The Cub Comes from Planet Meow 85

Chapter 85: Meow (Cat & Dog Limited Time Return)

A few days later, the two families went to the water park together.

Jing Mimi was actually a bit afraid of water.

When he was the kitten Mimi, he had been caught in the rain during his wandering days. He didn’t react much to the water flow when bathing, disliking it but enduring it.

Now, looking at the deepening pool in front of him, Jing Mimi hugged Papa tightly, daring not to let go like an octopus kitten.

Wang Qiuqiu had already walked into the water with a swimming ring.

He liked water very much.

When he was the puppy Qiuqiu, he liked swimming in the water. There was a big swimming pool in the estate. Every summer, his mom and dad would fill the pool with water, letting the puppy swim happily inside to cool off.
After swimming, he would take a fragrant bath and dry off by combing his fur under the sun.

Jing Mimi hugged Papa and poked his little head out, watching Wang Qiuqiu swim back and forth with a swimming ring, excitedly encouraging him to come into the water too.

Jing Mimi pursed his lips, his expression softening a bit.

Jiang Suifeng struck while the iron was hot, scooped Jing Mimi up from behind, and held him.

Jing Mimi’s bare little feet dangled in the air, and panic flashed in his eyes.

Jiang Suifeng’s voice followed: “Don’t be afraid, Papa is holding you, get used to it slowly.”

Jing Zhi also picked up the swimming ring prepared for Jing Mimi beside him, put it on from his feet, and encouraged him.

He still remembered when he was a child, because of his biological father’s negligence, he had only been to the swimming pool once, with Fang Yuan and Fang Yuan’s parents. Fang Yuan had learned swimming for a while and had a card at the swimming pool. He just went along for a stroll.
He couldn’t swim and didn’t have a swimming ring or swimsuit. Because buying or renting would cost money, and he didn’t want Fang Yuan’s parents to spend money, he just sat by the pool in summer shorts soaking in the water, looking at Fang Yuan swimming enviously.
He was very sensible and didn’t say anything to his mother after returning, just pretending to have no interest in swimming.

Actually, he liked it, yearned for it, and envied it.

Because of those regrets in childhood, he tried hard to compensate himself after growing up, but couldn’t really make up for it.

Precisely because of this, he didn’t want Mimi to have any regrets.

Raising a child is also raising one’s childhood self again to some extent.

This was his first time being a parent, but not his first time being a child.

Encouraged by his papas, Brother Qiuqiu, Auntie Wu Yuan, and Uncle Wang Shao, Jing Mimi finally changed from just dipping his feet in the water to immersing his lower body in the water. Although his feet had no point of leverage, his body didn’t sink further because of Papa’s hands and the buoyancy of the swimming ring.

The feeling of floating was wonderful.

A bit like the feeling of flying when the kitten Mimi went to Planet Meow.

The blue sky and white clouds were all reflected in the water. It turned out this was another kind of “sky.”

But unlike that time, his papas were by his side now.

Jiang Suifeng gradually let go of his hands. Jing Mimi hugged the swimming ring tightly and was led by Wang Qiuqiu to swim a small circle. The hair near his neck was wet into clumps by the water.

Jing Mimi gradually relaxed, kicked his little feet proactively, and talked to Wang Qiuqiu: “Brother Qiuqiu, have you swum before?”

They both knew clearly that “before” referred to when they were in animal form.

Wang Qiuqiu hummed and answered: “Used to swim often in summer, didn’t need a swimming ring.”

Jing Mimi exclaimed “Wow,” thinking he was amazing.

If the kitten Mimi was thrown directly into such a big pool, the kitten would definitely be scared to death.

Thinking of the German Shepherd many times bigger than a kitten seen in the illusion before, Jing Mimi’s little brain began to fantasize whimsically again—

The kitten Mimi could curl up on the puppy Qiuqiu’s back, carried by him to play on the water, so he wouldn’t need to swim himself, nor need a swimming ring.

Just like when he was carried by the puppy Qiuqiu for a ride in the clouds in the illusion.

That feeling must be wonderful!

Jing Mimi decided to dream about this tonight.

Unfortunately, he played too tired during the day, exhausting his physical strength, and slept until broad daylight at night without dreaming at all.

Waking up the next day, looking at the beautiful sea view sunrise outside the floor-to-ceiling window, Jing Mimi still felt a little disappointed.

