After Saving My Possessive Best Friend, I Couldn't Escape (GL) - Chapter 46.2

Fang Zhile thought, Ye Yu looks so adorable saying I’m adorable. Since it didn’t hurt, she let her pinch her face. Fang Zhile endured the pinching, but tilting her head back for so long strained her neck. She couldn’t help but move her facial muscles to create space around her lips. She mumbled, “The clinic closes at nine.”

Ye Yu reluctantly withdrew her hands, her eyes still holding a lingering sense of regret.

They hailed a taxi. Half an hour later, they were face-to-face with a hairless cat that looked more bizarre than an Egyptian pharaoh, staring at each other in bewilderment.

Ye Yu swallowed, silently retracting her outstretched index finger into her palm. She said dryly, “The last time… was it… like this?”

Fang Zhile shook her head, her expression unreadable. “Compared to this…”

She was about to say it looked better before. But now, except for the thin fuzz on its belly, Xiaohua was bare, with a shiny, taut, exposed stomach. Its aggressively unique and fierce face, typical of a cat general, was magnified several times and set atop its soccer-ball belly. Confronted with this sight, Fang Zhile swallowed every compliment.

“Mhm, it’s just this ugly,” Fang Zhile concluded ruthlessly.

Seemingly startled from its sleep by the two humans outside the cage, Xiaohua’s ears perked up. A low, “activating” purr rumbled in its throat. Its two round black eyes rolled, fixing right on Fang Zhile.

Fang Zhile waved. “Hi.”

Xiaohua froze for two seconds, then instantly sprang up. Its back arched into a perfect circle, and it bared its teeth, letting out an angry roar, “Awoo-meow-wa—”

The clinic doctor walked over, saw the scene, and burst into uncontrollable laughter.

Ye Yu rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. “I don’t know what it’s saying, but I’m guessing it’s cursing horribly.”

Fang Zhile was annoyed. She poked a bald feather stick into the cage, touching Xiaohua’s forehead. She said fiercely, “I knew you weren’t my biological child…”

“Awooo!”

Xiaohua opened its gaping maw and bit the cat stick in half. Then it unleashed its “Foshan Shadowless Claws,” furiously scratching the cage. In an instant, the entire cage, along with the table, shook violently and fell to the floor with a crash.

The cage door wasn’t secured tightly enough. The moment it hit the ground, the iron wire securing the door sprang open. Xiaohua, as if guided by a supernatural force, bolted out of the cage like lightning, heading straight for Fang Zhile.

“Ahhh, it’s rebelling!” Fang Zhile screamed in fright, throwing herself onto the person next to her. She used her arms and legs to launch herself into Ye Yu’s embrace, yelling in sheer terror, “Save me! Save me! Save me!”

Ye Yu: …

Ye Yu instinctively tightened her grip on the person in her arms. Startled by the sudden weight of a grown person, Ye Yu was momentarily stunned. Then, she quickly wrapped her arms around Fang Zhile’s knees to prevent her from sliding down. The space seemed to freeze for a moment.

“Don’t be afraid. It didn’t bite anyone,” Ye Yu looked down, patting Fang Zhile’s back.

Fang Zhile hugged her even tighter, scrambling a few inches higher onto Ye Yu’s body, clamping her legs tightly around Ye Yu’s thighs. “No, no, it’s bristling!”

“Where does it have hair?” Ye Yu helplessly stroked Fang Zhile’s back. Her cheek brushed against Fang Zhile’s collarbone. The intimacy of the posture, despite being born from such a ridiculous scenario, banished any romantic thoughts. “Just look for yourself.”

Since Ye Yu said so, Fang Zhile cautiously glanced back. The “bristling” cat was squatting nearby, baring its teeth. Its big head was rubbing against the doctor’s pants. It occasionally looked up at the human attachment figure with a fierce expression tinged with unconcealed stupidity. The sight was instantly disarming.

Fang Zhile lightly coughed a few times, slid down from Ye Yu, and straightened her clothes and the bag tangled on her back. Then she lowered her head to meet Xiaohua’s face, saying awkwardly, “You need to speak properly and be a well-behaved cat with morals.”

Xiaohua’s way of showing affection was as rough and unrefined as its appearance. Hearing Fang Zhile’s comment, it immediately opened its little, blood-red mouth and hissed at her.

Fang Zhile: …

Ye Yu said, “Why don’t you pet it?”

The girl and the cat exchanged glances. After four or five seconds of silence, they both awkwardly looked away simultaneously.

Fang Zhile refused. “Next time. Definitely next time.”

Ye Yu squatted down and stroked Xiaohua’s head. The cat immediately rubbed against her, turning its body to press into Ye Yu’s palm, behaving very affectionately.

