Chapter 15
In the office, Shao Sui’s expression was grave: “I think my apartment was burglarized.”
His colleagues, hearing this, expressed their concern: “Burglarized? What did they take?”
Cheng Ke was more concerned about the cat: “Is Mimi alright?”
“He’s fine…” Shao Sui leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed. “Actually, they didn’t take much, just some clothes and food. The cat doesn’t seem frightened either.”
“What kind of burglar is so kind?”
“Kind?” Teacher Shao strongly disagreed. “The bed I make every morning is messed up when I get back, my slippers are all over the place, and every single one of my cups has been used – I always wash and dry them after using them, but these past few days, the insides have been wet when I get home. Even the TV feels warm to the touch.”
Shu Yi chuckled, “Could it be your parents or relatives visiting?”
Shao Sui shook his head: “Impossible, they don’t know where I live.”
Cheng Ke wasn’t surprised: “Could it be the cat?”
Shao Sui didn’t think so: “I usually lock the bedroom door with a key. Mimi can’t possibly know how to turn a key, can he? And can a cat replace the toilet bowl cleaner? The one I put in last month was still there, and this morning, the blue color when I flushed was still very strong.”
If this were a single woman’s story, it would be purely terrifying.
Since Shao Sui was male, it added a touch of humor.
Shao Sui continued, “And can a cat open the refrigerator, take out ice cream, tear open the packaging, eat it, and then flush the stick down the toilet?”
“Huh?” His colleagues gathered around. “What’s going on?”
Just recounting the story made Shao Sui laugh in exasperation: “A few days ago, I found the toilet was clogged and wouldn’t flush, so I called a plumber. He pulled out nineteen popsicle sticks!”
Everyone was stunned, finding it unbelievable: “Strange, they didn’t take any valuables?”
“No.” Shao Sui felt a shiver down his spine. “I strongly suspect this thief used my computer after eating the ice cream. There were milk stains on the keyboard, and they also used my towel to wipe their hands… or mouth.”
The other day, when washing his face, Shao Sui smelled milk on his towel and almost thought his sense of smell was malfunctioning.
The math teacher’s focus was elsewhere: “Why is all the ice cream you buy milk-flavored?”
Shao Sui lowered his eyes, a subtle change in his tone: “My mother bought it, she likes it… but didn’t have time to finish it.”
Although they had worked together for two years, Shao Sui rarely mentioned his family, so everyone was curious and asked a few more questions, which Shao Sui evaded.
Cheng Ke, noticing this, changed the subject: “Didn’t you say you were going to buy a surveillance camera? Haven’t you installed it yet?”
Shao Sui pinched the bridge of his nose: “I ordered it that day, but they’re having some Mid-Autumn Festival promotion, it’s a pre-order, it’ll take ten days to ship.”
Today was the seventh day.
“That’s the problem with online shopping.” Shu Yi’s imagination ran wild. “Could it be a pervert, like those mentally unstable people in the news, who get a thrill from sneaking into other people’s homes, not to steal anything, but…”
Another teacher’s expression changed, lowering their voice: “Could there be a gay guy in your community who’s interested in you, sneaking into your apartment and doing strange things? Check for hidden cameras when you get home tonight, and see if any of your underwear is missing!”
Shao Sui pushed his glasses up his nose and remained silent for a long time.
Everyone, sensing something from his silence, exchanged knowing glances.
Cheng Ke coughed, “Seriously?”
—He wasn’t sure about hidden cameras, but Shao Sui had lost two pairs of underwear.
Shu Yi said, “Call the police.”
“I’ve considered it.” Shao Sui took off his glasses and wiped them. “But based on past cases, it’s difficult to file a report without catching them in the act. The evidence is all circumstantial.”
Firstly, no actual harm was done. Secondly, nothing valuable was stolen. Thirdly, Shao Sui was male, less likely to be a victim. Considering all this, calling the police might be futile.
“Then tonight, check for hidden cameras when you get home. There are tutorials online.” Cheng Ke offered a suggestion. “And follow up on the camera delivery, or buy one offline and install it quickly, see if you can capture any video of the thief.”
The math teacher said, “There probably aren’t any hidden cameras. Those things need to be connected to the internet or Bluetooth, right?”
“That’s right!” Shu Yi exclaimed, clapping her hands. “If you find a camera, it means the suspect is most likely one of your neighbors!”
Cheng Ke shuddered, “That’s even more terrifying. I would move out immediately.”
As a woman, she didn’t dare to take the risk. She couldn’t be as calm and composed as Shao Sui.
Shao Sui sighed, “I’ll wait until the weekend and see if I can find any clues.”
He wasn’t too worried about his safety. Men naturally had a lower sense of danger, and he also worked out regularly. Even so, Shao Sui felt incredibly uneasy, despite appearing calm on the surface.
He had been using disposable toothbrushes and towels for the past two days, sleeping on the sofa with a sheet and Mimi in his arms, and locking Mimi in the study during work hours, removing the key. He hadn’t seen any more milk stains on his keyboard.
