Rebirth: Using Love as an Excuse for Cruelty - Chapter 6

The moment he heard Yu Linfei’s voice, Wen Cheng finally felt the pressure on him loosen. Fresh air rushed into his nose. Wen Cheng didn’t even have the strength to meow. He lay in the basket, panting weakly, feeling a sharp pain in his lungs as he breathed in the cold air.

“What are you doing?” Holding two cups of steaming tea, Yu Linfei’s voice was very cold.

“Oh…” Qin Xin was stunned for a moment but reacted quickly. She pouted her red lips and looked aggrieved. “I just wanted to touch him, but he scratched me. Linfei, this cat is so mean.”

Yu Linfei said nothing. He put the tea on the table and looked at Wen Cheng, who was shivering in the basket.

“Look, Linfei.” Qin Xin reached out her hand to complain first, her eyes instantly filling with tears. “Look, my skin was scratched. Has he been vaccinated?? This cat is so annoying!!”

Wen Cheng didn’t expect this woman to be so shameless. Having recovered slightly, he looked up and glared at Qin Xin. However, his big, watery eyes didn’t look scary at all.

“Xiao Hei.” Guessing what Qin Xin had done, Yu Linfei hesitated for a moment before picking Wen Cheng up and holding him in his arms. It seemed Wen Cheng was quite frightened; he stayed still as Yu Linfei held him. The warmth from Yu Linfei’s body reached him, making Wen Cheng’s tense nerves relax a little.

“…” Seeing Yu Linfei ignore her and hold the cat instead, Qin Xin felt even more upset. She bit her lip and said, “Linfei, stop raising a cat. How about I give you a dog? You can pick any breed you want!”

“I am not so poor that I need others to give me things,” Yu Linfei replied, completely ignoring her suggestion.

“Then don’t keep a cat!!” Qin Xin seemed to truly hate cats. Seeing how gently Yu Linfei treated Wen Cheng made her angry. “What’s so good about a cat!”

“Whether I keep a cat or not is my business.” Yu Linfei was getting impatient. He knew Qin Xin must have done something to Xiao Hei, but he couldn’t completely break ties with her yet. He had no choice but to endure it.

“Fine.” Knowing she couldn’t change his mind, Qin Xin gave up.

“Do you have anything else to say?” While comforting the frightened little thing in his arms, Yu Linfei looked coldly at Qin Xin, who was sitting silently. If this woman didn’t still have some value, she wouldn’t even be allowed in his house.

“Yes, my father told me to tell you,” Qin Xin felt nervous under Yu Linfei’s cold, all-knowing gaze, but she still said why she came. “Spend the New Year at our house this year.”

“I will tell him myself.” Feeling his patience being tested again, Yu Linfei told her to leave. “You should go now, I have things to do.”

“Alright…” Qin Xin looked at the cat in Yu Linfei’s arms with a twisted expression, but she quickly put on a smile again. “I’ll leave first. See you in a few days.”

“Mhm,” Yu Linfei responded coldly and watched her leave.

This woman… Stroking Wen Cheng’s back to calm him down, Yu Linfei thought that marrying her was impossible. He didn’t know what his father was thinking. Even though she was pretty and from a good family, her annoying personality made him completely uninterested.

“Xiao Hei, did she bully you?” Looking at the listless cat on his lap, Yu Linfei squeezed Wen Cheng’s ear. “Why are you so silly? If she dares to bully you, scratch her hard. If you scratch her, I’ll take the blame.”

“Meow.” Wen Cheng looked at Yu Linfei with disdain. He thought: The problem is whether I can actually reach her!

“Alright, alright.” Yu Linfei laughed, feeling better. “Let’s make a bed for Xiao Hei.”

With that, Yu Linfei put Wen Cheng back in the basket and started trying to build a bed for him near his bedroom using some cloth.

“Meow.” Wen Cheng struggled to climb out of the basket. He felt very miserable. Why is this sofa so high?! Why!!! And that jerk Yu Linfei was ignoring him! Doesn’t he know humans have needs. Ugh… does he have to go right here on the sofa??

No! If he really did that, Yu Linfei might actually kill him. Wen Cheng wiped a tear away… forget it, if you want something done right, do it yourself!!

