Please Be More Serious | Chapter 30

Before they finish even half of their noodles, they hear Da Da meowing from inside of the room. Yin Ting leaves her bowl and immediately runs to the room to check on it, with Qiu Zheng Qing close behind. Nothing seems to be wrong with the cat. Yin Ting strokes the cat’s head until its stop meowing.

“It’s probably a little anxious,” she says. Based on her limited experience, she thinks it must be like this.

“Then just let it get used to this place.” He thinks that both small animals and children must not be pampered.

She thinks for a moment and then nods.

The two of them leave to finish their bowls of noodles. Da Da meows again. Yin Ting steels her heart, pretending not to hear it. She wants it to quickly adapt itself. But even after they finish their dinner, Da Da has not stopped.
Yin Ting looks embarrassed. “I’m sorry, really sorry. It’s just a little afraid. Once it adapts itself, it won’t meow anymore.” She rushes back inside the room to check on it. Seeing her, Da Da sits up, looking straight at her.

“Da Da.” Yin Ting kneels down to talk to it. “Don’t meow anymore, okay? Be good. You’ll stay and eat comfortably here, I’ll also buy you a lot of toys.” Da Da paces around the room again before settling down in one corner, meowing again.

She hurries over to quiet it down, rubbing its head and scratching under its chin. She tries to coax it, “Don’t meow anymore. It’s not good if you bother others. Please-be-more-serious is a good man, he’s kind enough to take you in. You must not disturb him, understand? You’re very lucky to have met him. You must be thankful to him and not make noise.”

Da Da squints its eyes, obviously satisfied with the pampered service by Yin Ting. It no longer meows, just sits there with a content expression. Yin Ting continues patting its head until she hears the cat purring, indicating its enjoyment. She sighs and continues soothing it. When she sees that it is no longer meowing, she walks out of the room.

Walking outside, she sees that Qiu Zheng Qing is washing the dishes. She immediately apologises again, “I’m sorry. Da Da is just not used to this place.”

“It’s alright.” He places some washing liquid on a sponge and begins scrubbing the dirty dishes. The sleeves that he has rolled up earlier begin falling. He lifts his arm to his face to try to get it out of the way but to no avail. Yin Ting casually walks up to him and helps him refold his sleeves. She says, “If it disturbs you, please forgive it. I think it’ll be better after it adapts. I’ll look for a proper home for it as soon as possible.”

“En.” He is no longer listening to what she is saying. All he notices is how close she is standing to him. When he looks down, he can see the detail of her clear and smooth brow. If he lowers his head just a little, he can plant a kiss on her head.

He restrains from this impulse.

Her fingers graze across his skin, making him feel tingly as if a current just ran through his heart.

The act of rolling up his sleeves is something so simple yet for many years no one has done it for him. For many years, he has studied alone, ate alone and lived alone. Work is his only partner in life, also his only pleasure.

But now, it’s not like that.

She helps him fold his sleeves and blabbers on.

The same impulse again. He tries to exercise restraint.

Having finished rolling the sleeves, she looks up to meet his eyes.

Something unknown, something magical, sparks in that moment. She feels a little dumbstruck. His deep gaze, his intense expression – it makes her heart miss a beat. She takes a step back and says, “It’s done. I’m sorry you not only have to cook for me, but also wash the dishes.”

He feels a little sadden by the sudden distance between them. He smiles gently, his smile so gentle that it sways her heart. “It’s alright, you’re welcome.” His voice is deep and attractive, Yin Ting feels her cheeks redden.

Qiu Zheng Qing is so busy disguising his expression that he doesn’t notice Yin Ting’s embarrassment. He turns around and continues washing the dishes. In her mind, Yin Ting nags at herself for being so easily swayed and thinking too much. There’s nothing abnormal about a good-looking man making a woman’s heart quicken. But she has never noticed until now that he actually exudes the sexiness of a mature man.

She steal glances at him. What a shame that such a fine man still has no girlfriend at his age. Aren’t modern women quite aggressive these days? How could they have let go this fine piece of meat?

Qiu Zheng Qing can feel his back itching. His intuition tells him that there is someone staring at him. He can’t believe he has to pose while washing the dishes, this is really too difficult. He couldn’t hold back after a few minutes and turns around to check whether his intuition is right. But at the same time, Yin Ting’s phone rings. She opens her bag and fishes her phone out.

