Chapter 13

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Feline infectious peritonitis requires not only special injections but also daily medication. If a cat loses its appetite, it may even need to be force-fed. But Jiang Heng wasn’t a real cat; he understood that the injections and medicine were meant to cure his illness, so he cooperated exceptionally well.

Usually, the assistant in charge of caring for the cats and dogs had never seen a cat as obedient as Jiang Heng. Yet, the more carefree this cat made her, the more her heart ached, and unable to resist, she would secretly splurge on cat treats and canned food for him.

In theory, cats with this disease typically lose their appetite, but Jiang Heng was different. Every morning, the moment his eyes opened, he was ready to eat.

He wasn’t really that hungry; it was mainly because his time as a stray had left him terrified of hunger. Since the cure rate for infectious peritonitis was not guaranteed, he didn’t know if he could recover, so he made sure to eat his fill every day. Even if he were to die, he would die a well-fed cat.

The days in the hospital were monotonous. After each injection, he would drift into a daze and sleep. When the wound on his back finally scabbed over, Jiang Heng realized it had been many days since he last saw Lu Yichuan.

Recently, the veterinary clinic had become busier with more cats and dogs. The luxurious single room where Jiang Heng was staying was now shared with a fellow patient.

The new companion was an American Shorthair, also suffering from infectious peritonitis. They had both been injected around the same time that morning, and now the Shorthair was furiously clawing at the cage, howling loudly.

Since the disease was not contagious, the doctor placed the cats’ cages together in one room.

While Jiang Heng ate, the Shorthair scratched the cage; when Jiang Heng drank water, the Shorthair howled loudly; after Jiang Heng woke from a nap, the Shorthair was clawing and howling simultaneously.

“…”

Unable to bear it any longer, Jiang Heng shouted, “Be quiet!”

The Shorthair turned, staring at him in disbelief that a kitten whose fur hadn’t even fully grown would dare yell at him, then hissed.

Behind the cage, Jiang Heng was unfazed. He lifted his head and hissed back, then raised a paw and made a subtle gesture that only he understood as a middle finger.

The Shorthair grew even angrier. “Are you provoking me?”

Jiang Heng replied innocently, “I’m just advising you to be quiet.”

The Shorthair looked even more agitated. “These damn two-legged monsters are trying to harm me. Once I’m out, I’ll tear their faces apart.”

Jiang Heng, ever the teacher to the illiterate cat, explained, “You’re sick. They give you injections to save you. Otherwise, you’d be dead by now.”

“That injection hurts so much, how could it be saving me? They just want to harm me!”

Jiang Heng found a comfortable position to lie down.

“Although the injection hurts, think about it—don’t you feel more energetic afterward? Besides, your owner brought you here, right? If they wanted to harm you, would your owner just ignore you?”

The Shorthair was skeptical, “Really?”

“Why would I lie to you?” Jiang Heng yawned. “I’m also getting injections every day, just like you.”

The Shorthair paced around its cage, seemingly believing him, or at least stopped howling.

In the afternoon, a woman entered the clinic carrying a bag and went straight to the Shorthair’s cage.

Jiang Heng was playing with a ribbon hanging from the cage while listening to the woman muttering lovingly to the Shorthair. His paw movements slowed until he stopped.

“Baby, Mommy’s been so worried about you. Haven’t seen you all day—did you miss me? I came to see you right after work. You have to get better in the hospital, and once you’re well, Mommy will buy you canned food…”

The assistant entered with cat food and medicine, smiling upon hearing the woman’s words. “The little one is recovering well. Before, after injections, he was lethargic, but now he’s starting to challenge the doctors.”

“That’s good…” The woman sighed with relief. “I’m so worried every day at work. If I lost him, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

The assistant mixed the medicine into the cat food and comforted her, “Don’t worry. Our doctors are professional. Unless it’s terminal, the cure rate is quite high. But I heard you have to take an hour’s bus ride here every day from work. Isn’t that troublesome?”

The woman took a sip of water from her bag. “I have no choice. As a parent, you can never relax. Even if you get videos every day, it doesn’t feel right unless you come and see for yourself.”

