He stretched luxuriantly and curled up in my backpack again.
Sitting next to him, I asked, "Why did you do that just now?"
"What do you mean?" He didn’t even look at me, eyes already drifting shut in mock sleep.
I pressed tentatively, "You taught Rui Chen a lesson."
He finally opened his eyes, crystal bright. "Why would I bother with some worthless human?"
Exactly. Rui Chen and the others had nothing to do with him, he was a centuries-old spirit, untouched by our little dramas.
But deep down, I knew the truth. He’d done it for me.
Tears welled, spilling one after another until I was hiccupping sobs, wiping my face uselessly.
A handkerchief imprinted with cartoon cat faces was thrust into my hand. "So gross. Now you look like a stray calico."
There he was, Ling Yan, back to his human self, squatting at my side looking both exasperated and gentle.
Blubbering, I hurled myself at him, hugging him tight. "You really are the best cat in the world."
He was caught off balance, but instinctively wrapped an arm around my waist.
My nerves finally began to settle. Even through the thin shirt, his warmth was tangible. He really was a cat, aloof on the outside, golden-hearted inside.
We got home to find my cousin had left my place a wreck. I started cleaning up instantly, unfazed.
Ling Yan’s expression soured the second he walked in. "Did someone rob us?"
I chuckled, "No, that’s just how he leaves a place. I’ll fix it."
He leaned on the door, arms folded, watching me. "Doesn’t it ever make you mad?"
Stopping, I shrugged. "He’s Uncle’s kid and Uncle has always looked out for me. After all, my parents died and he took me in, even with his struggles supporting our family. I can’t blame them for this."
Ling Yan’s eyebrows knit then fell. "People call that looking out for someone?"
"You don’t understand."
I put the last bottle of milk in hot water, sighing at his stare. "Ever since the accident, Uncle has been my legal guardian. He's got enough on his plate. I just can’t let little things mess up their peace."
Something changed in Ling Yan’s face. After a moment’s reflection, he asked quietly, "Do you ever want to see them? Your parents?"
I froze.
"If you serve me until my trial is over," he continued, "I’ll grant any wish. I can’t resurrect the dead, but letting you see them one more time, I can manage that."
His voice was light, but the meaning thundered in my heart.
News of the backstage incident barely registered with the faculty. But among the students, it went viral, especially since Rui Chen had fractured his arm in the commotion.
Luck would have it that the next day, I ran straight into my ex-boyfriend during an open lecture. Sling, bruised forehead, trying to hide with his bangs, he still managed to steal the room’s attention.
I couldn’t help it. I snorted out a laugh as I passed by.
By the next morning, my picture was plastered all over the campus confession forum.
The post claimed I had driven a wedge between Rui Chen and Su Miao, then turned venomous after losing out, humiliating Su Miao and mocking Rui Chen’s injury in front of everyone.
It went on for a thousand words, the drama as thick as a campus mini-series. It even included two photos: one of me leaving backstage, tear-streaked, and another catching me grinning just as I spotted Rui Chen’s cast.
Reading it, I almost believed it myself.
Aside from the occasional curious or contemptuous glance, my life hadn’t changed much.
Maybe, in their eyes, I was nothing more than some obsessive fangirl who, frustrated by Rui Chen’s rejection, had turned vindictive. For Rui Chen, the fact he had dated me was apparently the height of humiliation.
It would be a lie to say it didn’t hurt.
After all, Rui Chen had been my first love, and what should have been a beautiful memory had turned into a waking nightmare. But life went on. That evening, I dragged myself to my shift at the 24/7 convenience shop, only to have trouble waiting for me there.
It looked a lot like the same girl who had shadowed Su Miao at the school anniversary.
She very deliberately spilled piping-hot coffee all over the counter, splashing my hand a painful red. But her outrage was even bigger, because a few drops had landed on her designer crossbody.
"What’s wrong with you? Do you know how expensive this bag is?"
"I’m really sorry," I stammered, but before I could explain further, my boss rushed over with a panicked look, nearly dragging me into an apology.
I stared, stunned by the blatant reversal.
My boss fixed me with a glare. "Do you want this job or not?"
With my burning hand in full view, I finally lowered my head.
"I’m sorry."
I needed this job. I needed the money.
"Oh, so you think ‘sorry’ is enough?" the girl scoffed, now in full drama mode. "Do you know how much it costs to clean this bag? Two thousand yuan. You’re not seriously thinking of weaseling out of it, are you?"
