Chapter 283: Chapter 276: Not Going Back Chapter 283: Chapter 276: Not Going Back Youzi’s mother quickly looked around when she realized what was happening, and upon seeing that no one had noticed the commotion, she turned to Little Youzi, a reproachful look in her eyes, “You shouldn’t have brought the Cat here, this place is not a pet-friendly restaurant!”

Little Youzi pursed her lips and looked up at her mother, “But there’s also no sign clearly stating pets are not allowed inside.”

“That’s not the point, it’s not proper to bring pets into a dining area.” As she spoke, Youzi’s mother saw the Black Cat looking over at them with a strange expression. Although she couldn’t quite understand the meaning behind its gaze, she felt an inexplicable discomfort.

Seeing that Little Youzi also appeared unhappy, Youzi’s mother, considering the rare opportunity for them to be alone together, didn’t scold her any further. Instead, she suggested, “Use this to cover it up, it wouldn’t look good if someone saw.” She handed over a shopping bag printed with a brand logo and tied with a pink ribbon, carrying the trademark of a children’s luxury clothing brand, “Inside this bag is a gift mommy bought for you. See if you like it. Wear it out and let the kids in the courtyard be envious.”

Zheng Tan stretched his neck to peek as Little Youzi took out the clothes, noticing the brand’s price tag marked 1,200 yuan for a dress. Youzi’s mother’s last comment made Zheng Tan despise her; the notion of envy seemed all too condescending. Did she truly consider everyone in the courtyard impoverished? Were they supposed to be envious? That amount of money was of little significance to many families there, especially the old Professors like Old Man Lan living downstairs with surely no less than ten million to their name, they simply didn’t show it off. In fact, they still visited the canteen in the morning for steamed buns and porridge.

After some more questions about what Youzi usually wore, it was clear that Youzi’s mother thought the Jiao family was not well-off and hadn’t bought nice clothes for Little Youzi. Of course, “good clothes” was a matter of perspective.

Many kids in the courtyard didn’t wear expensive branded clothing on a regular basis; with how fast they grew, it wasn’t necessary. Whether it was the Jiao family or others in the courtyard, they were quite comfortable financially, but no one dressed their children in clothes costing hundreds or thousands of yuan unless it was a birthday party or another significant event. Normally, kids like Jiao Yuan, who were quite rambunctious, wore clothes that were at most a hundred yuan, and it didn’t matter much if they got ripped. And now that it was October, with November and cooler weather around the corner, who would carelessly wear dresses? Especially since children would likely catch a cold rather than garner envy—and might even be ridiculed.

After a few more questions, Youzi’s mother noticed that Little Youzi didn’t wish to continue the topic. Glancing at the staring Black Cat, Youzi’s mother frowned and then told Little Youzi, “Mommy has seen many people keeping cats abroad. Our neighbors there had a beautiful Ragdoll Cat; mommy even took a photo to show you.” Suddenly remembering she didn’t have the photo on her phone, Youzi’s mother put her phone back in her bag, “Ahem, the pictures are all on the computer. I didn’t bring them with me. I’ll show them to you when I have the chance. They are much prettier than this Black Cat and more obedient.”

The look in Zheng Tan’s eyes grew colder still. Was she insinuating that he was both ugly and bad-tempered?!

“Heitan is very well-behaved too,” defended Little Youzi, gathering up the bag.

Clearly unconvinced, Youzi’s mother had seen how smoothly the Cat climbed windows the previous day. She knew this Cat was anything but docile.

After a series of vapid conversations, Zheng Tan felt so drowsy he could barely stay awake. The dialogue between mother and daughter was stiff and awkward, devoid of common topics, making Zheng Tan feel even more that there wasn’t much genuine emotion involved.

“Youzi, would you like to live in a big house?” Youzi’s mother said, “Mommy bought another big house abroad, with a large yard where you can grow flowers and keep your favorite animals. Plus, you’ll have a little sister to keep you company.” She paused, then added, “Youzi, how do you feel about having a little sister? But she’s still very small right now.”

Zheng Tan squinted his eyes, wondering if this woman understood the implications of her words. Happy? It would be a surprise if she was. Another little sister meant a stepfather was in the picture, and his character was an unknown. Wouldn’t Little Youzi hesitate to move back?

Little Youzi’s movements stirring the cream halted, and from Zheng Tan’s perspective, all he could see was her tightly pressed lips. Unconcerned about being noticed, he emerged halfway from the backpack and nudged Little Youzi.

Considering what Little Youzi’s mother said in the first half of her sentence, is she disdaining the small size of the Jiao family’s house?

Having lived abroad for a while, Little Youzi certainly had some impressions, and even the not-so-large house they had abroad was much bigger than the Jiao family’s. If she really cared about size, Little Youzi wouldn’t have shaken her head when asked if she wanted to live in a villa. Clearly, this mother has no idea what her own daughter wants.

“I won’t go back,” Little Youzi nudged Zheng Tan back into her bag and whispered.

“What?” Her mother, not having heard clearly, asked again.

“I’m not going back,” Little Youzi said, lifting her head with a definitive tone.

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, “Mommy respects your choice.”

Zheng Tan didn’t know if he had heard it wrong, but he sensed a sort of relief in her tone. Zheng Tan lifted his body to look at the woman sitting opposite, unable to detect much sadness or regret. On the contrary, the smile she gave Little Youzi was a little bit wider and not as rigid as before.

