Strange Life of a Cat
Chapter 405 - Chapter 405 Chapter 389 Inescapable Wherever You Go_2

Chapter 405: Chapter 389 Inescapable Wherever You Go_2 Chapter 405: Chapter 389 Inescapable Wherever You Go_2 Mr. Jiao glanced over at Zheng Tan. Zheng Tan turned his head and even took a small step back, signaling to Mr. Jiao that he was not amenable.

With a plan in mind, Mr. Jiao said, “I won’t lie, Heitan fell seriously ill at the end of last year and stayed in the Pet Center for a week. Since then, many pet advertisements have greatly reduced filming time.”

It was true. Zheng Tan had indeed been participating in fewer filming sessions with Xiao Guo lately compared to before. However, Xiao Guo was observing Zheng Tan’s health, and if he confirmed that Zheng Tan was still robust, he would likely increase the workload again–this, Mr. Jiao did not mention.

With the older cats at the Pet Center getting on in years and several already reducing their activity, the new cats in the filming team were still in the “training” phase and hadn’t meshed well. So lately, Xiao Guo was worried. Looking around, Zheng Tan was the only one still full of pep. If not for the fact that the Jiao family was taking Jiao Yuan to school and going on a trip, Zheng Tan would have been dragged by Xiao Guo to support the scene.

“Sick?!” Yang Yi was unaware of this, as he had been very busy this year and had not talked much with Xiao Guo. Since the Jiao family had not shared this and Yang Yi himself hadn’t inquired, he naturally didn’t know about Zheng Tan’s condition.

When the topic of Zheng Tan’s illness came up, all four members of the Jiao family were in low spirits, and Jiao Ma didn’t even want to recall those moments.

Seeing the expressions on the Jiao family’s faces, Yang Yi realized that it wasn’t the right time to continue the conversation, or else he might invite blame. He decided he would investigate the matter more thoroughly later.

After that, Yang Yi didn’t bring up acting or other filming projects involving Zheng Tan anymore and shifted to lighter topics.

“Don’t worry, if Jiao Yuan gets bored, he can come over for a visit. We may not have much else, but we do have lots of celebrities,” said Yang Yi, half-jokingly.

Jiao Ma really did not want Jiao Yuan to be exposed to celebrities too much. Although she had a few favorite stars herself, the idea of Jiao Yuan mingling with female stars? She’d rather he not come over at all.

Yang Yi had planned to treat the Jiao family to a meal, but Mr. Jiao politely declined.

Yang Yi didn’t insist, but he did give the Jiao family several signed albums and DVDs from celebrities, as well as a magazine with Zheng Tan and Li Wei’s photos on the cover, which Jiao Ma was very happy to accept. She preferred magazines featuring her own cat over celebrity signatures.

After expressing their thanks, the Jiao family said their goodbyes and left. Yang Yi had Sara give them a tour of the company. Seeing that Jiao Yuan and Little Youzi were curious about the company, Yang Yi was happy to oblige. Part of it was due to Zheng Tan, and another part because of Fang Shaokang. Knowing that the Jiao family had a good relationship with Fang Shaokang, Yang Yi considered it more carefully.

As Sara led them through the company, they encountered several familiar faces who were curious about the Jiao family but also knew better than to pry too much.

Upon leaving, they ran into Wei Kala again. Just yesterday, they had asked for an autograph from a fellow townsman. As Wei Kala greeted them, Jiao Yuan and Little Youzi chatted with Wei Kala for a bit longer.

Sara stood to the side, smiling but saying nothing.

Once Sara took the Jiao family to the elevator, Wei Kala and her manager moved to a secluded corner.

“Who were those people just now?” her manager asked.

“They’re probably the boss’s friends,” Wei Kala paused before adding, “At the start of the year, I went back to Chuhua City for the provincial ceremony and saw that Professor Jiao.”

Wei Kala had an excellent memory. During the award ceremony, she had made a mental note of every person who went on stage to receive an award and some of their information. She had also revisited the internal recordings. The people who could stand on that stage today might achieve even higher places tomorrow. Even if she didn’t cross paths with them in life, Wei Kala wouldn’t antagonize these people. Of course, there was no need to be overly solicitous either. A basic courtesy was sufficient upon meeting them. It was for this reason that when Professor Jiao had asked for an autograph previously, Wei Kala’s attitude had been quite good.

Yet, Wei Kala hadn’t expected that someone she had given an autograph to would now be acquainted with her company’s big boss.

