My Wife, So Fierce! - Chapter 24.3

Opening the wardrobe, she found the clothes inside still well-preserved, all stored in dust-proof bags neither dirty nor musty.

She picked out a few outfits that might fit Shen Baiyi, stuffed them into a bag, then closed the wardrobe again.

She hadn’t been able to bring herself to throw anything away here. All the furniture and decorations remained exactly as they were before her father passed away. A part of her still clung to the hope that one day, she’d wake up and find him standing before her again.

But alas…

The things remained, but the people had changed.

Not lingering in the house filled with childhood memories, Zheng Yao grabbed what she needed and headed downstairs.

Outside, a light rain was falling.

Just as she managed to awkwardly toss the bag into the back seat while holding an umbrella, a faint, feeble mewl reached her ears.

That familiar sound…

Zheng Yao paused mid-motion and instinctively turned her head.

Crouched in the nearby bushes was a scrawny little kitten emaciated and filthy, its right eye seemingly glued shut, unable to open.

Drenched by the rain, its entire body trembled.

It looked even worse off than Bub had back then.

Without hesitation, Zheng Yao stepped closer and tilted her umbrella slightly, shielding the kitten from the icy raindrops.

Meow!

The kitten lifted its head and cried up at her.

“I already have Bub at home. I can’t take you in,” Zheng Yao muttered, frowning.

The kitten didn’t understand. All it knew was that someone had finally shown it kindness. Trembling, it struggled to its feet and tried to inch closer, its spindly legs barely able to support its body. Wobbly but determined, it took shaky steps forward.

Zheng Yao studied it in silence.

Dirty, scrawny, with an oversized head and ears, dark as a little mouse.

The light drizzle wasn’t heavy, but the chill in the air had sent the entire city scrambling back into their winter coats.

With the biting wind everywhere, a kitten like this wouldn’t last two days outside before freezing to death.

Watching as the kitten tumbled off the flowerbed, landing clumsily on its back, Zheng Yao’s frown deepened. “You don’t look too bright, and you’re definitely sick. You’d just pass it on to Bub.”

The kitten paid no mind. It was already trying to rub against her pant leg. Zheng Yao’s eye twitched, and she swiftly crouched down, grabbing it by the scruff before it could make contact.

It weighed almost nothing so light she lifted it effortlessly.

“You’re filthy, and you still want to rub against me?” Zheng Yao scoffed, half-amused. “After I kindly shielded you from the rain, this is how you repay me? Trying to dirty my clothes?”

Held by the scruff, the kitten froze in fear, its tiny tongue peeking out pitiful yet comical.

“Fine. Your punishment is a trip to the vet for some shots.”

Holding the kitten at arm’s length dirty, wet, and reeking, she wrinkled her nose in disgust.

Grabbing a plastic bag, she stuffed the kitten inside. Too scared to move, it stayed perfectly still. Satisfied, Zheng Yao hung the bag on the hook she usually used for takeout.

Changing her destination, she drove straight to the nearest vet.

Thanks to Bub, she was a regular at this pet hospital. Handing the kitten over to the vet with practiced ease, she said flatly, “Give this little thing a full checkup and treat whatever’s wrong with it. Charge it to my account.”

The doctor, who had been examining the kitten, looked up upon hearing this: “We’re running a promotion right now. You can top up your card with some more money. With two cats in the future, expenses might be a bit higher.”

Hearing this, Zheng Yao scowled: “What do you mean, two cats in the future? I only have Bubu. That one isn’t my cat just treat it and toss it outside when it’s better.”

After a pause, she added: “Wait until the weather’s warmer before tossing it out.”

The doctor neither agreed nor disagreed, cutting straight to the chase: “I remember you said the same thing when you first picked up Bubu.”

Zheng Yao: “…”

So she wouldn’t fall into the same trap twice, okay?!

“Dr. Zhuang,” she said expressionlessly, “you’re going to lose clients like this.”

Seeing her resort to threats, Zhuang Liulan chuckled: “Guess I’d better shut up quickly then.”