Still silent, I gritted my teeth, and she gave a satisfied humph.
"Some things are out of your league. If you know you’re not good enough, don’t reach, or you’ll just bring trouble on everyone else."
"If you really believe that, then call the police," I said, finally looking up. "Let them decide whether I should pay."
Not expecting resistance, she got louder. My boss just wanted the problem to go away and fired me on the spot.
At home, Chu Yang was sitting by the window, nose in a book. I mumbled hello and went straight to the kitchen. I pressed a cold pack onto my swollen hand. Chu Yang appeared in the doorway.
"I forgot to bring dinner. Do you mind ordering delivery tonight?" His voice was casual, but then he poured a glass of milk and slid it in front of me instead of himself.
"I could go without eating tonight," he said, but the milk stayed in front of me.
I took it, but my appetite was gone.
"Let me see your hand."
I didn’t react, so he just removed the ice pack himself and cupped my injured hand in his much larger ones. A cool, tingling sensation spread from his touch and gradually soothed the burn.
"How did this happen?"
"Had an accident at work," I said quietly.
"And?"
"My boss fired me," I admitted, unable to meet his eyes.
He didn’t say anything further; instead, he sandwiched my hand between both of his, holding it gently.
"This heals faster."
The pain faded, but the humiliation came flooding back.
I sniffled. "Why is it like this? Whether I’m in love or just living my life, it always feels like I’m the only one falling apart."
He sighed softly, then released my hand and pinched his fingers together in a gesture I recognized as magic. "Make a wish."
"Isn’t it not time yet?"
"Small wishes don’t count."
So I pressed my hands together. "I hope tomorrow will be a good day."
The next morning, I had no classes and had planned to sneak some cat cuddles at Uncle Shen’s supermarket with Xiaomei. But all anyone could talk about was the arrival of a foreign exchange student in the Computer Science department, whose looks had apparently set the whole year buzzing.
Xiaomei, heartless in her pursuit of beauty, ditched me to see him in person, so I ended up at the market alone.
The kittens had grown into little tyrants. I bought a couple sticks of sausage, sneaking extras to the runt of the litter.
"Hey, come here, Cyclone," someone called.
"Cyclone?" I turned to see Zhou Wang the infamous school bully waggling a treat for the orange tabby, who looked like a miniature lion.
I tried to walk away but tripped on a kitten.
"Meow." It was barely a whisper, the skinny little thing clinging to my shoe.
Heart aching, I sat down again, feeding it more sausage.
Zhou Wang noticed. "It recognizes you."
"Yeah," I muttered.
He tossed treats to the orange tabby, then turned to me. "You like cats so much?"
"I like animals," I answered honestly.
"Give Cyclone Jr. some too," he said, tossing me the treat jar.
I hesitated, but the kitten gazed up with yearning green eyes, so I caved and fed it.
"Cyclone and Cyclone Jr.?" I shot him a look. "Why the weird names?"
He shrugged. "Does it matter? They don’t understand anyway."
He scratched Cyclone’s head. "Right, Cyclone ?"
Cyclone instantly bit his arm.
"Ow, kid’s got teeth." Zhou Wang snorted but just tapped the cat on the nose.
Blood welled up on his skin. "Careful, that will need a rabies shot."
He shrugged. "It’s fine. I’m still good from my last one."
Despite the bravado, the gash kept bleeding.
"You should get that cleaned," I insisted, heading to ask Uncle Shen for disinfectant and swabs.
Zhou Wang just stuck out his arm. "Might as well, while we’re at it."
I resisted the urge to pour iodine on his head, settling for cleaning his wound as gently as possible for Cyclone’s sake.
When I finished, he snatched another swab and started teasing Cyclone again.
"Don’t move," I ordered.
He pulled a face at the cat but obeyed.
After a moment, he asked, "That cat at the school celebration the one everyone’s talking about. Yours?"
I was tired. "Yeah, go report me if you want."
"Actually, I saw what happened. I was wrong. Sorry." He bowed his head, sudden sincerity replacing his swagger. "Really, I’m sorry."
I neither forgave nor argued, just handed back the medical box to Uncle Shen. But as I left, Zhou Wang called after me, "Be my girlfriend. No one will dare mess with you then."
I stopped, baffled.
He grinned. "I mean it. I’ll make sure nobody bothers you again."
Chapter 04
*
Comments
Post a Comment