Chapter 283

In reality he had no ID, Zheng Tan planned to look for a sense of presence online.

Having heard that those little celebrities from time to time need to stir up some news to show off their presence, Zheng Tan felt he didn't need to hype himself; the pet center occasionally posted videos that got a decent response on the forum, and he considered himself somewhat well-known, with the response likely still good going up.

Although Zheng Tan usually didn't care at all about the video ads he filmed, in private he still liked to browse the forum to see how people online evaluated him; seeing those praises, he rationally felt it was nothing difficult, yet he couldn't help feeling pleased. This feeling was quite nice.

Nowadays, to browse forums and watch videos one must go online and use a computer.

After Jiao Ba returned, Zheng Tan had secretly gone online once; at that time using the phone to go online was too troublesome, many functions were incomplete, and it was more refreshing to just turn on a computer. Having not touched a computer for a long time, just looking at it each day without being able to use it made him anxious, so he took a risk.

After playing that once, Zheng Tan anxiously waited for Jiao Ba to come talk to him, feeling that Jiao Ba was the sort of person who even knew which websites Jiao Yuan had visited; he thought his chances of avoiding detection were slim, and even if he deleted the records, some traces would remain, and now Jiao Ba used the computer every day. But after waiting a few days, Jiao Ba remained just as usual, with no intention of talking to Zheng Tan, so Zheng Tan relaxed. Although he always felt that Jiao Ba the fox should know something, oh well. Since Jiao Ba didn't say anything, he just kept playing.

With no one at home, Zheng Tan turned on the computer and opened a video-sharing site. After all, a forum is just a group of people with shared interests in some circle, whereas a video-sharing site has people of all ages and professions, which should better show his influence.

In the video site's categories there was an advertisement Zheng Tan had filmed the previous week, ranking not bad; unlike the previous sentimental or narrative types, this one went with a rock style, and a certain carbonated drink brand even sponsored it.

Zheng Tan thought the advertisement was not bad, and he had done a decent job filming it. However, looking at the comments below, his mood just wouldn't improve.

Below the video, the comment section where netizens posted their opinions——

First floor: "Selling milk tea, melon seeds, cola, peanuts~~~"

Second floor: "Requesting the image number of the avatar above!"

Third floor: "What is the background music? Please tell me~"

Fourth floor: "That big-breasted girl in the video looks nice; does anyone know her?"

……

Zheng Tan: "……"

Suddenly he felt like smashing the keyboard and giving those people the middle finger. Such a big cat up there and yet nobody noticed. Everyone was just looking at the pretty girls!

Almost every ten floors, about half were off-topic. The remaining majority of attention was on that hot-bodied girl in the video. Although Zheng Tan admitted that working with her during the ad shoot had been "quite pleasant," he still couldn't help feeling jealous.

Zheng Tan also suddenly realized he was being overly self-important, conceited, and feeling good about himself.

Cats, after all, are not people. At this time everyone on the internet is busy seeking their own interests; who cares about some cat in there? At most they glance at it for a couple of sentences and then move on—the focus remains on people.

Although he thought that if fewer people paid attention, his freedom would be greater, when actually facing reality he still inevitably felt displeased.

Since he was displeased, Zheng Tan decided to go find some fun for himself.

He shut down the computer and went out, strolling around the campus.

Wandering, he came to the kindergarten; he had originally planned to detour, but after thinking it over he decided to go see Zhuo Xiao Mao causing trouble.

At that moment Zhuo Xiao Mao's class had just finished indoor lessons; a group of little children shouted as they ran toward the yard where slides, inflatable castles, and such were set up, afraid that if they ran slowly they'd miss out; behind them, Bai Lao Shi and another teacher were reminding everyone not to run too fast and to watch their step.

Zheng Tan glanced at Zhuo Xiao Mao walking out unhurriedly, then his gaze fell on another person sitting in the small yard.

On a wooden chair at the edge of the small yard filled with various play items sat a woman Zheng Tan knew. At that moment she was gently gazing at the children in the yard, but after Zhuo Xiao Mao walked out she mainly looked toward him, wearing a slight smile. Those who didn't know might have thought Zhuo Xiao Mao's mother had come. Too bad, it wasn't her.

This woman was Wei Leng's wife; according to what Zheng Tan heard from Er Mao, she should be about four months pregnant. Moreover, it was said that Wei Leng's wife had once been in a traffic accident, her health not great; although they had tried to nurse her back over the years, Wei Leng still worried, constantly arranging for careful care, and Wei Leng himself, besides work, stayed home to keep her company.

How did she end up here? Does she want to look at the kids more now that she has one? But it's not to the point of constantly staring at Zhuo Xiao Mao.

Bai Lao Shi was watching those little children; she knew this person wanted to sit alone, so she didn't go over to disturb them.

Many elementary school teachers also demand sufficient calm and patience; perhaps sensing that stranger aunt's tranquil aura, the children felt no restraint or discomfort, continuing to play as they pleased, with some bolder, more lively ones even coming over to chat a couple of sentences.

Zhuo Xiao Mao was pulled over to help assemble a dinosaur with interlocking toys, then he walked over to Wei Leng's wife.

"Auntie, why do you keep watching me? Are you a new teacher?"

Although Zhuo Xiao Mao can say a lot, some words are still not clear to him, and people who don't often interact with him need a moment to respond.

