Did My Wife Break Up With Me Today? - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: “Take off your pants and let me see.”

When Xu Jingmo arrived, he saw a wet rabbit and a wet kitten by the side of the road in the rain.

The “rabbit” was sitting under a tree, propping an umbrella against the edge of a flower bed. Beneath the umbrella cowered a drenched kitten. Chen Kongqing was leaning over, inspecting the little creature, which seemed to be in poor condition.

He didn’t notice anything until a pair of thin-soled, handmade leather shoes appeared in his downward line of sight. When he looked up, a black umbrella was already tilted over his head.

“Dr. Xu…”

For the first time, Chen Kongqing saw a trace of suppressed anger in those ink-dark phoenix eyes. He was momentarily stunned. He thought he had been too much of a bother; the rain was heavy, the sky was dark, and it was only natural for Dr. Xu to be annoyed.

He was just about to apologize.

“Why aren’t you holding your umbrella? Do you want to catch a cold again?”

Xu Jingmo spoke first. Chen Kongqing remembered this tone. It was like the way he asked about his leg injury at the bar—like a strict parent.

He didn’t know how to explain that he had just slipped and fallen, getting soaked, and then spotted a tiny kitten hidden in the grass while trying to get up. The kitten looked like a small towel swollen with rainwater; its eyes were squeezed shut. When he reached out, the kitten struggled to flee, so he had to stop. Since he was already soaked, he decided to give the umbrella to the cat.

“There isn’t much rain under the tree… The cat—I found a cat, it doesn’t look well.” The damp “rabbit” tilted his head back. His willow-leaf eyes were misty from the rain, and the corners were tinged with red. “I didn’t know where to put it.”

He wanted to take the stray kitten home, but then he suddenly remembered that he was essentially a wanderer himself.

“Get in the car with me first.” Xu Jingmo admitted he hadn’t controlled his emotions well when he saw Chen Kongqing standing in the rain without an umbrella. This rabbit always failed to take care of himself.

“Can… can the cat come in the car?” Chen Kongqing didn’t know why, but Dr. Xu was the only person he could think of just now. He had called him instinctively. Now he felt terribly embarrassed—sitting in someone’s car soaked to the bone, bringing a stray cat along.

Suddenly, the black umbrella handle was thrust into his palm. “Hold it. I’m going to get a cardboard box from the trunk for the cat.”

Before Chen Kongqing could react, the man was already heading through the rain toward the back of the car. The rain wasn’t heavy now; it was a fine, cold drizzle. The man in the cashmere overcoat didn’t look flustered at all, returning with a small cardboard box with composed strides.

Xu Jingmo leaned down, picked up the raindrop-covered kitten from under the umbrella, and placed it in the box. The kitten extended a tiny, soft paw and meowed at the top of its lungs.

Chen Kongqing stood up, picked up the other umbrella, and stretched his arm to hold it over the man’s head. Xu Jingmo turned around at that exact moment.

The youth inadvertently lifted his gaze and fell defenselessly into those deep phoenix eyes. Even though they weren’t standing that close, Chen Kongqing felt as if their breaths were intertwining.

In the cold, rainy winter of Kun City, the streets were filled with frigid air. Yet, for some reason, a wave of heat rose within Chen Kongqing’s body. They stood frozen like that for a few seconds until a few raspy meows cut through the air.

The wet rabbit finally snapped back to his senses. “Dr. Xu… you hold the umbrella, don’t get wet.”

Xu Jingmo held the box with both hands. “It’s fine, you keep it. I’m worried I’ll drop this little guy.”

“I’ll walk you over.”

“Two umbrellas are hard to manage. It’s okay, the rain isn’t heavy.” The man prepared to walk with the box.

Chen Kongqing suddenly thought of a solution. “Then I’ll close one, and we’ll share.”

Holding two was possible, but Dr. Xu was a good head taller than him and had a faster stride; he was worried he might accidentally poke the man’s eye while trying to keep up. Sharing one was more convenient.

Xu Jingmo retracted his step, a nearly imperceptible curve forming at the corners of his lips. “That works. Thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you, Dr. Xu.” Chen Kongqing closed his smaller umbrella and held the large black one over both of them and the kitten.

The distance between them narrowed unconsciously. The scent of Earl Grey tea melded into his breath once again. Their arms were nearly touching. Detecting the tea scent, Chen Kongqing suddenly remembered he had spent the whole day among herbs; he probably smelled strongly of them. Dr. Xu would surely find it unpleasant.

Thinking this, he pointedly stepped a bit further to the side.

Xu Jingmo said nothing and didn’t even shift his gaze, but his grip on the cardboard box tightened slightly.

Once at the car, Chen Kongqing was ushered into the passenger seat. Xu Jingmo got in with the kitten, turned the heater to the maximum, and placed the box near the air vent. The kitten was still crying, opening its tiny mouth, but the volume was very limited.

Chen Kongqing sat stiffly in the seat, feeling like he was getting everything wet.