“You must really love your furry child.”

The woman smiled and reached into the cage.

She was lightly slapped.

The Shorthair’s food was taken away by the woman, and the assistant brought Jiang Heng’s portion to his cage. “Little one, time to eat.”

The usually eager cat ate slowly today, taking a bite and glancing toward the Shorthair.

The assistant gently stroked his slightly prickly head. “Your owner cares about you too, asking the doctor about you every day.”

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The kitten’s ears twitched, seeming a little embarrassed, but his eating pace quickened significantly.

The assistant sighed softly.

In truth, the pictures and videos sent had never received a single reply.

—

Sunday dawned gloomy. Zhao Shuo knocked excitedly on Lu Yichuan’s dorm door.

“Today’s great weather—not too cold or hot. We’re planning to go for a spring outing and then have a barbecue. Want to come?”

Lu Yichuan, just finishing putting on his jacket, was about to leave. He smiled apologetically at Zhao Shuo. “Sorry, I have something to do today. Probably can’t make it.”

Zhao Shuo’s sharp eyes caught the gift box placed on his desk. “You’ve got a present ready. Planning a date?”

Lu Yichuan picked up the gift. “No, it’s for a younger brother’s birthday.”

“Oh…” Zhao Shuo understood. “That’s the guy from our school… Jiang Xingbai, right? I’ve seen him come to see you several times. You two seem pretty close. He never misses his birthday, even asks for leave to come.”

The man standing nearby chuckled, neither confirming nor denying, only saying, “It’s late. I have to go.”

—

When Lu Yichuan arrived at the Jiang family residence, it was already three in the afternoon.

Even before reaching the door, he could hear the noisy commotion inside the villa. It was the young master’s birthday, and the festivities were lively.

Just as Lu Yichuan reached the door, a sharp-eyed maid noticed him.

The Jiang family and Lu family were barely considered long-time acquaintances, so the maid was not unfamiliar with Lu Yichuan. She greeted him warmly and helped push the door open.

“Young Master Lu, you’re here.”

Lu Yichuan smiled politely. Before he could enter, a woman in her forties, looking like a noble lady, appeared at the entrance.

“Yichuan, you finally came. Xingbai kept nagging me this morning, waiting day and night for you.”

Lu Yichuan lowered his eyes, gently removing the hand resting on his shoulder, and smiled as he handed over the gift. “Got held up. Happy birthday to the little star.”

Zhao Huailan pushed back the gift. “Why give that to me? Gifts should be given to the birthday boy in person.”

Lu Yichuan didn’t insist, casually placing the gift on the hallway table, mingling with many other presents.

Jiang Xingbai had only recently been discharged from the hospital, so the birthday was kept low-key. Only relatives and friends close to the Jiang family were invited.

Even so, a crowd in the living room made for a lively atmosphere.

Lu Yichuan’s arrival caught everyone’s attention. Despite some undisclosed conflicts with the Lu family years ago, he was still the young master of the Lu family, and many sought to curry favor with him.

No sooner had he entered than a group surrounded him, exchanging pleasantries.

Before he could even take a sip of water, he was swept into the social whirlpool, smiling at everyone, concealing the fatigue behind his eyes.

Fortunately, after only a few words, a surprised voice came from the staircase.

“Brother Yichuan!”

Lu Yichuan looked up and saw Jiang Xingbai standing at the top of the stairs.

At this hour, he was likely just waking from a nap, dressed in off-white loungewear, thin and pale, his delicate features reminiscent of Zhao Huailan, exuding a refined elegance.

He brightened at the sight of Lu Yichuan, clutching the railing as he hurried down. The butler followed, calling, “Young Master, slow down, slow down!”

Jiang Xingbai ignored the warning, panting heavily before speaking, “I thought you wouldn’t come. You didn’t reply to my messages.”

Lu Yichuan’s lips curled in a warm smile. “Sorry, I’ve been busy writing my thesis, no time.”

“I know…” Jiang Xingbai’s eyes curved with a smile. “I saw the news from school. Your paper got published in a C-level journal. Amazing.”

