Cataclysm Chapter 139: Extras – Qixi 01

Chapter 139: Extras – Qixi 01

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

The dark blue night sky was dotted with countless twinkling stars, like scattered diamonds on velvet. The evening breeze blew gently, dispersing the lingering heat in the air and bringing a coolness that washed over. A leaf hanging from the treetop swayed, trembling a few times, and was finally torn from the branch by the wind, floating down in front. It suddenly landed on a large fat cat’s face, making a crisp sound.

The cat, squinting its eyes as it dozed, felt the leaf and its whiskers twitched a couple of times. It suddenly opened its eyes wide, with a powerful force, tearing the leaf into pieces. Slowly, it got up, stretched, walked a few steps along the wall, and jumped down gracefully, landing heavily on the ground. With every step, the dust lifted into the air. The fat face furrowed into a noticeable scowl. It had tried to tread lightly, so why was there still so much dust?

After observing the dust being kicked up, it estimated it had gained a few more pounds. The fat cat glared at the ground, cautiously lifting its paw, afraid to step down. If Chen Yang found out it had gained weight, he would force it to diet. Kui Xuan, that little jiangshi, and the chatterbox Wu doll would definitely make fun of it. The cat estimated the distance from the ground to the door, its expression shifting slightly, and it arched its body, letting out a low growl. A shadow passed by the air, and when it focused again, the cat had already reached the door.

It turned its head, the layers of soft flesh on its neck stacked together. It sneered at the courtyard behind it, flicked its tail, and walked into the kitchen to look for dried fish. To its shock, it found none. It searched the entire kitchen, but there was no dried fish to be found.

The fat cat, dazed, ran out and bumped into Ma Shanfeng, who immediately blocked its path and asked, “Did Chen Yang not make any dried fish today?”

Ma Shanfeng paused, looked down, and thought for a moment before saying, “He probably didn’t make any.”

The fat cat anxiously asked, “Why not? Doesn’t he make dried fish every day?”

“He would usually, but today he was too busy. By the way, it’s a holiday today. They’re probably out having fun. I’m going home now, so feel free to do whatever.” Ma Shanfeng bypassed the cat and walked toward the exit. After a few steps, he stopped, turned around, and grinned. “Why don’t you come home with me?”

The fat cat glared at Ma Shanfeng’s smiling face, instantly getting upset. Ma Shanfeng’s sly and cunning image had already ingrained itself in the cat’s mind, and every time he smiled, it made the cat’s heart tense and grow more cautious. “No, what day is it today? Why is it a holiday?”

“It’s Qixi,” Ma Shanfeng said without getting upset at the refusal. “We’ve made a big feast at home, fish and meat, do you want some?”

For a moment, the fat cat wavered but still shook its head firmly. “No, I’m choosing to diet.”

“Alright then, I’m leaving. There’s probably no one left at the office. Keep an eye on things. Also, the doll and Kui Xuan are at my house. Let me know when Chen Yang and the others get back.”

The fat cat nodded, but by the time it realized it was left to guard the office, Ma Shanfeng’s figure had already disappeared in the distance, leaving the cat astounded at his speed. The fat cat stayed silent for a moment, muttering to itself, “Old cunning fox.” It walked around the station upstairs and downstairs, only to find that everyone had gone out for Qixi, leaving it all alone as the helpless fat cat.

The cat sprawled on the couch, turning on the TV and changing channels. On the screen, there was a scene of a mistress meeting her lover while holding a child, only for the husband to catch them. The husband took the child and even shook the lover’s hand, while the mistress nervously looked on. The lover assured the husband that he had no relationship with the mistress, claiming he only held the child because it was cute.

The signs were so obvious, yet the husband didn’t suspect a thing! The fat cat, with a sharp ‘pop,’ burst open the vacuum-sealed chip bag in frustration, and shoved its entire head into the bag, finishing all the chips. When it tried to pull its head out, it got stuck. The fat cat was stunned, and after frantic spinning, it angrily tore open the bag.

This was a large chip bag, and the fat cat’s head had actually gotten stuck in it, which made it clear how fat it had become. Yet, the cat closed its eyes and ears, choosing to indulge in a soda. After finishing an episode of a soap opera, it ate all the snacks. Most of these snacks had been bought by Mao Xiaoli since the kids at the station loved them.

