Chapter 105: The Little Cat Who Can Ride Horses Part 1

Si Xiaoshan wasn’t tall, around 1.75 meters, with somewhat androgynous features—a type that was popular when young. But his peak was short; after forty, he achieved no major breakthroughs. So he was ambitious about this script and desperately needed success.

Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t comment on others’ appearances, but he felt that if Wan Keyao were to act, he would actually fit the style of the Tianhan Emperor even better.

“Mr. Si.” Jiang Xiaoyu stood up. “Do you have anything to add regarding the case?”

Si Xiaoshan frowned and glanced at him, clear arrogance in his eyes. But since he was shorter than Jiang Xiaoyu, his momentum fell short. “Let’s talk in the lounge.”

Jiang Xiaoyu was sensitive to malice and instinctively sensed his dislike. He exchanged a glance with Ye Wanchun, then followed Si Xiaoshan into his exclusive lounge.

Once inside, Si Xiaoshan sat on the soft chair himself, straightened his cuffs, then looked up and raised his chin to signal his assistant to go stand guard outside. Only after the person left did he say, “Caesar cost me three hundred thousand to buy, and its economic value in this drama is up to a million. Its death has already caused me serious financial loss. I demand you investigate the truth immediately!”

His words were blunt. Ye Wanchun’s baby face wore a fake smile. “Mr. Si, after all, the initial report didn’t involve property loss. You only brought it up in the supplementary report, and we rushed over right away.”

Si Xiaoshan looked arrogant. “So how long will it take you to find out?”

But Jiang Xiaoyu asked, “Does Mr. Si have any suspects?”

Si Xiaoshan was visibly stunned for a few seconds at the question, then his eyes darted around as an idea struck him. “Actually, there is one! He’s from the neighboring crew shooting ‘Harem Legend of Concubine Jin’—the male lead, Jiang Dahua.”

‘Harem Legend of Concubine Jin’ and ‘Tianhan Emperor’ shared the same era background. But from the names alone, one could tell the former focused on women and romance, while the latter centered on men and power struggles.

In a sense, they were indeed competitors.

Si Xiaoshan expounded on his suspicions, growing more convinced as he spoke, even convincing himself. “It has to be him! He wants to delay our filming so they can go online first and grab the promo!”

Jiang Xiaoyu kept jotting notes with his pen. Seeing Si Xiaoshan raise his hand to rub his brow with no intention of adding more, he said, “Got it. Thank you for providing the lead.”

Si Xiaoshan crossed his right leg over his left, arms folded across his chest as he leaned back in the chair. “Officer, I see you’ve changed into another set of high-end luxury. Don’t you cops need to wear uniforms when handling cases?”

Jiang Xiaoyu pocketed his pen. “The Case Handling Office has no special dress code requirements—just wear the uniform when necessary.”

Si Xiaoshan snorted, his tone sharp. “Officer Jiang must come from a good family. This outfit alone is twenty or thirty thousand, right? Just that scarf is three or four thousand.”

Jiang Xiaoyu actually didn’t know this. He knew his clothes were high quality but hadn’t thought they’d be this expensive. He touched the scarf around his neck, stunned.

Si Xiaoshan, steeped in the entertainment industry for years, sensed something off from his reaction and narrowed his eyes. “That’s strange. From Officer Jiang’s reaction, it seems he doesn’t even know the value of these clothes? Doesn’t seem like he comes from a wealthy background?”

Jiang Xiaoyu dropped his hand and was about to speak when Ye Wanchun cut in, still with that smiling face. “Our Officer Jiang just doesn’t bother with these things. After all, with such a big family business, which item isn’t priceless? This stuff was all procured by others—why would Officer Jiang need to check personally?”

Si Xiaoshan sneered. “What big talk! May I ask what family Officer Jiang hails from?” His eyes fixed on Jiang Xiaoyu, waiting for him to say Ye Qingxu’s name—but deep down, he looked down on him. He knew Ye Qingxu had slunk out of the country back then. How well could he have done? Si Xiaoshan didn’t believe it anyway.

But unexpectedly, the baby-faced one cut in again, and his next words threw Si Xiaoshan into complete disarray.

“Our Officer Jiang’s family background? Mr. Si should have heard of it. After all, his father controls the life and death of half the entertainment industry.”

“Wan Keyao, Mr. Wan—our Officer Jiang is his only son.”

Si Xiaoshan was dumbfounded, his legs uncrossing as he suddenly shot to his feet, tone furious. “Bullshit! He looks exactly like he was carved from the same mold as Ye Qingxu. How could he be A-Yao’s son?”

Jiang Xiaoyu frowned. “You know my dad?” Seeing Si Xiaoshan’s tone grow more manic and even insulting, Jiang Xiaoyu’s jade-like face turned cold, unexpectedly carrying some authority. He pulled out his phone, hesitating on the dial screen over who to call, then decided to tattle to Wan Keyao.

“Big Dad, do you know Si Xiaoshan?”

Si Xiaoshan’s cursing cut off abruptly. He glared at Jiang Xiaoyu with a stinky face.

“I have a case, and the reporter is him… Yeah, he cursed me and Dad.” Jiang Xiaoyu was oblivious, unaware his voice carried grievance.

