Chapter 23
Despite feeling physically exhausted, Xiang Mo’s mind was unusually active. No matter how much he tried to self-hypnotize, he couldn’t cross the line between wakefulness and sleep.
Chaotic images kept flashing through his mind like a carousel, with each detail extending infinitely, leading to a blur of thoughts before abruptly transitioning to new loops.
The latest image to appear was the phrase “早日退休” (early retirement) on Du Chi’s phone case.
Xiang Mo wasn’t sure about Du Chi’s ideal retirement age, but for him, he was already living a life close to retirement. Waking up naturally, with an easy and stress-free job, his life should have been perfect if it weren’t for the insomnia caused by Du Chi.
After tossing and turning in bed for a long time, sleep still couldn’t take over. Xiang Mo finally got up and went to his desk, picking up a drawing pen.
Drawing always helped him find peace and tranquility when feeling agitated.
He had only sketched the lower half of a portrait earlier, and now he lacked the motivation to draw anything else. So, he decided to work on that half-finished portrait, outlining the high nose bridge and profound eyes.
While chatting with Du Chi in the cinema, the faint light from the screen illuminated Du Chi’s profile, making his features more three-dimensional. Xiang Mo clearly remembered the height of Du Chi’s nose bridge and the flickering eyes under the dim light.
His eyes were deep and bright, simple lines outlining their arrangement, yet they failed to capture their true essence.
At this moment, the outside world was shrouded in silence, while the bedroom was illuminated by the warm yellow light.
Layer after layer, adjustment after adjustment, the handsome face on the drawing paper became increasingly lifelike. When Xiang Mo suddenly stopped drawing, he realized that his thoughts had been occupied by Du Chi for several hours.
There seemed to be something quietly emerging from his heart, making him feel restless.
It bothered him.
Xiang Mo had never denied that, to some extent, he was similar to his little sister. When someone approached him willingly, he tended to retreat.
So, the next morning, even though he woke up early and the aroma of food wafted in through the crack in the door, making his stomach growl, he stubbornly stayed in bed, not wanting to face the culprit that was causing his agitation.
He didn’t know how much time had passed when he heard a knock on the door. Half-asleep, Xiang Mo glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table and realized it was already 10:30 in the morning.
He put on his slippers and went to the door. It was no surprise to find Du Chi standing outside.
“Is this how you look right after waking up?” Du Chi tilted his head, observing Xiang Mo’s bedhead. Sanmao squatted beside him, copying his posture, and they both looked at Xiang Mo with their heads tilted. It was a strangely synchronized sight.
Xiang Mo absentmindedly ruffled his own hair, his voice husky from just waking up. “What’s up?”
“Your clothes.” Du Chi extended his arm, resting his elbow on a few familiar pieces of clothing.
Still not fully awake, Xiang Mo took a moment to process that they were the clothes they had washed together yesterday.
“Thank you.” He took the clothes back from Du Chi, planning to close the bedroom door. But just then, Sanmao, who was still crouching by Du Chi’s leg, suddenly raised its two front paws, pushing open the half-closed bedroom door and sneaking in.
“Sanmao!” Du Chi immediately raised his chin and scolded from outside the room.
Actually, Xiang Mo didn’t mind Sanmao coming into his room, but when he turned around and saw Sanmao bouncing onto his bed, any trace of sleepiness disappeared instantly. He hurried back to the bed and scolded, “Sanmao!”
Sanmao carefreely bounced from the head to the foot of the bed, leaving several paw prints on the pristine white sheets.
Xiang Mo followed from the head to the foot, but he couldn’t catch Sanmao. It wasn’t until Du Chi entered the room that he managed to shoo the mischievous dog off the bed.
Looking at the mess on the bed, Xiang Mo took a few deep breaths, suppressing the rising anger in his heart. He knew scolding Sanmao wouldn’t help, so he redirected his frustration towards Du Chi. “Like master, like pet.”
“You’re wronging me.” Du Chi clearly didn’t accept the accusation. “I’ve never been on your bed.”
Surprisingly, there was some truth to that statement.
Before Xiang Mo could retort, Du Chi rubbed his chin thoughtfully and said, “But to be precise, this used to be my bed.”
Xiang Mo had a premonition about this, but he didn’t want it confirmed. He didn’t want to argue with Du Chi about whose bed it was, so he simply directed him to leave. “Both of you, get out.”
Sanmao swiftly left Xiang Mo’s room, but when Du Chi turned around, he suddenly stopped and looked at Xiang Mo’s desk. Normally, Xiang Mo didn’t need to pay attention when opening the door, as the desk was against the wall closest to the entrance, making it invisible to someone outside.
However, at this moment, Xiang Mo clearly saw Du Chi exchanging glances with “himself” on the desk.
“Just a random practice.” Xiang Mo quickly took three steps and two steps, reaching the desk to hide the drawing.
Du Chi followed and reached the desk as well, wanting to flip the drawing over. “You drew it so well, why won’t you let me see?”
Xiang Mo certainly wouldn’t let Du Chi see it. He kept pushing Du Chi towards the door, but unexpectedly, Du Chi single-handedly hugged him and used his other hand to flip the drawing back to its original side.
“You drew me in secret.” Du Chi’s tone was full of laughter.
