Cat 308: Fishing for the Cat Again

Chapter 308 Fishing for the Cat Again

Qi Feng was caught off guard when the young man touched him, but he didn’t pull away. After all, he was currently posing as a guard, and there was something familiar about this person’s scent.

Remembering Chen Yi’s earlier warning, and not wanting to startle anyone, he simply took a step back.

The handsome young man gave him a satisfied glance, then shoved both hands into his pockets and yawned. “The sun’s not even up yet—bringing a new guard to switch shifts? I like this one. Let’s keep him here today, and he can help me with something.”

A moment before, Chen Yi had seemed perfectly composed; now his expression changed subtly. “Mr. Tang, he’s a new recruit—he doesn’t know the rules in District Nine.”

Qi Feng immediately noticed this wasn’t how one would address a prisoner—the tone had become honorific.

As everyone knew, guards usually called prisoners by their numbers or names, but Qi Feng had never heard a guard show such deference to a criminal. He couldn’t help growing curious about this person’s identity.

This Mister Tang looked very young, just over twenty, with a casual and nonchalant air.

He clearly didn’t care for Chen Yi’s objections. “I just need someone to do a small favor. You talk too much.”

Chen Yi tried again, “If you like, I can find someone else to help, or I can assist you myself.” Qi Feng, after all, was no real guard. Who knew what he was doing in District Nine—it surely wasn’t just for sightseeing.

By now, Tang’s languid expression had faded, and a hint of danger crept into his eyes.

“Are you refusing me? Today, I want him.” Without further ado, he grabbed Qi Feng and pulled him toward the stairs.

Chen Yi hastily followed. Qi Feng wasn’t actually a guard. If he were, Chen Yi wouldn’t mind, but Qi Feng was a prisoner!

He grabbed at Qi Feng. “Mr. Tang, why don’t you tell us what you need done and we’ll help together? Two people should get it done faster.”

Tang turned to glance at him. “No need for that many hands; go mind your own business.”

The look in Tang’s eyes left no doubt he was being dismissed.

Qi Feng walked closely with Tang. That scent wasn’t perfume, nor the fragrance of expensive shampoo, but that of a shampoo especially for pets.

He realized Mr. Tang must be someone even the guards dared not offend, and resolved to play his part as a temporary guard well.

“Mr. Tang, are you looking for something?” Qi Feng asked, testing the waters.

“You’re sharp. You shouldn’t be a prison guard—you’ve got a detective’s instincts.” Tang’s eyes widened slightly, and he said, “Help me find my cat. When I woke up just now, I realized it was missing. I haven’t been able to find it.”

Chen Yi still didn’t leave, scared Qi Feng might say something wrong and reluctant to let this troublemaking “guard”—who’d just been in solitary—out of his sight.

“A black cat?” Qi Feng dropped his reserved composure at once.

“How did you know my cat is black?” There wasn’t admiration in Tang’s eyes, only amused curiosity. “Do you make a hobby of prying into my likes and dislikes?”

Of course, Qi Feng couldn’t tell the truth, but he needed to offer some reasoning—in all likelihood, this black cat was Yan Jiyun. To find him, he’d have to pay extra attention to the NPCs.

He answered unhurriedly, “Because I keep a cat myself. You smell like cat shampoo, not the kind used by people, and your clothes are light colored. I noticed a few black hairs on your right sleeve, so I guessed your cat is black.”

Tang lifted his right arm; there were indeed several black hairs clinging to the cuff. He realized Qi Feng must have spotted them when he was scratching his chin. Qi Feng’s reasoning convinced him—this was also the truth. He had given his cat a bath last night, and he could still smell that cat shampoo.

No one else had seen him bathe the cat, which made it unlikely anyone had tipped off this guard. He could believe Qi Feng for now.

“Chen Yi, this new guard is not bad. Tomorrow, tell them to transfer him over here.” Tang turned toward the stairs. “My cat’s called Mangosteen. I figure it ran off down the stairs. Let’s start searching.”

Chen Yi suggested, “Why not check the security cameras? Maybe it took the elevator.”

Tang said, “Then you watch the monitors and your new colleague will take the stairs with me.”

Chen Yi very nearly slapped himself. Tang obviously did not want him tagging along, and had neatly engineered an excuse to dismiss him. Powerless to object, he let Tang and Qi Feng go; with the cameras, he could still keep track of Qi Feng.

