Chapter 258: Chapter 251 The Familiar Cat Chapter 258: Chapter 251 The Familiar Cat The attic was set up more like a simple living space, the kind that was ready to be lived in right away, tastefully decorated. The old lady clearly didn’t intend to use it as a storage area. There was a bed, a desk, a bookshelf, and even a small bathroom. It’s said that it was renovated for her grandson to live in, but after he went abroad, no one else had lived there.

By spending the evenings here, one could see the night sky through the windows on the sloping roof.

So, when Mr. Jiao said this, the first thought that came to Feng Baikin and his mother was that the landlord was making up excuses. However, Feng Baikin’s mother was really satisfied with this house. What she valued was not the size of the house or how luxurious the decorations were, but the taste. She had looked at several rental options provided by the agents, but none of them had piqued her interest. They had plenty of similar properties back in their neighboring province and had grown tired of them. This was the only one that made her feel satisfied.

Feng Baikin also thought the place was nice, without that cold atmosphere that comes with luxurious decorations, giving off a warm, homely vibe instead.

It was just an attic on a slope. Having two floors here was already enough. There wouldn’t be many living here anyway. His parents were planning to return to their neighboring province soon and wouldn’t stay here long, leaving only a few people behind to take care of his needs.

After further discussion, they were ready to sign the contract. The price was set at 20,000. Feng Baikin’s mother said the rent should be 30,000, but the price of 20,000 was offered by Mr. Jiao. The discount of ten thousand was mainly in hopes that when Zheng Tan came over to rest, someone would help take care of him. To this, Feng Baikin didn’t think it would be a problem. It was just a cat, after all. He probably only needed to provide food and drink occasionally, right?

It has to be said, Feng Baikin thought things were too simple. But by the time he realized this, it was already too late. He didn’t know that there was a kind of trouble in the world called “the landlord’s cat.”

When it came to discussing the price, Mr. Jiao and Jiao Ma didn’t need to say much. Feng Baikin’s mother even thought the price of 20,000 was too cheap, and she specifically asked that the ornaments in the house be left alone and not be moved. She insisted they better be kept inside.

On the way home that night, Jiao Ma mentioned that if they could get a monthly rent of 20,000, they would have the money they spent on the house back in a few years. Now Jiao Ma truly realized why Yuan Zhiyi said they had “pie falling from the sky” when they bought this house at such a low price.

After the new semester started, Zheng Tan had visited the villa a few times. Feng Baikin had moved in several days before, and apart from him, there was a couple in their fifties who lived there to take care of Feng Baikin. Zheng Tan heard the butler-like uncle call Feng Baikin “Young Master Baikin”, which really annoyed Feng Baikin. However, the butler insisted on it, saying that this was how it was done on TV and that rich families all did this now, no matter how many times Feng Baikin told him to stop. The auntie seemed very capable, keeping the villa tidied up well, from cleaning to cooking to washing clothes, even taking care of the plants in the backyard.

Feng Baikin didn’t like the term “young master” very much. His family rose to wealth when he was in elementary school, and since then, his life had changed drastically as they became richer. While his classmates treasured their CD players, he already had a sleek imported Walkman. When others were showing off their Walkmans, he was already using an MP3 player worth thousands of dollars. But Feng Baikin wasn’t one for such things. For example, at this very moment, he wore beach shorts and flip-flops, carrying off the air of someone who could make a hundred-dollar pair look like they were bought from a street stall for just a few bucks. Feng Baikin’s mother was determined to change his taste and demeanor, but unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t succeed. She could only infiltrate some sophistication into the details of his life. A prime example was the current renting affair; tolerating a cat occupying the attic was mainly for the sake of the house itself.

Even though Feng Baikin’s parents hoped to change what others saw as their son’s boorish ways, they had not managed to succeed. Feng Baikin was their only child, and they couldn’t bear to be too harsh. They used to chide him occasionally, but now they hardly said a word.

Many had labeled Feng Baikin as vulgar, from his taste to his pursuits, saying his standards were too low. What was the point of hanging out with college girls at school? He should be dating stars instead.

But Feng Baikin didn’t care about being seen as “vulgar.” He always said it wasn’t vulgarity; it was being down-to-earth. After all, how you live is your choice. If you accumulated virtue in a past life, you are born human to enjoy life, not suffer. Things should stay as they are.

To Zheng Tan’s satisfaction, he found the attic had been cleaned up when he visited. Even though the attic was prepared just for Zheng Tan the cat, the aunt still frequently cleaned it and hadn’t moved the decorations or allowed anything to go missing.

However, Zheng Tan didn’t make frequent trips there. Lately, he’d go out for strolls at night. One day, on a whim, he decided to check out the Old Building District. These days, Zheng Tan sometimes wandered to the lakeside villas or went to the old streets to watch an old man play the erhu on the bridge. Yet, it had been a long time since he last visited the Old Building District.

Part of the Old Building District had already been demolished, and some awaited demolition. But the population had thinned out significantly, leaving behind just a small group who would also soon have to move.

