Chapter 18 Cat God, please, Cat God, bless a girl named Cheng Shiyun...

Cheng Shiyun thought Xie Shijin would say they were friends.

Actually... if you really want to be serious, we're not even friends.

Although they had sat at the same desk, the kind of scenario where they asked each other math questions they couldn't solve or copied each other's homework never happened between them.

Xie Shijin's biggest role was to act as an air freshener; when she was tired of studying, she would take a deep breath toward him and her mood would improve.

So when Xie Shijin said they were family, Cheng Shiyun felt a strange unease in her heart.

It seems that in this world... besides her parents, there are other people willing to give her a home.

...

After leaving the villa, Xie Shijin carried the cat carrier to wait for the bus.

The little tabby cat's tail was practically pointing to the sky as it caught the cloth mouse and bit it hard.

"Roar!" A tiger descends the mountain!

"In a good mood?" Xie Shijin smiled slightly.

Cheng Shiyun: "It's alright, I've figured some things out."

"What's up?"

Cheng Shiyun stretched out her little paw and patted his chest through the cat carrier: "You signed for me before, so you're practically family."

Xie Shijin's eyelashes fluttered, and her calm thoughts suddenly began to boil.

In an instant, it pulled him back to two years ago, to that unbearably hot summer.

On an empty rooftop.

Xie Shijin moved his lips, his throat aching as he repeatedly chewed on the pain: "I thought... you had long forgotten."

Cheng Shiyun said with a blank face, "...Do I look like I have a bad memory?"

She always gets full marks in reciting classical Chinese poems.

She had no idea what kind of image she had in Xie Shijin's mind: "Besides, it wasn't that long ago."

It's only been two years.

She remembers it perfectly.

*

June, 2016.

Yichuan has entered the height of summer, with a week of continuous high temperatures.

The monthly exam results are out. Cheng Shiyun has changed seats, and her trial period as Xie Shijin's deskmate has expired and will not be renewed.

Xie Shijin had no objection.

Cheng Shiyun actually really wanted to continue being his deskmate. Xie Shijin was academically excellent, clean, and had a good palate; he also wouldn't make lewd jokes like other boys. By all accounts, he was the perfect deskmate.

But she couldn't resist Feng Yue's persistent pleas.

Feng Yue is the class monitor and her grades are average. Cheng Shiyun is her best friend, so Feng Yue asked her to help her with physics.

That day in PE class, the teacher had them run laps to warm up. Feng Yue had to skip the exercise because of menstrual cramps. Cheng Shiyun wanted to slack off, so she lied and said that she was also having her period and accompanied Feng Yue to the toilet to change her sanitary napkin.

As luck would have it, Yuan Shao didn't do morning exercises that class either, saying he had diarrhea. As a result, he and the boys from other classes were talking badly about Xie Shijin at the entrance of the boys' restroom, and Cheng Shiyun caught them red-handed.

Yuan Shao, embarrassed by her insults, began to mock her: "Who is Xie Shijin to you? Why are you meddling in other people's business?"

Cheng Shiyun's expression and tone were fierce: "Who cares who he is? If I hear you talking badly about him behind his back again, I will tear your mouths apart."

"Oh, he's your boyfriend. Cheng Shiyun, you're dating too early." Yuan Shao looked at her as if he had caught something, then gave a meaningful, sly laugh. "No wonder you're so protective of him. You get more anxious than anyone else whenever Xie Shijin is mentioned. You two haven't even slept together, have you...?"

After saying that, he and a boy, one in front of the other, lewdly imitated the actions in pornographic films.

Cheng Shiyun was disgusted. She frowned and suddenly covered her nose: "Hey~ Yuan Shao, don't you brush your teeth every day?"

Why does your mouth smell so bad?

"You can't beat me or him academically, so you start spreading rumors. That's exactly the kind of person you are."

"So what if you got first place?" Yuan Shao's face turned ashen, and he was still unconvinced. "Who knows if your mother gave you the questions beforehand?"

Faced with such questions, Cheng Shiyun was not angry at all: "First of all, my mother did not participate in setting the questions for this monthly exam at all."

“Second,” she said, stepping forward and raising her chin, “you’ve always been my defeated opponent. Monthly exams, final exams, college entrance exams—I’ve beaten you in every single one of them.”

"—loser."

The girl glanced at him from head to toe, her contempt palpable.

Yuan Shao was so angry that he couldn't speak for a long time.

She turned to go into the restroom, but Yuan Shao grabbed her hair.

Cheng Shiyun got angry and actually tried to tear his mouth apart.

When Feng Yue came out after changing her sanitary napkin, she saw the two people wrestling together and screamed in fright.

