Chapter 8

Because of that stranger's matter, A Huang and the police chief stayed well-behaved at home for a few days, while Da Pang still had his usual style of not coming out unless called. As for Zheng Tan, he agreed to let Xiao Guo film a cat food ad, and Jiao Ba and Jiao Ma took him to the Obviously So Pet Center to shoot photos for two days.

The first advertisement was not the video ad Zheng Tan had imagined, but rather a picture-story format.

Zheng Tan had previously overlooked one thing: at this time, the development of online videos was not as booming as it would be ten years later; many people were not optimistic about its prospects, predicting they would not be promising, and some even rated it as hopeless.

But Xiao Guo didn't think so; when discussing the contract with Jiao Ba, he said, 'The charm of the Internet lies in its ability, through technological updates, to turn decay into miraculous reversal.' This made Zheng Tan regard him more highly; as someone who had been there, Zheng Tan knew better than anyone what the Internet would become in ten years.

Compared to other merchants' single advertisement images, Xiao Guo's idea of shooting his own ad as a picture story would be more attractive; even people without pets at home would enjoy watching it, at least boosting brand awareness.

With Zheng Tan present, shooting such story pictures didn't require much effort, and they didn't even need to use cat food, which made Xiao Guo very happy. Getting a cat to make the ideal expression is difficult, and the limitations of the era meant merchants wouldn't spend too much energy on this kind of advertisement.

Such picture-story ads Xiao Guo would post on an online pet forum, and at the same time they would be printed in the paper version of the magazine. Another reason Xiao Guo was so eager to have Zheng Tan come shoot the ad was this: not long ago, a friend of Xiao Guo's had just launched a pet-themed magazine, published monthly, and Xiao Guo was happy to jump on the bandwagon.

Associate Professor Jiao

However, after Zheng Tan arrived, the shoot went smoothly—every action and expression needed no extra persuasion—so Xiao Guo's stomach stopped hurting, they saved on cat food, and he hurriedly pulled Jiao Ba to sign the contract.

Because the 'Pet Love' magazine is a monthly, Zheng Tan only needs to go shoot once a month, which to him is nothing; aside from earning a little extra pocket money, he also approaches it with a playful attitude. The funniest part is that at the very end of the picture story, a small line of text reads 'Actor: blackC'.

Labeling the pet's name is a habit of Xiao Guo and his team, but this 'blackC' was Jiao Ba's idea—he didn't directly put Zheng Tan's real cat name on it, which also served as protection for Zheng Tan.

As for this 'blackC', Xiao Guo also asked the reason; Jiao Ba explained: 'black' means black, and 'C' in the periodic table stands for carbon, so…

For the first cat food ad shoot, Xiao Guo deposited a thousand dollars into the card; Jiao Ma said it was much more than expected. A thousand dollars used to be nothing to the former Zheng Tan, but now it is a sizable and rare paycheck.

Jiao Ba also got Zheng Tan a separate bank card dedicated to storing his ad earnings. In fact, not only Zheng Tan, but Jiao Yuan and Gu Youzi also have their own bank cards, where they keep their New Year's money and exam award money, and then pocket money is deducted from them; however, the cards are currently held by Jiao Ba to prevent misuse—this is Jiao Ba's unique educational approach.

Professor Yuan

Sometimes Zheng Tan couldn't quite figure out what Associate Professor Jiao was thinking, but regardless, after more than three months of getting along, Zheng Tan had come to understand Jiao Ba to some extent, at least being able to confirm that Jiao Ba wouldn't be hostile toward him. I don't know whether people engaged in scientific research are especially prone to accepting extraordinary events.

If outsiders knew how Associate Professor Jiao got along with his own cat, they'd probably be astonished—including Jiao Ma, Jiao Yuan, and Gu Youzi, who actually don't know that Zheng Tan and Jiao Ba interact in this way.

After finishing the ad shoot, Zheng Tan had nothing else to do; after lounging at home for two days, he still couldn't stay idle and went out for a walk. This time he didn't spot any suspicious figures; he went to the large lawn to observe once, didn't see that person from before, but he did see that guinea pig—a little girl not much younger than Gu Youzi and her mother were watching the fluffy guinea pig wander on the grass. Zheng Tan intends to keep his distance from that mother‑daughter pair from now on to avoid running into that person again.

East Garden Supermarket

Nanhua University

The atmosphere in the living room was not good, overly silent; Jiao Ma was cooking in the kitchen but also a bit absent‑minded. Jiao Ba and that person sat on the sofa smoking, saying nothing.

Chu Hua (city)

Jiao Yuan's room has a small table; when guests come and it's inconvenient for the two kids to be present, Jiao Ma will bring out that little wooden table decorated with a Chinese chess pattern, so that Jiao Yuan and Gu Youzi can eat in the small room. Adult topics, some of which are not suitable for children to hear.

Pet Love Magazine

Obviously Pet Center

Police Chief

southern coastal

In the conversation between the two grown men, sniffling and tearing up, Zheng Tan got the general idea.

Jiao Ba's master's and doctoral supervisor during his graduate studies, Professor Yuan—who is also the father of this 'Yuanzi'—has stage‑four lung cancer; his current condition is also poor, with an estimated two months left.

When Jiao Ba graduated from Nanhua University, Professor Yuan went abroad. Since Professor Yuan was no longer there, Jiao Ba didn't stay at Nanhua University but returned to his hometown in Jinghan Province to teach at Chu Hua Da Xue.

