The Shelter Director insisted on driving himself, so Xie Xiaobao didn’t push it and just carried the Papercat back to the car before they set off together for the crew.
The crew was located at the Film Base on the outskirts of Shen City.
Driving on the highway took a little over an hour, and they arrived right on schedule.
Old Wang lived closer, so he set out from home directly and had already arrived at the Film Base waiting for them.
After parking the car, Xie Xiaobao placed the Papercat on his shoulder and hopped down to help the Shelter Director.
—The Shelter Director was trying to put a red collar on Xiao Hei.
Xiao Hei was used to being free, and the moment she saw the collar, she immediately became agitated, jumping onto the car seat, tail raised, eyes glaring as she faced off against the Shelter Director.
The Shelter Director patiently reasoned with her, but Xiao Hei, irritated, scratched the seat beneath her paws and then meowed at Da Zhuang, who was already wearing his collar: “Why do we have to wear this thing?”
Da Zhuang had been a pet dog before, so he was very accustomed to the collar.
He shook his ears and tried to help the Shelter Director persuade Xiao Hei: “Humans’ domestic cats and dogs all wear this.”
“But I’m not a human’s domestic cat.” Xiao Hei scoffed, glaring disdainfully at the Shelter Director’s Mediterranean hairline.
“No one can take away a cat’s freedom!”
“Alright, alright,” Xie Xiaobao suppressed a smile at Xiao Hei’s dramatic declaration and patted the Shelter Director’s shoulder.
“Let me try.”
The Shelter Director was already parched from coaxing the cat.
Although Xiao Hei understood humans, her temper was anything but ordinary.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “Go ahead, Xiao Hei’s temper is getting more stubborn.”
Xie Xiaobao took the collar, got into the car, closed the door, then sat in the driver’s seat, locking eyes with Xiao Hei.
“You trying to help that bald human tie me up?” Xiao Hei emitted a low hiss, very displeased at Xie Xiaobao’s betrayal in aiding the humans.
Xie Xiaobao put the collar aside and raised his hands in surrender, showing he wasn’t helping the humans.
Only then did Xiao Hei relax her arched back and squat down, curling her tail in front of her.
“Alright, I misunderstood you.”
“I came to tell you that later, Da Zhuang and I will go together, so you just wait in the car.”
“Meow?” Xiao Hei tilted her head, puzzled.
“Why not bring the cat?”
Xie Xiaobao cleared his throat, holding back a smile, “Because you don’t have an ID card. Without an ID card, you’re an undocumented resident, and undocumented residents will be caught if they’re out on the street.”
He spoke seriously but nonsense, yet Xiao Hei took it seriously.
She stepped forward, somewhat anxiously asking, “Do you all have ID cards?”
Suddenly recalling something, she turned to Da Zhuang and asked, “Da Zhuang is with me, so why does he have one and I don’t? Is the bald human bullying cats?”
Xie Xiaobao cleared his throat, refusing to let the Shelter Director take the blame for bullying cats.
With a serious expression, he pointed to the red collar lying nearby and said, “This collar is your ID card.”
“You want to trick me into wearing a collar?” Xiao Hei disdainfully turned her head, her tail flicking lightly.
“Why would I lie to you?” Xie Xiaobao brought the collar closer so she could see.
“Look at the little tag on the collar—it has your name and address. This is the cat’s ID card.”
Xiao Hei couldn’t read, so she stared at the little tag half believing, half doubting.
Xie Xiaobao continued, “See? Da Zhuang’s wearing one too. You only wear it when you go out. You can take it off when you get home.”
Xiao Hei was a little swayed by his words but still poked the collar disdainfully with a claw.
She hesitated before reluctantly agreeing, “Then I’ll take it off when we get back.”
Xie Xiaobao naturally agreed and unclasped the collar, preparing to put it on her.
As Xiao Hei obediently stretched out her head, she suddenly noticed the Papercat on Xie Xiaobao’s shoulder and quickly retracted her head, meowing suspiciously, “Your cub isn’t wearing an ID card. You really are tricking cats.”
Xie Xiaobao hadn’t expected that and froze for a moment, then thinking quickly said, “It’s not an adult yet, so it doesn’t have an ID card. Only adults get one.”
Xiao Hei remained doubtful but leaned forward to sniff the Papercat.
It did have the faint scent of a cub—just like what Xie Xiaobao had when he was young.
“Alright.” Xiao Hei finally relented, lowering her head reluctantly.
“Put it on me then.”
Xie Xiaobao quickly fastened it onto her, then clipped on a thin leash to it, so the Shelter Director could hold it later.