He gritted his teeth and climbed down the sofa. He lost his balance and rolled across the floor. His smooth fur became messy and a strand of hair stuck up on his head, making him look dazed and pitiful.

But Wen Cheng didn’t know how silly he looked. He sniffed his nose and ran toward the bathroom with small steps.

Then, tragedy happened. When Wen Cheng happily ran to the toilet, he realized the toilet was way taller than him. If he wanted to go, he could only go on the floor next to it.

This is so frustrating. Wen Cheng thought sadly. Why does he always face such embarrassing problems? How can he tell people he can’t climb a toilet??

But solving the problem was the most important thing. Wen Cheng had to go find Yu Linfei to tell him about his urgent problem. Holding it in was too embarrassing.

Forgetting he was a cat, Wen Cheng ran over to Yu Linfei, who was squatting on the floor working on the bed. He bit Yu Linfei’s pant leg and made a whimpering sound.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Hei?” Although he was surprised by how much the cat understood, Yu Linfei didn’t think too much of it. He reached out and touched the silly strand of hair on Wen Cheng’s head. “Are you hungry?”

He was a little hungry, but the bathroom was more important!! Wen Cheng meowed anxiously and took two steps toward the bathroom.

“Oh, does Xiao Hei want to use the bathroom?” Instantly understanding, a mischievous smile flashed in Yu Linfei’s eyes. “But cats use litter boxes. Did He Yi take you to a toilet?”

“Meow!!” Wen Cheng was about to explode. He circled Yu Linfei’s feet, making anxious noises. Damn it!! If this jerk doesn’t take me to the bathroom, I’m going to pee on his foot!!

Not knowing Wen Cheng was at his limit, Yu Linfei wanted to keep teasing him. He wickedly poked Wen Cheng’s soft belly with one finger. “Can’t hold it anymore?”

Then.

Then it happened. Wen Cheng peed right on Yu Linfei’s shoe.

“…” Yu Linfei.

“…” Wen Cheng.

“Hehehehe…” Yu Linfei let out a laugh that made Wen Cheng’s heart go cold. He picked Wen Cheng up by the scruff of his neck. “Xiao Hei?”

“Meow.” Wen Cheng stared with round eyes, looking very innocent. He looked so innocent that Yu Linfei really wanted to… hit him.

“You are so good.” You could hear him grinding his teeth. Yu Linfei narrowed his eyes. “Hmm? Xiao Hei, if you pee everywhere, I will cut your little thing off.”

“…” Wen Cheng felt a phantom pain between his legs. Then he comforted himself… it’s okay, I’m a cat now, it’s normal not to understand him!

“I know Xiao Hei is very smart.” But before he could finish comforting himself, Yu Linfei’s next words felt like a death sentence. “You can understand me. So, if you pretend not to understand…”

“…Meow.” Wen Cheng hung his head.

“Then no dried fish for you.” His attitude flipped completely. Looking at the depressed kitten, Yu Linfei remembered what He Yi said about Chinchilla cats.

He Yi said Chinchillas have a lot of pride, love to be clean, and like being close to humans but if a master scolds them too harshly, they might act out or even run away.

Did I hurt his pride? Yu Linfei wondered. He decided to comfort his new pet. He put Xiao Hei on the floor, looked at his wet slipper, and sighed. “Alright, don’t be sad. I’m not mad anymore. But remember, don’t pee on my shoes next time.”

Damn it, you think I wanted to!! Wen Cheng roared in his mind. If you hadn’t teased me, would I have peed on your foot?? I’m telling you! If you ever do that again, I’ll go to the bathroom on your bed!!

“Okay, okay, it’s my fault.” Feeling the deep resentment from Wen Cheng, Yu Linfei smiled bitterly. “I won’t tease you next time, okay? Look, this is your bed. I made it myself.”

Wen Cheng turned to look at the messy pile of cloth and couldn’t help but look disgusted. Wow, so the “perfect” Yu Linfei actually sucks at something? How surprising.

…Being judged by his own cat was a lot of pressure. Yu Linfei looked at the bed he made and felt a bit embarrassed himself. He cleared his throat. “Fine, a real cat bed will be delivered in a few days. Just use this for now.”

“Meow.” Wen Cheng meowed with disdain.

“…Alright! I’ll try to build a new one for you.” Unable to handle Wen Cheng’s judging eyes, Yu Linfei gave in.