The kitten’s face was frozen in utter shock. He couldn’t believe his ears or the current situation; it wasn’t a murderer, but a policeman! This was a complete 180.
His little brain couldn’t process it fast enough.
His big blue eyes blinked rapidly. Then, the scrap of paper he was holding in his mouth came into view. He’d almost forgotten about it; this was something that absolutely could not be discovered.
Before, this had been evidence of Yu Shen’s crime.
But now, it was evidence of his crime as a kitten.
Fortunately, Yu Shen was still busy restraining the cat thief, his attention completely elsewhere. Cen Nian shifted his position, using his miniature gas-tank-shaped body to shield the evidence. Then, with a fwoosh, his claws sprang from beneath his paw pads, shredding the “evidence” into confetti.
Just as he was frantically destroying the proof, the police arrived. After verifying Yu Shen’s identification, they asked, “Do you need help?”
Yu Shen was practically crushing the cat thief’s arm. “Yes, please.”
The cat thief, his face and neck flushed crimson, knelt on the ground and screamed at the top of his lungs, “I’m the one who needs help! I’m dying! A policeman is beating me! There’s no law anymore!”
Beside him on the ground, scraps of paper fluttered down.
Cen Nian poked his head out, puffed out his cheeks, and pursed his lips, blowing a fierce “Whoosh” into the air.
A strong gust of autumn wind swept across the ground, scattering the paper scraps everywhere. With the evidence gone, Cen Nian’s heart finally settled back into his chest. Without those scraps, he had never committed a mistake, and he wouldn’t have to be a little kitten tucking his tail between his legs.
The cat thief’s shouts reached Cen Nian’s ears. He snapped his head up, his expression fierce. He swiped his still-retracted little paw at the man, but it was too short to reach.
Enraged, he strained forward again.
Cat thieves deserve a miserable death! I’m definitely scratching him today!
With Yu Shen’s covert help, the distance between them suddenly closed. Cen Nian’s paw struck hard, leaving two bloody red scratches on the man’s face as he cried out in pain.
Aside from the fight with the wild cat gang, this was the first time Cen Nian had ever hit a person and drawn blood at that.
He swallowed hard, his nerves failing him, and quickly retracted his paw. He looked up at Yu Shen, his eyes sparkling with admiration. The thought that Yu Shen was a police officer made him seem a whole new level of handsome.
To Cen Nian, Yu Shen was now perfect, glowing, and the most suitable owner for him.
“Meow, ” (U-Um… could I see a picture of you in your police uniform?)
The kitten lowered its head shyly, letting out several soft meows. (I’m really not a uniform fetishist; I don’t have any perverted thoughts, I just want to see… want to touch the police uniform…)
The cat thief, who had been scratched by Cen Nian, cried out even louder. Yu Shen grabbed him and threw him toward the police officer. “Cat thief, please take him back for processing.”
The cat thief stiffened his neck, still defiant. “Who stole a cat? What evidence do you have? This is just a stray…”
Yu Shen’s eyes, dark as the night sky and unfathomably deep, stared back. “This is my cat.”
In his arms, Cen Nian proudly lifted his dirty little round head. That’s right, I’m his cat! I’m a police family member now; I’m a police cat! Ha, I accidentally got a permanent position without even having to take the postgraduate entrance exam.
Perfect,
The cat thief was taken away by the police for “education.”
That left Cen Nian and Yu Shen. Cen Nian’s dirty little paws left a small footprint on Yu Shen’s clothes with every step.
He stood up again, his little head straining to reach Yu Shen’s. “Meow, ” (I’m sorry, I misunderstood you. I deserve to die a thousand deaths. But I only have one life; can I keep it and die eighty years from now instead?)
Yu Shen looked at the dirty little cat rubbing against him, his body instinctively trying to pull away. But the kitten was truly a pitiful sight. Not only was its once smooth, clean fur now filthy, but it was also matted in several places, with large, messy tufts sticking out in all directions.
The fur around its eyes was wet with tears that had mixed with dirt, making it look incredibly messy.
Its little paws were even worse. Looking closely at the fur on its back, there seemed to be a footprint imprinted there. Those innocent, tear-filled eyes gazed up at him, making it look even more pitiful.
Yu Shen resisted the urge to pull back, allowing the disobedient little cat, which had actually dared to run away, to climb onto his chest. It rubbed its dusty little head against his chin, meowing softly.
Cen Nian was in the middle of telling him about his journey, but as he spoke, the unfairness of it all made him cry again. He rested his little head on Yu Shen’s broad shoulder, unable to continue, shedding tears to let out his sorrow.
Yu Shen cradled him with one hand, gently stroking his back with the other.
His phone rang; it was the Director. When Yu Shen answered, he habitually tried to stop moving, but after glancing at the little cat in his arms, he kept stroking it, eager to get it to a vet for a checkup.
“Director.”
“Did you find the cat?”
“Yes, thank you, Director.”
“Don’t mention it; we’re all on the same team. You completed your mission successfully this time. Finding a cat for a hero, not only was it right to use the Sky Eye, but we would have sent a whole team if needed.”
Yu Shen listened in silence, his pace quickening.
“Xiao Yu, I’m glad you came to me for help. It seems Xiao Wu was right; having a pet by your side is a good thing. Alright, I’ve got to get back to work. I’m just glad you found the cat. Enjoy your vacation and get some good rest. You’re going to be exhausted when you get back, so don’t you dare complain then.”
“Don’t worry, Director. I won’t.”
After hanging up, Yu Shen reached his car. He was about to place Cen Nian in the passenger seat when he noticed the little creature had fallen asleep, a crystal-clear tear still clinging to its long eyelashes.
