Chapter 14: You Will Scare Him
Zhang Chang didn’t forget about the kitten. He just found it difficult to engage with the female lynx, so he had to slow down his pace.
When he reached the tree, he quickly climbed up and grabbed the trembling kitten that was glaring at him. The kitten still had the prey it caught earlier in its mouth.
Zhang Chang had every reason to believe that if the kitten wasn’t biting down on its food, it would definitely have made a sarcastic comment.
With a couple of swift moves, he descended back down the tree. The female lynx still hadn’t left, her gaze complicated as she looked at the kitten in Zhang Chang’s mouth. “Who is he?”
Zhang Chang didn’t respond—he couldn’t respond.
Chu Wenmao dropped the meat from his mouth and gave a cold snort. He skillfully jumped onto Zhang Chang’s back, then stood on his head, making himself taller than the female lynx across from them.
His gaze, from this higher vantage point, scrutinized the lynx standing opposite them.
Chu Wenmao had a terrible memory for distinguishing animals in the forest. Most of them looked the same anyway, making it hard to tell them apart.
He couldn’t differentiate between other lynxes and Zhang Chang by appearance; he could only rely on scent.
He was quite sure he hadn’t seen this female lynx before, but she clearly seemed to have some strong opinions about him based on her gaze.
That was normal. After all, the female lynx probably thought he was the offspring of Zhang Chang and another female lynx, and Zhang Chang was even kind enough to carry him around and take care of him.
Her tone wasn’t exactly friendly as she asked, “Who are you?”
Upon getting a clear look at Chu Wenmao, the female lynx’s eyes instantly welled with tears. Her voice was filled with both anger and a hint of coquettishness. “It’s all your fault!”
“Why were you running around aimlessly?!”
The anger was clearly directed at Chu Wenmao, while the coquettish tone, forced by reason to suppress her anger, was aimed at Zhang Chang.
Chu Wenmao was a bit confused. Was the female lynx blaming him for running off? But he wasn’t really a lynx cub.
He wanted to retort: *What did I ever do to you?*
How could she blame him for this?
Just as he was about to argue back, he noticed the affectionate look the female lynx gave Zhang Chang, and suddenly, it all made sense.
Could it be that this female lynx once had a thing with Zhang Chang? Is she upset because he, Chu Wenmao, has been sticking to Zhang Chang, preventing him from having time to pursue a romantic relationship with her?
At that thought, Chu Wenmao realized something important.
Oh no! How many female lynxes has Zhang Chang been with in the past?
Hopefully, it wasn’t just this one, because if it were, wouldn’t that make this lynx his “mother” in name?
Feeling uneasy, he shrank back on Zhang Chang’s body, trying to disappear from both lynxes’ attention.
What if this “mother” refused to acknowledge his existence, and Zhang Chang realized he had been deceived? Would Zhang Chang get angry and bite him to death?
And what if the female lynx decided to take him back with her? He definitely didn’t want to go with her.
He had just managed to win over Zhang Chang, and life had finally gotten a bit more comfortable. Was his sweet dream about to shatter so soon?
He was unwilling to accept it!
Yet Zhang Chang remained silent like a block of wood, saying nothing.
Chu Wenmao anxiously patted Zhang Chang, softly reminding him, “Say something.”
At least give him a hint; he couldn't handle the suspense any longer.
Zhang Chang knew that the kitten was feeling guilty, afraid that the female lynx in front of them might be the “mother” he had made up in his stories.
“Let’s talk about it next spring,” Zhang Chang said. His mating season had already passed, and the hormones no longer clouded his mind.
Once spring passed, lynxes, who were naturally solitary creatures, didn’t maintain any strong bonds with others of their kind, not even with their past mates.
Zhang Chang’s tone was somewhat cold as he glanced at the female lynx’s belly. “Your priority right now is to take care of the cubs in your womb.”
Oh?
Chu Wenmao felt like he had just heard something quite shocking.
So the female lynx that Zhang Chang had his eye on had been claimed by another male lynx? She was even pregnant with his cubs.
In the animal world, this might not be a big deal, given that lynxes didn’t practice monogamy but rather polygyny.
But to Chu Wenmao, who still thought like a human, this revelation was explosive.
At least now he was sure that Zhang Chang hadn’t been involved with this female lynx. Only then did he dare to sit up straight.
He sat up, ready to enjoy the show.
The female lynx, even though they weren’t together, was clearly not taking Zhang Chang’s cold indifference well.
The more she thought about it, the more she regretted it.
Back then, she had been so close to being with Zhang Chang, but it was all ruined by this little cub that had fallen from the sky, interrupting her courtship!
Zhang Chang turned around, making sure the kitten couldn’t see the ferocious expression on the female lynx’s face.
“You’ll scare him.”
Chu Wenmao nodded repeatedly in agreement. *I’m still young. I haven’t been through life’s harsh lessons yet.*
The female lynx hadn’t expected Zhang Chang to be so protective of the cub on his back. Shouldn't the cubs be raised by female lynxes alone?
