Pei Shiyi put a small black bow tie on Song Gao and tapped the kitten’s forehead. The round-headed Golden British Shorthair successfully transformed back into a little Bi’an with emerging patterns.
Song Gao was a very delicate little Bi’an. Faint black stripes had already begun to appear on his golden fur, adding a touch of majesty to his refined look. The little bow tie made him look like a young master dressed for a formal occasion.
Pei Shiyi adjusted the position of the bow tie. Unable to resist, he leaned down to kiss Song Gao’s ear and asked with a smile, “Is this one okay? Or would you like to try a different one?”
Today, he was taking Song Gao back to visit the Bi’an clan. After all, Song Gao was a Bi’an. Since the elders there had woken up, it was good to establish a relationship.
Song Gao looked at himself in the mirror. “It’s pretty. Anything Mr. Pei chooses looks good.”
Pei Shiyi picked him up. “Then let’s head over early. Your Dad Bo is waiting for us at the entrance of the Supernatural Management Bureau.”
Song Gao turned his head and buried his small face in the crook of Pei Shiyi’s neck, giving a muffled response. After a moment, he whispered, “Mister.”
Pei Shiyi was still trying to pick out a small hat for him. This was Song Gao’s first long-distance trip. Pei Shiyi wanted him to spend the day playing with the Bi’an clan.
A little bi’an, after all, ought to frolic freely in the great mountains.
Ever since Tong Qian and Yin Zhou had been able to maintain their human forms, they made sure to go out and play whenever they had a day off.
Pei Shiyi pulled a gold hair crown from a box. But since he didn’t recognize it, he tossed it aside and continued searching for a little hat. “Hmm?”
Song Gao gave him a tiny kiss and said very softly, “I love you, Mister. And I love Director Bo.”
Pei Shiyi sensed that Song Gao’s spirits weren’t very high. He smoothed the little one’s fur, wondering whether Song Gao was sad because he was going to pay his respects to his deceased parents, or simply nervous about meeting unfamiliar elders.
Pei Shiyi put a pair of cool little sunglasses on him and said with a smile, “I love my baby, too.”
On the way to the Bi’an clan, Song Gao remained very quiet.
This child was always a boy of few words, but he was never quite as tight-lipped as he was today. Even Bo Jin noticed something was off and sent several telepathic messages to Pei Shiyi.
Feeling protective of his son, Director Bo narrowed his eyes and said, “Do we really have to go?”
Why did the son he was raising have to be shown off to other people?
Pei Shiyi replied, “Snap out of it. Even if we weren’t going to see those elders, we should at least visit the Bi’an clan’s tombs.”
Bo Jin: “I’m just worried they…”
Pei Shiyi held the slightly drowsy Song Gao and replied flatly, “What, do I look like someone who plays nice?”
Bo Jin: “Not at all. You don’t even eat.”
His Phoenix was likely the pickiest eater, even among the five main branches of the clan. He truly seemed to live on water alone and had almost no appetite. If a home-cooked meal was brought right to his lips, he might take two bites. But if you didn’t feed him, you couldn’t expect him to eat another morsel.
Pei Shiyi: “…”
What a professional mood-killer.
…
The Bi’an clan lived deep within the mountains. Song Gao, nestled in Pei Shiyi’s arms, peeked his eyes open, his gaze darting around the dark, dense forest. He could sense a hint of the Bi’an aura. As they ventured deeper, that scent became clearer and more complex.
Song Gao had very few memories of his own clan. He had been sent to Bo Jin’s side when he was still just a tiny kitten. The adult Bi’an in the clan all had their own affairs to attend to and couldn’t look after a cub born with a deficient constitution.
Despite the vastness of the mountains, Pei Shiyi and Bo Jin reached the Bi’an territory in less than ten minutes. Bo Jin knocked on the barrier gates. They were led inside by a Bi’an who had been waiting for them.
Although the Bi’an claimed this entire mountain range, their population was actually quite small, with very few members. Cubs like Song Gao were even rarer. The waiting Bi’an was curious about Song Gao. Over the years, many Bi’an had left for the human world one after another, and he wasn’t sure whose child this was, though the little one looked quite spirited.
