Chapter Four

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“Lu Yichuan, it’s harder to see you than to see the emperor.”

Gao Zhilian placed the plate in front of Lu Yichuan and plopped down opposite him. She glanced at his plate and said, “You wouldn’t be eating that egg fried rice from the window at the back, would you? Of course it’s you—right away you pick the worst place in this row.”

The man paused briefly, chopsticks in hand, his tone resigned. “I was late to the meeting and just ordered something quickly. What do you want?”

Gao Zhilian suddenly remembered why she came. “What have you been busy with lately? You don’t reply to messages, and no one’s seen you.”

Lu Yichuan lowered his eyes, picking out each scallion from his plate one by one without looking up. “Group meetings, advising theses, and a part-time job. When I get busy, I forget to reply.”

Gao Zhilian took a sip of her soy milk, raising an eyebrow in surprise. “You? A part-time job?”

His fingers moved steadily under the cafeteria light—long, fair, with distinct knuckles and faint blue veins visible on the back of his hand.

“There’s a café by the river just off campus. If you have time, you’re welcome to stop by. I’ll give you a discount.”

“Forget it…” Gao Zhilian said, “I’m just a simple person; I can’t handle coffee, that bitter and astringent stuff.”

“Are you short on money recently? Why else would you take a part-time job?”

“Not that tight yet,” Lu Yichuan smiled kindly. “Anyway, I’m idle, so I find something to do to change the mood.”

Gao Zhilian slowly gave him a thumbs-up. “That’s just like you. By the way, where’s Zhao Shuo? Not with you today?”

Lu Yichuan glanced toward the door. “He got held back by the advisor with questions, but by now, he should be coming.”

At that moment, Zhao Shuo appeared at the staircase entrance.

Wearing a grimace, he sat beside Lu Yichuan. “Last life I was a murderer, this life I’m studying philosophy. I must have had my head hit to pick this major.”

After a while, he regained some composure and looked at Lu Yichuan. “Lu Ge is still Lu Ge. He switched majors just to get into this hellish program and made me look bad.”

Gao Zhilian interrupted, “That just means Lu Ge truly loves this major. How could he be like you guys who only want a diploma?”

Zhao Shuo pleaded, “Junior, I’m being good now, please don’t scold.”

In just a few sentences, Lu Yichuan had picked out a small handful of scallions.

Gao Zhilian and Zhao Shuo’s voices echoed around him, but he wasn’t sure if he really heard them, just quietly picking scallions with his eyes downcast.

Gao Zhilian exclaimed, “Senior, don’t you eat scallions?”

Before Lu Yichuan could answer, Zhao Shuo replied, “He doesn’t dislike scallions. He always does this—picks them out first, then eats everything else. Maybe he just can’t stand seeing that green stuff mixed in his food.”

Lu Yichuan scooped a heap of scallions into his mouth. Faced with Zhao Shuo’s explanation, he didn’t get annoyed. “It’s a habit. By the way, junior, you haven’t told me why you came?”

“Oh...” Gao Zhilian said, “The student council recently organized a fundraiser for the orphanage. We used the money to buy clothes, toys, and some food. You donated the most, so the council asked me to check if you want to join us to deliver the items?”

Lu Yichuan took a bite of the egg fried rice. The flavor was, as Gao Zhilian said, hard to describe, but he swallowed it without expression.

Rice grains, ham, egg, and a faint scent of scallions.

“When?”

“This weekend.”

“Ah...” The corner of the man’s mouth twitched, his tone gentle. “Sorry, I’m working part-time this weekend. I’m afraid I can’t go.”

Gao Zhilian had somewhat expected this.

Although Lu Yichuan had a good heart, he rarely participated in such events. Rather than being seen, he preferred to contribute quietly behind the scenes.

“Go,” she urged, “Don’t you want to see how your donation is being used?”

Honestly, Lu Yichuan wasn’t interested.

Those children in the orphanage, alive or dead, had nothing to do with him.

The fried rice on the plate was tough and dry, and eating it made him unaccountably irritated.

Gao Zhilian continued to persuade him, “The orphanage director said she must thank you in person after learning you donated almost half the money. Without you, the kids wouldn’t even have summer clothes…”

With a ‘clang,’ the spoon hit the plate with a crisp sound.

Gao Zhilian paused, startled by the noise. Looking at Lu Yichuan’s usual calm face, a strange feeling crept into her heart, and she didn’t dare say more.

Lu Yichuan picked up his backpack, smiled slightly, and said, “Got it. I’ll ask my boss if I can take the weekend off. I have a seminar this afternoon, so I’ll head back first.”

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He carried his plate to the dish return area. Too much time had passed; the egg fried rice glistened oily, and he had barely eaten a few bites.

Only the scallions he’d picked out had been eaten clean.

Lu Yichuan released the plate and watched the leftover rice slowly fall into the waste bucket, his face expressionless.

—

“Our slogan is—”

“There’s no snack a cat can’t get, only cats who don’t try hard!”

“Our goal is—”

“Kick bratty kids, punch bullies, become the supreme cat!”

