Chapter 37 – Kitten
Xiao Fang stayed at home, peacefully nurturing his pregnancy, and his belly grew bigger day by day. Fei Xiangnan’s new favorite hobby after work was to gently stroke Xiao Fang’s stomach. Xiao Fang had never lived such a tranquil life; it felt as if all of life’s troubles had vanished these past few days.
However, as Xiao Fang’s belly grew, the number of clothes he could wear dwindled. Finally, in the middle of the month, Fei Xiangnan cleared his schedule to take Xiao Fang shopping for clothes.
The place Fei Xiangnan took him to was a highly exclusive clothing mall. Many celebrities and members of high society frequented it. The staff were all rigorously selected and trained, ensuring that no gossip about customers would ever leak from the mall.
They took a special elevator up, and Xiao Fang saw floors of magnificent stores. The entrance of each clothing store clearly marked its specialty. Xiao Fang and Fei Xiangnan stopped at a maternity wear shop for third-gender individuals.
There was no one else in the store at that time, making it seem a bit deserted compared to the rest of the mall.
The shop assistant sitting inside saw the two of them, and her eyes lit up. “Are you here to buy maternity clothes?”
Xiao Fang was a little taken aback by her enthusiasm.
The assistant was a young girl with two small pigtails, looking very energetic. She eagerly pulled Xiao Fang into the store. The interior was decorated in shades of blue, with characters from SpongeBob SquarePants painted on the walls, creating a very innocent atmosphere.
“We haven’t had a customer in almost three months! Sob, sob. I’m so lucky today! How far along is your baby? Do you live in the city? If you do, you’ll be a long-term customer! Are you planning on having a second child?” The shop assistant chattered on like a machine gun, making one wonder if she hadn’t seen another person in three months.
Xiao Fang coughed, glanced at President Fei who wasn’t helping, and decided he had to handle it himself. A suspicious blush appeared on his face. “I’m about four and a half months along now. I’ll probably be buying clothes here in the future. As for a second child… I haven’t planned for that yet.”
Seeing this handsome man answer all her questions so obediently without missing a single one, the shop assistant suddenly felt her heart melt.
Plenty of celebrities came here. The assistant quickly scanned her memory. How could the entertainment industry be hiding such a huge treasure without showing him off?
“Let’s pick out some clothes first,” Fei Xiangnan said, seeing that Xiao Fang was having trouble coping. He felt another wave of satisfaction. Whether it was with men or women, as long as Xiao Fang could relax in front of him, that was all that mattered.
The assistant immediately got to work, introducing the clothes efficiently.
“We recently got a new batch of traditional-style sets. Take a look. The main themes are snow plum, ink wash, ochre, and green mountain. The inner lining is all cotton, and the outside is made of several layers of light gauze. The pants have a lace-up design, so you can adjust the size according to your changing waistline. Which one would you like?”
Xiao Fang looked at the styles and thought they were all quite nice. But when it came to choosing a specific one, his indecisiveness kicked in again.
“Can he try them on?” Fei Xiangnan asked, looking at the clothes. He wanted to see how Xiao Fang looked in them.
The assistant nodded. “You can try on anything here!” The government’s subsidy policy for pregnant third-gender individuals was excellent. If a pregnant person was divorced, they could receive national subsidies from pregnancy until their child finished university. Rich people didn’t need these subsidies, but all maternity stores were tax-exempt, and pregnant customers could enjoy the best discounts.
Indeed, in this world, rarity determined value. Moreover, children born to the third gender were a cut above ordinary people from birth, making them an indispensable new force for the country.
Fei Xiangnan casually picked one from each theme and handed them to Xiao Fang. “Try them on, see if they’re comfortable.”
As a man, Xiao Fang wasn’t used to trying on clothes in a store. He usually had a clear goal, checked the size, picked a few items, and left. Plus, the assistant’s gaze was a bit too intense.
“President Fei, I think they’re fine. There’s no need to try them on.”
Fei Xiangnan raised an eyebrow. “You prefer trying on clothes at home?”
