After Becoming Roommates with My Flirty Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 32

Zheng Yun didn’t recognize Zhang Hui at first. Their last encounter had been over a month ago at the mall, and she had almost forgotten he existed.

It wasn’t until Yu Xia instinctively pulled her behind her, frowning at the man who was preening like a peacock in front of the woman in the white dress, that Zheng Yun realized who he was.

“Zhao Zhao, did you get the kitten?” Zhang Hui gazed at Mu Zhao with feigned affection, stealing glances at the surrounding crowd to bask in their attention.

Unfortunately, the leading lady refused to play along. Mu Zhao’s face showed none of the bashful delight Zhang Hui had imagined. She calmly accepted the flowers and asked, “What are you doing?”

Yu Xia and Zheng Yun stood at the entrance of the pet store, hidden behind the crowd. Zhang Hui, oblivious to their presence, continued to use the doorway as his stage, putting on a show.

“I came to pick you up. Are you happy?” Zhang Hui raised an eyebrow, mistaking Mu Zhao’s reaction for nervousness and answering his own question.

“No, I’m not happy,” Mu Zhao replied, trying to save face for both their families by not embarrassing him too much. “Thank you for coming to pick me up.”

Her tone was too calm. Zhang Hui finally realized Mu Zhao had no interest in his performance.

Yu Xia, watching from above, saw Zhang Hui’s face twitch as he suppressed his anger. He forced a smile and said, “You’re welcome. It’s my pleasure to pick you up whenever you need a ride.”

Mu Zhao frowned slightly, the words of refusal hovering on her tongue, but she didn’t voice them.

Zheng Yun tugged at Yu Xia’s hand. “Xiaxia?”

They exchanged a glance, both seeing the same resistance in each other’s eyes.

Zhang Hui’s actions hadn’t left any lasting psychological scars on them; once the incident was over, they hadn’t given it another thought. But seeing him again so unexpectedly brought back the memory of being cornered in the mall and interrogated, triggering a wave of nausea.

Ignoring Zhang Hui’s outstretched hand, Mu Zhao returned the bouquet. “We still have to wait a while. Why don’t you put the flowers in the car? It’s not convenient to bring them into the hospital.”

But bringing the flowers into the hospital would have allowed more people to witness his romantic gesture. A large bouquet like this was expensive; wouldn’t it be a waste not to let others see it?

He persisted, but Mu Zhao was growing impatient. Pressing her hand against the flowers, she said, “This is a hospital.”

Zhang Hui finally relented. He opened the car door, carefully placed the flowers in the passenger seat, and closed the door. He then reached for Mu Zhao’s hand, but she subtly evaded his grasp and turned to walk toward Zheng Yun and Yu Xia.

It was only then that Zhang Hui noticed Yu Xia and Zheng Yun standing apart from the crowd.

Yu Xia shielded half of Zheng Yun’s body, positioning herself in front to prevent Zhang Hui from bumping into her while already formulating a counterargument in her mind.

“This is Zhang Hui,” Mu Zhao introduced flatly.

“Hello,” Zhang Hui said, sweat beading on his forehead.

From the start, he knew the two women were tourists, but he never imagined they would stay in Yuncheng for two months. Even more surprising, the kitten his current romantic interest had taken a liking to had been rescued by them. And now, of all places, he had run into them at the hospital.

A tempest raged within him, but his face remained impassive, feigning complete ignorance as he prayed they wouldn’t expose him in front of Mu Zhao.

Yu Xia didn’t even glance at him. Turning to Mu Zhao, she stated bluntly, “Hello. I’ve reconsidered. I don’t think your situation is suitable for adopting the kitten. I’m sorry.”

As Mu Zhao had mentioned, if she and Zhang Hui naturally progressed to marriage, the two kittens would end up living with him—a situation that offered the kittens no benefits and potential harm. After careful consideration, Yu Xia and Zheng Yun had unanimously decided to withdraw their offer.

“…May I ask why?” Mu Zhao’s usually composed expression finally cracked, revealing surprise. She couldn’t understand. Everything had been settled before Zhang Hui arrived. Once Yu Xia’s friend arrived, she could take the kitten home. Why would Yu Xia suddenly change her mind?

Yu Xia had no intention of sparing Zhang Hui’s feelings. She stated her reason plainly: “We have a history with your date and don’t believe he would treat the kitten well.”

Zhang Hui bristled at this. After their last encounter, his mother had contacted Mu Zhao’s family, and they had hit it off immediately. He had been pursuing Mu Zhao relentlessly, and she was finally on the verge of relenting. He couldn’t let all his efforts go to waste.

“The incident last time was a misunderstanding, an accident,” Zhang Hui said, feigning humility. “Can I apologize to both of you? Please don’t make things difficult for Zhao Zhao. She just loves cats.”

Yu Xia had never encountered such brazenness—someone who could shift blame onto others so shamelessly. She scoffed coldly, “Did I even address you?”

Mu Zhao glanced at Zhang Hui and sighed. Based on her limited understanding of him, the “history” Yu Xia mentioned was unlikely to be a mere misunderstanding.

Feeling utterly drained, Mu Zhao resolved to discuss the matter with her parents again at home. She nodded slightly and asked, “Then can I see the kitten one more time?”

Yu Xia and Zheng Yun had no objections to Mu Zhao. Zheng Yun even felt a pang of sympathy for her, sensing the helplessness in her words—the pressure she was under from her parents, and now this added trouble from a man she had no connection to, which she had to accept with forced composure.

But Yu Xia would not.

She had poured most of her meager affection into Zheng Yun, reserving the remainder for a few close friends. Strangers received only cold indifference.

Yu Xia was about to refuse outright, but Zheng Yun spoke first.

“Thank you for coming.” Mu Zhao followed Zheng Yun and Yu Xia to see the kittens.

Zhang Hui shamelessly trailed behind. Aware that making a scene in the busy hospital would be inappropriate, Yu Xia could only glare at him, positioning herself between him and Zheng Yun to prevent him from touching even the hem of Zheng Yun’s clothes.

Ideally, he wouldn’t even breathe the same air.

Mu Zhao crouched down and playfully teased the kittens. The energetic furballs meowed loudly, eliciting a genuine smile from her.

After her smile faded, she asked Yu Xia wistfully, “Do they really need to be rehomed within the next few days?”

She still wanted to try.

“Yes,” Yu Xia replied bluntly.

Mu Zhao stood up and said her goodbyes. “Then I’ll be going now. I hope you find suitable homes for them.”

“I’m sorry you had to come all this way,” Zheng Yun said, feeling guilty. Mu Zhao clearly loved the kittens, and they couldn’t bear the thought of entrusting them to Zhang Hui.

“It’s no problem. The kittens are adorable,” Mu Zhao smiled and turned to leave.

“Wait, wait,” Zhang Hui, who had been shamelessly trailing Yu Xia, suddenly spoke up. “Doesn’t this look like my missing cat?”

“Your… missing cat?” Yu Xia repeated incredulously.

“That’s right! It went missing right after giving birth. I searched all night,” Zhang Hui exclaimed, suddenly realizing, “So you’re the ones who took it!”

He even tried to smear Yu Xia and Zheng Yun with accusations.

Mu Zhao eyed him suspiciously, while Zhang Hui pulled out his phone to “prove” himself. “I even have photos of it here!”

“Where do you live?” Yu Xia cut to the chase, too impatient for games.

The address Zhang Hui gave was roughly near where they had found the kitten. Yu Xia nodded. “That’s about right.”

Zhang Hui grinned smugly. “Then can I have my cat back? I want to give it to Zhao Zhao.”

“Then settle the hospital and surgery bills first,” Yu Xia said calmly. “We’ll cover the kitten’s nutritional costs as a gift.”

