The real young master thought he was hated by everyone

When Li Heng first discovered the cat in the grass, it was so emaciated that it was almost just skin and bones, barely recognizable.

Upon noticing someone approaching, the cat limped away, dragging its injured leg.

At that time, he had just moved, and most of his savings had gone into paying the rent and setting up his new computer. He was living on instant noodles and vegetables, barely getting by.

He bought a sausage and a small bottle of milk from the supermarket, put them in a bowl, and left them in the grass.

The next day, while taking out the trash, he saw the cat nearby again, but the sausage and milk were untouched.

He took the bowl back home, cleaned it, and bought fresh supplies, deciding to eat most of the milk and sausage himself to avoid waste.

After almost a week, or maybe even longer, he finally noticed that the food had been disturbed.

That day, in addition to the sausage, he painfully gave up a portion of his own chicken breast.

The cat, sensing he meant no harm and recognizing him as a kind of “provider,” began to react less fearfully. It would observe him from a distance, meow a few times, and then slowly move away.

Eventually, the cat would dash out when he placed the bowl, roll on its back, and purr softly at his feet, revealing its dirty belly.

This peculiar caregiver relationship began at that time, with their meeting place shifting from the lawn to the garage.

In the second month after receiving his salary, Li Heng bought an airline crate and, despite the cat’s fierce protests, took it to the nearest veterinary clinic for shots and a check-up.

The pet clinic was closer, and the cat might fare better there, but he was financially strapped, even cutting back on his living expenses to afford the treatment.

The vet at the livestock station was a kind, elderly woman. She examined the cat’s leg and explained that although the best time for treatment had passed, things could improve with ongoing care.

The cat also had a skin condition from its time on the streets, requiring long-term treatment, with no guarantee that the damaged hair follicles would fully recover.

The vet only charged for the vaccines and medications and gave him some cans of food for free.

However, as a result, Li Heng faced renewed hostility from the cat upon returning.

His daily routine became a cycle of work, streaming, and searching the neighborhood for the cat, finding ways to get it to the clinic for follow-up care.

After nearly six months, the cat had transformed from an ugly stray to a cat that, while still not attractive, was at least no longer off-putting. Its leg had improved significantly, and its fur was growing back.

He hoped to save enough money to move to a slightly larger apartment to accommodate the cat.

He even thought of a name for it.

—Until he was unexpectedly taken back to the Xie family.

The Xie family opposed him keeping a cat due to family members having mild cat allergies and the cat’s lack of pedigree.

Despite the cat’s condition, he posted several times online but failed to find a suitable adopter.

Even when kind-hearted people showed interest, the cat’s strong aggression during viewings led to failed adoptions.

He was forced to frequently travel between the Xie family home and the neighborhood.

At that time, although his family was cold, they were not yet at the stage of outright disdain. Xie Sizhi had even accompanied him out of curiosity once.

—“It’s too ugly; it’s a good thing you didn’t bring it back.”

That was the young man’s comment.

Perhaps it was unintentional, but Li Heng remembered it for a long time.

Soon after, Xie Duzhi brought home a cat of impressive lineage, complete with numerous certificates.

The cat had its own room and was not let out. Thanks to frequent cleaning by the housekeeper, even Mr. Xie, who was allergic to cat hair, welcomed this new family member.

Li Heng realized that neither he nor the cat was valued enough.

As he became busier, learning various things from basic etiquette and financial knowledge to high school courses and musical instruments—thanks to Xie Duzhi’s insistence on having a standout skill—he handed over the cat’s care to a nearby pet store, which sent him occasional updates with few photos of the cat.

His visits to the cat went from daily to once or twice a week, and eventually to every few weeks.

The more he learned, the more he was disappointed.

Teachers’ regretful glances and his family’s silence weighed heavily on him, almost suffocating him.

The day his art teacher left with a sigh of disappointment, he felt a rare sense of relief and quietly went to see the cat.

Still at the old spot, the cat food and water were untouched. He waited for a long time, calling the cat’s name, but received no response.

He thought the cat might be upset or feeling estranged due to their long separation, and that was why it wouldn’t come out.

But he had already planned to discuss his courses with the housekeeper and Mrs. Xie, hoping to return to spending time with the cat every day—until he saw the dried blood in the corner.

He didn’t dare to think further.

He knew that not only had he failed to satisfy others, but he had also let down a loyal friend.

The young man sniffed quietly, trying to suppress his emotions.

Yet Mrs. Xie, always attentive to his moods, sensed his deep sadness, whether due to the cat or something else.

Sitting across from him, the subdued and nearly invisible melancholy of her youngest son was a far cry from the carefree, joyful boy he should have been.

Without needing more consideration, she made a decision.

“It’s okay, we can find a doctor to treat its leg and use 3D printing to fix its tail,” Mrs. Xie said firmly. “There are already plenty of beautiful cats in this world. As long as it’s special to you, what does it matter if it’s not attractive?”

“We’ll go get it now.”

“Duzhi can drive. Sizhi, you can sit with me in the back.”

At that moment, Mrs. Xie showed her decisive side, exhibiting the authority she once had in the business world.

But ultimately, whether gentle or stern, her role in the boy’s eyes was always one thing.

She was his mother.

“Mr. Bai, I’d like to request to sit in the back with Little Gua,” Sizhi said with a smile. “May I?”

Xie Duzhi, with little to say, stood up, feeling oddly relieved he hadn’t had a drink.

He sat next to the young man, sensing his emotions more directly.

If this decision hadn’t been made, he might have investigated the cat’s situation himself after returning.

The young man’s reaction made him reflect on the good genes in the Xie family and their potential future growth.

Li Heng was momentarily dazed, unsure how to respond.

Although he had feared Mrs. Xie’s stern demeanor, he felt a deep, unspoken joy when she decided to immediately go get the cat.

It was as if the heavy, oppressive cloud of disappointment in his heart had suddenly cracked, letting in a sliver of light.

Mr. Xie, who had been drinking and was somewhat allergic to cat hair, didn’t seem surprised at being excluded from the plans.

He took another sip of his drink, stubbornly clinging to his final chance to assert his presence.

“I’ll call Lin to ask if he knows any suitable vets. You all just go home directly after picking up the cat.”

“Drive safely on the way.”

He hesitated, trying to add a reminder but felt confused as to why he was left out.

“Don’t forget to remind Uncle Fu to buy some cat toys tomorrow morning,” Mrs. Xie added.

“It’s quite a distance from here to my place; it’ll take a long time.”

Seeing her about to get up, he, somewhat flustered, interrupted and almost bit his tongue.

In his anxiety, he didn’t realize he had unconsciously called her “Mom” and struggled to find the right words, “…It might be easier to drive straight from the hotel. If you want to see what it looks like, you can wait at home. There’s no need to sit in the car for so long.”

Mrs. Xie had never mentioned her motion sickness, and often didn’t realize it herself.

At that moment, she was unsure whether it was the young man’s instinctive thoughtfulness or a kind of intuition.

She sat back down, feeling as though her long-suspended heart was finally at ease.

“Alright, I’ll wait for you at home and make you some supper.”

She said.