Chapter Thirty-Three: The Visit

Lu Meimei did a thorough cleaning a day in advance, tidying up the house, nervously, anxiously, and with anticipation, waiting for her boyfriend Zhou Hai to arrive.

Before this, she had spent even more time introducing Zhou Hai to Maomao.

“Zhou Hai is coming today, Maomao, remember? The big brother you saw on my phone during the video call,” Lu Meimei opened her phone and showed Maomao a photo of Zhou Hai.

Just as during the previous video chats, Maomao glanced perfunctorily and then lay on the sofa, engrossed in licking its fur.

Lu Meimei was a bit puzzled, “Do you not like males? Only like young ladies?” After a while, she cautiously asked, “Or do you not like Zhou Hai?”

“Meow,” Maomao replied, rubbed its face against Lu Meimei’s, then turned back to grooming.

Lu Meimei sighed helplessly. She couldn’t quite discern Maomao’s attitude. But Maomao had always been aloof; even after living and eating with Chi Ai for five years, it only played with the cat teaser out of courtesy—that was considered close. Even with herself, it took a long time to grow affectionate.

Lu Meimei stroked Maomao. She wasn’t worried about Maomao getting along with Zhou Hai. Zhou Hai had a good temperament, and Maomao was a smart, considerate big cat; surely they would coexist politely. Still, if possible, she wished Maomao could show Zhou Hai the same affection as the kittens in those pet videos.

The doorbell rang.

Lu Meimei put down her phone and ran to open the door, calling back to Maomao, “Maomao, Zhou Hai is here!”

Maomao paused its grooming, lay on the sofa, craned its neck, and gazed toward the door.

“Meimei.”

“Come in. Change into slippers.”

“These are for you and Maomao. I bought chicken and beef, and made fish fillets—the bones are already picked out, though I don’t know if he’ll like it. You said he doesn’t care for cat toys, and he only eats what you cook…”

The man’s voice came from the entryway.

Maomao’s ears stood upright; its emerald eyes narrowed their pupils into slits.

Lu Meimei’s laughter rang, “He’s not picky. He eats whatever I eat, just cooked separately without salt. You don’t need to pick out the fish bones either—he does it himself, and eats very cleanly.”

“Really?” Zhou Hai was surprised.

“Yes. He used to be a stray in the countryside, catching mice, birds, fish on his own, and even stealing the dog’s food.”

The two entered the room.

Zhou Hai was half a head taller than Lu Meimei, wore glasses, scholarly in appearance, with a slight paunch and a round face, looking good-natured and honest.

Lu Meimei’s voice was still full of laughter, “Maomao, this is Zhou Hai, you recognize him, right?”

“Hello, Maomao.” Zhou Hai was a little nervous, hands pressed to his trousers, seriously greeting.

Maomao’s green eyes swept over Zhou Hai, glanced at Lu Meimei, and let out a “meow” as a greeting.

Zhou Hai looked nervously at Lu Meimei, unsure if he’d passed the test. He’d heard that animals decide instantly whether they like someone.

Lu Meimei laughed and nudged Zhou Hai into the kitchen, “Put your things down first. Ai always says Maomao is a cold little prince—you’ll have to spend more time with him.”

Zhou Hai smiled, “Then I’ll have to visit often.”

Lu Meimei blushed, “It’s your first time here and you’re already thinking about the future? Hurry and put the food in the fridge.”

“It’s all frozen meat; I packed ice so it wouldn’t spoil. The fish fillets are frozen too; they’ll need to be thawed and steamed. And the lychees I bought for you are from downstairs—the vendor said they’re very sweet.”

“Oh. So the things for me are so casual, but the ones for Maomao were prepared yesterday?”

Zhou Hai answered earnestly, “It wasn’t just yesterday—I started preparing last week. I messed up twice and ate it myself.”

Lu Meimei doubled over with laughter, “You even messed up boiling meat? No oil, no salt—just cook it through.”

“Cooking is easy, but picking fish bones is a nightmare. I bought crucian carp, since you said he likes it, but the bones are endless. For minced meat, I only have an old juicer, not a blender. Chopping by hand, it’s never perfectly fine… so I had to pick the bones one by one.”

“Hahaha… When I cook crucian carp for him, I don’t pick the bones. Just cook, split in half, give him one half, and use the rest for fish soup.”

“You could have told me sooner! I worked so hard picking bones, checking over and over,” Zhou Hai complained, but his voice was full of laughter.

The two chatted and laughed as they organized Zhou Hai’s things.

Maomao sat motionless on the sofa; its green eyes never left the direction of the kitchen.

After a while, Lu Meimei came out with a fruit basket overflowing with lychees. Zhou Hai followed closely behind.

“Can he eat lychees?” Zhou Hai asked.

Lu Meimei nodded, “I’ll give him two. He wants to try everything—a little glutton.”

Zhou Hai was amazed.