Jiang Heng wagged his tail, looking at the white cat sitting upright beside him, who nodded approvingly. He lifted a paw to pat White Cat’s shoulder. “Good. The boss is very pleased with you.”

Meanwhile, the orange tabby sat behind White Cat, diligently licking its fur.

For some reason, Jiang Heng disliked the grooming cats enjoyed. He hated being groomed and never groomed himself. Not only was he dirty, but his fur was messy—every day looking like a little bristling hedgehog.

But he was oblivious, silently amused as he watched the obedient white cat lying beside the orange tabby.

If it licked him, it wouldn’t lick me anymore.

White Cat was young, only about four or five months old. To the aging orange tabby, they were all just kittens.

Soon, the once somewhat dirty White Cat was groomed spotless and stood in sharp contrast to Jiang Heng.

Their hunting party had grown from one to two. Seeing the clean white cat beside him, Jiang Heng was filled with fighting spirit.

“Today, we’re going back to the street we went to yesterday. You’re in charge of cute acts, and I’ll play the pitiful role. First, eat your fill; if possible, bring some home. Big Yellow is counting on us.”

White Cat tried to remember the plan and asked, “Are we going to that woman from yesterday?”

Jiang Heng hesitated, recalling the woman’s words and the damaged hand.

“No... let’s try somewhere else. Her egg fried rice wasn’t good.”

White Cat thought it tasted fine but didn’t dare say so, following the little cat ahead.

Yesterday was sunny all day; today, the sky was overcast again, and the wind carried the chill of early spring. Passersby wrapped themselves in thick clothing.

After nearly an hour, they reached the asphalt road outside.

This time, they changed direction and soon came upon a large lumber factory. Next to it was a cafeteria, where employees lined up carrying trays for breakfast.

Jiang Heng’s eyes lit up immediately.

He told White Cat, “See that girl? You go over and be cute. Pick a kind-looking girl, and if anything feels off, run away quickly.”

There were too many people inside; White Cat was a bit scared. “Aren’t you going?”

Jiang Heng wanted to, but he was too ugly and dirty.

People could tolerate a clean little cat nearby, but a filthy, ugly cat would test their kindness and patience.

“I can’t go yet. You scout ahead. If the timing’s right, I’ll come.”

“Don’t be afraid…” Jiang Heng comforted him, “You’re clean and pretty now; they won’t hurt you.”

He crouched outside and picked a target for White Cat. “That girl, sitting by the door, with a cat pendant on her bag. She must like cats. Go and act spoiled at her feet.”

White Cat was a house cat, and acting spoiled was second nature. Just as it walked over and meowed sweetly, the girl immediately melted.

She picked up the clean little cat, happily stroking it. “Where did you come from? So cute.”

She smelled faintly of sawdust. White Cat didn’t resist, purring softly while staring at the girl’s breakfast and softly meowing.

“Meow…”

“Are you hungry?” The girl looked over and rinsed a chili sausage in water. “I didn’t bring cat food today; just eat this for now.”

Jiang Heng watched, thinking it was his turn.

He sat at the girl’s feet. Knowing he was dirty, he didn’t go close but looked up at her, imitating White Cat’s gentle meow.

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“Meow…”

The girl looked down, surprised to see a dirty, skinny little cat sitting by her feet.

White Cat jumped down from her arms and offered the sausage to Jiang Heng.

“So you two are together?”

The girl petted White Cat and hesitated over Jiang Heng’s head before retracting her hand.

“Wait here. I’ll go buy you two some more sausages.”

Hooray!

Jiang Heng cheered inwardly.

Today was another day of encountering kind people.

The rinsed sausage rolled on the ground twice, picking up a layer of dust and small black stones. White Cat buried its head at the other end, eating happily.

Jiang Heng stared at the dust, and a spasm of pain wracked his abdomen.

He struggled for breath.

White Cat looked up at him. “Boss, aren’t you eating?”

Jiang Heng bit the sausage. “I’m eating! Sausages are way better than trash from the dump.”

He chuckled, unsure if he was comforting himself or White Cat.

“If we get sausages today, tomorrow we can get canned food!”

Among cats, canned food was the highest luxury.

A TV was mounted on the cafeteria wall, showing the morning news.

“Good morning, viewers. Today is March 8, 2024. Happy International Women’s Day to all women across the country…”

Jiang Heng paused mid-chew, doubting his ears. He looked up at the TV above.

Cats have excellent eyesight, so he clearly saw the date at the bottom left corner of the screen.

March 8, 2024.

How could it be 2024…

He froze.

He died in 2020. How did he open his eyes to find it was 2024?

Staff passed by, speaking in a dialect he didn’t understand.

Time rushed like a torrent, suffocating him, and panic rose deep within.

If the time is different, where exactly am I?

Am I…

still in my original world?

Seeing him still motionless, White Cat asked worriedly, “Boss?”

Jiang Heng swallowed. “I…”

Before he could finish, he was suddenly flung out, crashing with a thud onto the cement outside the cafeteria.

His head spun, and when he opened his eyes again, a man was pulling back his foot in front of him.

“Where did this beast come from? So filthy.”