Today, there were no more snacks to restock, and they were quickly finished. With nothing left to eat, and the soda not providing any real flavor, the fat cat slumped for a while, then decided to order takeout. The takeout place was nearby, and it arrived in about half an hour. The station’s gate was wide open, so the delivery person could come right in.

Seeing the TV on, the delivery person knocked and called out, “Hello, your takeout—!!”

The fat cat peeked its head out from behind the couch, locking eyes with the delivery person. The delivery person’s heart nearly stopped, almost convinced it was a cat demon. The fat cat tilted its head. “Meow?”

The delivery person slowly exhaled in relief, thinking it was just the pet of the household—though it was quite the hefty one. He placed the takeout on the floor and turned to leave. As he reached the door, for some reason, he instinctively looked back. To his shock, the rotund, chubby cat deftly landed on the ground, standing upright, and picked up the takeout. He was so scared that he hurriedly scampered away, and from that point on, a terrifying legend spread within the delivery community about a black cat turning into a demon.

After finishing the takeout and watching two episodes of a TV drama, the clock ticked on as the hands circled again and again, but the station’s members still hadn’t returned. The fat cat turned off the TV, and the station fell into an eerie silence.

Normally, at this hour, everyone would be gathered together, chatting about the latest happenings, sharing bizarre cases they’d encountered, or discussing Kui Xuan’s tragic homework sessions. The fat cat would often squat in front of her, quietly observing and enjoying her misery. Unfortunately, today, everyone was out celebrating Qixi, the festival of love, leaving all three couples of the office to celebrate their romantic evening.

Feeling lonely, the fat cat couldn’t help but think, maybe it should find a partner too. But it quickly shook its head. Where could it possibly find another cat ghost that had lived for over a thousand years? While it was lost in thought, Chen Yang and Du Shuo returned.

Upon seeing the messy table and the open soda can, Chen Yang immediately frowned. “Fatty, do you know how much you weigh?” The fat cat froze, its tail stopped swishing, and it turned to give an innocent expression, squeezing its multiple chins into a pout. “Meow?”

Chen Yang gave it a sharp glare. “Speak in human language! Stop making faces. Three days without being scolded, and you’ve become so arrogant.”

The fat cat sighed. “…Single cat, lonely and hurt inside.” It would endure anything to avoid dieting.

Chen Yang was surprised. “Aren’t you surrounded by many beautiful cat girlfriends?”

Mentioning this, the fat cat sadly pawed at its bald forehead, clearly upset. Ever since that Wu doll had ripped the fur off its forehead, it hadn’t grown back. The doll, in cahoots with the little jiangshi, would sneakily shave its head whenever it wasn’t paying attention. No matter how the fat cat grew, they kept cutting it like they were harvesting crops. Without a beautiful coat, how could it use its looks to attract other beautiful cats?

The fat cat’s beauty? Chen Yang remained expressionless. “Oh, remember to clean up the table. We won’t be back tonight. If no one else comes back, you’ll have to close the door yourself. Make sure to clean up the floor and table.”

The fat cat asked, “You’re not coming back tonight?”

“No,” Chen Yang confirmed.

Du Shuo came down from upstairs, holding two bags, likely containing a change of clothes. He walked over to Chen Yang, who smiled and waved at the fat cat. “We’re leaving now, see you.”

The fat cat froze. If it guessed correctly, these two were probably going to spend the night together, bringing a change of clothes along. It slumped back onto the couch, kicking the empty chip bag to the floor. It flipped over, burying its face in the cushion, its posture utterly forlorn.

After a while, it heard footsteps at the door. One ear shot up while the other folded down to eavesdrop. It was Mao Xiaoli and Zhang Qiudao. This couple had been together for nearly four years but still hadn’t discussed marriage, despite their parents already considering each other as in-laws. Mao Xiaoli’s father had been persistently urging them to get married, but when Mao Xiaoli heard her father’s voice, she would immediately hang up. For a while, Mao Xiaoli had been playing a guerrilla battle with her father, making everyone at the office tense up every time a phone rang.

Mao Xiaoli asked, “Did you get the late-night show tickets?”

Zhang Qiudao answered, “Yes. I started getting them half a month ago. The show starts in half an hour, but it’s crowded.”