Fang Zhile turned to the doctor, who was now laughing and resting on the table, and performed her parental duty in a different direction. “Does it have any other wounds?”

The doctor rubbed his stomach and sat up straight. “No. The shaving was because it was too dirty and full of bacteria. The tail needs surgery to prevent infection.”

“Will the surgery result in an open wound?” Fang Zhile was a little nervous. She squatted behind Xiaohua’s rear, reached out to hold its back, forcing it to stick its rear end out so she could examine it closely with an investigative look. “Is there any danger?”

Fang Zhile seemed completely unaware of the extent of harm her actions were inflicting on a newly shaved, exposed kitten. Xiaohua retaliated with a scratch. Its trimmed claws instantly left three white marks on Fang Zhile’s hand.

Fang Zhile pulled her hand back late. She was so angry she rolled up her sleeves, ready to catch the cat.

Ye Yu pulled Xiaohua into her arms. “Stop provoking it,” she said helplessly.

The doctor handed them the bill and explained in detail. “This is the procedure for wound treatment. Take a look. The tail is a crush injury. The bone is shattered. Conservative treatment definitely won’t work; it needs to be amputated. The sooner the better,” the doctor said, pointing to the blurred area on the X-ray film.

Fang Zhile didn’t hesitate. She pulled out her phone to pay. “Fine, Doctor, you know best. Just cure it. Thankfully, it’s only the tail. Cutting it off is fine. Maybe this cat will learn a lesson.”

Ye Yu quickly pressed her hand down, blocking her phone. “How about we check another vet clinic?”

“Actually, it’ll be the same wherever you go,” the doctor had a good temper and wasn’t bothered by the idea of them transferring clinics. “The tail is in this condition. Amputation is generally recommended. It’s not the spine or the hind legs. While the tail affects a cat’s balance and is an important social tool, it doesn’t affect its vital signs. If we keep it, it will just droop, which is more inconvenient.”

Ye Yu thought for a moment and asked Fang Zhile, “What do you think?”

Fang Zhile ran a hand through her hair. She naturally supported the doctor’s decision.

However, judging by Ye Yu’s expression, she obviously felt sorry that Xiaohua, this ill-mannered cat who was already ugly and prone to fighting, would be even more bullied by humans and other cats without a tail.

After all, Ye Yu was a kind person who was endlessly benevolent toward cats and other small animals.

But their current circumstances clearly didn’t allow them to be responsible for Xiaohua’s entire life. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to keep it; Xiaohua didn’t want to be kept.

“Xiaohua is a stray cat. It’s used to freedom; we can’t restrict it,” Fang Zhile said softly. “We have to respect the cat’s fate. This is all we can do.”

Ye Yu lowered her head and withdrew her hand, saying “Oh.”

Fang Zhile stroked Ye Yu’s head. Her hair felt incredibly smooth.

The doctor started explaining the surgery time, precautions, postoperative recovery, and potential risks and complications to Fang Zhile. Ye Yu held Xiaohua and listened quietly until it was time to pay. Then, she suddenly intercepted Fang Zhile’s phone with her own, scanning the QR code three centimeters above Fang Zhile’s phone.

Fang Zhile: … This natural, effortless way of paying, complete with an expression that says, ‘You belong to me,’ is truly irritating!

“The total is two thousand seven,” the doctor said, looking at Fang Zhile’s expression. The bill in his hand suddenly felt extremely hot. He hesitated. “Should I refund her, and then you pay?”

Fang Zhile’s heroic ambition to work hard and support Ye Yu suffered a severe blow in the face of Ye Yu’s wealth. She struggled to keep her composure for a while, then casually withdrew her phone, appearing composed and generous. “No need.”

After all, Ye Yu is richer than me right now. It’s foolish not to take advantage of a good deal. Yes, that’s it!

When the two emerged from the clinic, it was just past nine. Fang Zhile checked her watch and apologized. “I might have to move tomorrow. I don’t know if that’s convenient for you.”

“Oh, so you do remember that you need to move,” Ye Yu said playfully. “Running to the hospital right after school, remembering to visit your classmate for the teacher, and remembering to visit Xiaohua, but you forgot about moving.”

Mentioning so many things made Fang Zhile feel exhausted. After two consecutive days of high-intensity revision and exams, a full night of no sleep, and fighting wits with Han Qi and Xiaohua, even a person of steel would be tired.

However, Fang Zhile looked at the person next to her and felt a sense of relief. At least she had Ye Yu with her.

“You must be tired too. I’m so sorry I dragged you around all night,” Fang Zhile said softly.

Above the quiet street, a pale, unspectacular moon shone. They stood in the wind, neither of them speaking for a moment. Both had their little secrets, carefully guarded from the other, yet at this moment, they both felt the exhaustion of maintaining the pretense, and the comforting sense of being fundamentally understood despite the secrecy.

