Strange Life of a Cat
Chapter 293 - Chapter 293 Chapter 286 Advertisement Text Message

Chapter 293: Chapter 286 “Advertisement” Text Message Chapter 293: Chapter 286 “Advertisement” Text Message Zheng Tan hadn’t jumped to the conclusion that the needleless syringe was related to the trap set for Qin Tao just because of this discovery. He looked further at the arguments among the experts, where some of the opposition had produced various negative pieces of evidence.

The needleless syringe works by injecting with pressure and doesn’t have the long, slender needle like a regular syringe. However, not all who are injected feel nothing. The sensation of the injection varies from person to person; some feel nothing, while others have described it as feeling like a flick from a hand. The effect of the injection also varies: thirty percent of people show no trace after the injection, fifty percent have red spots on their skin, and twenty percent experience a bleeding phenomenon.

The accuracy of this data may be in question, but at the very least, it suggested there could be some connection. If Qin Tao had ever found similar marks on his body and could correlate them with these descriptions, the possibility increased.

Zheng Tan had spent the entire day at home, researching the magazines kept at Jiao Yuan’s place. He had flipped through several editions, but only two mentioned needleless injections. Zheng Tan read them carefully and speculated with his not-so-high intelligence. Indeed, it was possible. If those questions could be confirmed by Qin Tao, that would be ideal.

Scientific magazines really are a marvelous thing. While many people might find them elaborate but impractical, or the knowledge too obscure, Zheng Tan had learned a lot from reading them–some from reading by himself, but most through the daily conversations of Jiao Yuan and Little Youzi.

Thinking too far ahead, Zheng Tan pulled his thoughts back and pondered how to pass this unconfirmed clue to Ermao and Qin Tao.

Actually, Zheng Tan really wanted to slam the magazines in front of Qin Tao and Ermao and loudly declare, “Look, I’ve found a potential clue,” but alas, Zheng Tan couldn’t do that.

After thinking it over, Zheng Tan gathered the magazines from Jiao Yuan’s place, went out, and ran towards the small woods at the edge of the neighborhood to switch on his mobile phone.

Zheng Tan remembered Qin Tao’s mobile number; he had heard it when Qin Tao got a new one after arriving in Chuhua City. When Qin Tao was making a call during their stay at Triumph, he reported his number since the person on the other end couldn’t see the caller ID. Zheng Tan wasn’t sure if his memory was accurate but decided to give it a try.

After the mobile phone was switched on as usual, it was swamped with spam messages and missed call notifications from Liu Ba, although it was much better than before. Once the various notifications ceased, Zheng Tan entered the number he remembered.

Zheng Tan had gotten one digit wrong. Initially, he planned to change the message recipient to Ermao if Qin Tao’s number didn’t work after several tries, but surprisingly, it worked. After the fifth attempt, the voice of Qin Tao finally came from the other side. Sounding a bit impatient and barely concealing his irritability, Qin Tao said “Hello.” Once Zheng Tan confirmed it was Qin Tao, he hung up without waiting for any reaction and began composing a text message.

His paw paused over the phone keys, Zheng Tan stopped again.

What to write?

Zheng Tan peeked out of the tree hole, scanning the surroundings to see if he could find some advertising slogans. People occasionally came by to distribute advertisements for fitness clubs or eyeglass stores. Zheng Tan intended to draw inspiration from them. Unexpectedly, as he cast his gaze, Zheng Tan spotted a new-looking ad pasted on a tree he’d not noticed in the recent days.

He examined the ad closely, “XX Hospital, three-minute dreamlike painless abortion surgery, giving you the most secure guarantee…”

After a glance, Zheng Tan pulled back into the tree hole to type out his message.

Sensing his phone had buzzed for a text message, Qin Tao, who was deeply immersed in a secretive discussion and analysis of investigation results with Ermao, took out his phone. Seeing it was from an unknown number–the same one that had called without speaking–he frowned and opened the message.

“Third-generation SB needleless injector, absolutely imported original! 0.3-second dreamlike painless injection, giving you the most secure guarantee…”

Qin Tao: “…” Why does this sound so familiar? A flyer stuffed into his hand on the street when he first arrived had similar wording.

Wait a minute!

Needleless injections?!

Ermao noticed the change in Qin Tao’s expression after he read a text, going from puzzled to serious to a face full of murderous intent, and asked, “Beast, what’s wrong?”

Qin Tao passed the mobile phone to Ermao.

After seeing the message content and glancing at the phone number, Ermao raised an eyebrow. Four “6s”?

“Needleless injections, I actually know a bit about this,” Ermao said, patting his forehead. He would’ve almost forgotten about it if it weren’t for that message. “It’s been around for quite a while. I’ve heard that some foreign military forces were equipped with these types of needleless injectors around the turn of the millennium. Ampoules in their medkits contained antidotes for nerve agents, bioweapons, and related medicines, to deal with some emergencies on the battlefield. Even though the cost had been reduced for the new models, they still aren’t cheap, especially the higher-quality needleless injectors. An ordinary person wouldn’t need them, making them hard to popularize, and very few people use them domestically. Abroad, patients with diseases like diabetes who need to regularly self-inject medications like insulin and interferons use them more often.”

After explaining what he knew, Ermao checked again.

