—I don’t want fake.
Chu Tingyun was suddenly jolted.
It was as if he had been struck by something, his face instantly draining of color, becoming deathly pale.
Fortunately, at this moment, Yan Xun’s attention was entirely focused on the kitten, and he didn’t notice his unusual expression.
When Yan Xun turned to look at Chu Tingyun again, he had already turned his back, as if he were very interested in the Doberman hiding in the corner.
“Meow~”
“Meow~~~”
After two months, Baobao, excitedly held by Yan Xun’s father, was happily making high-pitched, affectionate noises.
Baobao was a tabby cat with an oval-shaped round face, green eyes, tiger stripes, a white triangle-shaped patch of fur around the neck, and white paws.
In short, Baobao had a very dignified and well-behaved kitten face.
Its limbs and tail were very sturdy—not to the point of being fat, but giving an impression of health and strength at first glance.
It very much suited Yan Xun’s son.
It was obvious it was his own.
Yan Xun felt more and more fond of Baobao. His attention was once again drawn to the kitten, but at this time, he continued talking to Chu Tingyun.
“Moreover, this prosthetic implantation surgery is just to satisfy human desires. It’s really unnecessary to make the kitten suffer and undergo another procedure.”
He would also feel heartbroken.
“If the little bell is gone, it’s gone. Scientifically speaking, neutering is actually good for Baobao.”
As Yan Xun spoke, Chu Tingyun continued to respond but didn’t turn around, seemingly lost in thought.
So Yan Xun turned to look at him, and at this moment, Chu Tingyun’s back looked somewhat lonely. Yan Xun thought it was because he was hurt by the kitten’s sharp rejection earlier and comforted him:
“Be patient; don’t be harsh on it. Hold it more, keep it company, feed it, play with it, and buy some of its favorite toys and treats to coax it. Maybe it’ll get better in a while.”
“…”
After hearing this, Chu Tingyun’s form slightly paused, and then he slowly turned around.
When he met Yan Xun’s gentle gaze, he was momentarily stunned. After a few seconds, he quietly responded with a “Good.”
Be patient, don’t be harsh, hold and accompany, and coax…
Chu Tingyun unconsciously repeated these thoughts in his mind. He took a deep breath, barely maintaining a nonchalant expression.
But just as Chu Tingyun showed a slight intention to approach Yan Xun, the kitten, which had been acting affectionately, suddenly changed its face, baring its teeth and hissing at him.
Before the frightened man could react, Yan Xun immediately grabbed the kitten by the scruff of its neck.
He frowned, showing a disapproving expression, and warned the kitten in a tone that resembled a parent correcting a child’s bad habits:
“Baobao, you can’t treat Daddy Tingyun like that.”
“…”
Daddy Tingyun.
This term shocked not only Chu Tingyun but also Gu Shanqing, who was standing nearby, causing him to widen his eyes in surprise.
He instinctively looked closely at Yan Xun’s face to confirm that it was really “Yan Xun.”
Gu Shanqing had witnessed the entire process of Chu Tingyun pursuing Yan Xun.
He knew that Chu Tingyun had pursued a male college student relentlessly, having an affair with his own sister, and despite all the efforts and countless debts paid off for Yan Xun, he still managed to win him over.
Leaving aside the family’s opposition, even after their marriage, the two were always at odds. Gu Shanqing had never seen Yan Xun smile.
Whenever Yan Xun interacted with anyone related to Chu Tingyun, he always maintained basic politeness but kept an unapproachable distance.
Gu Shanqing had once accidentally witnessed an argument between Chu Tingyun and Yan Xun—one was enraged, and the other remained silent and cold. It was like a volcano colliding with an iceberg; neither would have it easy.
After the argument, Yan Xun would retreat to be with the cat, while Chu Tingyun would go out drinking, getting drunk, and the next day, he’d buy a bunch of things and return to beg for reconciliation.
