Chapter 358

Hiding clumsiness is a skill; while covering up one's shortcomings, one must also conceal skill within clumsiness, not reveal sharpness — this is what Zheng Tan has been pondering.

When Zheng Tan joined Xiao Guo's studio, he often heard the workgroup people talk; back then, the studio staff would say many things to his face, even criticism, and point fingers, thinking Zheng Tan couldn't understand and didn't care. Of course, now they dare not.

Then Zheng Tan realized the difference between domestic cats and those fancy breeds with more appealing looks. Sometimes, those eye-catching breeds can attract attention in front of the camera without doing anything, while ordinary ones need to do more.

On stage and behind the scenes, one always needs more to compensate for innate shortcomings. Hiding one's weaknesses before the camera and presenting a better side to the audience is what Zheng Tan learned from pet photography.

Of course, concealing flaws and emphasizing strengths while avoiding weaknesses seems a necessary skill for stars; knowing how to laugh, how much, which angle looks better, etc., is something they have in mind.

Why do many runway models, especially those with their own exclusive lighting design during shows, seek to get on good terms with the lighting technician?

Every model has their own strengths and weaknesses; a face also has its own features. Different lighting effects can highlight strengths or reveal flaws. On the runway, surrounded by cameras, to capture a more perfect side, besides makeup, lighting effect is also a crucial factor.

A suitable angle and gaze, plus proper lighting, can directly boost the effect of showing off. Posing for the camera is a skill; after years of shooting ads, Zheng Tan has become quite adept at it.

Many people have acting skills, and animals with acting skills are not nonexistent; with training, one can fool people—for example, some famous monkeys like Big Big Qi. Acting skills? Indeed, they are more vivid than other monkeys; perhaps other trained monkeys merely imitate human movements and expressions, while Big Big Qi incorporates some of his own emotional color.

But in Yang Yi's view, Zheng Tan is different; he noticed this when filming the documentary last time. Perhaps picking stars has become a habit. Even though the subject on camera is just a cat, Yang Yi didn't miss those small details, such as Zheng Tan's little tricks in front of the lens. Sometimes it's hard to link this cat to a stray cat; it looks like a stray cat. Yet it feels different from the stray cats one usually sees.

This is also why Yang Yi values Zheng Tan. Perhaps. Zheng Tan himself doesn't even realize that his own little movements have been noticed.

Earlier, including Zheng Tan in the superstar development plan was not without basis.

What a pity...

Yang Yi lay on the lounge chair, looking out the window, thinking about the possibility of luring that cat over.

On the other side, Zheng Tan squatted, expressionless, staring at the three people blocking the doorway, neither calling out nor moving, just watching.

It appeared again, that kind of gaze!

Charlie, blocking the front door, looked torn; not being torn wouldn't do—if they stepped back, they'd feel uneasy in their hearts; if they didn't retreat, under such a stare they'd feel immense pressure, and every time they saw that gaze they felt a chill down their backs.

Not to mention Charlie, even the other two felt the same way, but they had promised Boss Guo to look after this cat.

Thinking about Boss Yi's angry outburst, the three, who had just been about to move their legs, put them back.

Zheng Tan continued to stare expressionlessly at the three. He had already been staying here for two days; today the weather is fine, while filming starts tomorrow, and at the beginning he doesn't have any of his own scenes. Yang Yi said to let him adapt here for a few days, 'Cats need time to adapt to a new environment' etc., not knowing who told Kong Han and Yang Yi that, so Zheng Tan is now idle, he doesn't even need to look at the script, Charlie has already said his lines, and later someone will guide him step by step on how to shoot, and he doesn't have the pressure those actors have.

When idle, Zheng Tan wanted to go out for a stroll. It was his first time in this city, and not taking a walk would make him feel sorry for himself, but just as he intended to open the door, the three people discussing the TV drama on the sofa rushed over and blocked the doorway, meaning he wasn't allowed to go out.

Originally there were five people, but two were called away by Kong Han's phone, so only three remain here. The three are also hard to deal with; Zheng Tan can't fool them, feeling constantly monitored, even more restrained than when filming the documentary.

His mood was quite unpleasant.

Charlie naturally noticed, which is why he felt torn. He well knows that when this cat's mood turns bad, it easily seeks trouble, no matter what, and that's absolutely not what they want to see.

With no other option, Charlie called Xiao Guo to 'request instructions'—they couldn't stay deadlocked like this. If negotiations fail, absentmindedness could let the cat open the door and slip out, and they'd constantly worry whether the cat had snatched the keys. Among those present, only Charlie knew Zheng Tan could open the door with a key, so a hard block wouldn't work; they must reach a compromise.

After consulting Xiao Guo, Xiao Guo directly called Jiao Ba, and then Charlie received new instructions; from the supply pack the Jiao family had prepared for Zheng Tan, he pulled out a box containing a cat tag, with contact information on the back and a large 'Z' on the front.

Zheng Tan: '...' When did Jiao Ba put this on? Also, what is this thing made of? Even the 'Z' character is engraved!

Zheng Tan knew this thing should be able to locate, similar to the cat tag Jiao Ba gave him for long trips before, but he didn't expect Jiao Ba to make another one just because Zheng Tan changed his stage name.

