Volume 1: This Heart's Bent Chapter 30: The Provoked Rogue

  A gentle breeze is blowing.

  The sunlight shines softly and gently.

  The folded ear cat is lazily sucking and licking.

  Tai Shi Lan... Tai Shi Lan was stunned for the first time in his life.

  The little thing is still in her arms, struggling to dig into her not-so-magnificent chest, seemingly born a rogue, knowing there's no milk to drink but refusing to give up, deliberately loving women's breasts.

  Tai Shi Lan was furious - who is this little rascal? Which big tea pot's education produced a two-year-old who still wants to drink milk and stick to women, what a shameless freak?

  Looks like a thug, rape suspect in the making — she looks so androgynous, dresses conservatively, has short hair now, an adult would need to take a second glance to determine her gender, but this kid took one look and was certain she's a girl!

  "Meow..." The folded ear cat was still wriggling in her arms, each twist deliberately rubbing against all the softest parts of her body, with practiced movements and a pure expression.

  "Get up!" Tai Shi Lan grabbed his collar and tore him open from the chest.

  The folded ear cat saw that she was angry and did not resist. It hung its head and feet in her hands, drooping its head like a dead cat.

  "Where is your father?" Tai Shi Lan endured and decided not to argue with the child, but he had to let his father know what kind of person he had raised!

  A calico cat with folded ears and a flat mouth points at a small temple.

  Tai Shi furrowed his brow, an orphan? Raised in a temple, naturally without father or mother, but the temple's rules and regulations are strict, how could they raise such a freak?

  She grabbed the folded ear cat and also forgot to find treasure, turned to the front door and knocked on the door. When the door opened, a little monk poked his head out and saw the folded ear cat beside her, suddenly delighted.

  "Oh, female benefactor, you've finally come to claim the little benefactor. That's great! Just take them back then. No need to thank me either. As a monk, I'm compassionate and let go of all attachments. Everything is like a gentle breeze passing by, not worth dwelling on. Goodbye, benefactor, no need to see you off."

  "Bang." The large gate closed quickly.

  Taishi Lan, who was just about to ask questions and had already thought of a opening remark, almost got his nose flattened...

  "Hmm?" She looked at the door panel full of holes, with gray monk's robes visible through the gaps. Little Monk hadn't left yet and seemed to be using his back to press against the door panel, as if afraid she would rush in.

  Does she look that scary?

  Tai Shi Lan put his ear against the door panel and heard the monk inside let out a long sigh, muttering: "It's all because of him! It's really unbearable... He scared away all the female customers who came to burn incense, and almost caused trouble with the authorities... And he still wants to kill living things and drink fish soup! If he stays any longer, the temple will surely be closed down..." Suddenly, he patted his head, "Amitabha, as a monk, how can I speak ill of our benefactor behind his back? I'll go face the wall and reflect on my actions..." As he spoke, he locked the door and walked away with quick and light footsteps.

  Tai Shi Lan slowly turned his head and stared at the folded ear cat.

  The calico cat showed her an innocent sweet smile with two missing front teeth.

  Tai Shi Lan immediately felt a tickle in her chest...

  Then she loosened her hand and the folded ear cat fell to the ground. Tai Shi Lan didn't even look at it, turned around and walked away.

  The baby doesn't want it anymore, as for this baby in front of me, whoever loves it can have it!

  She walked with big strides, going forward without looking back, and walked out of the small temple.

  "Kick kick kick..."

  Walked along the creek.

  "Kick kick kick..."

  Walk up the mountain path.

  "Kick kick kick..."

  A moment later, Taishi Lan finally turned around and gazed coldly at the small shadow that lingered behind him.

  "Why are you following me?"

  The coat of the Scottish Fold cat was even dirtier. Sweat beads rolled on his small face, he moved his short legs desperately to keep up, while randomly wiping his face with his sleeve, the sleeve was dirty, and his face became even dirtier, with streaks of gray and blue, looking more like a silver-blue Scottish Fold cat.

  It's hard to imagine how his short legs could keep up with Tai Shi Lan's pace for so long without falling behind.

  Tai Shi Lan couldn't help but admit that although this kid was born a rogue, he indeed had a rare determination.

  "Eat..." The folded ear cat saw Tai Shi Lan's expression, cleverly not saying the next word "milk", only pouting her mouth, and stretched out her arms to her.

  Tai Shi Lan stared at those short and stout little arms.

  What does it mean?

  Do you want to hug?

  Can?

  One hug into his arms, this little rascal will immediately put his head together and nibble on something?

  The cat tilted its head at a 45-degree angle, gazing up at her with big, shining eyes that seemed to say "hug me", its pink cheeks puffed out, radiating an adorable color that was hard to capture on canvas. At this moment, women all over the world would experience a maternal explosion and exclaim "good boy" as they hugged him tightly, forgiving all his mistakes. Being nibbled twice made her think he was so cute, being touched twice made her feel like he was so clever and developed so well, and so on.

  He coincidentally met Tai Shi Lan.

  Tai Shi's cold and stern eyes swept over his head, turned around, and left.

  The Folded Ears Cat slowly lowered its arms, stunned in place for a while, unable to understand why its invincible technique had failed today, until it discovered that Taishi Lan had already walked far away, and then stumbled after him again.

  This time he ran far away, running hastily, and in a few steps, he tripped over a stone and fell down with a loud thud.

  He didn't cry, but instead looked up at Tai Shi Lan's back.

  Tai Shi Lan seemed to have heard it, but didn't turn his head back. His straight figure walked away with big strides and gradually disappeared on the mountain path.

