Chapter 32 (Part 2) Night
“Haha…you really are Chinese.” Antonio downed another glass, then leaned closer with a smile. “I also have a Chinese friend, but he doesn’t look anything like you.”
"Oh?" A cryptic glint flashed in the man's eyes, his voice growing even softer. "What's not quite right?"
“He’s a terrible person,” Antonio frowned slightly. “He’s willful, cunning, and cruel…”
"...He really is an outrageous person." The man narrowed his eyes. "Then why do you still remain friends with him?"
"Ah, it's because he went too far!" After downing another glass of wine, Antonio slammed down his glass, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. "So we're no longer friends. Although... maybe we were never friends to begin with." As he spoke, his voice gradually lowered, and his body began to sway precariously.
The man's expression changed, and he quickly reached out to steady him. How much had he drunk...? He glanced at the pile of empty bottles on the table and shook his head. He regretted forcing the man to drink. Although he had probably gotten a good idea of what the man was thinking,... this night was unlikely to be peaceful.
At that very moment, the excessively "willful, cunning, and cruel" man, as described by someone, was squatting by the roadside, staring wide-eyed at a kitten placed in a cardboard box. It looked like a kitten only a few days old, its gray fur sparse, its eyes wide open, its tiny mouth half-open, emitting weak "meow meow" sounds, looking utterly pitiful. Si Qiang sighed and picked up the cardboard box anyway.
He went to the veterinary station to get the little guy vaccinated, bought a bunch of cat supplies, and then drove home—or rather, Xu Qi's home.
Xu Qi stood alone by the window, his eyes fixed on the iron gate. Ever since receiving Wei Lan's report that afternoon, he had been restless, and now he was burning with anxiety. What would that man do to Si Qiang? How would Si Qiang respond? Would Wei Lan's presence be enough? Although Wei Lan had said that the two had separated that evening, it was now late at night, and Si Qiang had not returned! Thinking of all this, he secretly regretted his previous feigned magnanimity. He desperately suppressed the urge to directly question Si Qiang; he could only wait here.
After waiting for a long time, Si Qiang's car finally appeared in the courtyard. Xu Qi felt a sense of relief, but suddenly realized that his current state was somewhat inappropriate. He immediately left the window and sat back down at the table, pretending to be looking through documents. Hearing the door behind him being pushed open, he barely managed to suppress the urge to smile and said coldly, "What are you doing here so late?"
The only response he received was a faint meow. Xu Qi turned around abruptly and saw Si Qiang carrying a bulging shopping bag. Something was moving around in the collar of her half-open coat, and then a small cat's head poked out.
Si Qiang closed the door behind her, walked over to Xu Qi, reached out and picked up the kitten, waving it at him: "I found it on the street, do you mind?"
"..." Xu Qi's lips twitched slightly, and he asked as calmly as possible, "You want to keep it?"
Si Qiang carefully observed his expression and said cautiously, "I only brought it back because I felt sorry for it. If you mind, I will give it to someone else to raise."
Xu Qi looked down at the kitten. As soon as the little guy saw him approach, he immediately started waving his paws and scratching wildly, clearly rejecting him. He smiled slightly, reached out and picked up the little thing, then turned and walked into the bathroom: "I'll give him a bath. You go take a shower too."
Seeing him like this, Si Qiang paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud. What an awkward guy... but also really cute. He quickly followed him.
Xu Qi stood by the pool, turned on the tap and filled it halfway with water, then put the kitten in. Cats are naturally afraid of water, and it struggled frantically to climb out, but the pool walls were too slippery, and its little claws scratching were futile. Just as he was wondering whether to use shampoo, a hand reached out from behind him, holding a small plastic bottle labeled "Pet Shampoo"—how thoughtful! Xu Qi took it, held down the struggling little guy, and began to bathe it.
"It seems... to be in a lot of pain." Si Qiang watched the kitten struggle under her "clutches" and couldn't help but remind her, "You can be gentler."
Xu Qi turned and glared at him: "Go take a shower!"
Si Qiang shook his head and turned to go to the shower, but then he saw that the bathtub was already filled with hot water. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "I don't like showering in the bathtub..."
“I know.” Xu Qi picked up the cleaned kitten and wrapped it in a large towel. “I’ll have the maid come and take it over—as for you… with me here, what are you afraid of?” As he spoke, he turned around and stared intently at the other person.
Si Qiang was startled, then slowly lowered her eyes: "You know?"
"No, I don't know," Xu Qi denied categorically, then turned and walked out. "I won't investigate you."
Si Qiang stared blankly as the other person left, his hand slowly clenching into a fist and gradually tightening. He understood that this was a fact he would have to face sooner or later... Only this person was the one he least wanted the other to know—to know about that dark past, that wretched version of himself.
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