Wei Kala was silently relieved that if they really were familiar faces, and if they spoke up in front of the boss…

Why had Xue Ding and Tao Qi risen from obscurity to fame in just a year? It wasn’t only because of last year’s movie. What was crucial was Boss Yang’s word. Because of Yang Yi’s statement, they seized their opportunity and made it big.

After a moment’s thought, Wei Kala suddenly smiled.

“What is it?” Her manager was confused by her sudden smile.

“Someone might be in for some bad luck,” Wei Kala said.

“Who?”

“My fellow townsman,” Wei Kala said as he stepped toward the stairs.

A fellow townsman? The agent raised an eyebrow. Normally, when talking about Wei Kala’s townsman, aside from Chang Ying, who was both a singer and an actor, there was no one else.

Wei Kala remembered that at the beginning of the year, during the celebration in Chuhua City, Professor Jiao had asked many celebrities for autographs, claiming they were for his child. Other people were quite accommodating, while that fellow townsman of his had given Professor Jiao the cold shoulder on the spot. Fortunately, Professor Jiao had been gracious enough not to take it to heart. If it had been someone petty and vengeful, they might have hissed a word or two to some entertainment reporters, and in combination with the arguments on the internet at that time, there probably would have been another denunciation rally.

At Yang Yi’s end, after the Jiao family had left, he made a phone call. Before leaving the company that afternoon, there were two documents on his desk–one about Zheng Tan, focusing on the incident when Zheng Tan fell ill, and the other about the Jiao family. Relatively simpler and not too detailed, except for one incident: the Provincial Celebrities Gala that Professor Jiao attended at the beginning of the year. Since two of their own artists were involved, they managed to dig up a bit more information.

After looking at the documents in hand, Yang Yi called over one of his assistants.

“Chang Ying has been quite glorious lately,” Yang Yi said seemingly casually.

The assistant was startled and glanced at Yang Yi, knowing that the boss was dissatisfied with some of Chang Ying’s behaviors.

“Since she feels too busy to cope, let’s give her some time off,” Yang Yi said.

“Actually, she’s quite talented in this respect.”

Yang Yi laughed, “Talent? Is that something this circle lacks? It’s just that she’s been hyped up too much in the past two years, losing sight of her own position.” Yang Yi had no intention of keeping an artist who, regardless of their talent, was arrogant, trampled others, and offended people everywhere.

The assistant by his side twitched. This meant a warning shot before taking further action–if she did not learn her lesson, she would probably be crossed off Boss Yang’s support list. Inwardly, the assistant lit a candle for Chang Ying.

In the following days, the Jiao family stayed around Beijing University. Jiao Yuan went through some procedures, was taken by Mr. Jiao to visit a few of their friends in Beijing, and after everything was settled, the Jiao family with one cat even took a photo in Jiao Yuan’s dorm room.

Jiao Yuan’s roommate laughed and said it was one thing for Jiao Yuan’s parents and sister to visit, but it was quite unusual for them to bring a cat as well. They had seen pets like dogs being brought, but this was their first time seeing a cat, and they were naturally curious.

“It’s part of our family; where we go, it can’t be left behind,” Jiao Yuan told his roommate.

Zheng Tan had no special feelings about his own university days; he rarely stayed in the dormitory, and had almost no recollection of his school’s dormitories. Comparing with some dormitories at Chuhua University, Jiao Yuan’s room had minor differences, but the layout was very similar and quite acceptable.

No matter how reluctant Jiao Ma was, when the time came, they still had to leave.

And this departure meant they would probably not see Jiao Yuan again until the New Year.

Every year at the start of the new school term, Zheng Tan would see parents wiping away tears as they left their children at Chuhua University, and this time, it was Jiao Ma’s turn. A mother’s concern travels a thousand miles with her child.

Jiao Yuan stood at the Jing University Gate, watching Mr. Jiao’s car drive away. Beside him, many young students filled with confidence and ambition came and went, but Jiao Yuan didn’t stand out among them.

After the car vanished from sight, Jiao Yuan stood in place for another minute before turning to look at the four large characters over the gate. He took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and turned to enter the gate.

Despite Jiao Ma’s smiling face when they parted at the gate, as soon as she got in the car, her eyes reddened. She didn’t look back as they left, and on the journey back to Chuhua City, Jiao Ma cried as if it were the end of the world, with Little Youzi weeping alongside her and Mr. Jiao’s attempts to console them both proving ineffective.

Continuing to drive and focus on the road ahead, Mr. Jiao didn’t know if he was speaking to Jiao Ma or to himself.

“They have to grow up. Eventually, you have to let go.” (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.NovelFire.net.)