Chapter Fourteen

You Yi returned home with the little white cat nestled in his arms, holding Cong-ge’s leash.
“Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu, darling…” You Yi pressed the doorbell and called out, “I found a cat, it’s so pitiful. Come open the door and have a look.”
He took the kitten out from his coat, gently rubbing its head and coaxing softly, “Good kitty, meow for us. Come on, just two little meows.”
Compared to trembling in the cold wind, You Yi’s palm was now the warmest little nest. The white kitten curled up in his hand, eyes closed, dozing contentedly. No matter how You Yi coaxed, the kitten stubbornly refused to make a sound.
Without the kitten’s meow, there was no way for Yi Xiaoyu inside to believe there was a cat at all. So even after nearly ten minutes, there was no response from within.
You Yi felt utterly miserable and finally gave up. He simply said, “Well, I’ll just spend the night out here, then. If I freeze to death, don’t forget to collect my body.”
Leaning against the wall by the door, You Yi sat there until his legs went numb, then squatted down. Cong-ge lay beside him, chin resting on You Yi’s shoes, eyes closed as he rested.
The little white cat snuggled in You Yi’s embrace, continuing to sleep sweetly.
Only You Yi stared straight ahead with open eyes, his body trembling uncontrollably.
This winter—
Damn, it’s cold.
Just then, Mama Li, having just finished her square dancing, passed by Yi Xiaoyu’s front door. Seeing You Yi squatting there, she exclaimed in surprise, “Oh! Isn’t this young You? Why are you squatting at your own doorstep? It’s freezing in the hallway—what if you catch a cold?”
“Auntie Li.” You Yi stood up, his legs sore after squatting so long. He massaged his thighs and forced a smile, “I… I lost my keys. I’m just waiting for Xiao Yu to come home and open the door.”
That’s what he said, but inside he was filled with despair.
Damn, this is humiliating.
Mama Li’s well-meaning chatter began. “So when’s Xiao Yu coming back? Did you call him? Have you eaten? Are you thirsty, hungry? Why don’t you come to my place and…”
“No, it’s fine. Xiao Yu will be home any minute.” You Yi quickly interrupted and deftly changed the subject. “Auntie Li, you’re back early today! Why didn’t you dance a bit longer?”
“Sigh, it’s just too cold outside, I couldn’t stand it.”
“Oh, then you’d better hurry back inside. The hallway’s cold too, and you’re dressed so lightly…”
Finally managing to send Mama Li off, You Yi squatted down again. He looked at Cong-ge beside him, reached out to pat his head, and sighed to himself, “Is Xiao Yu having her period or something?”
After squatting so long, his legs were numb and aching. He finally just sat down against the wall. He thought about hugging Cong-ge for warmth, but Cong-ge was simply too big—lying on top of him, it was hard to breathe.
Who knew how long he sat there freezing—eventually, You Yi dozed off in a daze.
In the middle of the night, Yi Xiaoyu got up to use the bathroom and heard a kitten meowing outside the door.
Yi Xiaoyu went to the entrance and opened the door.
As soon as the door swung open, he saw a palm-sized white kitten standing on the ground, looking up at him and meowing from time to time.
Yi Xiaoyu’s expression changed. He squatted down, extending a hand to the kitten. “Come on, little one. Up you go.”

