Chapter 33: Half a Life of Pampering and Half a Life of Exile

"Meow?"

——Why were you abandoned?

"Meow."

——I bit my man, so he doesn't want me anymore.

——I scratched my little master.

——He thinks I’m noisy.

——She thinks I eat too much and she can’t afford to feed me.

——He said cats are too dirty.

——She graduated and no longer lives here.

——There is no reason, she just doesn’t want me anymore.

It had been more than half a year since Ruibao was sent away, and he began to look like a stray cat. His fur had lost its luster, and he was covered in dust and dirt, looking dirty.

At first, I was not used to it. I always felt itchy and uncomfortable, but I got used to it later.

Not all stray cats are bad-tempered. Occasionally there are some cats that are only able to communicate. Ruibao learned from them some of the reasons why they were abandoned.

Then it found that many reasons seemed to correspond to it.

It turns out that it was really abandoned.

During the day, Ruibao would walk around hoping to meet Yin Jiuyu, but it went to many places, often got lost, and almost couldn't come back. But no matter how far it went, it would find a way to come back.

At night it slept on the tall tree in the yard, looking down, expecting to see him come back one day, expecting the lights in the house to suddenly come on.

In his dreams, he opened his arms to it and said to it softly, "Ruibao, I'm back. I'm here to take you home."

But dreams are just dreams. Because of that beautiful dream, Ruibao fell from the tree and was lame for a long time. Later, the injured leg has not been working well and he always feels pain when walking.

The winter in the north was too cold, and it couldn't stand it, so it finally got into the house through the gap in the window.

The room was still the same as I remembered. The rocking chair where it often lay was still covered with a thick plush blanket.

It lay there, spending the first winter without Yin Jiuyu.

When the snow fell heavily, it stood by the window and watched all day long.

It likes snow very much. It likes the white color, likes fluffy and soft things, and likes everything that resembles its hair.

Every time it snows, it will meow and ask to go out to play. When Yin Jiuyu can’t stand being pestered by it, he will take it out. But it is really too cold outside, so Yin Jiuyu will stuff it into his arms and only let its head peeking out.

But Ruibao was not at all restless and would always jump out and land on the fluffy snow, sinking all over.

It was cold, but fun. What was even funnier was that Yin Jiuyu dug it out of the snow, stuffed it back into his clothes, and then shivered and cursed at it.

He rarely loses his temper, so it's especially fun to hear him swear.

What Ruibao likes to see most is that he is obviously very angry, but he can't do anything about it. He grits his teeth and pokes its head with his fingers, but the force of the poke is always light.

At that time, Ruibao took everything for granted.

He is its person, so of course he should be nice to it and of course he cannot lose his temper with it.

But the days of wandering made Ruibao understand a truth: he was actually a very bad person, because he spoiled the dog and then abandoned it.

When it was late at night and everyone was asleep, Ruibao curled up in a blanket. The blanket was warm, but not as warm as his arms.

It finally gave in and meowed softly.

"Meow."

——I will be obedient.

"Meow."

——I won’t bite you anymore.

"Meow."

——I won’t catch you anymore.

"Meow."

——I don’t lose my temper anymore.

"Meow."

——When will you come back?

"Meow."

——I will. I will be very good.

It cried all night long, but the man did not respond to it.

As winter turns to spring, cats start to walk outside. However, many stray cats cannot survive the winter.

It’s not that no one wants to rescue them, but not all cats are willing to accept rescue from people. Some cats have been hurt by people, so they hate humans.

Ruibao has been hanging out outside for a long time and has become familiar with some cats, both domestic cats and stray cats.

They all know that it is looking for its person.

The cats were very puzzled and asked it: Your man doesn’t want you anymore, why are you still looking for him?

Ruibao would stubbornly tell them: He didn't abandon me, he just went somewhere else and he would come back.

Humans always like to move. He is just like those people. He went to a faraway place, but his home is here. It is here and he will always come back.

Although most cats don’t understand, they won’t say anything. In fact, many stray cats feel like they see themselves when they see Ruibao.

No matter what they say, most abandoned cats still have a glimmer of hope in their hearts.

They are all still waiting for the person in their hearts.

But there are also some very bad cats that hate humans. They would deliberately say to Ruibao: Think about it positively, maybe he doesn’t want you anymore, he’s just dead.

"Meow!"

——He's not dead! He just doesn't want me anymore!

Ruibao fought with the cats and said over and over again: He is fine, he just doesn't want me anymore!

It said it with such conviction that it believed it to be true.

Year after year, Ruibao guarded the empty house and gradually became an old cat. He would say to every cat: My people don't want me anymore.

"Meow."

——Then it must be a very bad cat.

The young cat said so.

During those years, Coco always came to feed Ruibao regularly, and occasionally when Ruibao was sick, she would take it to the pet hospital for treatment.

Ruibao is also used to being fed by her, and will take the initiative to look for her when he feels itchy.

But every time I was asked, "Ruibao, do you want to come home with me?"

Whenever she asked him this, Ruibao would leave immediately, expressing his refusal with his actions.

Coco got married and had a daughter.

Later, she often brought her daughter to feed the cats. She was a little girl who loved to laugh. Whenever she saw Ruibao, she would always shout “Mimi” “Mimi” non-stop.

She would touch Ruibao's head and occasionally pull its fur without knowing the severity.

Ruibao neither liked nor disliked this cub.

When it was young, only Yin Jiuyu could touch it at will.

After so many years, it almost forgot how it felt to have its head touched, so it indulged the cub.

It was the autumn of the fifth year.

The cat seemed to be able to predict its own death. When Coco came to feed it again, Ruibao followed her home.

Coco was very happy, but after returning home, Ruibao refused to eat or drink and just stared at her quietly.

Then Coco realized something.

The next day, she took her daughter and Ruibao out.

She drove to a faraway place, a wilderness with cemeteries all over the mountains.

Coco stopped in front of a tombstone.

She wanted to say something, but in the end, she couldn't utter a word.

Putting down the bunch of lavender, she walked back with her daughter. After walking a few meters, she looked back and found that the old cat had not followed them.

"Mom, Mimi won't come home with us?"

"Well, it's home."

The autumn wind carries their voices far away.

Ruibao lay down against the tombstone, his tail wagging gently.

Half a life of pampering, half a life of exile.

It is said that when a cat is about to die, it will hide quietly.

Against his nature, Ke Ruibao just wants to go home.

This is its people, its joys and sorrows.

After five years, it finally arrived home.

…

The next time I met Yin Jiuyu was in the third year of Ning Changyue's life.

The elevator door opened and he recognized him at a glance.

He smelled the unique soul scent on him.

But Yin Jiuyu did not recognize him, nor did he take him home.

The bus stopped at the platform. Ning Changyue stood in the drizzle, carrying his small bag, not knowing where to go.

After wandering around for a long time, he returned to the gate of the community.

He was really afraid that he would die, even though he had just found him.

So, he must be fine, he just doesn't want him, again.

Just like he said over and over again when he was a cat: He's fine, he just doesn't want me anymore.

Can……

So sad, I really want to go back.

I would rather he really die than be abandoned by him.