Chapter 69: Hard to Pursue

Chapter 69: Hard to Pursue

"Isn't it obvious?" Ming Can paced in the bedroom with her phone, "Who else would cook besides you?"

Pausing for a moment, she added slyly, "So, I ordered food from outside."

After speaking, instead of hearing gratitude from the other end, she heard a pretentious voice—

"Afraid I'll get tired?" The man's laugh was laced with smugness, "Miaomiao's mom is really considerate."

Ming Can's eyes twitched, "Nerve."

She hung up the call.

Ming Can tossed her phone aside, rubbed both ears with her hands, and sat at the table, looking at the violin on it.

She had always thought she preferred steady and reliable boys, but unexpectedly, Chi Xiao became more and more unrestrained in front of her every day, and she couldn't bring herself to dislike him at all.

In fact, she even liked seeing him so relaxed and carefree.

Two days later, Ming Can's family moved out of Jingyu Garden and returned to their house in the city.

This year's Spring Festival came late, and the Lantern Festival was in early March. Most universities in North City, including A University and B University, resumed classes before the Lantern Festival.

Before school started, Ming Can and Chi Xiao took turns taking care of Miaomiao without hiring a nanny. They planned to arrange a part-time nanny after school started based on their class schedules, only needing the nanny to pick up Miaomiao from school and take care of him for a few hours when they were both busy in the afternoon, unlike last semester when they needed a nanny every day.

In the past week, Ming Can had spent much more time with Miaomiao than Chi Xiao.

"Your dad has been very busy lately," Ming Can said while watering the flowers on the balcony with Miaomiao, her tone slightly tinged with jealousy, "Being a prince with an official position in the group headquarters is different."

Miaomiao, who could barely understand what his mother was saying even with his superpowers, nodded solemnly.

As March approached and everything came back to life, a withered rose bush sprouted new buds. Miaomiao leaned in close to the soil of the rose bush, his little fists tightly clenched as if he were exerting some power.

"What are you doing?" Ming Can asked, leaning over.

"Huff..." Miaomiao exhaled, wiping the sweat from his forehead, "I'm observing the bugs in the soil."

Actually, he was trying to understand what the bugs were saying.

Recently, Miaomiao's superpowers had improved. Previously, he could only translate what larger animals said, but now, his hearing seemed to have strengthened, allowing him to clearly hear the sounds of bugs and attempt to translate them into human language, though it was quite tiring—

The unknown caterpillar in the rose pot: 「Spring... has... come... I... am... alive... again...」

"Bug? Where's the bug?" Ming Can squatted down, focusing her gaze on a caterpillar that had just emerged from the soil, and without hesitation, picked up a pebble and smashed it, "This bug will eat the flowers."

Miaomiao: "No!"

The flattened unknown caterpillar: 「I... am... dead... again...」

Ming Can threw away the pebble, straightened up, and patted her hands, then looked down to see Miaomiao trembling with his fists clenched, looking very sad.

"Wah, I just met it."

"I'm sorry," Ming Can realized belatedly that she had done something cruel in front of a child, "Mom didn't know it was your friend."

"I won't forgive you!" Miaomiao said angrily, "Unless you buy me a new furry friend, preferably a puppy."

Ming Can: "..."

Miaomiao loved small animals. Ever since they found him, the child would hint or directly ask to keep a pet every now and then, which Ming Can always rejected for various reasons.

Ming Can wasn't against small animals; it was just that their situation wasn't suitable for keeping a dog. A dog needed to be walked at least three times a day and could cause trouble if not well-trained. She was already struggling enough raising a child as a college student; adding a dog would be too much.

Since becoming colleagues with Chi Xiao, Ming Can began to consider the possibility of keeping a pet. Both of them had heavy academic loads, so keeping a dog wasn't practical, but keeping a cat might be manageable.

Since Miaomiao brought it up today, Ming Can shared her thoughts with him: "Mom knows you want a puppy in the future, but the future puppy will have someone to take care of it. Now, Dad, Mom, and you all have school, and it wouldn't be convenient to hire someone to look after a puppy at home. How about we don't get a puppy and get a kitten instead?"

Miaomiao hadn't expected his mother to agree. He loved both cats and dogs and immediately jumped up excitedly, "Yay! I'm going to have a kitten!"

Ming Can patted his head and said, "Don't get too excited yet; we still need to ask Dad's opinion."

"Dad will definitely agree," Miaomiao said, "Dad likes cats and dogs too!"

"Is that so," Ming Can blinked, thinking to herself that he didn't seem like someone who liked cats or dogs.

Back inside, Ming Can immediately called Chi Xiao.

Hearing about getting a kitten for Miaomiao, Chi Xiao fell silent for a moment.

"Can't we get a dog?" he asked.

"Keeping a dog is troublesome. Imagine us rushing to early classes, having to wake Miaomiao up and send him to school, and also walking the dog. Do you think you can handle it?" Ming Can said, "Do you not like cats?"

Chi Xiao fell silent again, then asked, "Do you like cats?"

"Mom loves cats the most!" Miaomiao chimed in, using the speakerphone, "Mom doesn't let Xiao Er into the room, but Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai can. Mom even sleeps with Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai at night!"

