Over a cup of coffee, they chatted endlessly.
Mostly about high school memories.
As for what Feng Yulan had encountered, Autumn Ease couldn’t offer answers now.
Of course, she hadn’t expected him to solve anything—just needed proof her mind wasn’t breaking.
“Alright, I’m off,” Feng Yulan drained her cup and stood up.
“Leaving already? Not even treating me to dinner?” Autumn Ease teased.
“I’ve got plans with Brother Lei. Wanna join?”
“Nah.” Autumn Ease waved him off. He’d rather head home early to game than scrounge a free meal.
“Heh! See ya!”
“Yeah, and stop with the ‘heh’—makes me feel like you’re mocking me.” Autumn Ease rolled his eyes.
“Huh… really? I’m used to it.”
“Go on, get lost. Cheapo—won’t even buy a meal!” Autumn Ease flipped him off, then burst out laughing.
Even back in school, friends who weren’t super close could joke in ways impossible with coworkers now.
Well, that also came from Autumn Ease’s habit of avoiding chats.
Seemed like a college habit.
Back then, he barely knew classmates’ names—after lectures, everyone just retreated to dorms. Only roommates stuck in memory.
The city glowed under a dying sunset, lending a lonely beauty to the drifting fallen leaves.
Autumn Ease cycled home as usual. At a roadside stall, he grabbed a few potatoes and tomatoes, then picked a dozen live clams from a pile of near-dead ones.
No instant noodles tonight—he’d cook something “fancy.”
He diced the tomatoes into near-sauce, dumped them into overcooked potatoes, tossed in the clams, and simmered it all with seasonings. Clam-potato mash, done.
No MSG, but the tomatoes made it fragrant and savory.
Cooking alone. Eating alone. Washing dishes alone. Alone…
Yeah.
Autumn Ease was used to solitude.
After freshman military training, he’d moved out of dorms.
Five or six years of this life already.
At twenty-six—or twenty-five by strict count—he muttered to himself while busy, “Hmm… veggie soup for lunch tomorrow…”
His company didn’t cover meals. The so-called “meal allowance” was just ten bucks a day.
How could a young guy in a big city fill his stomach with that? Takeout or street food was impossible.
So Autumn Ease packed bento—yesterday was just a forgetful slip.
“Veggie soup” meant cheap dried veggies bought online. Two scoops in a bento box, salt and MSG sprinkled on top. At lunch, just pour hot water and drink.
For carbs, he’d grab two steamed buns in the morning.
But calories still fell short. He kept another box of homemade pork or chicken jerky—soak it in soup or munch as snacks. Cheaper than store-bought.
Except… he was out of meat.
The jerky stash was gone.
“…Guess I’ll go buy some.” Autumn Ease hesitated at his door, then forced himself out.
For a shut-in, stepping out again after coming home was torture.
No one pushed him—he muttered, “Gotta buy it anyway,” and left.
Dusk had fallen. Autumn’s crisp wind brushed his face. He didn’t mind it—unless rainy—because it felt refreshing.
Not like summer’s heat, spring’s softness, or winter’s bite.
Autumn wind was just right.
Outside his apartment, he spotted a new stray cat—never seen before.
A five- or six-month-old kitten, yellow and white fur, super cute.
It wasn’t shy, probably learning from older strays. It’d rush to anyone, rubbing against legs.
Hmm…
Autumn Ease took that back.
When he approached, the kitten ignored him completely.
A girl in a Lolita dress stepped out, and the kitten instantly switched targets, clinging to her leg like a lifeline.
Autumn Ease eyed her white stockings, swallowed hard, and envied that cat…
Wish I were a cat!
Behind her, a plain-looking girl walked by—totally ignored by the kitten.
Autumn Ease’s eyelid twitched.
Not weird, really.
But then a curvy, mature beauty appeared. The kitten abandoned the Lolita girl’s stockings, latched onto the woman’s black stockings, and scrambled up to nestle against her ample chest—easily a DD-cup.
“Damn, that cat’s a pervert!” Autumn Ease muttered, green with envy. “Shameless!”
The mature woman didn’t mind. She cradled the kitten, which kneaded her breasts with restless paws—instinct, maybe.
But Autumn Ease still burned with jealousy.
Glancing around, he saw other men sharing his hungry stare.
Yeah… men are all like this.
He scoffed at himself and left the “crime scene.”
Distracted by thoughts of that huge bust, Autumn Ease somehow bought a watermelon at the supermarket.
A bit hard, but the size was satisfying… for squeezing, maybe.
Ugh—no!
He just wanted watermelon.
Yeah, that’s it. Trust Autumn Ease.
The walk back felt longer, weighed down by the basketball-sized melon.
By the time he returned, the apartment entrance was quiet.
Everyone was either out or home.
This was the hour when most stayed indoors.
A chubby orange cat, too fat to move, lazed by the wall, lazily pawing kibble into its mouth.
The yellow-and-white kitten was there too.
Without admirers, it looked lonely.
Autumn Ease was curious. He set his bags down and crouched, reaching out slowly.
The kitten watched him warily but didn’t flee. It let him stroke its fluffy head.
A warm, unexpected joy flooded him.
“Meow~” That soft, cute mewl could melt anyone’s defenses.
Autumn Ease pulled a scrap of chicken breast from his bag and offered it.
The kitten gobbled it up, then gratefully licked his fingers.
Guess calling it a pervert cat was unfair.
Autumn Ease jumped to conclusions too fast.
The kitten suddenly darted off—targeting a girl standing nearby in a knee-length skirt, her back turned.
“Whoosh!” The skirt flew up.
A flash of bear-patterned panties.
Before Autumn Ease could look away, the girl spun around, glaring.
Fuming, she marched over and slapped him hard.
*Slap!*
A bright red handprint bloomed on his cheek. The shock knocked him off balance, and he tumbled to the ground.
From this angle… yeah…
The view was even clearer.
“Pervert!” she hissed.
Her angry voice was oddly sweet.
No, no—this wasn’t right!
“It wasn’t me!” Autumn Ease cried out, hurt.
“Who else?!”
“I—I—look at that cat!” He pointed wildly at the kitten, now calmly licking its paws in the corner.
“You expect me to believe that? Scumbag! Pervert! I’m calling the cops!”
“No, no, no—sister!”
Her glare turned icy.
“Wait—I mean, miss! Seriously, it wasn’t me! Check the cameras…” He trailed off, spotting the security cam—smashed beyond repair today.
Cold sweat broke out.
A molestation charge meant detention and a permanent stain on his record.
Worst part? He was innocent!
Damn that pervert cat!
He wanted to strangle it.
Rescue came from her ringing phone.
“Hello? Oh! You’re here? I’ll be right there…” She hung up, shooting Autumn Ease a venomous look. “Don’t ever show your face again, creep!”
Passersby glared at him with disgust.
Thankfully, few were around.
Otherwise, this shame would’ve spread everywhere.
No way to explain.
“You little brat, messing with me!” Autumn Ease tried to grab the kitten for a “scolding,” but it slipped away like an eel, vanishing into the bushes.
He sighed, picked up his bags, and trudged upstairs.
In a shadowed corner beyond the streetlights, a blank-faced girl silently watched Autumn Ease disappear inside.
