Chapter 4 I am a cat, not a human.
Jiang Yingxu paid for the medicine.
He hadn't planned to buy the ointment and bandages his aunt had brought out, but Shi Miao took a bite out of them and brought them to his side.
Jiang Yingxu lowered his eyes and looked at the distinct kitten teeth marks on the plastic medicine box.
"...Pack it up."
He had a band-aid on his nose, a layer of medical gauze in his hand, and a plastic bag from the pharmacy in his hand as he went out.
Shi Miao jumped onto his shoulder very naturally and watched Jiang Yingxu walk to the roadside and scan a free public bicycle with his phone.
The phone is obviously old; there's a long crack in the screen.
The response speed is also very slow.
It must be an old, discarded phone.
Jiang Yingxu put his phone back in the side pocket of his backpack, tossed the pharmacy plastic bag in as well, and paused as he zipped up the bag, glancing at the kitten that had bounced onto the bicycle seat.
"Shall we come in?" he asked.
Shi Miao peeked into her schoolbag.
It was worn out, and like Jiang Yingxu's school uniform, it was frayed from washing.
It also had a slight smell of blood.
It stimulates the kitten's sensitive sense of smell.
She shook her head repeatedly and patted the basket on the front of the bicycle with her paw, "I'll stay here."
Jiang Yingxu hummed in agreement and slung his backpack over his shoulder.
Public bicycles are inexpensive to build, but they are very tiring to ride.
Jiang Yingxu held the handlebars firmly with both hands. When he pedaled, he used his waist and abdomen to exert force, which aggravated the injuries on his body, causing waves of dull pain.
He remained expressionless, but quickened his pace, speeding through several streets like the wind, and stopped in front of a convenience store.
Shi Miao was a little confused. She looked at the brightly lit convenience store and then at Jiang Yingxu, who was returning the car.
Aren't you going home?
Day students at Ningcheng No. 1 Middle School finish class at 5:30. Jiang Yingxu and the group of hooligans lingered for a long time, and he went to the pharmacy to treat his wounds.
It's almost eight o'clock now.
Jiang Yingxu said calmly, "Part-time job."
The convenience store's sensor door slid open automatically, and a welcome message played in the background.
The boy behind the counter looked up, saw Jiang Yingxu, and blurted out "Holy shit."
For a moment, I didn't know whether to be shocked by the dark bloodstains on his school uniform or by the stunningly beautiful calico cat on his shoulder.
Ultimately, the desire to get off work took the lead.
"You're finally here. I helped you out for an extra hour. Remember to make it up to me tomorrow."
The boy spoke as he walked toward the locker room at the back.
Then he asked, "What happened to your body?"
Jiang Yingxu repeated his previous explanation: "It fell."
The changing room was small, poorly ventilated, and very stuffy.
Shi Miao jumped onto a bench and looked up to meet the boy's curious gaze.
The boy talks a lot.
"Dude, is this your cat? It's so good-looking."
"However, the owner doesn't allow pets in the store and may check the surveillance footage at any time. If you leave it here, you'll be fined if it gets caught."
"But it's too stuffy here, it probably won't be able to stay here."
"If it behaves well, you can let it stay under the counter and enjoy the air conditioning."
Jiang Yingxu had already taken off his high school uniform jacket, revealing the blue and white short-sleeved shirt underneath, which was soaked with sweat from the journey.
He gave a short "hmm".
Knowing that Jiang Yingxu was aloof, the boy didn't mind. He hummed a song as he changed his clothes, grabbed his phone, said goodbye, and left.
There was only one person and one cat left in the locker room.
Shi Miao was staring at Jiang Yingxu's back, her fluffy tail slapping against the bench, revealing a hint of annoyance.
Why does he have so many injuries?
Only her arms were visible.
His pale skin made the scars all the more shocking.
There are red, swollen, and abraded marks today.
There are also light brown scars that had scabbed over and healed earlier.
Jiang Yingxu hooked his finger around the hem of his short-sleeved shirt, then suddenly remembered something and turned around.
He met a pair of round, kitten-like eyes.
She didn't seem to care about avoiding suspicion at all, staring straight at him.
"..."
He paused, let go of her hand, turned around and half-squatted down in front of Shi Miao.
His bangs fell across his forehead, concealing the sweat-drenched brows. His handsome features were etched with a cold solemnity, and his thin lips were slightly pursed, as if he were carefully considering his words.
That solemnity infected Shi Miao, causing her to unconsciously straighten her posture and wait attentively.
Then a slightly hoarse voice, tinged with hesitation, rang out.
"Are you a female kitten?"
Shi Miao: "?"
She looked at Jiang Yingxu in disbelief, feeling like an idiot for sitting so upright and waiting for him to speak.