Wei Leng's wife paused, then smiled and said, "I'm not a new teacher; I'm looking at you because you're cute." She had just been feeling bored at home, a neighbor who teaches at the attached primary school mentioned during a chat that Zhuo Yang and Zhuo Xiao Mao, who entered the kindergarten at Chu Hua Da Xue at two and a half and performed quite well, had caught her interest, so on a whim she came to have a look. Upon seeing them, she couldn't help but admit that this child was indeed clever.

"Thanks for the praise."

Zhuo Xiao Mao politely replied, then intended to leave, but was called back for a few more words.

Knowing that this auntie had a little baby, Zhuo Xiao Mao curiously looked at her belly and then said, "When I was little, um, very tiny, still in my mother's womb, my mother said Hei Ge even pressed palms with me."

Hearing Zhuo Xiao Mao mention him, Zheng Tan's ears perked up and turned toward that side.

"Hei Ge?" Wei Leng's wife didn't really understand what Zhuo Xiao Mao meant by "Hei Ge," taking it to be someone Zhuo Xiao Mao knew.

"Um, I heard it from an uncle. Before, lots of people thought I would grow up weak and frail. But Auntie, look, now I'm strong and sturdy!" Saying this, Zhuo Xiao Mao rolled up his sleeve, bent his arm, and showed Wei Leng's wife his "sturdy" "muscles."

Zheng Tan: "……" What a goofy kid. With just that little weight, what kind of muscle is that! Strengthen an egg?!

Moreover, Zhuo Xiao Mao extended his arm toward Wei Leng's wife, saying, "Auntie, if you don't believe me, feel it. Isn't it strong? Haha, I don't let just anyone touch it!"

Zheng Tan: "……" He couldn't bear to watch any further.

He didn't see this little rascal causing trouble; instead he saw how foolish he was. Ah, even the smartest people have moments of stupidity, let alone a little brat Xiao Pihai.

Wei Leng's wife smiled, reached out and gently pinched that little arm, then pinched Zhuo Xiao Mao's cheek, saying, "Indeed, a little sturdy lad."

"That's~" Zhuo Xiao Mao laughed, his eyes narrowing.

Just as Zheng Tan was sighing at how this broken kid could be so foolish, he heard Zhuo Xiao Mao say in a proud, pleased tone:

"My mom says I grew this strong all because of Hei Ge; Hei Ge treats me really well!" Zhuo Xiao Mao pulled out the pendant he always wore, "Here, this is also from Hei Ge! My aunt says money can't buy this!"

Wei Leng's wife carefully examined the green plant inside the transparent pendant, very surprised, then she thought such a thing was probably artificially synthesized; such a thing shouldn't exist in nature, right?

Although she had doubts, Wei Leng's wife still smiled and said, "Mm, it's indeed precious; your brother treats you really well."

"That's~" After carefully putting the pendant back inside his collar, Zhuo Xiao Mao caught sight of Zheng Tan by the wall and immediately laughed as he ran over, "Hei Ge! Hei Ge!"

Wei Leng's wife followed Zhuo Xiao Mao's gaze, saw the cat on the wall, felt a bit surprised, examined it closely, then asked the nearby Bai Lao Shi: "Bai Lao Shi, is that cat called Hei Tan?"

"Yes, it's called Hei Tan; the kids in class all follow Zhuo Yang in calling it Hei Ge." Bai Lao Shi said a few words about that black cat.

So "Hei Ge" refers to this cat. Wei Leng's wife thought.

Watching the interaction between that person and cat, Wei Leng's wife sat for a while, then got up ready to leave. Being able to come into the kindergarten to have a look was thanks to the neighbor's help; this trip wasn't in vain.

Zheng Tan watched Wei Leng's wife walk out of the kindergarten gate, when an auntie came up to meet her, likely a nanny-like person, and then the two left together.

Wei Leng returned home that evening, embraced his wife and kissed her forehead, "How did today's outing feel?"

"Not bad. Hey, Wei Leng, next time we invite Hetaoshixiong and Er Mao over, let's bring Hei Tan along too." Wei Leng's wife said.

Wei Leng raised his eyebrows at the words. After his wife became pregnant, when he invited his senior brothers and Er Mao over for a meal, he had mentioned letting Er Mao bring Zheng Tan back as well, but he hadn't expected the mother-in-law who came to see their daughter to find out, scolding him for a long time; in her words she was very opposed to Zheng Tan, and since learning of her daughter's pregnancy she had wanted to drive away any potentially threatening animals nearby, and now he wanted to lure them in?

Wei Leng had been in a foul mood lately; if it weren't for saving face for his wife, he would have already blown up at his mother-in-law. He never expected his wife to bring it up herself.

"Sure, I'll see when my senior brother and Er Mao are free, have them come over for a get-together, and bring Hei Tan along—I haven't seen that guy in ages, hey, I don't even know if he's gotten fat."

So, on a certain sunny Saturday afternoon, Er Mao came over and brought Zheng Tan to Wei Leng's place for a meal.

Jiao Yuan, who had come out of the room to get water, looked resentful: Hei Tan had gone off to enjoy himself again, while he himself had to stay in the room to finish the Monday morning assignment due! (To be continued...)

ps: (6.10)