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Zhang Hailou and Zhang Haixia are adoptive brothers who once living hell life as strays in such famine as far as they could remember.
Since Zhang Haiqi, who somehow managed to be both their strict mentor and their closest thing to a mother had taken them in as disciples—Zhang Hailou and Zhang Haixia had grown accustomed to the relentless routine of training to become agents of The Southern Archives.
Even though they were still years away from adulthood, danger had already become ordinary circumstances.
Zhang Haiqi taught them about physical training, martial arts, and all it takes about survival. She often sent the boys to practices, such as hunt venomous snakes, rats infesting storage rooms, or insects that carried disease.
Zhang Haixia would quietly track their prey with uncanny patience and his unbelievable keen sense of smell for finding targets—while Zhang Hailou, rushed in with agile and energetic self, turning every mission into a noisy disaster that somehow still ended in success.
Together, they were frighteningly efficient.
Which was exactly why neither of them questioned today's assignment for now.
"I'm leaving for a few weeks for a mission," Haiqi said while fastening the last buckle on her bag. "You two, keep the house clean."
"We can do that, Shifu!"
"Remember to train every day."
"We always do!"
"And take care of something i left in the basket.'
"—simply keep it alive."
She stepped aside and then left the boys in still lots of questions in their head.
The boys began to notice a strange small creature on a pillowed basket which has Shifu left before.
"Don't tell me... is it.. a baby?!" Hailou gasped dramatically. "Does Shifu secretly having an affair and a child?"
Haixia pinched Hailou's cheek. "You—just take a look of it first, shall we?"
Then, they both opened the blanket carefully.
"...A cat?" Hailou blinked.
It's a big fat greyish cat—
And it's sleeping?
It looks no harm like the usual mission target they were given.
In fact it looks kinda fragile.
The cat slowly opened one eye, looked at him for exactly two seconds, then yawned.
"Haimao—"
"—Its name is Zhang Haimao," said Haixia reading the short notes in the cat's charm collar.
Hailou stared at it with such disbelief. "Aiya! He even has our surname?"
"—do.. does it mean he belongs to the family?"
Hailou scratched his head which isn't itchy. But Haixia beside him shooked his head slowly.
"So... our senior?"
Haixia looked at him with complete seriousness. "In terms of seniority in cat ages.. It might be."
Haixia quietly pinched the bridge of his nose before Hailou could ask whether he should bow.
"Shifu used to entrusted advanced targets to hunt for us," Haixia said carefully.
"And now she's entrusting us with... a cat."
Hailou laughed. "Looks like Shifu look down to our skill! I mean how hard it can be, right?"
"It already looks this fat and healthy! We're just gonna watch him eat until Shifu come backs."
Haixia added to Hailou. "Fulfilling its basic need. Maybe this time, Shifu want to give us some distraction between our daily trainings."
Hailou stared to Haxia, crossed his arms. "That's it?"
"That's it."
"Shrimpie, we've catched fish in sea full of strong waves."
"Mm.." Haixia nodded.
"We've catched bats and spiders here."
"Yeah.'
"We've hunted snakes and rat pets in town."
"Hmm."
"We've survived all of it."
"Surely, without any scratch."
"We're definitely not going to lose against an old cat, right?"
Haixia looked at that pacefully lazy and unharmful Haimao. "Impossible."
"Alright! Let's proof ourselves to Shifu!"
Then both of them get back to bussiness. They didn't know it turned out to be very possible.
The first problem arrived before dinner.
Haimao was already awake from his lazy sleep—climbing out of his basket with surprising grace for an old cat.
He stretched until every bone in his body seemed to crack, then walked around the table.
He sat. Then looked at the two boys in front of him.
The boys were busy with their own daily training and forgot that they had a cat to look for. They already ate their own dinner and emptied their bowls.
Silence streaks. Hailou looked back to Haimao.
"He's staring... At us."
"I noticed."
"...Is it a.. intimidation?"
