Lu Qin had just laid down when Orange suddenly came out of its cat house. It scratched the door twice, then lay down and began meowing softly, its voice filled with a mournful tone.
During the day, Orange spent a lot of energy playing with Dundun. At night, they usually slept in separate rooms and wouldn’t make a sound at the door.
The sound wasn’t loud either—low and subdued, as if Orange knew the people inside were sleeping. With a thick wooden door in between, the sound was muffled by 90%. If the two hadn’t been awake, they likely wouldn’t have heard it.
Pei Rong opened his eyes and whispered, “It’s in heat.”
Lu Qin instinctively felt accused and immediately clarified, “I’m not.”
(T/N: In spoken Chinese, there is no distinction between "he," "she," or "it" because they all sound the same: tā. That's why Lu Qin thought Pei Rong was talking about him.)
Could this be an attempt to use an unfounded accusation to kick him out of bed? He could absolutely prove his innocence… wait, but what if he was caught in a setup? If Pei Rong was fishing for evidence...
Pei Rong sat up and said, “I wasn’t talking about you.”
He pulled back the blanket, got out of bed barefoot from the foot of the bed, adjusted the neckline of his pajamas, and turned the doorknob to let Orange in.
Orange tilted its head and rubbed against his feet, its fluffy tail held high. “Meow-wow.”
At the same time, the night breeze carried in intermittent catcalls from outside, each one louder and more intense than the last. Pei Rong walked to the window and saw, under the glow of the streetlight, several pairs of glowing green eyes.
Cats drawn to Orange’s charm.
Orange moved to the side of Dundun’s bed, lay down, and continued meowing softly. Though it seemed uncomfortable, it clearly wasn’t interested in the overly amorous male cats trying to win her favor.
Pei Rong shut the double-paned soundproof windows and drew the blackout curtains tightly. During a recent check-up, the vet had mentioned that Orange was likely a newly mature Siberian cat and might go into heat in the autumn. He pulled out his phone and began searching for solutions.
Orange’s continuous meowing woke Dundun, who didn’t even need an instant noodle alarm this time.
Rubbing his eyes, Dundun groggily slid off the bed, sat down, and hugged Orange, resting his small head against the bedframe. He mumbled a couple of phrases—“Orange, I’m here”—as his eyelids drooped.
Pei Rong pinched the little guy’s chin and gave it a shake. “Wake up. Orange’s uncomfortable and calling for you.”
“Daddy...” Pei Dundun rubbed his head against the bedframe, finally waking up.
Pei Rong read aloud from his search results: “Pet its back to soothe it until it stops meowing and falls asleep. Then make its favorite food so it sleeps more soundly on a full stomach.”
“Dundun, you comfort Orange. Daddy’s going to make some fish puree.”
“Okay.” Dundun thought Orange was sick and immediately pursed his lips in determination, stroking her fur meticulously.
Pei Rong went to the kitchen to prepare the fish puree. He opened the fridge, took out a fresh yellow croaker, and steamed it. Then he grabbed an ear of corn and painstakingly plucked off a few golden kernels to boil.
The fish didn’t need to be fully steamed. Just peel off the meat, mix it with some corn kernels, stir it, and it’s ready in less than ten minutes.
Pei Rong carried the food to the bedroom and placed it in front of Orange.
Orange sniffed it and began eating very delicately.
Pei Dundun stared eagerly at Pei Rong. “Did you happen to make some…”
Instant noodles.
Pei Rong: “Nope.”
Instead, he handed Pei Dundun his milk bottle. “Here, drink this.”
Pei Dundun took the bottle and drank a big gulp.
Lu Qin frowned as he looked at the worn-out bottle that had been with them ever since Pei Dundun and his father reunited. “Why don’t you get a new one?”
Pei Rong: “This is his treasure.”
This bottle had been through thick and thin with Pei Dundun. It would be thrown over walls first before he climbed, tossed down before he jumped. Wherever Pei Dundun went, the bottle went first. After countless bottles had been broken, Pei Rong had finally managed to find this indestructible one, which even passed Pei Dundun’s quality standards. Hopefully, it would last until Pei Dundun no longer needed formula and could be preserved in a museum.
After Orange finished her fish puree, Pei Dundun simultaneously put down his bottle and continued patting his furry friend on the back.
Orange lay listlessly next to Pei Dundun’s hand. Normally, the cat would be jumping around, even standing taller than its young owner. But tonight, its usual energy was missing.
Dundun: “Dad, what’s wrong with Orange?”
