Chapter 238

In Zheng Tan's third year as a cat, there wasn't anything particularly special. Jiao Ma brought the two kids and a cat back to the Jiao family's old residence to spend New Year, and during that time they also went to play at Grandpa's place for a few days.

On New Year's Eve, Jiao Dad made a phone call; if things went quickly, he could return in the second half of the year, but he didn't say it definitively—since it involved a research project, nobody could be sure.

It was a year without many ups and downs—that's Zheng Tan's impression.

Yawning while lying on the balcony, Zheng Tan looked out from the fifth-floor balcony. After school started, the campus again became lively; it was another spring when flowers bloomed, and some trees began to sprout new buds.

This was Zheng Tan's third year since arriving here; after getting used to it, he really didn't have many other thoughts. Sometimes, even if he didn't want to admit it, he had to compromise with that stubborn old man called Fate. Otherwise, what could he do? Torture himself for fun? Why bother agonizing so much?

Zheng Tan rubbed his chin against the flowerpot nearby, rolled around boredly, recalling what Xiao Youzi had said when he woke up that morning. He ran into the bedroom, jumped onto the dressing table, and looked at Jiao Ma's makeup mirror—he seemed… to have gotten a bit chubby.

It's easy to gain weight during the New Year; Zheng Tan really didn't go out much this year, just eating and sleeping all day, and with his big appetite, not gaining weight would be strange.

During this time he kept staying at home, not really wanting to go out; he blamed it on spring lethargy and autumn fatigue, but he really ought to get out and move around more—winter's over, no need to keep fattening up.

Zheng Tan didn't go out directly through the side gate of Dongqu Dayuan; instead he walked a stretch inside the school. Passing by a small path, he happened to hear Zeng Jing, the sole female graduate student under Jiao Dad, complaining to someone about the recent improper conduct of certain instructors in the department.

Just like when he'd heard Yi Xin complain earlier, research supervisors without backing have little say in the department. This shows up in the competition for public resources. Even if it's public, it still has to be divided by who comes first and who gets priority. Resources are limited, funds are limited—whoever has the ability gets to use them first and occupy them.

Now, listening to Zeng Jing's complaints, Zheng Tan felt it wasn't just the things Yi Xin had mentioned; otherwise Zeng Jing wouldn't have sighed with the phrase 'A small temple invites great winds, a shallow pond breeds many turtles.'

Zheng Tan may not understand their department's affairs, but from overhearing Zeng Jing and Yi Xin and their complaints he also knows. These few people in the department are sometimes bullied by other instructors. Senior students suppressing juniors with the advisor's tacit approval is nothing unusual; competition among peers in the department is constant. Those doing research sometimes use tricks and may not lose to those playing politics, these days. Those who ignore miscellaneous affairs and focus solely on scholarship. Either they have backing, or they'll become cannon fodder in power struggles and a stepping stone for certain people climbing up; the remainder who can follow their original aspirations constitute a truly tiny proportion.

However, Jiao Dad doesn't seem like the type to swallow his anger and suffer in silence; we'll see how things settle after autumn. Zheng Tan has full confidence in his own cat father.

Zheng Tan still plans to head toward the affiliated hospital today; he's not yet very familiar with this area.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Zheng Tan couldn't help recalling the pleasant-looking elderly lady he had seen here the previous year; he wondered how she was doing now and how her recovery was progressing.

He jumped onto the wall and walked along the high barrier; even in winter one could see many green courtyards, and now there were even more fresh greenery, a scene full of vitality.

The weather today was also nice; some patients whose recovery was going well but who couldn't stay cooped up in the wards came out for a walk with their families, and viewing the scenery lifted their spirits considerably.

Zheng Tan didn't intend to search carefully; he just glanced around as he walked along the wall. Given that last time he had been frowned upon by that middle-aged woman, he thought it best not to draw too much attention in the hospital.

Although he wasn't looking closely and his steps were hurried, Zheng Tan was surprised to be called out after just a few steps.

At first Zheng Tan didn't think they were calling him, but after they shouted several times, 'That black cat on the wall,' he looked over.

The one who called him was a young nurse, not the one Zheng Tan had seen the previous year. Beside this young nurse sat an elderly lady in a wheelchair, being pushed by the nurse.

The elderly lady in the wheelchair was indeed the one Zheng Tan had seen the previous year; when he looked over, she waved at him.

Compared to the impression from last year, the elderly lady now looked noticeably thinner, though her complexion had improved; the sparkle in her eyes when she looked at people unconsciously lifted one's mood.

It must have been that the elderly lady saw Zheng Tan but couldn't shout loudly, so she had the young nurse pushing her wheelchair speak up.

The young nurse looked at Zheng Tan with puzzlement; she knew many people in the hospital taboo pure black things—last time someone visiting a patient in an all-black suit got thrown something by the patient, who accused him of malicious intent and cursed him for a long while. Yet now this elderly lady was unusually enthusiastic about a black cat, which is truly baffling.

Other patients out for a stroll nearby also saw this and voiced their doubts, but they didn't approach; those who are particular about such things fear attracting something unpleasant.

"Granny, my surgery went this smoothly thanks largely to this cat." Regardless of whether that's true, the elderly lady clearly intended to clear Zheng Tan's name.

Some people around believed it, others didn't; not caring what others thought, Zheng Tan felt that since the elderly lady meant to protect him, he had no reason to directly snub her. Since she waved him over, he jumped down from the wall and walked over.

The elderly lady wanted Zheng Tan to sit in her lap, but he declined, merely walking alongside her wheelchair.