“Use some tissues.” The man produced a pack of tissues from somewhere and handed it to him.

“Thanks.” Chen Kongqing took them and wiped his hands and sleeves, realizing it was largely futile.

Xu Jingmo frowned. “Take off your coat.”

The youth nodded and obediently began to shed the outer layer. Beneath the wet coat, he was only wearing a thin, light V-neck sweater in a misty blue color. It made his skin look so pale it seemed to glow with a misty silver light.

Chen Kongqing folded the rain-soaked coat inside-out and laid it across his lap. Taking it off did feel much better. He happened to look up and saw Dr. Xu watching him.

The man suddenly raised his index finger and pointed to his own cheek. Chen Kongqing followed the gesture and saw that the man’s temple was indeed damp with rain.

Does he want me to help him wipe it? He probably didn’t want to touch his face with his hands since he just handled the kitten.

Thinking this, he quickly pulled out two tissues and reached over. Through the tissue, the youth’s cool fingers touched the man’s temple. Chen Kongqing wiped very carefully, his movements slow and thorough. The man didn’t move at first, staying perfectly still. After a few seconds, he tilted his face slightly to make it easier for Chen Kongqing.

The youth’s gaze swept over the man’s face like soft moonlight. His faint breath brushed lightly past.

“It’s clean,” Chen Kongqing said, slowly leaning back. He noticed the man’s face was somewhat tense. “What… is something wrong?”

“Nothing.” The man’s lips moved, his gaze falling on Chen Kongqing’s rain-streaked face. Gravity pulled a droplet down his jawline, where it fell from his chin.

Drip.

A very soft sound, but because the kitten had stopped crying and the car was so quiet, they both heard it.

Xu Jingmo looked at the wet rabbit, suppressing the urge to reach out himself. “I was going to say, on your face…”

Chen Kongqing reacted with a delay, his ears turning beet red instantly. “Oh… I… I’ll wipe it.”

No wonder… why would Dr. Xu ask me to wipe his face?

Chen Kongqing scrambled to wipe his own face and hair as the man stepped on the gas.

“There was an emergency meeting today. I left my phone in the office and didn’t see your message,” the man said as he turned onto the main road. “I had just finished when you called. My apologies.”

“It’s okay,” Chen Kongqing nodded, his ears still burning.

The box in front of the heater moved slightly as the revived kitten flailed its limbs. Chen Kongqing reached out to hold the box, carefully drying the little thing with tissues.

“Should I take you back? Or…”

“Ling Xiao is allergic to cat hair. I…” The youth bit his lip. He didn’t know what to do with the kitten. He couldn’t leave it to die, but he couldn’t take it home.

“Then leave it with me for foster care, do you agree?” Xu Jingmo asked. This heavy rain and the feeling of the youth’s fingers on his cheek had almost made him forget. Forget that a person named Ling Xiao even existed.

“Dr. Xu… are you willing to raise it?” Chen Kongqing confirmed, his lips trembling like a nervous rabbit.

“I am,” Xu Jingmo replied with a slight smile. “Will you come to my place together? Or should I drop you off first and take the cat?”

“Together. I’ll help set up a nest for the cat.” Chen Kongqing pursed his lips; he found the cat, he shouldn’t just hand it off and disappear.

“Alright.”

Another red light appeared. It reminded him of the red light from that other day. It reminded him of the phone call that disrupted everything. It reminded him of Ling Xiao. Fortunately, when the light turned green, no abrupt ringtone echoed in the car. The youth beside him kept his head down, watching the cat.

“We’re here.” Forty minutes later, the car pulled into an underground garage.

“Meow.” The tiny kitten was the first to speak, as if in response.

Chen Kongqing carried the box and followed Xu Jingmo out. The garage was spacious, leading to a “one elevator per household” layout. He glanced at the elevator display.

Tinglan Manor.

He had heard of it; it was a high-end luxury apartment complex recently built in Kun City. Chen Kongqing lowered his eyes and clutched the box a bit tighter, feeling out of place.

He had fallen earlier, and his buttocks… were a bit numb. His thigh also felt like it had been scraped, stinging with heat. Now it was starting to throb in tandem with the area of his previous surgery.

Xu Jingmo looked at the youth, who was as thin as the cat, with mist still clinging to the ends of his hair. With a ding, the elevator doors slid open. Chen Kongqing took a small step out with the box.

The creases and spots of mud on the youth’s casual pants caught Xu Jingmo’s eye. It was obvious he had fallen. The man’s pupils darkened.

“Is it here?” Chen Kongqing stood before the entrance door, turning slightly, only to meet the man’s chilly gaze.

“Yes.” Xu Jingmo looked away and stepped forward to open the door.

Chen Kongqing felt something was off, but he followed him into the apartment. His leg was finally registering the pain, causing him to limp slightly during those few steps. Just as he crossed the threshold…

The door clicked shut behind him, followed by a deep voice:

“Take off your pants and let me see.”