"I think he's just hungry."
"Oh. Right. We have to feed him."
Another silence.
Neither of them moved. Neither of them had the faintest idea what cats were supposed to eat. The dinner was already finished.
"What does he eat again?"
"Cat is a carnivore, some meat would do."
"Ah! Fish?"
"Right, but we don't have fish for now."
"...Then chicken?"
"We don't have chicken either."
The grey cat slowly walked toward an empty bowl. It stared at them, without making a sound and even without blinking.
Hailou felt strangely pressured. "...Why is he looking at us like that?"
"I think..." Haixia looked at his partner.
"He knows we're incompetent?"
"...I was going to say he's just starved."
"Oh. Right. How about our home-made porridge, we still have some aren't we?”
Hailou proudly presented a bowl of porridge for Haimao—convincing him to eat.
"Hei old cat, we made porridge for you."
Haimao only sniffed it uninterested—turned around then walked away.
“Not sure he wants it. He needs cat food. He doesn't eat human food like us.”
“Shifu doesn't leave any cat food with us huh... we shall buy it. But, it's already night time and we can't leave this house empty without anyone looking at him.”
“We should give something to him first, and prepare the stock earlier tomorrow.”
“I agree, Shrimpie.”
“This makes me thirsty, let me drink first—” Hailou grabbed his glass and drank it quickly.
“Wait—give it to him!”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh!”
“Come on, it's milk. We still have it!”
“Cats can drink milk, right?
"Fair."
The moment the milk landed in Haimao's bowl… The old cat appeared from seemingly nowhere.
Haimao drinks it with such greed until the bowl emptied. And then it leaves. He's gone for now.
Hailou stared in disbelief. "...That's it? No thank mew?”
Haixia give him a thin smile.
“Brace yourself Salty, we still have so much to do later.”
Early in the next morning, they divided up the duties of looking after Haimao at home and buying food and cat supplies.
They were fully prepared now.
However, as they continued their routine training, Haimao occasionally wandered off.
When he returned, his fur was covered in dirt. Although he was gray, the dirt and leaves on his body were invisible to the naked eyes.
Surely, it needs bath time.
Hailou confidently rolled up his sleeves.
"This one's easy."
Haixia didn't look convinced. "...He's a cat."
"So?"
"You know, cats don't usually enjoy baths."
"That's because no one has my technique."
"What technique?"
"Confidence."
Five seconds later—
"HISSSSS!”
Water exploded out of the wooden tub.
Hailou, who usually hunted animals and pests for training, now had to caringly bathe the cat. Of course, his moves are rough—and it seems Haimao couldn’t help but launch himself straight out of his face.
“ No—” but his response is slower than its claws out.
"AAH! HE'S ATTACKING!"
"Stop screaming! It can make the cat stressed!”
"I CAN'T SEE HIM STRESSED!"
"That's because he's sitting on your head!"
"I KNOW! IT'S ME WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE STRESSED!”
Haixia carefully reached over, tried to calm both of the other Zhangs.
"It's alright, Hold on..."
Haimao lazily lifted one paw. Swipe—
A neat red scratch decorated the back of Haixia's hand. The cat is down to the floor.
Hailou burst into laughter. "PFFT—HAHAHAHA!"
"You got scratched!"
Haixia calmly looked at the wound. Little scratch like that doesn't hurt, but being laughed at something silly is, more kind of humiliating.
Not long after, another scratch.
This time on Hailou's arm. "...”
"...We're even."
“Hey, Shrimpie. We can't be ruthless to him yet, huh?”
Haixia sighed deeply and grabbed his Hailou's shoulder. “Remember Hailou, Shifu wants us to take care of it rather than vanish it. Be more patience.”
And by the time the bath finally ended, the bathroom floor was flooded. The bucket had somehow broken into half pieces.
Soap and bubbles floated in circles across the room. The towel hung from a ceiling beam. Neither of them knew how exactly how does that happen—they won't recall it.
