Chapter 48: Undercurrent

Xie Xiaobao flipped onto his back, using all four paws to push against Xie Qi, his fluffy tail slapping vigorously against the ground.  

“Hmph,” Xie Qi snorted, patting his belly and sneering with a disdainful meow, “With your tiny little body…”  

“Meow!” Xie Xiaobao meowed indignantly, summoning all his strength to try and get up.  

Xie Qi squatted down, pressing a single paw on him, his tail lazily swaying back and forth in front of him.  

Xie Xiaobao, still stubbornly struggling, found his attention gradually stolen by the moving tail after it flicked a few times.  

He stretched out his paws to grab Xie Qi’s tail, but Xie Qi quickly moved it away.

After a moment, the tail swung slowly back again, teasing him like a fishing lure.  

Xie Xiaobao had always been enthusiastic about this game—something young cubs often played with older cats.

Though physiologically an adult cat now, he couldn’t resist the impulse to catch the tail.  

After teasing his little brother for a while, Xie Qi saw that Xiaobao was too exhausted to keep grabbing and was just lying on his back panting, so he finally lifted his paw.  

Seizing the opportunity, Xie Xiaobao suddenly gathered his strength and pounced on Xie Qi, sinking his teeth into his ear.  

Xie Qi showed a faint irritation but calmly flipped over and pinned the silly little brother beneath him, growling fiercely twice, then began licking his fur.  

The cat’s tongue, covered in tiny barbs, tidied up the messy hair.

Xiaobao, who still wanted to squirm, closed his eyes comfortably and obediently stopped moving.  

Qu Yanning had finished preparing the meal and called the brothers downstairs to eat.

When he arrived, he saw the bigger cat curled protectively over the smaller one, the two pressed close together, both softly purring.  

Qu Yanning inwardly cursed, amazed they could fall asleep so quickly in just a few moments.

He nudged each of them one by one and called for them to get up and eat.  

Xie Qi was only napping lightly, eyes half-closed.

Hearing the noise, he stood and stretched, then picked up his brother by the scruff to get him up.  

Xie Xiaobao flopped twice, opened his eyes, yawned, and followed Xie Qi to wash up before eating.  

After dinner, Xie Xiaobao went upstairs to pack, and Xie Qi came over holding a stack of Cat-Shaped Paper Dolls.

“Put these away.”  

Xie Xiaobao was folding clothes—he hadn’t brought much, only two sets of changeable clothes.  

“Thanks, second brother.” Xiaobao carefully took the paper dolls and placed them in his bag.  

“Be extra careful yourself. The danger that comes with your identity being exposed is unpredictable.” Xie Qi warned seriously.  

Xie Xiaobao nodded, “I know.”  

“I’ll send you tomorrow morning?” Xie Qi remembered that Xiaobao was leaving early and proactively offered.  

“No need.” Xiaobao put his packed bag on the table.

“I’ve made plans with He Yu. He’ll send me over tomorrow.”  

“He Yu?” Xie Qi frowned, displeased.

“Since when did you get so close with him?”  

Xie Xiaobao tilted his head, thinking for a moment, and casually replied, “It’s been a while.”  

The more Xie Qi heard, the more something felt off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

He could only coldly remind him, “Since it’s a Feng Sheng production, if anything happens, come to big brother. Don’t carry it alone.”  

“Big brother is so busy,” Xiaobao muttered softly.

“Besides, using big brother to pressure others feels like bullying.”  

Xie Qi flicked his forehead, “If not big brother’s influence, whose do you want to rely on?”  

Xie Xiaobao covered his forehead, struggling to hold back a response, then finally muttered, “We have to be reasonable.”  

“Still as silly as when you were a kid.” Xie Qi ruffled his hair.

“Just remember what I said.”  

Xie Xiaobao nodded, freeing his head from his brother’s hand and heading off to shower.  

After tidying up and showering, Xiaobao went to bed early that night.  

***

At seven the next morning, He Yu’s call came through.  

Xie Xiaobao was still groggy, half-asleep, fumbling on the nightstand before finding his phone.  

He Yu heard his muffled murmurs and felt a bit soft inside.

He spoke gently, “Still sleeping? I’m coming to pick you up. You can sleep in the car later.”  

Xiaobao yawned drowsily, saying he was already up but reluctant to leave the warm comfort of his blanket.

“I’ll be ready soon.”  

“All right, I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Get yourself ready.”  

Xiaobao half-heartedly agreed and hung up, nuzzling back into his soft, warm bed, dozing off again before finally getting up.  