On the playground, the students in the class had just finished running laps, and the PE teacher immediately called someone over to separate them.

It took several boys a lot of effort to separate them.

The girl rubbed her arms, brushed her messy hair back, revealing a flushed, defiant face.

Yuan Shao fared even worse; his mouth was split open, and his glasses were knocked off.

When the PE teacher asked them why they were fighting, Yuan Shao preemptively accused them: "Cheng Shiyun has gone mad! She came up and grabbed my face!"

"Bullshit! You started spreading my pornographic rumors first!"

He grabbed her hand, then immediately let go.

Cheng Shiyun rushed forward again and slapped Yuan Shao twice to vent her anger.

Back in the classroom, news of her fight with Yuan Shao spread.

Both students were considered good students by the teacher, and it was their first offense, so the teacher didn't ask them to bring their parents in; instead, they were asked to write a self-criticism and submit it.

Feng Yue secretly folded stars under the table and lent Cheng Shiyun a small mirror and comb so she could redo her hair: "They're talking about Xie Shijin, not you. Why are you meddling in other people's business?"

Because Yuan Shao had a foul mouth.

She claimed to have seen Xie Shijin's mother at a certain hotel, with a fat, big-eared man, implying she was definitely a prostitute.

Cheng Shiyun didn't want to spread the rumors: "Is it wrong for me to do something brave?"

Feng Yue remained noncommittal, then lowered her voice and asked, "Yunyun, do you like Xie Shijin?"

Cheng Shiyun was sitting in the window seat again.

Outside the window, a boy holding a test paper stopped in his tracks upon hearing his name called.

Amidst the commotion, the girl's voice was soft yet resolute.

"How could that be?"

"I like Ni Jiaqi, but I wouldn't like him."

"I helped him only because we're classmates and even sat next to each other. If you were scolded, I would help you too." Cheng Shiyun looked at Feng Yue with a strange expression. "Isn't it normal for classmates to help each other?"

Feng Yue: "...There's no need to fight with others when we're helping each other."

"Yuan Shao struck first!" Cheng Shiyun quickly defended herself, afraid the topic would circle back to the past, and hurriedly changed the subject, "Okay, okay, let's not talk about this anymore, stop folding your stars, and rub my arm again, I can't even lift it, it hurts so much, is it broken..."

Feng Yue quickly said, "Don't talk nonsense, spit twice."

"Pah, pah, pah."

After massaging her arm, Feng Yue started folding stars again and casually said, "Ni Jiaqi from the liberal arts class came to see you again just now. He had a long face and asked you why you didn't wait for him to go home together last night."

"He has the nerve to ask?" Cheng Shiyun sneered. "He wants to go to the internet cafe himself, and he wants me to carry his schoolbag for him? He's dreaming!"

She's not his servant, don't even think about it!

After school in the afternoon, Cheng Shiyun left without waiting for Ni Jiaqi.

However, as soon as she went downstairs, she was surrounded by several girls.

"Cheng Shiyun, is that right?"

Cheng Shiyun asked warily, "Who are you?"

Upon closer inspection of their clothing, it became clear that none of the girls were wearing school uniforms, and they had brightly colored hair, making them look like they were involved in organized crime.

"You're not from our school, are you?" Cheng Shiyun asked. "Did you sneak in by climbing over the wall?"

One of the girls exclaimed in surprise, "How did you know?!"

Cheng Shiyun: "..." Because she has a brain.

The girl in the lead, with her red hair, crossed her arms and said, "I heard you like Ni Jiaqi."

Cheng Shiyun couldn't help but burst out laughing, then said coldly:

"Yes, I must have been out of my mind to like him, are you satisfied now?"

She pushed aside the people blocking her way and walked towards the school gate.

"..."

"Stop!" The red-haired woman waved her hand, and two girls blocked Cheng Shiyun's path. "Did I say you could leave?"

Cheng Shiyun was getting annoyed: "What exactly do you want?"

"What are you doing?" The redhead grinned. "Isn't it obvious? Of course, I'm going to... teach you a lesson."

Before she finished speaking, she raised her hand, ready to teach Cheng Shiyun a lesson.

Cheng Shiyun had not offended them, nor did she expect them to take action.

She reacted quickly, but a hand reacted even faster, reaching over her head and easily grabbing the redhead's wrist.

The expected slap didn't land; instead, there was only the red-haired woman's scream.

The red-haired girl looked at the boy behind Cheng Shiyun, who was a head taller than her, and cursed, "Who the hell are you! Let go!"

Cheng Shiyun wanted to turn around, but she recognized the scar on his arm first.

His sleeve slipped down from his wrist to the middle of his arm, revealing a large, horrifying scar.

