Chapter 17 I want to move out
Fortunately, Shangqiu Zhu was still on holiday, and the busyness of work had temporarily made her forget those unbearable things. But now, as the end of the workday approached, that suffocating feeling returned.
"Secretary Yan, aren't we leaving yet?" Secretary Yang asked her.
Yan Shuang forced a smile: "I'll leave right away. I'll double-check this contract."
She was the only one left in the office. Yan Shuang stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the endless stream of cars below.
Everyone was in a hurry to go home, but she...
My phone vibrated, and the screen displayed the word "Mom".
Yan Shuang stared at that name for a long time until the ringtone stopped. Then a message popped up:
"Shuangshuang, Mom and Dad are waiting for you to eat. Come home early."
Yan Shuang tossed her phone into her bag and wandered aimlessly through the bustling city as the streetlights came on.
As she walked, she unknowingly entered a cattery with warm yellow lights, where several kittens were lazily yawning in the glass window.
"Welcome." The shop owner was a kind middle-aged woman. "Would you like to see the kittens?"
Yan Shuang nodded, her gaze drawn to a little kitten in the corner.
It was fiddling with a small ball of fur with its pink paws, its eyes filled with innocence.
"Its name is Snowball, it's three months old, and it has a very gentle personality." The shop owner gently opened the cage door and took the kitten out, placing it in Yan Shuang's hands.
Snowball curled up obediently in Yan Shuang's palm, making soft "meow" sounds, its little head rubbing against her fingers.
This little life, a complete stranger, knew better than her closest relatives how to warm her heart.
“I’ll take it,” Yan Shuang said softly.
After paying, she carefully placed the snowball into the pet carrier. The kitten curiously peered at the outside world through the mesh, occasionally reaching out its little paw to touch Yan Shuang's fingers.
On her way home, Yan Shuang looked down at the little guy in her bag, a bitter smile unconsciously creeping onto her lips.
When Yan Shuang opened the door with a snowball in her arms, Zhou Yaqin and Yan Zhenye immediately stood up from the sofa, their faces beaming with smiles.
"Shuangshuang's back!" Zhou Yaqin hurried over, her gaze falling on the cat in Yan Shuang's arms. "Oh dear, this is..."
"Snowball, my cat." Yan Shuang's tone was indifferent, and she subconsciously pulled the kitten closer to her arms to protect it.
Unexpectedly, Zhou Yaqin's eyes lit up: "What an adorable kitten!"
She carefully extended her finger and gently tapped Snowball's pink nose. "Having a cat is great, it can keep you company. Mom and Dad both support it."
Yan Zhenye also came over, revealing a gentle expression: "Should we prepare a cat bed for it? I'll have the servants buy the best one."
Snowball seemed to sense the kindness, poked its head out from Yan Shuang's arms, and let out a soft "meow".
Zhou Yaqin was immediately charmed: "Oh my, that little voice, it's melting my heart!" She turned to the maid and instructed, "Quickly go and buy some kitten food and toys, the best brands."
Yan Shuang stood there, watching her parents bustling around Xueqiu, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She wanted to say something harsh, but seeing Xueqiu's comfortable, squinted eyes, she ultimately remained silent.
"Shuangshuang, the food is still warm, let's eat first?" Zhou Yaqin asked tentatively, while stroking Xueqiu's fur. "I asked the kitchen to make your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs."
Yan Shuang walked silently towards the dining room, while Xueqiu looked around curiously in her arms. Sure enough, the table was full of her favorite dishes, still steaming hot.
"Come, sit here." Yan Zhenye personally pulled out a chair for her. "You can put the kitten on this cushion first."
Snowball was placed on a soft mat and immediately began to explore its new environment with curiosity.
While eating, Zhou Yaqin couldn't help but tease it: "Little cutie, would you like to try some fish? But don't put salt in it."
Yan Shuang ate with her head down, not looking up at her parents even once. But whenever Snowball brushed against her feet, she would quietly put down her chopsticks and gently stroke its little head.
After finally finishing her meal, Yan Shuang put down her chopsticks and looked directly into her parents' eyes: "I want to move out."
Zhou Yaqin and Yan Zhenye exchanged a panicked glance. "Shuangshuang, isn't it better to stay at home? Mom and Dad will take good care of you and make it up to you..."
Yan Shuang gently stroked the snowball in her arms, the kitten's warm body temperature passing through her palm: "If you really want to make it up to me, then let me move out."
After a long silence, Yan Zhenye sighed deeply and gave Zhou Yaqin a wink.
Zhou Yaqin got up and left the restaurant.
A moment later, she returned carrying a dark blue folder.
Yan Zhenye took the folder and pushed it in front of Yan Shuang. "This apartment was prepared for you a long time ago. It's the Xinghewan Apartment right next to the CBD, only a ten-minute walk from your company."
Yan Shuang froze, her fingertips unconsciously tightening around Xueqiu's fur, causing the kitten to meow.
She mechanically opened the folder, and inside was a property certificate with her name on it, dated three years ago.
Apartments in this area cost as much as several generations of income for an average family.
"I originally intended to use it as part of your dowry when you got married."
Snowball suddenly jumped out of her arms and curiously pawed at the property certificate.
Zhou Yaqin smiled and said, "Look, even the kitten is helping you inspect the house."
Yan Shuang lowered her eyes to conceal her emotions, but when she looked up again, she had regained her composure: "Thank you. I'll move in in the next few days."
"Shuangshuang, could you...?"
"Mom," Yan Shuang picked up Xueqiu and stood up, "Give me some time."
Back in her room, Yan Shuang put Xueqiu on the bed and sat on the bay window, gazing at the night sky. The kitten tilted its head and looked at her, then jumped over and rubbed against her hand.
Yan Shuang hugged it close and whispered, "Snowball, we're going to have a new home."
The day we moved was a bright and sunny day.
Yan Shuang stood in the glass elevator of Building 8 in Xinghewan, watching the city view slowly sink below her. This was the first time she had a space that was completely her own.
The living room was more spacious than she had imagined, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the city skyline like a dynamic oil painting.
"How is it? Are you satisfied?" Zhou Yaqin came out of the kitchen, wearing an apron around her waist and holding a soup spoon in her hand. "I stewed bird's nest on the stove. Moving is very tiring, so I need to replenish my energy."
The master bedroom has a high-end gray silk bedding set, the walk-in closet is filled with a row of designer clothes with the tags still on, and the bookshelves in the study are even filled with all the finance books she mentioned in college.
Every detail was unbelievably perfect, as if someone had drilled into her mind and read all her dreams.
Yan Shuang sighed softly.
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