On Shao Jiaquan’s twenty-fifth birthday, Xie Pingning didn’t inform the elders, only inviting a few familiar peers and her local old friends. The celebration was held at Jin Yi Xuan, where Xie Pingning had reserved a private room for a simple yet lively birthday party.
Except for several cousins from the Xie family, Xun Xun didn’t know any of the other guests, and it seemed they didn’t know her either. She sat in a corner with a drink, watching them exchange pleasantries and engage in animated conversations. Though reluctant to admit it, she was more like an observer from a certain perspective, even though that man had lain beside her just the night before.
Chi Cheng adapted better to the environment than her, conversing naturally with guests and attending to the birthday girl with gentlemanly care in his role as her fiancé. Yesterday’s guidance from Xun Xun seemed to have some effect – notably, after witnessing the scene at the restaurant, he hadn’t confronted Shao Jiaquan about it, and even when facing Xie Pingning, whom he had threatened to beat up just days ago, he showed no aggression, at least not yet.
Xun Xun felt a tiny bit of regret – what would have happened if she hadn’t stopped Chi Cheng then? Would it have been more satisfying to let him act on his impulses and create a scene? She immediately despised herself for such dark thoughts. Unable to act herself, yet hoping others would – it was meaningless and against her principles to seek momentary satisfaction.
The lights went out, candles lit up, then extinguished, followed by lights again. Singing happy birthday, making wishes, blowing candles, cutting the cake, collecting congratulations, the prince kissing the princess – the atmosphere reached its peak, and even the background character Zhao Xun Xun joined in the gentle applause. Chi Cheng placed a dazzling necklace around Shao Jiaquan’s neck in front of everyone, triggering whistles – an expensive gift – and the happy protagonist responded with an intoxicating smile.
A moment later, Shao Jiaquan turned to Xie Pingning beside her, smiling sweetly, seemingly asking what gift he planned to give her today. Xie Pingning calmly called her aside and produced a bulging bag from a hidden spot – intriguingly, something appeared to be moving inside.
Even Xun Xun couldn’t help but crane her neck curiously, waiting. Her husband always brought fresh surprises after Shao Jiaquan appeared. However, the instant Xie Pingning pulled the zipper, she suddenly realized – she had wondered all morning why she hadn’t seen their old cat, assuming it was napping in some corner, when in fact someone had deliberately brought it here.
At this moment, she felt purely sorry for the cat, imagining how uncomfortable it must have been, confined in a bag for several hours.
Before the zipper was fully opened, the familiar yellow cat head that Xun Xun knew so well eagerly poked out. Shao Jiaquan was stunned at first, then her eyes reddened when she recovered. She initially tried to hide it, forcing an exaggerated look of surprise, but perhaps realizing how awkward the smile looked, she turned aside and took a deep breath, her voice already choking.
She reached out toward the cat, and Xun Xun heard her call hoarsely, “Phoebe, my Phoebe. After several years, you’ve grown so old.”
Xun Xun wanted to stop her but wasn’t quick enough. House cats naturally fear the outside world, especially after being confined in a dark carrier for hours. Suddenly freed and faced with so many strangers and bright lights, its instinctive reaction was predictable, regardless of whatever deep connection it might have had with the person before it.
“Ah!” Everyone heard Shao Jiaquan’s cry of pain. When they focused, they saw her clutching one hand, and when she released it, her palm was covered in blood. The panicked cat had scratched three deep gashes across her fair hand, the claws tearing flesh wherever they struck, a shocking sight.
Xie Pingning was furious and raised his foot to kick the cat, but Shao Jiaquan held him back with all her strength.
“It’s not its fault!”
The cat seized the opportunity to bolt, running frantically through the unfamiliar space in terror, knocking over wine glasses and cake. It was about to jump onto a low table in the corner where several aromatherapy candles were lit, with curtains close by.
Fearing a fire hazard, Xun Xun instinctively lunged forward and grabbed the cat. The old cat hissed and arched its back in attack mode, but Xun Xun dodged and held it in her arms, soothingly stroking its fur. Three years of daily companionship hadn’t been in vain – sensing a familiar human presence, it finally calmed down after a while, trembling in Xun Xun’s embrace.
“No wonder they say cats are heartless creatures that can never be truly tamed!”
Xie Pingning glared at the cat while Xun Xun held it, feeling as if she had somehow joined forces with the troublemaker.
“What a foolish idea this was,” Xie Pingning said, grabbing Shao Jiaquan’s hand to examine her wounds. She tried to pull away despite the pain but couldn’t match his strength.
Looking at the cat in Xun Xun’s arms, she self-mockingly said in a low voice, “When I found it, it was tiny, clinging to me and refusing to leave. It’s forgotten me now – people forget many things when separated for long, let alone a cat.”
After carefully examining her wounds, Xie Pingning decisively said, “You need to go to the hospital with me right now. Without prompt treatment, this could become serious!”
