Maimai Chapter 37

Winter.

“So, have you decided on a name for the kitten yet?” the nurse asked casually as she rang up the bill. “If you have, we can officially create a file for him.”

Cheng Lin hadn’t thought about it until now.

He glanced at the carrier on the table beside him. Inside, the kitten was curled up, fast asleep. His tiny orange fur puffed out with youth, seemed to shimmer with a gentle glow, patterns resembling a field ready for harvest.

Suddenly, a name came to him. “Let’s call him Maimai. Like wheat—‘mai’ in Chinese.”

“Got it! He’s in pretty good shape.” Noticing the concern on Cheng Lin’s face, the nurse, Xiao Mei, smiled reassuringly. “But he’s very young, just over a month old. He probably didn’t have a mother cat to teach him, so you’ll need to put in a bit of extra effort.”

Xiao Mei gave the new cat owner a few tips, and as Cheng Lin was about to leave, the cat started to wake up, lifting his tiny head sleepily to peer at the block-shaped view beyond the carrier door.

“Maimai.” Cheng Lin leaned closer to the carrier’s wire door. He had to admit, the kitten was really adorable.

He was quite pleased with the name he’d picked. It was easy to say.

Although several of his colleagues were already cat owners, Cheng Lin had never seen the appeal. Having a pet just seemed like an extra hassle, and he’d never found cats particularly cute. If he ever acted on a whim, he figured he’d choose a dog, maybe a Rottweiler or a Doberman.

But that day, after parking his motorcycle in the garage, he’d heard a faint, almost imperceptible sound coming from the nearby bushes. That’s when he found this tiny orange cat.

The kitten had looked like he was at death’s door, making one last cry for help.

It didn’t feel right to ignore a life in danger. So, Cheng Lin had gone out of his way to take the kitten to a pet hospital and pay for his treatment. But even after all that, he wasn’t sure he wanted to keep him.

For someone used to being on his own, the idea of suddenly taking responsibility for another life was daunting.

According to some sources, cats can get anxious when adjusting to a new environment. He wasn’t sure if Maimai was anxious, but he definitely was.

The reason was simple: the cat was just so tiny.

Before placing the cat in the carrier, the nurse had let him hold him. He didn’t so much hold the kitten as cradle him in his hands. He was so small that he had barely any weight, like holding snow that might melt the next second.

And now he was supposed to care for something this delicate? Cheng Lin felt completely overwhelmed and quickly handed the kitten back to the nurse.

Still, as he walked out of the pet hospital, he kept his steps steady, careful not to jostle the carrier.

From that day forward, Cheng Lin was no longer a cat-less savage.

 

When Cheng Lin got home, a stack of large packages was waiting by the door—the result of his recent shopping spree to welcome the cat.

Milk formula, cat food, and treats were all stocked up. To be safe, he’d bought several varieties in case the kitten turned out to be picky.

He’d also gone all out on cat beds. To make sure the kitten would feel at home anywhere, he bought four and placed them strategically around the house, so Maimai always had a cozy spot to rest.

Among the latest deliveries was something recommended by Jin Li: Jellycat plush toys¹A British toy company. Cheng Lin had ordered bunnies, bears, and an assortment of fruit- and vegetable-shaped plushies. Apparently, babies loved these soft toys.

To cover all bases in one go, this extravagant human spared no expense, buying a luxurious cat tower that stood over two meters tall.

Would the kitten like it?

Stepping inside, Cheng Lin cautiously opened the carrier door.

To his surprise, the kitten darted out immediately. Without sparing him a glance, Maimai sniffed around, wobbling unsteadily as he explored on his own.

Naturally, he didn’t even look at the cat tree.

Cheng Lin realized he might’ve overdone it; to the cat right now, the tower was no different from climbing Mount Everest.

Even the teddy bear was bigger than him.

When the cat disappeared from sight, Cheng Lin called out of boredom, “Maimai”—not that the kitten had any idea it was his name.

But, to his surprise, after a quick patrol of his new territory, Maimai came trotting right back.

Cheng Lin stayed calm, without showing any expression. Lowering his eyes, he watched the cat plop down on his slipper.

This wouldn’t do. He pulled his foot away and took a few steps back.

Maimai let out a couple of “meows” and immediately circled around his feet. Cheng Lin couldn’t guard against him and nearly stepped on the cat, scaring himself out of his wits.

Why was the cat so clingy?

Maimai’s clinginess was more intense than Cheng Lin expected. The kitten only stopped meowing when he was physically close to him.

While walking, a single step for a human meant five steps for the cat, leading to a huge mismatch in effort and the constant danger of stepping on the cat. Cheng Lin decided to go all out and tucked the cat into his pocket. Problem solved.

But at night, the kitten wanted to sleep on Cheng Lin’s neck.

The kitten was still too young and hadn’t had a proper bath yet. Taking advantage of the fact that the cat couldn’t understand him, the human said brazenly, “Clean yourself up. Once you’re vaccinated, I’ll let you sleep up here. For now, no.”

He set Maimai in the cat bed at the foot of his own bed. The kitten curled into a tiny ball as Cheng Lin tucked him in with a coral fleece blanket and added a teddy bear for company.

Barely a few seconds later, the cat began diligently licking his front paws. At first glance, it almost looked like he was chewing on them. His paw pads were a delicate pink.

After watching the kitten lick for a while, Cheng Lin asked, “Does your fur taste good?”

Maimai paused and glanced up at him. After a moment, he rolled onto his back, revealing a slightly rounded belly from his recent meal. Only the fur on his stomach was slightly white.

There was now a new breathing presence in the house. Cheng Lin curiously locked eyes with the kitten and said, “Let me see what you really look like.”

Sitting cross-legged in front of the cat bed, he tentatively reached out. For the first time, he lightly and earnestly stroked Maimai’s fur.

“Meow.”

The orange kitten tilted his head upward, his mouth slightly pursed. His face was so small it didn’t even fill Cheng Lin’s palm, yet his large eyes gave him a bewildered expression.

He was just a little bigger than a potato—a young, fragile life.

The new cat owner’s heart raced with nerves, but a tender warmth spread within him, completely overturning his previous notions about cats.

Cheng Lin gently cradled the cat in his hands, much like the Silver-Horned King showing off his prized Golden Gourd²from Journey to the West , and thought to himself: My cat is no ordinary cat.

Despite being a stray, Maimai was undeniably stunning, with delicate features and a striking orange coat. Cheng Lin wished for him to grow up healthy and strong.

 

Summer.

Cheng Lin crouched on the floor, carefully packing his belongings into a suitcase.

Yuan Jiaming had arranged a meeting with some out-of-town friends to discuss a project. The first two days were dedicated to work, but on the third day, he’d booked a countryside villa, turning it into a rare long-distance team-building trip.

This would also be Cheng Lin’s first overnight trip since becoming a cat owner.

Maimai hovered nearby, and when the human wasn’t paying attention, the cat squeezed into the last small gap in the suitcase and plopped down firmly.

Maimai looked up at Cheng Lin and let out a single “meow,” as if to say, “This spot is perfect.”

In the blink of an eye, Maimai was already half a year old.

After weeks of growing at lightning speed, the orange cat had begun showing the demeanor of a full-grown cat. Yet, Maimai remained on the smaller side for an orange cat, with a slim and well-proportioned build.

Cheng Lin had tried changing the cat food and adjusting feeding habits, but it didn’t make much difference. Maimai still didn’t fit the stereotypical image of an orange cat.

Sprawled like liquid, the cat filled every empty space in the luggage. Cheng Lin picked him up and said, “No, I can’t take you with me.”

Maimai let out a disappointed little “meow.” Once placed on the floor, he lifted a single front paw and solemnly rested it on Cheng Lin’s knee, as if making a final negotiation.

Cheng Lin squeezed the soft, firm paw and coaxed, “Baby, I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?”

