Chapter 432: That Assassin Isn't So Cold

When Xiong Xiong returned, seeing the paint chipped off the newly bought bicycle, he felt like crying but had no tears, touching the chipped spot helplessly, but there was nothing he could do—could he really blame that big flower cat?

However, a few chips of paint are better than the bike being stolen. Thinking this, Xiong Xiong felt a bit better.

Xiong Xiong's pursuit was going well; on weekends he even asked her out to see a movie, although it wasn't just the two of them but a group outing, but that's still progress, right?

Zheng Tan rarely got to stay home on weekends, didn't go help Xiong Xiong watch the bike, and had a good weekend.

That day, Zheng Tan was strolling around campus; having spent a pleasant weekend at home, after Xiao Youzi returned the household atmosphere indeed became different, much livelier. However, after two days passed, Xiao Youzi had to leave again.

On others' workdays and study days, Zheng Tan was mostly bored.

After jogging a lap around the main campus road, walking back slowly, Zheng Tan heard someone call him, turned around, and saw it was Xiao Jiu.

It had been a long time since he'd seen Xiao Jiu; after she and Xiao Youzi both entered high school, Zheng Tan had only seen her twice, and going to the overpass he always missed people; moreover, Xiao Jiu didn't attend Chu Hua Fu Zhong but another high school farther away, requiring a half-hour taxi ride, which Zheng Tan usually couldn't make.

However, today wasn't a day off, and this time should be class time; high schoolers don't have the same schedule as college students, so it seems Xiao Jiu skipped class again.

Xiao Jiu waved at Zheng Tan, saying, "Hei Tan, let's have a talk."

Because she often came around here during middle school, Xiao Jiu wasn't unfamiliar with Chu Hua Da Xue's campus; she knew which places were crowded and which were basically empty at this time.

Zheng Tan followed Xiao Jiu to a secluded spot; Xiao Jiu sat on the edge of a circular flower bed, Zheng Tan jumped up and crouched beside her, waiting for her to speak. Usually if there's nothing, Xiao Jiu wouldn't come specially, so Zheng Tan wondered what brought her today.

Indeed. Xiao Jiu looked around, confirmed no one was there, then said, "Hei Tan, I'm leaving."

Zheng Tan: "?!!"

Xiao Jiu and her peers' study arrangements indeed differ from others'; she is very goal-oriented, knowing what she will do in the future and which skills she must learn. Some of what the school teaches now isn't that helpful for her, but dropping out is impossible, so she still has to study. However, she has a dedicated instructor.

This time, Xiao Jiu is leaving with her teacher to study in some places and gain more experience. She dislikes wasting time; her early experiences have greatly influenced her, and the intense studying at school now puts pressure on her. She isn't a top student, started school late, and finds it hard to grasp the increasingly profound knowledge points—of course, this is also because she lacks interest in them; interest brings motivation, and Kun Ye didn't force her to master those textbook topics she isn't interested in. Thus, following Xiao Jiu's interests, people were arranged to take her to other provinces and cities to study and see things she's interested in; although she doesn't attend formal classes, someone will teach her knowledge in daily life.

Kun Ye's subordinates don't keep the useless; you can lack a diploma but not ability. For Xiao Jiu and her peers, in a few years, when peers of the same age step into society tender and fresh, she will already be able to support her own small patch of sky.

That is decisively different from Xiao Youzi's world, and also her own choice. Zheng Tan cannot refute anything, nor will he sway Xiao Jiu's thoughts.

"Now I'm in senior year one; my dedicated teacher says I need to be sent out for two years, and when I reach senior year three I also have to take the college entrance exam in another province, then return to take the university exam..." Xiao Jiu continued.

Exploiting loopholes in the college entrance exam, this isn't the first time Zheng Tan has heard of it, and he's seen quite a few. Because this province is a major source of students, each year the entrance exam scores and competition are higher than in most provinces nationwide, so some people hovering in the middle-lower range have their families arrange ways to send them to provinces with weaker competition; thus, relatively speaking, they have a greater chance of getting into better universities.

Obviously, for Xiao Jiu, Kun Ye also put in a lot of thought.

However, Xiao Jiu's departure will be over two years, and during that time Zheng Tan won't see her.

Xiao Jiu came today specifically to have a good talk with Zheng Tan; otherwise, after leaving they wouldn't meet. Later she also plans to go to Chu Hua Fu Zhong to see Xiao Youzi, having already bought candy. Xiao Jiu has always remembered Xiao Youzi giving her candy back then, and although she isn't at the affiliated middle school, she knows people there who can look after Xiao Youzi, so her departure won't be ignored.

Zheng Tan listened to Xiao Jiu's words, thinking: Is this the transformation from a little girl to a big sister?

After chatting about her own affairs, recalling the past and looking ahead, Xiao Jiu looked around again, confirmed no one was approaching, and in a gossipy tone whispered to Zheng Tan, "Hei Tan, do you know Kun Ye's Thirteen Guardians?"

Thirteen Guardians?