Zheng Tan arrived at one of the not yet demolished areas, a place he had never explored before. He jumped onto a broken-down wall and then climbed onto the roof of an empty building.

Looking at the demolished area, Zheng Tan remembered the time he had taught a lesson to an abuser with a beer bottle. Li Yuanba used to walk Huasheng Tang around here. In the blink of an eye, two years had passed, and much of this area had been torn down. In a couple of years, modern high-rises would rise on this land, and the memories of the Old Building District would exist only in old photos. Only those who lived here and cherished this place would remember it.

Sometimes, urban development happens so fast that memories can hardly keep up, and it takes a pause and reflection to recall what this place used to look like.

The spot where Zheng Tan stood had a streetlight, seemingly wired by the remaining residents themselves. This road did require extra attention to avoid tripping over the lines.

While reminiscing over the old buildings of Old Building District, Zheng Tan suddenly heard a rustling sound. Descending from a high point, he followed the sound and walked through the incomplete fence.

Near the streetlight, a tiny kitten was pouncing on small bugs. It seemed less than a month old, skinny and little, stumbling as it moved briskly, wobbling and tumbling with each pounce, yet still playing excitedly without noticing any other movements around.

After a while, the kitten’s claw hooked onto a snakeskin bag that was being held down by several heavy bricks. The kitten’s claw was caught on the drooping edge of the bag. Its control over its paws was not very dexterous, and no matter how hard it struggled, it couldn’t free itself. It twisted and turned, hanging there helplessly, tugging at its paw to no avail.

Zheng Tan wasn’t sure whether to comment on the quality of the snakeskin bag or to ridicule the kitten’s weakness, for the little one’s clumsy effort was causing him anxiety.

After watching from atop the fence for a while, Zheng Tan jumped down and walked toward the kitten.

Only then did the kitten realize that an unfamiliar cat was approaching. It watched Zheng Tan with a wary eye, struggling more fiercely with its paw that was still hooked on the bag. But no matter how hard it tried, it couldn’t break free. In its frenzy, the kitten let out a few cries that sounded strange to Zheng Tan, different from the calls of the kittens at the Pet Center and from those of Big and Little Rice.

Zheng Tan guessed the difference in the meows might be due to the breed but didn’t give it much thought.

However, as Zheng Tan got closer and took a sniff, he recognized the kitten’s scent as somewhat familiar. He tried to place the scent while he freed the kitten’s paw from the snakeskin bag.

Having regained its freedom, the kitten ran a few steps away from Zheng Tan, then stopped, turned back, and looked at him, letting out a cry before slowly approaching again.

Zheng Tan didn’t hurry off; instead, he squatted there, trying to remember whom the scent belonged to. Meanwhile, the kitten, taking advantage of Zheng Tan’s contemplation, came up beside him and tentatively tapped Zheng Tan’s arm a few times with its paw. Deciding Zheng Tan posed no threat, the kitten’s courage grew, and it began pouncing around him.

Just as Zheng Tan recalled to whom the kitten’s scent belonged, his ears twitched, and he stood up, looking ahead.

Not far away, around the corner, a cat larger than Zheng Tan emerged. It flattened its ears and watched Zheng Tan warily, emitting warning growls. Although cautious of Zheng Tan, it still approached step by step, snarling with bared teeth.

As this cat appeared, the kitten, which had been frolicking beside Zheng Tan, ran toward it, calling out in what seemed like an affectionate plea.

Zheng Tan looked at the cat not far from him and lamented that it seemed to be in worse shape with each encounter.

The cat currently baring its teeth at Zheng Tan was none other than the leopard patterned big cat that had suffered defeat twice at Zheng Tan’s paws.

In the feline world, many females are quite fierce. Take the solitary tigers and leopards, for instance, or in a pride of lions, where the females are often the hunters. Then there are the domestic cats like Li Yuanba and Heimi, who are also tough. Zheng Tan often didn’t bother with chivalry because they could knock you down in the blink of an eye. If Zheng Tan had shown weakness to this Leopard Cat, he would have been finished long ago.

The animal kingdom is brutally straightforward, a world of survival of the fittest, with no room for gentlemanly conduct. That’s why Zheng Tan, when encountering cats and dogs, typically ignored their gender. Had he not seen the kitten, he wouldn’t have remembered this formidable opponent was actually female — its previous ferocity was enough to scare anyone away.

Speaking of ferocity, Zheng Tan took a closer look at the leopard-patterned big cat. His somber mood stemmed from seeing her decline each time they met. She no longer had the same haughty, invincible air, nor did she look as if she’d fetch a high price on the market. There were scars marring her beauty, one ear sported a noticeable notch, and there seemed to be something off with her leg. Although it wasn’t evident when she walked slowly, Zheng Tan could tell.

While Zheng Tan was observing the leopard-patterned big cat, and the big cat was vigilantly watching him, the kitten that had run to its side turned and darted back toward Zheng Tan, playful and oblivious to the tense standoff.

The Leopard Cat hesitated as her low growl broke upon seeing the kitten’s action, as if mentally cursing at Alpaca. You slow-witted, bold brat! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian to cast your votes or monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep