CH 8

The highly enthusiastic Colonel Song was secretly expecting his subordinate to change expressions and be stunned.

Of course, Colonel Song’s expectation could not be shown on his face. After all, he was the old colonel that was steady as Mount Tai.

On the surface, Colonel Song was steady like an old dog, sitting upright, and his serious eyes looked at Qin Xiao nonchalantly.

The topic of speaking gossip, especially telling it to let a guy who did not know anything, was especially satisfying.

Guo Chao Ming wanted to say it too.

Song Bei: …I think that you don’t want to find a wife, that’s what it is.

Thus, he rejected for the third time Guo Chao Ming, who was stepping up to fight for the job, saying: “You speak incoherently without any sense, just let me do it.”

Guo Chao Ming: …an official higher by a level can crush people to death, fine, I’ll give you the benefit.

Song Bei rubbed his hands, extremely expectant, and as if he was doing xiang sheng[1], he used a mysterious, unpredictable, and modulated tone to speak about four legendary animal stories to Qin Xiao.

《Shocking! A Carnivorous Tiger Took the Initiative to Carry a Severely Wounded Soldier down the Mountain》

《Incredible! A Legendary Persian Cat Communicated Many Times with Humans, Taking a Little Soldier to Find a Person on its Own Accord》

《This is the Moment a Miracle Happened! A Tiger, a House Cat, to Protect a Seriously Injured Person, Wisely Battled with Outlaws》

《The Feelings between Humans and Cats is not Gone, the Persian Cat Went down the Mountain after the Event, Following the Car on its Own Initiative》

Qin Xiao’s handsome face had no single change, he glanced at the dirty little cat that was proudly sticking out its small chest, its soft and white little belly was very flat.

“Oh.”

Song Bei’s expectant gaze turned bleak and sunk: “?”

Just this bit of a reaction, without any change in expression, elation, or excitement?

You were saved by a cat! Were carried down the mountain by a tiger! Were on the brink of a crisis and were almost taken as a hostage by outlaws. It was for you that a tiger and a Persian cat wisely and bravely battled with that group of outlaws, and even did that to that person’s lower body…

Colonel Song was not reconciled, “You don’t have anything to say? Any opinion you want to express?” For example, speaking about your and the cat’s story.

At least reveal a smile or something! Song Bei felt that he had told it so good, yet Qin Xiao’s reaction was so-so, he was feeling unwell!

“That means, Old Liao and the others have all been caught in the net.” Qin Xiao’s eyes were profound: “Bei’an Province’s case got a breakthrough.”

Song Bei: …baby, the police academy is more suitable for you.

Song Bei really wanted to see Qin Xiao change expression, Being rescued by a cat, how lucky is that, how incredible of a miracle is it.

It’s even enough to get on the news headlines, a legendary experience ah!

And the result is that this guy didn’t change expressions at all, his expression indifferent, utterly not having the agitation and excitement of someone who had a miracle happen on himself.

The person involved is nonchalant, and instead, its us who are bystanders… who are more agitated and excited in comparison.

Boring!

Ever since Song Bei and Qin Xiao met each other, he had never seen Qin Xiao change face. This subordinate always had that cold and indifferent, without any expression look.

He was like that during missions, he was like that during normal days, with the same look for happiness and annoyance, making Song Bei feel very worried.

Song Bei thought that it would be able to cause Qin Xiao to change a bit, At least gave me some reaction ah! You little bastard!

“Pa, pa, pa!” A clear clap sounded, Guo Chao Ming was very cooperative: “Colonel, you spoke very well! As if you personally saw it with your eyes, listening was very interesting.”

Song Bei glanced at him, The one who should’ve reacted didn’t, the one who shouldn’t have blindly interfered, interfered.

So what if it was interesting for you.

This little Guo is too energetic, jumping up and down the whole day with endless energy, it would be great if he balanced some of it with little Qin.

Towards Guo Chao Ming, Song Bei’s attitude was rebuking without any expression: “What’s it got to do with you, go prepare the food. The doctor said that little Qin lost too much blood, he has to be carefully supplemented.”

Guo Chao Ming: “…oh.” Colonel was blown by Qing ge once again, he’s not in a good mood, I get it.

Qin Xiao did have a reaction, the young man turned his body and parted open the red bag in the bedside table with his hand, the inside was filled with big, red apples.

All of Qin Xiao’s injuries were on his abdomen, and both of his hands were free to move, not affecting his movements. He flipped open a military folding knife, unhurriedly lowered his eyes, and started peeling an apple.

Thin and large apple skin fell, Qin Xiao cut a small piece of apple flesh, used a fruit knife to pierce it, and moved it in front of Bai Xia Xia.

Bai Xia Xia’s moist nose moved, the tip of her nose smelled the fragrance of apples, saliva was secreted uncontrollably, and she swallowed a big gulp of saliva.

Bai Xia Xia was truly hungry. Not a single drop of water had entered her system for a whole day, nothing had been eaten.

And just now, she had also diligently climbed to the second floor.

Her sense of hunger, after having seen the Qin Xiao that she had risked her life to save, had been forgotten by Bai Xia Xia, now, when she smelled fresh and crisp fragrance of apple flesh, without even thinking, she moved her paw to get it.

The fluffy, small paw then paused in the middle of the air, troubled, Bai Xia Xia turned over her paw, her own pink meat pads were covered with dirt and dust.

“Meow~” Bai Xia Xia was a bit troubled, the habit from being a human for a long time, it made her unable to stand eating filthy things.

However, she also could not make a patient to keep holding the apple for her to eat, Bai Xia Xia’s tiny head turned left and right, looking around.

“Meow!!” Wait a moment for me, Bai Xia Xia caught sight of comrade Guo who was preparing the dinner table while mumbling.