Thump thump thump, Cheng Shiyun's heart was beating very fast.

His breath seemed to be right above her head.

Very close.

"Fuck your mother, are you deaf? Can't you hear me?! Let go of me!" the red-haired woman cursed venomously.

Xie Shijin frowned: "Don't swear."

Cheng Shiyun burst out laughing.

Trying to reason with someone who's involved in organized crime is like trying to be all serious.

How come she never noticed how funny Xie Shijin was before?

Red-haired woman: "Are you fucking an idiot...?"

Xie Shijin let go of her hand, and the red-haired girl lost her balance and swayed backward, almost falling to the ground. The two girls behind her quickly went to help her up.

"Walk."

Xie Shijin grabbed the girl, whose shoulders were shaking with laughter, and ran away.

The redhead stomped her foot angrily: "What are you standing there for! Chase after them!"

"Xie Shijin, over here."

Coming to her senses, Cheng Shiyun tugged at his backpack strap.

Xie Shijin stumbled as she was pulled, and the next second, he felt a soft touch on his wrist.

Looking down, he saw that the girl had turned around and was holding his wrist.

Her fingers were slender, smooth, and fair, radiating a burning heat.

"Come with me."

The two ran all the way to the rooftop of Bowen Building.

There is a gate on the rooftop with a large padlock hanging in the middle.

Cheng Shiyun stepped forward and skillfully removed a rusty iron rod.

Xie Shijin was about to speak when Cheng Shiyun put a finger to her lips and said, "Shh—don't ask. People who talk too much die quickly."

The boy had no choice but to shut his mouth.

Cheng Shiyun crawled inside first, then turned around and held out her hand to him: "Give me your backpack."

Only one iron bar can be removed. Xie Shijin is thin, so he should be able to squeeze in, but with his schoolbag, he won't be able to.

"Give it to me quickly," the girl urged.

Xie Shijin took off his schoolbag and handed it to her.

"!"

Cheng Shiyun almost lost her grip.

Why is it so heavy? Is Xie Shijin carrying bricks?

If you swung it on someone's head, you could probably kill them...

The boy crouched low, moving very carefully, and Cheng Shiyun couldn't help but remind him, "Be careful."

With great difficulty, Xie Shijin managed to squeeze in.

Cheng Shiyun covered the iron bar back up, faced the rooftop, and took a deep breath.

"It smells so good..."

The fragrance came from a pot of gardenias in the corner.

A lush green cluster, with several flower buds already turning white.

Cheng Shiyun walked over, squatted down, and took out a water bottle from her schoolbag to water the gardenia: "I can already smell the fragrance. It should bloom in another two days."

Xie Shijin lowered his eyes: "Your flowers?"

"Of course."

She found it next to the trash can downstairs in her house. The leaves and roots were withered, so she guessed it was something someone couldn't keep alive and threw away.

It took her half a semester to recover, and it's about to bloom.

What others discarded like trash, she cherished like a treasure, visiting it every day and watering it.

Xie Shijin squatted down next to her and asked, "Why are you keeping it here?"

"Because my mother is allergic to pollen, and gardenias love sunlight, this is the best place to grow them."

After fiddling with the gardenias for a bit, Cheng Shiyun walked to the edge of the rooftop and watched the people wandering around the campus like headless flies.

"They can't even tell east from west, and they're trying to fight like other people. They must think we've run off outside the school."

Today is a monthly holiday, so there is no evening self-study session. After class, students went home one after another, and the school quickly became empty.

In the distance, layers of fiery clouds overlapped on the horizon, vibrant and colorful, like a dream.

The girl admired the sunset, finding a rare moment of tranquility.

The evening breeze was hot and dry. The young man's face was calm, but his gaze seemed to be drawn to her, always unable to stop falling on her face.

Xie Shijin stood beside her and suddenly called her name: "Cheng Shiyun".

The girl turned her head and looked at him: "Hmm?"

Xie Shijin pointed to his shoulder.

Cheng Shiyun looked down and saw that her shoulders were covered in dust.

She patted it casually and said, "It's okay, I'll just wash it off when I get back."

"Why are you helping me?" Xie Shijin's voice was low and hoarse, almost inaudible.

If she hadn't seen his lips move, Cheng Shiyun would have almost thought she was hallucinating: "What?"

Xie Shijin looked at her and said, "Physical education class."

He heard about it.

I've heard about it all, and I'm already used to it.

"Ah...that one." Cheng Shiyun smiled at him, two small dimples appearing on her cheeks, looking sweet and soft.

"Because you lent me your physics exam paper last time."

The day before yesterday morning, she and Ni Jiaqi swapped schoolbags, and the next physics class happened to be going over the monthly exam papers.