Nanhua University is the leading institution among coastal universities in southern Huaxia, and its status in central China is comparable to that of Chu Hua Da Xue.

Jiao Ma, Jiao Ba, and this 'Yuanzi' had good relations with each other back when they were at Nanhua, and naturally they also got along well with Professor Yuan; hearing the news about Professor Yuan today, both of them felt very sad.

This 'Yuanzi' did not inherit his father's mantle; he simply had no interest in research, or put another way, he never applied himself in school, just like Zheng Tan used to be—a good‑for‑nothing.

Zheng Tan doesn't know what this 'Yuanzi' has experienced since graduation, nor how great a blow his father's illness has dealt him; from their conversation, however, it seems this Yuanzi has changed a lot—just as Jiao Ba just said, 'the prodigal son returns.'

Everyone says a prodigal son's return is worth more than gold, but often the prodigal son would rather stay a prodigal forever, because the price of turning back is enormous; he would rather use his never-returning to exchange for those "prices".

So, if it weren't for Fei Hang telling me you came to Chu Hua Shi, are you planning to keep going on your own? Are you planning to hide from everyone for a lifetime?! Jiao Ba's eyes were red, his voice not loud but somewhat trembling, obviously unable to control his emotions.

Jiao Ma didn't speak the whole time, sitting beside and wiping tears alone.

That old man…… doesn't want too many people to know; now he's no longer continuing any treatments, he just wants to quietly close his eyes in his hometown. Yuanzi sniffled and said.

Back then, Jiao Ba was Old Master Yuan's trump card; who in the School of Life Sciences at Nanhua University wouldn't envy Professor Yuan for having such a student? Moreover, with his own son's lack of initiative, Old Professor Yuan treated Jiao Ba like his own son—Jiao Ba's present achievements are entirely thanks to Old Master Yuan's guidance. But since Old Professor Yuan went abroad, the two have only occasionally kept in touch via messaging apps or email, not frequently, and it seems Old Professor Yuan's side always has various matters. Last week Jiao Ba received an email from Old Master Yuan saying he would have a long period without contacting computers. Looking at it now, Old Master Yuan truly intends not to tell others.

After a moment of silence, Jiao Ba steadied his emotions and asked again: "What brings you to Chu Hua Shi this time? Fei Hang said you came for an inspection. What are you inspecting? If you need help, just speak up."

Yuanzi rubbed his face with his palm and said: "I'm preparing to set up a biotech company. Not a small-scale operation."

Jiao Ba nodded, "Chu Hua Shi here is indeed good; there are too many new companies along the southern coast, companies founded by various domestic and foreign parties are rising one after another; in East China's Ming Zhu Shi, Southern Gene has a stronghold, in the capital there is Hua Da Gene, major bases dominate, already gradually forming interest groups; wanting to get in isn't impossible, but it would be very laborious. By comparison, Central China's competitiveness is much lower, development proceeds faster, and here I can still lend a hand."

Zheng Tan didn't really understand what Jiao Ba and Yuanzi were discussing; he didn't know what the company they were planning to start actually did, so after lying down and listening for a while, he went to Jiao Yuan's room.

A few days later, Zheng Tan was summoned by Jiao Ba to the room and told that the Jiao Family four would be making a trip to the northeast.

Professor Yuan's hometown is in the northeast; given what happened, Jiao Ba's decision makes sense to Zheng Tan, but…… then he'd be the only one left at home?!

Jiao Ba asked Zheng Tan for his opinion; if Zheng Tan wanted to come along, Jiao Ba would borrow a vehicle and then drive to the northeast, which would also make it easier to bring Zheng Tan.

Zheng Tan thought it over and shook his head. If they were going south, he would definitely follow; he really wants to know whether another version of himself still exists. But this time they're heading north, so better not.

Zheng Tan didn't want to be sent to a pet center for boarding, nor did he want to stay at someone else's place, so Jiao Ba left him a key.

Before the family left, after taking turns reminding Zheng Tan, the concluding words were: "When you're home alone, be good and don't open the door to strangers."

Zheng Tan: "……" Really treating me like a kid?

Jiao Yuan and Gu Youzi left, looking back every few steps; they took out all their snacks and piled them on the sofa, afraid the family cat would go hungry.

After the Jiao Family four left, Zheng Tan looked at the empty house and suddenly felt the old place had become much bigger.

Really fucking boring~

Zheng Tan rolled from one end to the other on the living-room sofa, rolled back, then hung upside down from the sofa's edge to look at the inverted view.

Finally, Zheng Tan's gaze fell on the living-room calendar. Jiao Ba said they'd be away for a week; today is Wednesday, and they still have to wait until next Wednesday……

Wednesday?!

Zheng Tan flipped over and got up.

Every Wednesday is the day East Garden Supermarket puts out new goods; the delivery trucks arrive in the afternoon around four or five and leave in the evening around six or seven.

It's now 4:30 p. m.

Zheng Tan slipped the key Jiao Ba left for him around his neck and went out.

Thus, after being told to stay home and behave for less than three hours, Zheng Tan decided to also go out on a distant trip.

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Thanks to Chènmò〓van, faint blue moonlight, lazyorange's tip! Thanks to those anticipating the bright moon hanging in the sky for their rating votes! Thanks to everyone's support for recommendation votes~

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