Chapter 98: Raising a Kitten
The sky was a hazy, dusky yellow.
Summer days stretched long, and as the evening rush hour hit, the city center was choked with a ceaseless flow of traffic.
Pei Zhouye rarely went out at this time. Now, stuck in the gridlock, he glanced out the window with mounting impatience before quickly looking back down at his phone. His screen showed his chat with Nanny Wang, still resting on her noon report regarding Wen Yan’s condition.
Wen Yan’s appetite had improved slightly today, and he had even managed a thirty-minute nap. His overall state was much better.
The driver stole a glance at Pei Zhouye through the rearview mirror. The man in the back seat was practically radiating irritability, but there was nothing the driver could do. He looked ahead; a traffic accident up front had brought the evening commute to a grinding halt.
Outside the window, a traffic officer in a fluorescent green uniform was busy directing the flow at the intersection. The light was fading fast.
[What is he doing right now?]
Pei Zhouye sent the message to Nanny Wang. Ever since Wen Yan’s return, Pei Zhouye had completely stripped him of any means of contacting the outside world. Wen Yan’s daily activities were mostly limited to watching television or reading.
The reply came quickly.
[Nanny Wang: Young Master Wen is on the sofa, waiting for you to come home.]
Which meant Wen Yan wasn’t watching TV or reading; he was simply sitting there, waiting. Not waiting for him specifically, but waiting for him to fulfill his promise of taking him out.
Pei Zhouye’s frown deepened.
He glanced out the window again. The traffic was moving at a snail’s pace; there was no telling when he would actually make it home. After a moment of hesitation, he finally tapped out a few words.
[Take him out first. Bring more people along.]
[Nanny Wang: Understood.]
Cheng Shangshi was still confined at home, and no one else had the capability to make Wen Yan vanish from under his nose.
Pei Zhouye’s mind drifted back to the moment he had caught Wen Yan—the way the man’s eyes had been saturated with pure hatred. He closed his eyes, trying to block it out, but more memories crashed over him like a tidal wave.
“Young Master Wen, let’s go out for a stroll,” Nanny Wang said softly as she set her phone down and walked over to him.
Wen Yan’s gaze lingered for a moment on the phone she had placed on the table before he withdrew his eyes.
“Alright.”
The height of summer had mostly passed, but the evening air still carried a lingering, stifling heat. They walked to a nearby park. The area consisted entirely of villas, so at this hour, it wasn’t particularly crowded. Occasionally, joggers or people walking their dogs would pass by, most of them wearing headphones as they brushed past Wen Yan.
The park was a vast expanse of greenery and smooth stone paths. It was very quiet.
Wen Yan found himself thinking of the park near his old home in Nanshi. His parents loved going there for walks after dinner and would always drag him along on holidays. That park was always bustling and lively. Every few steps, someone would stop to greet his parents, and the conversation would inevitably turn to him.
It was always the same refrains: how much he’d grown, how good his grades were, how handsome he looked. They’d ask him to tutor their own children, certain that he would grow up to be someone successful.
Sometimes, the local aunties would tease him, asking if he’d become a celebrity with looks like his and demanding he give them autographs in advance. His parents would beam, saying he was a top student and would surely focus on his studies.
The hot evening breeze seemed to blow across his face once more. His ears rang with the ghost of square-dancing music and the lighthearted banter of neighbors. For a moment, his vision blurred.
When his mind cleared, the清明 (clarity) returned, and he was back in this beautiful but lifelessly silent park.
“Meow.”
The sound of a kitten was jarringly distinct amidst the chirping of insects and the rustle of leaves. Wen Yan looked around but couldn’t find the source.
Perhaps he was hallucinating again. Lately, his ears and eyes had been plagued by phantom sounds and images. Sometimes, while watching TV, the screen would morph into scenes from his past.
“Meow-wu~”
Wen Yan heard it again. Confirming he hadn’t misheard, his eyes sparked with life as he immediately traced the sound.
Deep in the bushes, a scruffy, black-and-white kitten was staring at him. It didn’t run. Wen Yan approached cautiously, but just as he reached it, Nanny Wang stopped him.
She looked at the small ball of fur, its white patches stained gray with dust. “Young Master Wen, that cat might be dirty. Don’t let it scratch you.”
“It’s fine.”
Wen Yan brushed her hand aside and crouched before the bushes.