Any friend or relative overhearing this tone would be utterly shocked.

Maimai, however, was completely won over by the sweet talk. After a moment of mock deliberation, he bumped his head against Cheng Lin’s leg in agreement. Sometimes, Cheng Lin wondered if Maimai was too smart to be an ordinary cat.

The trip was scheduled for the next day, but that night, it was the human who found it hard to part.

As usual, the cat lay on his chest like a warm water bottle. Cheng Lin didn’t mind the heat and deliberated out loud, “Maimai, you’ll be the only person….”

He paused, then rephrased, “You’ll be the only cat in the house, so behave, okay? I’ve left you plenty of food and water, and the air conditioning’s on. Don’t mess with the remote.”

“If you get bored… watch some TV. I’ll be back in three days.”

Maimai was clever and obedient, so Cheng Lin wasn’t too worried about leaving him alone.

After Cheng Lin finished speaking, he realized he wouldn’t get to see the cat for a few days and decided to stock up on kisses. He planted a couple on the cat’s head, but it wasn’t enough. Pressing his nose into the soft fur, he took a deep breath. It smelled like sunshine—this cat smelled so good.

Rolling over, Cheng Lin sniffed the fur on Maimai’s belly before eventually moving to his face, kissing him noisily with exaggerated smacks.

Maimai didn’t seem to mind at all and soon drifted off to sleep in Cheng Lin’s arms.

 

“What are you staring at?” Yuan Jiaming asked from the bar counter.

Cheng Lin, eyes glued to his phone, replied, “Watching my home security feed.”

It was the same scene as the night before. At 8:30 PM, the living room lights were off, and only the TV cast a faint glow across the space.

With no owner at home to keep him company, the cat had fully immersed himself in watching TV. Climbing onto the sofa with his teddy bear, Maimai used his mouth to arrange the blanket—a setup that gave him a perfect sense of security.

Then, using his paw, Maimai pressed a few buttons on the remote, switching to his favorite channel. Once satisfied, he leaned back against the teddy bear, using it as a pillow.

He bit at the blanket to adjust it, making sure he was completely tucked in.

But Cheng Lin knew that once the 10 o’clock program ended, Maimai would retreat to the master bedroom to sleep.

“My mom said there’s supposed to be a big storm in Shanghai tonight,” Jin Li suddenly mentioned. “The first big one of the summer. No idea if there’ll be thunder, but our cats are terrified of it. What about yours?”

Thunder?

Cheng Lin replied, “He’s still too young. He’s never experienced it before.”

“He might be scared.” Jin Li said, “Little kittens don’t understand what’s going on outside, and they’re super sensitive to noises like that.”

The server brought over their drinks, and blues music flowed through the background like a tranquil river.

At that moment, Cheng Lin stood up. “I’m a sinner.” He said, “I can’t stop worrying. I’m heading back now. You guys have fun tomorrow.”

Once you start caring, you care for a lifetime.

By the time his car reached the city, the wind already carried the scent of incoming rain.

As he arrived on his street, the sky rumbled with low thunder, and flashes of lightning flickered intermittently in the distance.

“Click.” Cheng Lin hurriedly opened the door. The living room was pitch dark. The TV was off, the blanket remained on the sofa, but the teddy bear had been dragged away.

Without pausing to check anything else, Cheng Lin dropped his luggage, swapped his shoes, and dashed into the house, shouting, “Maimai!”

Hearing the rumble of thunder, Maimai had already hidden under the bed.

The cat glanced at the teddy bear beside him, resigned to the fact that Cheng Lin wouldn’t be coming home tonight. That’s why the sound of the door opening and closing only made him feel more frightened.

“Maimai.”

The most familiar footsteps and calls drew closer and closer.

When a flash of lightning lit up the bedroom for an instant, the orange cat launched himself into his owner’s arms.

At that moment, the world was filled with the rushing sound of water—the first summer downpour had arrived.

• 1
  A British toy company
• 2
  from Journey to the West