Chapter 4

Chapter 4

On the way back from seeing Yu Xiaoyu home, Yu Chang'an pointed at himself and said, "Xiaoyu, I'm your Fifth Brother."

Yu Xiaoyu looked at him with clear eyes but said nothing.

Not giving up, Yu Chang'an kept pestering Yu Xiaoyu to call him "Fifth Brother." Annoyed, Yu Xiaoyu turned his head away.

Yu Chang'an: ...

But Yu Chang'an didn't give up. When they reached Yu Xiaoyu's courtyard, he quickly scooped up a large white cat lounging in the shade. Holding up the cat's front paws, he said to Yu Xiaoyu, "Xiaoyu, this is a cat. Say 'cat' after me."

Yu Xiaoyu nodded but didn't say the word.

He thought of the boy who looked like a cat he had just seen. That one was a big cat, and this one was a small cat, but he just couldn't say it. He showed none of the liveliness he had when he saw Lu Maomao.

Because his face was usually expressionless, no one knew about the struggle going on inside him.

Still, Yu Xiaoyu's nod was enough encouragement for Yu Chang'an. He persistently pointed at the white cat, urging Yu Xiaoyu to say the word, annoying both the white cat and Yu Xiaoyu to the point where they couldn't stand it. The white cat leaped out of his master Fifth Brother's arms and swiftly disappeared. Yu Xiaoyu lowered his head and refused to look at Yu Chang'an no matter what he said.

Yu Chang'an left Yu Xiaoyu's courtyard disappointedly.

But before leaving, he didn't forget to instruct Yu Xiaoyu's maid, Cui Xi, and Nanny Shisong to find opportunities to continue teaching Yu Xiaoyu to say the word "cat."

As for Lu Maomao, who had gotten his Xiaoyu to speak, Yu Chang'an naturally couldn't stand the sight of him.

But for the sake of helping Yu Xiaoyu recover, he had to hold his nose and keep him around.

Two years ago, Grandfather had taken him and Xiaoyu back to their hometown. Besides wanting to avoid the turmoil in the capital, another reason was that Xiaoyu was growing more and more striking. Having a daughter or a young man as stunning as a celestial being was a good thing for an ambitious family. But for Xiaoyu, it meant disaster. Xiaoyu had become like this because of Grandfather, and Grandfather felt guilty toward him. For years, he had been seeking doctors and medicine, praying to gods and buddhas, visiting numerous temples and Taoist monasteries for Xiaoyu's sake.

When Xiaoyu was little, Taoist Master Huaizhen from the Sanqing Temple said that the turning point for his recovery would come after his coming-of-age ceremony, advising them to raise Xiaoyu well and not worry.

Two years ago, when Xiaoyu was thirteen, Grandfather took him back to their hometown. Before leaving, they visited Master Huaizhen again, who gave them that prophecy.

This year happened to be Xiaoyu's coming-of-age year, and they encountered the hateful Lu Maoer. "When cat and fish meet, both find joy"—the "cat" in this undoubtedly referred to that stinky cat, Lu Maoer.

As for "both find joy," Yu Chang'an really wanted to tell himself that it meant each person would find their own happiness. But seeing that Xiaoyu, who had just started speaking, became mute again after leaving Lu Maomao, it probably meant that Lu Maomao was indispensable.

Both Xiaoyu and Lu Maomao were of marriageable age. Even if it was to help Xiaoyu recover, letting two young men in their prime spend day and night together without any formal status would become a major liability for their Yu family.

Old Master Yu had someone invite Lu Maomao to the guest room and said to his grandson, "You're too hasty."

"Grandfather, you didn't see how Xiaoyu and Lu Maoer were acting as if they were the only ones there just now. If we don't define their relationship and let them continue interacting, something might happen over time," Yu Chang'an said seriously.

"Is this Lu Maoer really so lacking in propriety?"

Like grandfather, like grandson. Old Master Yu began to criticize Lu Maomao just like Yu Chang'an. He felt that while his own Xiaoyu had his difficulties and might not understand boundaries well, Lu Maoer, being of an age to be independent, should know to maintain propriety even if a young man showed him favor.

"However, he was willing to take the blame for Xiaoyu in that unjust affair, so he can be taught," Old Master Yu added. From this incident, it could be seen that Lu Maoer's nature was still honest and kind, making him suitable to accompany Xiaoyu.

"But is your brother really stuck with this unregistered illiterate?"

Old Master Yu was unwilling. Before finding the "cat," he had desperately hoped to find one, but now that he had, he felt dissatisfied. Could his precious, delicately raised child only be matched with an unregistered illiterate?

If Lu Maoer were just an ordinary person, Old Master Yu wouldn't have looked down on him so much. But now that this cat was about to become his grandson-in-law, his standards naturally became more critical.

Yu Chang'an then told his grandfather about the incident earlier where he tried to teach Yu Xiaoyu to speak.

"What if we can find the key to Xiaoyu's recovery on him?" Old Master Yu muttered to himself.

Yu Chang'an understood his grandfather's discontent. How could he be willing to find someone without household registration for Xiaoyu? But fate and destiny were not things human power could interfere with. "What if the key is this person himself? If Xiaoyu never gets better, can we find someone more suitable for him?"

Old Master Yu's expression turned cold. "Then we can only bind Lu Maoer and Xiaoyu together for life."

Lu Maomao didn't know that Old Master Yu, who had been so kind to him, saw him in a different light in private.

Resting in the Yu family's guest room, he was confused about today's events. How did it progress to him being asked to marry into the family as a husband for the Little Fairy Boy? There was no build-up at all. Especially since he and Xiaoyu hadn't formally introduced themselves to each other. An arranged marriage where they'd barely met felt awkward. Moreover, that fellow Yu Chang'an disliked him so much; how could he be so kind as to let him marry in?

