Chapter 457 - 456: What-if Storyline: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? 25

Chapter 457: Chapter 456: What-if Storyline: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? 25

Yan Huoshui almost laughed out of exasperation. He had no idea why Xiao Li thought this cat was good-tempered; it was clearly very short-fused.

He patted the seat next to him again. "Come here, little thing."

The white cat stared out the window, its pricked ears twitching slightly, but it still didn’t turn around.

’Although she rationally knew that Yan Huoshui was her true future owner, Shi Lan still had a bit of a temper. He had shown his disdain for her time and again, and now he wanted her to come closer. Who knew someone could be so moody.’

Yan Huoshui understood that the cat was deliberately ignoring him. He let out a soft "TSK." If he had been more decisive at the beginning, he would have sent the cat away. But it was just too intelligent. It was rare to find a cat that could understand human speech, and he suddenly found himself a little reluctant to let it go.

’Still, a disobedient little thing needed to be properly trained. It had to learn just who its master was.’

With that thought, he once again grabbed the cat by the scruff of its neck, his sharp, smiling eyes meeting its annoyed feline gaze. "Be good. From now on, I’m your master. If you want a better life, you’ll have to learn how to please me, understand?"

Shi Lan swiped a paw in protest.

’If you’ve got the guts, then send me away. I’ll just find a new owner.’

Shi Lan was now completely set on the idea of finding a new meal ticket.

Yan Huoshui’s free hand caught her flailing, fluffy white paw. Just as Xiao Li had said, it felt really good to the touch. He gave it another squeeze, and for some reason, the displeasure in his heart dissipated quite a bit.

"Don’t struggle. Be good."

"Since we’re at it, how about I give you a name?"

He ignored the cat’s fury, this time placing it directly on his lap. He trapped it with one arm while his other hand gently stroked its fluffy back.

Yan Huoshui’s expression relaxed considerably. "With a temper like that, how about I call you Fierce Beast?"

’That’s horrible! It’s even worse than the names Mu Tangfeng and Jiang Xia came up with, like Big Beauty and One-eyed. Besides, how could a cat as well-behaved and adorable as her be called something like Fierce Beast?’

Yan Huoshui was doing it on purpose.

Zhang Chen, completely oblivious to the cat’s fury, thought the two of them seemed to be getting along quite well. His posture relaxed a bit, and he said cheerfully, "Brother Yan, that’s not a very nice name. How about Benefactor? Haha, it fits with what Master Ming said about a ’cat benefactor’."

"Is it your cat or my cat?"

Yan Huoshui’s red lips tightened slightly, his expression showing a hint of displeasure.

A flash of surprise crossed Zhang Chen’s eyes. The little ancestor was finally admitting it was his cat.

So, he immediately replied, "Yours, it’s yours."

"Hmph."

Yan Huoshui snorted. He thought for a moment and realized he couldn’t come up with a good name. The little thing in his arms was clearly protesting ’Fierce Beast’ quite strongly. If he wanted to properly tame this disobedient pet, he’d have to use the carrot-and-stick approach. Constantly calling it a name it hated would likely be counterproductive.

He pondered for a moment, then mused, "Then what do you think of Benefactor?"

’Benefactor?’

Shi Lan froze. ’Ahem, is this my new name?’

’It sounds pretty unusual.’

Zhang Chen was surprised that Brother Yan was being so considerate, even asking for the cat’s opinion on a name.

He smiled and focused on his driving, happy to see Brother Yan and the white cat getting along so well.

Although Shi Lan found the name quite pleasant, she had already made up her mind to find a new meal ticket, so she didn’t pay it much mind.

On the contrary, Yan Huoshui himself murmured it a few times. "Benefactor, Benefactor... Heh, it kind of sounds like you’re taking advantage of me, doesn’t it?"

’That’s right, Little Yanzi~’

Shi Lan silently gave him a nickname in her head to get back at him for his disdain.