Qin Xiao’s wrist that was holding the fruit knife was lightly patted twice by a cat paw, then, he saw Bai Xia Xia lightly jumping off to the ground, swiftly running to the side of the legs of Guo Chao Ming, who was taking care of the meals, and started crying out and turning in circles around his trousers.

Guo Chao Ming was currently opening white foam plastic lunchboxes.

Four big men eating, all of whom were tired and hungry, Guo Chao Ming bought as much as seven dishes.

After the lunchboxes were uncovered, the rich aroma of food assaulted their noses and mouth. Bai Xia Xia covered her flat and small belly and stammered a pitiful cry.

That sound was like a whimper and full of grievance, making people’s heart soften from listening.

Too cute!

“Wait a moment, wait! Dinner hasn’t started yet.” Guo Chao Ming’s hands held wooden chopsticks, Bai Xia Xia was revolving by his legs without stop, incessantly looking at the lunchboxes suggestively.

The dining table was not tall, the truth was that with Bai Xia Xia’s jumping force, jumping on the table was easy. However, she was self-aware, she was very grubby, and a cat too, so how could she jump onto the table, causing them trouble.

Guo Chao Ming disposition was grinded off by Bai Xia Xia’s pestering, one human, one cat, it was like a chicken speaking with a duck.

Bai Xia Xia was so anxious that she spun around in circles, she worked hard to raise her paw and point to the lunchbox through the air: “Do you understand? Tear off the top half for me to use.”

Guo Chao Ming understood, understood instantly.

He glanced at the kitty that was holding up its little head, looking at the food on the table with a yearning expression.

“There won’t be a lack of your portion in a moment.”

Bai Xia Xia was outraged, This idiot! The kitty’s small paw viciously, but very viciously, hit Guo Chao Ming’s calf unceasingly, staring at the lunchbox with its eyes, its paws split sideways doing the movement of tearing: “Tear half of the lunchbox for me.”

She had not eaten apples in a long time.

Bai Xia Xia’s hometown produced apples in abundance, in her last life before dying, she practically ate two to three each day.

Ka-cha, ka-cha, she extremely loved eating it.

Guo Chao Ming looked at Bai Xia Xia’s soft cat fur chaotically rubbing on him, recalling his abundant experience in raising cats, his mind lightened from this good luck.

He rapidly put the dishes in order, preparing to carry the whole table on the bed.

He crouched down and placatingly touched Bai Xia Xia’s round cat head: “Be obedient, let me touch.”

“…”

Bai Xia Xia: Does this one think that I came to be rubbed? Am I such an unreserved cat?!

“…meow!” Bai Xia Xia’s furry, long tail behind her butt moved up and down, hitting the floor with ‘pa, pa, pa’: “Meow~”

“You fool, having such an intelligent-looking face is wasted on you.”

Even the cat face that was covered by beautiful and long fur could not hide the Persian cat’s desire to die[2] and dissatisfaction at his lack of understanding[3].

Bai Xia Xia’s rage was rua’ed[4] until it became nothing.

Song Bei: …I only want to laugh.

It was also Qin Xiao’s first time seeing a cat that had such vivid and bountiful expressions, as if it could understand humans.

His lips twitched, dark eyes contained three parts smiling, and slowly said: “Guo Zi, it’s asking you for the lunchbox.”

Qin Xiao spoke with confidence and calmly, but it was not a question, and very affirmatively transmitted Bai Xia Xia’s demand.

Bai Xia Xia head was slumped, already depressingly and disappointedly accepting the caresses by force.

After hearing those words, she was extremely delighted: There’s a smart one here.

“Meow, meow!” You idiot, look at him, so comprehending of Cat!

Its tiny head rapidly nodded like a chicken pecking rice, at the same time, it extended its tender cat paw, refusing the palm in front of it vehemently: “Meow~”

“You fool, I don’t play with stupid people.”

The sitting cat’s left paw held off Guo Chao Ming’s right hand, Song Bei could not hold back anymore, glanced at the confused and stupefied Guo Chao Ming, and wildly laughed while hitting his thighs: “Little Guo, it’s a good thing you didn’t listen to me.”

Guo Chao Ming: “?” Ah?

Song Bei warned very seriously: “We’re not in a hurry for a wife, it’s better to keep waiting. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t able to get one for now, I’m just afraid that you’ll go for wool and come back shorn[5].”

Not even able to go against a cat, unable to deceive it and getting it to go to your home, so how could I expect you to take a wife back home? It’ll come faster if I dream.

Sigh, my single brother subordinates ah, Song Bei’s daily lamenting: Why are these little fellows not able to study even a bit from my maturity and stableness.

They can’t even be compared to a cat’s ability to stay away from trouble and intelligence, at least Bai Xia Xia was able to find the person, and outlaws were knocked out in a single move. Once Song Bei thought about it, he became even sadder.

Translator’s comments:

Colonel Song should change jobs.

Translator’s notes:

[1] ‘相声 (xiàng sheng)’ is a Chinese traditional stand-up comedy where two people talk to each other about a funny topic.

[2] ‘生无可恋 (shēng wú kě liàn)’ is a Chinese Internet slang that means that someone has nothing left to live for.

[3] Idiomatic expression ‘恨铁不成钢 (hèn tiě bù chéng gāng)’ was used here. It was explained in a previous chapter.

[4] Rua was explained in a previous chapter too.

[5] Idiomatic expression ‘偷鸡不成蚀把米 (tōu jī bù chéng shí bǎ mǐ)’: lit. translation is ‘trying to steal a chicken but ending up losing the rice used to lure it’. Its equivalent version in English is ‘to go for wool and come back shorn’.