The Cat God’s voice suddenly sounded: “Mimi, don’t be discouraged. The Dog God and I will prepare a surprise for you on your birthday next year!”

Jing Mimi’s interest rose, asking expectantly and curiously: “What surprise?”

The Cat God kept him in suspense, saying he would know next year.

After becoming the little human Mimi, Jing Mimi’s birthday registered in the household registration became the day his papas completed the adoption procedures from the welfare institute and took him home.

This was a very important day for the little human Mimi and his papas, perfect for a birthday.

It was only half a year away from this date.

The Cat God appeared suddenly not entirely to talk about this surprise, but also to give Mimi a new mission.

It was the wish of a colorful tabby Pan Pan (Hope/Look forward to) who grew up by the sea.

Its owner was an elderly grandpa. When he was young, he was a fisherman and often went out to sea. Later, after an accident and getting older, he opened a small shop by the sea.

The kitten was saved by him when he was young. The mother cat disappeared just after birth, and the dying kitten waited for death under the scorching sun.

But arriving before the grim reaper was its owner.

The owner didn’t adopt it at first, just rescued it. After recovering, it lived at that small pier.

Every time the owner went out to sea, he would bring back small fish to feed it. At first, the fish was bigger than the milk cat, and its small fangs didn’t know where to start, not knowing how to eat. Gradually, the milk cat grew up, and its teeth became sharp. Every time, it could be the first among the stray cats to grab the fish thrown by the owner, holding its little tail high and rubbing against his leg lightly.

It also gradually got used to squatting at the pier, waiting for his return.

Once, a storm suddenly rolled up on the sea. Its fur was wet, and the surrounding stray cats scattered, but it didn’t move an inch.

It was still waiting for that man.

Waiting for his small fish.

Waiting for his safe return.

Later, the rescue team brought him back. Because of the sudden bad weather and accident, he almost lost his life in the turbulent sea.

That time, it didn’t wait for the fish, but waited for a home.

…

“At that time, I heard from people at the pier that the cat had been waiting for me. I went to the pier as soon as I got out of the hospital, and sure enough, it was still there.”
“They say we fishermen take the sea as home, but I think the sea… is actually a battlefield. Winning means coming back with trophies. People hope every day that their family members going out to sea are safe, hoping the boat that left in the morning can reveal a sharp corner on the sea level at night, instead of falling on the battlefield, waiting in vain for the last meeting.”
“The cat was hoping for me. It seemed no longer a cat, but my family.”
“I took it back to my home. Our home.”

“My wife and son liked it very much. We named it Pan Pan.”

“I was injured in that accident. To prevent my body from deteriorating, I opened this small shop by the sea. That cat accompanied me and didn’t mind that I no longer went out to sea to catch fish for it.”
“However, my son grew up and inherited my mantle. I passed all my experience to him. In that era, sons basically inherited their fathers’ businesses. Every time my son came back from the sea, he would send a fresh fish over for the cat to eat.”
“Gradually, I also became a cat, looking at the sea every day, hoping and hoping.”

“Not every time can one hope for a good result.”
“That time, I couldn’t hope for my son’s return, and the cat didn’t hope for its fish either.”
“The sea surface is a cruel battlefield. Not every battle can be won. The rescue team didn’t even find my son’s remains in the end. My wife and I only had this one son, and we were old. Although unwilling to accept, what could we do if we didn’t accept?”

“Later, the cat also died of old age.”

“My wife suffered from Alzheimer’s a few years ago. Every day she looked at the sea, hoping and hoping. Sometimes she would call her son’s name, saying he was still alive. Sometimes she would call the cat’s name ‘Pan Ah’ ‘Pan Ah’.”

“I feel there is nothing to hope for in life anymore.”

Jing Mimi shook his head quickly, his small hand gently holding Grandpa’s old hand full of traces of time, saying: “Grandpa, you hoped for us!”

The rain pattered outside the window. Looking at the guests who came to this small shop to shelter from the rain, the old grandpa rubbed the beige-haired little cub’s head, smiling without speaking.

The little guys were indeed likable, and the guests were also very enthusiastic, buying things in the small shop, chatting with him for a long time, listening to his story, accompanying him to relieve boredom and pass time. But at his age, having lost his only child, there was indeed nothing to hope for. The guests were just passersby in a hurry; they would leave after the rain stopped, and he couldn’t hope for their return.

But the little guy in front of him said: “Grandpa, I will come to see you here every year in the future.”

The old grandpa was stunned.

During the conversation, he knew the guests came from the distant City A. It wasn’t easy to come to City H every year.

The wish of the kitten Pan Pan relayed by the Cat God was just to go to the old grandpa’s shop to buy something and accompany him. So he took advantage of the sudden rain to hold Wang Qiuqiu’s small hand and lead the adults into this small shop.

This was Jing Mimi’s own promise, with childish innocence and kindness.

He liked this seaside city and also hoped Grandpa could rekindle his expectation for life.

The old grandpa only took it as a child’s irresponsible innocent promise, didn’t take it to heart, nor dared to take it to heart. Having hope but failing to realize it would be even sadder. When the rain stopped and they parted, he stuffed a bag of coconut candies and a book for the two children.

The following year, a rain fell unexpectedly. The wind chimes at the shop entrance made a crisp sound as a group of people walked in.

The beige-haired little guy had grown a lot taller, followed by a child with short black hair. The two held hands, their relationship still good.

“Grandpa, long time no see.”

Every year after that, they would come to see him and take away a bag of coconut candies.

He became the cat hoping and hoping again, the old cat hoping and hoping.

Every rainy day, he waited for the wind chimes to ring.

…

Later he learned—

The seaside hotel the group stayed in was an asset under the black-haired child’s family. They could come here for a vacation every year.

Suddenly one year, only Wang Qiyou came to see him, looking preoccupied.

An eighteen-year-old boy, it’s normal to have things on his mind.

He didn’t stay long with him before leaving in a hurry.

When they met again, Jing Mi was also with him. The two held hands like when they were little, intimate.

But he knew that unlike childhood friendship, the interlaced fingers at eighteen were given a different meaning.

He had new hopes again.

Hoping for their university, their wedding, their future.

…

These are stories for later.

…

The book given by the old grandpa was taken from the bookshelf. The cover was a bit yellowed but well preserved, called The Old Man and the Sea.

The book was thick, and they couldn’t recognize all the characters, but under the adults’ reading and narration, Jing Mimi and Wang Qiuqiu finished listening to this story.

Jing Mimi felt the old grandpa in the book was too lonely. If only a kitten accompanied him, the kitten could accompany him fishing, even help him catch fish. Cats are amazing! Can even punch and kick sharks!

Later, Jing Mimi was taken to the aquarium and saw a big shark that could swallow many kittens like Mimi in one bite. He silently held Wang Qiuqiu’s small hand and left quickly.

…Big sharks are too scary.

Even the kitten Mimi and the puppy Qiuqiu together can’t beat it.

Run, run.

…

The seaside journey ended perfectly amidst laughter.

The remaining summer vacation was spent in the air-conditioned room in City A eating watermelon, watching cartoons, and playing games.

This was the first summer vacation for the little human Mimi and the little human Qiuqiu, and also a very meaningful summer vacation.

Half a year passed, Wang Qize’s German Shepherd Mumu had grown very big, already a majestic big dog.

Every time Jing Mimi went over, Wang Qiuqiu wouldn’t let it get too close. Wang Qize also consciously held its leash, keeping it at least one meter away from Mimi.

Jing Mimi didn’t like dogs other than the puppy Qiuqiu in the illusion either.

Mumu, like Big Black, was always overly enthusiastic, looking like it wanted to pounce on him.

He didn’t like being pounced on by dogs. He liked dogs listening to him, doing whatever he said, not approaching if he didn’t allow it, following his instructions perfectly.

Ordinary dogs couldn’t understand these at all. Hearing him speak, they stupidly thought he was inviting them to play, approaching excitedly regardless of what he said.

Only the puppy transformed from Brother Qiuqiu fit the image of the perfect puppy in his heart.

…

The second half of the summer vacation also slipped away quickly. The carefree kindergarten welcomed the start of school Jing Mimi and Wang Qiuqiu had been looking forward to for a long time.

After school started, they could play together every day and play games with other children, fulfilling and happy.

Time moved unhurriedly to the end of the new year.

It was almost a year since the two little guys were adopted.

At the kindergarten’s New Year’s party, Jing Mimi wore kitten ears and a kitten tail, playing the role of a kitten. Wang Qiuqiu wore puppy ears and a puppy tail, playing the role of a puppy. Together with children playing other small animals, they performed a fairy tale about animals and nature on stage.

After New Year’s Day, it was almost Jing Mimi’s birthday.

Wang Qiuqiu was adopted earlier and had his birthday celebrated last month. Jing Mimi gave him a singing kitten music box and sang the Happy Birthday song for him.

Wang Qiuqiu also prepared a gift for Jing Mimi’s birthday in advance.

But on the day before his birthday, the two entered the same illusion after a long time.

The kitten Mimi met the puppy Qiuqiu again.

“Meow!” The kitten Mimi ran excitedly, his little tail held high, rushing towards the puppy Qiuqiu.

The puppy Qiuqiu’s tail wagged uncontrollably, lying down very consciously to facilitate the kitten climbing onto his back.

Not long after, the kitten ball curled up on the German Shepherd’s back, wagging his little tail happily.

The Cat God and the Dog God also appeared.

The Dog God said: “This gift is for both of you. When it was Qiuqiu’s birthday, the winter vacation hadn’t started yet. This gift might affect real life a bit, so the Cat God and I decided to give the gift the day before Mimi’s birthday.”

The Cat God asked: “Are you ready? If you are ready, let’s start opening the gift.”

The puppy Qiuqiu and the kitten Mimi nodded their little heads in unison.

Thought it would be a beautifully wrapped gift box waiting for them to open, but unexpectedly, their vision suddenly went black the next second.

The body became light and airy, a bit like the state of a kitten spirit, but soon there was a feeling of being down-to-earth.

The scene before eyes began to piece together and reorganize. The German Shepherd underneath disappeared, turning into a familiar, soft small blanket.

The kitten Mimi’s pupils constricted instantly.

This blanket… was the one his papas put under him when the kitten Mimi died, and also the kitten Mimi’s favorite before. His papas would fold the blanket every night and put it at the head of the bed. The kitten Mimi would curl into a kitten ball on it and sleep with his papas.

Later, the little human Mimi returned home and never saw this blanket again.

Heard from Papa that the blanket was buried.

Later, his papas bought a new soft small blanket for the little human Mimi, and he didn’t think about that blanket anymore.

Unexpectedly, the blanket suddenly appeared out of thin air underneath him.

Paws stepping on it felt a long-lost familiarity, and it smelled of the kitten Mimi. Surroundings were his familiar cat room, warm sunlight spilling in, warming the whole body.

…What is this situation?

Just as the kitten Mimi was dazing, the cat room door was suddenly opened.

“Mimi.” It was Little Papa.

Jing Zhi walked in with an air carrier, put the air carrier on the ground, smiled and picked up the kitten on the blanket, scratched its chin, kissed its head, then put it back on the ground, gently pushed its little bottom, guiding it to walk into the air carrier by itself.

The kitten Mimi curled his little tail and walked in obediently.

Jing Zhi closed the air carrier door, saying “Big Papa is already waiting for us downstairs,” and took the kitten out.

Jiang Suifeng’s car was downstairs. Jing Zhi put the air carrier in the back seat and sat in the passenger seat.

The car started moving. The kitten Mimi looked at the front seat eagerly, eavesdropping on his papas’ chat.

Jing Zhi said: “Wonder if Mimi will like that place, will he be shy?”
Jiang Suifeng said: “The estate is so big and the environment is good; Mimi should like it.”

Estate…
Mimi instantly thought of Brother Qiuqiu’s family estate.

About two hours later, the scenery the car drove into confirmed Mimi’s guess.

It really was Brother Qiuqiu’s family estate!

Will Brother Qiuqiu be inside?

Guided by the butler, Jiang Suifeng stopped the car and got out with Jing Zhi and the kitten Mimi.

Mimi observed the scene outside through the gap in the air carrier.

Suddenly, a familiar black and yellow dog figure broke into his field of vision.

The kitten Mimi’s eyes lit up instantly.

But the next second, Jiang Suifeng took Jing Zhi’s hand, turned, and walked in the direction away from the German Shepherd.

“Damn, there’s a dog. Don’t let Mimi see it.”

The kitten Mimi: “…”
The puppy Qiuqiu: “…”