Chapter 29: The Black Kitten
“I was forced to learn a lot abroad. My brother wants me to help out at his company when I got back.”
“I’ve only been relaxed these past few days.”
“What about you?”
Bai Jing asked Chen Jiamu, ladling him a bowl of soup. Chen Jiamu was about to say he’d go back to Beicheng, but Li Qi’s face flashed in his mind.
His words died in his throat. He looked away and said nonchalantly, “We’ll see. I don’t have anything to do now.”
“Are you still pursuing that woman?” Bai Jing, seeing his hesitation, assumed he was still hung up on Zhang Xin.
“Am I that desperate for women?” Chen Jiamu rolled his eyes, taking the soup and sipping it.
“Besides Zhang Xin, I haven’t heard you mention anyone else.”
“I’m a virtuous man, unlike those womanizers.”
Bai Jing smiled and changed the subject, telling him about the latest gossip in Beicheng.
“Did you hear? The big news in Beicheng is that the Lis, known as the model couple, are getting divorced. I heard Li Ru has many mistresses.”
Hearing Li Ru’s name, Chen Jiamu sneered. A middle-aged man who can’t control himself; it was only a matter of time before this came out.
He just didn’t expect Song Jin’s divorce to be revealed four years later…
Knowing the whole story, Chen Jiamu wasn’t interested. He was focused on his food.
“Aren’t you shocked?”
Bai Jing noticed Chen Jiamu’s calm reaction. Chen Jiamu finished his soup, wiped his mouth elegantly, and looked at Bai Jing, “What’s so shocking? After you start working, you see all kinds of people.”
“Infidelity, mistresses; it’s commonplace.”
“My manager, married with kids, is still flirting with young and pretty girls.”
“So, little brother, you still have a long way to go.”
Chen Jiamu patted his shoulder, looking wise and mature.
His year of work hadn’t been wasted; such environments fostered growth.
“They’re such scum…”
Bai Jing was so shocked, he could only utter this. Chen Jiamu smirked and leaned in, “Speaking of which, did you pick up any foreign girls during your two years abroad?”
“Scram!”
Bai Jing’s face flushed red; he punched Chen Jiamu. “Don’t think I’m like you, obsessed with women!”
“Stop! I’m not like that!”
“My interest in Zhang Xin was purely competitive! I’m not obsessed with women!”
“Besides, if I wanted to, why would I pretend to be someone I’m not?”
Chen Jiamu was serious about his reputation. He didn’t care what others thought, but he couldn’t let his friend misunderstand him.
“Just play your games; who can beat you?”
Bai Jing rolled his eyes and drank his soup. Their conversation became more serious.
The dinner ended; they said goodbye and went their separate ways.
With a full stomach, Chen Jiamu told his driver to stop at the entrance of his apartment complex and walked home.
It was 10 p.m.; there weren’t many people around. Chen Jiamu was playing on his phone when he kicked something.
He looked down and nearly jumped out of his skin. A dirty black kitten lay motionless at his feet.
If it weren’t for the faint rise and fall of its chest, he would have thought it was dead…
“Whoa, are you still alive?”
Carefully picking it up, Chen Jiamu frowned, wondering whether to take it home.
“Meow…”
A faint meow startled him.
The kitten meowed again, clearly still clinging to life.
“Okay, I’ll open my phone. If the last digit of the time is odd, I’ll take you home; if it’s even, I won’t.”
After considering, Chen Jiamu decided to give the kitten a chance. He’d never considered having a pet; he was clumsy and worried he might accidentally kill it.
He opened his phone; the time was 22:22.
“No, that doesn’t count, let’s try again.”
“Four twos; it’s like a curse…”
Chen Jiamu tried again; a call came in.
Frowning, who would call him so late?
“Why are you squatting in the green space so late?”
Hearing Li Qi’s voice, Chen Jiamu was startled. He looked around, confirming no one was nearby, and realized the voice was from the phone.
“Are you spying on me?”
“And, how did you get my number?”
Seeing him looking around, Li Qi chuckled from his balcony, “Don’t be so dramatic.”
“Getting your number is easy; I checked the employee roster.”
“And, I don’t have a habit of spying; look up.”
Chen Jiamu looked up and saw Li Qi on the third-floor balcony. The location seemed familiar.
But he couldn’t remember…
Chen Jiamu was speechless. As he was about to hang up, Li Qi asked, “So, why are you squatting in the green space so late?”
“What’s it to you?”
“Meow…”
The kitten meowed again, much quieter this time.
Weakly…
“Oh, you found a cat.”
“That sound… it’s probably dying.”
Li Qi heard the kitten and understood why he was still outside.
“Ah?”
“You should take it to a vet.”
“I can’t let it die on my hands!”
Hearing the cat was dying, Chen Jiamu panicked and stopped arguing with Li Qi.
“It’s late; waiting for a taxi will take time. Wait, I’ll drive you.”
Without waiting for Chen Jiamu’s response, Li Qi grabbed his car keys and rushed out.
After Li Qi hung up, Chen Jiamu’s phone showed 22:35…
Seeing the time, he smiled and looked at the kitten, “You need to hold on; don’t let me be responsible for your death.”
“If you survive, I’ll keep you. You’ll be the prince of the cat world.”
“With good food and good life!”
“Mew…”
The kitten meowed, as if responding.
Autumn’s chill filled the air.
Li Qi only wore a thin white shirt. Only after going outside did he realize he didn’t have a jacket.
“Get in.”
The car engine roared. Chen Jiamu got in, holding the kitten, and Li Qi opened the passenger door for him.