novelraw Chapter 654 - 0378 Miss Zhu’s Revenge (2-in-1)
Chapter 654 - 0378 Miss Zhu’s Revenge (2-in-1)
"Chang’an, I heard you’ve been raising a cat on the mountain?"
"I’ve been raising it for a while, I call it Xiaohua."
"Xiaohua... is it called Xu Xiaohua?"
"Not Xu Xiaohua, who uses their own surname for a pet?"
"Oh, I do think the name Xu Xiaohua is quite nice."
——
Xu Chang’an traversed the Unfastened Boat, lowering his eyes with a serious expression.
Logically speaking, he should be happy to be receiving a windfall, or worried about the rain brought by the system...
Yet, at this moment, Xu Chang’an’s biggest puzzle was the cat.
The conversation about Xiaohua kept replaying in his mind, every subtle expression of Zhu Pingniang back then resurfacing in his thoughts.
Xu Chang’an was almost certain that the mysterious smile of that Senior Zhu had hidden meanings...
Was there a problem with raising a cat?
Is it unsuitable because Xiaohua belongs to the Demon Race?
Nowadays, the enmity between the Human Race and the Demon Race can only be cleansed by blood. It won’t stop until one side is obliterated.
But Xiaohua’s ability to live on Muyu Peak, besides being sheltered by Wen Li, greatly depended on Zhu Pingniang’s attitude... Otherwise, without her word, few of the girls on Muyu Peak would really be okay with having a member of the Demon Race around.
"So why did Senior Zhu...?"
Xu Chang’an quickened his pace.
What on earth did she mean?
What unknown elements lay within that cat?
Xu Chang’an instinctively felt this was something significant, but he also knew that since Zhu Pingniang had skipped over this topic, she clearly didn’t want to elaborate.
"...?"
In the corridor.
A slightly astonished female voice sounded nearby.
"Young Master Xu, are you alright?"
Hearing the words, Xu Chang’an raised his head to see Miss Lu, dressed in splendid attire, looking at him with concern.
"Me? I’m fine."
"Really?"
Miss Lu clearly didn’t believe Xu Chang’an’s words.
She had just prepared the evening’s program and came to report to Zhu Pingniang, only to find Xu Chang’an looking so preoccupied.
This did not seem like nothing.
Miss Lu thought it was likely Ms. Zhu’s mischief again.
Though she’d guessed this much, since the young master said it was nothing, she would not pry.
Oh, Miss Lu didn’t consider herself a servant.
So she put on a bit of a daughter’s slight grievance.
"Young Master, earlier when I’d criticized Ms. Zhu with you, you knew she was eavesdropping close by, right?"
"..." Xu Chang’an nodded helplessly.
"I knew it." Miss Lu sighed.
No wonder Xu Chang’an had signaled her with his eyes at that time, hinting not to continue speaking.
"I’m really foolish, not realizing your good intentions back then, and then... I suffered." Miss Lu’s awkward walk made it obvious she’d been sternly dealt with by Zhu Pingniang from top to bottom.
Other than chuckling now, Xu Chang’an didn’t know what else to say.
Zhu Pingniang did treat her girls well.
But her punishments were real enough.
You didn’t have to look closely to see some bruises on her arm, seeming as if pinched.
How to put it...
Xu Chang’an couldn’t imagine how Senior Zhu, like a little girl, resorted to pinching and hair-pulling, but he often heard it from the Muyu Peak girls.
"Alright, I won’t delay you any longer." Miss Lu gave a small courtesy and prepared to leave.
"Wait."
"Eh?"
Suddenly stopped by Xu Chang’an, Miss Lu was a bit surprised: "Did the young master upset Ms. Zhu?"
She thought Xu Chang’an was asking her to wait before she went to see Zhu Pingniang.
"No..." Xu Chang’an frowned and asked, "Is there any special reason for keeping cats like Li Hua at the Flower Moon Building?"
"Cats?"
Miss Lu was puzzled.
What’s the young master talking about?
But strange as it was, since the young master asked, she thought carefully:
"No special reason, they’re just easy to care for... not needy, not much maintenance, mainly adorable enough and occasionally catch mice."
The girls in the brothel had no special reason for raising cats, just to relieve loneliness.
They really were easy to care for, no other intentions.
After all, the cats were free-range in the Flower Moon Building, didn’t have to be walked daily, and sometimes if they were hungry, they knew how to find food themselves.
"Although these Raccoon Slaves are mostly tough-natured, ultimately they bully the weak and fear the strong, so to the girls, they’re endearingly cute and lovable." Miss Lu blinked and said with a smile, "Don’t you also like cats, young master? You’re supposed to understand why the girls like them."
Every time Xu Chang’an came to the Flower Moon Building, he would stare at those cats for a long time.
The girls at the Flower Moon Building all knew he liked cats.
"True." Xu Chang’an didn’t obtain any valuable answers.
After parting, he returned to Miss Yun’s door.
Despite his many doubts, because it was Zhu Pingniang, even though he was curious, Xu Chang’an felt no anxiety.
Moreover, the cat on the mountain that loved catching fish was so cute.
For now, he suppressed his curiosity.
Looking at the wooden lattice of the room, Xu Chang’an thought: "Perhaps... I’ll ask Senior Wen after returning to the mountain?"
Given that Wen Li was the recognized senior of the new generation on Muyu Peak, she should understand what Senior Zhu’s strange smile concerning the cat meant?
He shook his head.
Cautiously opening the door, Xu Chang’an looked at Miss Yun, who was asleep, peacefully breathing softly, and smiled.