Chapter 291: Not Going Back

When Youzi's mother came to her senses, she quickly glanced around, seeing that no one had noticed the commotion here, she then looked at Xiao Youzi, her eyes full of reproach: "You shouldn't have brought a cat here; this isn't a pet restaurant."

Xiao Youzi pursed her lips, looked up at her mother: "But there's no sign here clearly saying pets aren't allowed."

"That's also not allowed; bringing a pet into a place to eat is ridiculous." As she spoke, Youzi's mother saw the black cat staring at her with a strange gaze; although she didn't quite understand what that gaze meant, she always felt weird inside, not very comfortable.

Seeing Xiao Youzi's expression wasn't good either, and thinking it was rare to have some alone time, Youzi's mother didn't scold her further, but said: "Use this to block it for a moment; it's not good if people see." As she spoke, she handed over a shopping paper bag printed with a brand logo and tied with a pink bow, bearing the trademark of a certain children's clothing brand: "Inside this bag is a gift mommy bought for you; see if you like it, and when you wear it out, let the kids in Dongqu Dayuan envy you."

When Zheng Tan stretched his neck to look while Xiao Youzi was taking the clothes, the tag showed 1,200 yuan, and it was a dress. If Youzi's mother hadn't said the latter part, Zheng Tan wouldn't have looked down on her so much, but adding that sentence made him feel it was off. Does she really think everyone living in Dongqu Dayuan is poor? And still envy them? This amount of money many families wouldn't even glance at, especially those old professors—like Professor Lan living downstairs, the money in their hands is definitely no less than ten million; they just don't show it usually, and even go to the cafeteria in the morning to eat buns and drink congee.

Afterwards, Youzi's mother also asked about what kind of clothes Xiao Youzi usually wore, looking at her like that. She thought the Jiao Family's circumstances weren't great, so she hadn't bought Xiao Youzi too nice clothes; as for the standard of "nice clothes," that was just a difference in concept.

Many kids in Dongqu Dayuan usually don't wear overly expensive brand-name clothes, since they grow fast and buying that expensive is completely unnecessary; whether it's the current Jiao Family or other families in Dongqu Dayuan, they're relatively well-off, but you don't see anyone dressing their children in clothes costing several hundred to over a thousand yuan, except for birthday banquets or some relatively important meaningful occasions; usually Jiao Yuan and them are rather playful. The clothes they wear cost at most around a hundred yuan. If they tear, they don't mind too much. Moreover, it's already October; before long it'll be November, and the weather will turn cool. Who would idly go out wearing a skirt? Besides, they're still children. If they really wore it out now, there'd be no envy—on the contrary, they'd be mocked.

After a few more questions, Youzi's mother saw that Xiao Youzi didn't want to continue the topic. She glanced at the black cat staring at her, frowned, and then said to Xiao Youzi: "Mommy has seen many people keeping cats abroad; the neighbor's family there has a very pretty Ragdoll cat, and Mommy even took a photo of it to show you." Suddenly remembering that the photo of that cat wasn't saved on her phone, Youzi's mother put the phone she had taken out back into her bag: "Well, the photos are all on the computer; I didn't bring them, but if there's a chance, Mommy will show you—they're much prettier than this black cat, and more obedient."

Zheng Tan's expression worsened. Is she disliking me for being ugly and having a bad temper?!

"Hei Tan is also well-behaved." Xiao Youzi adjusted her bag, defending.

Youzi's mother clearly didn't believe her; she had seen yesterday how smoothly that cat climbed through the window, knowing it definitely wasn't a well-behaved one.

After a series of meaningless exchanges, Zheng Tan felt drowsy; the mother-daughter conversation was stiff and awkward, with no common ground, the more they talked the more Zheng Tan felt there wasn't much strong emotion between them.

"Youzi, do you want to live in a big house?" Youzi's mother said, "Mommy bought another big house abroad, with a large yard where you can grow flowers and keep small animals you like, and there will be a little sister to play with you." Pausing, Youzi's mother added, "Youzi will have a little sister—are you happy? Though the little sister is still very young now."

Zheng Tan narrowed his eyes. Does this person even know what she's saying? Happy? If she were happy, that would be weird—having another sister just proves there's a stepfather, whose character is still unknown; Youzi running back just to avoid trouble?

Xiao Youzi's hand stirring the cream paused; from Zheng Tan's angle he could only see her tightly pressed lips. Zheng Tan didn't fear being noticed, half his body emerged from the backpack, rubbing against Xiao Youzi.

Thinking about Youzi's mother's earlier remark, is she disparaging the Jiao Family's house as small?

Having lived abroad for a while, Xiao Youzi wouldn't have forgotten; even if their former overseas house wasn't big, it was still much larger than the Jiao Family's, so if she truly cared about this, Xiao Youzi wouldn't have shaken her head when asked if she wanted to live elsewhere—clearly, this mother doesn't even know what her own daughter wants.

"Not going back." Xiao Youzi pushed Zheng Tan into the bag, whispering.

"What?" Not hearing clearly, Youzi's mother asked again.

"I'm not going back." Xiao Youzi raised her head, speaking firmly.

The opposite side fell silent for a few seconds, "Mommy respects your choice."

I don't know if Zheng Tan misheard, but he sensed that tone carried a sense of relief. Zheng Tan lifted his body to look at the woman sitting opposite, seeing no great sorrow or regret; instead, when she smiled at Xiao Youzi, her smile grew a little wider, and it wasn't as stiff as before.