  The cat hung its head, sunlight shining on its long eyelashes, with tiny tears welling up in its eyes.

  Suddenly footsteps sounded.

  The folded ear cat immediately raised its head.

  Tai Shi Lan stood quietly in front of him with no expression. Before he could reveal the "very lewd and shameless" smile she thought he would, she bent down, grabbed the folded ear cat, and put it on her back.

  "Hold me tight." she said.

  A pair of small hands obediently wrapped around her neck, with chubby fingers tightly clasped.

  Tai Shi Lan glanced down at those fingers, white and tender, short, like a pair of soft paws.

  She suddenly felt a little dizzy.

  It seems like just three years ago, I was also on my mother's back, carried by her through spring, summer, autumn and winter, walking over bridge after bridge, until we entered that cold and indifferent city where everything began and ended.

  At that time, she had a large package on her left and a broken zither on her right. She was in the middle, with the package bumping against her leg and the hard body of the zither pressing painfully against her shoulder.

  But she remembered that at that time, she was very happy and delighted.

  Tai Shi Lan tilted her head to look at the folded ear cat, that doll was already asleep, having walked so many roads, he was exhausted, his head leaning on her shoulder, drooling.

  Tai Shi Lan tilted her head, sunlight on her eyebrows, warm at this moment.

  She gently lifted the folded-eared cat on her back up a little.

  Tai Shi Lan didn't leave Dongchang City quickly, because the folded ear cat woke up soon. He was woken up by hunger, and Tai Shi Lan clearly heard the rumbling sound from his little belly.

  Listening to that voice, Taishi Lan also felt her eyes starting to blur. She hadn't eaten anything since last night and had rushed a long way, but she didn't have any money or belongings on her. The suitcase with the gold and jade she picked up was still far away in Anzhou.

  "That temple," she asked the folded-ear cat, "is there any treasure inside?"

  She thought at this moment that it's not easy to raise a child, maybe she should go and steal that treasure first.

  The pretty calico cat's big head shook like a rattle drum.

  Tai Shi thought to himself, that temple was so dilapidated that it would provoke the wrath of both humans and gods. The underwear was hung out to dry in all directions for everyone to see, how could there be any treasure? It seemed like he had been deceived by that madman again.

  Why did this woman from Nan Qi like to deceive people before she died?

  The calico cat suddenly kicked her.

  Tai Shi Lan lowered his head and only then noticed his small boots, which were covered in mud and dirt, but seemed... shiny, sparkling with many gems.

  Tai Shi Lan picked up a small piece of ruby, which was the smallest among many precious stones on his boots. He exchanged it for one thousand two silver notes and some loose change.

  A pair of boots was enough for her to raise a child.

  Tai Shi Lan's mood wasn't bad after eating soft food for kids. With a good mood, she thought of asking the folded ear cat, "What's your name?"

  The folded ear cat seemed to enjoy her concise tone, smiling and hugging her neck, "Lan... Lan..."

  Tai Shi suddenly saw a stall on the side of the road selling rattle drums, and bought one for Folded Ears Cat. The ceramic rattle drum was not exquisite, with two sides covered in sheepskin and hollowed out with the four characters "Jing Tai Feng Long". She thought for a while before remembering that the current year of the Southern Qi dynasty seemed to be Jing Tai.

  "Let's just call it Jingtai Blue," she said. She thought the name was easy on the tongue and sounded like her own child.

  She doesn't like being called repetitive names, "Lan Lan?" How silly.

  Besides, boys shouldn't have such a soft and cute name, it's not good for their growth.

  Tai Shi Lan was already thinking about how to teach Xiaoliu a lesson and put him back on the right track...

  The folded ear cat quietly accepted this new name, the little guy was very good at reading the situation, knowing that Ta Shilian was a person who would not change once he had made up his mind, so he behaved very cooperatively.

  With the money, Tai Shi Lan brought Jing Tai Blue and stayed at the largest local inn. He ordered a table of the best dishes, two people, big and small, surrounded the table eating without lifting their heads... The Jing Tai Blue fish soup was even drunk clean by him alone.

  After eating, Jing Tai Lan also lay down and couldn't move, hugging his round belly, shouting "I'm so full..."

  "It serves you right." Tai Shi Lan ordered the servant to take away the remaining dishes and bring in hot water, preparing to wash Jing Tai Lan's feet.

  Jingtai blue's clothes were dirty, Ta Shilian thought for a moment and asked his partner to buy children's clothes. He took off Jingtai blue's clothes and prepared to wash them thoroughly.

  Jing Tai Lan was almost asleep, but Tai Shi Lan didn't hesitate to turn his face and wake him up. The little guy rubbed his eyes with tears, but half a day passed without any tears.

  Tai Shi Lan didn't care about him at all. Hearing the sound of the door outside, she picked up the ready-to-be-washed Jing Tai Blue and went to open the door.

  Jingtai Lan buried his face in her shoulder and chuckled, not knowing what he was excited about.

  Tai Shi Lan's hand had not yet touched the door panel when the door opened.

  The moonlight poured in through the open door and illuminated the person standing in front of it.

  That person was exquisite and delicate, shining brightly like a pearl under the moonlight.

  His expression is a bit dull and doesn't match his stunning good looks at all.

  "He... " He looked at Tai Shi Lan and then at Jing Tai Blue, stuttering for the first time in his life, "He... "

  "Son." Tai Shi calmly hugged the blue and white porcelain, calmly looking at Rong Chu's face which had turned dark in an instant, "Mine."