Chapter 18: The Mysterious Cat and the Stalker

Mo Fei cleaned himself up, grabbed the U-lock, and headed out. The moment he stepped out of the old residential complex, he sensed something was off—a subtle feeling of being watched. He looked up and scanned his surroundings but found nothing unusual.

He paused to think for a moment. There were only two types of people who might be watching him now: the killer or the police. Judging from what he’d seen of the killer yesterday—a nondescript, slight figure—it didn’t seem like someone acting with organization or premeditation. It was unlikely that such a person could track down the courageous witness who dared to photograph them, and do so in just one day.

That left only the second possibility—the police were secretly protecting him.

It was both unexpected and reasonable. After all, he and the long-haired guy were the only two people who had seen the killer. If the killer wanted to come after them, it made sense. Keeping tabs on them was the most efficient course of action; just assign someone to follow, and that was enough.

Having figured this out, Mo Fei no longer worried about that feeling of being watched. Though being tailed was a bit uncomfortable, it wasn’t as if he’d lose a pound of flesh over it. Besides, cooperating with the police was what good citizens did.

Adjusting his mindset, he scanned a shared bike and set off toward the animal hospital. The person observing him from the shadows hurried to keep up.

After a few days of care, the cat with the single scar was in much better shape. When Mo Fei arrived, it was lounging leisurely, grooming its fur. The pet doctor greeted him with a warm smile. The cat was recovering well, its temperament was good, and it was surprisingly bold. Abused animals, the vet knew, rarely warmed up to people so easily, so he was convinced that this stray had indeed been rescued by Mo Fei.

It was hard to believe that this man—who looked as fierce as a devil—had a heart that shone like gold.

Mo Fei felt a bit awkward under the pet doctor’s friendly gaze. Perhaps it was the lingering effect of last night’s dream, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that the doctor’s kindness bordered on flirtation.

Spotting the aloof cat, Mo Fei scooped it up and snuggled it affectionately. “So, that means the little guy is all right now, right?”

“I’ve already prepared cat litter and food at home. Can I take him back?”

“Of course, of course,” the pet doctor replied with a smile and a nod. “It’s a little Xuan cat—a lucky one.”

Mo Fei cocked his head in confusion. “Xuan cat?”

“Yes.” The vet pointed at the cat. “I only noticed it the second day. It looks black, but when the light hits its fur, you can see it’s actually red.”

Hearing this, Mo Fei lifted the cat up. Under the light, the seemingly pitch-black fur shimmered with a reddish halo.

“It really is,” Mo Fei murmured, and then his eyes lit up. “A Xuan cat wards off evil!”

The pet doctor paused and then nodded. “That’s what they say.”

Now Mo Fei no longer minded the cat scaring him or the money he’d spent. He petted the cat affectionately. “Well, from now on you’re my cat. Let’s get along and keep the house safe together!”

The Xuan cat lay gracefully in his arms, letting out a dignified meow.

Witnessing this harmonious scene between man and pet, the vet smiled in satisfaction—then proceeded to recommend a cat carrier, canned food, teaser wands, and other pet supplies.

By the time Mo Fei stood outside the animal hospital, laden with bags, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. Wasn’t it the same last time? Was this place some kind of money pit? One visit cost him another month’s rent. Hospitals, whether for people or pets, were truly terrifying.

With his arms full and unable to ride a bike, yet refusing to hail a cab, Mo Fei had no choice but to trudge on foot. The cat was a full-grown male and quite heavy, and with all the other bits and pieces, it was only thanks to Mo Fei’s good physical condition that he managed at all.

He sighed as he walked down the street. A black-and-white car with the word “Law Enforcement” emblazoned on the door pulled up beside him. The window rolled down to reveal Officer Xiao Xu’s familiar face.

“What a coincidence,” Officer Xu said, glancing at him with a smile. “All those bags—get in, I’ll give you a ride.”

Mo Fei eyed him, then the car. “Using a police vehicle for personal business?”

“Not exactly,” Officer Xu unlocked the door. “I was on my way to find you anyway.”

“The person you saved yesterday woke up last night and wants to meet you today,” he explained, gesturing politely. “Of course, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to. In that case, I’ll just give you a ride home, and it’ll be a wasted trip for me.”

Mo Fei stuffed himself and the cat into the car, buckled his seatbelt, and asked, puzzled, “Couldn’t you have just called? Why go through all this trouble?”

“Calling only works if you pick up,” Officer Xu replied with a smile. “Why do you think I drove over here?”

When Mo Fei hadn’t answered his phone, Officer Xu had even wondered if the killer had already come for him. But Officer Tang had reasoned that even if there was retaliation, it wouldn’t happen so quickly. He’d suggested Xu check on the situation first.

Mo Fei pulled out his phone, glanced at it, and offered an apologetic smile. “It was on silent—sorry about that.”

With his phone always on silent, it was easy to miss calls.

Officer Xu shook his head, unfazed. “So, do you want to see the person you saved?”

“Sure,” Mo Fei nodded. “I don’t have anything urgent to do anyway.”

Officer Xu promptly took a different road, chatting with him as they drove. “So you’ve got a cat now?”

“Yeah, picked up a Xuan cat—wards off evil and brings luck.” Mo Fei peered through the cat carrier at his feline passenger, grinning stupidly.

Officer Xu didn’t believe in superstitions, but he had no objections to harmless good luck rituals. Many families in the police force kept peace amulets—for psychological comfort, if nothing else.

Mo Fei, gazing into the cat’s green eyes, suddenly had a realization, as if a jolt of electricity shot through his brain. “Wait, you guys didn’t assign anyone to watch over me?”

If the police were protecting him, Officer Xu wouldn’t have bothered to come in person just because he couldn’t reach him by phone.

Officer Xu was surprised by the question. “No, if we were planning something like that, we’d have talked to you first.”

He realized what Mo Fei was getting at, his expression turning serious. “Is someone following you?”

Mo Fei recalled that uneasy sensation when he left home and nodded grimly. If it wasn’t the police, could it really be the killer? But that person didn’t seem that capable.

“If it really is the killer…” Mo Fei muttered.

Officer Xu exhaled slowly. “I’ll speak to my superior about this. You don’t need to be afraid,” he said resolutely. “This is a law-abiding society. You have us.”

Mo Fei nodded slowly. “Has the reward money been decided yet?”

Officer Xu: “?”