“How much?”

Yu Xia stated the amount.

“That’s so expensive!” Zhang Hui jumped back in shock. “Are you trying to scam me?”

“I have all the medical bills here, and you can verify them with the doctor,” Yu Xia retorted sarcastically. “If you’re broke, just admit it. Why change the subject?”

“I never asked you to save it!” Zhang Hui rolled his eyes. “Maybe someone stole it. How else would it get lost?”

“Lost right after giving birth?” Yu Xia countered.

“Stop talking nonsense and give me back my cat,” Zhang Hui said impatiently. “You volunteered to pay for its rescue, so don’t try to hold me responsible now.”

As he spoke, Zhang Hui reached for the cage to retrieve the cat. Mu Zhao, standing closest, raised her hand to block him, asking warily, “What are you trying to do?”

“Zhao Zhao,” Zhang Hui softened his tone, “you wanted these two cats, right? I was planning to give them to you anyway. Isn’t this perfect?”

Hearing this, Mu Zhao grew even more suspicious. She positioned herself protectively in front of the cage, questioning, “I’ve never heard you say that before.”

Zheng Yun asked doubtfully, “When we found the cats that day, they were tied up in a bag and thrown out. The mother cat had just given birth and was completely exhausted. Could they really have just wandered off?”

The answer, of course, was no.

Zhang Hui’s expression darkened. He threatened to call the police, declaring, “These are my personal belongings. I can do whatever I want with them. Zhao Zhao, aren’t I your boyfriend? Why aren’t you taking my side?”

Mu Zhao was bewildered. “When did I ever agree to that? And could you please calm down? This is a hospital. Stop shouting, okay?”

Four people were crammed into the room when an unfamiliar nurse entered, shooing them out. “What’s going on? Take it outside. You’re disturbing the animals’ rest.”

Zhang Hui reluctantly left.

He remembered Mu Zhao mentioning once that the competition for this adoption was fierce, and she was really looking forward to it.

As he stepped out, a thought struck him: he probably couldn’t fool Mu Zhao anymore, but with a cat, he might still be able to trick other young women.

This realization only strengthened his resolve to take the cat.

Standing at the entrance of the Pet Hospital, Zhang Hui continued to argue, threatening to call the police.

“Go ahead, call them right now,” Yu Xia retorted.

Zhang Hui was just trying to scare her. He wouldn’t dare actually call the police—they don’t handle abandoned cats and dogs, but if he tried to take the cat, they’d definitely make him pay the medical bills.

He’d spent all his savings renting a car. Where would he get the money? He was counting on Mu Zhao to start spending on him once he won her over.

Furious, Zhang Hui lunged at Yu Xia. Before she could react, Xiao Qi’s voice rang out: “What’s this? Thinking of hitting someone?”

If Yu Xia’s strength was like chopping firewood, Xiao Qi’s was like splitting mountains. Tall and wearing a short-sleeved shirt, her arm muscles flexed slightly as she spoke, not bulky, but enough to intimidate Zhang Hui.

Xiao Jiu fanned herself with a folding fan and leaned in to ask for the full story. Zhang Hui, terrified by Xiao Qi, dared not act up again, only muttering repeatedly for Yu Xia to return the cat or he’d post online about her stealing it.

Yu Xia showed no restraint and slapped him across the face, silencing him instantly.

Wiping her hand, Yu Xia said, “This slap is for the two kittens who died because of you.”

He started yelling about being assaulted, but the street was nearly deserted, and no one paid him any attention.

“Pay me! You hit me, you have to pay!” Zhang Hui clutched his cheek, his voice pathetic.

“Yu Xia spent more on the cat than your car rental and outfit combined,” Xiao Qi rolled her eyes dramatically. “The most important thing in life is knowing your place.”

Zhang Hui couldn’t argue; Xiao Qi’s words were true. He mumbled a few more times before turning and fleeing.

