Chapter 56: The Cat Speaks

When discharged from the hospital, Lu Chunqiu and Officer Xiao Xu each supported Mo Fei, one on either side, as though they were attending to the Empress Dowager.

Lu Chunqiu couldn’t help muttering, “The doctor said this time it was lucky it was just hallucinogenic mushrooms. If you’d eaten something truly deadly, you’d be getting ready for a funeral banquet.”

Mo Fei, still a bit dazed, nodded his head, “Banquet? Whose banquet? Can I get it to go?”

Seeing him like this, Lu Chunqiu gave up on lecturing him.

Why bother arguing with a fool?

It made her feel like a fool herself.

Officer Xiao Xu offered his own opinion, “I think he’s lacking some basic life knowledge. Liking food isn’t a problem, but he should know what’s edible and what’s not, right?”

Lu Chunqiu agreed wholeheartedly, nodding, “If only my little Fei were as sensible as you.”

“We could buy him some books on this,” Officer Xiao Xu said, openly finding something to keep Mo Fei occupied. “Reading more is never a bad thing.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Lu Chunqiu said, thoroughly approving of his suggestion.

“We can quiz him occasionally, so he doesn’t act without thinking,” Officer Xiao Xu mused, recalling the frequent exams at his station, and allowed himself a bit of mischief. “Fail the quiz, and we restrict his snacks.”

Lu Chunqiu raised an eyebrow, her expression toward Officer Xiao Xu becoming subtly amused, “You two are friends, aren’t you?”

“If you’re a friend, stab me once,” Mo Fei suddenly piped up from the middle, staring straight ahead, clearly not fully recovered.

“Already stabbed,” Officer Xiao Xu replied, unable to hold back a laugh, turning his head aside.

Lu Chunqiu let out a snort of laughter too.

Though she knew eating poisonous mushrooms must be an unpleasant experience, it was hard not to find the whole affair amusing.

Officer Xiao Xu helped Lu Chunqiu bring Mo Fei back to the old neighborhood, then left.

Lu Chunqiu stayed to look after Mo Fei.

A seam, the black cat, sat upright in the center of the living room, quietly observing their movements like a surveillance camera.

Lu Chunqiu found the kitten intriguing, crouched before it, and tried to pet it.

The black cat didn’t shy away at all, even stepping forward to let her touch it.

Lu Chunqiu laughed, “I really don’t know how someone who can barely take care of himself manages to keep a cat alive.”

The black cat’s face seemed to show agreement.

Lu Chunqiu had never met such a human-like cat before. She chatted with it for a couple of sentences, then felt a bit foolish herself, and returned to the sofa to wait for Mo Fei to recover from his mushroom poisoning.

She pulled out her phone and saw several unread messages.

They were from Ji Xingjian and Xiao Qian.

Xiao Qian’s message was simple, reminding Mo Fei to go try on the costumes when he had time, so they could alter them if needed.

Ji Xingjian’s message was rather puzzling.

He sent Lu Chunqiu a message, asking her to tell Mo Fei to reply to Ji Xingyu.

Lu Chunqiu knew Mo Fei kept his phone on silent, but right now getting him to act normal and reply was a challenge.

She replied briefly to both, explaining about Mo Fei’s food poisoning.

After finishing the messages, her tasks were finally done, and Lu Chunqiu lay back on the sofa, breathing out deeply.

She was tired. Just a quick nap, just a moment...

As her eyelids grew heavier, Lu Chunqiu gradually drifted off.

When she woke again, it was to the sound of something strange.

Opening her eyes, Lu Chunqiu wondered if her sleeping posture was off, or if Mo Fei’s condition had worsened.

Otherwise, why would she see Mo Fei talking to the cat, with such a serious demeanor?

Mo Fei turned at the sound behind him, waving cheerfully, “Sister Lu, you’re awake.”

“I ordered porridge from downstairs. Let’s have a bowl before you go,” he said.

Lu Chunqiu looked at him, her gaze falling to his neck, perplexed, “What’s that?”

“This?” Mo Fei pointed to the black leather studded collar around his neck and answered calmly, “This is rock punk—a style.”

“If you dare tattoo your face, I’ll admit you’re a real punk rocker,” Lu Chunqiu shook her head. “You’re already alternative enough, no need to get more so.”

Seeing Mo Fei’s puzzled look, she explained, “Non-mainstream.”

“With that on, I think even the ‘Gothic Love’ crowd is more mainstream than you.”

Lu Chunqiu didn’t hide her distaste for the shiny circle of studs.

Mo Fei glanced down at the seam, “She says your taste is non-mainstream.”

The black cat tapped his knee with its paw: ‘With Cat Lord’s seal, Cat Lord covers you. Big things, Cat Lord handles. Small things, you deal with yourself.’

Mo Fei looked up, solemnly announcing, “The cat says your taste is no good, hers is better.”

The seam let out an urgent meow.

Lu Chunqiu looked at the cat, her features wrinkling, “No, I won’t let things like that corrupt my eyes or your sense of aesthetics.”

“The cat says you’re all talk,” Mo Fei continued, deadpan, “She doesn’t believe you can pick anything better looking.”

The seam meowed even more urgently.

“You call that good-looking?” Lu Chunqiu shook her head. “You need to read more books.”

Whether it was developing taste or identifying poisonous food, he needed training.

Mo Fei patted the cat’s head and stood, continuing his nonsense, “The cat says I need rest, a few days off.”

Lu Chunqiu gave a cold laugh, “I see, it’s not the cat talking, it’s you, isn’t it?”

“You’re blaming the cat? Shameless.”

‘Exactly, shameless,’ the cat seemed to agree.

Mo Fei remained composed, “The cat said it, not me. Ask her if you don’t believe me.”

Lu Chunqiu glanced at the cat and snorted, “Do you think I ate poisonous mushrooms and can talk to cats like you?”

She checked the time; it was already midday.

Just then, the porridge Mo Fei ordered arrived, and the two called a truce.

Lu Chunqiu sipped her porridge while scrolling on her phone, then pulled up a picture and held it out to Mo Fei, “Isn’t this better looking than your non-mainstream subculture?”

She’d chosen a necklace from a niche, understated luxury brand for men. The black chain had a thumb-sized dzi bead at the front, giving it an exotic flair.

Mo Fei glanced at the price and inhaled sharply, “Suddenly, non-mainstream seems pretty good.”

The collar on his neck was only nine yuan ninety for two, with free shipping. It was a bit itchy, but otherwise fine.

Now Lu Chunqiu was the one dissatisfied, “No way. You’re at the level of ‘the person in question exists.’ It’s time to prepare a set of camera-ready attire.”

“Formal wear, sportswear, casual—maybe not many, but at least a spare set, right?” She counted on her fingers, “Ties, tie clips, watches, those accessories need to be prepared too.”

“You’re not at the point where your face alone holds the scene, so you need something to bolster your presence.”

Lu Chunqiu nodded as she spoke, “Ji is in the fashion business; I’ll ask if he can give us a friendly price.”