Chapter 3
Chen Jingyi’s eyes darted. Then, with a sudden thump, she dropped to the ground and began wailing at the top of her lungs.
“Everyone, come look! This woman is abusing a cat!”
Taking its cue from her, the cat began yowling as if its heart were breaking.
“Meow! Meow! Meow-meow-meow!”
Each cry was more pitiful than the last. It made a convincing performance.
A crowd quickly formed around us.
Someone had even raised a phone and aimed the camera at me.
Seeing the gathering spectators, Chen Jingyi’s eyes flashed with satisfaction.
“Jiang Wancheng, can’t you hear how miserably he’s crying? Let him out right now!”
No one else could hear the cat’s thoughts.
That meant his words were whatever I said they were.
I looked down in disgust at Chen Jingyi throwing her tantrum on the ground.
“Chen Jingyi, didn’t you hear him? Even my cat hates you. If you don’t leave, I’ll let him bite you.”
The cat’s little mouth stayed open, but not a sound came out.
It stared at me, visibly torn.
*What am I supposed to do now? Make a scene or stay quiet?*
*Damn woman! You’re taking advantage of the fact I can’t talk, aren’t you? Aaargh!*
At the sight of the suddenly silent cat, I grew even more smug.
“See? My cat knows I’m right. Look how well behaved he is now.”
The cat: …
Chen Jingyi: …
The crowd fell silent for two seconds. Then whispers broke out.
“That cat obeys its owner. Doesn’t look abused to me.”
“Exactly. And look how clean he is. He’s obviously well cared for.”
“I know this resident. She loves animals. She feeds the strays all the time, and she even helped find my lost dog once!”
Public opinion was turning decisively against her.
Chen Jingyi’s face flushed crimson. She scrambled up and jabbed a finger at my nose.
“She’s taking the cat to be neutered! She’s depriving him of his reproductive rights! It’s a catastrophe against feline rights!”
The moment she finished, the cat raised its head and chimed in.
“Meow! Meow! Meow-meow-meow!”
Emboldened, Chen Jingyi pointed at the carrier and declared righteously,
“Look! The kitty doesn’t consent either! What right does she have to strip him of his dignity without permission? If that isn’t animal abuse, what is?”
She sounded utterly convinced.
But everyone stared at her as if she were an idiot.
Someone snorted with laughter. A moment later, laughter rippled through the crowd.
“Lady, enough. If you don’t know anything about cats, stop causing trouble.”
“I thought she was actually abusing him. Turns out she’s just getting him fixed. What a responsible young woman! My cat gained three pounds after his operation last year.”
“This one sounds like a possessed tractor. Get those things snipped before every female cat in the neighborhood suffers!”
“Exactly. Neutering is healthier. Cats live longer afterward!”
“She’s not a resident and she doesn’t own the cat, but she’s crying and screaming over it… Maybe she’s trying to steal him.”
“Could be! Cat thieves are everywhere these days. They can make money reselling them!”
“She looks respectable enough. Why doesn’t she act like it?”
Chen Jingyi shook with fury, unable to form a word.
At that moment,
two more uniformed guards hurried over and surrounded her with the first.
“Miss, you aren’t a resident here. Please leave!”
“I’m not leaving! You can’t treat me like this! I’m her best friend!”
Chen Jingyi struggled and tried to lunge toward me.
“Jiang Wancheng, you can’t neuter that cat! You’ll regret it for the rest of your life! He’s Li—”
She swallowed the rest of the sentence, leaving only a muffled whimper.
Two guards each took one of her arms and dragged her away.
The cat in the carrier completely lost it.
*Aaargh! What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?*
*She could’ve neutered me at any other time, but she waits until I’m a cat! Has she known all along?*
*Chen Jingyi, you useless idiot! You’re no help when it actually matters.*
*Don’t panic, Li Jiahao. Calm down… Calm down, my ass! I’m about to lose my balls!*
My lips curved.
Li Jiahao, I was doing this on purpose.
What could you possibly do about it?
You were the fool who chose to turn into a cat.
I turned and gave the onlookers a grateful smile.
“Thank you for helping. I’ll take him to the clinic now and care for him properly after the operation.”
“Go on. The sooner they’re gone, the sooner you can relax!”
“Remember to get him an Elizabethan collar!”
Amid the crowd’s well-meaning reminders and the cat’s despairing thoughts, I hailed a taxi.
“Nearest veterinary clinic, please. And hurry.”
The driver glanced at the carrier in his rearview mirror and chuckled.
“Miss, why’s that cat screaming like a pig at slaughter?”
Without changing expression, I said, “That’s why I’m taking him to have the problem cut off at the source.”
The cat’s cries grew even more desperate.
*Jiang Wancheng!*
*You’ll die a horrible death! Aaargh!*