From the moment Sun Li threatened to spread her “explicit photos,” and Ye Yu inferred from the surveillance camera in her dorm that Fang Zhile had been bullied, they had both been operating almost simultaneously, pursuing their own courses of action around similar yet distinct events. The starting points seemed different, but they were heading toward the same goal.

Ye Yu’s breathing was long and steady. Strands of her long hair often scattered around, lightly brushing the face of the person beside her, a distinct, ticklish sensation.

“You’re the one who’s tired, aren’t you? Studying, working, worrying about your teacher’s affairs, and now Xiaohua is added to the list. I don’t think your goal of gaining muscle will be achieved anytime soon,” Ye Yu said, laughing teasingly.

Fang Zhile looked up and turned her neck. She heard a click, her cervical vertebrae cracking under the strain. “It’s not that exhausting. After all, I’m a student. You don’t know how easy students have it…” Fang Zhile almost let slip her secret here, quickly clamping her mouth shut.

Unexpectedly, Ye Yu not only didn’t press her but also seemed to share a similar perspective. “The fatigue of the body is different from the exhaustion of the mind, isn’t that what you mean?”

Fang Zhile didn’t speak, just giving her a thumbs-up.

Ye Yu started walking forward. She was wearing a pair of white sneakers today. Having walked so much, the white edges were slightly covered in dust, but they didn’t look dirty. She looked down at the road, talking as she walked. “I understand. Things that don’t take mental effort are always simpler.”

Ye Yu smiled, using her own experience as an example. “For example, birthdays are different for me than for others. After I started middle school, I realized everyone loved celebrating birthdays and festivals, especially Lunar New Year and the Lantern Festival. I was curious why everyone liked days that required sitting still and being manipulated all day. Later, I realized we celebrated different kinds of holidays.”

Fang Zhile grabbed a handful of hair and jogged to catch up, walking on Ye Yu’s left without speaking. She could feel Ye Yu’s mood was low right now. She didn’t need conversation, just a quiet presence.

“Especially birthdays,” Ye Yu looked at the dim moon in the sky, framing it with her hands. “Every year on my birthday, I’d wake up early, wash up, dress in specific clothes, and either go to a photo studio or stay at home to take a family photo. Afterward, we’d have a morning meeting. Mom and Dad would sit on the living room sofa, and I would stand in front of them, listening to their summary and critique of my year. Most of it was pointing out flaws, setting expectations: you’re not good enough, your calligraphy isn’t good enough, your behavior isn’t mature enough, and so on.”

Fang Zhile was suffocating hearing this. What kind of family raises a child like that? Were they raising a child or conducting a psychological experiment? Even the most perverse East Asian companies wouldn’t treat their employees like that!

Perhaps sensing the grimace on the person next to her, Ye Yu stopped to appreciate the expression for a moment, patted Fang Zhile’s shoulder, and comforted her. “Relax. I don’t feel anything now.”

Fang Zhile clenched her fists in indignation, cursing silently inside.

“After the meeting, I needed to make a speech to set my goals for the next year. I was quite rebellious when I was little. I’d feign ignorance to avoid the atmosphere. Mom and Dad would occasionally let it go if I couldn’t set a goal immediately, but most of the time, even if I couldn’t state a goal, I had to show the right attitude, like actively admitting my faults and promising to try harder,” Ye Yu lowered her hands from framing the moon. She stepped onto the edge of the roadside curb, stretching her arms out to balance herself. Her voice fluctuated with her body’s sway, sounding like a melancholy coquette. “I was always very obedient. I gave whatever attitude they wanted. Feigning sweetness and compliance came naturally, so they wouldn’t say much.”

“Finally, we’d have dinner together. Mom and Dad always thought cake and longevity noodles had poor nutritional value, so they never prepared them. I never had a birthday cake before I was twelve… but the cake I secretly bought for my twelfth birthday wasn’t that great either.”

Fang Zhile fell half a step behind, her eyes focused on the person ahead with constant concern. She kept her hands slightly open, ready to catch her if she stumbled.

“That kind of environment is abnormal and unhealthy,” Fang Zhile felt she needed to state her position now. “Unless you don’t love a person at all, you wouldn’t bear to treat them like that.”

Ye Yu’s swaying hands stopped at a certain angle. She didn’t turn around. “What?”

“The love you can’t feel doesn’t exist,” Fang Zhile walked up to Ye Yu, held her forearm, and pulled her off the curb to stand steady on the pavement. Her tone was casually light, a lightness that diluted the thick emotion in Ye Yu’s voice and shifted her focus entirely. “Xiaoyu, sometimes we tend to confuse the inherent concepts of different categories of people. People come in many forms. Just because someone has the title of ‘father’ or ‘mother,’ it doesn’t mean they transform into a parent who loves their child. Simply put, parents come in many forms.”