After putting on the cat tag, Charlie took Zheng Tan out; the other two were fine and followed along, also being first-time visitors to this coastal city, so they might as well take the chance to see more.

This time going out, he didn't wear the uniform 'Z' outfit, dressing more casually, which relieved Zheng Tan; that row of 'Z's always felt rather second-rate, who knows what others might imagine it to be.

Going down in the elevator, it stopped at the eighteenth floor; a man and a woman entered, looking at the three people and one cat in the elevator, they frowned. The man, upon seeing Zheng Tan, gave a look of disdain. About to say something, he was pulled by the woman beside him, and then they turned to chatting and laughing about some amusing matters.

Charlie and the other two shifted their feet silently, blocking Zheng Tan from behind.

At this time, not many people use the elevator; it's not crowded, and going down is quick.

After reaching the first floor, Zheng Tan walked out of the elevator.

That stranger beside him unintentionally slowed his steps, and as Zheng Tan stepped out of the elevator door, he lifted his foot to stamp on Zheng Tan's hind paw.

Zheng Tan instinctively felt something was wrong; he quickened his steps. The man's leather shoe brushed Zheng Tan's tail and stepped on the ground.

After walking a few steps quickly, Zheng Tan looked back at that person; the person was already wearing sunglasses, but from his facial expression one could tell he seemed regretful for missing the step.

After Zheng Tan glanced at that person, he promptly followed Charlie and the others toward the parking area.

Unlike other stars who have nanny vans, the car they can drive now is one borrowed by Yang Yi. It doesn't look like a luxury vehicle, but those in the know can tell it has been modified, with its safety rating raised several levels.

Yang Yi knew they were going out, so he warned Charlie not to go too far; if anything happened, just call him directly.

Cha Li chose the nearest square, which combines leisure and entertainment, and it's not far from where they currently rent, just a twenty‑odd‑minute drive.

Because the temperature wasn't high, the car windows were open.

Cha Li drove, Zheng Tan sat in the front passenger seat, and the other two were in the back seat.

Zheng Tan looked at the buildings and scenery outside the window; the blowing wind contained some car exhaust, but it also carried a hint of sea smell.

"Woof woof!"

A dog's bark came from behind.

Zheng Tan glanced over; in the car diagonally behind, a dog had half its head out the rear window, looking outside, and only barked after seeing Zheng Tan.

Zheng Tan initially ignored it.

However, the car's driver apparently got a playful idea, accelerated up alongside, controlling the speed so that the rear window of that car was exactly level with Zheng Tan's passenger-side window.

"Woof woof woof!"

The dog barked at Zheng Tan, not knowing what it smelled, and even sneezed.

Damn!

Its snot sprayed out!

Zheng Tan raised a hand to brush the fur on his face, and saw that the dog opposite had a very unfriendly look.

"Whoa! Pharaoh Hound! Really a Pharaoh Hound! This is considered a rare breed domestically, hey, Cha Li, watch the road and focus on driving!"

"This dog looks good, definitely not under fifty thousand." Cha Li glanced quickly, then kept his eyes on the road and drove seriously.

"Judging by its appearance, I'd estimate it at a hundred thousand or even more," another person said.

They knew a lot about pet cats and dogs; a glance at the pedigree gave them a rough idea, allowing them to estimate the approximate price.

Zheng Tan didn't care whether it was a Pharaoh Hound or a Rat King; he really wanted to punch it a few times.

"Tch, it's even wearing a gold necklace; you damn well have the guts to put on a gold earring too!"

Perhaps the other driver did it on purpose, and Cha Li's side also wanted to get a better look at the dog; both cars were driving relatively slowly, and the dog kept barking at Zheng Tan, its paws resting on the car window twitching twice, as if it wanted to reach over.

Zheng Tan stared at the dog with the gold collar opposite him, his gaze growing increasingly dangerous.

He sprayed old me with snot all over the face, and now he wants to move his paw?!

Then, when the two cars were closest, Zheng Tan half‑lunged out and slapped the other dog's face.

The dog opposite probably didn't expect Zheng Tan to suddenly strike like that, and the slap hurt quite a bit; it was dazed, but soon grew angry, wanting to leap out of the car window, only to be pulled back by the person inside the vehicle. Come on, you're driving—how could you jump out? That's suicidal!

The two people in the back seat here were so frightened by Zheng Tan's action that their hearts jumped to their throats; they hurriedly told him to sit back down and not stick his head out, lest something happen.

Cha Li also slowed down, putting some distance between them and that car.

"Damn, that scared the hell out of me just now." One person patted his chest; just a moment ago he'd thought Zheng Tan would jump straight out, but with cars behind them on this lane, jumping out would be suicidal.

"The people in that car up ahead look rich too, don't you think they might hold a grudge?" Another person in the back seat, a little worried, said he'd just seen someone in that car pointing a phone at theirs and taking a photo.

"I suppose… not? It's just a cat's paw swipe, right?" (To be continued…)

ps: Sorry, I took a nap midway and only just posted now.

Progress has been slow lately, but Chen Ci will speed up; also, I'll mention that on the 20th—that is, this Wednesday at 2 p. m. —the main site of Returning Cat will get a big push, so there should be extra updates, and everyone who's free should come show support.