43. Cat Fostering

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Yu Yue asked Xu Yuanzhe, “Did you give the cat such a name?”

Xu Yuanzhe didn’t speak, just opened the cat treat.

Xiao Yu’er had already approached, smelling the scent of the cat treat, constantly rubbing its nose against it. In those black shiny eyes, all you could see was the desire for food.

But Xu Yuanzhe didn’t immediately feed it.

He handed the cat treat to Yu Yue. “You feed it, let it get familiar with the smell.”

Yu Yue didn’t know how to feed it.

He could only squat down, taking the cat treat from Xu Yuanzhe’s hand.

Yu Yue was a bit slow, taking a while to squeeze out the cat treat. Xiao Yu’er got impatient, opened its mouth, and tried to bite it, startling Yu Yue.

Xu Yuanzhe reached out, grabbed Yu Yue’s hand, gently squeezed it, and squeezed out the cat treat.

Xiao Yu’er immediately started licking it.

Yu Yue didn’t notice at first.

Later, he realized that Xu Yuanzhe was holding his hand.

Yu Yue slowly lowered his eyes.

Xu Yuanzhe’s hand was always larger than Yu Yue’s, with more defined knuckles. Holding Yu Yue’s hand gently, it inexplicably reminded Yu Yue of a long time ago, the first time he held hands with Xu Yuanzhe. Yu Yue’s first thought at that time was, this boy’s hands are so big.

After feeding Xiao Yu’er half a pack of cat treats, Xu Yuanzhe said it was enough.

Yu Yue put away the cat treats.

Afterward, Xu Yuanzhe briefly explained some other things for Yu Yue to take note of. It sounded easy, but Yu Yue knew that if he encountered any problems while taking care of the cat, he might have to message Xu Yuanzhe.

When the time was almost up, after Xu Yuanzhe finished speaking, he glanced at his watch. “It’s about time. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take a cab to the airport.”

Yu Yue had originally wanted to say there was nothing else.

But hearing Xu Yuanzhe say this, he suddenly paused. “Take a cab?”

Xu Yuanzhe looked at Yu Yue.

Yu Yue tilted his head slightly, “You… don’t you have a car? Why take a cab?”

Xu Yuanzhe said simply, “It’s not very convenient. The car has to be parked at the airport for over a month.”

Yu Yue also recalled that if Xu Yuanzhe were to drive, he did own a Maybach, which would indeed be inconvenient to leave at the airport.

Seeing Xu Yuanzhe about to leave, Yu Yue, not knowing what came over him, suddenly said, “Wait a moment…”

Xu Yuanzhe stopped in his tracks, turning to look at him.

After a moment of hesitation, Yu Yue took a step forward, retrieved the car keys from a drawer nearby, and said, “I’ll drive you to the airport. You’re a well-known movie star; taking a cab to the airport is beneath you. Besides, doesn’t your company provide you with a car?” He paused for a moment and added, “You could at least have a driver…”

Xu Yuanzhe watched as Yu Yue bent down to put on his shoes.

He lowered his eyes slightly but didn’t say anything.

Yu Yue grabbed his coat, the house keys, and headed outside.

Xu Yuanzhe glanced back.

Xiao Yu’er was squatting next to the TV, tilting its head to look at him.

Xu Yuanzhe closed the door.

Yu Yue wasn’t sure why he suggested driving Xu Yuanzhe.

In the car, he fastened his seatbelt, checked the route to the airport, and started the car.

Although the airport wasn’t very far, it wasn’t close either. Even on the highway, it would take nearly forty minutes.

The car ride was silent. When Yu Yue glanced over at Xu Yuanzhe while driving, he saw that Xu Yuanzhe had closed his eyes, seemingly relaxing without checking his phone or doing anything else, just sitting there with his eyes closed.

Upon reaching the airport, as soon as Yu Yue found a parking space and stopped the car, Xu Yuanzhe woke up.

He moved his legs lightly, not rushing to get out of the car, just sitting there, slightly straightening his body.

Yu Yue hadn’t planned to get out of the car to see Xu Yuanzhe off. After all, they didn’t have the kind of relationship that required such formalities. So, he didn’t even unfasten his seatbelt, intending to return the same way once Xu Yuanzhe got out of the car.

But Xu Yuanzhe didn’t get out of the car.