Yan Huoshui played with the cat for a bit, petting it for a while. Just as Xiao Li had said, he really did seem to feel more relaxed. ’Is this little thing really that magical?’

But this cat was very smart. It probably knew it couldn’t escape his grasp. After struggling a few times at first, it had now given up completely, even finding a comfortable position to nestle into.

Yan Huoshui loosened his grip, and Shi Lan’s eyelids twitched. She quickly jumped to the side.

’She disdained him too!’

’Heh, what a grudge-holder.’

He couldn’t help but let out a sudden, low laugh. Xiao Li’s face was a mask of terror. The first thing that came to his mind was the new hire who had been fired today, and he was terrified that they had somehow accidentally provoked the little ancestor. He was so frightened he didn’t even dare to turn his head.

’Brother Yan’s laugh is way scarier than his anger!’

As someone who knew him well, Zhang Chen was much calmer. Hearing Brother Yan’s laugh, he was just worried the cat had done something. He asked tentatively, "Brother Yan, Benefactor isn’t causing trouble, is she? If she’s being too rowdy, should we have Xiao Li hold her for a bit? That way you can get some more rest."

"No need." ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The smile vanished from Yan Huoshui’s face in an instant. He narrowed his eyes, hiding the displeasure within them. ’He hadn’t even had his fill of playing with *his* cat, so what right did Xiao Li have?’

He looked at the cat again. He was leaning back lazily in his seat, but when he saw her small body propped against the window, her head pressed to the glass as she stared curiously outside, he couldn’t help but scoot a little closer.

’He wondered what she was looking at so intently.’

Sensing the movement behind her, Shi Lan only flicked a glance at him out of the corner of her eye and continued to ignore him.

’She wasn’t really looking at anything in particular. She was just bored sitting in the car, so it was a good chance to look at the scenery outside.’

Just then, a flower truck loaded with red roses passed by. Shi Lan’s eyes lit up, and her tail swayed unconsciously, inadvertently brushing against the back of Yan Huoshui’s hand, which was resting on the seat.

He glanced outside. ’It was just a truck full of flowers. Why would a cat be interested in something like that?’

’Still, the little thing was pretty nice. Her likes and dislikes were obvious, not like people with all their convoluted games.’

He took out his phone and sent a message, telling his household manager to order a custom-made, simulated rose cat bed. As for real roses, if she really wanted to play with them, he could stop and buy her a bouquet on the way.

So, he told Zhang Chen to find a flower shop.

Zhang Chen’s expression was a little strange. ’The little ancestor’s habit of liking flowers still hadn’t changed.’

’In the entire year he’d known him, Brother Yan had never been with any woman. He used to buy flowers for his own baths, but after coming to Z City, he hadn’t been so particular. Why was he buying them again now?’

’If not for Brother Yan’s typically straight-guy personality and the fact that he was very self-disciplined, Zhang Chen might have even suspected Brother Yan was gay...’

But this little hobby of bathing with flowers was something only Zhang Chen knew about, purely because there were a few times when Yan Huoshui had been too lazy to pull off the petals himself and had Zhang Chen do it for him beforehand.

Yan Huoshui didn’t think there was anything wrong with a man bathing with flower petals. He not only used petals, but his bathroom was also filled with various colognes. Even if you’re a man, you should still keep yourself fresh and clean. He absolutely loathed filth and slovenliness.

That was why he had standards for Zhang Chen and Xiao Li as well. They weren’t as strict as the ones he had for himself, but they couldn’t have any body odor and had to be properly dressed.

It was for this very reason that Zhang Chen had dared to bring the kitten to see Yan Huoshui only after it had been bathed.

After arriving at the flower shop, Yan Huoshui had Xiao Li go buy a bouquet of red roses.

After a short wait, he took the flowers and placed them directly next to the cat. "Here, for you to play with."

"The quality of these flowers is a bit poor. If you like playing with them, I’ll take you to my family’s estate next time. There are quite a few flower gardens there."