Xiao Fang’s face stiffened as he recalled the agony of being stared at by Fei Xiangnan for various reasons while changing at home. He immediately grabbed the clothes and rushed into the fitting room.
Watching their little interaction, the shop assistant felt like she was about to be swept away by the sweetness. Watching two good-looking people in love was such a treat!
Xiao Fang tried on the green mountain outfit first. The green and white gradient gauze robe, paired with loose-fitting long pants, had an exquisite mountain pattern that snaked up the legs and connected to the top at the shoulders, creating an indescribable ethereal feel. Coupled with Xiao Fang’s fair skin and reserved features, which might not be the most stunning but possessed a unique charm, he was better suited for these simple, refined clothes than for flashy ones. They accentuated his clean and pure temperament.
“Wow!” The assistant couldn’t help but gasp. He looked so good.
Being stared at like that, Xiao Fang still felt a bit shy. He awkwardly fiddled with his bangs. “I’ll… I’ll go change into the next one.”
Fei Xiangnan stepped forward first. His large, warm hand slid over Xiao Fang’s shoulder, finally resting on his stomach. His voice brushed past Xiao Fang’s ear, striking his heart directly. “Is it comfortable?”
Xiao Fang’s face flushed crimson in an instant. That voice was just too unfair!
“Ah, yes, it’s very comfortable,” Xiao Fang said nervously, not daring to look him in the face.
Fei Xiangnan ruffled Xiao Fang’s head. “Then we’ll take this whole series.”
“Okay!” The assistant efficiently packed everything up.
Xiao Fang’s nose was only a centimeter away from Fei Xiangnan’s. The faint scent of tobacco on him made Xiao Fang’s rationality lose its way.
Next, they looked at the casual wear series. They picked out six different styles of trench coats for Xiao Fang, grabbed a pile of suits and casual outfits, and ended up having to use the store’s delivery service because they couldn’t carry everything.
By the time they got to the car, Xiao Fang had been thoroughly flustered by Fei Xiangnan’s teasing, with steam practically coming out of his head.
“What do you want to eat for lunch today?” Fei Xiangnan asked, switching to a mundane topic to help Xiao Fang relax a bit.
“Um, fried prawns, mapo tofu, mock crab roe, taro soup, and a steamed fish.” Xiao Fang mentally calculated the menu. In his plan, there were no green vegetables!
Fei Xiangnan nodded. “Add a stir-fried seasonal vegetable to that.”
Aww!
Xiao Fang’s face instantly puffed up into a bun. This was his daily battle with Fei Xiangnan, and every time, he was the one who lost.
As he watched the scenery recede, Xiao Fang’s phone buzzed. It was a message from Wen An’an. Before he could open it, Zhang Hang sent him another message. He opened it and saw a link.
Xiao Fang, the promotional trailer for our new drama is out! It’s getting really popular. Go check it out.
Only then did Xiao Fang remember that his new drama, Dynasty, was set to be released in half a month. He excitedly clicked on the link.
The video began with a grand, majestic score as silhouettes of two armies clashing flashed across the screen. Then, it cut to the beginning of the story. Xiao Fang, dressed in a white princely robe, was smiling in a wine alley. The camera zoomed in, his poetry-inscribed fan covering half his face, leaving only a pair of naturally smiling peach-blossom eyes. Princess Wen An’an made her entrance in a sharp, practical outfit, followed by the crown prince in a black robe, writing powerful characters on white paper with a brush. The scene transitioned smoothly, flashing through a series of suspenseful clips. The actors’ good looks were undeniable, leaving a great impression on the audience. The music grew more urgent, and the scene changed to the crown prince taking poison, a broken smile on his face; the princess’s resolute back as she walked away; and Xiao Fang fighting on horseback, his fierce gaze captivating the audience. The final shot was of Xiao Fang in an emperor’s robe, standing on the Altar of Heaven. The music stopped abruptly, and two powerful characters appeared on the screen, spelling out: Dynasty!
[Why am I suddenly looking forward to this?]
[OMG, is the main character really Xiao Fang? Why does his acting seem so different from before?]