In the darkness, Ye Yu couldn’t clearly see the person’s face, but she could sense the firm warmth radiating from her through her breath, touch, and words.

Fang Zhile said, “Look at Zhou’s mother. She has done many things for her child. Her starting point is to do good for Zhou Meize. Although her overbearing nature has caused Zhou Meize to reject and resent her in practice, it doesn’t negate the fact that she loves Zhou Meize.”

“And Li Zi. Her parents prioritize career over family. They spend most of their time at the company but gave Li Zi plenty of money and arranged the best schools for her. When the indecent photos leaked, they spent money to suppress the news, and finally, they grounded Li Zi. Oh, and I heard she can’t leave the house for half a year, right? Regardless of whether this parenting style is right or wrong, there’s still guidance, protection, and restraint. Li Zi probably won’t get completely out of control. Maybe with her parents’ efforts, she can still return to the right path in society.”

“As for the people you met earlier, Han Qi’s parents, setting aside the outdated notions brought about by their poverty, they are not dominant in front of their child.”

Ye Yu tilted her head, sounding confused. “Han Qi’s parents aren’t dominant?”

“When I knocked, Han Qi’s parents opened the door. Their posture was timid. They couldn’t meet their child’s eyes,” Fang Zhile recalled. “Even when they asked me to leave, Han Qi’s mother’s gaze was always drifting toward Han Qi. It was a look of guilt, sorrow, and humility.”

Ye Yu thought for a moment, seeming to agree with Fang Zhile’s perspective, but dismissed it. “So what? Didn’t they still completely sell out their daughter?”

“It’s different,” Fang Zhile shook her head. “They might be selfish, they might be ignorant, and they might even be selfish and ignorant enough to ruin their daughter’s life, but you can’t say they are indifferent to their daughter’s pain. A child who lacked love from an early age wouldn’t shrink back when bullied. Have you seen those aggressive young people on the street? No one is holding them back. They respond to malice with malice. They would relentlessly attack the people who bullied them like mad dogs. Only children who grew up in a normal, or at least a loving environment, would react like Han Qi.”

“So, what I’m trying to say is,” Fang Zhile suddenly reached out and pulled Ye Yu’s hand. It was a slender hand, pale and cold, never seeming to warm up. If left in the cool wind for ten seconds, it would turn completely cold. This was why Fang Zhile had been accustomed to interlocking her fingers with Ye Yu’s and keeping it in her pocket for the past decade or so. It was as if warming her hands, which connected to her heart, could guide Ye Yu toward warmth. Now, she held Ye Yu’s hands again. “I haven’t experienced what you have, but please don’t be afraid. It’s not your fault that you didn’t have good parents. You just had bad luck in the first half of your life.”

Fang Zhile’s palm always seemed to be scorching. The moment it touched Ye Yu’s skin, it caused a sensation of searing pain. Fang Zhile said these experiences were normal, that Ye Yu was no different. Running into parents who didn’t love her wasn’t her fault either.

Ye Yu flinched. Her fingers involuntarily curled up, but Fang Zhile, with an undeniable grip, straightened them one by one, then interlaced their fingers. The skin between their fingers was tender and sensitive. As they rubbed together, the heat intensified. The sensation, like tiny sparks bursting, shot up every nerve ending until it exploded into a brilliant firework display in her mind.

“But now everything is fine. I’ll be by your side,” Fang Zhile’s voice was dreamlike amidst the distant buzz of city life. “I am smart, direct, I never conceal, and I never betray. For your birthdays, festivals, and every day to come, I will be with you.”

In Fang Zhile’s descriptions, Ye Yu’s expression softened uncontrollably, revealing the look of ultimate anticipation. Fang Zhile spoke slowly, like making a promise, recounting the experiences of the past years, as if they were endless joy.

“We will take the college entrance exam together and get into the same university.”

“In college, we will walk the tree-lined avenues to class and meals in the spring. We will hide in air-conditioned rooms, eating watermelon and drinking cold drinks in the summer. We will go to orchards outside the city to enjoy the autumn air. We will hold hand warmers and watch the snow fall in the winter.”

“We will join the same clubs, participate in all sorts of messy club activities. We will go to concerts together, spend crazy review weeks at the library together, pass the CET-4 and CET-6 exams together, and chase high GPA scores together.”

“After graduation, we will rent a small house, eat dinner together after work, and live every day like this.”

Just as they had for the past decade, consistently, without ever growing tired of it.

“I will always be your knight.”