Chapter 456 - 455: What-If: Did the Big Shot Fight for Favor Today? 24

Chapter 456: Chapter 455: What-If: Did the Big Shot Fight for Favor Today? 24

The car seats were dark brown, making the white cat fur stand out.

Yan Huoshui pinched the stray hair with disgust, his tone displeased.

He didn’t care about the front seats, but the back was his personal space. He wouldn’t allow anything to get it dirty.

Xiao Li sat motionless in the passenger seat, clutching the cat. Zhang Chen turned his head to look at Yan Huoshui’s hand and explained, "It wasn’t back there, Brother Yan. I kept the cat in the front seat the whole time. A single hair must have floated to the back. Besides, I specifically took it for a bath today. It’s very clean."

Hearing that the cat had been bathed, Yan Huoshui’s expression softened slightly. He tossed the hair out the window. "The next time I see cat fur back here, I’m shaving it bald."

At these words, Shi Lan’s fur bristled instantly. Back when she was Xiao Hei, she’d had to be shaved because of ringworm and remembered the feeling of having no fur. It made her feel completely insecure, and she refused to go through it again.

’Besides, I’m so beautiful now, and there’s nothing wrong with me. There’s no way I’m letting him shave my fur.’

In that moment, Shi Lan genuinely wanted to find a new owner. She didn’t want to stay with Zhang Chen, especially since it sounded like he wanted to give her to Yan Huoshui. With an attitude like that, wouldn’t he abuse cats?

She gnashed her teeth furiously. Xiao Li seemed to sense the cat’s displeasure and gently stroked her head to soothe her.

Zhang Chen fell silent for a moment. ’Looks like I’ll have to be more careful from now on,’ he thought. ’But didn’t his highness say this afternoon that the cat was interesting and we could keep it? Why is he so disgusted by it now?’

’So moody.’

"Did you hear me?"

Yan Huoshui repeated impatiently. Although Zhang Chen felt he was making a big deal out of nothing, Yan Huoshui was his money tree, so he was always careful to humor him.

"Understood, your highness."

He sighed helplessly and glanced at the white cat, wondering if keeping her was really a good idea.

’Brother Yan really doesn’t seem to like it. Should I find a good adoptive family and give it away?’

As Zhang Chen pondered this, he remembered something else. He handed two contracts he’d reviewed over to Yan Huoshui. "Brother Yan, take a look at these two offers. One is a magazine cover shoot, and the other is a mentorship role on a music show. They’re both good options and won’t take much time. They’re also both in Z City, so you can do them during breaks in filming."

Yan Huoshui grew annoyed again. He didn’t even glance at them. "I plan on taking a month off after this film. Since you think those two offers are good, then you go do them."

"...Fine."

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Chen quickly nodded.

Yan Huoshui lay back down to rest. The remaining two people and one cat fell silent. However, because Xiao Li kept stroking Shi Lan’s head, her body instinctively started to let out a contented "PURRR," and it was a little loud.

Yan Huoshui frowned. "What’s that sound?"

Xiao Li looked at the cat in his arms and guiltily pulled his hand back, realizing he was the culprit.

He couldn’t help it. Work was exhausting and stressful, and petting a cat was such a great way to unwind. It felt so good. Plus, the cat had just been bathed, so its fur was soft and fluffy and carried a pleasant, fragrant scent.

Xiao Li had gotten a little carried away.

Xiao Li quickly apologized, "Sorry, Brother Yan. That sound came from the cat."

"Make it shut up!"

He repeated his command. Xiao Li explained, "Sometimes cats make that sound unconsciously when they’re comfortable. I guess I was petting its head just right."

"Hm? It feels good to pet?"

Yan Huoshui sat up, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. He never understood what was so great about petting these long-haired animals that looked like they harbored all sorts of filth. He always found them rather dirty.

Xiao Li’s girlfriend had a cat, so he had plenty to say on the subject. "Yeah, yeah, it does. This white cat has a great personality. Even though it was a stray, it’s very docile. And since it was bathed today, its fur feels even better."

