeared. Several other cats chimed in.
“The tortoiseshell cat I fish with is also gone.”
“And that limping white cat.”
“And…”
“And…”
A chorus of meows filled the balcony, Jiang Heng’s fur ruffled by the jostling cats. He meowed, trying to calm them down. “One at a time. For those of you who know the missing cats, when was the last time you saw them?”
After a flurry of meows and purrs, Jiang Heng finally pieced together the information. At least ten cats had disappeared within the past week.
Hearing this number, Jiang Heng’s heart sank. The disappearance of so many cats was most likely the work of humans.
He led the cats into the dormitory, no longer caring if Lu Yichuan would discover his identity, and directed the larger cats to open the cabinet.
He didn’t like dry food, and Lu Yichuan indulged him, feeding him cat treats for every meal, so the cabinet was still full of cat food.
Stray cats had sharp claws and teeth. Even when trying to be careful, they still tore the bag of cat food, spilling kibble all over the floor.
Jiang Heng imagined Lu Yichuan’s reaction and shuddered.
“Alright, alright, stop dragging it. If you keep dragging it, I’ll be dead meat.”
He said to the cats, “You can come here to eat for the next few days. Don’t eat anything given to you by humans, especially overly friendly people in secluded areas.”
After the cats had eaten their fill, Jiang Heng jumped onto a chair, gestured at his underlings, and declared, “Now, let’s formulate a strategy.”
The well-fed cats stared at him with bright eyes.
Jiang Heng shifted slightly, his back against the chair, and cleared his throat.
“The disappearance of so many cats means someone is definitely up to no good, so we have to find that person.”
The calico cat asked, “How do we find them?”
“Based on what you just said, I’ve come to a conclusion. The missing cats’ favorite hangout spot is the small woods behind the university.”
He glanced at the calico cat, who loved playing hide-and-seek in those woods.
“It’s secluded and has no security cameras. I suspect that’s where it’s happening.”
The cats looked at him blankly, some already lying down to groom themselves and nap.
Jiang Heng felt exasperated.
His teammates were hopeless; he could only rely on himself. “Go back and tell the other cats you know, don’t go to the woods behind the university. I’ll go check it out first.”
Seeing him about to leave, the calico cat followed him. “I’ll go with you.”
Jiang Heng looked at his short legs, then at the calico cat’s graceful, agile body, and couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
After dismissing the other cats, Jiang Heng and the calico cat went to the woods.
It was quiet in the afternoon. Although there weren’t many people around, they still encountered a few couples.
Jiang Heng hid in the bushes, while the calico cat stuck its head out. “Why are those two two-legged creatures eating each other’s mouths?”
Jiang Heng: “…”
He pulled a branch over to cover the calico cat’s face. “This isn’t suitable for young cats. We have more important things to do.”
The calico cat raised its paw, and with a snap, the thin branch became a casualty.
It said calmly, “What’s not suitable for young cats? Is it because they’re sticking out their tongues?”
Jiang Heng: “…”
Please stop talking.
He dragged the calico cat away from the scene of the crime.
Further ahead, near the university wall, there were even fewer people, but cats often came here to bask in the sun.
Because of Jiang Heng’s warning, no cats were here today, and the grass under the wall was warm from the sunlight.
The calico cat immediately wanted to lie down upon seeing the sunlit patch of grass.
Even though Jiang Heng had warned it about the danger, no cat could resist such a warm, inviting spot.
Jiang Heng didn’t stop it. He hid in the bushes and instructed it, “You go lie down there, and I’ll hide here. If anyone comes, watch my signal. When I raise my paw, run immediately.”
The calico cat nodded and gracefully made its way to the sunny spot.
Jiang Heng nestled deeper into the bushes, blending in with the foliage.
He didn’t know if he would find anything. After all, if it was someone with malicious intent, they might not come today. Experienced criminals knew not to commit crimes in the same location repeatedly.
But Jiang Heng had clearly overestimated the culprit’s intelligence, or perhaps they simply didn’t think anyone would care about a few cats.
Soon, someone appeared by the wall.
It was a young man, about 1.7 meters tall, not very imposing, with delicate features, wearing glasses and carrying some meat.
He couldn’t tell what kind of meat it was, but the smell was so strong and pungent that it made Jiang Heng nauseous. The calico cat basking in the sun, however, perked up.
The young man saw the calico cat, a smile appearing on his face, and squatted down, placing the meat on the ground. “Kitty, come eat.”
The calico cat, remembering Jiang Heng’s instructions, didn’t move.
Seeing it not approaching, the man became impatient and slowly walked towards it.
Jiang Heng narrowed his eyes and raised his paw.
The moment it saw his signal, the calico cat nimbly jumped onto the wall and disappeared.
Seeing the calico cat escape, the young man’s face twisted in anger, and he kicked the meat away. “Damn animal!”
Jiang Heng’s eyelids twitched. He discreetly hid deeper into the bushes, watching the man’s every move.
The young man tried to lure other cats with the meat, but after a while, no cats appeared, so he left with the meat, his face grim.
Seeing him about to leave, Jiang Heng stealthily followed him.
He was still small, despite having grown longer, and with the darkening sky, the man, hidden in the bushes, didn’t notice him.
Jiang Heng followed him at a distance, growing increasingly sleepy as he walked.
He shook his head, trying to shake off the drowsiness. He couldn’t afford to lose focus now.
As soon as they entered a more populated area, the young man’s demeanor changed, and he became the shy, gentle-looking student again, no trace of the grimness he had displayed in the woods.
The calico cat, which had somehow appeared beside Jiang Heng, stared at the young man and unsheathed its claws. “Is that him? The one who took Big Orange?”
