Chapter Index

    Chapter 29

    [I’m really going to cry…]

    [I didn’t cry when they were in danger just now, but seeing Little Liu and Little Wang supporting each other as they left, I just couldn’t hold back!]

    [True friendship is revealed in adversity. This is much better than abandoning each other when disaster strikes.]

    [Pardon my ignorance, but since the Noble One is so effective, if I run into danger next time, can I try the same thing?]

    [To the person above, you can gamble on whether you can connect with the Noble One in time.]

    [While you weren’t looking, I followed the Noble One. This is genuinely effective, I have to admit it.]

    [The screen flashed just now and caught Little Wang. I screenshotted it and had someone restore the image. It’s terrible, absolutely terrible. He’s covered in wounds, and his gums are…]

    [Holy moly! Send the picture!]

    [A poet asking for a picture?]

    Bloodstains were left on the ground where the two men walked.

    Midway, Liu Yanhuan and Bai Chendeng added each other as friends, stabilizing the connection. Only then did the two men slightly relax, limping toward the exit.

    Upon reaching the village entrance, Liu Yanhuan supported Wang Dehui, who was almost unconscious, burning hot, and barely clinging to life. He murmured, “Little Wang, we made it out.”

    They saw a stone tablet.

    Liu Yanhuan silently walked over and looked at it. The inscription was not “Shuxi Village” at all, but “Yu Village.”

    However, someone had used a red pen to write a single character—”Rat”—directly above Yu Village.

    Liu Yanhuan’s matter had concluded.

    The two were picked up immediately after leaving the village.

    The Bureau suppressed the heat of the incident but did not completely deny it, merely prohibiting widespread dissemination.

    Bai Chendeng was a little tired and wanted to end the stream.

    He sharply noticed that the avatars of many gift-givers had changed.

    Their avatars had become screenshots of him.

    Bai Chendeng: “…”

    [Brothers, change your avatars for good luck!]

    [How are you guys so fast?!]

    [A Noble One certified by the Master, with verifiable achievements—why wouldn’t you get on board?!]

    “One last connection.”

    He reminded them, “I’m ending the stream after this.”

    [No! We want to watch more!]

    After the screen split, the perspective on the other side was strange. It seemed the streamer opposite was showing the audience the road conditions. A car was driving, and the streetlights along the road stretched toward the distant horizon.

    A familiar voice drifted out.

    “I never used to turn on this feature, it was boring, but since the family members strongly requested it, Old Zheng will definitely try his best to satisfy you!”

    “Today, I’m taking the family members to eat at a private kitchen restaurant with a great reputation. Don’t say I don’t take you to enjoy some exquisite small dishes.”

    “Hehehe… *cough*… ahhh…”

    The prelude to warming up his voice.

    Remembering Zheng Lang’s “wonderful” singing, Bai Chendeng could no longer pretend to be silent.

    “Zheng Lang.”

    Zheng Lang vaguely thought he heard someone calling his name, and the voice sounded strangely pleasant.

    “Hey!”

    He immediately flipped his phone over and looked at the screen.

    “Oh, we’re connected. I thought we weren’t because there was no sound. Sorry, brother…”

    Zheng Lang looked closely, seeing the person opposite wearing a mask, but across his lap was a cat he would never forget in this lifetime.

    “…”

    “The cat! The cat…” The Cat Immortal!

    “Isn’t this Chendeng!”

    [I’m dying of laughter, Old Zheng only just noticed!]

    [Surprise! Unexpected!]

    [It’s an old familiar cat XD]

    [Is this rigged? Is this not rigged?! How did he connect with Chendeng so coincidentally?]

    Zheng Lang was overjoyed: “Little Brother Bai.”

    Bai Chendeng did not object to his overly familiar address.

    “Hello.”

    [Hhh why so formal]

    [They are both people who have raised the same cat]

    Zheng Lang extended an invitation very straightforwardly: “Want to come for a meal, bring Chendeng along.”

    Bai Chendeng had no such intention.

    But Zheng Lang didn’t give him the right to refuse.

    “Wait a moment, let me ask if Little Brother Heng is free.”

    Heng Yuze, who had been lurking in the stream the whole time, saw the situation developing favorably for him and certainly wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

    He hadn’t seen Chendeng in a long time.

    Neither the cat nor the person.

    When Zheng Lang switched phones to open WeChat, Heng Yuze answered instantly, eagerly saying, “I’m free, I’ll go!”

