Chapter 22

Chapter 22

In the dining room.

Xie Bo’s carefully prepared cat food was good enough to be called human food. Whether it was the ingredients or the seasonings, this one meal was worth Bai Li working for a whole month.

“Meow meow.”

Thank you.

Before eating, Bai Li politely expressed thanks as usual, along with grateful head rubs.

Xie Bo petted the little kitten’s head, his face glowing with affection, feeling that making this cat food was totally worth it.

One meal of cat food for one proactive kitten’s head rub.

Worth it!

Bai Li lowered his head, ate a few bites of the cat food, then drank a few sips of water. The water was a different kind from what Xie Chen drank—one bottle sold officially for 2400 yuan, even more expensive than the water used to make the cat food.

“Li Li, I’ve reviewed the contract.”

Xie Chen had a dinner portion in front of him too, just some vegetables and simple meat.

He was strict about his figure, paying attention not only to diet but also spending two hours daily in the home gym.

Hearing him mention the contract, Bai Li looked up at him eagerly.

“I’ve signed the guardian section,”

Xie Chen said calmly. “Later, you’ll press your paw print where you need to sign.”

“Meow meow!”

Okay!

After agreeing, Bai Li lowered his head and continued eating his cat food.

Xie Chen finished his meal in a few bites, then casually asked Bai Li, “Li Li, do you want to work for me?”

Before, he didn’t feel any special attachment to the little kitten he picked up off the street.

The kitten was special—their meows just happened to be understandable to him.

The kitten was also very cute, exactly to his liking.

Because of these two reasons, he gave a little kindness back to the kitten.

That little kindness, at first, wasn’t enough to support him doing much good.Now it was different.

After experiencing the little kitten’s disappearance, live-streamed pleas for help, getting lost after crawling into a cardboard box, and other incidents—each time Xie Chen rushed to save the cat—he clearly understood that he wanted to take good care of this little kitten.

“Meow awo.”

Master, I have a job now.

Bai Li reminded him that one cat couldn’t work two jobs.

The seafood store delivery job paid well, and Bai Li wasn’t eager to change jobs for now.

Xie Chen slowly wiped his hands with a wet wipe. “You come guard my place, I’ll pay you ten thousand a month.”

The base salary on the seafood store contract was less than ten thousand a month; he didn’t add much more, fearing it would seem ridiculous to the little one.

“No.”

Bai Li still refused. Tilting his head, his beautiful amber eyes looked at Xie Chen, meowing, “Master, you don’t need me to work.”

The security guards at Master’s door were all very capable humans, and obviously not short-staffed.

Xie Chen thought of some other jobs, but Bai Li wasn’t stupid.

What he needed was a job, not one set up by Master for him.

While refusing Xie Chen, Bai Li finished his meal cleanly, then gulped down the water. Finally, he climbed into Xie Chen’s arms and sat down.

“The seafood store job is good enough, I’ll just keep doing that.”

Bai Li meowed, “Master, I want to press my paw print.”

“Okay.”

Xie Chen used his ink pad to let him press his paw. Afterwards, on a whim, Xie Chen also had him press a few prints on his calligraphy.

Xie Chen practiced calligraphy regularly, and his writing was widely praised.

Night fell.

Clean-freak Bai Li sat in the basin washing himself, while Xie Chen casually posted a few photos on Weibo.

He had many followers but rarely posted updates, especially daily life ones, only a few a year.

Countless hardcore fans screamed in the fan community, hoping the missing brother would somehow return.

That day, their screams really got an answer!

“Awo awo awo, brother posted an update!”

“Awo! Can the class rep summarize what brother’s update means?!”

“Report! Class rep here, first in brother’s hot comments, go check it out.”

【Xie Chen V: Showing off.】【Photos of calligraphy with cat paw prints X3】

Under this Weibo post, comments visibly surged.

Top comment: After researching, this calligraphy brother posted before, now reposted—why else? Look at those paw prints on it.

With this reminder, everyone indeed noticed the faint cat paw prints.

In the fan community, longtime fans were a bit stunned.

“That can’t be right, brother used to hate people touching his writing. I remember he said he really disliked that kind of behavior…”

“I remember too, once on a show, brother’s calligraphy got dirtied by a cute pet stepping on it, and that piece was immediately taken away by someone else; he didn’t even want it back.”

Given all this, fans who had never seen the cat’s face but dared to step their paws on brother’s calligraphy were already very reverent.

This cat must be something special!

Bathing Bai Li was completely unaware that many people had seen and were discussing his paw prints.

Just like he had no idea that Xie Chen was an undisputed king-level figure in the music world.

He only knew Master was kind, wealthy, and handsome.

After bathing,

Bai Li looked at the cat bed on the bed, hesitating a little. He tugged on Xie Chen’s hand, his wet eyes looking up at him, meowing, “Master, will the cat bed always stay on the bed from now on?”

“Mm.”

Xie Chen took his pajamas and patted his furry head: “You sleep first, I’ll go shower.”

Of course, Bai Li wouldn’t sleep first; he had to watch over Master to help him sleep well.

Luckily, Bai Li always ran to Xie Chen during the night, so the cats cozy in cardboard boxes under the overpass didn’t worry at all about their big brother.

After some time, Xie Chen left only the dimmest bedside lamp on.

“Good night.”

He looked at the cat bed right beside him and softly said to the little kitten curled inside,

“Meow.”

Good night.

Bai Li pretended to close his eyes but after a moment secretly opened them again.

In Xie Chen’s room, black mist always gathered late at night, swirling around him, making it impossible for him to sleep soundly.

But with Bai Li there, the black mist could no longer affect Master.