Xiao Hei had never worn such a thing before and kicked with her hind paws in discomfort, causing a small patch of fur around her neck to fluff up.
With Xiao Hei now cooperative, the group headed toward the hotel.
The crew had already started filming, and Luo Qin was so busy he could only arrange the audition at a hotel next to the crew’s location.
On the way to the hotel, Xiao Hei kept stretching her neck, curiously staring at the cat in Xie Xiaobao’s arms.
She meowed with envy, “Your cub looks so much like you, unlike my two—they don’t look like me at all.”
Xie Xiaobao’s mouth twitched.
It wasn’t the right time to explain, so he just gave vague responses, trying to keep his behavior from seeming too strange.
But the less he answered, the more curious Xiao Hei became, firing questions one after another.
“Which cat did you have cubs with? How did she leave her kittens with you? Were you too weak and got abandoned?”
She looked at Xie Xiaobao with sympathy.
“You’re still a cub yourself, and yet you have to be a father taking care of cubs.”
Xie Xiaobao’s forehead veins twitched in frustration, but he couldn’t explain.
He silently turned his gaze away.
***
Luo Qin had booked a meeting room in advance and informed the staff of the room number.
The group went inside to wait.
After a short while, Luo Qin rushed in hurriedly.
His clothes were a little disheveled, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Seeing everyone waiting for him, he apologized first, “I’ve been so busy here I couldn’t get away. Sorry for making you travel all this way.”
“No problem. Since you’re pressed for time, let’s get straight to the point,” Old Wang replied.
Luo Qin nodded, his eyes lighting up when they landed on the three animals sitting side by side.
He crouched down and extended a hand as if to shake hands.
“Hello.”
Da Zhuang and Xiao Hei eyed him warily but didn’t move.
The Papercat twitched its ears, looked around, then placed a paw in Luo Qin’s hand and meowed once.
The Papercat was sustained by Xie Xiaobao’s essence, and certain traits of Xie Xiaobao had been copied onto it to some extent, so it adapted well to communicating with humans.
Seeing it make a move, Xiao Hei and Da Zhuang each lifted a paw to reluctantly tap Luo Qin’s hand.
Luo Qin closely watched their behavior.
Especially Xiao Hei, whose entire body radiated wild stubbornness, yet she pressed her ears back unwillingly as she shook hands with him.
The gleam in his eyes intensified.
“This is it, this is it,” Luo Qin exclaimed excitedly, standing up.
Xiao Hei was like the black cat from the script come to life.
“We can finalize this.”
Although Luo Qin’s decision was hasty, the crew had already started filming, so his urgency was understandable.
The contract was signed on the spot, and the group set an entry date.
Luo Qin then hurried back.
The Shelter Director hadn’t expected it to be so simple and still looked somewhat stunned.
“They’re just leaving like that?”
Old Wang smiled and nodded, “Yep,” then handed him a copy of the contract.
“I never thought Xiao Hei and Da Zhuang would become celebrities too.” The Shelter Director carefully put the contract away and affectionately patted Xiao Hei and Da Zhuang on their heads.
Da Zhuang stuck out his tongue and licked the Shelter Director’s hand, letting out two low whimpers.
It was clear he was in a good mood.
“Can I take off my ID card now?” Xiao Hei was still bothered by the collar around her neck and soon couldn’t help but claw at it.
The Shelter Director, thrilled beyond measure, picked her up and soothed her back, cooing softly, “Just hang on a bit longer. We’ll take it off once you’re in the car.”
Xiao Hei didn’t understand but knew the bald human wasn’t willing to take off the collar yet.
She growled at him in displeasure and kept scratching.
With the contract settled, the Animal Gate wouldn’t join the crew for another week.
The group drove back first.
They had been too rushed on the way here and had no energy to talk.
On the way back, their mood was much lighter.
After fastening his seatbelt, He Yu couldn’t help but reach out and stroke the Papercat.
Its golden fur was thick and soft.
He Yu rubbed it a few times and asked, “Is Orange Bao usually kept over at Jade Garden?”
Xie Xiaobao said yes.
“Brother-in-law takes good care of him.”
“You can tell,” He Yu smiled.
“Really well cared for. Chubby—has he gotten a bit fatter than before?”
Though the cat was indeed a little heavier, being pointed out so directly made Xie Xiaobao quite dissatisfied.
He puffed out his cheeks, trying to argue, “No, no, it’s just that his fur is a bit thicker.”
He Yu glanced at the cat while steering and said with no real conviction, “Yeah, not fat, just fluffy.”
Xie Xiaobao: “…”
He angrily hugged the cat and turned to look out the window, refusing to talk to He Yu any further.
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