Lu Maomao, being a cat, was capable of conning people out of food, drink, shelter, and even their affection. Naturally, he didn't care about the title of "marrying into the family." That was something human men needed to worry about; cats didn't. Having someone willing to provide food and shelter for free was something cats would eagerly desire.

However, probably because he had someone he liked now, Lu Maomao's long-dormant sense of shame was finally awakened.

Eating and drinking for free at Xiaoyu's family's expense, and then saying he liked their Xiaoyu and wanted to be with him—where was the dignity in that? Wouldn't Xiaoyu look down on him?

Furthermore, if Xiaoyu knew he was a cat, would he still be willing to let him marry in?

Having interacted with humans for a long time and having had dozens of caretakers, Lu Maomao's views on marriage and related matters were very close to those of humans. He prided himself on being a civilized cat who had shed the behavior of being heartless after intimacy and had been bathed in higher civilization.

A civilized cat naturally should follow the ways of civilized humans.

Some might say Lu Maomao had been tamed, but he didn't agree at all. He felt he had achieved enlightenment. After all, these were all his own choices. He actively chose his environment and actively shaped himself to become who he was now. Whether Sun Wukong was tamed or not, Lu Maomao couldn't say, but he had indeed step by step chosen to become this kind of cat.

Of course, Lu Maomao having the leeway to choose was also thanks to the peaceful social environment and his many caretakers who genuinely loved cats with all their heart. With their support, Lu Maomao had the leisure to ponder these philosophical questions. Naturally, for issues he could figure out, Lu Maomao would continue to ponder deeply; for those he couldn't, he would set them aside, adopting a flexible approach.

Feeling perturbed, Lu Maomao opened the Children's Farm System. The blind box seeds he planted in the morning had already grown over ten centimeters. He could harvest them tomorrow and then sow new seeds the day after. It was said this setup could cultivate a young fish's patience and prevent them from becoming addicted to the game.

Lu Maomao checked his harvest again: milk sticks, fish food, water plants, wet wipes, bibs... Nothing seemed suitable as a gift.

He hoped tomorrow would yield a gift suitable for Xiaoyu, Lu Maomao wished.

However, he didn't have much confidence in Little Carp's luck. Little Carp had indeed turned misfortune into blessing, but it had cost Lu Maomao his life. Coming to live in another world and meeting Xiaoyu was indeed turning calamity into fortune. Lu Maomao, who had gained a human body without undergoing a transformative rebirth, truly couldn't comprehend the karma involved, nor Little Carp's bizarre luck.

After the Yu family members settled Lu Maomao in the guest room, no host came to attend to him again, adding a trace of unease to Lu Maomao's heart.

What's the meaning of this? Leaving the cat here and then ignoring him?

Won't they really ask the cat again if he's willing? This time, the cat would definitely agree immediately. In the study, when Yu Chang'an proposed the marriage, Lu Maomao was both shocked and delighted. He had wanted to agree right away, but at that moment, the cat's cautious nature took over. He hesitated for just a moment, and then Old Master Yu had the steward invite him out, reasonably saying that they would still help with the household registration matter. He told Lu Maomao not to heed Yu Chang'an's unreasonable request, as hastily agreeing wouldn't be good for him or Xiaoyu.

Was Lu Maomao troubled? Of course not at all. Males suddenly in love are blind.

It's just that for a straightforward little cat like him, the grandfather and grandson's act of one playing the bad cop and the other the good cop briefly confused him. Blinded by love, he hadn't realized it yet, but soon he would see the true nature of the Yu family's elder and younger master.

After dinner, the Yu family steward had people carry in a bathtub for Lu Maomao to bathe in the fragrant infusion.

Having just taken a bath yesterday, Lu Maomao refused. No cat likes to bathe every day. Even if it's some fragrant infusion, it's the same. Besides, this fragrant infusion had a medicinal smell to it; it was more like a medicinal bath.

"This is a formula created by a renowned miracle doctor. Bathing in it twice a year not only strengthens the body but also whitens and nourishes the skin."

Lu Maomao immediately stated, "I'm very healthy."

He wasn't sure about Lu Maoer's previous condition, but he, Lu Maomao, was very healthy. As for being dark-skinned, it wasn't his fault. Following his foster father hunting in the mountains all year round, how could Lu Maoer possibly be fair-skinned? Lu Maomao simply ignored this issue.

"Young Master Xiaoyu has been raised delicately since childhood. Germs from the mountains may be harmless to you, sir, but they could make Young Master Xiaoyu ill," the steward advised.

Were they worried he carried germs that could infect Xiaoyu? Well, he was actually worried too. If he really carried some virus and infected Xiaoyu, he would be heartbroken.

Reluctantly, Lu Maomao bathed in that fragrant infusion, sneezing constantly from the fumes of the medicinal herbs inside. If it's a medicinal bath, just call it a medicinal bath. Why call it a fragrant infusion? Who came up with such an improper name? Lu Maomao didn't know that this formula was actually created by the miracle doctor for palace concubines to maintain their health. One batch of herbs was very costly. The Yu family had obtained it by chance and had only used it for Yu Xiaoyu. Giving it to him was also out of concern that he, often active in the mountains and forests, might carry pathogenic influences.

After the bath, lying on the soft large bed feeling utterly wretched, Lu Maomao kept muttering, "Every cat is a potential winner. True love can overcome instinct. I really do like Xiaoyu."

While Lu Maomao was complaining, faint noises came from the window. Lu Maomao looked outside warily and discovered two large cats crouched on the windowsill, pawing to get in.

Author's Note:

----------------------

Haven't found the nutrient solution thanks button for several days. Has it become automatic now? Not sure, need to look into it some more.