It felt as if he had been caught secretly filming, even though Xiang Mo could swear it was just something he did to pass the time.
“I said it was just practice.” He pushed against Du Chi’s chest but couldn’t move him.
“I’ll take it and frame it.” Du Chi seemed to ignore Xiang Mo’s words.
“Who said I was giving it to you?” Xiang Mo asked with a furrowed brow.
“Then who gave you permission to draw me?”
Xiang Mo: …
Du Chi released Xiang Mo in a good mood and admired the drawing in his hand. “Time to get up, artist. Don’t forget, you have to cook.”
“I won’t cook.” Xiang Mo said irritably. “If you want it, you cook.”
Even Xiang Mo himself wasn’t aware that he was throwing a small tantrum at Du Chi. But Du Chi didn’t mind and put away the portrait, smiling, “Alright.”
Du Chi cooked both lunch and dinner, turning the rule of one person cooking each meal into what it was now.
Xiang Mo didn’t like the ambiguous feeling between them, but he didn’t mind tasting Du Chi’s cooking for every meal.
With Zhao Xiaoqiao’s mother coming back early last night, the dining table was left to Xiang Mo and Du Chi again.
The days without washing dishes ended with Zhao Xiaoqiao’s departure. After dinner, Xiang Mo tidied up the kitchen with the company of Sanmei. He chatted idly with the cat, but after a while, he suddenly noticed that Sanmei’s body shape seemed off.
Most calico cats were slim, and Sanmao was no exception. It usually moved quietly and gracefully, but now, Xiang Mo noticed that Sanmao’s belly was swollen, as if it had a huge lump, giving an ominous feeling.
“You didn’t secretly eat the cat food, did you?”
Xiang Mo held Sanmao in his arms and felt her increased weight. Sanmao was a stray cat he had picked up, and she was his first pet. Lacking experience, he had changed her cat food casually, resulting in her suffering from severe gastroenteritis when she was still a kitten.
Now, as Xiang Mo touched Sanmao’s belly, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong. Just then, footsteps echoed in the corridor as Du Chi returned from walking Sanmao. Xiang Mo hurriedly called him over, “Du Chi, come and take a look.”
“Hmm?”
“Something seems to be wrong with Sanmao.”
Du Chi took Sanmao from Xiang Mo’s arms and pushed aside her fur to take a look. Then, with a slight smile, he said, “She’s pregnant.”
“What?” Xiang Mo was completely stunned. “But she’s only about ten months old.”
They went to a nearby pet hospital, and as Du Chi had said, Sanmao was indeed pregnant and had been carrying six kittens for almost a month.
Looking back, Xiang Mo remembered that Sanmao had occasionally run outside the courtyard. He had no idea which cat had impregnated her.
Leaving the pet hospital, Xiang Mo had a black face and remained silent. On the other hand, Du Chi held Sanmao with a carefree attitude, saying, “Is your husband the strongest tomcat nearby? You became a mother at such a young age. Your mom doesn’t seem too happy about it.”
Realizing that “your mom” was referring to himself, Xiang Mo furrowed his brow. “You’re so annoying.”
“Just be more open-minded,” Du Chi comforted. “Since she’s pregnant, just let her give birth. No need to be angry.”
Xiang Mo couldn’t easily accept it, feeling somewhat like his own daughter had been defiled.
“Like pet, like owner,” Du Chi teased. “Don’t you think you should have a kid too?”
“Shut up,” Xiang Mo was angry.
Du Chi chuckled, then chatted with Sanmao again about her mysterious husband. When the conversation was done, he put away the playful expression, glanced at Xiang Mo, and chatted casually, “I saw many of your works in your room this morning.”
Xiang Mo stared ahead without responding.
Angry with Sanmao in the morning and Sanmao again in the evening, Du Chi wasn’t any better than those two. Xiang Mo just couldn’t be bothered to talk to him.
“Have you considered holding another art exhibition?” Du Chi asked.
“Don’t try to persuade me to hold an art exhibition,” Xiang Mo replied expressionlessly, “My ex-boyfriend did that.”
If it wasn’t for his ex-boyfriend’s help, Xiang Mo wouldn’t have been able to hold a personal art exhibition in a private art gallery. At the time, he had thought that the peak of his life was just ahead, but it was followed by a low point.
“I won’t persuade you,” Du Chi said lazily. “As long as you’re happy.”
As they continued talking, their own small courtyard came into view not far ahead. Xiang Mo saw a familiar figure standing at the entrance of the courtyard, someone he recognized. The person was on the phone while glancing around the inside of the courtyard.
Gradually realizing who it was, Xiang Mo was in disbelief and came to a halt.
At this moment, the man at the entrance of the courtyard also spotted Xiang Mo. He walked over with long strides, wearing his usual confident smile, and said, “Baby, I’m back.”
Xiang Mo pursed his lips and furrowed his brow, not moving a muscle.
“Baby?” Du Chi raised an eyebrow, looking at Xiang Mo, his tone carrying a barely noticeable hint of displeasure. He blurted out, “Who’s your baby?”–
Mini theater
10 a.m., on the third-floor balcony.
Du Chi: Should I go down and find him?
Sanmao: Woof.
Du Chi: Can you cooperate with me later?
Sanmao: Woof woof.
PS: The ex-boyfriend is a wingman.