This Bi’an had grown up in the clan since childhood, with the vast wilderness as his playground. He had never met Pei Shiyi or Bo Jin, and though he was stationed here by the Clan Leader’s order, he didn’t know their true identities.
However, his attention remained mostly on Song Gao in Pei Shiyi’s arms.
“Whose cub is this?”
The young Bi’an curiously reached out his hand, wanting to play with Song Gao.
Song Gao lifted a paw and pressed it against the young Bi’an’s finger. It was a polite greeting. He gave him a nod, saying with proper decorum, “My name is Lu Zhang.”
Bo Jin sent a telepathic message to Pei Shiyi: “Our Song Gao is so well-mannered.”
Pei Shiyi felt a bit helpless.
Song Gao had always been a precocious child. At the cat café, he enjoyed spending time with Dan Huang, Miss Penny, and Yun Chao. From those big cats, he had picked up a sense of poise and grace that even some adults lacked.
The young Bi’an had never seen a cub quite like this. Comparing him to the little rascals in the clan who ran wild and caused destruction everywhere, he found this newly returned child more and more adorable.
Song Gao listened to him chatter away the whole journey, his ears twitching as he kept a serious little face. He and Brother Tong Qian would definitely get along well.
It wasn’t until they reached the Clan Leader’s residence that the young Bi’an shifted into a large tiger with black markings on a yellow coat and hurriedly sprinted off.
Song Gao tilted his head. “He’s very lively.”
Pei Shiyi was focused entirely on his son. “Let’s go in and meet the Clan Leader first to say hello, and then we’ll go see your mom and dad, okay?”
Song Gao nodded and extended a furry paw, tucking it into Bo Jin’s palm. “I’ll do whatever you say, Mister.”
Even… even if the Mister and the Director get bored with me, it’s okay.
Bo Jin looked down and kissed the little furry paw.
The two walked up to the Clan Leader’s manor. Sensing their presence, the Bi’an Clan Leader, Dong Xian, opened the door himself and welcomed them into a small floral hall used for receiving guests.
Dong Xian had entered seclusion many years ago, so Song Gao had never met him. But the moment Song Gao stepped into the hall, his entire body stiffened in Pei Shiyi’s arms. As expected, many other Bi’an were already sitting in the elegant room.
So many adult Bi’an, and such a solemn occasion.
Song Gao sadly squeezed Pei Shiyi’s wrist, wanting to stay close to him for as long as possible. He also hooked his claws tightly into Bo Jin’s cuff, refusing to let the Director get too far away.
Yet, Song Gao didn’t want to show how upset he was. He did his best to suppress his emotions and didn’t hear a single word of the conversation between his two guardians and the other Bi’an. It wasn’t until Pei Shiyi ruffled his hair that Song Gao looked up blankly.
Pei Shiyi said softly, “Are you missing your mom and dad? We’re heading over there right now.”
As he spoke, he stood up, and Dong Xian immediately rose to lead the way.
Song Gao’s eyes widened: Is… is that it? Is it over? Isn’t Mister handing me back to the Bi’an clan?
Pei Shiyi kissed Song Gao’s forehead with increasing tenderness. “We’ll stay right by your side.”
Song Gao was taken to pay his respects to his late parents. Their names were carved into the tombstones. A very faint, lingering trace of their scent still remained.
As he sat hunched before the tall, cold, hard gravestones, a layer of moisture gradually pooled in his eyes.
Divine beings do not undergo reincarnation. When they die, their spirits dissipate entirely. Thus, there was no such thing as “spirits in heaven”. The tombs were merely a way for the clan to remember them.
Seeing such a small furball sitting all alone before his parents’ graves made Pei Shiyi’s heart ache. Stroking Song Gao’s little head, he said, “Song Gao is asking the two of you to rest easy and trust us with him. Bo Jin and I will cherish Song Gao just as you did. We will look after him until he is grown.”
Song Gao looked up at Pei Shiyi. “Really?”
“Will you and the Director stay with me forever?”