    Zheng Lang hadn’t even organized his words yet when he got the reply. He immediately realized Heng Yuze was watching the stream, waved at the screen, and chuckled, “That’s great then, it’s settled. I’ll send you the address later.”

    Zheng Lang’s actions were smooth and decisive, preparing everything and presenting it as a fait accompli.

    [Is the Chef lurking?]

    [I don’t even answer my girlfriend’s WeChat that fast!]

    [666, Old Zheng is capable]

    [How can the Noble One refuse now?]

    [My relatives use this exact tactic when inviting people to dinner. Refusal is not an option hh]

    The Grapevine trembled all over, seemingly laughing.

    In the silent stillness, fireworks exploded on the screen.

    “LanternsAndRules” sent “Please, please, please” x9

    After the initial fireworks, the special effect for the gift “Please, please, please” never stopped.

    The cute little thumb-sized person was teary-eyed, emitting hearts and stars, constantly praying with clasped hands.

    “I’m not going.”

    Heng Yuze’s heart sank.

    “You guys take the cat to eat.”

    Bai Chendeng said this, “Signing off.”

    The clean and handsome young man instantly ended the stream, leaving the fans in the live room bewildered.

    [?]

    [???]

    [Where is the streamer?]

    […He signed off instantly?]

    [I only took a sip of water, where is the Noble One?]

    He agreed!

    Heng Yuze was ecstatic.

    The man wearing chicken leg-patterned pajamas with wings immediately rolled off the bed and rushed to the wardrobe to pick out clothes.

    He completely ignored sportswear, and all his usual comfortable clothes were out of consideration.

    Heng Yuze finally chose a trench coat paired with a pure black inner shirt. The trousers were tailored but not tight, making his legs look long and straight.

    When he came back to his senses, he had thrown clothes all over the bed, leaving a mess.

    Realizing he had wasted time, the man pocketed his phone, grabbed his backpack, and immediately headed out.

    Opening the door, preparing to contact Bai Chendeng to pick up the cat, Heng Yuze froze.

    He looked down at the ground, where a snow-white cat sat properly outside the door.

    “Meow.”

    Slow.

    The cat was even more beautiful than when it left, unsullied by dust, adding to its spiritual aura.

    Heng Yuze rubbed his hands together and carefully picked up the cat.

    “Good boy…”

    Saying that name again, he felt a little shy.

    He might have known that the young man and the white cat shared some connection. Although he had no proof, he was convinced of it.

    Calling the cat “Good boy” and calling that handsome, aloof young man “Good boy” were completely different feelings.

    Heng Yuze tried hard to remain calm. In the night, his earlobes turned red, and he whispered, “I missed you very much.”

    Bai Chendeng’s ears felt a little ticklish.

    Humans always said mushy things to cats; he was used to it.

    “Did you wait long? I’m sorry, I won’t let you wait next time.”

    “Meow.”

    Even now, Bai Chendeng couldn’t say for sure why he agreed to come out for dinner.

    Perhaps Zheng Lang’s little scheme had succeeded, or perhaps he was annoyed by the teary-eyed little person on the screen.

    The last departure was too rushed; this time, he would say a proper goodbye.

    The cat felt like warm, thick liquid, melting into a puddle in his arms.

    Heng Yuze was afraid that his treasure would slip away if he wasn’t careful, so he kept constant watch.

    Meeting again was especially difficult. Without Brother Zheng’s help, he probably wouldn’t have had the chance to see Chendeng.

    Skillfully pulling his coat around the cat, Heng Yuze was afraid both of the cool evening breeze hitting him and of people recognizing this beautiful cat.

    The streetlights in the neighborhood were broken, and an electrician was checking the situation, muttering about fixing them tomorrow.

    Leaving the complex, he hailed a taxi.

    “Where to?”

    The driver asked.

    Heng Yuze gave the address of the private kitchen restaurant.

    Twenty minutes later, they arrived at their destination.

    Zheng Lang had come down early to wait. Seeing them arrive, he quickly walked over, his face beaming with a warm and friendly smile.

    Noticing the bulge in Heng Yuze’s arms, Zheng Lang exclaimed in surprise, “The Cat Immortal!”

    Bai Chendeng poked his head out, perfectly framed by the zipper. Seeing Zheng Lang still wrapped in malevolent energy, he couldn’t help but let out a “Meow.”