Only then did Zheng Yao look satisfied.

She and Zhuang Liulan had grown close because of Bubu. Zhuang Liulan was three years older, witty and approachable, a skilled vet who was patient and meticulous with animals. Plus, they were alumni, so Zheng Yao quite liked her.

Of course, she’d like her even more if the medical fees were a bit cheaper.

With a person and a cat waiting at home, Zheng Yao didn’t linger at the clinic. She and Zhuang Liulan had already exchanged WeChat, so she asked for the results to be sent there and drove straight back.

This weather wasn’t just unsuitable for kittens wandering outside, it wasn’t fit for tossing Shen Baiyi out either.

That slight frame would get blown away by the wind.

Since she was already staying, a few more days didn’t seem like such a big deal.

Better wait for clear skies. Good weather meant smooth sailing for everything.

Zheng Yao finally settled her mind.

Carrying a large bag of clothes, she opened the door to the sound of footsteps in the living room. Immediately, Shen Baiyi and Bubu came running over, stopping in perfect unison.

Two pairs of identical big eyes stared at her eagerly before speaking in sync:

“Jiejie, you’re back?”

Meow~

Zheng Yao paused.

The sight of someone greeting her at the door felt so nostalgic. She thought of her father, who used to rush over in an apron, carrying her schoolbag, asking how her day was and if she’d been happy. Her lips pressed together.

All her emotions seemed to retreat inward.

She cleared her throat and shoved the bag of clothes into Shen Baiyi’s arms. “Clothes. Wash them in the machine yourself. You can leave once they’re dry.”

The clothes were thick, they wouldn’t dry in a day.

“Okay.” Catching the implication, Shen Baiyi’s eyes sparkled as she smiled. “Thank you, jiejie.”

Zheng Yao ignored her, bending down to scoop up Bubu instead.

She’d already washed her hands and disinfected at the vet, but whether it was the lingering scent of another cat or the clinic’s smell that Bubu disliked, the cat struggled free after just two steps.

Then it looked up and scolded her fiercely: Meow!

As if it had caught the scent of another cat on her.

After a brief pang of guilt, Zheng Yao huffed defiantly: “Meow, meow, meow, what’s with all the meowing? You don’t do anything useful, just meow all day!”

It wasn’t like she’d brought another cat home. No need to act like she was cheating.

Moreover, despite her daily offerings of cat food, treats, and canned delicacies, the little ingrate never gave her a second glance, always clinging to Shen Baiyi instead.

It was far more affectionate with Shen Baiyi than it ever was with her.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Just as she turned the corner to head back to her room, Bubu came slinking over, pressing its body against her leg and leaving a trail of loose fur on her pants.

She sidestepped, but the moment she lifted her foot, it rubbed against her again, stubbornly glued to her leg.

“…”

Oh, so when she acted aloof, it suddenly became clingy, huh?

“Sis.”

Shen Baiyi’s voice came from behind. Zheng Yao narrowed her eyes and glared over. “What?”

“Is this your test paper?”

Zheng Yao froze. In Shen Baiyi’s hand was a crumpled exam sheet, the glaring red “44” at the top painfully vivid.

“…”

After a brief pause, Zheng Yao’s ears flushed. It really was hers.

The score was so low that her teacher had scolded her relentlessly. Worse, she’d been ordered to get it signed by a parent, leaving her too afraid to go home for hours.

In the end, she’d stuffed it into her pocket and returned. She’d meant to confess, but then her dad unexpectedly announced a vacation, making her so excited she completely forgot about the test.

Who knew it was still here?

She stiffened. “Yeah, it’s mine. Got a problem?”

Shen Baiyi quickly shook her head. As she handed the paper back, she couldn’t help adding, “Your handwriting is really pretty.”

Was it?

Zheng Yao instinctively looked down.

Though some ink had smudged after a wash, most of the writing remained intact neat, with a hint of childishness, not as sharp as her current script, but undeniably nice.