That night, without a doubt, was another good dream for Xie Chen.The next day.

Bai Li had another luxurious cat meal in the villa, then took the contract along with Master who came with him, and together they hurried to the seafood shop.

The seafood shop owner was delighted when he saw Bai Li.

“You’re here.”

He looked up and saw the man wearing sunglasses following behind Bai Li.

“Hey, you look kind of familiar? Are you Bai Li’s guardian?”

Xie Chen took off his sunglasses, revealing his handsome face, and said calmly, “Hello.”

Owner: “???”

The owner looked stunned: “Damn, you really look like a high-quality copy of Xie Chen.”

Xie Chen: “...”

Xie Chen fully introduced himself: “I’m Xie Chen, Bai Li’s guardian.”

Owner: “Ah?”

The owner was shocked again: “Damn, not a copy.”

The seafood shop owner never imagined someone like Xie Chen would walk into his store.

And Xie Chen didn’t expect that Bai Li’s boss was actually his fanatic fan, a die-hard.

“Ten years ago, when you just debuted, I already loved listening to you sing.”

“I’ve been to every one of your concerts!”

With Xie Chen’s presence, the owner looked at Bai Li again and immediately decided to let Bai Li deliver only the lightest goods from now on.

“Li Li is counting on you to take care of him.”

Xie Chen left Bai Li there and said goodbye to the owner.

The owner watched Xie Chen walk away, still marveling, “I never thought in my lifetime I could successfully follow a star.”

He looked down at Bai Li: “You really are a lucky charm.”

To thank the lucky charm, the owner gave him the nearest delivery for his first order.

“You only need to deliver ten orders a day.”

The owner put two packaged shrimps into the bag and strapped it onto Bai Li’s back.

It wasn’t heavy; compared to a trailer, it was especially light.

“Go ahead,” the owner said with a smile.

Bai Li took the note with the address, then started delivering with his short little legs, pitter-pattering away.In the morning, Bai Li delivered three orders. From one to two in the afternoon was Bai Li’s break time.

He took this opportunity to run under the overpass.

“Mei Mei, Dian Dian, Da Hui.”

Bai Li solemnly held a cat meeting: “I have a really good job now. From now on, you don’t have to scavenge anymore.”

“When I get paid, I’ll take you to rent a big house to live in.”

When it came to renting a house, Bai Li had a little plan—he wanted to rent near Master’s home.

“Big brother.”

Mei Mei, who often worked with Bai Li, spoke up: “I want to work too.”

“I want to earn money. Last time, a lot of stray cats were kidnapped by bad people. Some of them don’t even have enough to eat. Winter is coming soon, and they say many cats freeze to death every year.”

“I want to earn money to buy cat beds and cat food for cats who can’t take care of themselves. Just like how you take care of me, Dian Dian, and Da Hui.”

In most humans’ eyes, cat lives are cheap.

Many people are willing to raise cats when interested, but once something happens—like the cat getting sick or moving and unable to take the cat along—they often choose the simplest and roughest method—

Throwing the cat away.

No one knows how many pet cats are abandoned every year.

This city is big enough to hold countless humans. Yet it seems too small to accommodate even one abandoned sick cat.

“I’ll deliver for a few days first, then I’ll recommend you to the boss.”

Bai Li admired cats who were independent and strong.

In humans’ minds, cats are just pets, little toys.

But cats with no one to care for them still have to struggle hard to survive.

Mei Mei nodded when Big Brother agreed.

In the blink of an eye, it was already past one o’clock.

When Bai Li went to deliver, he brought Mei Mei along to familiarize him with the job.

What he carried wasn’t heavy; the boss took good care of him, trying to give him orders nearby.

When delivering the last order, they ran into Black-Footed Cat Ge.

The three cats walked and talked.

“Brother Hei, do you never have to work?”

“No, I collect protection fees,” Black-Footed Cat Ge said. “Little kittens like you won’t have to pay me protection fees anymore.”Too small, and life isn’t easy either.

Bai Li happily nodded, and after nodding, he asked Black-Footed Cat Ge, “Brother Hei, if I don’t pay protection fees and someone bullies me, will you help me?”

“I will.”

Black-Footed Cat Ge said firmly, “All the cats in this area are under my protection.”

Just as Black-Footed Cat Ge finished speaking, coincidentally, the person receiving the seafood Bai Li was delivering happened to open the door.

Their eyes met, and Bai Li looked at the person receiving the goods, his beautiful amber eyes wide open.

The kiln factory owner didn’t expect to see Bai Li. He lowered his head, locking eyes with the little kitten carrying the goods, and fell silent for a few seconds.

“Changed jobs, huh.”

The ruthless kiln factory owner said this calmly, then squatted down to pick something up.

“I just ordered a fish. Is that what you’re carrying?”

Bai Li reflexively took two steps back, his round eyes full of grudge.

Although his memory wasn’t great, he still remembered the grudge against the ruthless kiln factory owner for withholding his wages!

After scratching so many days, got nothing!

“Meow-ao!!!”

Brother Hei!

Bai Li turned his head and loudly complained, “I work for him, but he doesn’t pay me and even kicks me.”

“The kicks hurt a lot.”

Black-Footed Cat Ge squinted his eyes, his sharp gaze locking onto the ruthless owner’s face.

“Meow?”

Quite bold, huh? You dare lay a paw on the kittens in my territory?

That’s because you don’t take this Black-Footed Cat Ge, who came from a foreign continent, seriously.

With this fierce, naturally combative Cat Ge protecting him, Bai Li, this little kitten, even dared to lift his head and growl fiercely at the ruthless kiln factory owner.