Chapter 16
Shao Sui, after much restraint, didn’t pull out the three incense sticks. He hurriedly checked the cat, making sure it hadn’t been mistreated, and then sighed in relief, saying grumpily, “The apartment was burglarized, and you’re this calm? Weren’t you afraid of people before?”
Mimi asked, puzzled: “Meow?”
Shao Sui, not understanding the cat’s question, went to the altar and picked up his mother’s portrait, carefully wiping it clean.
The woman in the photo looked stern, even in her pre-arranged memorial portrait, offering little warmth to the living.
She had committed suicide.
Shao Sui’s mother, Shao Jun, was a domineering and controlling woman, especially when it came to his upbringing.
Shortly after marrying Shi Yingdi, Shao Sui’s father, she had been coaxed by him into resigning from her teaching position, supposedly to dedicate herself to raising their child.
In reality, only Shao Jun dedicated herself to the family. Shi Yingdi had an affair shortly after Shao Sui’s birth, which Shao Jun didn’t discover until Shao Sui started kindergarten.
After consulting a lawyer, Shao Jun learned that even though her husband was at fault, her lack of employment for an extended period made it difficult for her to obtain custody of Shao Sui, so she chose to endure.
Shi Yingdi became even more brazen, openly staying out all night. Unable to control her husband, Shao Jun poured all her expectations onto Shao Sui.
She tried to control every aspect of his life, from his academic performance and every minute of his day, to his manner of speaking, his posture, and even who he talked to on his way home from school.
Any disobedience was met with the ruler and a barrage of verbal abuse.
Even the university application wasn’t filled out according to Shao Sui’s wishes, but his mother’s. He was accepted into a renowned teachers’ college, and his mother even wanted to rent an apartment nearby to supervise him.
The years of control finally triggered a rebellion in Shao Sui. He coldly told his mother, “I’m in university now, an adult. How long are you going to use me as an excuse not to get a divorce?”
“I hope you can find something to do with your life and stop interfering with mine.”
Shao Jun, unable to comprehend why Shi Yingdi should be allowed to roam free while she suffered, threatened suicide. Shao Sui was unmoved, saying they might as well die together.
When he actually started taking pills, Shao Jun finally broke down, sobbing and asking why he was forcing her hand.
Shao Sui didn’t know who was forcing whose hand.
Some words reached his lips, but he swallowed them back. He knew Shao Jun’s biggest regret was resigning from her teaching position, so he couldn’t bring himself to say, “I don’t have to go to university.”
It would be too cruel.
In the end, he compromised, telling his mother – I’m an adult now, I don’t need a guardian anymore. Get a divorce, and I’ll take your surname. Live your own life, stay away from Shi Yingdi, and I will always be your son.
This also came at a price. His father, Shi Yingdi, couldn’t bear the humiliation of his son wanting to change his surname and threatened to cut off his living and tuition expenses.
But Shao Sui had already planned his course of action. He could apply for a student loan, work during summer and winter breaks, and take on part-time jobs on weekends. He could manage. And there were always scholarships.
Even if the loan application failed, he could enroll and then take a year off to work in a factory. He could still go to university.
Shi Yingdi really didn’t provide any living expenses during the first year. His mother started working and sent him money, which Shao Sui rarely used but didn’t return, otherwise, knowing his mother’s personality, she would cause a scene at school.
In the second year, Shi Yingdi, perhaps having broken up with the other woman, remembered his son and offered to pay off his student loan and provide monthly living expenses. Shao Sui naturally didn’t refuse, reluctantly removing his father from his blacklist.
And now, it was the seventh year.
“Meow?”
The soft touch against his leg pulled Shao Sui from his memories. Mimi was rubbing against him, as if asking what was wrong.
“I’ll hold you later.”
Shao Sui extinguished the incense sticks lit by the thief and lit three new ones.
Mimi’s pupils dilated! Was Shao Sui extinguishing incense? No, he was extinguishing its heartfelt wishes!
The VIP! The phone! The ice cream!
The Great Meow King was anxious: “Meow, meow, meow!!”
“You’re about to tear your pants.”
Shao Sui picked up the cat with one hand, held its front paws, placed the incense sticks between them, and bowed Mimi’s head towards the portrait before placing them in the burner.
“This is your… hmm, grandma?” Shao Sui said seriously. “Greet her.”
Mimi: “…Meow!”
You’re an idiot!
Shao Sui nodded seriously, “Good, Grandma must have heard you. She’ll bless you from down below.”
In a way, Shao Jun had already blessed Mimi once.
The day Shao Sui found Mimi happened to be the seventh day after his mother’s death. When he was scammed by the cat, he thought, even a dying cat wanted to live so badly, why would Shao Jun, healthy and with her son becoming a teacher as she wished, want to die?
Whether human or cat, you had to want to live first, actively send out a signal for help, before others could help.
“Mom.” Shao Sui sighed, his emotions complex. “Look, I brought you a grandson so quickly, be happy down there.”
His feelings for his mother were complicated, love mingled with deep resentment.
Mimi punched away Shao Sui’s sentimentality. I’m no one’s grandson!
Shao Sui kissed it and lifted it up by its armpits: “Swear to Grandma’s portrait, has anyone been in the apartment? Meow once if they have.”
“Meow!”
Another punch! Missed again.
