Chapter 36: Old Bastard

Seeing him call him disobedient, Jiang Xiaoyu turned his butt away guiltily, refusing to look at him.

Over there, Yang Guo saw the opening and beamed, just about to follow up with a question, when a strange yowl came from the cat.

The little duck on his head fell into the water with the turning motion, and was squished with a squelch under Jiang Xiaoyu’s paw. Being bathed in front of so many people… Jiang Xiaoyu’s ears drooped as the whole cat felt so embarrassed he was about to astral project.

“Be good, no diving into the water.” Liu Qingqing smiled sweetly as she gripped his chest, stopping his attempt to bury himself in the water.

With the light behind his back, Ye Lian’s eye color was indistinct. He turned to Yang Guo and said, “Shall I have someone send Mr. Yang off?”

Yang Guo hadn’t expected to get agreement in one meeting anyway. His face lit up with a bright smile, the very picture of a creamy pretty boy that matched current young girls’ tastes. “Then I’ll trouble you, Mr. Ye.”

Jiang Xiaoyu watched as the two headed to the underground garage, wanting to follow, but he stepped on some bath gel on the edge of the tub and lost his balance, tumbling into the bubble-filled bathtub.

He inwardly cursed himself for being so stupid. He flailed his limbs trying to stand, but the tub bottom was slippery. After scrambling futilely for a while, he choked on water, and the childhood terror of drowning surged up. His mind went blank, eyes wide as he stared at the dazzling light refracting off the water surface—until a pair of very warm hands reached in, lifting him out.

“How are you so clumsy?” Ye Lian placed the drenched black cat in the crook of his arm, patting his back to help him catch his breath.

Jiang Xiaoyu shook his head nonstop, coughing and sputtering. Liu Qingqing held up the scrubber. “Aiya, not washing anymore?”

Ye Lian said, “Later.” It was hot anyway, no risk of catching a cold. He just held the cat like that as he led Yang Guo toward the underground garage.

Ye Lian’s white shirt was soaked and clung to his chest, the wet fabric turning semi-transparent. The outlines of his broad, solid pecs trembled slightly with each breath—mature and sexy as hell. It was so hot that Jiang Xiaoyu couldn’t tell if it was his own body heat or the temperature from their skin touching.

Yang Guo felt the same. The corner of his refined eyes lifted as he lowered his voice. “Mr. Ye, you here…” He reached out, but Jiang Xiaoyu’s fur bristled. Unsure what emotion drove him, he bared his teeth and let out a hiss at Yang Guo.

Yang Guo quickly withdrew his hand, his tone carrying a touch of perfectly measured grievance. “Mr. Ye’s little cat doesn’t seem very well-behaved.”

Ye Lian looked down at the little cat on his chest, his gaze playful enough to stiffen Jiang Xiaoyu’s paws.

He curved his eyes. “I’ll punish him when we get back.”

Yang Guo thought he was standing up for him and asked shyly, “Mr. Ye, so about what we just discussed—have you thought it over?”

Ye Lian’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, but his tone remained as warm as spring breeze. “Have your manager contact my assistant.”

Yang Guo seemed to realize his impudence, fidgeting with his hem apologetically. “Sorry, I was too eager.”

“Young people having ideas is a good thing.” Ye Lian’s words sounded encouraging. Jiang Xiaoyu craned his neck to glare at his chin, unable to hold back a meow. “Explain properly to the cat! What does he want with you!”

Ye Lian raised a brow. His large palm covered Jiang Xiaoyu’s head as he said warmly to Yang Guo, “This is where we part. I’ll have the driver send you.”

Yang Guo knew when to quit and didn’t press. After getting in the car, he lowered the window with a beaming smile. “Mr. Ye, are you free in a few days? I’d like to treat you to dinner.”

Ye Lian was about to politely decline when he felt the cat under his palm gnawing nonstop at his palm. Suddenly changing his mind with some mischief, he said, “Sure, have Wang Chengzhi set a time.”