The two sat together on the sofa, Zhou Hai peering over Lu Meimei to study Maomao.

Lu Meimei placed a lychee on the coffee table.

Maomao stood up, strode to the table, bit into the shell, and with a flick of its pink tongue, drew out the translucent flesh, swallowing it. After chewing slowly, it opened its mouth and spit out the intact pit.

Zhou Hai exclaimed in surprise several times.

Maomao shot Zhou Hai a sideways glance, as if expressing disdain.

Zhou Hai turned to Lu Meimei, “He’s so smart!”

“Of course,” Lu Meimei said proudly, immediately launching into several stories about Maomao.

Opening doors, flushing toilets—those clever tricks seen in pet videos were mere trifles for Maomao. He’d helped Lu Meimei shut windows, fetched clothes, taken out trash, fully understood human speech, and his intelligence was comparable to a border collie.

Lu Meimei boasted endlessly, and Zhou Hai played along, gazing at Maomao with awe and uttering constant praises. He also peeled lychees for the enthusiastic Lu Meimei, feeding them directly to her lips.

Lu Meimei laughed, “You’re making it seem like I’m not as smart as Maomao, needing you to feed me.”

“I’m just spoiling you,” Zhou Hai replied confidently, attempting to feed her another lychee.

“No more. You eat too. If I eat them all, I’ll break out.” Lu Meimei turned her head away.

Suddenly, an agile figure leaped onto Lu Meimei, forepaws resting on her shoulder, body upright, and snatched the lychee.

Zhou Hai felt a sharp tooth prick his finger, pain making him withdraw his hand—the lychee was already in Maomao’s mouth.

Lu Meimei was startled, then burst into laughter, vigorously rubbing Maomao’s back and head, “Are you jealous, Maomao? Or do you just want lychees?”

Maomao leaned against Lu Meimei’s shoulder, emerald eyes fixed on Zhou Hai.

“This is the first time he’s done this. Looks like he likes you a lot,” Lu Meimei smiled at Zhou Hai.

Both cat and woman gazed at Zhou Hai.

Zhou Hai’s back prickled. Maomao’s swaying tail seemed to signal a hunting prelude. Yet Lu Meimei noticed nothing at all. Perhaps it was a man’s intuition, or a boyfriend’s instinct, but he sensed Maomao did not like him.

Lu Meimei kissed Maomao’s ear, “Want more lychee? You’ve had two today. Shall we eat lunch?” She glanced at the clock, holding out her hand. Maomao spat the lychee pit into her palm.

“Zhou Hai made fish fillets for you; let’s have that for lunch. Anything else you want?” She tidied the trash as she asked Maomao, then looked to Zhou Hai, as if seeking his opinion too.

“Oh, anything’s fine,” Zhou Hai replied, smiling at Lu Meimei and glancing at Maomao.

Maomao slid from Lu Meimei’s shoulder to the sofa back. Its big tail brushed Zhou Hai’s neck, raising goosebumps, but he didn’t flinch.

Maomao pressed against Lu Meimei’s nape, softly “meowing” in her ear.

“I bought groceries this morning,” Lu Meimei said, heading to the kitchen. “I was planning tomato soup, braised chicken wings, stir-fried amaranth, and asparagus with meat… But you bought so much frozen meat—maybe I’ll make a stew?”

Zhou Hai followed her, shifting his gaze, “Whatever you like. I’m as unpicky as Maomao; whatever you cook, I’ll eat. Let me help wash the vegetables. My knife skills are decent—I can do shredded trio just fine.” He stood and followed her into the kitchen.

“Shredded trio? With a peeler? Struggled so much with fish fillets?”

“I said picking fish bones was hard. Without that, my cooking’s top-notch. Hey, don’t underestimate those multifunctional peelers—they slice and shred really well.”

Maomao lounged on the sofa back, tail lazily swishing. Its snow-white paws pressed into the soft cushion, sharp claws emerging from the pads. Its tongue licked its equally sharp teeth. Eyes narrowed, watching the kitchen.

…

Sheng Yao, wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap that hid most of his face, entered the Little Darling Pet Shop.

Boss Le greeted him, then, recognizing him, grinned, “Hey, Sheng, you’re all bundled up today.”

Sheng Yao took off his glasses and smiled.

“How’s your uncle lately?” Boss Le asked.

“He’s good,” Sheng Yao replied awkwardly, getting straight to the point, “Boss Le, do you sell pet carriers here? And can you help find homes for stray cats?” He glanced at several pet cages by the wall.

Boss Le paused his bookkeeping. “Pet carrier? Stray cats? You got scammed?”

“No. It’s just that where I live, there are more and more strays. Isn’t adopting strays encouraged these days?” Sheng Yao smiled. “I want to catch them, get them checked and neutered, and then find them good homes.”

His sudden proposal was bound to raise eyebrows. But Sheng Yao believed Boss Le would find ways to help. What he needed now was just help with the aftermath of the strays.