Suppressing the urge to smirk, Zheng Yao kept her tone indifferent. “It’s alright. Just entered a few calligraphy competitions, that’s all.”

Shen Baiyi’s admiration was barely contained. “That’s amazing! You must’ve won a lot of awards, right?”

“Not really.” Zheng Yao wasn’t one to exaggerate. She crossed her arms. “Won three times, then got bored and stopped.”

“Why?” Shen Baiyi tilted her head.

“Three wins were enough to prove my skill.” Zheng Yao leveled her gaze at Shen Baiyi, dead serious. “You think I’m the type to brag about awards all day?”

Shen Baiyi’s eyes sparkled like stars. At the question, she shook her head vigorously. “Of course not!”

Her voice was firm.

Then, softly, she added, “You’re just… really amazing.”

Her head drooped slightly.

She didn’t even know if her own handwriting was any good. What if it was ugly? Would Sis look down on her?

After all, Sis’s writing was so beautiful.

“It’s not that impressive.” Zheng Yao shrugged, her cold facade nearly melted away. She feigned nonchalance. “If you behave, I might lend you some treasured calligraphy books. Practice enough, and yours won’t be bad either.”

When she was little, her handwriting was like chicken scratch. Her dad bought her a stack of copybooks, but she hid several of them to avoid practicing.

“Thank you, sister.” Hearing this, Shen Baiyi looked up, her smile barely containable as she nodded vigorously. “I’ll be really good, I promise!”

Her sister was even willing to give her copybooks she’d treasured for years.

“Being good doesn’t mean obsessing over chores,” Zheng Yao felt the need to clarify. “I’m letting you stay temporarily, but that doesn’t make you our housekeeper. Don’t do unnecessary things just stay put, read books, watch TV.”

At this point, Zheng Yao paused.

If this girl were to return to school, she’d either be in her second or third year of high school. If it were the third year, she shouldn’t waste time watching TV now.

“No TV,” she quickly corrected herself. “You’re about to take the college entrance exams, stay focused and study hard.”

As usual, Shen Baiyi nodded obediently. “Okay.”

Her sister cared about her studies too.

Zheng Yao no longer had any high school textbooks or materials, but fortunately, Shen Baiyi’s tattered backpack still contained quite a few high school books.

She told Shen Baiyi to go to her room and study, then added after some thought, “If you don’t recognize any words in the books, come find me.”

Who knew if her amnesia had erased all that knowledge?

But Zheng Yao doubted it. Shen Baiyi hadn’t even forgotten how to cook, how could she forget her studies? She seemed perfectly normal aside from her unusually bright expression and the fact that she didn’t recognize people or remember things.

Back in her room, Zheng Yao noticed a message from her editor.

There were a few minor revisions needed for the manuscript, but nothing major.

Zheng Yao instantly became the happiest woman alive.

After replying to the editor, she was about to settle in and make the edits when she suddenly realized it was almost 11 p.m.

Normally, 11 p.m. wouldn’t require any special consideration, but now she had to decide whether to order takeout or cook.

Her cooking skills were abysmal, even dogs wouldn’t eat what she made. But asking Shen Baiyi to cook felt like she was exploiting the poor girl.

Shen Baiyi was injured and sick, she needed nutritious food to recover, right?

At this thought, Zheng Yao sucked in a sharp breath.

She really should have bought some ribs or brain-boosting supplements for Shen Baiyi on the way home. She could deduct it from the compensation money, it wouldn’t be unfair.

And there was something else she’d overlooked.

When Shen Baiyi fell down the stairs, she must have hurt more than just her head, right?

The big bandage around Shen Baiyi’s head had drawn all her attention, even though Shen Baiyi had left the hospital with a bag of medicine. Zheng Yao hadn’t even asked where else she was injured.

So troublesome…

Zheng Yao couldn’t help but sigh again.

She seemed stuck in a vicious cycle on one hand, she pitied Shen Baiyi and couldn’t bring herself to kick her out; on the other, taking her in was such a hassle, adding so many things to worry about.