Why was Zhang Chang, a male lynx, taking care of a cub himself?
“Is this your cub?” she asked, confused. Wasn’t this the same cub that had fallen from the tree, ruining her plans? How had he suddenly become Zhang Chang’s cub?
Chu Wenmao noticed the confusion on her face and took the initiative, saying, “I lost my mother when I was young. We were poor and had no food, so my father had to take up the responsibility.”
His knowledge of classical Chinese was mediocre, and this was all nonsense he made up on the spot.
But it was enough to fool this female lynx.
He even added some information about his supposedly deceased mother. “If you’re wondering what happened to my mother, she met a tragic end. A disaster, beyond anyone’s control.”
Surely, if he claimed she was dead, no random female lynx would suddenly show up and claim to be his mother, right?
With no one left to challenge it, Zhang Chang would have to raise him until he was a year old!
“In short, I am definitely Zhang Chang’s cub.”
*Ha! When it comes to key moments where my life’s on the line, no one can out-lie me!*
His black tail tip swayed left and right, clearly pleased with himself.
The female lynx was now thoroughly confused. Even though the cub was speaking in animal language, she somehow felt both like she understood and didn’t understand what he was saying at the same time.
Zhang Chang had a feeling the kitten was about to start spouting nonsense, so he quickly raised a paw and began walking away.
If they didn’t leave soon, he’d end up caught in this mess too.
As for the wolves he had killed earlier, he left them all for the pregnant female lynx without taking anything.
After they had walked a bit, Chu Wenmao heard the voices of the female lynx and another lynx, who claimed to be her mate.
“Why did you leave the den instead of resting properly? Let me handle the hunting; you should stay in the den and rest.”
The female lynx struggled to escape the male lynx’s embrace. “I don’t want to go back with you!”
Typically, once a female lynx was pregnant, especially after spring, the male lynx didn’t stay by her side all the time.
But this male lynx seemed to be deeply in love with the female lynx, determined to stay with her throughout.
Unfortunately, the female lynx wasn’t having any of it.
Chu Wenmao’s mouth dropped open. Wow, was forced love becoming a trend in the animal world too?
While he enjoyed the spectacle, Zhang Chang, who had no interest in the drama, walked quickly and even had the mood to tease the kitten.
“Are you sure your mother is dead? Do you need me to help you find her?” Zhang Chang joked, “After all, you were raised by your mother when you were young.”
“No, no.” Chu Wenmao quickly responded, not wanting his lie to be exposed. He immediately showered Zhang Chang with praise.
“You have to believe that you have my heart. I’m just as happy being by your side. Besides, when I turn one, my mother would want me to live on my own anyway, so there’s no need to bother.”
Zhang Chang seemed satisfied with this answer.
After all, he had raised the little one for so long, and it didn’t seem like his efforts were in vain.
Along the way, they didn’t encounter any more wolves, which meant the pack had likely retreated in the direction the kitten had mentioned.
This time, Zhang Chang chose a tree hollow covered by bushes.
The reason he didn’t choose a stone cave was that he noticed the kitten didn’t seem to like stone caves.
The kitten probably found the stone too hard. Ever since they had moved from the tree hollow to a stone cave, the kitten had always wanted to sleep on him.
Might as well just go back to a tree hollow, then.
Actually, Zhang Chang preferred the stone cave. It was cooler than the tree hollow, but who could argue with a kitten that was still too young?
He could give in for now.
Chu Wenmao had no idea that Zhang Chang had specifically chosen the tree hollow for him.
He laid out his dried fish at the entrance to dry, then placed the duck meat closer to himself and Zhang Chang, completing the setup of this temporary nest.
Even though they had walked in circles all evening, Chu Wenmao wasn’t tired. Mostly, this was because Zhang Chang’s body served as his moving bed.
Whenever he felt like sleeping, he could just sleep. It was incredibly convenient.
*If only I had such a bed when I was working.*
His sense of happiness surged.
Zhang Chang, after marking the tree hollow, came inside. Having been a laborer all day (mostly carrying the kitten), and without any sleep during the day, he was starting to feel drowsy.
“We’ll catch the mice later. Let’s rest for now.”
Chu Wenmao wasn’t in a hurry. After all, the mice would eventually end up in his belly. Even if he couldn’t catch them, Zhang Chang would catch them for him. He was that confident.
Accomplishing things with someone else’s hands—he truly was the brain of the animal kingdom.
Though he wasn’t tired, he didn’t dare leave the den. His cat head rested in front of Zhang Chang’s lynx face as he idly examined his features.
For some reason, he suddenly became curious.
*Does Zhang Chang act the same way with female lynxes as he does with me?*
Finding a male lynx like Zhang Chang was probably considered extremely lucky in the animal world.
