I Am Being Raised by a Cat - Chapter 23.1

Chapter 23.1

In the middle of the night, Cheng Yue became thirsty.

He sat up with his eyes almost closed, but before he could feel his way off the bed, he suddenly felt a tightening around his ankle.

Cheng Yue woke up instantly.

He looked down by the moonlight.

On his slender ankle, a thick golden tail was wrapped tightly.

Stupid leopard!!

The youth’s face turned stern as he looked down and heartlessly pulled the tail away with force.

The man had woken up the moment Cheng Yue made a move; he had always been highly vigilant, and even when sleeping, he was only in a light slumber.

However, he did not move, and even when Cheng Yue went to pull his tail away, he submissively let it go.

But just as Cheng Yue was about to get up, his waist was suddenly gripped by a powerful force. He was startled, and before he could struggle, the man’s burning chest pressed against his back.

The youth was about to die of anger. “What are you doing in the middle of the night?”

“I should be the one asking you.” The man’s large hand pressed against the back of the youth’s neck, giving it a slight squeeze. “What are you doing not sleeping?”

“Drinking water.”

Cheng Yue moved, wanting to shake off the man’s hand, but he was pressed down by the waist from behind and dragged into a hug. “I’ll carry you.”

Having a relapse again!!!

Cheng Yue gritted his teeth, wanting nothing more than to kick the man off the bed.

But even if he had the heart, he didn’t have the strength.

The man was as hard as a rock.

He was afraid he’d hurt his own foot by kicking him.

Before Cheng Yue could say anything else, the man directly picked him up and stood. Cheng Yue kicked the man’s shin as if to vent his frustration, only to have the man give his butt a squeeze neither light nor heavy.

“Don’t cause trouble.” Cheng Shang’s voice was a bit hoarse, carrying a thick sense of threat.

Leaving the room, the man carried the youth and placed him on the kitchen island, then turned to pour a glass of warm water for him.

Cheng Yue was still whispering complaints, “I could have had a drink with my eyes closed by myself, but you did this and woke me up completely.”

Cheng Shang chuckled. “With your eyes closed? Aren’t you afraid of falling and getting a head full of bumps?”

The youth held the glass and drank the water. He didn’t dare drink too much at night, fearing that if he wanted to go to the toilet later, the man would try to pull his pants down again.

After putting down the glass, Cheng Yue habitually reached out his hand, thinking the man would pick him up and carry him back.

But Cheng Shang did not move.

The youth grumbled with dissatisfaction, “What is it? Aren’t we going back to sleep?”

The man stared intently at Cheng Yue’s opening and closing red lips.

They had always been very soft, and right now, after drinking water, they appeared moist. As the dim light fell, that spot seemed to possess some kind of magic, constantly tempting the man.

Cheng Shang unconsciously drew closer bit by bit.

The man was never a kind person; he was a fierce beast. Once he smelled even a hint of meat, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from pouncing forward, chewing even the bones to pieces and swallowing them down.

“Cheng Shang!”

The youth’s voice suddenly became a bit louder. He was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open, and he was getting impatient. “If you aren’t going to sleep, move aside. I want to go back to sleep.”

Cheng Yue didn’t notice the man’s dark, heavy gaze. He was yawning repeatedly, only wanting to return to bed quickly.

The man let out a deep, restrained breath.

He didn’t speak again, bending over to scoop the person back into his embrace.

Sitting on the island had been a bit cold, but now pressed against that burning chest, the youth was so comfortable he didn’t want to move again. He closed his eyes, still commanding the man, “Hurry up, I’m so sleepy.”

He commanded his pet to serve him as if it were only right and proper.

Yet he had no idea that the status of pet and master had long since been reversed. The once submissive little kitten was now a leopard with fangs, having coveted this master for a long time.

The man carried the person in his arms up the stairs. No matter how dark the thoughts in his heart were, he suppressed them with sheer force.

Sharing a bed with the youth every day under the thick-skinned excuse of taking medicine—to Cheng Shang, was this not a form of torture?

He craved that bit of warmth, yet dared not make his feelings clear.

Cheng Shang knew the youth’s mind was simple; perhaps he still treated him as a cat, or perhaps as a long-time family member.

But no matter which one it was.

It wasn’t the kind Cheng Shang thirsted for.

Returning to the bed, the youth turned over and soon fell into a deep sleep. He had become much closer to the man these days, and lying on his side, he habitually drew close to Cheng Shang. Like a small animal seeking warmth, he rested his head against the side of the man’s chest. The shallow sound of breathing hit the man’s body, like an itch entering directly into his lungs and heart.

Poor Cheng Shang, however, found it hard to sleep.

He looked down at the person, raised his hand slightly, and very lightly touched the youth’s cheek. The soft texture was like the marshmallows he used to steal and eat when he was a cat; if bitten with the tips of the teeth, it would melt instantly.

Just like that, he stared down at the person for the entire night.

The next day was the weekend, and there were no classes at school. Cheng Yue naturally slept in. When he woke up, he was surprised to see that Cheng Shang was actually still beside him.

“Is today a public holiday too?” He was stunned, his voice still carrying the hoarseness of just waking up. “Why didn’t you go to work?”

The man was handling matters on his phone. Hearing this, he didn’t look up, but simply ruffled Cheng Yue’s hair, making the soft black hair messy.