Xiao Er, Xiao Hei, and Xiao Bai were pets Miaomiao kept in the future. Xiao Er was a Corgi, while Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai were a black and white cat, respectively, living with Ming Can.

"I do like cats," Ming Can said, "Cats are so cute and not bothersome. They have their own world, unlike dogs, which lack independent thinking."

Miaomiao: "Mom, don't play favorites!"

Ming Can: "Where did you learn this new word? Kids shouldn't spend all day online."

Miaomiao: "Hmph."

If Ming Can were to be described as an animal, she would most resemble a cat.

And it was a long-haired cat with a magnificent presence, its gem-like eyes surveying the surroundings with arrogance, showing utter disdain for human behavior. If she deigned to stop and rub against you as she passed, the human being rubbed would practically kneel down in gratitude.

—Such an image floated in Chi Xiao's mind.

"Why aren't you speaking?" Ming Can asked, "If you have no objections, I'll take Miaomiao to pick out a kitten before school starts."

"Hmm." Chi Xiao's voice sounded somewhat slow, "You two go ahead; I have something that requires me to travel abroad recently."

Ming Can was taken aback.

He changed the subject too quickly.

"Going to America?" Ming Can asked, "For how many days?"

"Three days if all goes well," Chi Xiao said, "I'll be back before the Lantern Festival."

"Alright then." Ming Can guessed it was a family matter and didn't press further.

After the call, Miaomiao happily ran off to play, while Ming Can sat on the sofa, her eyes lowered in thought.

She felt that Chi Xiao seemed strange over the phone today.

She couldn't pinpoint exactly what was off.

Was he just reluctant to keep a kitten but didn't want to say it outright for her sake?

Ming Can walked into Miaomiao's toy pile, grabbed a small stool, and sat beside him, asking, "Miaomiao, think carefully, does your dad not like kittens?"

"He definitely likes them," Miaomiao replied without hesitation, "Once, I brought Xiaohei to stay at Dad's place, and Dad held Xiaohei all night, petting him non-stop."

"Is that so." Ming Can nodded, finally feeling relieved.

The next day, Ming Can took Miaomiao to visit several nearby pet shops. After careful comparison and research, they finally chose a six-month-old, beautiful and healthy Ragdoll cat.

"It's so pretty," Miaomiao said, holding the kitten lovingly when they got home, "It looks like a princess. How about we call it 'Xiaogong'?"

Ming Can: …

You really are casual with names.

"That's a girl, calling her 'Xiaogong' sounds terrible," Ming Can said, "Why not call her 'Princess'?"

Miaomiao insisted on naming it according to the standard of other pets at home: "Then let's call her 'Xiaozhu.'"

"…" Ming Can sighed, "Alright."

By this time, Chi Xiao had already arrived in America. Ming Can took some beautiful photos of the kitten and sent them to the group chat, tapping on Chi Xiao's avatar to ask for his opinion.

More than an hour later.

CX: "[Thumbs up][Thumbs up][Thumbs up]"

Men are the most perfunctory creatures in the world.

Ming Can replied with a [Smile], put her phone aside, and rolled up her sleeves to start organizing the pile of pet supplies they had just bought.

Three days passed, and B University opened for the new semester.

Ming Can went to school in the morning and returned home in the afternoon.

She had moved back into the rented apartment near the school. Since Chi Xiao was abroad these few days, they hadn't met, and his room remained unchanged.

Ming Can hadn't decided whether to continue living together or have him move out.

Due to the time difference, they hadn't spoken for several days. Chi Xiao only messaged her early this morning to say he had taken off, then fell silent again.

The day after tomorrow was the Lantern Festival, and for some reason, Ming Can had a strong premonition that this guy would stand her up.

Another day passed, and A University also opened for the new semester.

After morning classes, Ming Can and Xu Jiayun went to the cafeteria for lunch together.

The spring chill was still biting, and students on the campus paths were all hugging their coats tightly, hurrying along.

As they navigated through the crowd, Xu Jiayun clung tightly to Ming Can's arm, her gossip spirit burning fiercely, eager to ask, "Volcano, quickly share with me your progress in pursuing Senior Chi Xiao!"

Ming Can turned her head expressionlessly, glancing in the direction of A University to the east.

The Chi family guy should be at school today.

Not seeing him for four consecutive days, and even after landing last night, he didn't mention coming to see Miaomiao.

He better remember he has a son.

"No progress," Ming Can clenched her fists, "You're right, this guy is indeed hard to pursue."

"R-really…?"

Xu Jiayun looked at her, inexplicably feeling that she wasn't pursuing someone but rather chopping someone down.

"Don't worry," Xu Jiayun whispered in comfort, "You're so beautiful and excellent. As long as you stay steady and take it slowly, you'll definitely win him over!"

Ming Can saw her cautious expression and suddenly laughed, "I'm fine."

For a long time, Ming Can had been taking care of Miaomiao alone.

After Chi Xiao came, she had indeed become much more relaxed, no longer having to shoulder everything herself. Both physically and mentally, she had a solid support and reliance.

It didn't take long for her to get used to this kind of life.

And so now.

He had only been gone for a short while.

She was already finding it hard to bear.