Gu Shanqing felt sorry for Chu Tingyun and advised him to give up, as forcing the situation seemed pointless.
Ah, now he had stepped on a nerve of the man.
Chu Tingyun was immediately furious, almost to the point of severing their friendship.
Since then, Gu Shanqing had refrained from getting involved in their matters.
But now, what was going on?
Today, not only had they entered holding hands, but Yan Xun was also chatting and laughing with Chu Tingyun, even defending him in front of the beloved kitten, referring to him as “Daddy Tingyun.”
Gu Shanqing questioned his own ears. After confirming Yan Xun’s identity, he looked back at Chu Tingyun.
Originally, he intended to give Chu Tingyun a signal to ask what was going on and how he managed to make such a significant change in Yan Xun.
But when he turned around, Gu Shanqing saw that Chu Tingyun was even more shocked than he was, completely dumbfounded and with a blank expression.
Clearly, Yan Xun was scolding the cat, but it looked as if Chu Tingyun was being scolded instead.
“Meow…”
Baobao probably didn’t expect that Yan Xun’s dad would scold him. He immediately retracted his teeth, sulked, and turned away, burrowing into the young man’s arms, feeling aggrieved and whining.
Yan Xun calmed the kitten down and then looked up to find two men, one with an odd expression and the other with a blank look, as if they had just seen an alien.
He was a bit surprised: “What’s wrong?”
“Yan Xun, you…”
Gu Shanqing initially wanted to ask what was going on today, but the next moment, Chu Tingyun cut him off.
“You’ve taught it really well.”
“Really?”
Yan Xun smiled, clearly pleased with the compliment.
But the amnesiac Yan Xun didn’t know that Baobao’s current rejection and resistance toward Chu Tingyun was not only because of the neutering.
Initially, Chu Tingyun had strongly opposed keeping a cat, expressing intense dislike. Later, when trying to ease the relationship by helping with a cat climbing frame, he encountered allergies.
Additionally, Chu Tingyun had a cleanliness obsession, agreeing to keep the cat only if Yan Xun cleaned it up.
So…
[Chu Tingyun dislikes cats and thinks they’re dirty.]
[The kitten also causes Chu Tingyun trouble and physical discomfort.]
[If the kitten really causes Chu Tingyun trouble or annoys him, it might get kicked out.]
These three concepts had deeply rooted themselves in Yan Xun’s mind.
So throughout the process of raising the cat, Yan Xun subconsciously kept Chu Tingyun out. He built an invisible barrier between them, preventing any potential conflicts and harm.
Moreover, the constant arguments between them led Yan Xun’s beloved kitten to naturally have a poor impression of Chu Tingyun. Although it wouldn’t scratch or bite him, it also wouldn’t let him touch or hold it.
In Chu Tingyun’s view, it was as if the cat ignored him and people did as well.
Yan Xun hated him so much that even the cat wouldn’t let him touch it.
In fact, he smiled more at the cat than at himself every day.
So, day after day, in their carefully arranged marital home, Chu Tingyun ended up being the isolated one.
He had married the person he loved and had a home, but it felt like he had nothing.
He was still alone.
The longer this situation persisted, the more Chu Tingyun became resentful, jealous, and tortured.
Over time, these dark emotions piled up into a mountain, damming into a lake.
Until Yan Xun proposed divorce.
He wanted nothing, neither money nor work, and not even Chu Tingyun.
Yan Xun was so cold and ruthless, throwing away everything and only taking the cat.
Thus, Chu Tingyun collapsed.
All his negative emotions burst forth at that moment, exploding, leaving both of them bloodied and wounded.
But now, Yan Xun was defending him in front of the kitten and tenderly calling him “Daddy Tingyun.”
At this moment, Chu Tingyun was so shocked that he didn’t know how to react.
If one were to describe it, it would be like a terminal cancer patient suddenly receiving a life-saving miracle drug.
His life, which should have ended, was about to be restored.