Hailou sat on the floor, soaked from head to toe. Haixia looked only slightly better, still wet.
But the two of them have other new things in common—red wounds—scratched from the same cat.
Heanwhile, Haimao was already sitting outside the bathroom. It's already perfectly dry because of the wind passed. Calmly licking his paw innocently as though nothing had happened. He doesn't feel he's the criminal here.
"Meow..." Hailou meowed accusingly.
"He's mocking us."
Haixia, somehow agreed—watched the cat slowly blink.
"Yeah. I think he is."
Never thought before that a cat can beat two Zhangs at once.
Days passed, they finally got used to raise a cat. They already learned when it's time to feed him, what his gonna eat, when to clean his literbox, or even played with him and brush his fur.
Other problem is, somehow...
It feels like Zhang Haimao unexpectedly become more clinged to Zhang Hailou.
No matter how many times Hailou naughtily poked his belly, pinched his cheeks, or teased him by calling him an "old man," the cat only became more attached.
He followed Hailou everywhere, sat on his lap whenever he rested, and shamelessly blocked his path every time he tried to leave for training.
"Oh! Senior Zhang," Hailou laughed as the cat wrapped around his ankle again.
"You won't let me do the training!"
"What's Shifu gonna say if she see it?"
But Haimao seems doesn't care.
"—Aiya! you really don't want me busy with anything other than you? You're sabotaging my future."
Meanwhile, Haixia stood behind in his training.
He is sure that he did everything right, but didn't have any clue why he always still looks wrong in the cat's eyes.
Despite he hates the smell of Haimao and his dirt who sharply annoying for his expert nose—he still tried his best to finish this mission.
He cleaned the cat's litter, helped to prepare meals, brushed Haimao's fur, and even made him a proper place for its sleeps
Yet every attempt to pet him only ended with another bite.
"Tch! Does he hate mee that much?"
"I don't think so..." Hailou answered honestly.
"I think you only look too serious for him."
Haixia frowned. "Huh? I treat him carefully."
"Exactly."
Hailou scratched Haimao behind the ears.
"You do, treat him just like a mission."
"Aren't he is? And you?"
"Kind of not, for now. I like him more." He grinned and patted Haimao's head.
"Maybe, he already thinks I'm his Mama. Right Haimao?"
"Miaw Miaw~"
Haixia looked at them. The cat gives an annoying prideful face towards him.
"...Mama?"
"Yeah."
"—Then you're more like a father who's always busy working... So your son doesn't get to know you well . And somehow, grown rebel towards you!"
"...That comparison is terrible, you know."
"But accurate. Right son? Papa Xia is scary."
"Miaaaaw~"
They both seems to be shared the same braincells. Haixia just lost it to accept that no one is in his side.
And for the first time in days, Haixia laughed loudly.
Hailou reached his partner's hand carefully.
"Nah, just don't overthink it. Shrimpie."
"...Hm?"
"Just sit there."
"And?"
"Nothing."
"...Nothing?"
"Exactly. Just do nothing."
So Haixia simply sat beside the porch without trying to touch the cat. He closed his eyes slowly and took a deep breath.
A miracle happen not too long...
Haimao quietly walked over on his own. He doesn't feel any threatening danger.
He rubbed his head against Haixia's hand.
The young boy froze. "...Hailou, did you see it?"
Hailou nodded. "Mmh. Told you."
Haixia carefully scratched beneath the old cat's chin.
A soft purr answered him. It was surprisingly warm. Warmer than he expected.
He finally can pet him without any scratch, bite, or even such quarrel.
From then on, Haixia look at that Cat as no longer object of Shifu's mission. He was really in to the family—part of the Zhangs.
Time passed and then something deeply unfair happened.
Haimao suddenly walked over to Hailou. Curled up beside him. And began licking his hand.
And then licking his cheeks with its sneaky cat tongue.
Until it dared to lick that cherry-ish lips.