“It’s unnecessary, just bandage it. Everyone’s here, why spoil the mood over something minor?” Shao Jiaquan refused.
“You don’t seem to understand the situation – rabies has a hundred percent mortality rate. I’m taking you now, let’s go!” Xie Pingning said while reaching for his coat. The other guests urged Shao Jiaquan to listen to him, saying it was better to be safe. Shao Jiaquan glanced at Chi Cheng, who stood with his hands in his pockets, expressionless.
“Go to the hospital. Do you want me to come along?” Chi Cheng asked.
“No need, I’ll take her,” Xie Pingning said, already holding Shao Jiaquan’s injured hand as they reached the private room’s door.
With the situation disrupted and the main characters departing early, the remaining guests gradually dispersed. Only two people who were neither hosts nor guests remained in the space left in chaos by a single cat.
Chi Cheng picked up an intact piece of cake, found a chair to sit in, and casually remarked to Xun Xun, who was busy coaxing the cat back into its carrier, “Your husband is quite a passionate person.”
Xun Xun shot him a resentful glance, about to leave. Just then, restaurant staff entered, surveyed the scene, and calmly asked, “Who will be paying the bill?”
Xun Xun stared in disbelief, then looked at her “companion,” who was focused on picking fruit off the cake, apparently deaf to the question, his earlier generosity and gentlemanly demeanor nowhere to be seen.
She closed her eyes, opened them again, and accepting there was no escape, took the bill. The numbers that jumped out at her sparked another wave of nameless fury.
Chi Cheng chose this moment to peer curiously at the bill, clicking his tongue, “Your husband is quite generous, just a bit forgetful.”
Xun Xun trembled as she searched her bag. Chi Cheng watched as she pulled out cash from four different locations, counted it, and then desperately extracted a bank card from her account book’s side pocket, finally avoiding being detained at the restaurant to work off the debt.
While waiting for the server to bring the receipt, Xun Xun sat in another chair holding the cat carrier, too drained to maintain proper posture, staring blankly into space.
She suddenly wanted to sing Faye Wong’s “Not Keeping,” though some lyrics needed changing.
How did it go? Ah yes… “You left midnight to me, gave her the glass slipper, left silence to me, gave her the distance, left the body to me, gave her the heart, left the old cat to me, gave her the rabies vaccine, left housework to me, gave her the romance, left the bill to me, gave her the party, left Uncle-in-law to me, gave her the nephew, if I still have any happiness, to hell with it!”… This must be what the ancients meant by “singing in place of crying.”
Seeing her expression fluctuating, Chi Cheng kindly asked, “You look like you’re in labor. It’s just money!”
Xun Xun said, “None of your business.”
“Come on, let me be a Knight of the Round Table. I’ll take you home,” he said, putting down the cake and dusting off his hands as he stood.
“No need!”
“Don’t be stubborn. The buses have stopped running, and I doubt you have enough money left for a taxi this time.”
“I said I don’t need your help.”
“Such confidence… oh, thinking about your bank card? What time is it? Near year-end, with your awareness, surely you know what happens to a single woman standing at an ATM late at night?”
Chi Cheng made a quick throat-slitting gesture, pleased to see he’d hit a nerve as Zhao Xun Xun’s hands trembled while holding the cat, her Liu Hulan-like expression softening into Li Xianglan.
“Let’s go,” he pressed while the iron was hot.
Xun Xun hesitated, “The receipt isn’t ready yet.”
“Is that all you care about? Still hoping Xie Pingning will reimburse you?” Chi Cheng gave her a gentle push from behind. Seeing her only shuffle two steps forward with his force, he mocked, “Should I hold your hand and lead you as your heroic husband did?”
The force of circumstances prevailed as news reports of midnight robberies tested Zhao Xun Xun’s resolve. She followed Chi Cheng out of the restaurant, finding herself led to an unlicensed Volkswagen CC.
“Try my new car,” Chi Cheng said animatedly as he ushered her into the passenger seat. His carefree demeanor suggested he’d completely forgotten about his girlfriend being forcibly taken away.
Xun Xun felt like she’d walked into a trap, asking suspiciously, “Why buy a car just to accompany Shao Jiaquan home for a visit?” Her implied meaning was clear – were he and Shao Jiaquan planning to stay after their tour of relatives?
Chi Cheng frowned, “Visit? Who told you that? I didn’t want to stay in Shanghai watching my old man’s expressions, much less see his looks at my stepmother, so I volunteered to expand my business in the South China market. They couldn’t wait to get rid of me, immediately providing funds hoping I’d never return.”
“What about Shao Jiaquan?” Xun Xun asked anxiously.
Chi Cheng replied matter-of-factly, “If she plans to be with me, naturally she’ll stay.” He drove off, adding, “Of course, if she leaves with someone else, whether she stays or goes is none of my business.”
Heavens! The last bit of hope in Xun Xun’s heart was crumbling as she turned away dejectedly. Chi Cheng noticed. “You dislike me and want me to leave soon.” His sneering expression made Xun Xun feel she was no better than his cold-hearted father and stepmother.