“In a crowd of people, cutting a bloody path is my specialty! Don’t worry, I’ll lead the way,” Mao Xiaoli laughed. When the fat cat peeked over, it saw Zhang Qiudao gazing at Mao Xiaoli with a doting expression, lowering his head to kiss her lips.

After watching for a while, the fat cat suddenly called out, “Meow!”

Mao Xiaoli was startled, while Zhang Qiudao immediately brandished his Seven-Star Sword in retaliation. The fat cat narrowly dodged, locking eyes with Zhang Qiudao, who gave a warning glance. The fat cat, feeling rather smug, squatted down. “So, you’re not coming back tonight either?”

“‘Also?’” Mao Xiaoli picked up on the key word. “Brother Chen and director Du are not coming back tonight either? Out for another hotel rendezvous?”

The fat cat paused. “…Are you experienced?”

Mao Xiaoli waved her hand nonchalantly. “Not really. I’ve just gotten used to having several random Valentine’s Days every year.” She turned to Zhang Qiudao. “Do I have everything I need?”

Zhang Qiudao patted his backpack and nodded. “Got it all.”

The fat cat, curious, asked, “What are you carrying?”

Mao Xiaoli’s eyes gleamed. “Luck talismans, evil spirit-repelling talismans, and peach blossom talismans. They sell the best in crowded places. Especially on Qixi, I can sell out hundreds of peach blossom talismans in the blink of an eye.”

The fat cat was speechless. “So, your Qixi isn’t about dating, but selling talismans?”

“Not really. Of course, dating is the main event. Selling talismans to make a little extra money is just a side hustle. You wouldn’t understand, Big Fatty, since you’re single,” Mao Xiaoli laughed.

Zhang Qiudao glanced at the fat cat and suddenly grinned. “True, whether single dogs or single cats, neither can understand the little romantic gestures between couples. They haven’t experienced it, so they don’t get it.”

The fat cat suddenly understood the meaning of the phrase, “What goes around, comes around.” A few years ago, it had mocked Zhang Qiudao for being single and unable to catch up to Mao Xiaoli, but now, it was the one being mocked. The fat cat’s heart sank for a moment, and then it remembered Kuo Xuanling and Lu Xiuzhi’s situation, so it asked if they wouldn’t be coming back either.

Mao Xiaoli waved her hand dismissively. “They’re probably sulking. They shouldn’t be back either.” She remembered seeing Lu Xiuzhi obediently trailing behind Kuo Xuanling earlier in the day, which made her chuckle. “Family matters should stay at home. They’re probably spending Qixi in the other apartment that Kuo Xuanling bought.” With that, she and Zhang Qiudao left.

Now, the only one left in the office was the fat cat, and it was still just a fat cat. It flicked its tail and settled back on the couch to continue watching TV. It was used to being alone, so loneliness wasn’t a concern.

A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. The fat cat lifted its head, recognizing the voice and asking, “Did you forget something?”

Ma Shanfeng, smiling, replied, “I’ve made some dried fish at home. Kui Xuan and the doll didn’t want any, want some?”

The fat cat mumbled, “I’m already full.”

Ma Shanfeng, unable to hear, asked, “What?”

The fat cat raised its voice and repeated, “Full!”

Ma Shanfeng nodded, “Alright, then. Let’s go. I’ll close the door behind me.”

As the door shut, the fat cat asked, “Has the little jiangshi and the Wu doll fallen asleep?”

“Nope. Tomorrow’s a holiday, so they’re still playing crazy today.”

The fat cat shuddered, “Maybe… I’ll pass this time.”

Ma Shanfeng chuckled, “Kui Xuan has been really interested in the past Qixi festivals lately. Not long ago, she researched a lot of materials for reference and even mobilized a bunch of people in the community to hold a Qixi Festival, also known as the Qi Qiao Festival. I heard it dates back to the Sui and Tang dynasties, over a thousand years ago. Want to go check it out?”

The fat cat thought back to the grand celebrations of Qixi during the Sui and Tang eras—both nostalgic and slightly intimidating, a feeling of homesickness mixed with hesitation. Ma Shanfeng continued, “A lot of people in the community even brought their cats along, and the most beautiful ragdoll cat is there too—”

The fat cat immediately sprang to its feet, “I’m going!”

 

 

 

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