Chapter 48: Rearing, Part 3
Spring had completely driven away the winter winds and snow. Tender green shoots broke through the damp, cold soil, sprouting new buds. A vibrant green curtain descended, and countless lives reawakened, beginning a new cycle.
Su Yu crouched on a small path behind the elementary school. He leaned over, looking at a small black and white cat in the low, withered grass. He gently tore open the sausage wrapper and dangled it in front of the cat, trying to lure it over.
But the cat just stared at Su Yu from the bushes. It could smell the sausage, but how could a stray cat that had survived an entire winter so easily accept a stranger’s offering? Its small body was pressed to the ground, a low growl rumbling in its throat, full of hostility towards Su Yu.
Su Yu watched the cat, who refused to come closer, and sighed in disappointment. He had been feeding the stray cats hidden in the corners of the school. He felt a sense of kinship with these homeless strays, as if they were one of his own, and helping each other was only natural.
Before the winter break, he had been feeding an orange stray cat with his pocket money. The orange cat had been very close to him. But since the beginning of spring, he hadn’t seen it again.
Su Yu knew that the winter had been very cold. The orange cat probably hadn’t found a warm home before the winter came. He felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t thought of this beforehand, which had led to the orange cat’s disappearance…
“Xiao Yu, what are you doing?”
A gentle voice came from behind, followed by a warm embrace, the soft curves pressing against his back, making Su Yu blush again, the color spreading from his ears to his slender neck.
Su Yu turned around and saw Gu Zhi hugging him from behind. The boy’s jade-like, fair skin was flushed. He struggled slightly, his voice low as he tried to resist. “Sister, didn’t you say… you wouldn’t hug me anymore? I’m in the fifth grade now, not a child.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Gu Zhi pressed her cheek tightly against Su Yu’s tender neck. She inhaled the clean, pleasant scent of the boy, her hot breath brushing against his delicate skin. She feigned ignorance of his resistance, still not letting go. “Maybe I’m getting old, my memory is not so good.”
“Sister! Someone will see us.”
Su Yu’s face was flushed with embarrassment. He wasn’t a child anymore and vaguely knew that their actions were a bit too intimate. But he was afraid of upsetting Gu Zhi, so he could only acquiesce, feeling even more embarrassed.
Gu Zhi had given him a warmth he had longed for, something he was reluctant to let go of. And besides, Gu Zhi was very good to him… although sometimes her enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming, her neroli scent clinging to him, which had earned him teasing from He Mu Qing about wearing perfume and being a sissy.
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. What are you doing?”
Gu Zhi released Su Yu from her embrace. She squatted down with him and saw the cat in the grass.
“Meow~”
The small cat lifted its head, its orange eyes reflecting Gu Zhi’s image. The hostility vanished from its pupils. It hesitated for a moment, then slowly crawled out from the grass. Su Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Gu Zhi smiled and beckoned to the small cat. The cat immediately quickened its pace and came over, rubbing against Gu Zhi’s leg, enjoying the gentle stroking on its head.
“Sister, how…”
“Hehe, I used to feed it. Maybe it still remembers me.”
Gu Zhi took out a small box of cat food from her pocket and placed it on the ground. The small cat immediately buried its face in it, looking very hungry.
“But it’s so obedient.”
Su Yu still couldn’t believe it. This black and white cat was so docile in front of Gu Zhi, its head lowered, the wildness in its claws and teeth seemingly vanished.
“Do you think I’m very skilled?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“It’s very simple. Cats are much dumber than people.” Gu Zhi looked at the small cat eating at her feet. “Just give them a little food when they are at their hungriest, and they will grovel at your feet, wagging their tails and begging for your favor. But after a long time, they might still forget you. Do you know what makes these animals remember the most?”
Su Yu tilted his small head and offered his thoughts, his expression innocent. “Delicious food, fun toys, or… a warm home?”
“None of them, none of them.”
Gu Zhi’s long, slender hand gently stroked the small cat’s back, smoothing its messy fur. She had beautiful hands, like finely carved jade, her delicate pink nails painted a vibrant red. Her hand moved up the cat’s small spine, and in a single grasp, she held its delicate neck.
The small cat was oblivious, only focused on licking up the hard-earned food. Gu Zhi’s long, narrow eyes narrowed into a thin line. She could feel the life in her palm, the underdeveloped neck bone beneath the thin flesh. It seemed that with just a gentle squeeze, she could…
She licked her slightly dry lips, which were a vibrant red.
