Chapter 122: The Father Who Exploited His Child Star 15

After warming up by the fire, Xie Chu was about to stand up when he first noticed the Little Orange Cat squatting by his feet.

The small orange cat’s fur was quite beautiful, but it was a bit dirty. It seemed to feel cold sitting on the ground, so it ran over and sat on Xie Chu’s shoe, its small tail gently wagging as it moved closer to the small sun to warm its paws.

Xie Chu felt the weight on his shoe and dared not move, even holding his breath instinctively.

When Xie Hui had finished tidying up the yard and kitchen and was about to clean the living room, he saw his son sitting stiffly on a small stool. He walked over to take a look.

“Dad, look.”

Xie Chu pointed to the small cat sitting on his shoe, his eyes full of wonder and excitement.

Xie Hui followed his gaze. The small cat seemed to sense someone looking at it, twisted its head, looked up, and let out a soft meow at Xie Hui.

“Meow~”

“Wow, it can even meow, just like in the cartoons.”

Xie Chu smiled after hearing the little cat meow, then squatted down and gently stroked the cat’s head with his fingertips.

In Xie Hui’s memory, most cats were afraid of the cold. Every year, many cats would get themselves scorched. He remembered that when he was on a mission in a Village, cats would even run into the earthen stove to sleep.

“Hmm, it’s quite cute.”

Xie Hui praised it casually and continued tidying up. It was getting late, and if things weren’t tidied up, it would be difficult to settle in.

Fortunately, Xie Hui had prepared double sets of bedding. He replaced the unused ones, threw them into the washing machine, and mopped the floor several times.

After working for so long, Xie Hui felt a bit tired. Seeing his son still sitting on the small stool, using his feet as a cushion for the Little Orange Cat’s bottom, he asked:

“Chu Chu, how about we eat out today?”

The kitchen had only been simply tidied up, and after such a long time away, some seasonings were unusable. Xie Hui hadn’t had time to buy new ones.

The rice had also gotten worms and had been given by Xie Hui to the landlord who raised chickens.

“Dad, what about this little cat?”

Xie Chu tugged at his dad’s sleeve and shook it, pointing with his other finger at the Little Orange Cat, which was already comfortably purring there.

Xie Hui could tell that this little guy wanted to keep it, but he didn’t actively ask him, probably afraid of being rejected.

The weather outside was getting colder and colder, and cats were naturally afraid of the cold, not to mention this little cat looked very young.

After much thought, Xie Hui squatted down, held his son’s hand in his palm, and asked seriously:

“Chu Chu, do you want to keep it?”

Xie Chu stared at the little cat, deliberating for about half a minute, then nodded vigorously.

“Yes…”

After confirming they were eating out, Xie Hui was no longer in a hurry. After getting a definite answer from his son, he continued to ask:

“Chu Chu, don’t rush to answer. Think carefully first, are you sure you want to keep it?”

“Perhaps this little cat will be disobedient and scratch people with its claws, and it might excrete everywhere, making things smelly. It might also scratch and ruin things Chu Chu likes.”

Most children like small animals, and they keep them out of temporary novelty and attraction to their cuteness. But if they are not prepared to accept its less cute side, the result will often be another stray cat on the street.

Xie Hui didn’t object to Xie Chu wanting to keep a small animal, but he hoped he would be prepared in advance.

“If Chu Chu doesn’t want to keep it, Dad can help you find an adoptive family for this Little Kitten.”

The weather outside was so cold. Since this little cat ran into their house, it could be considered a unique kind of fate. Xie Hui couldn’t just ignore it, knowing that if he drove it out, it might freeze to death.

Xie Chu gently stroked the little cat’s head. The soft, fluffy fur rubbing against his palm gave him a tingling sensation that made Xie Chu inexplicably reluctant to let go.

“Dad, I, I still want to keep it…”

“If you decide to keep it, then no matter what, you can’t abandon it.”

Under his dad’s gaze, Xie Chu nodded vigorously.

“Okay!”

Xie Hui found a box from a previous delivery in the corner and gently put the little cat inside.

Originally, they were just going out to eat, but now there was an extra task. Since they had decided to keep this little cat, they naturally had to take it to the Pet Hospital for a check-up before bringing it back home.

“Let’s go, let’s take it for a check-up.”

“Dad, put on a coat.”

Xie Chu ran back to the bedroom himself, helped his dad get out a thick coat, and also found his own gloves and scarf. After bundling himself up tightly, he left the house with his dad.

The Pet Hospital was still open. After dropping off the Little Kitten, the doctor performed a routine check-up.

While waiting for the results, Xie Hui and Xie Chu went to a restaurant outside for dinner. After eating, they returned, and the test results were out.

After reading them, the pet doctor frowned, put the test sheet aside, looked at Xie Hui and Xie Chu standing there, and said:

“This cat’s condition is not good. Do you want to treat it?”

