Chapter 479 - 478: IF Line: Did the Tycoon Vie for Favor Today? 47

Chapter 479: Chapter 478: IF Line: Did the Tycoon Vie for Favor Today? 47

After taking photos, the two strolled around for a while longer and had some afternoon tea before Chen Xinyi drove her home.

As she watched Shi Lan get out of the car, she didn’t forget to add, "Lanlan, don’t forget the peace charm."

Shi Lan nodded. "Okay."

After they said their goodbyes, Shi Lan went home and pulled the peace charm out from under her pillow. It had a small hole in it, so she found a red string, threaded it through, and tucked it under her clothes like a necklace.

Suddenly human again and now parted from her friend, Shi Lan was struck by a cold, lonely feeling for the first time as she realized she was all alone in the house. For nearly a year, when she was a cat, there had always been someone with her. Day or night, her cat bed had always been placed beside one of her owners’ beds.

Now that she was by herself again, she felt unusually out of sorts.

Shi Lan sat on the swing chair on her balcony, gazing at the beautiful sunset outside. Her friend’s suggestion inevitably crossed her mind.

’Should I really start looking for a boyfriend?’

After thinking it over, she finally decided that what she really needed was to get a cat first.

And with that, Shi Lan headed out the door immediately.

In the past, she might have considered buying a cat, but after her own experiences as a stray, she realized she could adopt one from an animal rescue center. That way, she could help a cat find a home.

Shi Lan owned a car, but she rarely drove it and wasn’t very confident behind the wheel.

However, to make it easier to bring a cat home later, she went down to the complex’s garage to get her car.

Shi Lan drove cautiously toward the animal rescue center, sticking to the minimum speed limit. It was the evening rush hour and traffic was heavy. What should have been a twenty-minute drive took her over thirty, and by the time she arrived, the streetlights were already on.

A young volunteer at the animal rescue center saw her arrive and asked with a friendly smile, "Hello, how can I help you?"

Shi Lan smiled. "Hi, I’d like to adopt a cat."

"You’ve come at just the right time! Not long ago, nearly all of our cats were adopted, but we recently took in a lot of strays from the nearby villages. You’ll probably find one you like."

"Oh, really? That’s wonderful."

Shi Lan was delighted. The volunteer continued, "I’ll have to ask you to wait just a moment, though. Our director is doing a walkthrough inside. I can take you in as soon as they’re finished. Please, have a seat and a glass of water while you wait."

As she spoke, she poured Shi Lan a glass of warm water.

Shi Lan was touched by the volunteer’s thoughtfulness and waited patiently. After a little while, she heard the sound of several men’s voices in conversation, punctuated by the sharp clicks of leather shoes on the floor.

"Mr. He, I’ve gathered all the strays from the nearby towns and villages, as well as the ones from our city. You’ve already looked through the last batch... is the one you’re looking for not in this group either?" ℯℯ𝑙.

"No."

The man’s voice was cold and detached. A faint sorrow lingered in his eyes, and he clearly wasn’t happy.

Assistant Chen shook the shelter director’s hand. "Thank you for your trouble. Please let us know the next time you have new cats. This is a donation from Mr. He for the animal rescue center."

The director’s eyes crinkled into a smile. "Thank you, Mr. He. I’ll be sure to contact Assistant Chen the moment we have any news. We appreciate you taking the time to come in person."

Sitting in her chair, Shi Lan froze when she heard a familiar voice among the others. Her grip on the paper cup tightened unconsciously.

Just then, the group of men walked out. He Hanshi was at the front, with Assistant Chen, the director, and the others trailing half a step behind him.

Shi Lan couldn’t help but look toward him. When she saw he could walk again, a flicker of pleasant surprise lit up her eyes.

’That’s wonderful. His legs have healed.’

Perhaps noticing her gaze, He Hanshi glanced her way, but Shi Lan quickly lowered her eyes, narrowly avoiding his look.

Her head was slightly bowed, and her long, thick, dark hair slipped past her ear. Under the indoor lights, her delicate, exquisite face seemed almost dazzlingly pale, yet her lightly pressed lips held a rosy tint, giving her a healthy, fair-skinned glow.

After being a shut-in for over a year, Shi Lan’s fake tan had completely faded, making her stand out in a crowd once again. Even the young volunteer had stared for a moment when she first laid eyes on her.

He Hanshi, however, only gave her a brief, indifferent glance before looking away. He walked back to his car with Assistant Chen close behind.

A moment later, Shi Lan heard the sound of a car engine starting.

For some reason, she felt a faint pang of disappointment, but it quickly faded. Mostly, she was just happy for He Hanshi—happy that his legs had recovered.

Seeing that the men had left, the young volunteer enthusiastically led her inside. "Alright, let’s go see which cat you’d like to adopt."

"Okay."

Shi Lan followed her inside and eventually chose a black cat with a disabled leg. The volunteer told her, "Its leg was probably run over by a car. Someone kind must have rescued it and had the damaged part of its leg amputated."

"I’m a little surprised you chose this one," the volunteer admitted. "There are others in better condition."

Disabled cats like this one are rarely adopted from the shelter. They can only rely on our care. If their health problems become too severe, we usually have to euthanize them; we don’t have the resources to provide extensive treatment.

It’s a cruel reality. Many people don’t value animal lives, which is why there are so many twisted individuals who abuse and kill cats and dogs.

This was actually part of the reason Shi Lan chose him. She herself had once been a scruffy stray. She’d been lucky that Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng had rescued her, and she had managed to cling to them. A typical stray might have simply starved.

The other strays were all in decent shape; she was sure they would find homes more easily.

The volunteer, perhaps worried Shi Lan might change her mind, quickly listed some of the cat’s good qualities. "Actually, aside from his leg, he’s very well-behaved. He’s a little timid and doesn’t make a lot of noise. He’s litter-trained, and all our furry residents are dewormed and have passed quarantine. He’s quite healthy."

"I understand," Shi Lan said. "I’ll take him."

Shi Lan didn’t hesitate. After signing some paperwork, she was able to take him home. On the way, she stopped by a pet hospital for a check-up, which confirmed he had no major health issues.

Afterward, she stopped at a pet store to buy all the necessary cat supplies before finally heading home with her new companion.

The little black cat was quiet the entire ride, not making a sound in his carrier. The moment Shi Lan opened it, he darted into a corner and hid.

Even with a missing leg, his speed was unaffected.

Shi Lan couldn’t help but smile as she watched the black blur disappear.

She crouched down, peering into the dark corner where he was hiding. "What should I name you?" she mused aloud. "It’s an old saying that black cats are mystical creatures that can ward off evil and avert disaster. So... how about I call you Ping’an?"