"Hehe." Shi Miao gave a fake laugh and said quietly, "It's hard to tell, isn't it?"
"..."
Jiang Yingxu seemed somewhat embarrassed, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
With a slender gesture of his long fingers, he indicated that Shi Miao should turn around.
He whispered, "I need to change my clothes, don't stare."
That's it?
Shi Miao let out a loud and cheerful meow.
"Go ahead and change it. I'm a cat, not a person."
Jiang Yingxu: ".
Jiang Yingxu: "I am a human being."
So what?
It won't hurt you to be seen by a cat.
Shi Miao didn't move, maintaining a very self-righteous posture, her round cat eyes naturally carrying a sense of innocence.
Jiang Yingxu remained silent for a few seconds, then raised his eyes to glance at the long, snow-white hairs sticking out from her earlobes.
—Such long, stubborn hair.
He sighed softly and stood up again.
Shi Miao thought he had given up, and the tip of her tail unconsciously curled up, happily forming a small question mark.
He was wide-eyed, ready to examine the villain's condition.
But then Jiang Yingxu raised his hand and pulled out a neatly folded blue and white school uniform from the locker—
It's because sometimes he's scheduled for overnight shifts, and he keeps it here as a backup.
Shi Miao was still waiting with her cat-like face upturned when suddenly, Jiang Yingxu turned his head, his long eyelashes drooping slightly, concealing the expression in his dark eyes, and his long fingers unfurled the school uniform.
*Smack*
A lightness that is almost silent.
Shi Miao's entire body was completely covered by the school uniform.
Shi Miao: "?"
Shi Miao: "???"
The school uniforms must have been washed before being brought in; there was a very faint lemon soap smell.
But the kitten's sense of smell was too sensitive, and it was still able to distinguish Jiang Yingxu's scent from among the many other scents.
Everyone has their own unique flavor.
Jiang Yingxu's taste...
Like a damp wind sweeping through a valley.
It also resembles bamboo that is striving to grow.
Shi Miao shook her ears, which were pressed down by the fabric, and used her furry paw pads to forcefully pull open her school uniform jacket.
One probe.
Jiang Yingxu had already taken off his short-sleeved school uniform and put on the convenience store's work clothes.
A black long-sleeved shirt, the fabric completely covering the arms.
There was also a black apron with a logo, hanging at the back of the neck, with the straps tied around the waist to accentuate the narrow waistline.
Jiang Yingxu put on a baseball cap, his eyes and brows hidden in the shadow of the brim, and looked down at the sulking Shi Miao.
She's so angry she's turned into a little cat ball.
His thin lips curved slightly.
He didn't say anything, but simply picked up the school uniform again and put it back in the closet.
"Shall we go outside?"
Shi Miao snorted, "Go."
Jiang Yingxu leaned down slightly, allowing Shi Miao to leap onto his shoulder with a burst of energy.
The smooth, soft cat fur brushed against his ears and the back of his neck.
It seems that the skin-thirsty syndrome has already had a major outbreak tonight.
At this point, the skin only feels a slight itch and heat, which is easily bearable.
Jiang Yingxu rubbed his fingertips, suppressing the urge to grab something and hold on tight, and walked out calmly.
There is indeed a fairly large empty space under the counter.
It's just the right size to park a long-haired kitten car.
The glass door slid open automatically, accompanied by a mechanical welcoming sound.
Jiang Yingxu turned his gaze away from the round, plump little cat ball and began working with practiced ease.
The barcode scanner beeped, accompanied by a boy's low, husky voice announcing the price.
Not wanting to disturb Jiang Yingxu's work, Shi Miao sprawled out on the cold tile floor like a little cat pancake, rummaging through the system and enthusiastically playing Go with it.
Then he lost twenty games in a row.
Shi Miao: "..."
Enraged, Shi Miao overturned the virtual chessboard, cursing, "I'm not playing anymore! I'm not playing chess with an intelligent being like you!"
System: [Hahahaha!]
Shi Miao flicked her tail to shake off the system and poked her little head out from under the cabinet.
She was still searching for something to pass the time when suddenly, her pointed cat ears snapped open, catching a very faint purring sound.
Shi Miao looked up.
Jiang Yingxu pursed his lips, meticulously settling the bill for the customer. His hands were steady and fast, showing no sign of his recent injury.
Only in the moment of waiting to make a payment.
He frowned almost imperceptibly and pressed down on his abdomen.
Shi Miao suddenly realized.
The clock on the wall struck 8:50, and Jiang Yingxu seemed to have not yet had dinner.
"..."
After Jiang Yingxu finished settling the bill for the customer, he felt his trouser leg being grabbed.
Looking down, the kitten tilted its head back and meowed obediently.
"Jiang Yingxu, I'm hungry."
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