"Animal shelter, or perhaps, an animal protection association."
Mu Chen reached out and stroked the little kitten's head. He wore several rings on his hand.
His index finger, ring finger, and pinky finger were all adorned.
They were decorative and quite beautiful, appearing somewhat cold under the light's refraction.
His voice deepened slightly, as if carrying the same chill.
"But no matter which, resources are always insufficient and spots are limited. Going there would only be suffering, at best, you wouldn't go hungry."
These simple words struck Wen Tingxue's heart.
They instantly reminded her of her past self.
At best, she wouldn't go hungry either.
As for anything else, both emotionally and physically, she was utterly empty.
The young girl hesitated, lowering her gaze. She looked at the little kitten, which was squinting and licking its paws, with pity.
Its tiny paws were soft and pink, its fur white. It was incredibly, incredibly adorable when its little tongue flicked out.
Mu Chen, sensing her hesitation, turned to look at the cluster of cats in the distance. His voice was low and casual,
"Forget I asked."
He couldn't even do it himself, so why make it difficult for the young lady?
Mu Chen chuckled self-mockingly, a settled pain in his cool eyes.
"I..."
Wen Tingxue bit her lip in indecision. "I'll ask at home. I'll try to adopt one."
There were too many things for her to manage.
Primarily, it depended on whether her parents would accept a cat.
If not, she would be powerless.
Mu Chen paused, then withdrew his gaze, looking at her intently for a moment.
"Thank you."
His tone was sincere.
Wen Tingxue blushed with embarrassment, unsure of what to say.
Just then, the proprietress called out, "Miss! Your meal is ready!"
...
When Wen Tingxue came out, laden with bags, the young man and the little kitten were no longer in their original spot.
Just as disappointment flickered in her heart, she saw the young man squatting by the roadside not far away, surrounded by a group of cats vying for his attention.
They were jostling to be petted.
Meows filled the air, one after another.
Wen Tingxue spotted the little kitten he held in his hands, so well-behaved and adorable.
It was a sight that instantly made one's heart melt.
The young girl clenched her fist, silently vowing to adopt the little kitten.
The bright streetlights illuminated Mu Chen, dispelling his usual aloofness.
The occasional curve of his eyes held a rare gentleness.
Perhaps it was the presence of the cats.
Mu Chen gently stroked the little kitten's head, his expression tinged with melancholy.
This little one was the youngest in the group and had no defense.
If it went to a shelter or an animal protection association, it would likely be bullied.
Glancing sideways, he saw the young girl walking away with her bags.
Mu Chen's eyes flickered, then he playfully hooked the little kitten's fluffy chin and said slyly,
"Little Nine, go. Follow this sister, let her take you home."
He didn't know if the little creature understood, but Mu Chen gently placed it on the ground.
His index finger, adorned with a silver ring, pointed to the slender back ahead.
"Go."
His tone was coaxing.
The little kitten tilted its head, looking at him blankly, and didn't move.
Mu Chen chuckled, tapping its head with his index finger. "Silly little cat."
Just as he was about to pick it up, it suddenly turned and ran towards Wen Tingxue.
Because it was so small, its limbs were short and weak.
Even with all its might, it couldn't keep up with Wen Tingxue's pace.
Mu Chen stood up and watched for a moment. Uneasy, he put his hands in his pockets and slowly followed behind.
The cats playfully rubbing against him instinctively followed,
then quickly dispersed.
It seemed they were accustomed to this pattern.
From the square to the office building, a considerable distance, the two of them and the cat maintained a certain harmonious distance.
Wen Tingxue had too many things in her hands and was in a hurry, completely unaware that a cat was following her.
Mu Chen, on the other hand, was driven by a protective instinct for the kitten and didn't want to resort to emotional blackmail.
So, he smoked all the way, keeping an eye on the cat.
He did nothing else, not even answering his phone.
It wasn't until Wen Tingxue disappeared into the office building that the little kitten stood forlornly at the entrance, meowing.
Its cries were somewhat heartbreaking.
Mu Chen extinguished the cigarette in his hand and walked over to pick up the cat.
But the kitten kept staring in the direction Wen Tingxue had disappeared, meowing, as if it were trying to speak, or perhaps, as if it were sad.
Mu Chen, feeling a pang of sympathy, carried it to a stone bench nearby and sat down.
-
Returning, everyone was still busy, seemingly having forgotten the passage of time.
Their movements hadn't changed.
Wen Tingxue, not wanting to disturb them, took her bags to find the secretary.
The secretary smiled and took them.
"What a coincidence~ I was just about to order some late-night snacks. Miss Wen, you're so thoughtful."
Wen Tingxue smiled shyly. "I wasn't sure what you liked, so I ordered porridge and a salad."
She handed over the paper bags with both hands.
Even though she didn't know she had misunderstood her before,
she herself was aware of it.
She felt a bit uneasy and wanted to make amends at this opportunity.
Looking at the carefully selected meals, the secretary was clearly taken aback.
She said gratefully, "Thank you, Miss Wen."
Wen Tingxue quickly shook her head, her smile sweet and obedient. "Then I'll go in~"
She gestured towards Wen Zhong'en's office.
The secretary nodded. "Okay, I'll distribute these."
As Wen Tingxue pushed the door open, Wen Zhong'en had just completed a task.
He leaned back, exhausted, and habitually rubbed his nose.
He caught sight of his daughter between his fingers and his heart skipped a beat. He instantly sobered up, "Yi Yi? You haven't gone home yet?!"
Wen Tingxue stood there, stunned.
How was she supposed to go home? Take a taxi?
Wen Zhong'en realized he had been so busy he forgot, and quickly grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair.
"Let's go! Dad will take you home."
He thought he had told the secretary.
But it was just a thought.
Wen Tingxue stopped the hurried man, saying helplessly, "Wait, let's eat first."
She had already finished her homework anyway.
She could go home, take a bath, and go to bed.
She wasn't in a hurry at all.
Eat?
Wen Zhong'en lowered his gaze and saw the paper bag in his daughter's hand.
It was a simple gesture, something the secretary often did, something he usually didn't pay much attention to.
Yet, at this moment, it dispelled his fatigue, moistened his eyes, and immersed his entire heart in emotion.
It was both sour and sweet.
"Thank you, Yi Yi."
Wen Zhong'en affectionately patted his daughter's head, his voice a little hoarse.
He and Xiu Xiu both felt guilty towards their daughter.
It wasn't just because of her grandmother; it was more so their ambition.
At thirty-four, it was the prime time to strive for advancement.
Neither he nor Xiu Xiu wanted to give up their careers.
Therefore, bringing their daughter back home was postponed, and postponed again.
Until now, their daughter had returned to them, bearing deep wounds.
They hadn't really put in much effort, yet their daughter was willing to offer them her sincere heart...
Wen Zhong'en felt a pang of heartbreak at the thought.
"Dad?"
Wen Tingxue heard the change in his tone and looked up worriedly. "I chose it. Is it not to your taste?"
"No, no, no."
Wen Zhong'en quickly shook his head, regaining his composure. "Whatever Yi Yi chooses is what Dad likes!"
He pulled his daughter to sit on the sofa and then, in a rather childish manner, took out his phone.
"Dad's going to take a photo for Mom, let her be envious! My daughter personally bought me food! Hahahaha!"
His simple, goofy laughter was a far cry from the imposing figure he cut in the conference room.
Wen Tingxue: "..."
So silly.
But so cute.