Leaving the restaurant, Youzi's mother planned to take Xiao Youzi around for a stroll, asking where Xiao Youzi wanted to play; after Xiao Youzi shook her head at several suggestions, Youzi's mother directly took her to a nearby mall to buy things. Most items in that mall were high-end, so those with little money kept their distance.

The mall wasn't far from the restaurant, so mother and daughter walked straight there; before reaching the mall, Zheng Tan followed alongside, having come out for this, Zheng Tan put on his cat tag to make it easier, lowering passersby's disdain. After all, not everyone can tolerate an unidentified cat running loose on the road.

Youzi's mother was intermittently chatting when a familiar four-ringed vehicle approached from the side, slowly pulling into the parking area.

"Hei Tan! Youzi!"

Zheng Tan turned at the sound; it was Fang Shaokang, whom he hadn't seen in a while. This busy man rarely had free time to drive out for fun, likely to meet an old friend for a chat.

Fang Shaokang stepped out of the car and strode over, still wearing sunglasses, though his smile couldn't be hidden. He hadn't expected to meet Zheng Tan and Xiao Youzi here.

Just as before, Fang Shaokang lifted Xiao Youzi by the armpits with his hands, holding her like a child.

Xiao Youzi, who had been wearing a serious expression, now also showed a hint of a smile.

"Uncle Fang!"

"Youzi, have you lost weight lately?" Fang Shaokang asked, having weighed her before setting her down.

Fang Shaokang usually interacted with his own daughter this way, so he'd developed this habit, whether when she was younger or now that she's over ten.

"A few days ago Mengmeng still asked about you." Fang Shaokang said. "She said she wanted to exchange experiences with you." As for what experiences, that certainly meant cat-raising experiences, because due to Zheng Tan, Mengmeng had asked her father for Xiao Youzi's chat app number, added her as a friend, and they occasionally share daily cat-raising tips.

"Who is this?" Youzi's mother interjected. Had she not seen that car, she would have bluntly criticized. She didn't know Fang Shaokang, but seeing how familiar he seemed with her daughter, and that he obviously held some status.

"This is Uncle Fang." Xiao Youzi introduced, then pointed at Fang Shaokang and said to her mother: "This is my mommy."

"Hello," Youzi's mother introduced herself, while stating she was Xiao Youzi's mother, she also mentioned her other titles and positions—company name to job title—several English words in one sentence, Zheng Tan couldn't react in time.

Fang Shaokang gave an "oh," "World Top 500 company, pleasure to meet you."

Youzi's mother took out a finely crafted business card from her bag and handed it over; Fang Shaokang took it, then produced an equally exquisite card from his pocket and passed it over.

This card isn't Fang Shaokang's personal one; calling the number on it would definitely reach one of his assistants or secretaries. Giving this card shows Fang Shaokang doesn't care much about Youzi's mother; familiar people or those he finds pleasing get another kind of card that looks much lower-key—Zheng Tan has one in his drawer, and its number is Fang Shaokang's private line.

Looking at the card in her hand, Youzi's mother's pupils contracted, and when she faced Fang Shaokang again she had to be much more polite.

Fang Shaokang still had business, so he left soon.

"Youzi, how did you get to know this… Uncle Fang?" Youzi's mother asked.

"He's Hei Tan's friend."

Youzi's mother obviously wouldn't believe it, guessing it must be because of Professor Jiao.

After browsing the mall and buying things, Youzi's mother hailed a taxi to return to the Jiao Family's place.

In the car, Youzi's mother again asked whether Xiao Youzi wanted to go back with her; Xiao Youzi kept shaking her head.

"Then Mommy won't push you; Mommy gave some money to your aunt's lot so they can look after you, so if you need anything or like something, just tell your aunt."

"Yeah, I know."

"If you're on holiday, you can call Mommy; Mommy will pick you up to play."

Zheng Tan didn't like that—calling on holiday, but not being able to call otherwise?

Zheng Tan stood up and rubbed Xiao Youzi's chin, not sad, we don't care!

The same thing may seem trivial to some, but to others it's a treasure. Youzi's mother doesn't care much about Xiao Youzi, Zheng Tan does, and the Jiao Family does.

Returning to school, Zheng Tan met Old Professor Lan coming back from outside; the old man gave Xiao Youzi a handful of hawthorn, which someone had given him.

On the lawn edge of Dongqu Dayuan, Jingzhang lay sideways on a flowerbed slightly higher than the grass, extending his paws to tease A Huang, who was rubbing his back on the grass; as he teased, the two started a scuffle.

Da Pang lay nearby, half-closed eyes as if dozing off.

On the pebble path beside the lawn, someone held a phone, joking and swearing at the person on the other end: "Cut the bullshit!"

Further off, Niu Zhuangzhuang, being led for a walk, moved with a turtle's pace, pulling the leash to make his owner step forward; hearing the earlier shout, his ears twitched, he looked over, his small triangular eyes flashing with ferocity.

The caller's face twitched, he hurriedly sped up and ran off.

"Mom, Youzi and Hei Tan are back!" Jiao Yuan shouted from the fifth-floor balcony toward the house.

As for the other person besides Zheng Tan and Xiao Youzi, Jiao Yuan simply ignored him. (To be continued...)

ps: I had a meeting, and by the time I got back it was already eleven o'clock. My condition hasn't been great lately, so the update is delayed, and I'll just transition the content a bit—thanks for your understanding.