    This sound was only an expression of emotion, with no practical meaning.

    Zheng Lang thought the cat was greeting him, and the corners of his eyes curved down. For a moment, the rough man looked somewhat gentle.

    “Little Brother Heng, let’s not stand around. Come on, let’s go in!”

    “Do you mind if I stream?”

    Heng Yuze shook his head: “I don’t mind.”

    All three present were streamers; none were camera-shy.

    Entering the private room, Zheng Lang spoke before entering the frame: “Family members, sorry for the wait! The two mysterious guests are here!”

    [“Mysterious”]

    [I guess it’s a food blogger and a beautiful cat!]

    Heng Yuze sat down, and Bai Chendeng jumped from his arms onto the table.

    [A feast for the eyes]

    [Why does the cat in Old Zheng’s stream look even better?]

    [Indeed, it feels very spiritual.]

    Before the dishes were served, Heng Yuze took out a pudding he had prepared beforehand from his backpack, unwrapped it, and placed it in front of Bai Chendeng.

    The pudding was very fresh.

    Heng Yuze had packed a whole backpack full of food, all specially made for the cat.

    Even though he didn’t know when they would meet, he stubbornly prepared these small snacks regularly, just so he could casually offer them to Chendeng to taste the next time they met.

    Someone as clever as Bai Chendeng couldn’t fail to realize this.

    Because of this, his heart felt as if it had been lightly nudged by a small deer.

    Soon, the dishes were served one after another.

    The private kitchen’s dishes were exquisite and small, beautifully plated. Some dishes looked like works of art.

    Zheng Lang was very good at livening up the atmosphere. While chatting with Heng Yuze, he could also intersperse teasing his fans.

    “Family members, look at this color, tsk tsk…”

    “Oh, what is Little Brother Heng doing? He’s putting food on Chendeng’s plate.”

    [No, it’s the cat coaxing the dog]

    [Who is coaxing whom exactly?]

    [Our Chendeng can even do math problems. Does he need someone to put food right up to his mouth?]

    [Hahahahaha he was pushed away!]

    Zheng Lang turned his head and saw the Cat Immortal pushing the chopsticks away with his paw, while Heng Yuze wore a wounded expression.

    Seeing this, he couldn’t help but laugh, thinking, our Chendeng not only does math problems but is also the Cat Immortal, the kind that can bless people. Little Brother Heng’s cat-slave nature is deeply ingrained.

    “Thank you to Grapevine Immortal for the gift, Grapevine Immortal… Grapevine Immortal…”

    Heng Yuze immediately caught the keyword. After making eye contact with the cat, his eyes instantly filled with a smile.

    Zheng Lang also realized who was behind the Grapevine Immortal account, thinking that people probably wouldn’t guess that the wealthy fan showering them with gifts was actually a green vine.

    While he was lost in thought, Heng Yuze and the cat leaned closer, looking at the screen together, catching a message that was almost buried: “Thank you to Flower Fox Boss Feng for the gift.”

    Zheng Lang was overjoyed: “Thank you, family members, you shouldn’t have, hahahahaha.”

    [Old Zheng became fast friends with Little Brother Heng; he used to be a lone wolf.]

    [I’ve been watching Old Zheng for several years, sigh.]

    “Do you like watching me, Little Brother Heng, and Chendeng eat together?”

    [Yes, it feels like Old Zheng smiles more when he’s with them.]

    Heng Yuze chimed in at the right time: “Brother Zheng is a great person. We’ll gather more often in the future.”

    Zheng Lang felt the gratification of “my son has grown up.”

    The dinner was very pleasant, without excessive performance, just the natural ease and relaxation of spending time with friends.

    As the stream was about to end, the fans were reluctant to leave.

    [Does our Little Brother Heng only have eyes for the cat? I don’t even look at my girlfriend with that much affection!]

    [Perhaps this is the love of a crazy fan who can spend a huge sum to customize a life-sized figure]

    [Let’s have another meal!]

    Zheng Lang laughed helplessly: “Even pigs don’t eat this much.”

    “We’re really signing off this time. Goodbye, family members.”

    Logically, once the meal was over, they should all go home. However, having finally seen the Little Cat Immortal, Heng Yuze was unwilling to leave so easily.

    “There’s a spot nearby with some nice scenery. Want to take a walk?”

    Zheng Lang’s mind stirred, and he understood Heng Yuze’s intention, nodding immediately: “Sounds good.”

    Note