Boss Le was indeed pleased, readily agreeing, “That’s great. But my little shop doesn’t have many pet buyers. How about this—if you handle everything, bring them here, and I’ll help with promotion.”

He added, “Catching strays isn’t easy. Don’t be fooled by folks online saying they caught their cat in the neighborhood—it’s not that simple. And checks and neutering cost a lot; expenses add up. Some charities do this, but they have their own funding channels, and it’s tough for them too.”

Sheng Yao promised, “I just want to try—if it works, great. I’m not looking to be a volunteer, just came up with the idea seeing too many strays in the complex. If it doesn’t work, we’ll see.”

He spoke with some helplessness.

His temp job with the courier had helped him find out Maomao’s owner’s name, and he’d delivered parcels twice to Lu Meimei, but each time was a quick exchange with no small talk—which was normal. He’d never had a chance to see Maomao.

Sheng Yao had to pursue his investigation indirectly, focusing on pet shops and clinics near Lu Meimei’s home.

If possible, he’d have taken a temp job there. But pet clinics and shops weren’t like convenience stores or courier stations; they rarely had open positions.

When he visited the pet clinic empty-handed, he was stopped at reception, and no amount of probing could uncover the pets’ details.

So far, he hadn’t confirmed if Lu Meimei had ever taken Maomao for checkups or treatments, nor whether she’d brought him to a shop for baths or grooming.

While Bai Xiao still hadn’t decided which dog to get, Sheng Yao urgently needed a pet as a bridge. The idea of borrowing a cat was too absurd. No matter how helpful Boss Le was, he wouldn’t just lend a cat.

After much thought, Sheng Yao set his sights on the strays.

Boss Le was supportive, cheerfully lending him a cat carrier and giving tips on feline habits, finally asking kindly, “Want me to recommend a pet clinic? I have classmates who are vets; I can speak for you at any local clinic. Waiving fees isn’t likely, but I can get you a discount, so you don’t get ripped off.”

“No need. You’ve done enough,” Sheng Yao thanked him, then asked, “Do you sell pets here? The cages are always empty… I’d like to keep a dog. Not now, but planning to in a while.”

Boss Le studied Sheng Yao for a moment, then laughed, “Is it you who wants a dog, or your girlfriend?”

Sheng Yao was startled.

“Haha! Your face gives it away. Talking about strays you’re calm, but mentioning a dog… tsk tsk… your girlfriend likes dogs?”

Sheng Yao nodded openly, a sweet smile on his lips he himself didn’t notice.

“Have you two ever kept pets before?”

“No.”

“Oh. Have you decided what kind of dog? Large or small?”

“Not yet. She thinks both are cute.”

“You can’t just go by looks. Different breeds have different temperaments, even within a breed there are differences. If you haven’t kept pets before, you need to think carefully. It’s a lot of trouble, especially for couples—raising a pet is like a preview of parenthood. Animals aren’t like people; even when playing, you might get hurt. I have a knack with animals, but I still get injured often.” Boss Le advised earnestly.

Sheng Yao nodded.

“Luckily, I know a doctor. A bit hurt, after closing shop, I just check in with him,” Boss Le continued.

Sheng Yao’s heart tightened, looking at Boss Le, “You’ve been to the Monster Clinic lately?”

“Yes. I even brought groceries and a grill over for a barbecue with the doctor,” Boss Le laughed.

Sheng Yao was stunned.

Bai Xiao had never mentioned this.

When Boss Le barbecued with the doctor, was it inside the clinic? The doctor… should live in the clinic, right? Is there a back door?

Thinking carefully: among these street shops, two restaurants had back doors straight into their kitchens, used for deliveries and trash. Years ago, residents complained about kitchen waste.

Could the Monster Clinic have the same layout?

He had doubts about the doctor, but had never investigated the clinic’s structure.

“What’s wrong? Surprised?” Boss Le smiled. “Did your uncle tell you about the doctor? Don’t be fooled by his cold appearance—he’s actually kind-hearted. Tough on the outside, soft inside.”

Sheng Yao was a bit suspicious, wanting to probe, but remembered Bai Xiao living in the clinic.

Boss Le opened his pet shop after Bai Xiao’s death, so he’d never met Bai Xiao. And Sheng Yao’s current identity was as Sheng Yao’s nephew, never having visited the Monster Clinic, only hearing about it from his “uncle.”

So Sheng Yao kept silent.

He had to be careful, lest he inadvertently reveal Bai Xiao’s resurrection.

Even if the doctor had cured many patients with miraculous means, Bai Xiao… was still a special case. Especially with someone like Boss Le, cordial with the doctor but without having suffered any “difficult diseases,” he had to be cautious.

“I’ll bring you the kittens once I catch them.” Sheng Yao lifted the pet carrier and thanked Boss Le.

Boss Le cheerfully agreed and saw Sheng Yao out of the shop.