Old Zhao was in a particularly bad mood that day, and he would punish you no matter what your ranking was.

Cheng Shiyun went downstairs to find Ni Jiaqi, only to find that Ni Jiaqi hadn't brought his schoolbag at all.

During physics class, Cheng Shiyun stood up on her own, ready to be punished. Feng Yue tugged at her sleeve and pulled a physics test paper from among a pile of books on her desk: "What are you doing? Don't you even know where you put your own test paper?"

Cheng Shiyun: "...This is not my test paper."

"A perfect score! If it's not yours, whose is it?"

Cheng Shiyun was surprised, and then she realized.

—The name section on the exam paper was crossed out with ink.

She unfolded the test paper and looked at it in the sunlight streaming through the window.

...The sun is so bright.

Cheng Shiyun raised her hand to block it.

A gust of hot wind swept by, lifting the girl's loose ponytail and the boy's thin clothes.

Suddenly, Cheng Shiyun reached out and poked his arm: "Xie Shijin, if you're going to help someone out, could you sign this for me too... please?"

Her soft voice was incredibly sweet, and her slightly curled hair clung to her forehead like a docile little lamb. Her bright, watery eyes blinked repeatedly at him, leaving him no room to refuse.

A few seconds later, Xie Shijin looked away and said in a hoarse voice, "Okay."

Cheng Shiyun's face lit up with a smile as she opened her schoolbag and took out a self-criticism.

Today she got into a fight with Yuan Shao and talked back in the office. Old Zhao told her to write a self-criticism and take it home for her parents to sign.

If her dad found out, he'd probably slap her hands dozens of times.

She's practically an adult, barely 17, 18, 19, or even 20!

Making a mistake and then getting your hand slapped? That's so embarrassing!

She originally wanted Ni Jiaqi to sign for her, but Ni Jiaqi would definitely say, "Since you're so sincerely begging me, then I'll reluctantly acknowledge you as my daughter..."

Ni Jiaqi has grown taller again; I have to stand on tiptoe to slap him. It's embarrassing.

"Pen."

A low, clear voice sounded from above.

Cheng Shiyun raised her head and suddenly realized that Xie Shijin was much taller than her.

The boy lowered his head slightly, his broad shoulders and back casting a large shadow that could completely envelop her.

...Her forehead was just touching his chin.

If she wanted to cover Xie Shijin's mouth, she would have to stand on tiptoe.

"Oh, okay." Cheng Shiyun snapped out of her daze, touched her ear which had somehow become hot, uncapped the pen, and handed it to him. "Here you go."

It was her usual pen, with several rows of tiny teeth marks on the cap, and her body temperature still lingered.

Xie Shijin gripped the pen, his palm burning: "What do you want to sign?"

“Cheng Jinghua.” Cheng Shiyun leaned close to him, her slender, white arm pressed against the boy’s arm, and said, “Jing in Beijing, Hua in China, that’s my dad’s name.”

"Don't write too neatly, make it a little messy..."

The wind was strong, and Cheng Shiyun helped him hold the paper down.

The wind whistled in his ears, and the rustling of a pen scratching against paper filled the air. Her hair occasionally brushed against his cheek.

The scent of a young girl is like the fragrance of blooming gardenias.

After signing, Cheng Shiyun picked it up and looked at it: "Your handwriting is really beautiful."

The boy's ears turned slightly red, and he gave a reserved "hmm".

Cheng Shiyun folded the self-criticism letter and stuffed it into her schoolbag, then asked, "Did you bring your phone? Can we add each other on QQ?"

Xie Shijin took his phone out of his pocket, pressed a few buttons, but there was no response: "...It's out of battery."

"You hid a phone too!" Cheng Shiyun exclaimed in surprise.

But she had never seen Xie Shijin use his phone, not even after class. That morning, she had even made a bet with Feng Yue about whether Xie Shijin had brought his phone or not.

"..."

He could hear the girl's triumphant laughter.

She loves to laugh.

Laughter, like wind chimes, tickled his damaged ears.

Xie Shijin put her phone back in her pocket, her hands also inside, gripping them tightly, not wanting to take them out even though they were sweating: "Aren't you... going home?"

"We'll wait for someone to pick us up."

After she finished speaking, Cheng Shiyun's eyes lit up.

"They're here."

Xie Shijin followed her gaze and saw a boy holding a basketball.

My heart suddenly skipped a beat.

The faint red behind his ears faded instantly, and his back, soaked with sweat, felt terribly cold.

Cheng Shiyun didn't notice his expression. She took out a notebook from her bag, tore off half a sheet of draft paper, and wrote down a string of numbers.