None of the five made any move to chase him. They watched as he scrambled into his car, started it with a screech, crashed into a roadside sign, frantically reversed, and sped into traffic.

“Now he’ll have to pay for the road damage and the car repairs,” Xiao Qi clapped her hands, marveling. “Instant karma!”

Xiao Jiu was ranting incessantly, acting as Mu Zhao’s mouthpiece to berate Zhang Hui for his shamelessness. Mu Zhao kept apologizing, saying she was deeply sorry for what had happened that night.

After piecing together the information, the group surmised that Zhang Hui had found a pregnant stray cat on the road. He planned to keep it until the kittens were born, then select the prettiest one to give to Mu Zhao as a gift.

However, on the day the kittens were born, Mu Zhao showed Zhang Hui a photo. After examining the litter, Zhang Hui realized none of the kittens resembled Qiuqiu, his own cat, and thus wouldn’t capture Mu Zhao’s heart. He simply packed them all up and abandoned them.

Mu Zhao covered her face with her hands, forcing a bitter smile. “Did those kittens die because of me?”

“It’s his fault, don’t blame yourself,” Zheng Yun comforted her. “In the end, his very existence is the greatest mistake.”

Mu Zhao murmured her thanks.

Zheng Yun, studying her face, couldn’t help but ask, “So, what about you and him…?”

“I’ll tell my parents everything tonight,” Mu Zhao said, closing her eyes wearily. “A man who would abandon newborn kittens has no conscience.”

Zheng Yun patted her shoulder reassuringly. Mu Zhao thanked her. “I’m fine. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. I’ve been looking for a reason to reject him, and now I’ve found it.”

Mu Zhao sighed, then smiled with relief. “May the lucky kitten bless me.”

After seeing off the last group of visitors, Yu Xia asked Xiao Qi, “How did you know his car was rented?”

Yu Xia had assumed it was a wedding gift from his family.

“I own the rental agency,” Xiao Qi said, squatting on the steps, showing no trace of her owner-like demeanor. “I saw the license plate go on myself. He’ll have to come see me again when we discuss compensation.”

“What’s with that look?” Xiao Qi asked, noticing Yu Xia’s complicated expression. “If we relied on Chuntianli for food, Xiao Jiu and I would starve.”

Yu Xia silently averted her gaze and sidled up to Zheng Yun.

Giving a birthday gift worth three apartments in a small city? These two could never starve.

Zheng Yun was still feeling melancholy. The three people who had come to inspect the kitten had all left, and the kitten remained in her arms.

“No one else coming?” Xiao Jiu asked, peering over.

“No one else,” Zheng Yun sighed.

“Then let’s take it home and raise it for now,” Xiao Qi suggested. “If it doesn’t work out, we can find an adoptive family.”

Xiao Jiu nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

Yu Xia went to handle the discharge paperwork for the two cats.

The mother cat lazily jumped onto the table, rolled around, and then leaped into Yu Xia’s arms. Yu Xia held the cat awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

When she had held the cats earlier, they had been weak and barely moved. Now that they had recovered, they squirmed in her arms, occasionally nudging her arm.

Yu Xia shot a pleading look at Zheng Yun, who suppressed a smile as she signed documents. “Xiaxia, you’ll need to take care of them for a few days. You’ll get used to it.”

Fortunately, Xiao Jiu was eager to hold the kitten. Yu Xia quickly passed the kitten to her, letting out a relieved sigh.

As the heavy, fluffy kitten left her arms, Yu Xia could still feel a lingering warmth in her embrace. The exposed skin of her arm retained the icy touch of the kitten’s nose.

She suddenly understood why pet owners loved holding their pets so tightly.

Zheng Yun cradled the palm-sized kitten, Xiao Jiu held the mother cat, Yu Xia carried the Pet Hospital’s “New Cat Owner’s Starter Kit,” and Xiao Qi held the car keys. The four of them hurried out of Aichong Pet Hospital.