“Not sure.”
Jiang Heng was sleepy, his voice sluggish. “But based on his behavior in the woods, he’s not a good person. Remember his scent and tell the other cats to run if they see him.”
The young man was walking quickly, and Jiang Heng had to run to keep up.
The calico cat, in contrast, was keeping pace effortlessly. “What are we doing now?”
Jiang Heng looked at the calico cat’s legs, then at his own.
…Wait, weren’t they half the length?
“I…”
A sudden wave of drowsiness almost made him fall over.
He steadied himself, and seeing the young man still walking ahead, breathed a sigh of relief. “Follow him for now. He took so many cats, he must have somewhere to keep them. If we follow him, we’ll find out where Big Orange and the others are being kept.”
But thinking of the young man’s expression in the woods, Jiang Heng’s heart sank.
He didn’t know if they were still alive.
He followed the young man all the way back to the familiar dormitory building.
The calico cat, looking at the plane tree Jiang Heng climbed every day, couldn’t help but ask, “Are we going up there too?”
“No…” Jiang Heng yawned widely, “Definitely not in his dorm.”
“You…” Another yawn, “You go look for the other cats and have them keep watch at the entrance. Tell me immediately if you see him come out.”
After saying these two sentences, he was completely overcome with drowsiness. “I’m so sleepy. I’m going back to sleep.”
His sudden drowsiness surprised the calico cat. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine…” Jiang Heng’s eyes drooped, and he felt himself drifting.
He stumbled towards the plane tree, and as soon as his paws touched the trunk, he slid down.
Calico cat: “…”
The beautiful cat looked utterly speechless. It huffed haughtily, grabbed Jiang Heng by the scruff of his neck, and carried him back to its nest.
The moment his head touched the edge of the nest, Jiang Heng burrowed inside. There was a perfectly sized blanket inside, which he pulled over himself with his paws.
He curled up into a ball, eyes closed, not forgetting to thank the calico cat.
“Thanks. Good night. Turn off the lights for me, please.”
Calico cat: “…”
The dream was pitch black. Jiang Heng opened his eyes, his mind hazy for a while before realizing he was dreaming.
Everything was dark, he couldn’t see his own paws, but he felt no fear. Even though he couldn’t see the path, he walked straight ahead.
After a while, a faint light appeared in the distance.
Jiang Heng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was a nonsensical dream, yet he had a feeling he knew what was at the end of the light.
The closer he got, the brighter it became, and the darkness around him receded. The light illuminated the walls, the floor, the furniture, and then, a spacious, brightly lit bedroom came into view.
It was his bedroom.
Jiang Heng froze for a moment, then abruptly turned around. The familiar figure was leaning against the door, watching him quietly.
Without thinking, he ran towards him and was enveloped in a warm embrace.
Jiang Heng clutched at his shirt, tears welling up in his eyes.
“Lu Yichuan…”
Warm fingertips brushed against his eyelids, and the man in his dream smiled gently. “Who upset our Rongrong?”
Knowing it was a dream, he no longer held back. “You, of course. Who else would make me angry?”
“So it’s me.” The man said slowly, “Should I apologize then?”
Jiang Heng kicked him. “Lu Yichuan, you’re still as annoying as ever.”
The dream shifted, changing into Lu Yichuan’s bedroom. He was sitting in his lap, surrounded by his favorite snacks.
A biscuit was offered to his lips, and Jiang Heng took a bite. He felt a gaze on his back and a slight vibration as the man behind him spoke.
“Rongrong was wronged.”
Jiang Heng, munching on the biscuit, continued to complain. “Terribly wronged! So many people and cats bullied me, and you ignored me!”
“I ignored you?”
Jiang Heng nodded emphatically. “Yes! You ignored me! I was sick, and you didn’t come see me! I had nothing to eat, and you didn’t care!”
A low chuckle came from behind him. “Then I truly am a terrible person.”
“Not really…” Jiang Heng tilted his head back and rubbed against him. “I understand, you didn’t know who I was.”
But he still couldn’t help but complain, “You’re such an irresponsible cat owner! Such a terrible caretaker! If it weren’t for our past relationship, I would have found someone else to take care of me.”
Having been a cat for so long, Jiang Heng had adopted cat-like habits even in his dreams. As he rubbed his chin, his head tilted up, his voice soft and whiny.
“But since you’re so generous with the canned food, I forgive you!”
He felt his chin being held by two fingers, his cheek gently turned, and a soft, slightly damp kiss landed on his face.
Against his cheek, a hint of bitter orange, like a snowflake, melting instantly.
Jiang Heng froze, his face flushing. “How…how could you…”
The fingers moved, gently stroking the back of his neck.
“Is that not allowed?”
Jiang Heng felt his weak spot being targeted. He shrank his neck slightly, annoyed. “Lu Yichuan, please remember, this is my dream.”
A drawn-out “Oh…” came from behind him, sounding almost disappointed. “Then how about you get your revenge?”
Jiang Heng was stunned. “How?”
“Kiss me back?”
“…”
Seeing him silent, the man behind him held his waist and turned him around.
He looked up and met a pair of dark, narrow eyes.
“Still angry?”
Jiang Heng slowly shook his head. “I wasn’t angry with you in the first place.”
“Then what were you doing just now?”
“Complaining! Don’t you understand complaining?”
The dream started to fade, and Jiang Heng knew it was ending.
He pursed his lips and finally said the words he couldn’t say in reality.
“Lu Yichuan, I’m doing quite well now. Although we might not recognize each other, I’m happy just being by your side.”
“I’m happy, and I want you to be happy too.”
“So…”
“Don’t be sad for me anymore!”