“Oh you found a reliable foster shelter?” Yin Ting cries. She glances at him. He shakes his head at her, mouthing the words “no.” Her heart leaps with joy. To be honest, she selfishly wants to keep Da Da at his place as well. In her mind, there are no foster shelters more reliable than Qiu Zheng Qing. Of course, this is only an intuition. Based on logic, he has no experience in owning a cat and is usually not at home. He also keeps Da Da in a room. These conditions are not too good but she trusts him. After so many troubles trying to get the cat adopted, she no longer has much hope. If it’s up to her to make a choice, she chooses Qiu Zheng Qing.

Now that there is a second option, she is happy that he still wants to keep the cat. She tells her friend, “I already found a place, I have no need for the shelter for now. Thank you.” They exchange a few more words, catching up with each other.

The call seems to indicate that Da Da can stay and he also lets out a sigh of relief. Fortunately he has made the initiative, or else he would have missed out on this opportunity. Now that he has made his mental preparation, he doesn’t want to lose Da Da this “hostage.”

She is still talking on the phone when she hears meowing again. She quickly tells her friend goodbye and hangs up. She runs into the room to check.

Da Da is still the same, it cannot stay in the room alone. It quiets down when Yin Ting rubs its head. She feels a little helpless and tries to talk to it. The cat lays down by her feet with a content expression. When he walks into the room, this is the scene that he sees – a sweet and adorable girl stroking a little chubby cat, gently coaxing it.

He absolutely doesn’t want to look away from such a sight.

He never comes into this room. It’s an empty room, there’s nothing to see at all. His house is very big but it’s lonely and deserted. But now all of a sudden, there is an entirely different feeling. He once thought he wanted a life of efficiency and success. But now he wants a life with Yin Ting in it.

“Do you want to touch it?” Yin Ting asks. She sits on the floor, smiling at him.

“Okay.” He sits down beside her. Da Da immediately stands up and takes a step back, watching him with a cautious expression. His hand stops mid-air. He feels a little embarrassed. Seeing his expression, she tries to hide her smile. He sighs, “Oh alright. Let me try your trick.” He blinks at the cat a few times.

Da Da has no reaction. It continues staring at him.

“Slow down a little,” Yin Ting guides him. “Try winking a little more gently. That way, perhaps Da Da will think you’re kissing it. It’s the same with humans. Pinning someone to the floor and kissing them roughly is a completely different feeling from hugging someone and kissing them gently, right?”

This metaphor! He has no idea which feeling the cat world would prefer. He only knows that whether it’s kissing roughly or gently, he’s willing to do both. But of course he would not be cruel… Cough, cough, without realizing it, he’s thinking too far and too wickedly. He quickly stops this train of thought.

“Just look, like this.” She even demonstrates for him, but he is too embarrassed to even look at her. He finds an excuse and stands up, saying, “I have a plan B.”

He walks out and comes back with a can of cat food.

With a ‘pop’ sound, he opens the can in front of Da Da.

The smell perks the cat’s attention and it turns to him. “You want some?” he gently asks. He puts the can in the palm of his hand. Da Da stares at the cat without blinking and then slowly makes it way over. He sits there without moving, allowing it to sniff the food. After finally feeling assured, the cat begin eating. One bite, two bite. Yin Ting strokes its back, he also does the same. Da Da doesn’t resist and continue gorging on the food.

She smiles at him. “Looks like food therapy is more effective than love therapy.”

He smiles. What she says is interesting. Well, he finds whatever she says interesting. He continues stroking the cat, so does Yin Ting. Sometimes their hands touch but she doesn’t seem to care or notice. She begins to say, “Da Da has received a lot of shock today, so I don’t even dare to allow the vet to give it a wash. I bought some dry shampoo to clean it. Da Da has went for a body check, its nails are also trimmed. It’s on its second vaccine dose from a few days ago, the third dose is in another month. It doesn’t have any bugs, so you can feel assured. Da Da is lovely and clean, it licks itself every day so it’s not dirty.”

“En.” Qiu Zheng Qing doesn’t intend to abandon this cat all. Isn’t he stroking it now?