Since he woke too early, Xiaobao was still a bit dizzy, moving slowly.

Before he could finish washing up, He Yu’s car was already at the door.  

Xiaobao was leaving today.

Qu Yanning and Xie Qi had also gotten up early.

Qu Yanning went downstairs to open the door and invited He Yu inside to wait.  

He Yu parked and sat in the living room waiting.  

Qu Yanning went to make breakfast, and Xie Qi, also up early, came downstairs and sat opposite He Yu.  

He Yu greeted him, but Xie Qi only gave a faint nod without speaking.

Seeing Xie Qi’s unwillingness to chat, He Yu didn’t push it.

Both sat expressionless.  

Xie Xiaobao finished washing up and, since He Yu was downstairs, carefully took out the Cat-Shaped Paper Dolls.

He dripped a drop of blood on them, reciting the Incantation Xie Qi had taught him.  

A living cat appeared in his arms.  

Xie Xiaobao cuddled the cat, then slung his bag over his shoulder and headed downstairs.  

Since Xiaobao was in a hurry to leave, Qu Yanning had warmed some milk, fried eggs, and prepared two slices of bread to fill their stomachs.  

Setting the breakfast on the table, Qu Yanning called them over to eat.  

Xiaobao greeted everyone and pulled He Yu to sit down for breakfast.  

The four of them sat around the table.

Xiaobao and He Yu sat side by side, with Qu Yanning on the right and Xie Qi beside He Yu.  

Xiaobao spread jam on some bread and placed a slice on He Yu’s plate.

“Eat more. The jam is homemade by brother-in-law. It’s really delicious.”  

He Yu smiled and took a bite, praising, “It tastes great.”  

Xiaobao beamed proudly, took a slice of bread, spread the jam, and ate in small bites.  

Opposite him, Xie Qi’s expression darkened.

He let out a low humph, glaring sharply at Xiaobao.  

“Don’t tease.” Qu Yanning sensed his mood and nudged him gently under the table.

Xie Qi frowned in displeasure.

Qu Yanning could only take a slice of bread, spread some jam, and hand it to him.  

Only then did Xie Qi calm down, eating breakfast with a cold face.  

The breakfast passed with such undercurrents of tension, but Xiaobao didn’t notice a thing.

When he left, he happily said goodbye to Xie Qi.  

He Yu helped carry his bag, still holding the lazily curled paper doll cat.

After Xiaobao finished his farewells, He Yu placed the cat gently back in Xiaobao’s arms and went to start the car.  

Xiaobao sat in the passenger seat, holding the cat, as He Yu started the engine and drove off.  

Xie Qi and Qu Yanning stood at the door, watching them leave.

When the car was out of sight, Xie Qi snorted, “Ungrateful little brat.”  

Qu Yanning pulled him inside, silently deciding it was best not to speculate about Xiaobao’s relationship with He Yu for now, or else the cat might get angry and bristle.  

***

He Yu and the others set out early.

The roads were clear, and they arrived smoothly at the meeting spot to join the Shelter Director.  

The Director drove a small truck used for transporting animal food to the shelter.  

Da Zhuang and Xiao Hei squeezed into the passenger seat, with Xiao Hei taking up most of the space and Da Zhuang curled into a ball in the corner.  

“Xiaobao is here!” Xiao Hei recognized He Yu’s car from afar and meowed excitedly to the Director.  

The Director didn’t understand her but thought she was getting impatient, so he comforted her by stroking her head, “Just a little longer. He’ll be here soon.”  

Xiao Hei tilted her head, gave the bald human a disdainful eye-roll, then turned to complain to Da Zhuang, “Humans are so hard to communicate with.”  

Da Zhuang responded with a bark, sticking his head out the window to greet Xie Xiaobao.  

He Yu pulled over and parked.

Xie Xiaobao, holding the cat, went over to greet them.  

The Director opened the door but didn’t let Xiao Hei and Da Zhuang out.  

“Shall we go now?”  

“Yeah, it’s more than an hour’s drive. Why don’t you ride with us?” Xiaobao suggested, waving the paper doll cat at Xiao Hei and the others.  

Xiao Hei cocked her head in puzzlement and meowed, “Is this your kitten?”  

Xiaobao awkwardly hugged the cat closer, not answering.  

The Director looked at the two animals in the truck and declined Xiaobao’s offer.

He felt more comfortable driving his own little truck, especially with a mischievous cat in the other vehicle.