But there was still one thing that Chu Wenmao couldn’t get over.
Even though Zhang Chang treated the female lynx coldly, their words seemed to suggest they had some feelings for each other. Zhang Chang had even risked his life to rescue her from the wolves.
*Where does that leave me, a kitten who’s afraid of heights and can’t fend for himself?!*
He lifted his paw, angrily yanking Zhang Chang’s whiskers, then used another paw to block Zhang Chang’s nose.
Zhang Chang, waking up: “...”
The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was the kitten glaring at him, whiskers twitching angrily, paws restless as ever. “What are you doing?”
“Do you like me more, or do you like that female lynx more?” Chu Wenmao asked the burning question in his heart. Otherwise, he feared he might get so mad he’d tear out all of Zhang Chang’s fur.
But as soon as he asked, he realized how strange the question was.
*Who do you like more?* It sounded suspiciously like a competition for affection, and there was something oddly... off about it.
He shook his head, trying to clear the weird thoughts from his mind.
His question wasn’t about romantic love, after all—it was about familial affection.
Zhang Chang, being the straightforward lynx he was, didn’t overthink it. “Are you still mad that I left you in the tree that time?”
“When I went to save you, I saw that Ah Wu was planning to knock down the beehive and let the bees sting you.” Zhang Chang, still groggy, explained.
He hadn’t expected the kitten to hold a grudge over that incident.
After all, he was just a long-term meal ticket for the kitten, nothing more.
“At the time, I didn’t kill him to confuse the wolves’ search patterns. It wasn’t primarily to save the female lynx.”
“Really?” Chu Wenmao, having gotten what he wanted, still pretended to be displeased. His tail tip swayed back and forth, clearly pleased.
Zhang Chang, half-asleep, could still see the black tail tip swaying. He let out a sigh, both annoyed and amused. “Mm. Now can you settle down and sleep?”
“Alright, alright.” Chu Wenmao, feeling guilty, gently patted Zhang Chang’s whiskers and nose that he had just messed with, then quietly curled up on Zhang Chang’s body.
Zhang Chang suddenly realized that, whether in a tree hollow or a stone cave, it didn’t really make a difference.
The kitten still preferred to sleep on him.
Chu Wenmao had simply grown used to this, and after enjoying the comfort of Zhang Chang’s soft body, how could he go back to the cold, hard ground?
Zhang Chang was still thinking about taking the kitten out to hunt mice, so he didn’t sleep for long before he yawned and stood up.
After all, mice were most active at night.
He used to be able to sleep through the entire day, but now he had to wake up early to teach a cub how to hunt. Raising a cub really wasn’t easy.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you to see if mouse meat tastes any good.”
Chu Wenmao, limbs fully spread out, pressed his belly tightly against Zhang Chang’s back. Hearing this, he sleepily murmured, “Mm.”
Zhang Chang didn’t need to look to know that the kitten had fallen asleep again.
For carnivores, mice were like a staple food for humans. Every animal could catch a mouse, and it was easy and effortless.
Zhang Chang decided to make quick work of it.
Mice were cautious and timid. He and the kitten placed some duck meat near a mouse hole, then lay in wait next to another mouse hole, patiently waiting for the mouse to appear.
The mouse, lured by the scent of meat, slowly poked out a paw, followed by its head, cautiously surveying the surroundings.
Chu Wenmao was gently nudged awake by Zhang Chang. “It’s out.”
“The key to catching a mouse is—”
Zhang Chang began to teach patiently, only to be interrupted by Chu Wenmao.
“I know the key to catching it.” Chu Wenmao shook his head, trying to wake himself up fully. “The key is to block its hole!”
“Last time, I failed because it escaped back into its hole. That won’t happen again!”
Zhang Chang: “...”
“How about this? I’ll catch it, and you block its hole.” Chu Wenmao, eager to prove himself, was already raring to go.
Zhang Chang just wanted to say it wasn’t necessary. It was just a mouse, after all. But when he saw the kitten’s bright, eager eyes, he couldn’t say anything.
*Fine, let’s block the hole.*
He consoled himself, thinking that every animal had its own hunting style.
Chu Wenmao waited until the mouse was far enough from its hole, then leapt out from the bushes, while Zhang Chang lazily moved to block a hole that was barely big enough for his paw.
He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. *When did I ever do something like this?*
While Zhang Chang felt a little down, Chu Wenmao, brimming with energy, finally had his chance to redeem himself!
Quick and sharp, he didn’t even extend his claws this time, knowing they hadn’t fully grown yet.
The little mouse, seeing its hole blocked by a large lynx, panicked and was soon caught in the kitten’s mouth.
“If only I had a bow and arrow, I’d look so much cooler,” Chu Wenmao boasted after catching the mouse. “Then I wouldn’t even need to lift a paw.”
“Too bad I’ll never return to the human world.”
He was busy complaining, completely unaware that not far away, a fox had overheard everything.
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