Hailou froze for a second and blushed.
Haixia who looked at it—became furious.
Haixia slapped the cat's butt. But the cat continued happily grooming Hailou's fingers. "How dare you!"
"Haixia—"
"He... He's just cleaning me."
"You... jealous?"
Haixia looked away. "No."
"Why would i? It's just Haimao. He doesn't behave good."
"Liar."
"..." Haixia took a deep breath.
"Well, maybe just a little."
Hailou blinked. "Did you?"
"It can be considered your first kiss, you know!"
"Haha! So you do jealous! to a... cat!"
Haixia came closer and sat down beside them. Haimao then turned down from Hailou and sat in the middle of their laps.
"I've never understood cat." Haixia gently looked toward the cat.
"I keep thinking too much about it."
Hailou turned to see Haixia's tender gaze.
"And you... seem don't think about it at all."
"Hey!—"
"Yet, somehow..."
Haimao stretched sleepily before pressing his head against Hailou's palm.
"...he trusts you."
Hailou scratched his cheek. "...Maybe, it's because I don't expect anything."
"Hm?"
"I just... like him."
"..."
"If Haimao bites me, he bites me. If he ignores me, that's fine. If he wants to sleep, it's okay. Then I'll stay still."
"I don't really get cats either. But I think they are just being their real self. They don't like being forced."
Haixia stared quietly. Then chuckled.
"...You accidentally said something right. You have discovered and learn something."
"What do you mean accidentally, huh? I learned it through such experiences!"
"But.."
"Do you really only like Haimao?"
"You get that.... I'm actually jealous to him, right?"
Hailou bursted out laughing. He hugged Haimao dramatically.
"Oh my! How can Papa Xia get mad of his own cute son?"
"Of course my love to MaoMao is different!"
Haixia raised his eyebrows. "Oh!"
Haixia grinned with relief. "So i won't worry then."
"—That's right! I won't raise my own son to be my own rival."
Haixia then came closer to Hailou's face,
—and sneakily kissed his lips. Quickly.
He doesn't want to lose to a god damn cat.
Hailou blushed and then used Haimao to cover his face.
"A-h! Papa Xia is naughty! Let's run away!"
Hailou then rolled to the floor.
Haixia laughed. He willingly joined Hailou and Haimao lay down in the floor. Rolling and laughing—teasing each other with such joy.
From then on, things slowly changed.
Instead of treating Haimao like another mission target—or even just an object...
—they began treating him like a friend—or more like, family.
Just like Hailou's funny scenario comparison.
Xia's the dad, while Yan is the mom, and MaoMao... their fat pampered son.
That day, Hailou talked endlessly while preparing meals for both his human and cat brothers.
Haixia quietly researched which herbs and medicines that were safe to cats.
When Haimao refused to eat, they shared worried together.
When he climbed onto the roof despite his old age, Hailou climbed after him while Haixia stood below ready to catch both cat and his dumb brother.
"You'll fall!"
"It's okay! I've got him!"
Haixia took a long breath. Hailou still Hailou. "Hey! You are the one I'm worried about you know!"
Despite their careless act, he really glad to have them both to brighten his day.
Days passed, but it's still haven't the time for their mentor to return home. Still, the time Haiqi's return should be near.
The once chaotic household had settled into a comfortable rhythm. Some habits do changed.
The two young Zhang boys now have added a special different species member.
Hailou had somehow become Haimao's favorite pillow.
And Haixia had somehow become the patient caretaker who always knew exactly when medicine, food, or rest was needed.
They didn't aware, that once Zhang Haiqi actually returned on a random afternoon—just for a quick check up.
The study room was such a mess. Book scattered everywhere. Half-finished notes.
And the children.
They seem tired from their daily trainings, but have managed to take care the cat very well.
They both fast asleep. Hailou fall asleep on the floor with his reckless posture and Haixia was sitting nearby him.
And between them, an old gray cat lay down. Haimao noticed the woman's attendance and softly wink.