"This is my QQ number, you must add me when you get back."

"Cheng Shiyun," the boy on the rooftop called to her.

The sound of wind rushed into her ears, and Cheng Shiyun turned around: "What's wrong?"

"I'll submit the self-criticism for you."

Cheng Shiyun thought Xie Shijin was absolutely wonderful.

...

Summer vacation will begin after the final exams.

Ni Jiaqi bought a pair of sneakers online, only to find out at home that they were counterfeit.

In the afternoon, he took Cheng Shiyun with him to return the goods.

Ni Jiaqi bought her a bottle of Yakult and told her to wait for him at the door.

On a rainy day, Cheng Shiyun held up a blue umbrella, listlessly observing the people coming and going on the street.

Suddenly, a boy wearing a raincoat came into view, with long sleeves and trousers, and his black hair was wet.

He carried a large, heavy-looking box off the delivery truck.

The rain was so heavy that it slanted into his raincoat, soaking his clothes almost completely.

Ni Jiaqi came out, looked in the direction she was staring blankly, and asked, "What are you looking at? Your friend?"

Cheng Shiyun shook her head, unsure if she had seen it clearly: "No."

Although she and Xie Shijin weren't close, it would still be appropriate for them to greet each other if they ran into each other.

But the boy didn't seem to want to stop and talk to her...

He rode his bike past Cheng Shiyun, stirring up a cool, damp breeze from the rain.

A cool breeze brushed against her face, and Cheng Shiyun suddenly felt a chill. She turned around, and the boy was walking further and further away.

"I misread it."

That evening, Cheng Shiyun died in a car accident.

...

Xie Shijin deeply regretted it.

Why didn't he stop and talk to her then?

*

[Next stop: Xuezilu Station. Passengers who wish to disembark, please prepare to proceed.]

On the back seat of the bus, the little tabby cat was curled up in the arms of the black-haired boy, yawning incessantly.

"You want to help those two cats?" Xie Shijin gently scratched the kitten's chin, taking care of the cat with ease.

Cutting out the beginning and end, Cheng Shiyun told Xie Shijin the love story of the big white cat and the little white cat who never abandoned each other, and also mentioned that she wanted to help the loving cats finally get together.

The little tabby cat melted into a puddle of cat puddle, feeling so comfortable: "Hmm, I think they're a little pitiful."

It's not just about being pitiful.

Those two cats reminded Cheng Shiyun of Cheng Jinghua and Ran Hongyin.

Her parents also have a very good relationship.

If Ran Hongyin gets into trouble again, Cheng Jinghua really won't be able to go on living.

Let's just say she's overly compassionate.

Xie Shijin hummed in agreement and said, "I understand."

Cheng Shiyun looked up at him.

The boy gazed into the distance, his long eyelashes lowered, sunlight shimmering across his face, his eyes gentle.

No promises were made, but it inexplicably made people feel at ease.

Xie Shijin rubbed the cat's head. The kitten's head was only so big; he'd figure something out.

In the front row, a primary school student with a backpack observed them for a long time, then whispered to the adult next to him, "Mom, that boy is talking to a cat, is he crazy...?"

The actual sound is not quiet at all.

The child's mother: "..."

"Sorry, kids often talk nonsense."

"I'm not lying, my brother clearly..."

The child's mother immediately pinched his mouth shut: "We're outside, don't make me slap you."

Cheng Shiyun raised her two paws: "Little friend, I'm not actually a cat, I'm a monster that eats children."

"Awooo—"

Xie Shijin smiled faintly.

The bus stopped at an intersection to wait for the traffic light.

There were originally no traffic lights here, but after the 712 accident, a traffic light was installed every 200 meters.

Xie Shijin looked out the window, his expression hardening.

Across the street, the path leading to the back gate of No. 7 Middle School was blocked off.

Xie Shijin stood up abruptly and hurriedly walked to the back door of the bus, saying, "Driver, I need to get off. Could you stop here for a moment?"

The driver glanced at the rearview mirror and said, "Young man, this is a traffic light. We have a rule that we can't stop here. We're almost at the stop. Please get off when we get there."

Upon arrival at the station, as soon as the train doors opened, Xie Shijin rushed off the train.

At the back gate of No. 7 Middle School, Captain Yang Shengnan is directing officers to use metal detectors.

"Officer Yang."

Hearing the voice, Yang Shengnan turned around and asked in surprise, "Little Xie?"

Because he had run so fast, Xie Shijin's chest heaved violently as he asked breathlessly, "What happened?"

"No, we are looking for the cell phones of the 712 victims."