The moment Yu Shen tried to set him down, Cen Nian’s tiny paws immediately grabbed him in alarm, letting out a dissatisfied grumble.
Yu Shen hesitated for a moment, then decided not to force him down.
He got into the car, fastened his seatbelt, and then placed Cen Nian on his thigh. This way, the cat wouldn’t interfere with his leg or foot, and it wouldn’t get in the way of his driving.
Cen Nian slept, oblivious to his surroundings. He kept burrowing into whatever he could lean against, snuggling tightly against Yu Shen’s firm, well-defined waist.
Cen Nian had a dream. In it, he returned to his childhood, to the time after his father’s sacrifice when his aunt took him in. She treated him well, but her kindness couldn’t fill the void left by his parents.
He was given the sunniest bedroom, where even the moonlight seemed brighter at night. He dreamed of his nine-year-old self, huddled under a blanket in the cold moonlight, biting his lip hard as he cried.
He didn’t want anyone to find out.
He was afraid people would laugh at his weakness, afraid his aunt would worry.
But the tears wouldn’t stop.
The summer night air was so stifling that even the insects lacked the strength to chirp. Little Cen Nian, drenched in sweat under the blanket, cried even harder. His face turned crimson from holding his breath, nearly suffocating, yet he refused to throw off the covers.
Perhaps for a fleeting moment, he wanted to just go find his father and mother like this.
The blanket was abruptly yanked away. Little Cen Nian’s tear-filled eyes widened in shock as he looked at the person by the bed. That person was…
“Meow?” (Yu Shen!)
The kitten let out a sudden meow and opened its eyes. Before Cen Nian could even shake off the remnants of his dream, he was already being carried out of the car by Yu Shen, who had just finished parking.
He had slept the entire way, and as luck would have it, he woke up just as Yu Shen arrived.
Cen Nian was utterly bewildered. Why on earth had he dreamed of Yu Shen? He shot the man a probing look. In his dream, he’d felt himself on the verge of death, and if Yu Shen hadn’t thrown off the blanket…
“Whoa! What happened?”
Cen Nian’s former owner, the pet shop proprietor, exclaimed dramatically, rushing over with alarming speed. He first scanned Cen Nian from head to toe, then turned a suspicious gaze on Yu Shen.
“How did he get into such a state?”
“He escaped,” Yu Shen replied. “Check him for injuries, then give him a bath.”
Cen Nian was handed over to the shop owner without any say in the matter. The man immediately hurried him off to be examined. After a quick scan for major external wounds, he was rushed for a CT scan. While waiting for the results, the owner performed a thorough physical examination.
Fortunately, despite being pummeled by the neighborhood cat boss, Cen Nian had only lost a lot of fur. There were no external wounds.
The CT scan came back completely clear.
Cen Nian stared at the images, still unable to believe it. Though he couldn’t read them, he was amazed at how durable he’d been. I guess I’m actually pretty good at fighting after all; being able to take a beating is a skill, right?
Yu Shen watched the little cat peeking out from its hiding spot. Since it wasn’t injured, he’d definitely have to teach this disobedient little thing a lesson back home.
Unaware of the punishment awaiting him, Cen Nian was still gloating about his impressive durability when he was caught and taken for a bath. Though he often did a poor job of grooming himself, he was far too dirty to be left unwashed; even he couldn’t bring himself to lick his own fur.
Yu Shen stayed by his side throughout the entire bath, his eyes locked on Cen Nian like a surveillance camera.
Cen Nian kept meowing at him from time to time; he really adored Yu Shen now.
Seeing this, the shop owner remarked, “You two seem to be getting along well. By the way, how’s his grooming coming along? Is he licking his fur more?”
Before Yu Shen could answer, Cen Nian got nervous. He opened his mouth to start licking, only to be immediately put in a headlock.
Yu Shen’s large hand gripped him firmly. “No licking during your bath.”
If he licked a belly full of soap suds, it would be a disaster.
Cen Nian: I was too eager, too careless… I almost poisoned myself. But putting a little kitten in a headlock is a bit much, don’t you think?
After being washed and blow-dried, Cen Nian was once again a breathtakingly beautiful kitten. He immediately stood up and swiped his little paws toward Yu Shen. “Come hug me! I smell wonderful now.”
Just as he’d hoped, Yu Shen immediately scooped him back into his arms. Cen Nian deliberately twisted his straight-backed body and shook his head, wafting his fresh scent toward Yu Shen, a special perk he owed his owner as a good little cat.
The shop owner watched the two of them. Who would’ve thought? she wondered. That cool, aloof man actually makes a perfect pair with such a cute little kitten. They seem to get along wonderfully; at the very least, they’re clearly fond of each other.
With that, the man and his cat headed home.
The moment they stepped inside, Cen Nian heard a familiar chirping. He whipped his head toward the floor-to-ceiling window and spotted the mother bird that had flown back. His hind legs kicked off Yu Shen’s chest as he tried to leap down and settle the score.
It was all that bird’s fault! It had deceived me, causing this whole mess!
But his escape was cut short. Instead of landing on the floor, he found himself dangling by the scruff of his neck.
Cen Nian struggled to lift his head, only to see Yu Shen staring at him with an expression that said, We need to have a little chat about this.
Cen Nian: …I guess I can’t escape the consequences after all.
But he still had to put up a fight.
“Meow.” (I was wrong! I’ll never do it again! It’s all.)
He managed to free one little paw from Yu Shen’s arm and pointed it accusingly at the mother bird. (, all its fault! This innocent little kitten is completely blameless!)