Zhao Huailan draped a coat over him. “You’re grown up. How come you don’t take care of yourself? It’s only March, quite chilly. What if you catch a cold?”

Jiang Xingbai tilted his head, making a face at her. “Mom, I’m fine. You’re just overreacting.”

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“What do you mean fine?” Zhao Huailan shot him a sharp glance. “You just got out of the hospital. The doctor said you have to be very careful…”

Lu Yichuan stood quietly to the side, watching.

They acted like the most inseparable mother and son in the world, their bond so deep it seemed no one else could enter that space.

As if they had been side by side for over twenty years.

Zhao Huailan’s heart trembled under Lu Yichuan’s dark gaze. She nervously withdrew her hand, uncertain whether to explain or remain silent. “You know about Xingbai’s illness. He’s been away from me all these years, suffering who knows what. His condition now is my responsibility, so naturally, I’m anxious.”

Lu Yichuan pressed his watchband, instinctively curling his lips into a faint smile. “I understand. He’s different from others, so he needs extra care.”

Zhao Huailan quietly exhaled, avoiding his eyes.

Jiang Xingbai was oblivious. He pulled Lu Yichuan onto the sofa and looked around. “Brother Yichuan, where’s my gift?”

Someone teased, “It’s on the hallway table. You don’t care about gifts at all, only about your Brother Yichuan?”

Jiang Xingbai smiled sheepishly, walking to the hallway to retrieve Lu Yichuan’s gift. There, he met Jiang Zhuo returning.

Jiang Zhuo raised an eyebrow at his hurried demeanor. “What are you doing?”

Jiang Xingbai clutched the box in his arms. “Looking for the gift Brother Yichuan gave me.”

Jiang Zhuo glanced inside and saw Lu Yichuan sitting on the sofa.

With the gift in hand, Jiang Xingbai ignored his brother and returned to Lu Yichuan.

He eagerly unwrapped the present. Seeing the watch inside, his face lit up with a smile. He placed it on his wrist, admiring it. “This watch is really beautiful. Must be expensive, right?”

Lu Yichuan glanced at it as if noticing it for the first time. “Not really.”

Jiang Xingbai’s friend leaned in, admiring it. “I’ve seen this watch before. It costs at least six figures. You call that ‘not really’?”

Jiang Xingbai grinned even wider. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the watch on Lu Yichuan’s left wrist and asked, “Brother Yichuan, what brand is your watch?”

Lu Yichuan touched the dial, expression indifferent. “Not a very expensive brand. Just something you can buy on the street.”

“Oh…” Jiang Xingbai put down the watch, staring at Lu Yichuan’s wrist. “I think your watch looks nice. Can I have it…”

Before he finished, Jiang Zhuo, who had just taken off his coat, suddenly grew stern. “Shut up!”

Jiang Xingbai was startled, glancing at his brother’s dark expression and the changed faces of the relatives. Slowly, realization dawned.

“Sorry, I…”

Jiang Zhuo looked at Lu Yichuan. The man picked up an orange, peeling a slice quietly.

He took Jiang Xingbai’s hand and pulled him up from the sofa. “I think you’ve been cooped up at home too long, going stir-crazy. What kind of look is it to wear pajamas around so many people? Go change and come back down.”

Jiang Xingbai looked confused and instinctively glanced at Lu Yichuan. “But…”

“But what?” Jiang Zhuo demanded. “Can you still run away?”

Watching Jiang Xingbai disappear upstairs, Jiang Zhuo sat where the boy had just been, headache growing. He put the watch back into the gift box.

“He didn’t mean it, he didn’t know…”

Lu Yichuan finished peeling the orange, revealing its juicy segments. He glanced casually toward the kitchen. “Making a cake?”

Jiang Zhuo paused, then explained, “He just got out of the hospital. My mother feels sorry for him, so she wanted to make a birthday cake by hand…”

At this, his throat tightened, speechless.

Because he suddenly realized that in eighteen years, Zhao Huailan had never once made a birthday cake for Jiang Heng.