The kitten’s eyes were round and bright, like dark marbles. It stared at Wen Yan for a moment before standing up. Its four legs were thin—mere sticks—and its tail gave a little flick before dropping naturally. Standing in the grass, it looked tiny.
Wen Yan tentatively held his hand over the kitten, his long, fair fingers curling slightly as he reached out to pet it.
“Meow-wu!”
The kitten let out a sharp warning cry, clearly unwilling to be touched. Wen Yan let out a soft laugh. It wasn’t even as big as his palm, yet its temper was so fierce. It was far too thin.
Wen Yan didn’t force it or overstep. The kitten wasn’t afraid, nor did it run. Man and cat managed to co-exist harmoniously for about ten minutes.
Pei Zhouye’s car pulled up outside the park. He jumped out and followed the location Nanny Wang had sent. As he drew near, he slowed his pace, terrified of startling the person ahead.
Wen Yan was crouched by the path. He was so thin that the ridge of his spine was visible through his light white T-shirt. His face wore a gentle, pure smile that Pei Zhouye hadn’t seen in a very long time.
In the grass sat a kitten, nothing but skin and bones, meowing at Wen Yan.
Pei Zhouye had seen this image before. Four years ago, he had been just like this—hiding in the shadows, a dark voyeur capturing a photograph of this very scene.
He took a few more steps. The cat noticed him before Wen Yan did. It turned, baring its teeth in his direction, its throat emitting an unpracticed hiss.
Wen Yan followed the kitten’s gaze and saw the newcomer. His smile stiffened, then vanished. The warmth in his eyes turned cold. Pei Zhouye forced himself to ignore the shift.
“Pei Zhouye.”
Pei Zhouye stood frozen. This was the first time in days that Wen Yan had initiated a conversation. He spoke calmly, his eyes clear and clean.
“Can you buy it something to eat?”
Pei Zhouye’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Suppressing his shock, he replied flatly, “Alright.”
Someone nearby acknowledged the order and jogged back toward the car. Wen Yan ignored everyone else, lowering his head to play with the kitten again. He picked up a twig from the ground and used it like a cat teaser.
It was a scene of quiet harmony.
Pei Zhouye wasn’t sure if that request was a signal that Wen Yan was willing to reconcile. After a moment of silence, he also crouched down, attempting to pet the kitten.
His expensive suit creased. He didn’t look like an easy person to get along with; the kitten, which had been relaxed a moment ago, tensed up instantly as his palm approached. Its tail spiked up, and a low, threatening growl rumbled in its throat.
“It doesn’t like being touched,” Wen Yan said. Just as the words left his lips, the kitten—seemingly sensing Wen Yan could protect it—stepped closer and nuzzled Wen Yan’s hand.
Wen Yan laughed, reaching out to stroke its round head.
Watching Wen Yan smile, the corners of Pei Zhouye’s mouth twitched upward. Animals had never liked him; whether they were family pets or strays, they always bared their teeth at him. He didn’t have much of a feeling for animals anyway.
The bodyguard who had gone to buy cat food returned, carrying a cloth bag from a pet shop—a bulging white bag printed with two small black paw prints. When the bag was handed to Wen Yan, he frowned. The contrast between the massive bag and the tiny kitten was stark.
The bodyguard realized the discrepancy and rubbed his palms awkwardly. “I just took everything the shop owner recommended.”
Wen Yan pulled out a tin of wet food, opened it, and placed it on the ground. The kitten’s nose twitched. It took a tentative lick, looked around the group, meowed a few times, and then lowered its head to eat. Its previously hollow stomach slowly began to bulge.
Wen Yan watched intently, his fingers gently stroking the kitten as it fed.
“Let’s take it home,” Pei Zhouye suggested. He lowered his voice intentionally, afraid of scaring the cat away and making Wen Yan sad.
Wen Yan’s hand paused. He didn’t speak, but he continued his gentle stroking.
Perhaps the food smelled too good, or perhaps it was the kitten’s earlier meows, but another gray cat suddenly leaped out from beneath a tree. Its cry was coarse and fierce as it tried to drive away the towering giants.
The kitten looked up at the gray cat, meowed a few times, and stood up to make room. The two cats, one large and one small, began vocalizing back and forth.
Pei Zhouye frowned at the noise. Looking at the aggressive big cat and then at Wen Yan’s expression, he guessed, “Should I have it driven away?”
In his eyes, the kitten Wen Yan liked was being bullied by a stray gray cat—so much so that it had given up its spot out of fear.
“They know each other.”
