CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 57 THE SUMMER ENDED

Caviar was, of course, out of the question.

Zhou Li discussed it with her and they compromised, settling for a two-yuan grilled sausage instead.

Zhou Li explained to Zheng Zhilan, "She’s a demon. I met her before when I was tutoring, but she didn’t look like this back then. She seems to be proficient in transformation and disguise—so much so that neither Heavenly Masters nor other demons can distinguish her. Fortunately, Huai Xu smelled her presence."

"Sensed it," Huai Xu corrected.

"Sensed her presence," Zhou Li repeated.

"I see," Zheng Zhilan nodded. "No wonder I felt she looked more distinct than an average cat."

"Your eyes are quite sharp then," Huai Xu said.

"They’re alright."

The little white cat, who called herself Lord Dumpling, ate half the grilled sausage and then refused to eat more. Zhou Li then asked about her history with Huai Xu. While Zhou Li held her, she said, "Huai Xu turned from a human into a demon. You guys might not know this, but he used to be a human Heavenly Master. Well, not exactly a Heavenly Master, since he was in the military—the kind who only knew fighting and killing. He killed a lot of demons!"

"We know that part. You said you did him a favor?"

"Right. Because after he became a demon, he wasn’t well-liked, which sparked considerable debate. Many Great Demons wanted to deal with him. If I hadn’t spoken up for him before His Highness, who knows what a miserable death he would have suffered."

"You’re lying! I’m very powerful. Who could possibly kill me!"

"TSK!"

Tuanzi glanced at him with disdain. "No matter how powerful you are, can you fight several Great Demons at once? Could you have fought the Blood Demon? The Blood Demon was so ferocious, yet its entire race nearly faced extinction!"

"Were you very familiar with me before?"

"Not at all!" Tuanzi immediately denied. "I am a Close Attendant to His Highness. How could I be familiar with you? I’ve only seen you a few times."

"Um..."

Zhou Li walked Zheng Zhilan to her hotel entrance, handed her the developed photos, and after saying goodbye, carried Tuanzi as he headed back.

"Since you’re the Demon King’s Close Attendant, why are you here?" Zhou Li asked.

"Because His Highness hasn’t awoken yet."

"Then why aren’t you with Hong Ran?"

"You know Hong Ran?"

"Yes."

"It seems I underestimated you," Tuanzi said, then paused. "I don’t like Hong Ran... By the way, you don’t get along with her either, do you?"

"We get along fine."

"I didn’t say anything just now!"

"Yeah, but why don’t you like her?"

"How do you know I don’t like her?"

"You just said so."

"I didn’t say anything."

"..."

As Zhou Li carried her downstairs to his apartment building, he suddenly paused. "What I said earlier was true. I’m going off to university in a couple of days. I’m heading to Chunming, the same city as Hong Ran. What will you do then?"

"MEOW."

"Hmm?"

"MEOW."

Zhou Li was speechless and carried her upstairs.

Opening the door and stepping inside, he found the three of them in the living room. Zhou Li held up Tuanzi for them to see. "I found a cat on the roadside today, and she insisted on following me."

Tuanzi put on an act of being well-behaved.

Zhu Shuang was the first to run over, asking, "How did you find her?"

Zhou Li then recounted his experience of being ’defrauded’ by the cat, listening to which Aunt Jiang repeatedly marveled at the fated connection between the two.

Zhu Shuang fell into thought before saying, "A couple of months ago, a friend of mine also found a cat this way. Unfortunately, the cat ran away not long after she took it in. I heard it was a real ’player’ cat—always demanding good food and even going out shopping. But that was a Ragdoll. This one looks a bit like a British Shorthair silver-pointed, though not exactly. It must have some other lineage."

Zhou Li looked down at Tuanzi. "Then your friend must have been heartbroken, right?"

He only saw Tuanzi batting her little paws playfully, acting cute for Aunt Jiang, seemingly not having heard Zhu Shuang’s words at all.

"She was devastated. Especially since that cat was beautiful, and she’d spent a lot of money on it."

"What a pity."

"Brother, you’d better keep a close eye on this cat. Once these strays get used to being wild, all they think about is running off!"

"If she wants to leave someday, I’ll let her."

"That’s a good way to think about it. What’s her name?"

"Tuanzi."

"Sounds nice."

Zhu Shuang tried to touch Tuanzi’s little paw, but she agilely dodged him. He didn’t mind and just grinned.

After some conversation, Zhou Li carried Tuanzi back to his room.

For the next two days, Tuanzi maintained the aloofness Zhou Li was familiar with. However, with her good looks, lively spirit, and occasional charming antics, she quickly won over Old Zhou’s family. But the time for Zhou Li’s departure was drawing near.

On the last day, Zhou Li decided to visit his old school.

He obviously couldn’t enter through the school gates, so he walked halfway around the school’s perimeter to the outside of the small pond. Looking over a pond brimming with lotus leaves towards the sports field, he saw a massive figure. It was sitting in the empty field, leaning against a basketball hoop, apparently taking a nap.

The grounds were otherwise empty.

Huai Xu spoke from behind him, "Back up a bit! If you get a running start from this corner, you can definitely jump over!"

"No, thanks."

"Then let me take you in!"

"Forget it, I just came to have a look."