“Good!” Yang Guo agreed readily, his smile utterly charming.

Once the car was far away, Ye Lian withdrew his hand and pinched Jiang Xiaoyu’s two little fangs, pretending to be fierce. “Disobedient again, biting people. Uncle sees you really need a lesson.”

Jiang Xiaoyu held back, but couldn’t. He decided to scratch with his paws.

When Ye Lian showed up at the lunch table with a face full of scratches, he nearly dropped everyone’s jaws.

“What are you staring at?” He curved his eyes, slender fingers picking up chopsticks as he gestured to the group. “Eat.”

Yan Feilang coughed and shoveled rice furiously with his head down. Chen Yiqu’s face was stern—he wanted to scold Jiang Xiaoyu for being unruly and scratching his owner—but when he turned and saw the cat squatting on the chair with ears nearly dragging the floor, he swallowed his words.

Jiang Xiaoyu was also a bit annoyed and regretful, unsure what had gotten into him. It was immature beyond belief. Only the Husky gazed at Jiang Xiaoyu in pure admiration, woofing, “Little cat! So awesome!”

It was the weekend, so Ye Lian didn’t go to the company. After lunch, he headed to the study. Jiang Xiaoyu eyed his back, hesitated, then jumped off the chair to follow.

He tiptoed to the study door and was surprised to find a small cat door newly cut into the wall beside it—just the right size for a cat to pass, with a row of tassels that jingled pleasantly when brushed through. He slipped inside, unsure what the swelling feeling in his chest was.

Ye Lian lounged against the chairback, holding a book. Hearing the sound, he didn’t move, just sat there calmly.

Jiang Xiaoyu rubbed along the desk edge to his feet and looked up. Seeing no reaction, he placed his front paws on the man’s relaxed dangling leg, then kicked off with his hind legs to leap into the man’s lap.

He tucked in his paws obediently and lay down, quietly resting his head on the other’s leg.

Ye Lian’s gaze was serene. His distinctively jointed fingers held the book open, healthy-toned fingertips gliding over the page to turn it gently, seemingly unaffected at all by the little black cat on his lap.

Jiang Xiaoyu stayed quiet with him. After a long while, unable to hold back, he sneaked a peek up.

Ye Lian had a handsome face full of masculine charm—high brow bones, straight nose bridge, sharp and clean jawline, beautifully shaped thin lips. Though the contours were somewhat cold and hard, his elegant and gentle temperament perfectly balanced it into top-tier looks.

But right now, that god-crafted perfect profile bore a scratch, thin red and slightly swollen on the skin. Jiang Xiaoyu felt a pang of regret.

He sat up and rubbed his head against the spot, letting out a soft mew. “Sorry.”

Ye Lian closed the book with one hand, holding it in his palm, while the other stroked the fluffy little head at his neck. He couldn’t entertain any romantic thoughts toward a cat, but imagining that black-haired, green-eyed little cop sitting trustingly in his lap like this made his heart itch uncontrollably.

“It hurts a lot,” he said.

Jiang Xiaoyu found his voice oddly husky but, hearing it hurt, drooped his ears and rubbed his neck, sounding aggrieved. “It’s your fault. Who told you to pinch the cat’s teeth?” With a hint of blame, he added, “What did you say to Yang Guo? What’s the deal with you and Yang Guo? Why are you always tangled up with these case suspects?”

Ye Lian chuckled softly, answering irrelevantly. “No use acting spoiled. What to do about always biting?”

Jiang Xiaoyu stopped rubbing. He muttered, “You don’t touch the cat, the cat won’t bite you.”

“Mm, Uncle asked the Pet Communicator. He said this situation calls for punishment.”

Jiang Xiaoyu’s ears perked, and he meowed dazedly, “What’s a Pet Communicator?” Before he could think it through, Ye Lian pulled a small leather whip from the drawer, curving his eyes with a smile. “Uncle’s going to punish you.”