Neither of the boys noticed she'd come home after all. Haiqi simply watched them in silence.
Then smiled—
Very, very faintly.
"Well done. You two passed."
But some few times later...
Something changed. Haimao slept longer.
He's not finishing his food
He ate less.
Sometimes, not even touching his favorite milk.
He no longer chased the little paper balls Hailou made for him.
Sometimes he'd simply stare outside the window for hours, with such a blank stare.
Hailou complained. "Haimao, he's getting lazy."
Haixia nodded. "Maybe Haimao just need to rest. Old cats probably like to sleep more."
They both agreed. Neither of them knew. Neither of them realized those were the quiet signs of an old life nearing its end.
The weather was such pleasant that morning.
"Training can wait for one day," Hailou declared, stretching lazily.
"I think, Senior Zhang deserves a day off too."
Haixia raised an eyebrow. "...You're saying that because you want an excuse for day off."
"It's sunday—so better to spend quality time as a family."
Haimao meowed in agreement.
"...See? He already voted."
"I don't think that's what he meant."
Nevertheless, the three of them left the house together. Because the cat has already attached with the two of them, they don't have to worry if he's lost.
Hailou carried Haimao for half the journey until the old cat insisted on walking by himself, tail proudly held high as if he owned the streets.
People smiled as they passed.
"That's a handsome old cat."
"—Looks very spoiled."
"Yeah, he is so spoiled," Haixia answered before Hailou could.
"By who?"
"...Mostly him." Haixia pointed to the boy next to him. Hailou grinned shamelessly.
The village happened to be holding a small festival. Children ran between food stalls while merchants called out to passing customers. Near the entrance stood a simple lucky draw booth.
A wooden sign read: "Win a grand prize if you chooses the lucky ribbon!"
Hailou's eyes sparkled. "Haixia!"
"—No."
"You don't even know what I'm going to say."
"I do."
"...Let's gamble."
"No."
"Look! The prize is dried fish."
"—let's do it for Haimao."
Seeing the sparkling eyes from both Hailou and Haimao in synch—Haixia couldn't resist.
"...Fine."
The booth owner laughed as Hailou carefully placed Haimao on Haixia's hands.
The seller explained. "There are 100 ribbons. If you pull the winning one, you get the grand prize."
"You think we can't be fooled huh, it's clearly just a trick." Haixia wishpered to Hailou.
But Haimao meowed loudly.
Hailou crouched dramatically in front of Haimao. "Ah, Senior Zhang! Wanna bet too?"
Haimao slowly wandered around the ribbons.
Sniffed one. Ignored it.
"What is he doing?" the owner sweater looking the cat wandering.
"Ah! My cat is very special. You have to bear with him!" Hailou proudly praised.
Haimao sniffed another. Ingnored it. It takes some time until he calmly bit the third ribbon.
Hailou smiled. "—and he already choosed."
The bell rang. The booth owner blinked surprised. It's actually just a trick but the way the cat bite nd pulled the ribbon—somehow pull the winning one.
"That's the winning ribbon..." The owner said in disbelief.
Hailou shot into the air.
"WE WON!"
Haixia clapped. "Haimao made us won."
The old man behind the booth laughed heartily. "I've never seen a cat choose correctly on the first try."
Hailou proudly lifted Haimao into the air. "I told you he is special!"
Haimao looked completely uninterested in his own achievement. Their prize wasn't just a basket full of dried fish.
The local newspaper happened to be covering the festival. Before the brothers realized what was happening—
"Smile!"
Click.
The photographer captured Hailou laughing with Haimao in his arms while Haixia stood beside them wearing his usual calm expression.
The next morning's paper would read: "Lucky Brothers and Their Lucky Cat Win Festival Draw."
Hailou laughed all the way home. "Oh! Shifu's going to see this!"
"...Hopefully not." Haixia thinks he looks a bit embrassing, but it was such a good memory together. He's certainly proud of them.