“Pain… Xiao Yu, do you know?” Gu Zhi’s voice suddenly became hoarse, the gentle tone of before now mixed with a gritty texture. The hoarse voice had a different kind of charm, cold, aloof… majestic, keeping everyone at a distance. “Only pain, is what people remember the most.”
“Alright, let’s go back. It’s cold outside.”
The coldness in Gu Zhi’s eyes was just a fleeting moment. She turned to look at Su Yu, her eyes filled with a winding smile, like the colors of spring, the blooming of pink and white peach blossoms.
She took Su Yu’s hand and led him out of the woods. Su Yu silently followed behind her, glancing back at the cat, which was still eating.
He actually thought Gu Zhi was wrong. If his orange cat was still here, it would definitely remember him. He had never mistreated the orange cat.
But she must have been joking, right? Adults always liked to scare children with scary things. How could such a gentle person hurt a small animal?
…
“Grandpa is dead?”
“Yes, miss. The head of the family had a sudden heart attack last night. The rescue failed, and he passed away.”
The voice on the other end of the phone was a gruff man’s voice. He respectfully recounted the news from a thousand miles away. “They tried to block the news, but it failed. The entire Gu family knows now.”
“Heh… I thought he could last a few more years.” Gu Zhi listened to the news with a blank expression.
“Miss, now that the head of the family is gone, the Gu family is in chaos. You should come back.”
Gu Zhi rubbed her pale pink knuckles, her long, curled eyelashes casting a deep shadow, concealing the bone-chilling coldness. “They can’t hide it anymore, huh? But I’m still…”
“The master didn’t leave a will. But before he died, he gave me a letter, about your parents’ car accident. The master hopes you will choose for yourself. Even if you don’t come back, he has left you a sum of money that will allow you to live comfortably for the rest of your life.”
Sharp nails scratched the screen, leaving a clear mark. Gu Zhi didn’t hesitate. “Okay, I understand. I’ll be back in Qingchuan soon.”
Gu Zhi hung up the phone. She turned around and looked at Su Yu, who was sitting in a chair in the infirmary, eating his lunch. There was no emotion in her dark eyes, no reluctance… no sadness.
…
“You still have food on your mouth.”
Gu Zhi looked at the empty lunch box on the table and smiled, gently wiping the rice grain from the corner of Su Yu’s mouth with a tissue. “Are you full?”
“Mm-hmm, your cooking is delicious.”
“Is that so? I’m glad you like it.”
Gu Zhi smiled gently. She cupped the boy’s chin, her thumb tracing his nose and up to his eyes. She looked at him intently, as if admiring a precious work of art. The boy’s eyes were bright, like black jewels, filled with her reflection.
“What a pity…”
“What did you say, sister?” Su Yu tilted his head and looked at Gu Zhi, who was murmuring to herself.
“Nothing. I’ve had a lot of fun with you during this time.”
“Me too. You’re very good to me, sister. You cook for me, watch movies with me, and help me with my homework… I like you very much.”
“You like me that much? Then let me ask you, if I have to leave this place, are you willing to come with me?”
“Just the two of us?” Su Yu was stunned.
“Yes, just the two of us. Don’t tell anyone, not a soul. Not even your childhood friend. We’ll leave quietly. From now on, it will only be us, trusting only each other, together… until death.”
“No… that’s not right.”
Su Yu looked at the swirling darkness in Gu Zhi’s eyes, pulling at his soul. The sister in front of him seemed to have suddenly changed into someone he didn’t recognize. He was scared and wanted to retreat, but he was held tightly in Gu Zhi’s embrace.
“My home is here. Mu Qing, and Uncle He and Auntie He, they are all very good to me. I can’t just leave without saying anything. They will be sad.”
“Haha, them? Just a show.” Gu Zhi sneered. “That’s just because the stakes aren’t high enough. Just add a little more weight to the scales, and the balance will be broken in an instant. But we’re different.”
“I love you more… and I will never betray you. So… will you come with me?”
“You’re scaring me, sister. Are you unhappy?”
Su Yu’s young, tender face was full of fear. The gentle Gu Zhi seemed to have gone mad. The warm smile that often filled her eyes was gone. The colors of spring withered and decayed in an instant, turning into a gloomy hell, a sharp wind blowing away the withered petals.
Su Yu suddenly broke free from the woman’s embrace. He panted heavily, his heart filled with anxiety and fear.
“Don’t go, don’t betray me!”
Gu Zhi reached out to stop him, her sharp nails accidentally scratching the boy’s cheek. Blood… oozed from the scratch, staining her nails, making her already red-painted fingers even more vibrant.
In the end, she couldn’t catch his arm, letting him escape her embrace.
Gu Zhi fell to the ground, her long, shoulder-length hair falling messily, hiding her ghastly smile, like a ferocious demon.
Su Yu looked at Gu Zhi’s disheveled state, his heart filled with fear yet also a bit of pity. Was it because he hadn’t agreed to her request?
He slowly approached Gu Zhi again, clumsily smoothing her messy hair with his hand. He sincerely apologized, “I’m sorry, sister. Please don’t be mad, I just…”
Gu Zhi looked up, her bloodshot eyes staring at Su Yu. But this time, the boy wasn’t afraid. Instead, he forced a smile.
“If you’re unhappy, sister, please tell me, okay? Don’t be angry alone.”
“I’m not angry, sister. Just a little upset.”
The ruthlessness in her long, narrow eyes melted away like ice and snow. Gu Zhi sat on the cold floor and patted Su Yu’s head.
“I might have to leave for a while.”
“Then… will you come back?”
“Yes, of course I will. I’ll be back in a week.”
Gu Zhi smiled and lied. She had once thought she had finally found what she was looking for. It seemed it was just a pipe dream. They were supposed to never lie to each other, but now… there was no need.
“A week? That’s not too long.” Su Yu sighed in relief. He naively comforted Gu Zhi, “I’ll wait for you to come back, sister.”
“Okay, can you give me one last hug?”
Su Yu opened his small arms and nodded. “Of course.”
“Thank you.”
Gu Zhi embraced the small boy, her smile freezing… and disappearing in that instant.
Her hand slid up his back, along his spine, stopping at his slender neck. Her sharp nails scraped against his pale skin, a tickling sensation.
Hot breath brushed against his reddened earlobe, a hint of excited trembling.
So-called bonds, friendship, family, love… they were all fragile, just worldly constraints imposed on consciousness. This was not what she was looking for.
She had been too naive, thinking she had truly found the love she was searching for. Perhaps such a thing didn’t exist. She was just futilely trying to find a reason to live.
But it didn’t matter anymore. She had found her reason. Hate… would be her reason to continue living. She would return to Qingchuan and have her revenge.
“You’re tickling me, sister.”
“Be good… it will be quick, very quick.”
The boy’s body hadn’t started to develop yet. Even his Adam’s apple was just a small bump. So weak… so suitable… for being a pet. And pets cannot betray their masters.
A morbid flush appeared on Gu Zhi’s face. She suddenly remembered the fat orange cat that had been fed so well. Its fat was clearly enough to survive the cold winter. But it had made a mistake. It had eaten her food and still thought of others. What a pity… such a pity.
How to punish it…
Choke it to death, or cut its artery and let it bleed out. It was… so hard to choose.
Her nails searched for the blue veins on the snow-white neck, finally stopping at a pulsating artery. It throbbed with life. A small cut would be enough to make the warm blood gush out. Her nails might not be sharp enough, but the pain would last longer, watching the blood flow away, helpless.
Time passed, but the blade poised over the artery didn’t fall.
Gu Zhi was stunned. The boy’s clean, clear eyes appeared in her mind, uninvited, like a beam of light illuminating the darkness in her heart. She suddenly couldn’t hate him anymore. But betrayal… was something unforgivable. Why was it like this? Her mood worsened.
A moment later, her nails finally dug into the flesh, and drops of blood dripped onto the clean floor.
…
Another year passed. Su Yu graduated from this ordinary elementary school and became a junior high student. His small body had shot up like a bamboo shoot in the fifth grade, and he was now the tallest boy in his class.
He was no longer the coward who hid behind his childhood friend. No one dared to hurl insults at him anymore.
But he wasn’t very happy, because his sister, the beautiful woman with the constant smile, had suddenly disappeared from his life, like melting snow in early spring.
The promise of a week had turned into forever. Even though he often missed the short spring after the winter, time had gradually erased the memory, until even the woman’s face became blurry.
He only vaguely remembered that there was a sister who had been very good to him. She had a beauty mark at the corner of her eye and a beautiful smile. But she had disappeared.
Just like the scar she had left on his cheek before she left, it would eventually fade, not even leaving a trace.