He stared blankly at the little whip. The next second, Ye Lian pinched the scruff of his neck and pressed him to his leg. Then—smack—something landed on the base of his tail.

Jiang Xiaoyu blanked out. A sharp pain hit his tail base first, then it felt like ants crawling over it—a strange, tingling pleasure spreading, making him let out a meaningless cat yowl.

Ye Lian watched his reaction, thinking the Communicator was right—the little cat really liked getting his butt smacked. Half-lidded, pleasure blatant in his eyes, he swung the little whip again—smack.

Now Jiang Xiaoyu snapped to. Fur exploding, ears red with fury. “Old bastard! What are you doing!”

“Like it?” Ye Lian’s tone was full of mischief. He swung his wrist for another—furious, Jiang Xiaoyu hugged with both paws and kicked. “Old turtle bastard! Old jerk!”

Ye Lian laughed out loud, thinking the little guy’s cursing had improved a bit—upgraded from bastard to old bastard.

The old bastard pinned Jiang Xiaoyu’s struggles, rubbing hard on the little black cat’s soft belly, delivering a few more smacks before contentedly stopping and resuming his refined demeanor. “Alright, Uncle forgives you.”

It infuriated Jiang Xiaoyu so much he puffed into a black puffball with red fur tips. Huffing unreasonably, he meowed, “The cat’s telling you! Report to the cat before meeting Yang Guo! You’re consorting with a suspect—the cat has the right to manage you!”

Ye Lian pretended not to understand, leisurely turning a page. Jiang Xiaoyu glared, panting heavily. After a while, he calmed and felt embarrassed, ears heating. “Why argue with someone who can’t understand cat talk…”

Somewhat awkwardly, he flicked his tail, stepped on the man’s thigh to jump down—but at the last moment, couldn’t resist turning to chomp once more before rabbit-like kicking away and bolting through the cat door.

Ye Lian looked helplessly at the claw marks on his wrist and called his special assistant. “Book the pet communicator again.”

Wang Chengzhi, who worked overtime into the early morning even on Saturdays, was still groggy and not fully awake. He dazedly let out an “oh.”

After a long pause, he roared in anger: “…Aren’t you sick in the head?!”

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaoyu, who had fled from the study, flushed red-faced as he ran off at top speed. His movements were nimble, but as he passed by Liu Qingqing, she scooped him up with one hand and held him right in front of her eyes. “Baby, where are you off to?”

Jiang Xiaoyu flailed his limbs in the air. He would throw tantrums and bite at Ye Lian, but toward her, he could only let out a weak little “meow,” hoping she’d put him down.

Liu Qingqing grinned and planted a kiss on the top of his head, then tucked him into the pouch on her apron at her waist. “Hang on, Auntie will whip up something tasty for you.”

After some rustling, Jiang Xiaoyu poked his cat head out from the pouch. His big green eyes caught sight of Chen Yiqu’s stern face, and he awkwardly shrank back inside.

He’d stayed at the Ye Residence all afternoon, and by evening, he suddenly remembered he needed to hurry back to feed Little Stray. He tried to sneak away quietly, but Liu Qingqing caught him again.

“Aiya, baby, heading back down the mountain? Here, take this little cupcake to Officer Jiang.” She beamed and hung a dainty paper cup cake from Jiang Xiaoyu’s chest.

Jiang Xiaoyu glanced at the others, who all seemed to accept that he was Officer Jiang’s cat. Recalling what Ye Lian had said earlier, guilt welled up in his heart. He pursed his lips, walked over to Ye Lian’s feet, and rubbed against the man’s ankle. “Thank you.”

He felt a little despicable, shamelessly enjoying everyone’s unknowing care in his cat form.

Ye Lian curved his eyes in a smile and merely nudged him with his foot. “Say hi to Officer Jiang for me. And remember to come back early.”

Jiang Xiaoyu sniffed, gave Chen Yiqu a rub as he passed by, then vanished into the night.