Chapter Thirteen: The Boy Afraid of Cats

Page 1/3

After Yu Zhi’s hint, Zhou Su finally realized he should have gone to find someone, but it was already too late.

“We should have figured it out much earlier! The locals in Hengxi Village wouldn’t just ignore us or charge straight at us…”

Yu Zhi slipped her hands into her pockets, wearing an expression of regret. “Looks like we lost the first round. I really want to know how they stole those points.”

Both of them tilted their heads back at a forty-five-degree angle to gaze at the sky, perfectly embodying the word “melancholy.”

They waited a long time, but no one paid them any attention. Yu Zhi sighed and returned to normal. “I thought the director might take pity on us and give us a clue. Tsk, what a stingy bastard!”

[There’s a reason why two different kinds of people can’t sleep in the same bed!]

[I have a bold idea. What exactly is the full name of the points again???]

[Zhou Su, you’ve successfully made us forget what a complete goof you used to be in the film industry, but now I remember it all again!]

Zhou Su said, “Stop messing around. Let’s hurry and get to the task.”

Yu Zhi nodded without paying much attention and started walking forward, but after a few steps, she stopped again. “Zhou Su, did you change your chip? Ever since you met Bai Fuyuan at noon, you’ve been acting kind of strange.”

Behind her, Zhou Su casually revealed the watch on his wrist and feigned ignorance. “Is there a difference? Haven’t I always been like this?”

“You better not be hiding something from me. Otherwise, you know what I’m capable of!”

Her threat was lightly delivered, and Zhou Su didn’t take it seriously. Or rather, he had more important matters to protect.

The place they were heading to now was Grandpa Qing’s house.

Grandpa Qing’s real name was lost to time. He was the only one left in the family, with no children, surviving solely on daily meals delivered by volunteers from the village.

Sometimes, he would walk slowly alone along the river in Hengxi Village, as if by walking he could somehow meet the people he longed to see.

Their task was to bathe the kittens Grandpa Qing kept, earning ten points for each bath. This was the main reason Yu Zhi chose this task first.

Having points in hand gave them confidence and the capital to compete for others’ points.

“Yu Zhi! You know I’m afraid of cats, don’t forget that!”

Zhou Su hadn’t seen any special reaction from Yu Zhi even after entering Grandpa Qing’s home, so he shouted at her in frustration.

Yu Zhi had been lost in thought on the way and was startled by his loud voice, patting her chest and asking, “Zhou Su, are you out of your mind? Suddenly making such a loud noise—what if you scare Grandpa Qing’s cats away?”

Zhou Su stared carefully at Yu Zhi for a long moment, then gave a pitiful smile. “Yu Zhi, you have no heart…”

The delicate-faced youth whispered his lament about her cruelty. Who could hear that and not soften their heart?

Page 2/3

Yu Zhi’s mind automatically recalled Grandma Wang’s secret manual.

The third trick to coaxing a handsome young man: be fragile and spineless, cling to him, or sprout branches that evoke sympathy…

Had Zhou Su secretly read her little manual?

As always, what to do when the kid misbehaves?

“Slap him around a bit, and it’ll be fine.”

Zhou Su felt a faint sting on his back and sighed silently.

Apparently, he hadn’t fooled Yu Zhi this time. Her ability to see through his acting had only grown stronger. Why couldn’t he deceive her and let himself be lost in illusion for a moment?

“Honey! Are you sure you don’t want to act in the movie with me?”

Grandpa Qing’s courtyard was as warm as his name suggested. If it weren’t for the setting sun, Yu Zhi would really want to lose herself in this garden.

“Acting with you? I’m afraid we’d be drowned by our CP fans.”

Zhou Su thought of something and burst out laughing.

“Can’t help it. Yu Sister is popular with all genders, loved by everyone~”

Enough was enough. Yu Zhi quickly kicked out, but Zhou Su skillfully dodged her flying kick.

“Zhi Bao! Can you stop kicking at the slightest disagreement?”

Missing her target didn’t stop Yu Zhi. She alternated her legs back and forth like a child, playfully sparring with him in Grandpa Qing’s yard.

“Cough cough… cough cough…”

Their movements paused as they looked up to see the speaker.

“Grandpa Qing~”

“It’s been a long time since this yard was so lively. You two have really added a special charm!”

Yu Zhi blushed and glared fiercely at Zhou Su. If it weren’t for his sudden provocation, how could she have behaved so inappropriately in such a setting?

[I raise the banner for Zhi Ha! So sweet! Yu Sister, can you and Zhou Su get back together for my sake?]

[You’re overthinking it. This state clearly means they’ve let go!]

[Can’t stand the dithering and whining. Are we even going to earn points or not?!]

[Hahaha, I knew I wasn’t the only one wanting to see them fight for points—only this group of guests thought of that!]

Page 3/3

Zhou Su gave a silly laugh and pretended not to know anything, ignoring Yu Zhi. “Grandpa Qing, I’m afraid of cats. Could you give us another task?”

Straight to the point, Grandpa Qing was momentarily taken aback.

“You’re quite unusual, boy!”

“My tasks are set by the program team. There’s nothing I can do. Can’t you overcome your fear?”

Yu Zhi looked up at Zhou Su’s profile and suddenly recalled the madness he’d shown at the door earlier.

Zhou Su was afraid of cats, and not just a little.

Once, when the two of them secretly went out to watch a movie behind the staff’s backs, at the cinema entrance they saw a lost little tabby cat sheltering from the rain.

From afar, it was hard to see clearly. Yu Zhi just mentioned it briefly, but Zhou Su immediately clung to her tightly in fear.

She could still remember the warm feeling of his body close to hers against the cold wind.

The wet, hot breath echoed in her ears, pitiful and tinged with grievance, evoking sympathy. “Yu Sister~ Can we not watch it?”

Such is the folly of love.

After returning home, under her persistent nagging, Zhou Su curled up in her arms and slowly shared his trauma.

Zhou Su was an illegitimate child. His mother gave birth to him out of selfish love, forcing the child into existence to threaten his biological father and mother’s relationship.

But Zhou’s father didn’t want either of them. His mother kept looking for opportunities near Zhou’s father’s home.

One day, little Zhou Su was out playing with a good friend.

They happened to see Zhou’s father happily holding a child, and next to him stood a graceful woman. Zhou Su was excited—it was the first time in so long he had truly seen his father in real life.

Ignoring his friend, he ran up and joyfully called him “Dad.”

Needless to say, that man didn’t look kindly on him and even called the servants to throw him away.

If he had been allowed to leave, he wouldn’t have endured such terrifying experiences.

Zhou’s father’s wife had a huge quarrel with him, and to please her, the servants locked Zhou Su in a cat’s den in the backyard…