It was mid-July, and the bright moon hung high, its silvery light dappling the green leaves in a hazy glow. The night was already late.

Xiao Qi drove, and the four of them returned to Chuntianli by the same route.

On the way home, Xiao Jiu asked Yu Xia what names they should give the two cats.

They hadn’t named them yet, thinking it would make it harder to give them away later. But now that they were keeping them for a few days, they couldn’t just keep calling them “cat.”

“Let’s call the mother cat Daguai and the kitten Xiaoguai,” Zheng Yun suggested, cradling the sleeping kitten with a smile. “The Guai family!”

Xiao Qi turned the steering wheel as the car entered the street leading to Chuntianli. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but retort, “You’re a graduate student! Can’t you come up with more meaningful names?”

“Like what?” Zheng Yun asked.

“Dog Egg,” Xiao Qi declared confidently. “It sounds like it was picked out of a trash can!”

“If anything, it should be Cat Egg,” Xiao Jiu countered, unbuckling her seatbelt as the car came to a stop. “Who names a cat Dog Egg?”

“Xiaxia, what do you think?” Zheng Yun turned to Yu Xia, who had been silent the whole time.

“The kitten should be called Maosheng,” Yu Xia said, getting out of the car and taking the kitten Zheng Yun handed her.

Zheng Yun’s fingers, which had been stroking the kitten, froze. She asked, slightly puzzled, “Xiaxia, does that name have some special meaning?”

“No. It was the only one left in the litter, so I named it Maosheng.”

Xiao Jiu burst into laughter, slapping the car hood wildly.

They decided to keep the kitten they’d rescued. Zheng Yun and Yu Xia carried the cat and a mountain of supplies up to the third floor.

The nurse had sent a long WeChat message filled with kitten care tips. Yu Xia stared at the screen, feeling dizzy for the first time in her life from reading so much text.

After careful consideration, they decided to keep the kitten in their own room.

Even if the mother cat could care for the kitten on her own, Zheng Yun and Yu Xia would constantly worry if they were in the next room, unable to sleep soundly. It was better to keep them where they could see them.

Yu Xia lined a cardboard box with a pee pad, checked that the windows were tightly closed, and went downstairs to fetch cat litter and a litter box. She set out food and water, and by the time everything was ready, it was past midnight.

After a long night dealing with chaotic people and events, both women were exhausted. They showered, exchanged a few hurried kisses, and collapsed into bed.

The next morning, they slept until mid-morning. Yu Xia woke up yawning and went to wash up, Zheng Yun following close behind. The bathroom was cramped, forcing them to brush their teeth side-by-side, the mirror only reflecting their touching shoulders.

In the mirror, Zheng Yun stood half a head shorter than Yu Xia. Her long hair was casually tied into a low ponytail for convenience, her skin pale and cool, the corners of her eyes tinged pink. The low-cut nightgown revealed her delicate collarbones. As Yu Xia wiped the water droplets from her face, her gaze drifted downward involuntarily.

These past few days, Zheng Yun had been busy not only finding adoptive families for the kitten but also preparing for Yu Xia’s birthday. Sometimes she would disappear for an entire afternoon, only to reappear at dinner.

The time they spent together had dwindled, and Yu Xia couldn’t hide her resentment. Once the kitten situation settled down, Zheng Yun resolved to properly appease her disgruntled girlfriend.

After rinsing the toothpaste from her mouth and drying her face, she wrapped her arms around Yu Xia’s neck, exchanging breaths that carried the same minty flavor.

Even the most inept student can pass with daily practice, let alone Zheng Yun and Yu Xia, who excelled at learning and improving.

In just two months, their kissing skills had reached perfection. Zheng Yun had become increasingly skilled at teasing, and Yu Xia indulged her boldness, one hand pressing against the back of Zheng Yun’s head while the other wrapped around her waist, refusing to let Zheng Yun pull away when their passion reached its peak.