The young nurse slowly pushed the elderly lady along the path; perhaps because a black cat was following, she deliberately avoided crowded spots to avoid bothering other patients, after all, not everyone can tolerate a black cat here.

After walking more than half a circuit, the young nurse prepared to push the elderly lady back; Zheng Tan noticed fatigue on her face and realized she needed to rest. He decided to accompany her for one full loop then leave. Having heard that the elderly lady's surgery went smoothly and her recovery was ideal, Zheng Tan felt somewhat reassured, but still thought this was just a chance encounter with a passing acquaintance, and he didn't intend to get overly close.

Almost finished with the loop, just a few more meters to a junction; Zheng Tan was about to turn and leave when he looked up and saw three people standing at the fork.

Two men and one woman. The woman Zheng Tan had seen during his previous visit—the middle-aged woman who had been very hostile toward him. Standing beside her should be her husband, namely the son of the elderly lady as mentioned by the young nurse. He looked steady, presumably someone who usually gives orders from a high position.

At that moment the couple was talking to a young man in his twenties. Judging by the couple's demeanor, the young man likely also had some status; otherwise they wouldn't treat him so. This was the impression of the bystanders, including the young nurse pushing the wheelchair.

"Your son came to see you again, huh?" the young nurse said, smiling at the people at the junction. She knew the elderly lady had a very capable son, rumored to be the boss of a big company. Usually busy, but whenever he had time he'd come to the hospital to see her, especially during those days of her surgery, when he almost constantly accompanied her. If it weren't for the elderly lady's insistence, he would have sent more people to look after her; earlier he had even arranged for overseas surgery, but she refused. All in all, he's a filial son.

The elderly lady was also very pleased with her son, her smile deepening further.

However, Zheng Tan, standing beside the wheelchair, felt his emotions surge like a storm. He had merely glanced at that couple earlier and then paid no further attention; his focus was on the young man.

As for that young man, well, he wore a suit and polished shoes, his hair meticulously groomed, his attire carefully chosen; when speaking with the couple his smile was proper—neither humble nor ostentatious. Anyone seeing him for the first time would surely think he came from an excellent family background, or even without such lineage, he was a man of vision, stature, learning, quality, responsibility, goals, contribution, and achievement—a social elite.

However, this man who appeared to everyone as a cultured, courteous social elite seemed to Zheng Tan a duplicitous individual with godlike acting skills—a high‑level swindler.

Indeed, this is the same person Zheng Tan saw when he followed Er Mao to trace the whereabouts of Hetaoshixiong—the fake rich kid with dyed wine‑red hair. Back then his face had been beaten, so his appearance was unclear; recalling the ID photo on the fake identification card Hetaoshixiong held, and comparing it to the man he sees now, the difference is enormous.

Zheng Tan stared carefully several times; although he had no proof that this was the same red‑haired guy from before, he was convinced it was the same person!

Sometimes a change in demeanor and hairstyle can make two people seem completely different. But Zheng Tan now knows that bearing can be feigned as well. This person can transform without a trace, employing acting skills to such a superb degree that Zheng Tan can't help but lament again that it's a shame he doesn't go into acting.

However, if this person really is a con artist, could he have deceived that couple so easily? Judging from what the young nurse pushing the wheelchair said, Zheng Tan doesn't think the couple would readily believe just anyone.

While thinking this, Zheng Tan noticed a detail: although the middle‑aged woman hadn't spoken much, merely standing aside listening to her husband and the young man in front, her gaze unintentionally flicked over his cufflinks.

Cufflinks might escape notice for many, but men of certain social standing pay close attention to such small details; a tiny cufflink can become a clear sign by which discerning women spot quality, and some have said that in this age without nobility, cufflinks can turn a rakish man into a refined one.

Zheng Tan himself had once been a rich kid, had mingled in some circles, attended many parties; before one party he heard a friend helping pick out formal wear mention cufflinks, and that's how he came to know about those little details people usually overlook. Now the middle‑aged woman's behavior reminded him of those details.

Jiao Ba often told Jiao Yuan that details decide success or failure; this senior swindler's success perhaps lies precisely in handling those details to near perfection.

Watching the swindler chatting easily with that couple, Zheng Tan felt deep admiration again.

These days, whether one sweeps the streets or is a social elite, while mastering one's specialty one must also develop side skills. Who would have thought that this person was a fake rich second‑generation last year, and by year's end had turned into a social elite? His appearance and demeanor tell people: I'm cultured, I'm refined, I'm a highly educated high‑class social elite!

It is only because I have come to know the other side that the contrast appears so stark. Zheng Tan squatted there, staring at that person.

After the three finished speaking, the "social elite" went over to greet the old lady a few times, and also casually asked about the black cat squatting nearby; knowing the cat was just a chance encounter, the person didn't ask further.

When leaving, the "social elite" glanced at Zheng Tan again, then headed toward a hospital building, saying he was going to pick up his physical examination report.

Zheng Tan actually wanted to follow that person, but the person went straight into the hospital, and it was unknown when he would come out or whether he would go to other departments for checks, so Zheng Tan didn't spend much time there; after strolling around the vicinity, he went back. (To be continued…)

ps: (4.27) Today a reader privately asked me about that corpse‑eating beetle; in fact, research on modifying plants and animals for certain special uses has always existed, but it's a question of whether it's legitimate and legal, and moreover much of it isn't made public. As for such beetles, if anyone is interested in criminal‑investigation topics, you can watch CSI Season 12 Episode 11 (appearing around the three‑minute mark); that would be more vivid, and it shows the white‑bellied skin beetle after radiation‑induced mutation and biological modification.