Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After his question was answered, Eddy said goodbye to Zhang Zian. He came to China for work, so he could not stay too long in Binhai City.
“Mr. Zhang, if you one day visit San Francisco, please come visit our foundation. My colleagues are very eager to meet you and to find out about your stories with Kathy and the magical kittens,” he said.
Zhang Zian nodded. “Okay. If I ever go there, I’ll surely pay a visit.”
He actually meant what he said. Tim and Laurin, the couple from Blue Climax, had invited him to revisit the United States. The dancing Ragdolls that he had trained were so popular that they became a local rarity sold for extremely high prices. The couple was so happy about it that they wished he could spare some time and visit Los Angeles again.
Los Angeles was about 500 kilometers away from San Francisco. It was not a huge distance in the United States, where everybody owned a car. He could get there easily with a rental car.
Last time he visited Los Angeles, it was so cold that he only visited Hollywood. If he could go back, he would love to visit some more places.
Eddy said gladly, “Sure. Our door is always wide open for you. We welcome you at any time.”
As Zhang Zian escorted him to the door, he noticed that the female reporter and the cameraman had already left secretly.
Eddy stopped a taxi. Zhang Zian told the driver that he was heading to the airport, then he watched the taxi drive away.
Snowy had been filming the interaction with Zhang Zian, the female reporter, and Eddy the entire time so she could broadcast the entire event to her audience. Her arms were getting tired.
“Crap! I forgot about Snowball!” She suddenly remembered that Snowball was only half-groomed and was staying in the basin, waiting for her to finish the grooming.
“I’m sorry, Snowball! It’s all my fault!” She held it in her arms with an aching heart. Its upper body still had long hair, but its lower body was bald and super ugly.
The live broadcast audience was still discussing what had just happened.
“I didn’t know the Cheapskate Store Manager was generous sometimes…”
“I don’t want to listen! I don’t believe it! I don’t care! This is not the Cheapskate Store Manager I know!”
“Is this the so-called triple denial?”
“Why are you so stupid? Each dollar that Cheapskate Store Manager donated, he got ten more dollars back from us!”
“That is the truth! I was a fool to be so moved just now…”
Snowy didn’t say anything, yet her heart was moved. She had learned about a different side of Zhang Zian for the first time. In fact, she wanted to buy an Abyssinian cat herself. But she didn’t do it, as Snowball might not like it. She wanted to make her own contribution to cancer research, too, as she had relatives who had died of cancer. When their lives had reached that point, money was no longer useful. It was no longer a problem that money could solve.
She groomed Snowball with small scissors. After some practice, she got better and became less hesitant. She was no longer cutting nervously, and the rest of its body looked better than before.
Zhao Qi and Shi Shi grabbed cat food and dog food, then they walked to the cashier to pay.
Zhao Qi tugged Zhang Zian’s clothes and whispered to him while the other customers didn’t notice. “Give me a discount.”
“Why? This is already how much it costs.” Zhang Zian frowned and pushed her hand away.
“Look, you are getting famous. You may run into legal trouble some day and need our help. Shi Shi graduated from a renowned law school with good grades. She can offer you free legal consultation!” Zhao Qi started pulling strings.
Shi Shi sat on the floor, having a good time with the mini poodle. She was completely unaware that her best friend had already sold her…
“I’ll pass on that. I appreciate your good intentions.” Zhang Zian didn’t bother––there was no free lunch in the world. He waved his hand to refuse. “I can’t trust your proficiency, and I can’t afford to be misguided by you gals. You shall pay the full price, not a cent less!”
“Hey! You will regret it! This is a limited time offer!” Zhao Qi warned him. Although she knew that she was not convincing.
Zhang Zian indicated that she should cut the crap. If she could afford luxury brands of bags and clothes, along with vacations abroad, then why was she being so stingy on cat food? Was it fair to Lan Lan?
As they were arguing back and forth, a shadow flashed across the entrance. A middle-aged woman came in with a girl holding onto her left hand, and a cat carrier clutched in her right hand.
Zhang Zian didn’t pay much attention and thought that she might be there to wash her cat; however, since Zhao Qi was facing the the door, she immediately recognized who it was.
“Hey, Big Sister Wenying! What brought you here?” she asked in surprise.
Zhang Zian turned his head towards them.
It wasn’t a stranger, but Liu Wenying and her daughter, Yue Yue, who had bought a Siamese cat from his shop in the past.
Liu Wenying was one of his earliest customers, whom he had dealt with a few times. He knew that she was a very kind, super gentle, and easy-going lady.
Zhao Qi put the cat food down next the cash register so she could check out later. She came in front of Liu Wenying and greeted her. “Big Sister Wenying, if I knew you’d be here today, I would have come here with you.”
She was Liu Wenying’s neighbor; they lived in the same residential unit. They got to know each other because they were both cat owners, and they got along well. Sometimes, when Liu Wenying had to go out and leave her child at home, she’d keep Yue Yue at her place. Zhao Qi loved Yue Yue; she was a quiet and obedient girl. Each time she traveled abroad, she’d bring back small gifts for the adorable little girl.
Liu Wenying had a very active Siamese cat. Sometimes when she walked the cat downstairs, she’d come across Zhao Qi in the residential area. Yet lately, it seemed that she had not been downstairs walking her cat.
In fact, Zhao Qi didn’t totally mean what she said. Compared to Liu Wenying, who was more than ten years older than her, she preferred hanging out with her best friend, Liu Shi Shi. They enjoyed similar things, and joked around like close friends.
But if Zhao Qi had known in advance that Liu Wenying was coming to the shop that day, shesurely would have invited her to come.
Liu Wenying smiled reluctantly. “In fact, I was heading to the pet clinic in the north. When I passed by here, I heard the noise inside, so I came in for a look. Store Manger Zhang, you can go ahead with your business. You don’t have to stay with me. I’ll be gone in a minute.”
“To the pet clinic?” Zhao Qi was astonished. She looked at Liu Wenying’s cat carrier and asked, “What happened? Is Fluffy sick?”
Liu Wenying had named her Siamese “Fluffy,” as it was easy for her daughter Yue Yue to pronounce it.
Maybe Zhao Qi was standing at the wrong angle, or it was because Fluffy was curled up deep inside the cat carrier, but she could not see what was inside the carrier…
Liu Wenying nodded sorrowfully. “I think it’s sick. But I don’t know what sickness it has…”
Yue Yue suddenly started sobbing and wiping her tears. “I want Fluffy! Fluffy, don’t die…”