One evening.
The sky darkened much earlier than usual. A cold wind swept through the village.
Then
—BLAAR!
Thunder shook the entire house. Hailou nearly dropped his dinner bowl.
"...I hate thunderstorms."
Haixia smirked. "I thought such fearless Southern Archives disciples weren't afraid."
"I don't say that! I'm not afraid."
Another bolt of lightning split the sky.
CRACK!
Haixia flinched so obviously that Hailou burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! You jumped!"
"I did not."
"You absolutely did!"
"It couldn't help because the floor shook."
"The floor is made of such finest wood."
"...Exactly."
Hailou laughed even harder.
But then the rain came down in sheets. The roof rattled. The windows trembled.
The old house groaned with every gust of wind.
"The storm is that bad huh?"
Haimao trembled in the wet floor. Haixia dried him carefully with towels.
Hailou quietly dragged his blanket closer. He patted Haimao softly.
"Maybe..."
"...We all should sleep in the same room tonight."
"So... You finally admit you're scared."
"I don't want Haimal to be sick."
"..."
"...Fair."
Haixia carried over his own blanket without another word. The two brothers lay on opposite sides of the bed.
Another deafening crash echoed outside. Both instinctively shuffled closer together.
"...Don't tell anyone."
"You either."
Right then... Haimao climbed between them.
He turned around twice before settling in the middle. One tiny paw rested on Hailou's hand. The other stretched toward Haixia.
The brothers looked at each other.
Then smiled.
"...He's making sure we behave tonight."
"...Apparently."
The storm continued throughout the night.
But inside the little house, wrapped beneath one blanket—with an old gray cat purring softly between them...
Neither of them felt afraid anymore.
Before falling asleep, Hailou whispered,
"Good night, Haimao."
"...Good night, Papa Xia."
Haixia gently stroked the old cat's back.
"...Sleep well, Haimao."
"Good night, Mama Lou."
Haimao answered with one quiet purr.
The next morning, the storm had finally passed.
Warm glden sunlight slipped through the paper windows. Birds sang outside as though nothing had happened.
Hailou yawned. "...Morning."
"Haimao~"
Haimao was still sleeping between them soundly.
"Hey, Senior Zhang."
No response.
Hailou smiled sleepily. "...Lazy old man."
He gently poked the old cat's side.
Nothing.
"Get ready for breakfast."
Still nothing.
The smile slowly faded.
"—Haixia?"
Haixia who have already wake reached over quickly. His hand rested carefully against the old cat's side.
No heartbeat. No breathing. Just warmth that had yet to disappear. Waiting and listening.
Silence.
He closed his eyes. He opened his mouth speaking in hoarse voice.
"...Hailou."
"He's gone..."
For a long time, neither of them moved.
Only the morning sunlight quietly warmed the place where, just one night ago...
The three of them had fallen asleep together. None of them had known... It would be the last time.
They both called the cat's name affectionaly.
But Haimao still didn't wake up.
However, he still looked exactly the same.
Fat. Peaceful. Comfortable.
But his body looks so stiff. They really know what it is. A state found of such dead body—rigor mortis.
Eventually Hailou whispered, "...What if we find another gray cat?"
Haixia looked at him. "Hailou... There isn't another Zhang Haimao."
The room remained unbearably quiet.
Hailou stared blankly. "No. Haimao wasn't sick. He literally ate well last night. There's no sign... "
"He was just fine yesterday."
"He was..."
His voice broke. "...We did everything."
Haixia lowered his head.
"Yeah we did."
"...Then why he's gone now?"
They had faced missions without fear. They had walked through blood.
Yet neither knew what to do before a peaceful death.
Hailou buried his face against Haimao's fur one last time. He broke into tears.
"W-why... Why does it hurts.. More than getting stabbed."
"I know..." Haixia couldn't helped but fall for tears too.
For the first time. The two young boys cried without trying to hide it.
