Chapter 85: I Am Jiang Xia, the Creator of Cat and Mouse
Chapter 85: Chapter 85: I Am Jiang Xia, the Creator of Cat and Mouse
Jiang Xia had bought the box carrying Yuyuan at a convenience store for a yuan. By this time, most of the pet stores were already closed, so he couldn’t buy any of the usual cat supplies even if he wanted to.
"When I come back tomorrow, I’ll stop by the pet store and buy everything we need," Jiang Xia said.
Lin Yanwan held the box, a gentle smile on her face as she looked at the little kitten inside. "It’s not that urgent, really. Yuyuan isn’t a picky eater, and it even knows how to use the bathroom."
Jiang Xia looked at Yuyuan. The kitten looked to be only two or three months old, small and scrawny, and its hind legs probably weren’t very strong.
"Setting aside whether or not Yuyuan has been reincarnated, are you sure it’ll go to the bathroom and not fall into the toilet bowl?"
She fell silent for a moment. ’That’s not impossible,’ she thought. ’If its paw slipped while it was squatting over the bowl, it would be a disaster if it fell in.’
"In that case, you’d better bring back some cat litter."
"I need to buy more than just cat litter. At the very least, we need to get it dewormed. Besides, you’re allergic to cat fur. What if it’s carrying fleas or other parasites? How are you going to sleep at night?"
Lin Yanwan instinctively scratched her neck. "Please stop, I’m already starting to itch. Looks like I’ll have to give it a bath as soon as we get home."
"Just be careful not to stress it out."
"Yuyuan would never do that~ Yuyuan is the best little kitty, aren’t you, Yuyuan?"
She gently scratched the kitten’s chin. Yuyuan closed its eyes in contentment and let out a soft purr.
Jiang Xia smiled, walked her back to the entrance of her complex, and said, "Well, I’m heading back. I have things to do tomorrow."
"Okay, be safe. And good luck!"
Lin Yanwan nodded. After watching him leave, she held the cat and took the elevator home.
"Mom, I found a cat and brought it home. Can we keep it?" she asked the moment she walked in the door.
Before Ji Wanqiu could speak, Lin Xiaoman’s eyes instantly widened and lit up.
"A cat? Where’s the cat?"
As she spoke, she jumped off the sofa, trotted over to her sister, and peered into the box.
"Aww, what a cute little kitty."
"Do you like it, Xiao Man?" Lin Yanwan asked with a smile.
"Yes, yes! I love it! It’s so tiny and looks so adorable! Sis, can we please keep it and raise it?"
"It’s not up to me. Go ask Mom~" she whispered, keeping her voice low enough for just the two of them to hear.
The clever Xiao Man understood instantly. She ran to Ji Wanqiu’s side, grabbing her hand and shaking it back and forth.
"Mama, Mama, Xiao Man wants to keep the cat, can we, please~?"
Looking at her doted-on youngest daughter, Ji Wanqiu felt utterly resigned. "If I say no, would you agree to throw the little kitten out?"
"I won’t let you!" Lin Xiaoman declared. "If we throw it out, a cute little kitty like this might die."
The corner of Ji Wanqiu’s eye twitched. She had just overheard the two sisters’ scheming.
Still, she wasn’t actually that opposed to keeping a cat. Perhaps because of the toy car incident, she’d grown quite fond of cats and dogs. Besides, it could help teach Xiao Man to be kind, loving, and responsible.
"I have no objection. Go ask your dad."
Mr. Lin, who had been watching with amusement from the sidelines, scooped his daughter into his arms. "Xiao Man, what your mom means is, if you want to keep the cat, you have to be serious about taking care of it. This can’t be just a passing fancy, and you can’t ever mistreat it. You have to treat it like a friend."
"Okay! From now on, I, Lin Xiaoman, am the kitty’s friend~"
Lin Yanwan secretly gave her sister a thumbs-up. ’That’s our parents’ favorite little girl, all right,’ she thought. ’She settled whether Yuyuan could stay in just a couple of sentences. If I had been the one to ask, it probably wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.’
