Chapter Sixty-Four: Perhaps in the Next Life

“Seriously, why did he suddenly show up? Get this cat out of here, don’t let the boss get annoyed.”

One of the lackeys whispered, and then they began to dismantle the chain that hung me from the steel pipe.

I looked up and saw the man who had just entered—leather jacket, fitted pants, tousled red hair, radiating an air of reckless insolence. He looked every bit the street boss, a careless smile hanging on his lips.

Isn’t that Han Mingxuan?!

I stared wide-eyed as he was welcomed in, talking and laughing, his tall and broad frame even more imposing than the boss’s.

Meanwhile, the underlings hurried to drag me away, clearly not wanting Han Mingxuan to notice me!

I immediately began to struggle, rattling the chain so that the iron ring on my collar clanged noisily.

But as I tried desperately to attract Han Mingxuan’s attention, he simply plopped himself down on the sofa, far away from me, chatting with the boss!

The boss beamed, waving a hand to signal his men to take us away entirely.

Xiaoyun began to struggle as well, meowing frantically. Only then did Han Mingxuan turn around, as if he had never seen a cat before.

“What’s that?” Han Mingxuan pointed at Xiaoyun on the rack, sounding as clueless as a child.

“A cat!” the boss answered awkwardly.

“Why is the cat hanging on a rack?” Han Mingxuan pressed, full of curiosity.

“Well… well, a friend just gave it to me. I’m, uh, afraid it’ll run off,” the boss scratched his head, struggling for words.

“Oh, I see.” Han Mingxuan stood up, but didn’t pursue the matter of the cat further. Instead, he switched topics: “I heard the bar’s been under some kind of safety inspection lately?”

“That’s right, that’s right,” the boss quickly nodded and followed behind, “The Fire Safety Bureau came to check up on us. They insisted our fire equipment wasn’t up to code and demanded we close down to renovate! But you know how much a day’s revenue in a place this popular is worth! If we close, we’ll lose a fortune! So I…”

Han Mingxuan listened to the boss’s endless complaints, finally growing impatient and rubbing his forehead: “Get to the point.”

The boss was stunned for a moment, then forced a smile: “I’ve already paid to cover it up. As for renovations, I’ll find someone to handle it in the next couple of days. No need for you to worry, boss!”

“That’s good.” In a flash, Han Mingxuan had strolled over to Xiaoyun. He reached out a finger and tickled her chin.

Because they’d met before, Xiaoyun didn’t seem afraid; in fact, she stretched her neck, enjoying the scratch as if she’d been waiting for it.

“Well, well, this little cat seems to like me.” Han Mingxuan smiled, turning to the boss. “Right?”

“Right, right,” the boss wiped sweat from his brow, “She’s a bit fierce, though. Don’t let her bite you.”

“Oh really?” Han Mingxuan eyed Xiaoyun with interest.

At that moment, Xiaoyun acted more like a little dog than a cat, rubbing herself shamelessly against his hand.

“She seems fine to me. How many did your friend give you?”

“Just this one!” The boss practically saluted, eager to appease Han Mingxuan.

Han Mingxuan’s intentions were obvious—he wanted the cat, and as the boss, his word was law. None of the subordinates dared protest, even if they were reluctant.

“But, this was a friend’s—”

The boss tried to explain, but Han Mingxuan shot him a glance.

That look was icy, colder than anything I’d seen before, like a wolf gazing down at its prey from a mountaintop.

“No problem, boss! If you want it, it’s yours! It’s just a cat!”

The boss caved immediately, scratching his head in resignation.

The other underlings wasted no time, unchaining Xiaoyun and placing her in Han Mingxuan’s arms.

Xiaoyun was overjoyed, wagging her tail almost like a dog and leaping at him.

“A good cat, indeed.” Han Mingxuan laughed, clearly pleased.

At that moment, a chill ran through me—was the end of the world coming?

The boss had said his friend gave him only one cat, and now I was hidden away, wrapped tightly with no way to make a sound.

What should I do?!

The boss probably agreed to Han Mingxuan’s request because he had two cats—me, who’d never been seen, and Xiaoyun, who would be sacrificed to avoid angering the boss.

If it were me, I’d probably do the same—sacrifice a pawn to save the king.

The thought made my heart race with anxiety. Though my mouth was covered and I couldn’t make a sound, I whimpered desperately.

“Hey? What’s that noise?”

Han Mingxuan looked over, feigning surprise as he let Xiaoyun down.

Xiaoyun, looking a bit startled but not stupid, immediately understood and dashed toward me.

She leapt at the men holding me, sending them scrambling as her claws flew.

Perhaps because Han Mingxuan was present, the lackeys dared not go overboard. One loosened his grip, and I sprang free!

“Well, well, Xiao Wang, who knew you liked playing with women and with cats too,” Han Mingxuan teased, casting a glance at me as if I were his savior.

But why did those lackeys simply drag me back to my original spot without Han Mingxuan stopping them?

“No, no, nothing like that!” the boss sputtered, then barked at his men, “Hurry up and bring the cat to the boss!”

The men finally caught on and brought me to Han Mingxuan.

To my surprise, Han Mingxuan pushed me aside. “How did you end up with such an ugly cat, Xiao Wang? You have a thing for bald tails?”

“Ah—” the boss was utterly speechless. “So, boss, you mean…?”

“Hah, that’s up to you. Didn’t your friend only give you one cat? I wouldn’t dare take more.”

“No, no, boss, don’t say that! This is just a stray I picked up, worthless, just something to amuse the ladies. If you want her, she’s yours!”

“Tsk, tsk.” Han Mingxuan finally smiled. “Except for that bald tail, she’s not bad at all.”

“Of course, of course, your taste is impeccable!” the boss nodded and bowed, beads of sweat on his brow.

Once Han Mingxuan scooped me up, holding me in his arms, my heart settled somewhat, though I still felt mortified—he was obviously mocking my tail.

Afterward, Han Mingxuan and the boss chatted about the bar, not mentioning the cats again.

It was only then I realized that most of the bars and shops in the area belonged to Han Mingxuan. These nightclubs were lucrative, and as the boss, Han Mingxuan simply lived at his leisure, leaving everything to his subordinates.

The boss, sweating profusely, watched helplessly as Han Mingxuan walked off with the two cats he’d worked so hard to capture, unable to protest. He still wore the ingratiating smile of a man seeing off the God of Wealth.

Holding me and Xiaoyun, Han Mingxuan paused at the door to toss one last barb over his shoulder.

“Picking up a stray cat to amuse a woman, and you like bald tails? The woman’s taste is questionable… Xiao Wang, you and your woman both need to work on your taste, understand?”

The boss froze, visibly embarrassed by the jab, but quickly nodded and bowed.

“Yes, yes, you’re right, boss. I’ll go home and change my woman immediately!”

“Better change your own brain! Though… you might as well hope for a better next life.”

With that, Han Mingxuan strode away, unconcerned with whatever expression the boss wore.

At the door, the two security guards exchanged confused looks.

“Why should he hope for a better next life?”

“Maybe he means the boss will never improve in this one…”

The boss didn’t hear, but Xiaoyun and I did, and we couldn’t help but snicker.

As Han Mingxuan stepped out of the bar, he sighed. “Ah, my fine establishment… it’s as good as ruined.”