“You won’t leave me like my mom and dad did? I don’t need so many snacks or toys, and I don’t even need to be perfectly healthy. I just want to stay with you.”
Only then did Pei Shiyi and Bo Jin realize that Song Gao’s unusual silence throughout the trip wasn’t because of his parents, but because he was terrified of being sent back to the Bi’an clan.
Pei Shiyi: “I promise you, my dear, Director Bo and I will always be by your side.”
Song Gao choked back his tears. “Mm.”
I don’t want to be left alone in this world again.
I don’t want to be on my own.
…
Pei Shiyi had never seen Song Gao cry before. Seeing the little furball in tears made even him feel a bit flustered, let alone Bo Jin. He had originally planned to take Song Gao for a walk around the mountains. But he changed his mind and decided to head back as soon as possible.
Before they left, Dong Xian brought over a massive box filled with various trinkets and small items.
Stroking Song Gao’s head, Dong Xian said, “These were actually prepared for Song Gao a long time ago, but they were never sent out. Even though he might be a bit past the age for these things, I hope he’ll accept them… The Bi’an clan is deeply grateful to Director Bo and Mr. Pei for your dedicated care, which has allowed Song Gao to look so spirited today.”
The other Bi’ans chimed in one after another: “Take them, Song Gao! I put a bamboo dragonfly in there. Just a tiny bit of spiritual power, and it’ll fly!”
“I prepared a huge box of jerky for your teeth! If it’s not enough, come back and ask your auntie for more!”
“Even if you don’t play with them, you can take them back to share with your friends. Sharing helps deepen friendships!”
“Mine is a cloth ball! It’s woven so beautifully. It’s much better than their little trinkets.”
Suddenly, a boy of about thirteen or fourteen squeezed past the other big tigers with great effort. He held up a colorful little butterfly, presenting it to Song Gao like a precious treasure: “Do you remember me? This is for you. You used to love it.”
The little butterfly was a bit old now, but it was still clean and beautiful.
This tiny butterfly instantly sparked a memory for Song Gao. Back when his parents had brought him to the Bi’an clan, they had spent all their time traveling and searching for spiritual medicine for his frail body. Every day, he could only observe the colorful world through a window, watching the other fur-kids frolicking, rolling around, and climbing everywhere. But whenever he went outside, the others would simply go back to their chasing and roughhousing.
There was one particularly strong little Bi’an who brought a colorful flying butterfly every day. With a slight infusion of spiritual power, it would flutter its wings and fly. That cub played until he was covered in mud and water every single day.
Song Gao had watched for a long time. Once, unable to hold back, he walked out toward them. But the romping fur-kids scattered the moment they saw him. The strong little Bi’an had simply picked up his mud-stained butterfly in his mouth and run off.
Now, standing before Song Gao, was that very same little butterfly.
The Bi’an youth flashed a grin, showing off his white teeth. “All my stuff used to get really dirty from playing, so I wanted to give it to you after I washed it. But I made such a mess that it took several washes before it was fit to be seen. By the time I was ready to give it to you, a lot of things had happened, and I didn’t get the chance. Do you still want it now?”
Song Gao’s parents had died unexpectedly while out searching for spiritual medicine, leaving him all alone.
The Bi’an clan, who hadn’t left the depths of the mountains for hundreds of years, utilized every connection they had for Song Gao’s sake. Finally, after six chaotic months, they managed to contact Bo Jin.
After Song Gao was sent away, he didn’t return until today.
Song Gao listened blankly. It felt as if his childhood, the one that had drifted away from him due to his frail health, had been packed into a massive box and presented to him in a burst of vibrant colors.
Choking back tears, Song Gao said, “Thank you. I like these very much, and I will take good care of them.”
It turns out I was never disliked after all.
On the way back to the cat café, Song Gao sat inside the big box and looked through the items one by one. Finally, he picked up the little colorful butterfly in his mouth and, snuggling contentedly into Pei Shiyi’s arms, looked up at Bo Jin and asked, “Can I have a cat treat stick today?”
Bo Jin leaned down and kissed him. “Of course, you can.”
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Maria Lian On CFRFGC Chapter 104