Yang Shengnan looked at the busy crowd behind her and said, "At the time of the incident, this area was under road construction, and the sidewalks on both sides of the road were still wet cement. The police speculate that, in addition to the possibility that the victim's phone was washed into the sewer, it is also very likely that it rolled into the cement during the impact."

"After the incident, the police searched the entire area to find the phone. Today, the municipal government is going to renovate the sewer pipes here, and the old cement layer will be demolished and repaved. We're going to take another look and have expanded the search area."

Xie Shijin's breathing was unsteady: "Have you found any clues?"

"Found it!"

A sweaty auxiliary police officer jogged over, wiped the sweat from his brow, and said, "Captain Yang, we found a 2B pencil. Should we let the victim's family identify it?"

Cheng Shiyun kicked twice in Xie Shijin's arms and glanced at him, then meowed.

It's not mine.

Yang Shengnan bent two fingers and tapped the auxiliary police officer on the forehead: "I think you're the one who's an idiot."

The auxiliary police officer covered his head and muttered under his breath, "What if this pencil belongs to the victim?"

Xie Shijin shook his head and said, "No."

Yang Shengnan looked at him.

The boy said with certainty, "She doesn't use this kind of pencil."

Cheng Shiyun stretched and yawned.

Exactly, these pencils need to be sharpened with a pencil sharpener, which is such a hassle.

She started using mechanical pencils when she was in junior high school.

This was obviously thrown down by some naughty kid from a residential building by the roadside.

Yang Shengnan said, "What we need to find is the victim's cell phone, cell phone fragments, metal parts, we need to be very careful."

Although they had already conducted a thorough search after the incident and found nothing, they wanted the family to know that the police had never given up looking for clues.

Xie Shijin asked, "Officer Yang, is there anything I can do to help?"

"No need, we already have enough manpower."

This time, the search area was expanded to an entire street, and more than a dozen people came.

Xie Shijin looked into the distance and suddenly frowned.

Someone in the crowd looked up.

"Thank you, Shi Jin!"

Ni Jiaqi saw him too, dusted off his hands, and ran over.

Xie Shijin looked at him and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Ni Jiaqi was wearing work gloves, covered in sweat, and had patches of grime on his cheeks.

It is obvious.

"I'll come and help."

In the afternoon, he went to the teachers' apartment to see Ran Hongyin. On his way back, he passed by Xuezi Road and saw Yang Shengnan and the others looking for something. Since he had nothing else to do, he decided to come and help.

"Why is the line always busy when I try to call you?" He called Xie Shijin several times, but each time he was told the other party was on another call. "Who are you having such a long phone conversation with?"

Xie Shijin: "..."

It's not busy, it's blocked.

Two days ago, Ni Jiaqi asked him for the cat, but after blocking him, he forgot to unblock him.

He removed Ni Jiaqi from the blacklist, and there were indeed several missed calls.

Ni Jiaqi glanced at the canvas bag full of books in his hand: "How's the tutoring going?"

Xie Shijin nodded and said, "I'm leaving now."

He walked along the sidewalk toward home, and just as he was about to cross the road, he heard Ni Jiaqi calling him again.

Xie Shijin turned around.

Ni Jiaqi stood still, waved to him, and said loudly, "Uncle Cheng and the others are going to Puji Temple tomorrow morning. Xie Shijin, you must come!"

The slender, black-haired boy nodded, picked up the cat, and walked away.

Ni Jiaqi clicked his tongue, and fearing that he might have misheard, he took out his phone and sent another text message.

Beside him, Yang Shengnan crossed her arms and stared at him curiously: "When did you two become so close?"

Are they close? Probably not.

Xie Shijin still looked listless, like a human robot.

However, his condition has indeed improved a lot recently, and the human and the machine have suddenly connected to the Internet.

Ni Jiaqi put away his phone and raised an eyebrow: "Maybe... his conscience has finally awakened."

"A change of heart?" Yang Shengnan smiled. "I think it's someone else who has had a change of heart."

On the night they first met at the police station, Ni Jiaqi beat Xie Shijin up without asking any questions, but luckily Xie Shijin didn't pursue the matter.

Ni Jiaqi protested, "Officer Yang, you're biased against me."

“Then you should work hard and break down prejudices.” Yang Shengnan put on her gloves and got to work.

Ni Jiaqi smiled as he looked in the direction the boy had left.

Cheng Shiyun's death was not caused by Xie Shijin.

He only just realized it now.

Cheng Jinghua, Ran Hongyin, Xie Shijin, and him...

Everyone should look forward and not live in the past.

...

Puji Temple is located in the northern suburbs of Yichuan, more than 30 kilometers from the city center. It takes more than two hours by subway and bus.