“I’m not going. I’ll stay home to accompany you.”

Cheng Yue brushed off the man’s hand and snorted softly, “Occupying the position but not performing the duties. Someone like you will be pulled down from power sooner or later.”

Despite such unlucky words first thing in the morning, the man did not get angry. Instead, he put down his phone and raised an eyebrow slightly. “If I fall from power and can’t earn money, how will I raise you?”

“I need you to raise me?” Cheng Yue dove back into the quilt. “I am a great painter. I can earn a lot of money.”

This was the “pie in the sky” the youth used to paint most often for A-Shang.

When I become a great painter and earn money, I’ll buy you a room full of canned food. We’ll eat one can and throw one away.

Hearing these words, the man’s eyes softened uncontrollably. His heart felt itchy, and he wished he could press the person into his arms and kiss him forcefully, kiss him until the world went dark.

But in the end, he could only restrain himself, looking down as he patted the person inside the quilt. “Get up. You have to eat breakfast. Even if you’re sleepy, you have to eat before sleeping again.”

Cheng Yue poked a small head out irritably. “Why are you like this? You’ve really become my parent.”

The man curled his lips and stopped speaking, insisting on digging the person out of the covers and carrying him to wash up. Even the toothbrush was handed to his mouth with toothpaste already applied; the pampering was simply limitless.

But Cheng Yue only felt it was a bit embarrassing. After washing up, he hurriedly changed clothes and ran downstairs.

Unexpectedly, when he went downstairs, he saw Fang Cheng waiting in the living room. Seeing the two of them, he stood up to greet them, “Governor Cheng, Young Master, good morning.”

“Good morning, Assistant Fang!” Cheng Yue hadn’t felt hungry, but smelling the aroma of breakfast made his stomach start to rumble. “Have you eaten this morning?”

“Thank you, Young Master, I have eaten.”

The man came down the stairs, naturally raising his hand to help the youth straighten his collar. “Go eat breakfast first.”

Only after watching the youth sit down at the dining table did he nod to Fang Cheng, and the two went to the study.

Cheng Yue took a bite of a fried egg and gave a huff in his heart.

Talking about how skipping breakfast is bad he himself isn’t eating either.

But for some reason, without Cheng Shang by his side, the youth seemed to lack an appetite. He ate a few bites casually, put down his chopsticks, and went to lie on the sofa to watch TV.

When the two finished talking and came downstairs, Cheng Yue was just watching an exciting part.

“Not a single word of the news must reach Yue-Yue’s ears. He’s timid.”

Before coming downstairs, the man cautioned.

Fang Cheng nodded, then walked downstairs and glanced in Cheng Yue’s direction. On the huge screen, a ghost face suddenly slammed forward; the special effects were so well-done that Fang Cheng almost fainted from a sudden lack of breath.

Then he looked at the “timid” Cheng Yue that the man spoke of, who was watching intently with great interest.

Fang Cheng: “…” Fine, fine, I am just a part of your play.

The man didn’t care about what Fang Cheng was feeling. He waved his hand to signal that he could leave, while he himself walked to the side of the sofa, bracing both hands on the sides. He ignored the horror scenes on the screen and looked down at the youth. “You only ate a few bites before running over here, hm?”

“Oh, I’m full.”

As Cheng Yue spoke, his eyes were still fixed on the screen. Suddenly, seeing something, he pulled the man’s arm. “Do you know this male celebrity? He looks a bit like you. Is he also a leopard cat?”

The man’s face instantly darkened.

He raised his eyes slightly, looking at the screen with considerable ill-will, his tone chilly. “With a face full of blood, you can still see his looks.”

Cheng Yue looked carefully again. “I can see them. That nose, the mouth, oh, his physique is about the same as yours. Is it that all you New Humans look like this?”

The man was unwilling to listen any further.

He casually picked up the remote control nearby and turned off the power.

The screen went black instantly.

The youth’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

“Stop watching.” The man scooped the person up. “I’m taking you out to play today.”

Cheng Yue instantly perked up. “Where to?”

Cheng Shang stroked his hair and squeezed his earlobe. “Do you want to go shooting?”

There isn’t a single boy who doesn’t like such thrilling activities, especially Cheng Yue, who lived twenty years ago and had never touched a gun in his life.

“Really, really!” The youth hugged the man’s neck tightly, his eyes sparkling. “I want to go!!”

Cheng Shang curled his lips. He didn’t let go, and following the momentum, he patted the youth’s buttocks. “Let’s go, we’re heading out right now.”

Within the Federation, guns were ostensibly banned, but in reality, many people sold them on the black market. Some private firearm bases used real guns and live ammunition just for the thrill.

But bringing Cheng Yue along, the man naturally found a very legitimate venue.

Because the venue had been booked in advance, the huge place was empty. Even the boss wasn’t there, making it look like a self-service setup.

Cheng Yue couldn’t help but say, “Why do you make such a big display every time? Are you afraid someone will assassinate you? Then why don’t you hire bodyguards?”

Cheng Shang was amused. “I’m not afraid of assassination. I’m afraid of you.”

“Afraid of me for what?”

The smile on the man’s face faded slightly.

He paused and said casually, “I’m afraid you’ll be in danger.”

In reality, he didn’t want anyone else to see Cheng Yue.

Every minute and every second he spent with Cheng Yue, he wanted to lock this person up and hide him away.