"Alright, I’ll pick a lotus flower for you," Huai Xu’s figure flickered, and suddenly a lotus flower appeared in his hand. "TA-DA! This one just bloomed. How about it?"

"Beautiful."

Zhou Li took the lotus flower, still looking onto the school grounds.

San Zheng was sleeping soundly.

Zhou Li turned and started walking back.

Tuanzi was also following him today. As Zhou Li walked by, she straightened up, placed her front paws on his calves, and said, "Zhou Li, I can’t walk anymore. Carry me."

So Zhou Li picked her up.

She then lay on Zhou Li’s shoulder, watching the school grounds recede into the distance.

Suddenly, Zhou Li said, "My train is tomorrow. Do you want to stay at my place, or go somewhere else?"

"I’m not staying at your house."

"Then why do you seek out humans?"

"I need to eat."

"Then why do you always run away? Those people you abandon must be so heartbroken."

"It’s because you humans are so annoying!" Tuanzi initially sounded a bit guilty but quickly grew indignant. "Locking me up is one thing, but you humans also keep trying to pet me when I’m sleeping! If I’m on the sofa, you push me off. If I’m on the floor, you pick me up and put me on the sofa. Everything is based on your whims! Who could stand it?"

"But those were your choices."

"If they hadn’t been like that, I wouldn’t have run away."

"But you still keep finding people to mooch food off of."

"MEOW."

"..."

This cat is a true con artist.

Zhou Li asked again, "So, what will you do?"

This time, the little con artist understood human speech and said, "I’ve thought it over. I’m going to Chunming too. His Highness will also return there once he awakens."

"Cats aren’t allowed on the high-speed train."

"I’ll transform, and then humans won’t be able to see me."

"We’ll see then."

"Hong Ran isn’t coming to pick you up, is she?"

"No."

"PHEW..."

Tuanzi breathed a sigh of relief.

A couple of days ago, Zhou Li had chatted with Tuanzi and listened to her complain at length about Hong Ran. After mentally filtering out Tuanzi’s subjective biases, Zhou Li concluded that Tuanzi disliked Hong Ran purely because the prominent figures among the demons had chosen Hong Ran as regent, not her. Tuanzi believed herself to be the demon closest to and most trusted by His Highness, but in reality, she was merely a pet he had fed.

As for why she wanted to be the acting Demon King...

She had casually mentioned that the Demon Realm was full of delicious food, fun activities, and extremely valuable treasures...

This demon’s personality is quite problematic.

Arriving downstairs at his apartment building, Zhou Li also said goodbye to Lao Hui and Xiao Yuan. He packed his things that same night: a backpack, a suitcase, and a cat carrier.

The next morning, after Aunt Jiang checked his charging cables and registration documents one last time, they set off in Old Zhou’s car.

They arrived at Brother Nan’s family’s noodle restaurant.

Brother Nan was already awake and waiting for them in the noodle shop, surrounded by a large pile of luggage. Zhou Li had been chatting with her from the car just moments before.

"You’ve arrived!"

Brother Nan checked the time; it wasn’t even nine o’clock yet.

She was warm and hospitable, quickly preparing five bowls of noodles with extra meat and eggs. She also served them with drinks and side dishes, making for a generous spread. While the noodles cooked, Old Zhou and Aunt Jiang chatted animatedly with Brother Nan’s parents, laughing as if they were old friends.

Meanwhile, Brother Nan was teasing her family’s cat, Big Orange.

Big Orange wasn’t in high spirits, but after some hesitation, it deigned to play with her for a little while.

Only after it had successfully placated her did it resume sunbathing.

After they finished their noodles, Brother Nan’s father was already waiting outside in his car. Brother Nan squatted in front of Big Orange, rubbing its belly, and said to it, "I’m going off to university in Caiyun. You’re finished! When you fight with dogs in the future, no one will be there to back you up anymore."

Big Orange seemed unconcerned, yawning lazily and even using a hind leg to push her hand away.

Brother Nan grinned but didn’t hit it.

It wasn’t until Brother Nan walked past, lugging her bags, that Big Orange suddenly seemed to snap to attention. It lifted its head and stared blankly at her.

Their belongings were crammed into the car. Big Orange got up, stretched its neck, and stared fixedly at Brother Nan.

Brother Nan got into the car.

It chased after them.

BANG!

The car door slammed shut, leaving Big Orange looking utterly baffled.

The car began to move. It chased for a few steps, then stopped as the vehicle sped away. It remained standing there, gazing in that direction.

「The high-speed train station.」

Two cars pulled up. Both sets of parents had their words of advice.

Aunt Jiang wanted Zhou Li to be more outgoing.

Brother Nan’s parents wanted her to be more composed.

The common theme was that both sets of parents wanted the two of them to get along well, help each other, and learn from one another.

After they finished, the parents also exchanged a few words of advice with each other’s child.

Until their parents’ cars departed.

Brother Nan and Zhou Li stood side by side. She felt a bit reluctant to leave the city, then turned to Zhou Li and said seriously, "Zhou Li, from now on in Chunming, you’re my one and only Little Brother!"

Zhou Li just grunted an ’Mm,’ pulling his suitcase forward. He also helped her carry a bag containing a quilt.

Brother Nan hurried to keep up.