Chapter 14
Wen Xin instinctively helped the boy wipe away his tears, but the more he wiped, the more they flowed—falling in streams onto his palms and the backs of his hands, hot and burning.
Throughout this process, the boy’s face remained expressionless. Only his reddened eyes and continuous tears silently conveyed his breakdown.
As his crying intensified, he turned his head away, his shoulders shaking continuously. He still bit his lower lip tightly, unwilling to let out a single sob.
Wen Xin didn’t try to console him further. He gently patted the boy’s thin back and said, “Your clothes are dirty and need to be washed. Is it okay if you wear mine for now?”
“Bu… ugh…” The Canary opened his mouth, but only a sob came out.
He quickly swallowed it back, pressing his heaving chest.
After several attempts, he couldn’t hold back. The Canary gave up resisting and allowed himself to sob. “Yes, thank… thank you.”
Wen Xin said nothing more, just patted his shoulder and turned to leave the bathroom.
When he reached the living room, he discovered that not only was the boy crying inside, but the little fox outside was also whimpering incessantly, purely because it was scared by Ah Lü.
Ah Lü spoke in a sinister tone, “What’s going on? If you don’t tell the truth, I’ll eat you.”
The little fox curled up trembling. “We just wanted to seek refuge with Number One, to escape the base’s pursuit. We really didn’t mean to do anything bad. Number Seven, please believe us.”
Ah Lü impatiently slapped the sofa with his tail. “Who asked you about that? I’m asking what you just did to the human!”
The young man’s voice came from behind. “I didn’t realize before that our Ah Lü was so enthusiastic. Good boy.”
Ah Lü’s ears twitched. Upon hearing the keywords, the tip of his tail couldn’t help but perk up.
Wen Xin couldn’t help but laugh.
He stroked Ah Lü’s head, softening his tone, and said earnestly, “No, I misspoke. Our Ah Lü has always been good, obedient, cute, and not picky with food. You’re the little kitty I trust the most in the whole house.”
Although Ah Lü didn’t know why Wen Xin was suddenly praising him, he still enjoyed the compliments, raising his head proudly.
Wen Xin praised him several more times, then got straight to the point.
“…So, since our guests have just arrived and might not be used to things, I’d like to ask you to help take care of them. Is that okay, good Ah Lü?”
Wen Xin gave Ah Lü another kiss on his little head, making him so happy that he seemed to lose sense of time and place.
“Meow—”
No problem, it’s a small matter. Leave it to me; don’t worry—
After giving his instructions, Wen Xin went to his bedroom to find a clean set of old clothes, and then headed to the bathroom.
Ah Lü shook his head happily in place for a moment, then quickly returned to a sullen expression, looking at the little fox.
Wen Xin had suddenly put on such an act to coax the furball, and the little fox was left dumbfounded listening on the side.
Hearing Ah Lü agree to the human’s request, the little fox hadn’t yet breathed a sigh of relief before seeing the Venomous Viper change his expression again, looking as if he was going to continue eating the fox.
The little fox quickly curled up into a ball again, its voice trembling. “Didn’t you agree to take good care of us?”
The Venomous Viper was bold but not foolish.
The young man’s intention for them to resolve their conflict was so obvious that even if he hadn’t understood it before, he realized it now.
He grumbled, indicating he wasn’t falling for it. “You’re both still alive and well—isn’t that taking care of you? Hurry up and speak; don’t try to change the subject.”
Seeing Number Seven’s aggressive demeanor, would they still have their lives after speaking? The little fox was teary-eyed.
Who knew that Wen Xin, as if he had foreseen this, would return again.
“Ah Lü.”
He looked at the snarling Ah Lü and said softly, “…You’ve already agreed with me, so you won’t bully our two guests, right?”
Ah Lü’s mouth twitched, refusing to answer.
Wen Xin immediately looked dejected. “Ah Lü?”
Ah Lü could endure anything but couldn’t stand him looking so troubled. He paced back and forth anxiously on the sofa, finally letting out a loud meow.
“Meow!”
Fine, I agree!
Wen Xin’s eyes curved into a smile. “Thank you, Ah Lü.”
This time, he really went to the bathroom.
The little fox left behind felt the oppressive aura dissipate and knew that he was safe for now.
He looked at the young man’s departing figure and then cautiously glanced at Ah Lü beside him.
Not wanting to break his agreement with Wen Xin, Ah Lü had to give up interrogating the little fox. He picked it up with his tail and tossed it into the pile of cushions, out of sight, out of mind.
Returning to the bathroom, Wen Xin taught the boy how to use the water heater. After adjusting the water temperature, he placed the clean clothes on the rack. “When you’re done bathing, I’d like to talk with you.”
The Canary’s hand tightened slightly on his collar, but he replied calmly, “Okay, sir.”
The bath took an especially long time.
Since the Canary hadn’t come out, Wen Xin was washing vegetables in the kitchen. Ah Lü was lying on the counter beside him, staring at his slender fingers.
From the young man turning on the water to breaking off the leaves to soak them, then going to the fridge to get something, Ah Lü’s gaze never wavered, his eyes following him back and forth, as if watching something amusing, thoroughly enjoying himself.
Xiao Hei was sleeping on the cabinet, and Ah Lü was next to Wen Xin. After being ignored for a long time, the little fox finally dared to poke his head out of the pile of cushions.
He carefully stepped onto the floor, sneaking toward the bathroom where the Canary was, inadvertently glancing at the kitchen, and his steps paused.
The young man noticed Ah Lü’s gaze and looked down at him.
Seeing his unblinking, focused expression, Wen Xin felt a softness in his heart. He cut off a piece of blanched meat, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to Ah Lü’s mouth.