"Can... Can we find some doctor?—"
As they opened the front door to seek help, Zhang Haiqi was already standing outside. The boys immediately lowered their heads.
"Shifu!"
Haiqi looked at the dead Haimao—who was hugged by his boys. The mentor gently reached the cat.
"He... He died."
Quickly in that evening, Haiqi buried Haimao beneath a flowering tree behind the house.
The boys stood silently beside her. After the last handful of earth settled.
Haiqi finally spoke. "You think you guys failed."
Neither answered because they both scared.
"—but neither of you didn't."
Hailou clenched his fists. "But Shifu... Haimao died at the end."
Haiqi nodded. "He did."
"You were told to keep him alive. And we couldn't."
"We failed Haimao... And you."
"No." She looked at the small grave.
"You were told to care for him and make him stay alive—and you did. The cat lived well in his last."
Neither boy raised his head. Haiqi continued quietly.
"Death was never the enemy for us. It was simply waiting. You both gave him warmth, companionship."
"You gave such merely an old cat a family during the last time of his life...That was never a failure."
Haixia closed his eyes. Hailou wiped his face with his sleeve.
"But, he already gone forever now. Will it always hurt like this?"
Haiqi answered honestly with a ruthless fact. "Yes."
"But one day... the pain won't remind you only of losing him. It'll remind you that you were lucky enough to have loved him."
"Shifu—can i... hug you?" Hailou said with his red eyes.
Shifu just stood in silence and then opening his arms widely. Hailou ran to hugged her and also embraced Haixia.
One painful goodbye and such life lessons.
Life will keep on turning.
Still, they have each other.
And that's more than enough.
Years later. The once young lads—Zhang Hailou and Haixa have grown into a fine gentlemen—officialy The Southern Archives.
The Archives now have welcomed—taught and took care of grand new generations of young disciples.
Mostly children who had nowhere else to go, orphans or abandoned children like they used to be.
Those who deserved another chance.
They found a new home.
Hailou, as usual—somehow became everyone's favorite.
He's always energetic and full of exciting tactics.
But he also carefully bandaged scraped knees and carried sleepy children back to bed. He even simply worried over whether everyone had eaten enough.
One little girl tugged on his sleeve.
"Shifu! Since you also took care of us, can i..."
"—call you Papa?"
Before Hailou could answer—
The younger boy child shouted from across the courtyard. "—Mama Hailou!"
The entire yard erupted into laughter.
"What?" Hailou spun around.
"—Who taught you that?"
Every finger immediately pointed toward the other mentor—Zhang Haixia—who calmly sipped his tea.
"You can't blame me I merely just corrected them."
"Corrected?!"
"They kept confusing our obviously roles here."
"What roles?!"
Haixia smiled with perfect composure.
"I'm obviously the father."
"—and you're obviously the mother."
"I'll kill you."
"You've been saying that for a decade. But you still won't dare."
The younger children tilted his head. "...Did you two always argue like this?"
Haixia answered first with a quick nod. "Mm." Hailou folded his arms.
"Also.. You all are men, I wonder how did you all learn to take care children that well before us?"
The courtyard suddenly fell quiet. Hailou blinked.
Haixia looked toward the old flowering tree standing peacefully at the edge of the yard.
"...Not exactly."
"We used to be bad taking care of the livings. But it started with our very first son"
"—whose also our Senior, don't forget about that!"
"Of course. A son that is older in such cat age terms."
"So... Is it a cat?!" the young girl asked excitedly. The younger boy tilted his face.
Hailou followed his gaze. A smile slowly found its way onto his face.
"It may look like just a cat. Used to be part of our mission. But he is more than that, we simply memorize him as our first child."
"And his name was..."
"Zhang Haimao."
Both of them said the nostalgic name in a sweet—synchronized tone. They passing down and tell that old story.
And for a moment... The wind rustled through the blossoms. Warm. Gentle.
Almost like the soft purring of a fat greyish cat who had never truly left home.
—The End.—