Chapter 53: Transforming Right in Front of Papa Ye

Luo Xi heard Jiang Xiaoyu’s voice and let go of the dog leash. The Labrador wagged its club-like thick tail, excitedly pouncing on Jiang Xiaoyu’s waist and rubbing against it vigorously.

“Cat Officer, do you live here?”

Jiang Xiaoyu rubbed its big head and gave a low “mm” in response. Then he asked Luo Xi again, “Why are you guys here?”

Perhaps because the sunlight was a bit glaring, Luo Xi’s refined face was adorned with a pair of tea-colored sunglasses, looking very stylish. He gently tugged the dog leash to signal the Labrador to calm down and smiled as he said, “There’s an equestrian club around here. I’m a member, and since I had nothing to do today, I brought Abu to ride horses.”

That was true.

Behind Jiang Xiaoyu’s house was a river, and across it was the vast Horse Racetrack. He was a bit puzzled—could Luo Xi ride horses with his poor eyesight? But then he thought, places like this definitely had instructors or someone to supervise. Besides, who said blind people absolutely couldn’t ride horses?

Worried about touching a sore spot, he tactfully didn’t mention it. But Luo Xi spoke up first, “Are you wondering how a blind guy like me can still ride horses?”

Jiang Xiaoyu pinched the back of his neck, feeling a bit awkward as he exchanged a glance with Ye Qingxu, who was quietly by his side. Then he said, “I didn’t mean it like that…”

Luo Xi chuckled lightly. “It’s fine. In fact, it is pretty inconvenient. Someone has to lead the horse and accompany me. It’s the weekend today. If Officer Jiang has nothing going on, want to come with me? Abu’s so excited to see you it’s practically losing it.”

Jiang Xiaoyu looked at the enthusiastic doggo and gave it a couple more vigorous rubs. “Not today. I have to go with…” He didn’t know how to define his relationship with Ye Qingxu, nor could he bring himself to call him uncle. Thanks to Ye Lian’s treatment, he was genuinely allergic to the word ‘uncle’ now. Just thinking about it made his ears burn… After agonizing for a few seconds, he decided to stick with the old way of addressing him. “I have to go to the Building Materials Market with Mr. Ye to buy some stuff.”

Hearing him call him that, Ye Qingxu told himself there was no rush. If Jiang Xiaoyu really called him uncle or something, he might not even be happy—after all, what he wanted was for him to call him daddy. Thinking this way, the sadness in his heart eased quite a bit. He hooked the corner of his mouth and greeted Luo Xi, “Hello.”

“Hello to you too.” Luo Xi smiled faintly.

Everyone had things to do, so they didn’t chat much more. After bidding farewell to Jiang Xiaoyu, the Labrador led Luo Xi toward the Horse Racetrack in the back.

“Abu.” The Labrador heard Luo Xi call out to him slowly and leisurely.

He kept his head down and walked, not wanting to respond.

“Abu~” Luo Xi raised his pitch and dragged out his tone. “Still mad at me? Give your owner some attention, okay?” Seeing the Labrador still ignoring him, he let out a light, short laugh. “I’m a bit hurt. Our Abu gets so enthusiastic with the handsome officer, but treats his owner with indifference. Just because I wanted to sleep with you, you hit me.”

The Labrador kept its head rigid, not wanting to pay him any mind. Its dog face looked puffed up with anger, but out of habit, it tugged its head in a certain direction, signaling Luo Xi to avoid the sewer manhole cover underfoot.

Luo Xi laughed helplessly.

It was really nice weather today, with the wind light and gentle. He took off his sunglasses and muttered to himself, “Those two really look alike.”

—

Practice makes perfect—Jiang Xiaoyu walked around the Building Materials Market, carrying several bags of snacks in his hands.

“Mr. Ye, I really can’t eat anymore…” He made a bitter face as Ye Qingxu tried to buy him more food, touching his round, plump belly. “If I eat any more, I won’t be able to eat lunch at all…”

Ye Qingxu watched his movements with a smile, placing his honey-colored palm over Jiang Xiaoyu’s little belly and rubbing it gently. “Let me see. Mm, yeah, it’s a bit bulging.”

Jiang Xiaoyu froze in place, startled by the action.

But Ye Qingxu was very natural about it, touching briefly before pulling away. His expression held the affection of an elder toward a junior, as if Jiang Xiaoyu were a little cub he’d overfed without care. His black-and-white eyes carried a hint of apology. “I’ll pay attention next time and buy less of each.”

Hearing Jiang Xiaoyu’s dazed “oh,” his smile deepened, and the fine lines at his eyes smoothed out. “Let’s go. We’ll look for things you like.”

Ye Qingxu was full of enthusiasm, as if determined to find things Jiang Xiaoyu would love. He kept pointing at stuff and asking for his opinion. After a while, Jiang Xiaoyu got tired, looking all wilted and downcast.

Ye Qingxu tamped down his excitement and considerately pulled the kid to a bench by the roadside. “You sit and rest. I’ll go negotiate the price with the shop owner. He’ll deliver all the materials tomorrow.”

Jiang Xiaoyu perked up at that. “I’ll go with you.”

Before he could stand, Ye Qingxu pressed down on his shoulder and pushed him back. “Be good and stay put. I’ll come back to pick you up.”

The man’s movements were smooth and decisive. Before Jiang Xiaoyu could react, he turned and left.

Jiang Xiaoyu sat on the bench, holding a cup of ice-cold taro paste milk tea that Ye Qingxu had bought him. It was his first time trying this. He took a big sip, squinting his eyes from the chill. “So good…” He smiled faintly, like a satisfied kitten who’d gotten tasty food, not noticing the dense red rashes that had broken out on his arm.