[Sob sob sob~ Am I the only one who sees the chemistry between the prince and the crown prince? OMG, that sword practice scene was to die for!]
[Person above, you are not alone! By the way, who plays the crown prince? He’s so handsome too! Can’t wait~]
[Don’t stop me, I’m about to become a fan of Xiao Fang for his looks!]
[Is the female lead An’an? I grew up watching her dramas. An’an is getting more and more beautiful. Goddess An’an.]
[Goddess, your devoted fan is here~]
[Heh, all I can say is, that’s a million-dollar editor. It must have been tough editing a certain someone, Xiao.]
Scrolling to this point, Xiao Fang knew that no celebrity was without their anti-fans. He was gradually getting used to it. They weren’t cursing him to his face, so it didn’t really hurt. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but click on the replies to that comment. The first one he saw almost made him burst out laughing.
[Million-dollar editor here. I’m a die-hard fan of Xiao Fang. Xiao Fang isn’t hard to edit. What’s troubling me is how to edit you out.]
[Hahahaha, you’re a legend.]
[Oh, for goodness’ sake. Sir, did you really say that? It’s truly, unbelievably like the rag I used to wipe the dining table last night, or the accumulated bad breath of my neighbor Uncle George. It’s nauseating to hear. I think, sir, you should cease your foolish behavior, because I believe that even the million-dollar editor above, well, couldn’t possibly edit you to be so outstanding. Thank you.]
[Hahahaha, that cursed, over-the-top formal English.]
***
Xiao Fang couldn’t help but like these witty replies, using his alternate account, of course.
“What’s so funny?” Fei Xiangnan asked. Hearing Xiao Fang’s silly laughter didn’t annoy him at all; in fact, it made him feel refreshed.
“Hehe, President Fei, the promotional trailer for our drama is out. I’ll show it to you later,” Xiao Fang said happily.
“No one’s cursing you out, are they?” Fei Xiangnan was particularly concerned about this. He couldn’t even bear to scold Xiao Fang himself; how could he let those keyboard warriors do it?
“Not as many as before. President Fei, the entertainment industry is always like this. There’s no actor who’s never been criticized.” Seeing Fei Xiangnan’s expression turning increasingly grim, Xiao Fang quickly added some reassuring words. “The fans are pretty rational now. There are people defending me under the negative comments!”
Only then did Fei Xiangnan’s brow relax. That was more like it. As long as nothing made him unhappy, it was fine.
“Meow~”
As they were about to enter the residential complex, Xiao Fang’s sharp ears caught a faint sound. “President Fei, stop the car!”
Screech!
Fei Xiangnan immediately hit the brakes, asking anxiously, “What’s wrong? Is your stomach hurting?”
“No, no,” Xiao Fang hurriedly opened the car door. Fei Xiangnan got out with him.
There was a green belt in front of the complex entrance. Xiao Fang bent down and meowed.
“Meow~” A faint cry answered from within the bushes, even softer than before.
Xiao Fang carefully parted the bushes and saw a tiny white kitten lying on the ground. Its eyes were so inflamed they were swollen shut, and there was a sizable wound on its little leg.
Xiao Fang’s heart immediately clenched. In his previous world, he was allergic to cat fur and couldn’t have a cat, but he had always loved them. These small animals always stirred up people’s protective instincts, making you want to give them a warm home.
“President Fei,” Xiao Fang said, his eyes moist as he looked at him. Fei Xiangnan immediately understood what he meant. It seemed lunch would have to be postponed.
Fearing the kitten might scratch Xiao Fang, Fei Xiangnan picked it up first. The kitten was too weak to resist, only letting out faint meows.
“It probably got separated from its mother. Let’s go to the community vet first.”
Xiao Fang nodded, deftly grabbing a new towel from the car and carefully wrapping it around the kitten.
The kitten struggled uncomfortably for a moment, but the soft towel gradually made it relax its guard. Its small paws kneaded the towel, and its little tongue licked its lips. It seemed to be starving. Xiao Fang’s heart softened even more.