After a quiet moment, Yu Yue heard Xu Yuanzhe speak.

He said, “Although we’ve already met, I’d like to formally introduce myself.”

Yu Yue was slightly surprised.

Xu Yuanzhe said, “Xu Yuanzhe, 28 years old, 187 cm tall, weighing 66 kg. Currently, I’m not signed with any talent agency, only running my own studio.” He paused slightly, taking out a USB drive from his trench coat pocket. “The movies and clips I’ve acted in over the years are on here. It may not be helpful, but you can get a more visual sense of my image through the films.”

Yu Yue lowered his eyes, looking at the USB drive that Xu Yuanzhe handed over.

As an actor presenting a formal self-introduction to a director…

Yu Yue remained silent, neither speaking nor accepting the USB drive from Xu Yuanzhe, lost in thought.

The car was silent for a while.

After a long time, Yu Yue finally extended his hand and took the USB drive from Xu Yuanzhe.

His voice was soft, “Got it.”

Xu Yuanzhe put on a mask and hat. Before getting out of the car, he said to Yu Yue, “Hope for a pleasant collaboration.”

Yu Yue watched Xu Yuanzhe’s movements as he exited the car.

At the moment Xu Yuanzhe stepped out, Yu Yue suddenly spoke, “Wishing you a pleasant time working abroad too.”

Xu Yuanzhe’s movements paused slightly.

After a moment, he uttered a low “Hmm.”

Xu Yuanzhe closed the car door.

Yu Yue lowered the car window, leaning on the steering wheel, watching Xu Yuanzhe gradually move away.

The cold wind blew in through the window, carrying the scent of snow.

It seemed like it might snow soon.

Yu Yue wondered if the flight would be delayed.

He didn’t know why he was thinking about these irrelevant things.

After waiting for a long time in the airport parking lot, Yu Yue eventually drove home.

Upon opening the door, Yu Yue saw Xiao Yu’er lying on his couch.

Yu Yue’s movements froze.

He had forgotten that there was still a cat at home.

Yu Yue closed the door, and Xiao Yu’er, being affectionate, slowly slid off the couch and walked over to Yu Yue. It rubbed against him, probably wanting another cat treat.

After changing his shoes, Yu Yue walked over to the sofa and sat down.

Xiao Yu’er looked at him eagerly for a long time. Seeing that he didn’t take out a cat treat, it walked away on its own.

It ran to the side of the TV, turning its back to Yu Yue, seemingly interested in something on the wall.

Yu Yue gazed at the silhouette of Xiao Yu’er.

He wanted to call it, but as soon as he opened his mouth, “Little…”

It felt strange to call it Xiao Yu’er.

Because when he was a child, Dan Hang also called Yu Yue “Xiao Yu’er.” So if he used this name for the cat, it would feel like he was calling himself, which was odd.

Yu Yue restrained himself and changed his words, “Mimi.”

Xiao Yu’er didn’t turn around, completely ignoring him.

Yu Yue called again, “Mimi, come here.”

Xiao Yu’er continued to ignore him.

Yu Yue sighed, “…”

Unable to help it, Yu Yue cleared his throat and said, “Xiao Yu’er.”

Xiao Yu’er turned its head and looked at Yu Yue.

Yu Yue gently patted his hands together.

Xiao Yu’er jumped down from the TV side, trotted over, and leaped into Yu Yue’s arms.

Yu Yue gently stroked the cat, locked eyes with Xiao Yu’er for a few seconds, thinking its eyes were beautiful, and took out his phone. With a “click,” he snapped a photo of it.

After taking the picture, Yu Yue wanted to share it.

But he didn’t know who to share it with.

Xu Yuanzhe… better not disturb him at work.

Yu Yue sent the photo of Xiao Yu’er to Dan Hang.

Soon, Dan Hang replied: “?”

Dan Hang: “What’s going on? Are you getting a cat?”

Yu Yue: “It’s not my cat. Someone sent it to my house and asked me to take care of it for a month.” After a pause, he asked Dan Hang, “Take a look, isn’t it cute?”

Dan Hang: “Tsk… Cute. Who sent it?”

Yu Yue’s fingers, originally poised to type, paused.

After waiting for a while, he still didn’t know how to reply.

Taking care of a cat for his ex-boyfriend.

What on earth was going on?