Pei Rong: “It wants a cat friend.”
Pei Dundun glanced at his father’s watch. “Hmm, can we trade this one for another cat?”
In Pei Dundun’s eyes, Orange was priceless, and he didn’t believe everything could be bought with money.
Money couldn’t do it, but a watch could.
After all, Dad still had another watch!
Such a filial child.
Lu Qin clasped Pei Rong’s wrist, covering the watch face. “Dad can pick a friend for Orange, but this watch was a gift from me to your dad, so it can’t be traded.”
Pei Dundun suddenly had an epiphany. “Daddy Lu, did you give one to Dad and one to me?”
The watch Dad had given him—was it actually from Daddy Lu?
Lu Qin: “...Hmm.”
Pei Dundun: “Sorry, I used it to trade for Orange.”
Lu Qin: “It’s fine, worth it.”
Pei Dundun looked at Lu Qin sympathetically and leaned in to whisper near his ear, “The gift you gave, Dad doesn’t like it. He never used to wear it, only recently started wearing it.”
Just like him—when Dad wasn’t around, he’d climb trees with Orange; when Dad was around, he’d sit under the tree with Orange reading books.
“Dad said this is called ‘fake effort,’ a trick he’s long mastered,” Pei Dundun earnestly tried to enlighten the newer Daddy Lu. He could see that Daddy Lu wanted to get along with Dad, so he was generously sharing some small tactics for dealing with his dad.
Lu Qin: Heartbroken.
Whether in the past or now, the phrase "fake effort" pierced his heart like a dagger!
Pei Rong took a deep breath: “...” Kid, do you think you’re whispering?
Did you do it on purpose?
“So, what does your dad like?”
Pei Dundun started counting on his fingers: “An automatic cooking machine, an automatic hair-washing machine, an automatic milk-making machine, an automatic baby-holding machine…”
Dad always had new things he wanted.
Lu Qin glanced at the calm and composed big beauty beside him: “I can handle all of these. My company also develops smart home devices. Could I invite you to be a product experience officer for our new releases?”
Pei Rong: “...” A little tempted.
He went to bed, turned off the main light, leaving the bedside lamp on Dundun’s side, and instructed: “Pei Dundun, if Orange doesn’t sleep, you don’t sleep.”
Pei Dundun: “Got it!”
Naturally, Lu Qin stayed up with Dundun, letting Pei Rong go to sleep first.
He sighed: “A man can’t compare to a cat.”
When the cat was in heat, it had the big beauty cooking for it and the little one soothing it. When Lu Qin was in heat… not worth mentioning.
Pei Rong, as he pulled the blanket higher, paused slightly—someone seemed to have a lot of opinions.
Lu Qin glanced at the time, thought for a moment, and made a call to Secretary Wang, who was on a business trip in Siberia.
“Can you free up some time tomorrow?”
Secretary Wang: "Understood, President Lu. Your instructions?"
Lu Qin: "Find a few well-formed, recently matured Siberian forest cats—males. Tomorrow, we’ll arrange a video matchmaking session for Orange."
Secretary Wang, unfazed, replied: "Okay."
Lu Qin had his plans all laid out. Siberian forest cats were monogamous and co-parent their offspring.
Use the Lu family’s cat to keep Pei Orange in check. Use Orange to influence the little one. Use the little one to keep the beauty in line.
A perfectly interlocking plan. With small steps, achieve big results. This is how a financial tycoon drags his prey into the deep waters.
The next morning, Secretary Wang video-called Lu Qin.
President Lu connected his phone to the large HD TV in the living room. Pei Dundun sat in the center, holding Orange, and the matchmaking session began.
Secretary Wang showcased each cat one by one, with detailed explanations of their age, personality, and physical prowess.
Pei Dundun: "This one is nice."
"Wow, what a majestic cat!"
"This one’s even bigger than Orange!"
Orange: …
Pei Dundun: "Dad, can we have two?"
Lu Qin: "No."
One pair, one mate! How else could Orange set an example for the beauty?
Using "angry meetings" or "crackdowns" as deterrents couldn’t be a regular strategy—Pei Rong couldn’t possibly accompany him to the office every day. But Pei Rong could see Orange every day when he came home.
Lu Qin hoped Orange could find a sweet, loving partner who would groom him and cuddle him every day.
The power of role models. A harmonious family atmosphere.
Secretary Wang eventually found a massive golden tiger-striped Siberian forest cat. When the owner lifted it for display, the cat had a fierce expression, rebellious eyes, strong limbs, a sweeping tail, and an imposing mane-like ruff.