Lost in their kiss, they emerged from the bathroom, pressed against the wall, and lit a cigarette. Soft gasps and the rustling of clothes filled the air.

Just as Yu Xia was about to take things further, a sudden “Meow” echoed through the room.

Four human eyes and four feline eyes locked simultaneously.

Yu Xia and Zheng Yun froze, caught between advancing and retreating.

The kitten, being non-human, couldn’t comprehend what the two women were doing.

Yu Xia understood this intellectually.

But the thought of being watched by those four eyes while indulging in their desires made her deeply uncomfortable.

Zheng Yun clearly shared Yu Xia’s thoughts, suppressing a laugh. “Xiaxia, should we continue?”

Yu Xia wanted to continue.

But with someone… or rather, a cat… watching, she couldn’t bring herself to.

“Shall we move to the next room?” Zheng Yun cupped Yu Xia’s cheeks, pressing their foreheads together and asking with a smile.

“Yes,” Yu Xia replied, relieved.

As soon as they entered the room, Yu Xia embraced Zheng Yun, her hand tracing a path up Zheng Yun’s slender, delicate leg. With a muffled groan from Zheng Yun, her hand navigated the floral garden, reaching its destination.

Having suppressed her desires for days, Yu Xia was relentless, not even allowing Zheng Yun to lie down. As a throbbing ache spread through Zheng Yun’s body, she could only cling tightly to the woman in her arms.

When the battle ended, Zheng Yun collapsed against Yu Xia’s shoulder, her breathing ragged from the exertion. Yu Xia held her close as they sat down, letting her recover.

When the phone rang, Zheng Yun froze momentarily before rising weakly to retrieve it from Yu Xia’s room.

Each step felt weighted, a tingling numbness spreading through her limbs. Rubbing her lower back, Zheng Yun vowed never to let Yu Xia exhaust her like this during the day again.

While Zheng Yun answered the call, Yu Xia took the opportunity to shower in Zheng Yun’s room. After finishing, she returned to her own room and found Zheng Yun staring blankly at the two kittens playing at her feet, lost in thought.

“…Wife?” Yu Xia called out, her face radiating contentment after a satisfying meal and a refreshing shower. She repeated the endearment for the second time.

“Hmm?” Zheng Yun snapped out of her reverie, forcing a smile.

“What were you thinking about?” Yu Xia asked.

“I was thinking…” Zheng Yun gazed at her, her eyes swirling with complex emotions, yet her smile remained fixed. “Could you call me that again?”

“Wife,” Yu Xia said, now much more at ease after having said it twice already.

“Xiaxia,” Zheng Yun reached out with her leg, the hem of her skirt sliding down to reveal the red marks left by Yu Xia’s fingers. Her slender leg hooked around Yu Xia’s, pulling her closer. “I want more.”

They didn’t even have time to change rooms.

Zheng Yun embraced Yu Xia, her actions unrestrained, as if releasing pent-up emotions. Yu Xia repeatedly asked about the earlier phone call, wondering if it had upset her, but Zheng Yun didn’t answer. Instead, she chased after Yu Xia’s hands and lips, repeatedly declaring her love.

The constant stream of “I love you” and Zheng Yun’s soft kisses dispelled Yu Xia’s doubts. She assumed it was just an outburst from recent stress.

Daguai lay sprawled on the table, Xiaoguai curled up beside him. The two kittens slept peacefully, occasionally waking to patrol their territory.

Finally, Zheng Yun, exhausted, drifted into a deep sleep. Her last words, murmured like a dream, were: “Xiaxia, I’ll always love you.”

Yu Xia smoothed the frown from Zheng Yun’s brow, a gentle smile playing on her lips, like an iceberg melting to nourish the world. Daguai leaped over and nuzzled her hand, while Xiaoguai stumbled across the table.

The scene was as serene as something from a dream.

Yu Xia thought, If only we could always be this happy.

But alas, life rarely goes as planned.