This term indeed rings a bell; Zheng Tan recalled that he had once seen a piece of calligraphy in Kun Ye's study with the four large characters "Thirteen Guardians" written in a vigorous style. He remembered thinking at the time, wondering why that blind old man didn't write something more domineering or a word like "endure" or "kill" to show off.

Besides that, Zheng Tan had once hung out with Ye Hao and his crowd, hearing them mention this term; Ye Hao's group seemed wary of it, and they noted that one reason many people are wary of Kun Ye is because of his Thirteen Guardians.

Xiao Jiu lowered her voice: "I've heard that the Thirteen Guardians were organized by Kun Ye when he was young, thirteen people, thirteen assassins, helping Kun Ye eliminate those on the blacklist. Nowadays it's rarely mentioned, and the members seem to have been replaced in batches, which is also what my teacher said. What a pity—thirteen people, I haven't seen a single one."

"By the way," Xiao Jiu recalled something and said to Zheng Tan, "I've heard that among the thirteen there's a person with the codename Black Cat—Hei Tan, what do you say? Would that person look very cat-like? I really want to meet them."

Zheng Tan thought to himself: He absolutely doesn't want to meet someone like an assassin; hearing that profession tells him it's not a good person, cold and unfeeling. If he knew who was an assassin, he'd definitely stay far away.

This little girl Xiao Jiu really is getting bolder and bolder.

After chatting, Xiao Jiu checked the time; she needed to head to the affiliated middle school, and arriving then would just catch the students letting out for lunch.

After seeing Xiao Jiu onto the bus, Zheng Tan returned, and after just a couple steps he bumped into Xiong Xiong riding his bicycle; this kid seemed especially happy today.

"Hei Tan, help me out one more time today! Hey, maybe after today we'll become an item!"

Zheng Tan stopped, looking at Xiong Xiong. That guy's smile is truly foolish. If the girl really accepts Xiong Xiong's words, would he smile even more foolishly?

No matter what. Since it's a critical moment, Zheng Tan will definitely help.

Xiong Xiong said the time was around four in the afternoon, plus over an hour of travel; he should make it back in time for dinner at home.

After stating the time, at three in the afternoon Zheng Tan saw the groomed Xiong Xiong, his hair trimmed and styled into a slanted punk look, clearly done at a hair salon that afternoon. Zheng Tan had yesterday accompanied Jiao Ma watching TV, when a celebrity on screen had that same hairstyle and Jiao Ma harshly criticized it; Zheng Tan felt embarrassed at the time, because he used to love cutting that hairstyle, never expecting to see Xiong Xiong with the same style this afternoon, wondering what Jiao Ma would think when she saw it. He guessed she'd feel the generation gap was severe.

Xiong Xiong's face always bore a smile, yet he was also somewhat nervous, from time to time rubbing his palms on his pants to wipe sweat. Even though it's winter, when many wear padded jackets and thick sweaters, this guy could actually sweat from nervousness. Zheng Tan inwardly looked down on him.

It's just a meeting to confess feelings; is it necessary to be this nervous?

Or rather, at that flower shop, after Xiong Xiong picked up the pre-ordered flowers he took off by vehicle, Zheng Tan crouched on the car seat, helping to watch the bike.

Worried Zheng Tan might feel cold, Xiong Xiong placed a down vest in the basket; if Zheng Tan felt cold he could crouch in the bike basket. With Zheng Tan there, Xiong Xiong wasn't afraid the vest would be stolen. Of course, even if the vest were stolen, as long as today's second confession succeeds, to Xiong Xiong it would still be quite worthwhile.

Because today's timing differs from the past few days, while Zheng Tan waited here he didn't see the young person with a bag waiting for the bus. Coincidentally, that big flower cat wasn't seen either, saving trouble.

Zheng Tan crouched on the car seat, watching passersby and vehicles on the road.

Time gradually passed; winter skies darken early, at half past five it was already somewhat dark, and by after six it was completely dark, yet Xiong Xiong still hadn't appeared.

A night breeze blew, and Zheng Tan shivered, but he didn't want to jump into the basket, continuing to crouch on the car seat, cursing Xiong Xiong in his heart: "He said an hour, damn it's almost two hours now! I'm freezing now, and if I'm late getting back I'll get scolded. When Xiong Xiong this brat returns I'll definitely give him a good knock!!"

He yawned, Zheng Tan gazed into the distance down the road; each time a taxi approached, he stared without blinking, hoping to see that taxi pull over and then Xiong Xiong's goofy self appear. Unfortunately, each time ended in disappointment.

In the distance, because a stretch of road was under repair and uneven, the vehicle headlights appeared somewhat jittery; the kicked-up dust in the night wasn't as noticeable as in daytime, yet it made the headlights' glow seem shrouded in a mist, a fog that the wind couldn't disperse.

He sneezed, Zheng Tan jumped off the car, moved a little, and looked around.