It perfectly embodied the image of the Lu family and its ruler. Physically and temperamentally, it could easily outshine Orange. Considering Orange’s high intelligence, they could at least maintain a balance of power, making for a loving couple that would grow old together.
"Meowww!"
"Meow!"
Orange stood up and started meowing at the cat on the screen.
Dundun exclaimed excitedly, “I like this one too!”
Even the most unwanted by dogs, Pei Dundun’s favorite is Western Forest cats!
Lu Qin said, “It seems like Orange prefers the majestic ones. Let’s go with this one.”
In the animal kingdom, strength is admired in mating. Why doesn’t Pei Rong learn from that?
He instructed Secretary Wang to complete the quarantine procedures and have someone bring the cat on a flight back home as soon as possible.
Secretary Wang responded, “Understood. A colleague happens to have a flight back home tonight. I’ll have them deliver it directly to you, President Lu.”
Lu Qin: “Alright.”
Settled.
Lu Qin: “Let’s give Orange’s friend a name, shall we?”
Pei Dundun looked at the video of the handsome big cat. Its build reminded him of the largest pineapple at the supermarket, and its tail flared out like the spiky leaves on a pineapple’s top.
“Let’s call it Pei Pineapple.”
The name sounded tough, unyielding, and hard to deal with—exactly what resonated with Lu Qin’s psychological needs.
Lu Qin: “Good name, but Pineapple should have the surname Lu.”
Pei Dundun grew nervous. “Did Pineapple commit a crime and end up in jail too?”
Lu Qin was puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Pei Dundun admitted honestly, “Daddy said, if you get into trouble outside, you should say your surname is Lu.”
The Lu surname, now unfairly tainted.
Lu Qin said, “Having the Lu surname doesn’t necessarily mean trouble, like your dad.”
Pei Dundun countered with an example, “But Daddy, didn’t the traffic officer dock points from us?”
Lu Qin: “…That’s not the same thing. If you say your surname is Lu, the police will call your dad, and I’ll come pick you up. Your dad doesn’t like going to the police station.”
“We follow the law, so let’s minimize trips to the station.”
“Then why can’t Pineapple have the surname Pei?”
It was, of course, to assert ownership over property and establish dominance with a smaller claim.
Lu Qin began spinning nonsense, “Because Orange and Pineapple might fall in love. Same-surname marriages aren’t allowed—it’s against feline ethics. A Lu and a Pei, now that’s a match made in heaven.”
Pei Dundun seemed to half-understand and half-not: “Alright, let’s call it Lu Pineapple.”
During the day, Pei Rong stayed to care for him, switching with Jiang Yan when it was time for Jiang Yan to rest. After just two hours of rest, Jiang Yan had to head back to the hospital for work.
Lu Qin handed over a business card: “If you have anything else you want to discuss about Pei Rong or Dundun, feel free to contact me anytime.”
“One sentence, one thousand yuan.”
Jiang Yan thought: Forget working at the hospital; I should just tell Lu Qin jokes every day and get rich.
He was genuinely tempted to repeat, word for word, the speech he had used to persuade Pei Rong earlier, just to pocket a few thousand yuan with ease.
That evening, Pei Rong returned home for dinner, planning to head back to the sanatorium afterward. However, Lu Qin placed a firm hand on his shoulder: “Stay and eat dinner with Dundun properly. Tonight, I’ll go.”
Pei Rong hesitated: “Are you sure you can—”
Lu Qin, already packed and ready, interrupted: “A bit better than you.”
More than just a bit.
Pei Rong let him take over.
The next morning, Secretary Wang’s subordinate delivered Pineapple all the way from Siberia after a long journey.
Lu Qin happened to be at home and signed for the cat at the door.
“How’s it doing? Does it need time to adjust, or can we let it meet Orange directly?”
The subordinate replied, “It flew first class with me, even ate two cans of cat food on the plane, and seems to be in great spirits—no fear of strangers.”
Lu Qin was very satisfied. Carrying the cat carrier, he stepped into the villa.
Downstairs, only Dundun was having breakfast. When Lu Qin wasn’t around, Uncle Zhang would come over to cook. Normally, to give Lu Qin more space to focus on his pursuits, Uncle Zhang didn’t live in the house.
“Where’s your dad?”
“Dad told me to bring him a meat bun upstairs; he’s not coming down.”
Lu Qin placed the cat carrier on the table and strode upstairs to call him.
“Come down and learn from the best.”