"I’ll go give the little cat a bath, then."
"Sis, I’m coming too!"
◇
At seven the next morning, Jiang Xia arrived at the complex entrance at the agreed-upon time but didn’t see anyone. After waiting by the side of the road for about ten minutes, he saw Li Weiya slowly pull over in a Toyota.
"Ah Xia, I’m so terribly sorry," Li Weiya said, her face full of apology. "Something came up at home and held me up. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long."
Jiang Xia shook his head. "It’s no problem, Aunt Li. I just got here myself. Besides, it’s still early. We have plenty of time."
He opened the door, slid into the passenger seat, and fastened his seatbelt. The car then pulled away from the curb and headed toward the TV station.
"Looking sharp today," Li Weiya commented, glancing over at Jiang Xia. She was impressed.
He was wearing a white button-down and casual slacks, and his slightly long bangs were combed back, making him look much more mature and handsome.
"Once a guy turns eighteen, he ought to dress a bit more maturely," Jiang Xia said with a laugh.
"Or is it because you have a business meeting today and you’re afraid the TV station will think they can push you around because you’re young?" Li Weiya teased.
Jiang Xia blushed slightly. "Aunt Li, you didn’t have to call me out like that. That takes all the fun out of it."
"Hahahaha..."
Li Weiya chuckled. "By the way, did you bring everything you need?"
"Yep, I’ve got it all."
"Good."
"Aunt Li, am I taking the lead in a bit, or are you?"
"You’re taking the lead, of course. I’m just your negotiation consultant. I’ll give you advice when the time is right. But there’s one thing you have to remember: stay calm, and don’t reveal your bottom line right at the beginning."
"I know."
A little over an hour later, they finally arrived at Yu Du TV Station. Both of them were a little awestruck as they gazed at the building before them.
"Aunt Li, have you ever been here before?"
"Does this time count?"
"Trust me, we’ll be coming back here often."
Jiang Xia took a deep breath and strode inside. ’Yu Du TV Station,’ he thought, ’is just the first step on my climb to the top of this world.’
Watching the incredible confidence in his stride, Li Weiya froze for a second. When she thought about the high quality of *Cat and Mouse*, she found herself believing in him, for no reason at all.
’This young man,’ she thought, ’might just leave an indelible mark on the animation industry.’
For a moment, she felt a flicker of anticipation.
The two of them filled out a visitor form at the front desk, and a staff member led them to the elevator, taking them up to the floor of their appointment.
After they stated the purpose of their visit, they were led to a meeting room. Gazing out the window, Jiang Xia took a few deep breaths, but he still couldn’t quell the nervous excitement fluttering in his chest.
Not until he had finished nearly two glasses of water did the door finally open. A mature woman in a stylish suit walked in with a professional smile.
"You’re from Qitian Animation? Hello. I’m the editor in charge of our animation programming, surname Zhou, name Zhou Lu." Zhou Lu instinctively ignored Jiang Xia and walked up to Li Weiya, extending a friendly hand.
"My apologies, I’m not the head of Qitian Animation. He is." Li Weiya chuckled, taking a small step back and gesturing to Jiang Xia at her side.
Zhou Lu’s gaze followed her gesture, and she froze. ’He’s the boss? But... he looks far too young, doesn’t he?’
’Even though he styled his hair like an adult, his face still looks so boyish. I wonder if he’s even twenty?’
Jiang Xia let out a quiet breath and, with a calm smile, extended his hand.
"Hello, Chief Zhou. My name is Jiang Xia—the Jiang from the Yangtze River, and the Xia from summer. I’m the founder of Qitian Animation, and also the creator of *Cat and Mouse*."
...
(Author’s Note: Don’t wait for more Chapters, everyone. This is it for today. I’m not feeling well and have been groggy all day. However, the novel is going premium next Friday, and I’ll be getting ready for that, so please rest assured.)