The big flower cat, because there were too many people inside the shop, apparently also got annoyed from being teased, decided to come out for fresh air; upon reaching the doorway it paused, shrank its body, twitched its paws, looked around, seeming to hesitate whether to come out and endure the cold, but eventually stepped forward, one ear paying attention to the roadside movements while the other ear swiveled toward the little alley beside the restaurant.

Suddenly, it seemed to discover something.

A mouse emerged from the square sewer cover at the edge of the alley.

The big flower cat instantly grew excited, shaking off its earlier laziness as its muscles seemed to tense all over; before the mouse noticed, it swiftly moved to a more concealed corner, lowered its body, and readied to strike.

Probably someone had spilled food at the alley's edge; the mouse sniffed there, cautiously glanced around, saw no one coming, and didn't notice the big flower cat hidden in the corner. Feeling temporarily safe, it then clung to a morsel and began to eat.

The big flower cat tiptoed toward its prey; before the mouse could react, the cat lunged. Don't be fooled by many cats being fat—sometimes they possess agility disproportionate to their size.

Meowstar Shadowless Claw!

After successive strikes, the big flower cat trapped the mouse, then bit down.

The alley echoed with the mouse's miserable cries, but soon the sound ceased.

A girl just stepped out of the restaurant holding a packed boxed meal, and upon entering the alley she noticed the big flower cat nearby, so she intended to go over and tease it as usual.

But when she approached, the big flower cat suddenly lifted its head and looked at the girl.

Blood still stained its mouth as it gnawed on a partially eaten mouse, its eyes filled with lingering chill and killing intent, which successfully made the girl stop in her tracks.

The winter evening wind blew past; the loosened scarf failed to block the cold wind. The girl shrank her neck, pulled the scarf tight, and hurried away.

She probably never imagined that the big flower cat she often saw, usually lazy and affectionate and good-natured, would actually have such a look.

At the same time, on a nearby street, passersby hurried along the sidewalk. A middle-aged man in a high-end leather jacket with slick, oily hair walked among them, holding a phone and speaking rudely while talking on it.

A passing youngster glanced over curiously, just meeting the middle-aged man's sweeping gaze.

"Look at your grandpa, look!"

The middle-aged man suddenly kicked out, sending the youngster sprawling to the ground, then swept his gaze around and shouted, "What are you looking at?! Keep looking and I'll gouge out your eyeballs!"

Seeing this, the bystanders dared not say more, for he looked trouble; a single extra word might provoke this madman to kick them—didn't they see the youngster still clutching his stomach, lying on the ground unable to get up?

No longer paying attention to the kicked youngster, the middle-aged man continued walking while talking on the phone, cursing with vulgar language.

A young person carrying a bag brushed past the middle-aged man, much like the many other passersby, with nothing particularly notable about him.

After passing the middle-aged man, the bag-carrying youngster, feeling cold, blew on his hands and then shoved them into his pockets.

Soon after, a commotion arose not far behind him: the middle-aged man who had just been talking on the phone and kicking people while swearing collapsed to the ground. People around shouted at him but got no response; after a while, a woman's frightened scream rang out, and passersby shouted for the police.

Meanwhile, the bag-carrying youngster turned a corner and entered an alley; when he reached the other end, he saw the big flower cat squatting beside it, licking its paws, with the remains of a mouse nearby.

Sensing someone approaching, the big flower cat alertly lifted its head; seeing it was an acquaintance, it returned to its usual affectionate state, meowing a few times and even rubbing against the youngster's pant leg.

Cats can effortlessly switch between being cute and being deadly.

The youngster bent down, picked up the big flower cat, and, using the dim light nearby, took out a tissue from his pocket to wipe the cat's mouth; not minding the dirt, he held the cat and walked to the restaurant entrance. Just as he was about to go in, he saw Zheng Tan sitting on the car seat, startled, obviously not expecting to run into him at this time.

After the surprise, he smiled, waved at Zheng Tan, then walked into the restaurant, sat at an empty seat near the door, ordered food, and began playing with the big flower cat again.

"Hei Tan! Sorry I'm late!" Xiong Xiong stepped out of a taxi, his face beaming like a trumpet flower, afraid that others wouldn't know he had happy news.

Zheng Tan remained still, just quietly watching him.

"All right, you've worked hard; come on, let's go to Jiao Wei's restaurant for hot soup—I'll cover whatever you want!" Xiong Xiong said boldly.

That's about right. Zheng Tan jumped off the car seat, intending to leave. As long as Xiong Xiong went with him to Jiao Wei's restaurant, it would explain why Zheng Tan missed dinner, and Jiao Wei's parents would contact the Jiao family, so Zheng Tan wouldn't get scolded.

Before leaving, Zheng Tan glanced at the bag-carrying youngster again; the youngster also happened to look up, raised his hand, smiled, and called out "Bye-bye" to Zheng Tan.

Zheng Tan turned his head back, twitched his whiskers, feeling that the person was a bit strange, but aside from knowing he was especially fond of cats, he couldn't tell anything else.

Never mind, it's just a passerby. (To be continued...)

ps: The power at home went out for a while; just as Chen Ci was about to post a leave request on Weibo, the electricity came back on!