"A lot of people have cats and dogs now because just looking at these little animals helps you relax without even trying. It’s like a happy, healing feeling..."

"Heh, are you under a lot of stress?"

Yan Huoshui chuckled and suddenly tossed the question back at him.

The rest of Xiao Li’s words immediately got stuck in his throat. After a long pause, he managed to stiffly force out two words: "It’s fine."

Even as he said it, his scalp tingled and a cold sweat broke out on his back. They had just been talking about the cat, and now Brother Yan had abruptly changed the subject. His conversational jumps were impossible to predict.

Zhang Chen was focused on driving. Just as they stopped at a red light and he was about to say something to smooth things over for Xiao Li, Yan Huoshui finished his laugh and casually said, "Give me the cat."

He wanted to see for himself just how "relaxing" it was.

"Huh?"

The sound escaped from both Zhang Chen and Xiao Li at the same time. Even Shi Lan, who had been angry at Yan Huoshui but was now dozing off after being soothed by Xiao Li, snapped awake, her eyes wide.

’Did I hear that right?’

Zhang Chen was both delighted and cautious. He was the one who most wanted Yan Huoshui to have a cat. He simply passed her over. "Brother Yan, aren’t you worried about it shedding?"

Yan Huoshui pinched the scruff of the cat’s neck with two fingers, squinting as he studied her for a moment before chuckling. "It doesn’t matter. If it sheds, it sheds. We’ll just send it off to be shaved then."

Hearing this, Shi Lan, who was dangling from his grip, shot him another murderous, furious glare.

"Tsk, it’s got quite a temper."

Yan Huoshui had never believed Xiao Li’s claim that the cat was docile. That afternoon, he had already seen the stubbornness in its bones through its eyes.

It was strange, but looking into those sapphire-blue eyes, he always had the illusion that he was staring into a person’s soul.

Besides, this cat could definitely understand what they were saying.

’Cats these days are all becoming sentient, aren’t they?’

Yan Huoshui mused to himself. The cat in his hand struggled, her body squirming. The post-bath fragrance from her fur began to diffuse, and it wasn’t unpleasant.

’But this cat really hates the idea of being shaved, huh...’

He couldn’t resist threatening her again. "Keep struggling, and I’ll send you to be shaved right now."

If it were anyone else, Shi Lan might have thought they were joking, but with Yan Huoshui, she couldn’t be sure.

She hesitated, conflicted, then decided to hold this grudge for now. Preserving her beautiful coat of fur was the priority. The next chance she got, she would run away and find herself a new owner.

’There’s no way I’m staying with Zhang Chen and his crew. Yan Huoshui’s personality is just too vile. When I turn back into a human and see my best friend, I’m definitely going to get her to become an anti-fan with me.’

Puffing her cheeks in anger, Shi Lan stopped struggling.

Yan Huoshui had been testing her again. Seeing the cat actually comply, a faint glint of light flashed in his eyes.

’Not bad. Interesting indeed.’

Zhang Chen was focused on driving. Hearing Yan Huoshui, he worried he would be too rough with the cat and offered a careful reminder, "Brother Yan, this cat used to be a stray. You should be careful it doesn’t scratch you."

"If it dares to scratch me, I’ll dump it right back where you found it. There’s no point in keeping a cat that can’t be tamed."

"Ahem, you can’t really say that. After all, you only just picked it up today. It’s not familiar with us yet, and it’s not like a cat can change its habits overnight."

Zhang Chen continued to speak up for the cat. Since he was the one who had insisted on picking her up, he had to take some responsibility.

"Is that so?"

A smirk played on Yan Huoshui’s lips. He placed the cat on the seat next to him and, while staring into her eyes, provocatively squeezed her paw.

The more he was told not to do something, the more he wanted to do it.

Shi Lan thought he was like a rebellious teenager with a twisted sense of humor.

She really wanted to sink her claws into his fair, slender hand, but she was afraid of catching his madness.

’Mad Lord!’

The cat immediately retracted her paw, turned her head away with a cool aloofness, and walked to the edge of the seat by the door, putting distance between them. Her disdain was obvious.