Ah Lü happily swallowed it in one bite, opening his mouth for another piece. The young man smiled and obliged, his brows and eyes gentle, like an immortal from a painting.
Even now, the little fox was still very puzzled.
He couldn’t understand why Number One and Number Seven would be close to a human and even disguise themselves as unthreatening cats.
For mutants, being mighty and imposing was the way to survive, to deter those with ill intentions. The little fox had even been sad at times for not looking fierce enough.
But at this moment, the interaction between the man and the cat was very harmonious.
So harmonious that it seemed no one needed to threaten or fear the other, nor did anyone need to flatter anyone, and they could continue peacefully like this.
The little fox sat there in a daze until Wen Xin came out and noticed him.
“Why are you sitting here?”
Wen Xin picked him up.
The little fox’s body was very soft, his fur sleek and smooth, like holding a warm stream of water.
Having gotten used to petting cats these past few days, Wen Xin scratched the little fox’s chin.
At first, the little fox was stunned for a couple of scratches, but after a few more, he couldn’t help but let out a soft whimper. His black eyes moistened, meeting Wen Xin’s gentle gaze.
In that instant, his previously puzzled and confused heart seemed to gain some clarity.
Humans… so they don’t only bring pain.
Wen Xin glanced at the time. It had been almost an hour since the Canary entered the bathroom, but he still hadn’t come out.
He more or less knew why the boy was stalling. Instead of starting to cook, he went to the bathroom and knocked on the door. “Are you done? I need to come in and get something.”
A light sound came from the bathroom, like a basin falling to the ground, followed by the rustling sounds of someone hastily covering up.
After a long time, the boy’s calm voice came through. “I’m done.”
The door opened, and the boy who had finished bathing was already fully dressed.
Wen Xin’s clothes were still a bit big for him, loose and baggy. He had to hold up the sleeves on both sides to prevent them from sliding down.
Wen Xin helped him roll up his sleeves and casually said, “We still need to buy a couple of outfits that fit you.”
The boy was stunned for a moment, thinking that the other was probably just speaking casually. They were strangers; why would a human buy clothes for him?
Moreover, his current situation was like being pushed onto the guillotine. Could he expect that what awaited him was not a blood-stained blade but a sumptuous meal?
With anxious thoughts, the Canary and the little fox were led by Wen Xin into the guest room.
Ah Lü followed behind, feeling a bit jealous of Wen Xin’s petting of the little fox. Knowing that Xiao Hei wasn’t asleep, he slapped his tail onto the cabinet. “The human wants to keep those two, and you can tolerate it?”
Xiao Hei lifted his eyelids and silently gazed at him.
That gaze carried a hint of speechlessness as if saying: If I couldn’t tolerate it, why do you think you’re allowed to stay here?
Ah Lü coughed twice abruptly. “I’m different! I’m so obedient; the human even praised me!”
By the end, he believed it himself, proudly raising his tail, as if he were the coolest and most reliable one in the house.
Xiao Hei’s mouth twitched.
This was why he could tolerate the Venomous Viper; he always felt that arguing with him would lower his own intelligence.
Finally, Xiao Hei looked toward the bedroom.
Wen Xin had brought back other mutants; to say he wasn’t jealous at all was impossible.
The Tyrannosaurus was by no means pure-hearted. Both possessiveness and a violent nature were deeply etched into his genes.
He was restraining himself now because the Canary was harmless, the little fox was useful, and there was an even more important reason.
“Xiao Hei, you know, living alone in a big house makes one afraid to go home.”
The words the young man had said seemed to echo in his ears. Xiao Hei said in a deep voice, “Wen Xin likes having people around.”
“You can come; they can too. If later on, other mutants catch Wen Xin’s eye and he brings them back, I won’t stop it.”
Ah Lü was dumbfounded.
“Damn, that’s generous.”
Did he mishear? Was this still the Number One he knew?
Is this some other mutant pretending to be Number One??
Immediately after, he saw Xiao Hei narrow his eyes, his gaze deep as the sea. “But no one can disrupt his happiness. No one can overstep and do things they shouldn’t.”
“You can’t; they can’t. No matter who it is, they must follow the rules here. Otherwise…”
Xiao Hei didn’t finish the sentence, but the bloody undertone in his words lingered, causing Ah Lü to shudder in fear.
Entering the guest room, Wen Xin closed the door.
He chose to change location and not talk in the living room because the boy was very afraid.
Even though he was trying hard to appear calm and composed, his cool and indifferent face was quite convincing, but his unconsciously clenched fists still revealed his fear.
Wen Xin said, “I just have a few questions. No need to be nervous.”
The Canary held the little fox in his arms, feeling as if the guillotine hanging over his head was finally about to fall. He said despondently, “Go ahead.”
“First question: Will you harm Xiao Hei and Ah Lü?”
A deathly silence.
The Canary and the little fox both looked up, staring incredulously at Wen Xin.
Although Wen Xin had closed the door, for mutants, the soundproofing was almost negligible. The two furballs could still hear their conversation.
Ah Lü snorted and laughed directly at Xiao Hei. “What is this? The two of them together couldn’t even bite through half of your scale!”
It was like asking if ants could harm a lion—utterly absurd and ridiculous.
As if knowing what the Canary and the others were thinking, Wen Xin shook his head. “I’m not joking; I’m very serious.”
“Xiao Hei and Ah Lü are different to me. I care about them a lot and cherish them. If anyone tries to harm them, even just the thought, I won’t allow it.”
“Everything else doesn’t matter, but this point is crucial to me. I hope you can answer honestly.”
Outside, Xiao Hei, who had been a bit puzzled, paused, and his expression softened.
Ah Lü, after being stunned for a long time, awkwardly grunted, “Silly human, worrying for nothing…”
What’s even sillier is that they fall for this kind of concern.