The white kitten stuck out its tongue and licked Yi Xiaoyu’s fingers, then climbed into his palm.
Cradling the kitten and preparing to stand, Yi Xiaoyu happened to glance to the side—and abruptly saw the hulking figure slumped against the wall. He nearly dropped the kitten in fright.
“Fat… Fatty!” Yi Xiaoyu poked the unresponsive You Yi, who looked like a dead pig, his tone both annoyed and worried. “Are you crazy? How could you fall asleep here?”
He’d assumed You Yi would check into a hotel, not foolishly camp out in the cold.
Utter idiot!
You Yi opened his eyes and saw that familiar face right in front of him. He almost burst into tears. Grabbing Yi Xiaoyu’s leg, he sobbed, “Xiao Yu, I was wrong, I truly was wrong. Hit me if you want, punish me however you like.”
Yi Xiaoyu pushed at You Yi’s head. “Enough, enough. You’re embarrassing me to death—come inside.”
Once inside, You Yi took a hot shower, then wrapped himself in a thick blanket, sitting cross-legged on the sofa sipping hot tea.
Yi Xiaoyu mixed a basin of warm water and placed it by the heater, starting to bathe the little white cat. Cong-ge wagged his tail at Yi Xiaoyu’s knee, staring up at the kitten, now growing ever whiter as it was washed, excitedly bouncing his front paws and occasionally barking.
You Yi noticed the faint smile on Yi Xiaoyu’s lips as he watched the kitten, and his heart settled.
It seemed this kitten had won Xiao Yu’s favor.
“If we hadn’t found it tonight, it would have frozen to death out there,” You Yi remarked, still wrapped in his blanket as he ambled over to Yi Xiaoyu’s side, nudging his shoulder playfully and murmuring, “I remembered you like cats, that’s why I brought it home.”
Yi Xiaoyu paused, frowning. “How did you know I like cats?”
You Yi coughed. “Heh, we’ve been married two years—if I couldn’t figure that much out, what kind of husband would I be?”
Saying this, a pang of bitterness filled his heart.
Yi Xiaoyu couldn’t help laughing. “Fatty, I’d like you better without that mouth of yours.”
Yi Xiaoyu’s smile instantly melted away all of You Yi’s worries.
It had always been like this these past two years—no matter how big the quarrel, as soon as Yi Xiaoyu smiled, everything was fine again.
You Yi grabbed Yi Xiaoyu’s waist in a tight hug, rubbing his lips against his neck, his voice gruff and low. “Xiao Yu, damn it, I love you to death.”
Yi Xiaoyu jabbed an elbow back at You Yi, lips curving. He said nothing.
The kitten, now clean, was dried with a hairdryer. It looked stunning—pure white and lovely.
“What kind of cat is this? Looks so different now that it’s had a bath.” You Yi stroked the kitten’s soft fur, asking, “Is it some rare breed?”
“It’s just a common stray.”
“…Just a stray?” You Yi sounded disappointed, even regretful.
He’d meant to make it up to Xiao Yu with a cat—shouldn’t he have bought a beautiful, expensive one at the pet market, something worthy of Xiao Yu’s status?
But here he was, brainlessly bringing home an ordinary street stray as a peace offering.

“Xiao Yu, how about…” You Yi asked cautiously, “How about I go to the pet market tomorrow and buy a ragdoll cat? I saw them online—they’re gorgeous, with long fur and bright eyes. This one can’t compare.”
“No need,” Yi Xiaoyu replied without even glancing at him. “People who truly love cats don’t care much about breed. Since this one is fated to be with us, let’s keep it. Anyway, you’re a dog person—you wouldn’t understand. You just go get some supplies for the cat tomorrow.”
“Alright! I’ll buy only the best—same standard as Cong-ge’s. Oh, and Xiao Yu, the cat still doesn’t have a name. You should name it.”
“Yes, it needs a name.” Yi Xiaoyu stroked his chin, gazing at the little white cat lapping up milk. That soft, fluffy ball looked just like a snow dumpling.
“We’ll call him Tangyuan,” Yi Xiaoyu said with a gentle laugh.
“‘Tangyuan’? That’s a great name—makes me hungry just hearing it.”
“…Shut up.”
Tangyuan, living up to You Yi’s hopes, unknowingly eased the tension between them. In the end, You Yi managed to climb into bed, and as he hugged Yi Xiaoyu, he let out a long sigh of relief.
Damn, it was warm.
“Xiao Yu, I love you.”
“How many times have you said that?”
“I’ll treat you well, always.”
“That’s enough—aren’t you tired of talking?”
Utterly content, You Yi closed his eyes. Suddenly, the person in his arms spoke softly, “Fatty, did you go off the rails today because of Wen Ming?”
After calming down, Yi Xiaoyu had figured it out.
You Yi hesitated for a moment, then murmured, “Mm.”
Yi Xiaoyu sighed. “You’re as dumb as Cong-ge.”
You Yi muttered stubbornly, “Whatever, I just don’t like that Wen Ming.”
You Yi’s resentment toward Wen Ming wasn’t just because of his past with Yi Xiaoyu. It was more that Wen Ming shared a similar temperament with Xiao Yu. When they stood together, they looked a perfect match.
Yi Xiaoyu turned around and pinched You Yi’s chin, kissing his lips. “Fatty, don’t let your imagination run wild. If you’re always so suspicious, we’ll be heading for divorce before long… mm—”
You Yi hurriedly covered Yi Xiaoyu’s mouth—just hearing the word “divorce” sent a chill down his spine.
“Never say those words again,” You Yi said, quickly stripping off Yi Xiaoyu’s pajamas. “Tonight was an accident. I promise it won’t happen again. Xiao Yu, don’t ever mention that word.”
Yi Xiaoyu ruffled You Yi’s head with a soft laugh. “Alright.”
(YawnBro: What’s the happiest thing in life? One cat, one dog, and one You Yi~)