“So someone really has been here.” To be honest, because of his mother, Shao Sui sometimes wondered if he had done those things himself in a daze.
“Did they kiss you? Hug you?”
“Meow—”
Mimi disliked being held like this, kicking Shao Sui in the face and jumping back onto the sofa.
“A stranger was in the house, and you’re this relaxed? You’re not the same Mimi who used to hide from everyone. Did you rub against him, let him pinch your paws?” Shao Sui knelt on the sofa, taking the opportunity to manhandle the cat. “If the police question you, you have to bravely identify the thief, understand? You can’t lie.”
“Meow!!”
“Little rascal—”
Ignoring Mimi’s struggles, Shao Sui nibbled on its ear tip: “Were you made of cartilage in your past life? So delicious.”
“Meow!!”
Mimi’s pupils dilated, a hint of excitement in its eyes.
“Scream, scream louder.” Shao Sui misinterpreted its resistance as unwillingness, continuing to nibble on its ear. “Are you expecting that pervert who snuck in to save you? Don’t even think about it. If he comes back, I’ll bite you right in front of him and send him to jail!”
Mimi struggled fiercely. What nonsense are you talking about!
“You spent my money, ate my food, you’re my cat, understand?”
“Mine in life, mine in death, even as a little cat ghost!”
Shao Sui, after his outburst, buried his face in Mimi’s warm belly.
Mimi punched him without hesitation: “Mrow!”
If you’re going to suffocate, don’t die on my belly!
Shao Sui abruptly lifted his head, let go of Mimi, and mechanically walked into the bathroom, closing the door and turning on the water in one swift motion.
Mimi licked its paw, confused: “Meow?”
Did I hit him too hard?
Mimi spread its paw and examined it. It was smooth.
And it hadn’t extended its claws.
Overly sensitive human.
Shao Sui washed his face and looked at his haggard reflection in the mirror, feeling like the world was ending.
His apartment was dirty.
The cat was dirty.
He entered a dirty apartment, touched a dirty cat, therefore he was dirty too.
Could he still live here? Every piece of furniture, every object, might have been touched by that person.
For example, the bathroom doorknob might have been touched, the doormat stepped on, the sofa, the chairs, the coffee table…
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say Shao Sui felt like countless insects were crawling on him.
He maintained his composure during work days to avoid affecting his teaching, but tomorrow was the weekend.
Since university, Shao Sui hadn’t been able to tolerate anyone entering his personal space or touching his belongings. The only way he could feel comfortable now was to throw everything out and replace it.
Unless he moved.
But that was also troublesome. Firstly, landlords usually had priorities when choosing tenants. Pet owners were usually lower on the list, and male pet owners even lower than females.
Even if he said he had OCD, they might not believe him.
Secondly, a new apartment meant a new adjustment period. The landlord’s cleaning standards wouldn’t meet his requirements. Dust in hidden corners, crumbs in the bed crevices, dirt in the window tracks… everything would have to be meticulously cleaned, and where would he find the time?
But the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, followed closely by National Day. The junior high would have a long holiday, giving him some free time.
And a seventy-square-meter apartment was enough for him alone, but with a cat, it felt a bit cramped. Mimi used to roam freely, now it was confined to such a small space, it was a bit unfair.
Shao Sui made up his mind. He would move. He sat back on the sofa, holding the cat, and started browsing listings.
“This one is too small, although the price is good.”
“This one is not bad, it has a small room that could be turned into a cat room… what do you think? Do you like it?”
Mimi reached out and pressed the screen, imitating Shao Sui using a phone, and frantically tapped the back button in the top left corner with its paw.
Swipe away! Don’t like this one, the living room doesn’t have a TV.
Shao Sui thought it was a coincidence, lifting the cat to nuzzle it against his face: “Our Mimi is so smart! You even know how to use a phone now, hmm?”
Completely forgetting this was a cat that might have been touched by a stranger.
The next second, Shao Sui’s smile vanished. He avoided Mimi’s paw and frowned.
A notification popped up on his phone screen: Hello, I’m the owner of this calico cat. Sorry for the late reply, could you please get back to me?
Shao Sui paused for three seconds before clicking on the message. The other party had also sent some pictures… a fluffy little calico in an unfamiliar apartment, huddled on a soft sofa, staring at the camera.
Shao Sui recognized it immediately. It was Mimi.
He didn’t reply immediately, feeling extremely irritated. He had planned to delete the post this morning, but he had spent so long coaxing the uncooperative Mimi into the study that he forgot all about it when he left.
If he had just deleted the post…
The burglar was annoying, work was annoying, and now this was even more annoying.
Of all times, the owner had to show up just as he was planning to move with the cat.
So inconsiderate.
“Meow! Meow, meow—” Mimi seemed to recognize the place in the photos, frantically pawing at the phone.
Shao Sui laughed in exasperation, “You ungrateful little thing! I’ve been feeding you well, taking care of you, and you’re this eager to go back?”
Mimi: “Mrow!!!”
Shao Sui held the cat down and swatted its backside.
Mimi trembled slightly, tucking its tail between its legs and snuggling into Shao Sui’s arms, clinging to his neck.
Shao Sui, thinking it was just playing excitedly, was very pleased with this clingy embrace: “At least you have some conscience.”
He thought for a moment, then replied to the previous owner while holding Mimi: Let’s meet somewhere.
