Chapter 1

Regardless of who is more eccentric, "Big Meow" eventually became the new name for the cat, while no one knows what its former name was

In the darkness, Da Mi suddenly emerged from the crevice of the sofa and trotted over to the bedside with a cat-like gait

At a little past 2 a.m. that day, the homeowner, Chu Huan, was sleeping in bed—he was a bachelor, and regardless of his temperament, he was undeniably handsome and impeccably well-formed.

The activity spaces of humans and cats are distinctly separated, as if there is an invisible boundary between them. Humans and cats go about their own lives, and unless necessary, they do not interfere with each other

By the time it was brought back, Dami was no longer young. It had quite a few worldly insights and was adept at reading people's expressions. Through careful observation, it understood that its new guardians did not enjoy noise, so it remained silent all day long, confining its activities to the side with the cat tree, rarely venturing into the human territory

The doorbell rang the next second

Such incisive questions often leave one speechless

Chu Huanli got up smoothly, his face showing neither sleepiness nor surprise. His pajamas were as neat as when he had just lain down, and after half the night had passed, they remained perfectly in place, leaving one to wonder whether he had actually fallen asleep or not

Chu Huan's cat is named Da Mi, a name given by his adoptive father, Chu Aiguo. Before Chu Aiguo bestowed this name, Chu Huan had always referred to it simply as cat

He and Dami lived together peacefully for three years. A few days ago, Dami suddenly began to fast inexplicably. Chu Huan changed its cat food several times, but none improved its appetite, so he took it to the hospital.

The visitor at the door had their hat brim pulled very low, revealing only a sharply contoured chin covered in stubble, and they were one-armed

Chu Huan's expression remained unchanged; was he stunned by fear

He is quite a big person, sitting at home every day chatting with the cat; isn't that a bit abnormal

The only ones who would come at the dead of night are likely uninvited guests

On the other side, there is a row of small sofas placed against the wall, each one sitting rigidly on the ground, equipped with backs of peculiar shapes. In the darkness of the night, they appear to be a group of plump zombies, being punished by an old Taoist priest to squat in a horse stance in the corner.

Chu Aiguo listened with great concern: "You raise a cat and yet you don't talk to it, are you abnormal?"

The one-armed guest pulled the trigger, and the pistol emitted a sharp and brief hissing sound

In response to this, his adoptive father, who still retained a childlike innocence, raised a question: "If you don't give it a name, how will you address it when you talk to it?"

Of course, it does not matter if he has several arms; what matters is that the man is holding a gun in one hand, the muzzle dark and ominous, pointed directly at Chu Huan

After staring blankly for a while, suddenly, his dazed gaze suddenly focused, piercing through the darkness, and shooting straight towards the direction of the door

In the corner of the room, diagonally opposite the single bed, there is a cat climbing frame, accompanied by a cat food bowl and a litter box, with some fresh fur faintly visible, clearly indicating that this is the territory of a pet

After meowing, the big cat stood up, climbed onto the head of the bed, and then leaped to the top of the wardrobe, leaving no trace behind, becoming invisible.

The veterinarian's diagnosis is that there are no disasters or diseases, it is simply the end of its lifespan

Chu Huan's home does not resemble a home at all

It is too old

Dami was not originally raised by Chu Huan. Three years ago, its previous owner died in the line of duty. That person was a solitary man without a wife or children, and in life and death, he left behind only this scruffy creature, which was taken in by Chu Huan as an orphan.

From the furnishings here, it is evident that the homeowner must be an eccentric

Chu Huan lay quietly without moving, and he felt that the cat was about to die

Chu Huan slowly turned over, lying on his back and facing the ceiling. In the dim light emitted by the electrical appliances in the room, his face, after removing his glasses, appeared even paler and more gaunt.

Its paw pads tread lightly on the ground, like a feather falling on the snow, making no sound as it moves. However, as soon as it pokes its head out and approaches, the man on the bed immediately opens his eyes, as if what hangs on the side of his face is not an ear, but a radar.

Chu Huan : `` ... ... ''

His apartment is not small, but the layout is peculiar, lacking both a living room and a balcony. It consists of a total of one bedroom and one bathroom, along with an open kitchen— the "kitchen" serves as a place for drying clothes, and cooking is not done there

Before animals die, they tend to engage in certain behaviors. Chu Huan is not very clear about this, but he has seen many dead people. Since humans are a type of animal, there is a subtle commonality in the gaze of both humans and cats when death is imminent

Dami leaped gracefully and landed on Chuhuan's bedside, using its paw to push aside the glasses that the man had placed there, and then lay down. The man and the cat gazed at each other in the darkness for a long time. Dami slowly lowered its head, sniffed the man's fingers, and gently licked them. Finally, it let out a soft, delicate meow, resembling a sigh filled with twists and turns.

He put on his glasses, not even asking a single question, and simply opened the door, as if he had already known the identity of the visitor—if it weren't for that expression of emotional detachment, he would have looked like he was welcoming a lover.

Chu Huan had no choice but to respond: "We do not usually chat."

In one corner of the room is a single bed, with its foot nailed to the floor and one side against the wall. The bed sheets, duvet cover, and pillowcase are all a stark white. Judging by the dimensions, it appears to be intended for human use.