After these days, Ye Qingxu had gotten a sense of Jiang Xiaoyu’s tastes. Though the kid said on his lips that as long as the price was right it was fine, he clearly preferred more natural, soft things.

The shop owner watched as Ye Qingxu ticked off the materials list and reminded him, “This one’s a bit pricey.” He remembered this guy—from before, he’d always picked high value-for-money stuff.

“Mm, I’ll pay upfront.” Ye Qingxu smiled. “Don’t worry about the price. Just deliver everything tomorrow.”

Fool not to take money when it’s offered—the shop owner didn’t remind him again and instead said, “If you want this, why not spend a bit more to check out something else? There’s better phase-change material, warm in winter and cool in summer, perfect for cat beds, dog houses, that sort of thing. But if you’re doing a large area, it’ll be expensive.”

“Show it to me. Money’s no issue,” Ye Qingxu said.

All these years of burying himself in work had been a way to pour his heart into something. Now he was glad he’d worked so hard—otherwise, where would he get the confidence to raise a kid?

—

After finishing negotiations, Ye Qingxu came out to find Jiang Xiaoyu. Seeing the kid sitting obediently on the bench with his head down, his heart warmed immensely.

How could there be such a cute kid? So polite, and after going through so much sadness, still so kind-hearted.

His own child was already twenty-two. Ye Qingxu felt a pang of regret. He really wished technology would advance faster, so he could hop into a time machine, go back to the moment Jiang Xiaoyu was born, hug him tight, and not miss those years again.

Ye Qingxu lowered his head, wiped the tear from the corner of his eye, cleared his throat, and walked over to Jiang Xiaoyu. “All settled. Let’s head home. Or how about lunch out? I heard from my assistant there’s a new shop that’s pretty good…”

He wasn’t up on young people’s trends. These past few days, he’d been frantically digging online into modern youths’ lifestyles. “Let’s go check it out together. I see kids these days love doing that.”

Ye Qingxu finished with a smile but got no reply. Feeling puzzled, he patted Jiang Xiaoyu. “Little Yu, did you hear me?”

But the temperature where his hand touched was scorching. Ye Qingxu’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly turned Jiang Xiaoyu’s shoulders, scrutinizing his face closely.

Jiang Xiaoyu’s face was flushed, his breathing heavy and labored, looking groggy and dazed.

Ye Qingxu’s gaze urgently scanned him, spotting dense red rashes covering his neck and arms—like countless little fire spots, rampant on his fair skin.

“Little Yu! Little Yu! What’s wrong?” Panic colored Ye Qingxu’s voice as he gently patted Jiang Xiaoyu’s cheeks, trying to rouse him.

But Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t respond at all. His body went limp, collapsing into Ye Qingxu’s arms like a puppet with cut strings.

“Oh god!” Ye Qingxu’s face went pale. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm. “Baby, hang on. Daddy’s taking you to the doctor.”

Ye Qingxu hoisted Jiang Xiaoyu up with effort, half-holding, half-carrying him to the elevator. Luckily, security saw and helped out. He slammed the car door shut, too rushed to even say thanks, and floored the accelerator.

The Building Materials Market was by the river, and getting to the city hospital meant crossing a big bridge—quite a distance if traffic was bad.

Ye Qingxu honked frantically. An unprecedented fear gripped his heart. He didn’t dare imagine if something really happened to Jiang Xiaoyu, how he’d face it. He’d only just found his blood-related son— was heaven going to cruelly take him away again?

Tears welled in his eyes, held back by sheer will. He glanced at the passenger seat and suddenly froze.

He widened his eyes in disbelief, staring at the seat. Jiang Xiaoyu’s clothes were messily piled there, and their owner had vanished into thin air.

“Little Yu?” Ye Qingxu’s voice was full of disbelief and panic. Trembling, he reached out, probing the empty space a few times. Then, suddenly, there was movement under the clothes, like something wriggling beneath.

Ye Qingxu’s heart pounded. He swallowed, reaching out.

His fingertips touched a ball of soft, fluffy fur. Ye Qingxu carefully lifted the clothes, revealing a pitch-black little kitten curled up, breathing laboredly.

—

Jiang Xiaoyu felt his whole body was extremely heavy. He opened his eyes in a daze and let out a meow.

When Ye Qingxu saw that pair of emerald green eyes, he felt his breath catch. He’d seen this cat before, just a few days ago at Jiang Xiaoyu’s doorstep. He’d knocked on the door for ages with no answer, and shortly after this little black cat appeared, Jiang Xiaoyu had come to open the door.

All sorts of guesses flooded his mind. He steadied his breathing and touched the little cat’s burning hot body.

Can’t go to the hospital like this… he thought. No matter what’s going on, I have to take him home.

He sped all the way back. As he neared the house, he couldn’t be bothered to turn off the engine. After unbuckling his seatbelt, he got out of the car and opened the passenger door.

The little black cat seemed frightened by the car’s intense jolting and curled into a ball, trembling.

Ye Qingxu gently stroked his back and softly comforted him. “Don’t be afraid, we’re home.”

He cradled the cat in his arms and fumbled for his keys in a panic.

The little cat’s body is so hot—what if the fever doesn’t go down? Should I take him to see a doctor? No, no way—he’d end up dissected as an experimental subject! He rambled chaotically in his mind about what to do. In his fluster, the keys fell to the ground. Tears streamed down his face as he bent to pick them up, only to see a fair, slender hand appear in his line of sight.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Lian’s beautiful brows furrowed, his elegant features carrying a hint of sternness.

“Give Little Yu to me,” he said.