Teacher Shao wouldn’t have guessed that it wasn’t because the “thief” couldn’t enter the study, but because the “thief,” having discovered it didn’t know how to use a computer, lost interest.
Although the study was locked, Mimi was inside, easily able to open the door.
Mimi had become very familiar with the apartment. Two days ago, it saw a commercial for toilet bowl cleaner on TV and, remembering there was one in the bathroom, followed the instructions on TV to replace it. The blue water when flushing was quite fascinating.
Mimi left the study and, with practiced ease, settled onto the sofa, no longer sitting properly like before, but sprawling out, shifting positions constantly.
But today, there seemed to be a problem with the TV. It accidentally clicked on a colorful page with many shows, but each one could only be viewed for a few minutes. Just as it got interested, the screen displayed “VIP required.”
What was VIP?
Mimi wanted to ask Shao Sui when he got back, but ever since Shao Sui failed to recognize him and refused to put bandages on his feet, Mimi vowed never to tell him it could turn into a human.
Vows couldn’t be broken easily; it would be struck by lightning – that’s what the shameless tabby had said.
But the stupid Shao Sui couldn’t understand cat language, unlike him, naturally intelligent, fluent in both cat and human languages.
How frustrating.
And Shao Sui had been cold to him recently. Although he still held him while sleeping, he didn’t nuzzle or kiss him as much, and even locked him in the study during the day when he went out hunting!
He had promised that it could go anywhere except the bedroom. Such a dishonest human.
Mimi didn’t think it was because he had lost his authority. After a few days of observation, he finally realized Shao Sui disliked the smell of fish oil on him, always keeping a distance after he ate it.
Mimi lifted its arm and sniffed.
Fishy?
Not at all. Humans were so fussy and troublesome.
Not kissing him because of the fish oil smell?
Locking him in the study because of the fish oil smell?
The Great Meow King was furious, and with the TV shows requiring VIP access, it angrily threw the remote control on the sofa a few times.
Zero damage.
Another TV show prompted for VIP access, and Mimi almost cried, standing on the sofa and yelling, “VIP again, VIP again! You, you… you’re trash! You’re trash!”
Why didn’t Shao Sui have this “VIP” thing?
Mimi, still not knowing how to pronounce the three letters, sat down angrily. The sofa was too soft, bouncing him slightly.
He slapped it hard: “You’re trash too!”
Unable to watch TV, Mimi’s gaze shifted to the small altar table.
A few days ago, the humans on TV said people burned incense at temples to make wishes.
And Shao Sui prayed in front of the altar every day, probably also making wishes.
Mimi imitated him, lighting three incense sticks and bowing to the woman in the photo, muttering, “I wish Shao Sui gets VIP, I wish Shao Sui gets VIP, I wish Shao Sui gets VIP.”
Important wishes had to be repeated three times.
Just as it was about to place the incense sticks in the burner, Mimi added, “VIP probably costs a lot of money, and Shao Sui is poor… then please buy me a phone—”
“Please buy cat spirit Mimi a phone, and some more ice cream!”
Cat spirit Mimi prayed devoutly, then placed the incense sticks in the burner. They burned brightly.
But Mimi still felt it wasn’t enough, so it turned back into a cat, stood on its hind legs, and bowed again.
Praying really worked!
It didn’t even feel tired after transforming back into a human. Its wish would definitely come true!
Mimi was in a good mood again and even found a free TV channel, although it was a bit boring, and it couldn’t understand it.
Mimi spent its days like this, seeing Shao Sui off to work and welcoming him back.
No, no, no, how could the Great Meow King welcome a human home from work?
Whenever Shao Sui’s footsteps approached the door, Mimi would quickly leave the entranceway, jump onto the sofa as a cat, and pretend to have just woken up.
“Mimi…”
Shao Sui took off his shoes and put on the disposable slippers he had just bought. He even brought his loungewear to work, afraid the thief would steal it and do something weird with it.
After changing, Shao Sui noticed the cat on the sofa: “…How did you get out!?”
Mimi froze. It had forgotten it was supposed to be locked in the study!
And, as a kitten, it wasn’t supposed to be able to open a locked door!
It forgot, forgot everything.
Mimi played dumb, casually stretching and rubbing against Shao Sui’s legs.
Shao Sui thought he really needed to call the police.
He could tolerate the thief using his things, eating his ice cream, flushing popsicle sticks down the toilet and making him pay for repairs, but if the thief touched his cat! That was absolutely insane!
Then, Shao Sui discovered something even more insane.
He stood frozen in front of his mother’s portrait, as if struck by lightning.
The thief had actually lit incense for his deceased mother.
Teacher Shao felt dizzy, on the verge of collapse.
Mimi, sitting on the sofa, stared at Shao Sui’s back. It must be a message from the gods to Shao Sui!
The Great Meow King was touched and decided to burn incense more often.