Praying for marriage, academic success, or career advancement at Puji Temple is considered exceptionally effective. Therefore, whether it's young people seeking a good match, students hoping for academic progress, or office workers seeking career success, everyone is willing to make this trip.

The temple is always bustling with worshippers, who come with incense and candles to pray even outside of the first and fifteenth of the lunar month.

After a nearly three-hour car ride, Cheng Shiyun huddled in her cat carrier, looking as wilted as a little cabbage.

Xie Shijin put the cloth mouse in the box for her to play with, but she lost interest.

When Ni Jiaqi and Cheng Jinghua arrived, Xie Shijin took her into the temple to worship Buddha.

In the past two years, Yichuan has intensified its development of suburban tourism, and Puji Temple has become a popular temple, attracting many people to take photos and check in.

In the past, every year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, people would donate opera performances to Puji Temple, usually plays like "Fengyi Pavilion" or "Zhou Yu Beats Huang Gai". Cheng Jinghua and Ran Hongyin, wanting to join in the fun, would bring Cheng Shiyun to watch the opera, see the face-changing performance, and drink Kung Fu tea, but they had never gone into the temple to pray.

The couple were both teachers; they had no religious beliefs and did not believe in ghosts or gods.

But at this moment, Cheng Shiyun saw a lamp on the altar that belonged to her in her final moments.

Inside the main hall, the fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the air, spreading around the beams, while worshippers came and went in a bustling crowd.

The soft rustling of clothes, the sound of prayers, the tapping of the wooden fish—all these sounds blended together, but none could drown out the pounding of her heart.

The solemn Buddha statue looked down, and on the offering tables on all four sides, rows of densely packed lamps for the deceased bloomed like lotus flowers, one after another.

The lamp wick flickered, and dust particles floated.

Amidst countless worries, Cheng Shiyun found her own guiding light.

[The memorial tablet of my beloved daughter, Cheng Shiyun]

Born in the year of Gengchen, the month of Guiwei, the day of Jisi, and the hour of Wuchen.

He passed away on the day of Yiwei in the month of Yiwei in the year of Bingshen, at the hour of Dinghai.

—Respectfully presented by Yang Shang's parents, Cheng Jinghua and Ran Hongyin

Cheng Jinghua knelt on the prayer mat, bowing and kowtowing three times and nine times with utmost piety.

Her scalp tingled, and she stared at them without blinking.

After her death.

Her parents did not believe in ghosts or gods.

A lamp was lit for her in her final moments.

It turns out that once a person has someone they care about, even if they previously only believed in reason and reality, they will still place their hopes on ghosts and gods.

It's not that I truly believe in Buddhism, it's that the longing is too unbearable.

Those who love her pray to all the gods and Buddhas in the world, but all they want to know is whether she is doing well.

...

After Cheng Jinghua finished instructing them on how to take care of the funeral lamps, Ni Jiaqi and Xie Shijin also finished their prayers to the Bodhisattva.

Ni Jiaqi asked, "Uncle Cheng, how long are you going to stay in Beijing? When will you be back?"

Cheng Jinghua said, "I should be able to come back before the Ghost Festival."

“More than a month, that’s so long…” Ni Jiaqi didn’t finish his sentence.

Ran Hongyin's illness has been treated for two years. Cheng Jinghua has traveled to almost every hospital in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hunan that treat neurological diseases. This time, the opportunity for international medical experts to gather in Beijing is rare. Even if there is only a sliver of hope, Cheng Jinghua does not want to give up.

He has already lost his daughter; he cannot afford to lose his wife as well.

They booked an evening flight, the cheapest economy class.

Ni Jiaqi offered to see them off at the airport, but Cheng Jinghua declined.

"Jiaqi." Cheng Jinghua's gaze fell on Ni Jiaqi, her tone solemn, "Regardless of whether your Aunt Ran's condition improves this time, I want to thank you all. And Xiao Xie..."

Before he could finish speaking, he realized Xie Shijin was gone: "Where's Xiao Xie?"

Ni Jiaqi was also taken aback, turning his head to look around: "He was just behind me..."

He searched around before finally finding Xie Shijin outside the hall.

There is no organization or discipline.

The square outside the main hall is spacious, with a large ginkgo tree planted in the center. Some people are feeding the koi in the pond, some are feeding the pigeons, and some are worshipping the cat god.

Under the ginkgo tree stands a cat sculpture.

The entire surface is smooth and shiny.

Especially the cat head; almost every pilgrim passing by will instinctively touch the cat head.

Over time, the cat's head was polished.

Below the sculpture is a stone tablet inscribed with the cat's life story.