Having worked here for a long time, pet doctors had seen a lot. This kind of cat, which was clearly picked up, and had this kind of illness, would cost a lot to treat. Most owners would eventually choose to abandon them.

“Yes.”

The unexpected answer made the doctor look up at Xie Hui.

“If you’re sure you want to treat it… we had a similar case here before, the condition was still good, and it ended up costing about seven thousand yuan.”

“Okay, treat it.”

Xie Hui had told his son earlier that no matter what happened, he should never abandon a pet. Now that it was his turn, it was no exception.

“Alright, then go over there to fill out the form and pay the fee.”

After the father and son left, the doctor stood up and looked at the Little Orange Cat in the cage.

This little chubby orange cat was truly lucky. Usually, even if people were soft-hearted enough to pick up a small animal, once they heard the cost of treatment, they would choose to go out and pick up another one instead.

The money for the treatment would be enough to buy a beautiful purebred cat.

With the cat left at the Pet Hospital, on the way back, Xie Chu was led by his dad, and the streetlights cast their long shadows.

When they were almost home, Xie Chu turned his head to look at his dad and couldn’t help but ask:

“Dad, aren’t you going to scold me?”

Back then, Xie Chu was willing to go to a strange city with Gu Jingtong for three thousand yuan. Now, thinking about how much money it would cost for such a small cat, Xie Chu wasn’t exactly unwilling, but he felt a little pained.

“Hmm? Scold you for what?”

“Keeping a cat costs so much money…”

At this moment, Xie Chu felt he was being willful. He and his dad would have to sell a lot of Fried Skewers to earn back the money for keeping the cat.

“Dad said you could keep it, and it doesn’t matter how much it costs. Why would I scold you? Didn’t Dad agree first?”

Because Xie Hui wasn’t truly like the Entruster, someone who had lived through hardship, their approaches to things were often different.

Xie Hui could endure hardship, but he wasn’t stingy when it came to spending money where it was needed.

Xie Hui wasn’t too concerned about the money spent to treat that Little Orange Cat, especially when compared to the possibility of losing his son’s trust if he hadn’t spent that money.

Despite saying that, Xie Chu still hugged his dad’s arm, rubbing and snuggling against Xie Hui.

“Hehe, Dad, you’re so good.”

…

The next day, Xie Hui took his child to the mall to prepare for the New Year.

He didn’t plan to spend the New Year with his son in a small rented room; many things in the rented room belonged to the landlord and couldn’t be moved, and there was a ban on setting off fireworks there.

It would be better to prepare more New Year goods and take his son back to the countryside.

After asking Xie Chu’s opinion, Xie Chu also nodded in strong agreement, and when buying New Year goods, he had his dad buy him a lot of candy along the way.

In addition, Xie Hui also prepared a separate gift. When he was working with Old Li before, he had heard Old Li say that those who worked in construction only returned home two days before the New Year.

Xie Hui planned to give this specially prepared gift to Old Li. At that time, with a child in tow, Old Li allowing him to work on his construction site was considered special care for Xie Hui.

Although Xie Hui didn’t agree later, Xie Hui kept in mind Old Li’s offer to have his wife help look after his child.

When he gave the gift to Old Li, Old Li was very polite and even kept the father and son for a meal.

At the dinner table, when Old Li’s wife heard that Xie Chu was now acting in TV dramas, she chuckled and teased that they must watch it many times once it aired.

The shopping was almost done, and coincidentally, the little cat had also recovered. After buying some necessities for the cat, they took a taxi back to the village.

Xie Chu was very young when he left here, and his memories had gradually blurred. Along the way, he listened to his dad talk about these things, gradually regaining a sense of familiarity.

Pushing open the door, many things inside the house were covered in dust. Xie Hui told his son to play with the cat in the yard, while he rolled up his sleeves and started cleaning.

Xie Hui himself didn’t attach much importance to returning home for the New Year and ancestral worship. But he was currently on a mission, and the Entruster cared deeply about these things, so Xie Hui followed the Entruster’s habits and personality.

It was cold at this time, and there wasn’t much work in the fields. Most families in the Village stayed at home. When they saw Xie Hui and his son return, a few village elders came to visit shortly after.

“Xie Hui, where have you been making your fortune this year?”

Hearing the familiar male voice, Xie Hui came out with a rag in his hand. This was Old Xie, who had originally suggested taking the Entruster out. Xie Hui poured him a cup of tea in a freshly washed cup.

“Just doing some random things.”

Old Xie sat down on a stool and glanced at Xie Chu in the yard. He was sitting on a small stool, with a chubby little orange cat lying on his lap, basking in the sun.

“Xie Chu, this child seems to have grown a lot.”

Hearing his name called, Xie Chu turned his head to look.

“Hello, Uncle Xie.”