Raising Bubba had already been exhausting enough. She’d just gotten past the beginner phase and started feeling more relaxed, but now it was like she was back at square one.

Though Shen Baiyi was much less trouble than Bubba, she was still mentally draining.

There’s still a difference between humans and cats.

She got up and walked out. By coincidence, she saw Shen Baiyi about to scoop rice just as she stepped outside.

“Wait a moment,” she quickly called out to Shen Baiyi. “We’ll order takeout for lunch.”

“But we still have plenty of vegetables bought yesterday,” Shen Baiyi pursed her lips. “Sister, vegetables lose their freshness if kept too long.”

But Zheng Yao had already made up her mind: “Save them for dinner.”

Hearing this, a light appeared in Shen Baiyi’s eyes: “Okay!”

Sister liked the breakfast she made perhaps that was why she had softened again and allowed her to stay one more day.

“Then sister doesn’t need to order my portion,” she pointed at the bowl of corn porridge on the table. “There’s still some porridge left from this morning. I can just eat that.”

Hearing this, Zheng Yao responded succinctly: “Shut up.”

She would be enjoying delicious food while letting Shen Baiyi eat leftovers from the morning? How could that be right?

Seeing that sister didn’t like hearing this, Shen Baiyi immediately covered her mouth and nodded meekly: “Oh.”

Bubu rubbed against her feet. Shen Baiyi cautiously glanced at Zheng Yao, trying to ease the atmosphere: “Sister, Bubu is so cute!”

Zheng Yao looked down at Bubu’s plump, round body, her eyes softening slightly, though her words remained dismissive: “Cute? A little stray picked from the garbage dump, full of flaws and a waste of money.”

Picked from the garbage dump?

Shen Baiyi was momentarily distracted.

Sister could take such good care of Bubu, even though he was found in the trash. Staying by sister’s side must be really blissful, right?

–

At noon, Zheng Yao didn’t order anything unhealthy. Instead, she deliberately went to a restaurant and ordered nutritious home-style dishes, mostly meat, with even the soup being cordyceps flower chicken soup.

The table was laden with food.

Shen Baiyi gasped: “This must have cost sister a lot of money, right?”

This kid everything she said revolved around money.

After a moment of silence, Zheng Yao took a deep breath: “Stop thinking about saving money. You have a million saved with me, enough for your daily expenses.”

“A million?” Shen Baiyi froze.

“Compensation from your stepmother.” Zheng Yao didn’t want to elaborate on this and only said sternly, “I’ll transfer five thousand to you every month. After you graduate from university, I’ll give you the remaining sum in one go.”

“The money previously transferred to you was probably spent by your uncle’s family. I’ll sue to recover it, but if it can’t be recovered, consider it your own bad luck. I won’t take responsibility for that.”

“Later, I’ll take you to open a new bank card. Remember the password yourself. Every month, I’ll give you five thousand as usual. If you have major expenses, like tuition or medical fees, you can contact me, and I’ll deduct it from that sum.”

Shen Baiyi frowned: “Give all that money to sister.”

“Huh?” Zheng Yao thought she had misheard. “What did you say?”

“I said, give all that money to sister,” Shen Baiyi repeated earnestly. Though she couldn’t remember anything, she instinctively felt she wouldn’t accept this money. Besides, compared to money, she cherished the time spent with sister more.

If only she could use this money to make sister agree to let her stay by her side.

“What kind of joke is this?” Zheng Yao’s expression turned cold. “That money is yours. Why give it to me?”

She no longer had any connection to Bai Yuanzhu, she wouldn’t accept Bai Yuanzhu’s compensation money.

Her cold expression was still somewhat intimidating. Seeing Shen Baiyi’s unease and nervousness, Zheng Yao was about to soften her expression when she heard Shen Baiyi speak again: “I’m not joking. I’ll give all the money to you, sister. Just promise you won’t drive me away in the future, okay?”

Zheng Yao froze.

Was this Shen Baiyi’s plan all along?

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