Chu Tingyun was ecstatically overjoyed.
But he soon realized that Yan Xun’s extreme change was only because… he didn’t remember.
He didn’t remember past grievances, tears, bitterness, and pain.
He didn’t remember all the intentionally hidden hurts and discord between them.
Fake is fake.
Yan Xun didn’t want fake.
He was a person with such clear-cut black-and-white views and decisive coldness.
Everything that happened yesterday made Chu Tingyun too elated, until Yan Xun’s recent words forced him to face this fact he had always been avoiding.
That the so-called life-saving miracle drug was just another form of slow poison.
Since the day Yan Xun lost his memory, Chu Tingyun had been drinking poison to quench his thirst.
Now that the amnesiac Yan Xun was treating him better, he was even more infatuated with the current warmth.
Step by step, sinking deeper, unable to turn back.
But Yan Xun had no idea about these thoughts.
He held the kitten in his arms and checked it over. Finding it healthy, with clean ears, mouth, paws, and rear, it was evident that it was well cared for.
As a cat dad, Yan Xun naturally wanted to thank Gu Shanqing.
“Mr. Gu, I’m really sorry for the trouble these past days. Baobao didn’t behave and even bullied your dog.”
Gu Shanqing, surprised by Yan Xun’s smile, immediately waved his hand:
“No, no, call me by my name.”
“Okay, Gu Shanqing.”
The young man readily accepted and then asked,
“Are you free tonight? We’d like to invite you for a meal.”
Yan Xun was usually not very warm towards people, but since this was Chu Tingyun’s good friend who had helped care for Baobao for two months, and importantly, their cat had been bullying his dog, a meal was necessary, whether for courtesy, apology, or thanks.
“Ah?”
Gu Shanqing glanced at Chu Tingyun, who had a serious look, and immediately understood.
“Oh, no, I have some things to do. I’ll return to the company after giving the cat back to you.”
Gu Shanqing smiled and shook his head, refusing,
“Next time, definitely next time.”
“Alright, then we won’t disturb you.”
Since he had said so, Yan Xun didn’t insist further.
After receiving the cat, the two set off for home.
The kitten’s carrier was placed in the back seat, with Chu Tingyun driving and Yan Xun sitting in the passenger seat.
Yan Xun noticed that Chu Tingyun seemed preoccupied throughout the drive. Soon after, when the car parked in the underground garage, Chu Tingyun didn’t seem to have any intention of getting out.
Yan Xun asked, “What’s wrong? Is there something?”
“…I need to go to the company later.”
Chu Tingyun could only reply like this and then forced a smile, saying,
“You go home first.”
Yan Xun said “Oh” and understood that Chu Tingyun was busy and seemed stressed.
Then, Yan Xun got out of the car with the kitten.
Chu Tingyun watched his figure gradually disappear around the corner.
“…”
Chu Tingyun closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He sat in the car, feeling as if all his strength had been drained, with his hands and feet cold and limp.
His fingers trembled as he took out a cigarette, struggling to light it several times.
But the nicotine didn’t soothe Chu Tingyun at all. Instead, the smoke seemed to materialize his inner panic, wrapping and trapping him tightly.
Tap…
The passenger door was suddenly pulled open from the outside.
Yan Xun had somehow come back and sat in the car.
Chu Tingyun turned abruptly, shocked, and reflexively snuffed out the cigarette. His panicked action even burned him a bit.
But at this moment, Chu Tingyun didn’t care about that. He stared intently at Yan Xun, his voice strained with panic,
“You… why did you come back?”
Yan Xun said, “I went upstairs to open a can for Baobao.”
“…What?”
Chu Tingyun didn’t understand.
The next second, Yan Xun suddenly leaned in, cupping his face in his hands.
At this moment, Chu Tingyun heard him sigh softly…
“I’ve calmed the cat down, so now I’m here to comfort its parent, who’s about to cry in the car.”
“…”