“If you want to get closer to Da Da, if it’s not willing, don’t force it. Don’t be anxious and take your time. If it gets scared, it might resist. It’s not good if Da Da accidentally hurts you.”

“En.” He understands this. It’s the same with courting girls, he has lined up plans ABCDEF.

“I’ll buy toys, climbing tree and the automated feeder. I’ll try not to let it bother you. I’ll come and see it often.”

“En.” The last sentence is the most important, it makes him very happy.

Having satisfied itself, the cat stops eating and begins licking its claws clean. They look at the cat, and then at each other with a smile.

“Thank you,” she says.

“You’re welcome.” He feels that today is his lucky day.

The two of them sit on the floor for a long time, keeping the cat company. Having finished the can of food, it lies down contently. It doesn’t even bother meowing anymore. Yin Ting feels happy seeing that. Looks like there shouldn’t be any problem. Noticing the time, she excuses herself.

When he offers to send her home, she hurriedly says, “No need, I have already troubled you too much today. I can take a taxi home.”

Qiu Zheng Qing stares at her without a serious expression. “It’s already very late. You live so far away, I can’t possibly allow you to take the taxi alone. It’s not safe.”

“Then, okay.” She thanks him.

He asks her to wait while he grabs his jacket. When he disappears from the room, she whispers to the cat. “He’s a really, really nice person, right?” Da Da doesn’t reply, it lies down on its back, purring and being affectionate.

Qiu Zheng Qing sends her home, dropping her off at the entrance of the neighbourhood as usual. When she gets off, she tells him, “Thank you. Good night.”

“Good night.” She doesn’t say “see you if there’s an opportunity” this time. He can’t help but smile, believing that they will be able to meet tomorrow.

Yin Ting quickly disappears from his sight. As he watches the disappearing figure, he feels sorry that tomorrow is such a long time away. He sighs. After she walks into the neighbourhood, he sits in his car for a moment before driving away.

Back at home, he hears meowing again. He cries, “Okay, okay, I’m back now.”

Da Da is still meowing. He opens the door and sees the cat staring at him. Closing the door, he sits down near it. “I already sent her home. Are you thinking of her, like me?”

The cat doesn’t reply, it only blinks. He smiles at its expression, putting his palm out. “Can I touch you?” After a few moments of staring, the cat walks over to him and rubs its head affectionately against his palm.

He is overjoyed by the unexpected reaction. He laughs heartily. “Are you acting coy with me?”

The cat leans against his leg.

He strokes its body and says, “Do you like me?” Da Da rubs its head on him. He bursts out laughing. “Then do you think she likes me?” Of course Da Da the cat doesn’t reply.

He dials Yin Ting’s number. She immediately picks up. “Is there something wrong with Da Da?”

He smiles. “Just now, it rubs its head against my palm. It’s being super affectionate.”

Yin Ting cries, “I’m envious! I want!”

He laughs and tells her that isn’t the point. He asks him to focus on the latter part of his words. He continues, “Rest early tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She doesn’t seem to notice anything amiss with his words. She tells him, “Don’t feed Da Da the canned food tomorrow, just feed the dry food. I want to feed it the canned food, I also want to implement plan B.”

He laughs. “Okay,” he says, promising her. After hanging up the phone, he sees that there is still some leftover in the can. He quickly confiscates it. “Xiao Ting says not to give you anymore.” The cat is full so it doesn’t even glance at the can.

“She’ll come back tomorrow, are you happy?” he asks the cat. Da Da doesn’t answer but responses by hugging his leg. It stands up and tries to paw his arm. Its eyes are large, round and rather bright. It reminds him of Yin Ting.

He leans down and pulls the cat into his embrace. Da Da doesn’t resist, only staring at him curiously. “You’re so lucky to have met her,” he says. “Me too, I’m also lucky to have met her.”

In another place, Yin Ting is rolling on her bed, still excited and overjoyed from the turn of events. Today is her lucky day. From waking up early and spending a good amount of time looking for the runaway Da Da, to calling most of her friends to ask for help, to finally finding a place for the cat – today has been both torturous and fruitful.

“Isn’t it right. Having obstacles means that one will receive a lot of happiness in the end.” She hugs her pillow close, her heart overflowing with warmth as she thinks of Qiu Zheng Qing. He is really, really too nice.