“This city isn’t mine. Stay or go, it’s your choice.”
“What if it were yours?” Not wanting to dwell on such childish matters, she changed topics, “…You’ve seen the relationship between my husband and your fiancée. They weren’t just an aunt and nephew in the past. What do you think?”
“What should I fear?” Chi Cheng scoffed coldly. “Yesterday I was angry because they were sneaking around and treating me like a fool. After you stopped me from teaching him a lesson, I thought it through. A good man shouldn’t worry about finding a wife – let her choose whoever she wants, why force it?” He smiled at Xun Xun, his expression childishly innocent. “You were right about taking the long view. Breaking up is fine, but I won’t let them play me for nothing. Better to let them be for now – if things get serious, I’ll expose everything in front of the whole Xie family, then dump her. Let the adulterous couple fly off together like butterflies. Wouldn’t that be more satisfying?”
Xun Xun wanted to cry hearing this. No wonder she was so cautious – what kind of people were these nowadays!
“Easy to say, but people have feelings. You and Shao Jiaquan were planning marriage – if you truly liked her, you wouldn’t be so detached.”
Chi Cheng said, “I didn’t propose marriage. I do like her, but she kept secrets. As the saying goes: if you’re heartless, I’ll let go. Am I not allowed to like someone else? Look, I quite like you.”
“…”
“You’re more like a real woman than Jiaquan. She’s still childish, always wanting someone to take care of her, and her taste isn’t as good as yours. I liked that ‘train’ underwear you gave me.”
“…” Xun Xun wished she could go deaf rather than hear his outrageous nonsense, but what he said next demanded her attention.
“However, she didn’t hide everything from me. Early on when we first met, she mentioned loving a man who loved her back, but family opposition ended it. I thought, what era is this with such cliché plots? Never expected it was Xie Pingning, and with their relationship, it makes sense… Yes, she also mentioned they adopted a stray cat together, but when she left, he wouldn’t let her take it – must be that ugly thing in your bag.”
This aligned closely with Xun Xun’s suspicions. It explained everything – Xie Pingning’s strange behavior before Shao Jiaquan’s return, his in-laws’ outward affection but subtle prevention of them being alone, and why Xie Pingning, who disliked pets, stubbornly kept this cat… It also explained why the heartbroken Xie Pingning quickly arranged a marriage and wed her three years ago. She was the proverbial cannon fodder – everyone knew the plot except the foolish supporting actress, who typically watches teary-eyed as the leads ride off into the sunset. Chi Cheng gave her no time for self-pity, continuing his provocations.
“I remembered something else – I said I’d repay you tenfold, and I keep my word.” He reached for his wallet.
“Watch the road!” Xun Xun cried out as the car suddenly swerved, shouting angrily, “What are you doing? I don’t want to die with you!”
“If you value life so much, what’s the point if everyone else dies and you’re the only one left?”
“You have to be alive to consider that!”
Chi Cheng pulled out the money and held it out with one hand.
Xun Xun had no patience for his games and knocked his hand away forcefully.
“Don’t need it!”
Chi Cheng shook his stinging hand, raising an eyebrow, “Don’t need it? So you decided to give me that underwear? It’s my first time receiving underwear from a woman…”
“Give it here.”
She roughly grabbed the money from his hand, planning to make him stop immediately so she could go home. Even risking encountering a pervert at night seemed better than her current situation.
While looking for a suitable place to get out, Xun Xun anxiously noticed Chi Cheng was driving in a direction that deviated from any route home, making her feel extremely unsafe again.
“Stop the car, where are you going?” She stared wide-eyed at him. “Let me out right now.”
Chi Cheng replied sinisterly, like a TV drama villain, “What’s the rush? I’m taking you somewhere nice.”
Whether he was serious or teasing, Xun Xun was genuinely panicked, hitting his arm, “Stop fooling around, or I’ll scream.”
Chi Cheng laughed, “You should clutch your chest, keep your legs together, or your chastity will be at risk… Keep hitting my arm and I might swerve – ‘bang,’ death by exhaustion, no, death by car crash!”
Xun Xun stopped struggling. She lowered her head into her hands, not wanting to hear, speak, or think about anything. She’d hit rock bottom – no one could be more pathetic.
Helplessly watching her husband’s lingering romance with another woman, then being toyed with by some kid.
“I’ll stop scaring you, I was just joking.” Chi Cheng stopped the car, his breath stirring Xun Xun’s hair as he leaned in to check on her. “Are you okay? Say something. Fine, you can scold me… Are you crying? Now you’re scaring me!”
“Don’t move!” Xun Xun lowered her hands and raised her head to prevent him from keep poking at her fingers to check if she was crying.
Seeing only weariness and no tears in her eyes, Chi Cheng sighed in relief.
Xun Xun looked blankly outside. He hadn’t taken her to some remote location to have his way. The car was parked in a spacious underground garage, unfamiliar and unlike any building she’d been to before.