Upon leaving the restaurant, Youzi’s mother planned to take Little Youzi for a walk and a shopping spree, asking where she wanted to go. Little Youzi shook her head to a few suggestions, so her mother took her straight to a nearby mall to shop for her. Most of the goods in that mall were high-end, so people without a significant amount of money stayed away.

Since the mall wasn’t too far from the restaurant, the mother and daughter walked there. Zheng Tan, who wanted to come out today, wore his cat card, making things more convenient and reducing the disdain from passersby. After all, not everyone can tolerate an unidentified cat running around on the streets.

Youzi’s mother was chatting about this and that, when a familiar car adorned with four rings approached from the side, slowly pulling up in the parking area.

“Heitan! Youzi!”

Upon hearing the shout, Zheng Tan looked over to see the seldom-seen Fang Shaokang, the busy man who had taken the rare opportunity today to drive out, probably to meet an old friend for a chat.

After getting out of the car, Fang Shaokang strode towards them, still sporting sunglasses, but the smile on his face couldn’t be hidden. He certainly hadn’t expected to run into Zheng Tan and Little Youzi here.

Just like before, Fang Shaokang scooped up Little Youzi by her armpits, lifting her like a child.

Little Youzi, who had been maintaining a stern expression, now allowed a hint of a smile.

“Uncle Fang!”

“Youzi, have you lost weight recently?” Fang Shaokang asked as he lifted and weighed Little Youzi before setting her down.

Fang Shaokang usually interacted with his own daughter in the same way, so he had developed this habit, regardless of whether it was back when she was just a little girl, or now, when she was already over ten years old.

“A few days ago, Meng Meng was asking about you,” Fang Shaokang said. As for what she wanted to discuss, it was obviously about caring for cats. Because of Zheng Tan, Fang Mengmeng had gotten Little Youzi’s chat software account from her dad, and the two occasionally exchanged cat-care experiences.

“And who might this be?” Youzi’s mom cut in. If not for seeing that car, she would have scolded him without any courtesy. She didn’t recognize Fang Shaokang, but she noticed he seemed to be very familiar with her daughter, and that he clearly had some status.

“This is Uncle Fang,” Little Youzi introduced, then pointing at her mother to Fang Shaokang, she added, “This is my mommy.”

“Hello,” Youzi’s mom said, introducing herself. While making it clear she was Little Youzi’s mother, she also mentioned some of her other titles and positions. From the name of the company to her job title, her introduction included several English words, and it took Zheng Tan a moment to catch on.

Fang Shaokang said “Oh,” with a nod. “A Fortune 500 company, pleased to meet you.”

Youzi’s mom took out a beautifully made business card from her bag and handed it over. Fang Shaokang accepted it, then fished out an equally exquisite business card from his pocket and handed it back.

The business card wasn’t a personal one from Fang Shaokang; the phone number on it would undoubtedly connect someone to one of Fang Shaokang’s assistants or secretaries. By giving out this card, Fang Shaokang showed that he didn’t care much for Youzi’s mom. People he was familiar with or took a liking to received another kind of card that appeared a lot more modest. Zheng Tan had one such card in his drawer, with a number that was Fang Shaokang’s personal phone.

Looking at the card in her hand, Youzi’s mom’s pupils constricted, and her demeanor towards Fang Shaokang became much more polite.

Fang Shaokang had other matters to attend to and soon left.

“Youzi, how do you know this Fang… Uncle?” Youzi’s mom asked.

“He is Heitan’s friend.”

Of course, Youzi’s mom wouldn’t believe that. She guessed that it probably had something to do with Professor Jiao.

After shopping at the mall and buying some items, Youzi’s mom hailed a taxi to go back to the Jiao family’s place.

While in the car, Youzi’s mom asked again if Little Youzi wanted to come back with her, but Little Youzi kept shaking her head.

“Then mommy won’t force you. Mommy has given your aunty some money to take care of you, so if you need anything or want anything, just tell your aunty.”

“Mhm, I know.”

“You can call mommy during the holidays, and mommy will take you out to play.”

Zheng Tan didn’t like this at all. Call during the holidays? As if you can’t call if it’s not vacation time?

Zheng Tan stood up and rubbed Little Youzi’s chin, not sad at all. We don’t care for that!

The same thing can be insignificant to some people, but precious to others. Youzi’s mom didn’t care much for Little Youzi, but Zheng Tan cared, the Jiao family cared.

On returning to the school, they ran into Old Man Lan coming back from outside, and he gave Little Youzi a handful of hawthorn berries as a gift from someone else.

On the lawn of the East District courtyard, the sheriff was lying on the edge of a flowerbed that was just slightly higher than the lawn, pawing at Ah Huang, who was rubbing his back on the grass. The two of them ended up wrestling with each other.

Da Pang lay not too far from them, half-squinting as if brewing the urge to sleep.

On the pebble path by the lawn, someone was on their phone, joking and cursing loudly at the person on the other end, “Bullshit!”

A few meters away, Zhuangzhuang was being taken out for a walk, waddling along and pulling its owner forward with the leash. Upon hearing the loud curse from the person on the phone, Zhuangzhuang’s ears twitched, and it looked over with a fierce glint in its triangle eyes.

The person on the phone’s face twitched, and they quickly started running away.

“Mom, Youzi and Heitan are back!” Jiao Yuan, who was standing on the fifth-floor balcony watching, shouted into the house.

As for the third person aside from Zheng Tan and Little Youzi, Jiao Yuan completely ignored them. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep