Chapter 22
A pair of silver high heels amidst a collection of men’s shoes would naturally raise eyebrows.
Wei Yuan looked up at Lu Dingyun, studying his expression.
Lu Dingyun merely paused, then changed his shoes as if nothing were amiss and entered the apartment.
Wei Yuan: “?”
Wait, why wasn’t he surprised?
Even his brief pause hadn’t seemed like surprise, but more like resignation.
Something wasn’t right! Very wrong!
Countless entertainment industry scandals flashed through its little mind.
Like the male celebrity who was secretly married with a child, despite being gay, or the actress who had a child out of wedlock with a rookie male model who was also being kept by several wealthy women.
Lu Dingyun looked so upright and decent. He couldn’t be that careless, could he?
Wei Yuan’s face was serious as it marched ahead of Lu Dingyun into the apartment.
“Oh my! What was that?” A woman gasped, clutching her chest and taking a few steps back.
The kitten, charging out of the entryway, slammed on the brakes, but its momentum carried it forward a bit before it stopped.
It looked up at the woman standing nearby, stunned, unsure how to react.
She was a middle-aged woman in a dark dress, slightly plump.
Her short hair was permed in fashionable curls, her face round, with some wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. Her eyes were bright, and she had an energetic air about her.
But most importantly, her features bore a slight resemblance to Lu Dingyun!
The woman was clearly startled by the kitten, her hand still on her chest.
The woman and cat stared at each other, the atmosphere slightly awkward.
“Mom, when did you arrive?” Lu Dingyun walked over, picking up the kitten.
The awkwardness instantly dissipated.
So, it was Lu Dingyun’s mother…
Wei Yuan felt inexplicably relieved.
Madam Zhao Ru, recovering from her shock, hurried over, scrutinizing her son.
“Are you alright? Are you sure you’re not hurt? Don’t hide anything from me.” She spoke rapidly, without pausing for breath. “Such a big incident, and you didn’t even call to let me know you were safe. Your uncle too, trying to keep it from me. Your father only found out from the news.”
“You have no idea, my blood pressure spiked when I saw it, and my heart still feels uncomfortable.”
Lu Dingyun was clearly used to his mother’s fussing.
After she finished, he said, “My uncle and I didn’t want you to worry, that’s why we didn’t tell you. I’m not hurt, I’m fine now.”
His tone with his mother was indeed warmer than with strangers, but still not as gentle as with the kitten.
Wei Yuan, curious, blinked, observing the elder carefully.
Zhao Ru, hearing his words, continued to follow him, still talking. “Such a big thing, wouldn’t your father and I be even more worried seeing it on the news?”
“And you said you were going to reduce your workload, spend more time with us, take us on trips, and then you went back to work…”
She sounded like she was scolding him, but her tone and expression were full of concern and distress.
Wei Yuan found this novel.
Its own family was very expressive. Even its father and brother, who weren’t prone to sentimental displays, would clearly express their concern and worry.
But this elder was different.
Compared to the Wei and Jiang families, Zhao Ru seemed more down-to-earth, less intimidating.
And her straightforward personality was the kind Wei Yuan liked best. It would be easy to get along with her.
Lu Dingyun, knowing his mother was worried about him, wasn’t impatient. He carried the kitten to the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water, then headed to the dressing room to change.
Zhao Ru finally stopped talking. “Your father went grocery shopping. Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll have him make it for dinner.”
“Anything—”
Before Lu Dingyun could finish, Zhao Ru interrupted. “Forget it, there’s no point asking you. Braised pork ribs with pickled cabbage, and sweet and sour pork, okay? You haven’t had authentic Northeastern cuisine in a while.”
Lu Dingyun’s father was from Northeast China, even more outgoing than Zhao Ru, and an excellent cook, especially when it came to Northeastern dishes. Everyone who had tasted his cooking praised it.
Lu Dingyun chuckled. “Then let’s have the pork ribs.”
“Okay.” Zhao Ru finally smiled. “Go change your clothes. I’m simmering some chicken soup in the kitchen. Have some when you’re done, it’ll warm you up.”
She turned and bustled back to the living room.
Wei Yuan heard her tidying up its cat toys, muttering, “Why do you like small animals so much? Such a nice living room, now it’s filled with cat stuff. Can’t even open the windows in this cold weather, doesn’t it smell?”
Wei Yuan froze.
It had been criticized!
By Lu Dingyun’s mother!
It jumped off Lu Dingyun’s arms and onto the jewelry display case.
“Meow!”
It slapped its paw on the glass, making a serious statement.
The kitten was rose-scented!
It didn’t stink!
Go tell your mother she couldn’t criticize the kitten!
Lu Dingyun seemed to understand, petting its head. “Don’t be angry, my mom is just tough on the outside, soft on the inside. She actually likes small animals a lot.”
Wei Yuan pushed his hand away, lifting its chin haughtily.
It had always been adored, especially by elders.
It couldn’t let this criticism stand.
Not even verbally!
It was just an aunt, about the same age as its own mother.
With its charm, winning her over would be a piece of cake.
The kitten jumped off the display case and scratched at the door.
Lu Dingyun opened the door, and the kitten darted out.
Since they were at home, Lu Dingyun wasn’t worried and let it go.
He had been sweating all night and hadn’t had a chance to shower, so before changing, he took a quick shower in the dressing room.
Refreshed, he changed into his loungewear.
Perhaps because he was still weak, or the effects of the drugs were lingering, he felt sleepy again after all the activity.
He went to the living room and saw the kitten swaying in its favorite hammock, its bright eyes fixed on the kitchen, its expression thoughtful.
Lu Dingyun walked over and petted the kitten’s head.
Wei Yuan had grown accustomed to being petted, and due to its cat instincts, it had even begun to enjoy it.
Of course, not all humans were the same.
It didn’t dislike Director Li or Xiao Zheng, but their touch didn’t feel as comforting.
Lu Dingyun was different.
His hands were large, his touch firm but gentle, his technique masterful.
Wei Yuan closed its eyes contentedly, purring softly.
“I’m still a little sleepy. I might take another nap. Do you want to join me, baby?” Lu Dingyun asked.
The kitten considered this, then jumped down from the hammock.
A polite refusal.
“Okay.” Lu Dingyun was slightly disappointed but didn’t force it.
Seeing the kitten heading towards the kitchen, he followed.
There were sounds coming from the kitchen, presumably Zhao Ru tidying up.
Lu Dingyun entered and saw his mother putting various pickled vegetables into the refrigerator.
He was about to offer his help when Zhao Ru turned, looked at his pale face, and frowned. “I’ve poured you some chicken soup. Drink it and go rest. I’ll wake you up for dinner.”
People instinctively relaxed in familiar and safe environments.
Lu Dingyun was no exception.
He had only managed a short, restless nap at the hospital. Now, back home, with his kitten and family, he felt completely at ease, and the exhaustion hit him.
He didn’t argue, obediently drinking the warm chicken soup and heading back to his room to sleep.
Before leaving, he reminded his mother to take care of the kitten.
“Xiao Yuan is very smart. It understands almost everything we say,” Lu Dingyun said seriously. “Mom, if you say anything mean, Xiao Yuan will be sad.”
Zhao Ru chuckled. “I know, I’ll take good care of it.”
After her son left, she sighed softly.
She and her husband were ordinary teachers, not particularly wealthy, but they lived comfortably.
They had a good relationship, rarely argued, and weren’t strict with their son. Logically, Lu Dingyun shouldn’t be so aloof and emotionally distant.
But it was an inherent trait, something medical science couldn’t cure.
Fortunately, his condition wasn’t severe. He was aloof but not antisocial.
He didn’t have many friends, but he was warmer and more caring towards his family, although his emotions weren’t intense.
Like eight years ago, when she had been ill, undergoing multiple surgeries, hovering between life and death.
Lu Dingyun hadn’t shed a single tear, even comforting his distraught father with an unnervingly calm demeanor.
He seemed both incredibly indifferent and concerned, a strange contradiction.
Their relatives had criticized him for being cold and heartless, but he hadn’t cared, reacting only when he realized their savings were almost depleted.
He had approached his manager, Liu Ying, declaring his intention to enter the entertainment industry and earn a lot of money.
Enough to easily handle any future family emergencies.
For this, he had given up his beloved career as a veterinarian.
Lu Dingyun had only ever shown genuine emotions when interacting with animals.
But for his parents, this aloof child had sacrificed his own happiness.
How could a parent not feel heartbroken?
Seeing him work tirelessly, like a machine, made them feel even more useless, not only failing to provide him with a good life but also becoming a burden.
Fortunately, Lu Dingyun had his own plan. After earning more wealth than he had anticipated, he finally decided to reduce his workload and return to his passion for veterinary medicine.
So, everything was moving in a positive direction.
Zhao Ru was lost in thought until she felt something soft and furry brush against her hand.
She looked down and met a pair of beautiful, star-like blue eyes.
The kitten sat obediently on the kitchen counter, its tail wagging, its round head tilted, as if curious about her distraction.
Zhao Ru’s heart melted instantly.
The kitten looked at her, then nuzzled its head against her arm, looking up at her and meowing softly.
“Oh, sweetie,” Zhao Ru surrendered immediately, picking up the kitten and nuzzling its soft fur.
The faint scent of roses filled her nose, and she couldn’t resist burying her face in the kitten’s fur, murmuring, “Our Xiao Gui Yuan is such a fragrant little baby.”
Wei Yuan froze, slightly stunned.
It hadn’t even tried its best yet, and the aunt had already surrendered?
Lu Dingyun had been right, Zhao Ru really did love small animals.
And her cat-sniffing technique was expert-level!
Lu Dingyun woke up naturally at 7 pm, having slept for four hours straight.
He had slept soundly, which was unusual for him, as he often suffered from insomnia. But since the kitten arrived, he hadn’t had any trouble sleeping.
Although he hadn’t been cuddling the kitten, and the bed had felt a little empty, he had still slept peacefully.
After his nap, he felt refreshed.
He got up and went to the living room.
A heartwarming scene greeted him.
Zhao Ru, who usually complained about pets being messy, was sitting on the carpet, holding the kitten and dressing it in a pink dress.
A pile of cat clothes lay beside her.
The kitten was also incredibly well-behaved, purring softly and cooperating as she dressed it, then running and jumping around, letting Zhao Ru take photos and videos.
Zhao Ru was beaming, calling it “baby” even more frequently and affectionately than Lu Dingyun.
It looked like the kitten was entertaining its elder.
Lu Dingyun chuckled.
The woman and cat, engrossed in their play, finally noticed him.
Wei Yuan’s eyes lit up, and it ran towards him, jumping into his arms when it reached him.
Lu Dingyun bent down slightly, catching the kitten securely.
He petted its head.
The kitten looked smug.
See? No human could resist its charm!
“You’re awake,” Zhao Ru stood up. “Make Xiao Bao something to eat. I tried feeding it cat food, but it barely ate anything. You’ve spoiled its appetite.”
Wei Yuan felt a twinge of guilt and embarrassment.
Although the cat food tasted decent, it couldn’t compare to Lu Dingyun’s cooking.
So, the aunt was right, it had been spoiled by Lu Dingyun.
Wei Yuan paused, a strange feeling flitting through its mind.
Had it unconsciously become accustomed to Lu Dingyun’s pampering?
Lu Dingyun also knew the kitten was picky, but he had the time and patience to cater to its whims. It was fine for his baby to be a little spoiled.
“Baby’s hungry?” Lu Dingyun squeezed the kitten’s paw, heading towards the kitchen. “Daddy will make you something to eat.”
Wei Yuan: “…”
Daddy, daddy, when will you drop that nickname?!
As they reached the kitchen door, Lu Dingyun’s father, Lu Chang, who was cooking, overheard him and immediately said, “What daddy? I’m Xiao Bao’s daddy. You’re at most its older brother.”
Lu Dingyun: “?”
“Exactly,” Zhao Ru took the kitten from his arms, her voice immediately adopting a baby-talking tone. “Isn’t that right, Xiao Gui Yuan? We’re your mommy and daddy. Xiao Yun is your older brother from now on.”
Wei Yuan, tired of being Lu Dingyun’s “baby,” had been dreaming of becoming the “daddy” one day.
It hadn’t expected this pleasant surprise. Lu Dingyun had suddenly lost his “cat daddy” status, demoted to “older brother.”
Wei Yuan’s eyes sparkled as it nestled in Zhao Ru’s arms, its gaze meeting Lu Dingyun’s.
“Meow~” Shocked, aren’t you?
It gloated, enjoying his reaction.
Lu Dingyun chuckled, thinking, this little ingrate must be secretly delighted.
But it was just a nickname. Daddy or older brother, it didn’t matter, as long as the kitten was closest to him.
Lu Chang made two stir-fries, a stew, and a cold dish, and Lu Dingyun prepared a delicious meal for the kitten.
The kitten ate at the table as usual, sitting beside Lu Dingyun, his parents across from them.
Although his parents found the kitten well-behaved, they hadn’t expected it to be this intelligent and well-mannered, eating its food neatly and without any mess, unlike most animals.
It didn’t cause any trouble or try to steal food from their plates, surprising them with its intelligence.
Talking about the kitten, Lu Dingyun became a different person, his usual reticence gone.
He told his parents how he had found the kitten, how badly injured it had been, and about their visit to its friends, how smart the other cats were.
His parents listened with smiles and affection, wishing the meal wouldn’t end, wanting to hear him talk more.
It made them feel closer to their son.
The family of four enjoyed a pleasant dinner. His parents decided to stay the night and went to wash up, leaving Lu Dingyun to clean the kitchen.
Wei Yuan went to the living room, lying on its giant cat tree, watching the drizzle outside.
It was worried about its underlings. It had been raining since yesterday afternoon, and the temperature had dropped significantly. It wondered if they were cold.
The rain had lessened now, and the wind had died down, just a light drizzle.
Wei Yuan wanted to check on its underlings but didn’t know how to tell Lu Dingyun. And Lu Dingyun wasn’t fully recovered yet. What if he caught a cold?
As it pondered, Lu Dingyun, finished with the dishes, walked over.
He poked the kitten’s butt.
Wei Yuan froze, then bristled. “Meow, meow, meow!”
You pervert, why are you poking my butt?!
Lu Dingyun quickly soothed it. “Dear, I was just playing.”
Wei Yuan was indignant, ready to start a fight, when Lu Dingyun spoke. “Baby, let’s go check on your friends. It’s raining so hard, I’m worried they might be cold.”
Wei Yuan froze.
Lu Dingyun opened his arms. “Want to go? If so…”
Before he could finish, Wei Yuan jumped into his arms, nuzzling its head against his neck.
“Meow!”
Of course it wanted to go!
