After Her Death, They Begged for Forgiveness - Chapter 22

Song Guanjin noticed that since she mentioned adopting the kitten, Xu Bingqi had been contacting her much more frequently.

And…

Staring at the search results for “kitten” in their chat history, Song Guanjin fell into thought.

There were actually over 40 messages about “kitten” in a single day.

Before this, their entire day’s chat history combined wouldn’t even reach 40 messages, and that was only because she initiated conversations to keep their chat streak alive.

What did this mean?

Did it mean that Xu Bingqi’s current 99+ daily messages were solely because she was more interested in how Song Guanjin was raising the kitten?

As her phone continued to vibrate incessantly, Song Guanjin stared at Xu Bingqi’s new messages, lost in thought.

[What did you name the kitten?]

[Did you take it for deworming and a check-up?]

[Can you take a few more photos of the kitten?]

[Actually, if it’s convenient, a video would be best.]

Looking at the endless stream of messages from Xu Bingqi, Song Guanjin felt her vision darken again and again.

She seemed to understand how a human child might feel when faced with an exam paper spread out on the desk that looked like an incomprehensible sacred text.

Student Song Guanjin decided to start by answering the first question.

[Named it Pomegranate.]

The other party replied quickly: [Why Pomegranate? Because it’s round and chubby?]

Answering one question actually came with a bonus follow-up question. Fortunately, Student Song Guanjin was prepared: [Because today is the 16th, and “sixteen” sounds like “pomegranate” in Chinese.]

Such a simple reason left Xu Bingqi momentarily speechless.

With the first question answered, Student Song Guanjin smoothly moved on to the second question.

Did she need deworming and a check-up?

Absolutely not! There was no kitten in the world healthier or cleaner than herself!

As a kitten who had humans completely fooled, her intelligence was extraordinarily high. When she signed her acting contract, she had already undergone a thorough check-up from head to toe at a human hospital. Did she really need another check-up as a cat?

Even Xu Bingqi asking this question felt like an insult to her, a cat!

Student Guanjin confidently replied: [No need for check-up or deworming.]

[You do need to.]

Facing Song Guanjin’s response, Xu Bingqi paused for a few seconds before replying, then added: [Stray cats all need check-ups first, and they need vaccinations too. Guanjin, did you not do any research beforehand?]

Was it really this troublesome?

Song Guanjin somewhat regretted lying to Xu Bingqi about adopting a kitten.

There was no way she could take herself to the pet hospital.

Her phone continued to vibrate endlessly.

[Guanjin, you should find time soon to take the kitten for a check-up and vaccinations.]

[Location]

[This pet hospital is very responsible and has a great reputation.]

Song Guanjin quickly interrupted: [I’ve been really busy lately, might need to wait a while.]

Xu Bingqi tilted her head while looking at her phone. If she remembered correctly, wasn’t Song Guanjin about to start filming soon?

She was starting to worry that Song Guanjin’s enthusiasm for adopting the kitten was fading and that she was becoming careless about taking care of it.

[Guanjin, do you not want to keep Pomegranate anymore?]

Song Guanjin breathed a sigh of relief.

She really didn’t want to continue playing this boring cosplay game with Xu Bingqi anymore.

Moreover, the topic of cat care was taking up too much of Xu Bingqi’s attention. Now, she and Xu Bingqi hardly ever discussed any other topics.

Just as she was about to reply with a definite answer, she saw another message from Xu Bingqi: 【If you’re thinking of giving it up, can you give Pomegranate to me? I’ll take good care of it.】

No! Absolutely not!

The cat frantically typed her reply: 【How could I give it up! I just haven’t had time to take it for vaccinations lately.】

Although Song Guanjin’s attitude seemed a bit odd, based on her understanding of her, she probably wasn’t lying.

【I have time.】

【I’ve just finished the commissioned composition work, and I plan to take a break for a while to find inspiration.】

The cat’s eyes were full of confusion, as if she had been hit by a paralysis spell, frozen in place.

Xu Bingqi has time?

What does she have time for?

【I’ll take Pomegranate for its checkup and vaccinations.】

Song Guanjin fell into thought again.

She felt like she had overused her brain that day, and her mind was clearly running much slower than usual.

After a long while, she slowly typed: 【No need, I’ll hire someone to take it for the checkup.】

Song Guanjin had already made up her mind: there was no way she was getting vaccinated. She could just find a few pictures online, edit them, and pass them off as proof.

She didn’t want to watch such a thick needle piercing her sleek, muscular leg.

【It’s fine, I’ll take Pomegranate for the checkup.】

【Are you free tomorrow morning? I’ll come find you.】

Song Guanjin drooped her head. She knew this woman was even more domineering than she had imagined.

Usually, she acted like a caring older sister, but at critical moments, she completely ignored the wishes of the victimized cat herself.

But what could she, a weak cat who had just entered human society and couldn’t fight back, do?

Of course!

Pretend to agree to Xu Bingqi’s request, and then make a run for it the moment Xu Bingqi opened the door!

Xu Bingqi always appeared gentle and composed in her daily life, moving with an unhurried ease. How could such slow movements possibly outpace her?

And once she escaped, she wouldn’t have to keep talking about cats with Xu Bingqi anymore!

She could go back to sharing with her sister what she ate, what clouds she saw, which movies were good, and what new compositions her sister had been working on lately.

The little cat instantly regained her confidence.