The gist of it is that many years ago, this cat saved a child who had fallen into the pond at the temple. After the cat died of old age, the child's parents donated money to erect a sculpture and a stone tablet for it.

Dried fish and cat food were placed in front of the stone tablet, left by pet owners when they prayed for their furry friends.

Xie Shijin went to the incense offering area and got three more sticks of incense.

"Xie Shijin, do you believe in ghosts and gods?" Cheng Shiyun suddenly asked curiously.

Between the Bowen Building and Boxue Building at Yichuan No. 7 Middle School, there is a statue of Confucius. Every month during exams and at the end of the semester, there is a large pile of fruits and snacks in front of the statue. Some of the bolder students even offer the statue Yuxi cigarettes and Zhonghua cigarettes.

Cheng Shiyun didn't believe in these things, but Feng Yue would always drag her to the temple to pray.

"I believe you." Xie Shijin lit three incense sticks, the sandalwood fragrance swirling upwards.

Cheng Shiyun was surprised: "You actually believe in this?"

"Why can't we believe it?" Xie Shijin said. "Not everything in this world can be explained by science, for example..."

"you."

If we want to explain Cheng Shiyun's transformation into a cat from a scientific perspective, there is only one possibility: he suffers from some kind of mental illness.

—The idea that he turned from a human into a cat was all a figment of his imagination, influenced by hallucinations and cognitive errors.

It's fake.

He believed in ghosts and gods.

Believe in reincarnation, believe in rebirth.

He would believe anything as long as he could keep her.

"That's true. If you don't believe me, you'll think I'm a monster."

Cheng Shiyun gazed at the flocks of white doves on the ginkgo tree, then looked back at the boy's face and asked cautiously, "What if, I mean, what if, I turn into a bird and come to find you next time?"

Xie Shijin: "I'll take care of you."

The two words that slipped out made Cheng Shiyun's heart skip a beat.

Take care of her.

It's not about kicking her out.

Xie Shijin is indeed supporting her now.

But raising birds is troublesome, even more troublesome than raising cats or dogs.

The boy closed his eyes and began to gaze in the distance.

The bright and intense sunlight shone on the boy's handsome face, burning all the way to her eyes.

Cheng Shiyun pressed her rapidly beating heart and asked again, "A mouse?"

"I'll take care of you."

"...Where's the butterfly?"

After paying respects to the four directions, the young man raised the three incense sticks above his head, his eyes slightly closed, and his long eyelashes drooping.

"Growing flowers, and you."

Incense smoke curls upwards, rising to the heavens.

The boy's face was calm, and his slender figure stood in the crowd, as lonely as an island.

Cheng Shiyun's heart was pounding frighteningly fast.

Thump thump, like a little person drumming.

Did Xie Shijin support her out of guilt?

She should be the one feeling guilty.

Even in death, she continues to torment the living.

Heaven granted her the ability to return as an animal, but she could only watch helplessly as everyone around her lived in misery, and she could do nothing about it.

She couldn't tell whether it was a curse or a reward.

Now, she seems to understand a little bit.

Perhaps this is an opportunity; she wants to take it one step at a time, watching her parents and Xie Shijin emerge from their pain.

Unexpectedly, Cheng Shiyun thought back to the day she tutored Xie Shijin, when he said he was her family.

Cheng Shiyun felt a strange mix of joy and elation.

In any case, she now has a family.

Someone will be willing to take care of her.

As she inhaled the soothing sandalwood scent, Cheng Shiyun gradually calmed down.

The ginkgo trees are lush and green, and they look even better in the sun. A cat sculpture stands under the ginkgo tree.

Xie Shijin walked up to the sculpture.

From inside the cat carrier, the little tabby cat peeked out and meowed curiously, "Xie Shijin, are you going to worship the cat god too?"

Xie Shijin: "Mm."

Cheng Shiyun: "So what do you want to ask for?"

He bowed three times, then slowly bent down and placed three incense sticks into the incense burner.

“I want to ask…” He closed his eyes.

"Shh—" Cheng Shiyun suddenly remembered, "You'd better not say it, or it won't work."

"Dong—" Just then, a monk in the temple struck the bell.

The boy's eyelashes trembled, and Cheng Shiyun's heart skipped a beat.

The ancient bell tolled, its sound lingering and far-reaching.

The white doves in the ginkgo tree all took flight with a whoosh.

Pilgrims coming and going all took out their phones to take pictures.

Only a simple, black-haired boy stood with his hands clasped together, offering a devout prayer.

Please, Cat God...

—May a little cat named Cheng Shiyun be healthy, happy, and live a long life.

-----------------------

Author's note: May all the kittens in the world be healthy, happy, and live to be a hundred years old! [Sprinkling flowers]