“High-pressure needleless injections and professional sterilization tools guarantee more sterile operations. If mishandled, they could potentially cause skin infections at the injection site?” Qin Tao thought for a moment. He once noticed a sign on his back when looking in the mirror, which he had dismissed as an insect bite. The sign had later disappeared, and he had not seen it again. Now that he considered it, the mark did seem a bit like an infection.

“These devices are small and easy to carry, and even patients with poor vision can use them without needing much injection technique.”

After sending the message, Zheng Tan worried that someone might call back to “place an order,” so he immediately turned off his mobile phone and returned to the courtyard.

When he saw people at Ermao’s house in the evening, Zheng Tan went for a walk there. Only Qin Tao and Ermao were present, and the two were discussing something.

Ermao had been quick in his investigation, and Qin Tao had also been busy. From the few words mentioned in their conversation, Zheng Tan guessed that they must have made significant progress. The suspect behind the scenes who was conspiring against Qin Tao had also been narrowed down.

The girlfriend who rolled in the sheets with him, the caretaker he thought he could trust, and certain others who had a conflict of interest with Qin Tao. The first two wouldn’t be believed by Qin Tao without someone else’s instigation, and as for who was behind it, Qin Tao had some suspicions in his mind.

“Those bitches!!” Qin Tao tried to control his emotions, but still couldn’t help his forehead’s veins from throbbing.

Compared to the enraged Qin Tao of the past, he was relatively calm now; otherwise, he would have started flipping tables already.

Looking at the documents in his hand, Qin Tao let out a self-deprecating smile, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

Zheng Tan carefully pondered this phrase. Did this indirectly suggest that Qin Tao had been aware of his own foolishness for more than a day or two? Otherwise, how could he be unaware of the people around him stabbing him in the back? Their actions were directly aimed at destroying Qin Tao. Once the people supporting him lost hope, if Qin Tao continued on his path to ruin, his future would be shrouded in frustration, never seeing a clear day again.

Would Qin Tao change after this incident?

Zheng Tan couldn’t watch Ermao and Qin Tao’s investigation progress every day. He could only guess the state of affairs by occasionally observing the expressions on either Ermao or Qin Tao’s faces and the atmosphere around them. And judging by their recent demeanor, things seemed to be going well.

That day, Zheng Tan went to check on Zhuo Xiaomao and the little brats from his kindergarten class “showing off their skills.” During the talent display class, some kids, as young as three or even under three, each took their turn in front of the classroom to showcase their abilities. So young and yet so many were reciting “Three Character Classic” and ancient poems. Watching these little brats recite ancient texts with their unclear pronunciations, Zheng Tan didn’t know if it was their natural precocity or the education that made them so much better than when he was their age. Although he couldn’t remember what he was like as a child, he had heard that he couldn’t compare to these little brats here.

As for Zhuo Xiaomao, this little guy seemed completely uninterested in showing off. When Zheng Tan was not there, he would rest his chin in his hands and space out. As soon as Zheng Tan approached the window, Zhuo Xiaomao came over, sometimes whispering to Zheng Tan.

After the talent display class, it was free activity time. Most kids went to places like slides, but Zhuo Xiaomao followed Zheng Tan and talked by the side. He spoke non-stop, and Zheng Tan just listened.

The cat and the boy stood by the corner of the wall when suddenly, they heard a voice.

“Hey, Heitan! Whose kid is this? Are you two close?” Qin Tao was in a better mood now, having shared his thoughts with someone and uncovered some things. He no longer had to worry about going crazy from the doubts and frustration that had plagued him, and was now jovial enough to joke with Zheng Tan upon seeing him.

After approaching, Qin Tao sat on the edge of a flowerbed beside the fence, looking at the little boy standing next to Zheng Tan inside the courtyard railing. Seeing that the boy wasn’t afraid of him, Qin Tao felt a rare urge to be playful. He knew that since he had been tricked, his temperament had changed drastically, and many children and animals were sensitive to the inexplicable rage aura around him. They would avoid him if they could, or show timidity if they couldn’t. But not the boy in front of him.

“Little guy, what’s your name?” Qin Tao asked.

“Xiaomao.”

“Heh, that’s a nice name. But it’s still not as good as your brother’s,” Qin Tao said.

Zheng Tan glanced sideways at Qin Tao. This man was nearly 30 yet wanted Zhuo Xiaomao, who wasn’t even three, to call him brother. Usually, the kids called Ermao uncle outright.

Qin Tao, with his leg propped up, waited for Zhuo Xiaomao to ask his name voluntarily, but unfortunately, Zhuo Xiaomao showed no interest at all.

“You’re not scared of me?” Qin Tao asked again.

Zhuo Xiaomao shook his head.

“Why not?”

“You’re Black’s friend, I’m not scared,” said Zhuo Xiaomao.

After finally understanding the meaning of Zhuo Xiaomao’s words, Qin Tao grew more curious but didn’t ask any further questions.

“Brother got bullied, will you help me scold the bad guys? For every curse, I’ll buy you a bag of lollipops,” Qin Tao said as he took a cigarette out of his pocket, lit it, and blew a series of smoke rings.

Zhuo Xiaomao nibbled on his finger lightly, “Scold what?”

Qin Tao: “Come on, take a deep breath, and repeat after me–They are all bastards!”

Zhuo Xiaomao looked at Qin Tao and, gathering his breath, exclaimed, “Bastards!” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (NovelFire.net), and your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.NovelFire.net to read.)