But Wan Keyao heard it. The super tyrant stood up in fury, suppressing his rage and speaking softly to the kid. “Good boy, hand the phone to him.”

Jiang Xiaoyu handed the phone to Si Xiaoshan. “My dad’s call.”

Si Xiaoshan didn’t believe his dad was Wan Keyao—he thought it was Ye Qingxu. He snatched the phone and sneered, “Ye Qingxu, you have the face to make me—”

He didn’t know what was said on the other end, but Si Xiaoshan instantly shut up, face draining to paper-white, body trembling. “A-A-Yao… How is that possible? He-he, you must have been fooled! Sorry, sorry, okay, okay…”

He rattled off apologies. When he returned the phone to Jiang Xiaoyu, all his earlier arrogance was gone.

Jiang Xiaoyu took the phone and heard Wan Keyao say, “Son, ignore him. Damn it, if he dares spout that crap again, beat him up. With the Wan Family’s reputation, who would dare trouble you!”

Jiang Xiaoyu mumbled, “I’m a cop. I won’t hit people.”

“Good, good. Our Little Yu is the best.” Wan Keyao lavished rainbow farts to coax him. Sensing the kid’s tone normalize, he hung up.

He immediately left the office to find Zhu Ming. “Hold a press conference for me.”

Zhu Ming didn’t understand. “About what?”

“I want to announce to the world who the future master of Wan Corporation is!”

Wan Keyao had discussed this with Zhu Ming long ago, but the date was set after Lunar New Year. Why advance it now?

“There’s just twenty days till New Year. Won’t it be too rushed?”

Wan Keyao furrowed the frown lines on his brow. “Rushed how? Set it for next weekend. Send invites to Locust City too. After the conference, hold a banquet and let the kid make an appearance.”

Zhu Ming said tactfully, “Little Yu has a low-key personality. You should ask Little Yu and Qingxu’s opinions.”

Wan Keyao, used to being dictatorial, reflexively wanted to say no need—but he subconsciously slapped himself, wincing. “You’re right. I’ll ask.”

His tall frame hurried back to the office excitedly.

Zhu Ming: …

Jiang Xiaoyu was unaware of the two dads’ conversation. After Si Xiaoshan apologized profusely and saw him out the lounge door, he glanced back to see Si Xiaoshan pale and still shaken.

Jiang Xiaoyu had doubts and planned to ask Ye Qingxu at home. He was about to leave the base when Ye Wanchun said, “Oh no, we forgot to have him sign the transcript.”

The earlier scene had been too sudden; Jiang Xiaoyu had forgotten too. He took the transcript board. “I’ll go.”

At Si Xiaoshan’s lounge door, just as he raised his hand to knock, he heard arguing inside.

“Would I withhold your wages? I told you, I’m tight on cash lately. Once this drama wraps, I’ll pay you!”

“But Brother Shan, it’s been three months without wages. I really can’t even pay rent.” That was the little assistant’s voice.

“Hang in there! You know how tough it is with my new personal studio after jumping ship…”

“Is it because of the studio? Brother Shan, you really can’t gamble anymore—”

Jiang Xiaoyu heard a slap. After it quieted, he knocked. “Mr. Si, please confirm and sign the transcript from earlier.”

Once done, Jiang Xiaoyu returned to the car, still frowning in thought as he buckled his seatbelt.

Si Xiaoshan gambles? Can’t even pay his assistant?

But this was private business. Thinking more wouldn’t help the case, so he set it aside for now.

—

When Jiang Xiaoyu was in school, he often saw little couples who could only meet on weekends. He hadn’t experienced that phase, but after graduating and working, he finally felt it.

Ye Lian had said on Friday that he’d take him horseback riding tomorrow. Jiang Xiaoyu clawed at the cat scratcher, unable to hide his joy.

Though they kissed over video every day, they were both busy and hadn’t seen each other in person for days. He really missed Wife Cat!

He gleefully sharpened his claws a few times, then padded on all fours to Ye Qingxu’s side. “Dad, what’s for dinner tonight?”

Ye Qingxu was taking the chiffon cake base Wan Keyao had baked from the oven. Feeling the little black cat weave between his legs, Ye Qingxu walked carefully to avoid stepping on the kid. “Your Big Dad said sukiyaki. Go check it out.”

Jiang Xiaoyu scampered quickly to the living room. Seeing Wan Keyao lighting the fire, he stood on hind legs and grabbed his pant leg. “Dad, what’s sukiyaki?”

Wan Keyao set the pot properly, then scooped up the little black cat with a laugh and kissed him. “Just think of it as hot pot with a different flavor. Big Dad will grill you some big shrimp and beef too.”

When he leaned in close, Jiang Xiaoyu could smell a faint whiff of smoke. He whispered sneakily, “Did you smoke?”

Wan Keyao hurriedly covered the little cat’s mouth. “Don’t let your dad hear that. Big Dad… I was just really craving it, so I had one.” Seeing the suspicious look in the little cat’s eyes, he begged for mercy. “Alright, two… three! Really, just three! Don’t let your dad know, or he’ll smack my face again.”