【Sure.】

【Address?】

【The door code is 7658. I won’t be home tomorrow morning.】

Not home in the morning? It seemed Song Guanjin really was busy lately, Xu Bingqi thought.

But this way, she could also get some alone time with Pomegranate. Xu Bingqi unconsciously tapped her phone screen, her eyes brimming with barely concealed anticipation.

The next morning at 8:30, Xu Bingqi arrived at Song Guanjin’s doorstep.

She had already imagined in her mind the adorable scene of Pomegranate rubbing affectionately against her feet, occasionally lifting its head with a proud, aloof expression.

As soon as the door cracked open, a yellow-and-white bolt of lightning shot out from the gap.

Only to be firmly blocked by Xu Bingqi.

“That trick won’t work on me.”

Xu Bingqi crouched down, meeting the gaze of the cat whose emerald eyes were frozen in shock: “Little Pomegranate, I caught you.”

Song Guanjin fell into deep doubt.

She considered herself one of the best among cats, gifted and talented, having successfully taken human form after just a few centuries of cultivation. And yet, she was stopped by this seemingly unhurried human?

“You remind me so much of a little kitten from my past life,” Xu Bingqi said, picking up the cat and carrying it back inside. “So clumsy, yet so eager to play.”

Until the door closed, Song Guanjin’s unfocused gaze gradually sharpened, pulling her back to reality from the recent shock.

Had her escape plan failed?

It didn’t matter, it must have been because she had underestimated the situation. She could always create another opportunity.

“Pomegranate, you’re so adorable! Our Pomegranate is the cutest little cat in the whole world!”

The newly alert kitten was once again startled, her previously relaxed body instantly tensing up.

Was that Xu Bingqi’s voice?

Xu Bingqi’s usual tone was always as cold and detached as unmelted snow atop a mountain peak, how could it possibly sound so, cloyingly sweet?

How could she have two completely different attitudes toward humans and cats?

Had Xu Bingqi ever called her adorable when she was in human form?

After carefully reviewing all her memories of Xu Bingqi three times, Song Guanjin concluded, “Maybe she did, but I can’t recall it right now.”

Just as she was earnestly pondering for the fourth time, a warm, electric-like sensation brushed against her neck, and the kitten’s heart fluttered as if gently stroked by a feather.

The kitten’s jade-green pupils trembled slightly as she prepared to turn and see what this domineering human was doing to her.

“Let your sister give you another kiss, okay?”

Song Guanjin’s brain completely short-circuited.

“Our little Pomegranate is silently agreeing so well-behaved.”

When the warm, gentle touch returned for the second time, Song Guanjin’s still-rebooting brain hadn’t recovered. Her fur bristled slightly, and her ears pressed tightly against her head.

She refused to accept a human like Xu Bingqi, who had no sense of boundaries!

Xu Bingqi felt the kitten’s fur stand on end and locked eyes with her in mutual astonishment, each seeing shock reflected in the other’s gaze.

“Even though you look very similar,” Xu Bingqi studied the kitten seriously, shaking her head with a sigh, “the little cat I had before never refused my kisses.”

Song Guanjin felt her spirit suffer another blow.

This seemingly gentle but cunning and overbearing human had actually kissed other cats before?

And she had the nerve to say it right in front of her?

Was this what humans called “settling for a substitute”?

This despicable human had kissed her now and even compared her to other cats, treating her as nothing more than a replacement!

Song Guanjin felt there was some truth to the human concept of “self-discipline in solitude.”

Take this utterly cunning human before her, for example, she put on a cool and composed front when Song Guanjin was in human form, but the moment no one was around, she revealed her true, heartless nature.

Once she regained her human form, the first thing she would do was block and delete this unrepentant woman.

She, Song Guanjin, had misjudged people before, but from now on, she would never rely solely on her intuition to determine a human’s trustworthiness.

“But it’s okay,” Xu Bingqi stroked the kitten’s lowered head. “Once we get to know each other better, you won’t refuse me anymore. Now, it’s time for your check-up.”

Song Guanjin thought there might be some wisdom in humans consulting the almanac before going out.

Though it was already too late for that now.

Song Guanjin tensed her muscles, quietly gathering strength, ready to bolt out at top speed the moment Xu Bingqi opened the door and escape the clutches of this heartless woman.

And then she was placed into a pet carrier by Xu Bingqi.

“Guanjin doesn’t seem to have a carrier here. Good thing I prepared one in advance.”

Xu Bingqi looked at the panting cat in the carrier and said, “Pomegranate, you seem really uncomfortable, huh? But don’t worry, you’ll get used to it gradually.”

Song Guanjin, trapped inside the carrier, felt as if the sky were falling.

The pet hospital wasn’t far, and Xu Bingqi soon arrived nearby. He planned to park the car first and walk the short remaining distance.

But as soon as he lifted the carrier out, he spotted a familiar figure.

It was Xiao Hua, Jiang Ruo’s boyfriend from his past life, the male lead of Favoritism: The Beloved Crowd-Pleaser.

Xiao Hua had long forgotten the promise he’d made to Jiang Ruo. Though he had been captivated at first sight, searching for Xu Bingqi proved too difficult. After spending half a day trying, he could only commit Xu Bingqi’s appearance to memory before giving up entirely.

Yet sometimes the unexpected happens even a casual stroll brought him face to face with Xu Bingqi.

His luck really was as reliable as ever.

A faint smile curled at the corner of Xiao Hua’s lips. There truly was an inexplicable, almost mystical, aura of fortune surrounding him.

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