There was a hint of helplessness in Wen Yan’s tone. No wonder kittens didn’t like Pei Zhouye; he possessed zero traits that animals found appealing and couldn’t understand them at all.
“Then let’s take both back,” Pei Zhouye said, feeling slightly defeated and unusually awkward. “There’s plenty of room at home for both of them. They can keep each other company.”
And they can keep you company.
Wen Yan remained silent. He took a bowl from the bag, filled it with a mix of wet and dry food, cleaned up the empty wrappers, and stood up.
“No need. They’re fine here.” He glanced at the two cats, who seemed to be sharing news, and then at the lush greenery of the park before finally looking away.
The park was vast, the surrounding area was a wealthy district with few people, and no one bore ill will toward animals. It was a good place for them to survive. The kitten likely had other friends; a half-grown kitten couldn’t have survived this long on its own. The biggest risk was the cold in winter, but for now, it was summer.
Pei Zhouye didn’t know what Wen Yan was thinking, so he simply gave a quiet “Mm.” As long as Wen Yan was happy, it was fine.
On the way back, the two of them walked side by side for the first time in a while, moving at a leisurely pace.
“Don’t let anyone disturb them,” Wen Yan said suddenly.
Pei Zhouye had been found out, but he didn’t feel guilty. “They’re very dirty. I was going to have someone take them for a check-up…”
“No!” Wen Yan’s emotions flared, cutting him off. Realizing his tone was too harsh, he softened it slightly. “Let me go with them, okay? And after that, don’t let your people interfere.”
He was instinctively guarded and wary, just like the kitten that had bared its teeth at the man.
Pei Zhouye was silent for half a minute. Just as Wen Yan thought the man would refuse his request, he finally answered.
“Alright.”
Autumn arrived, and the weather turned cold.
The temperature in A University city changed rapidly; overnight, it dropped by half. Wen Yan was sensitive to the cold and dressed heavily in long sleeves and trousers, looking tall and slender.
Pei Zhouye sat on a park bench, watching Wen Yan as he was surrounded by the two cats. He thought about the past month. Even though Wen Yan was eating more and dressing warmer, he somehow seemed even thinner.
A month had passed. The kitten Wen Yan had been caring for was now a chubby little thing with smooth fur, much more active than when they first found it. The older gray cat had also grown fond of Wen Yan. While not as playful as the kitten, it no longer showed any aggression; it would often flop onto the ground and let Wen Yan pet it.
The two previously scruffy, sharp-tempered cats were now clean and round under Wen Yan’s care, looking nothing like strays. Yet Wen Yan remained so thin.
Once he finished with the cats, Wen Yan checked his watch, stood up, and walked over to Pei Zhouye.
“Let’s go.”
Pei Zhouye didn’t stand up. He stared intently at Wen Yan’s wrist.
The pale, thin wrist was shackled by a silver watch with a wide strap. The strap had clearly been tightened by a notch and was clinging tightly to the skin. He had given this watch to Wen Yan. Wen Yan went out at fixed times every day; when Pei Zhouye was busy, Nanny Wang and the bodyguards would accompany him. They didn’t dare rush him, so Wen Yan would pretend not to know the time, staying out until it was nearly dark.
So, Pei Zhouye had simply bought him a watch. He had let Wen Yan choose the design, and when Wen Yan picked the one with the widest strap, he naturally agreed.
Pei Zhouye reached out to touch Wen Yan’s wrist, but the other man yanked it back, looking at him with suspicion.
His hand paused in mid-air. His lips moved, but he said nothing else, eventually withdrawing his hand. His voice was soft. “The strap is too tight.”
Wen Yan didn’t respond.
They didn’t speak again until they were in the car. Pei Zhouye knew Wen Yan loathed his physical touch. Even when they slept in the same bed at night, Wen Yan stayed as far away as possible. But he continued to feign ignorance, insisting they share the bed.
They had been in this deadlock for a long time.
Tonight, they were attending a gathering—a victory party for Wang Shu, celebrating a major project he had secured. It wasn’t a big deal to Pei Zhouye, but for young masters like Wang Shu and Shen Yao who lived without pressure, it was a grand occasion worth a massive celebration. Shen Yao had insisted on making it a big event.
“He probably just wants an excuse to get everyone together to party,” Wang Shu had said over the phone.
Shen Yao and Wang Shu… Wen Yan didn’t seem to repulse them. Perhaps this was a chance for Wen Yan to relax a little.
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