Though Tang lived in this luxury ward, able to wear what he liked and move about freely, the one hundred or so prisoners here were all extremely dangerous. Each wore a locator on their ankles, cleverly hidden from view to preserve their dignity.

Before leaving, Chen Yi whispered to Qi Feng, “His name is Tang Yan.”

Tang Yan?

Chen Yi left, and now only Qi Feng followed Tang Yan.

Qi Feng pretended to be “adequate” at finding cats, though in truth his eagerness was hard to hide. “Mr. Tang, what’s your cat’s temperament? Is it timid or bold? Would it come when you call?”

For those who treated his cat well, Qi Feng would always show honesty and respect, no matter their status. Although the youth had been slightly flirtatious at first, he’d shown restraint since, and for Caramel’s sake, Qi Feng let it go.

“Temperament? Pretty bold—gets along with everyone. Even if it got a new owner, it’d settle right in. Oh, right—it likes dark places,” Tang Yan said as they walked, directing Qi Feng to check the darker corners on each floor. “Try that dark door—see if it’s hiding inside.”

Qi Feng searched as instructed, but no sign of Caramel anywhere. “Nothing.”

Had the cat gone out looking for them?

It was quite a distance from District Nine to District Eight. Yan Jiyun would surely remain in cat form—it was the safest and most logical way. Using the experience card to become human wouldn’t make sense.

Qi Feng redoubled his efforts, calling “Caramel” quietly when Tang Yan yawned and loafed nearby, an unqualified keeper. But no matter how he called, there was no trace of the black cat.

When they reached the first floor, they took the elevator to the top, then worked their way down again.

Qi Feng asked, “Could it have already left the building?”

Tang Yan replied, “No. The front door’s closely watched—it only opens automatically if someone swipes in. Nine o’clock last night it was here; I slept at four, and when I woke, it was gone.”

Qi Feng: “How’d it get out?”

Tang Yan: “Someone stopped by for something right before I slept. While I was grabbing the stuff, it must have slipped out.”

Qi Feng: “Let’s check again.”

Tang Yan ambled down from upstairs as Qi Feng kept up a more diligent search.

He observed Qi Feng from behind, and Qi Feng let him watch as he pleased.

Lazily, Tang Yan murmured from behind, “You do seem like someone who keeps cats—very observant. It’s a shame, though; you’re not a guard.”

He said it as calmly as talking about the weather—clearly he’d guessed from the start.

Qi Feng wasn’t surprised. “How did you know?”

Tang Yan tapped his own nose. “Guess? No need—cops all have that annoying scent, and you don’t. You do, however, smell like solitary.”

Qi Feng: “Looks like you’d make a good detective yourself.”

Tang Yan chuckled softly and lowered his voice. “I don’t like cops. I like—”

He was interrupted as the walkie-talkie in Qi Feng’s pocket crackled to life. Chen Yi said, “Qi Feng, tell Mr. Tang we’ve found the black cat.”

Tang Yan looked faintly disappointed at being cut off, but didn’t continue.

Qi Feng: “The cat’s been found.”

Tang Yan nodded. “Where is it?”

Chen Yi relayed quickly: after coming down the stairs, the black cat had slipped into the room of another inmate named Lin Yushi.

He put special emphasis on that name, clearly warning Qi Feng not to get involved.

Tang Yan said, “As expected from a cop—quick eyes. Found it so fast on the monitors.”

Qi Feng: “Shall I go get the cat, then?”

Tang Yan looked at Qi Feng and suddenly said, “Let’s do this—you go and fetch my cat, and I won’t tell anyone you’re just pretending to be a guard.”

Qi Feng picked up on both Chen Yi’s hint and Tang Yan’s tone regarding Lin Yushi—their relationship was likely poor, maybe even hostile.

They’d spent an hour searching. Dawn was breaking, though the sun had yet to rise and the sky was still gray.

“I don’t know Lin Yushi,” Qi Feng replied.

Disturbing someone at this hour would be costly. Even if the cat was found, waking Lin could mean a bad mood and no chance of getting the cat back. Qi Feng desperately wanted to see Caramel, but not at anyone’s risk.

Tang Yan didn’t seem concerned. “Why’d you come to District Nine? Kill someone?” He gave Qi Feng’s arm a squeeze. “Good build.”

Then he scrutinized Qi Feng’s face for a long while, an expression of both appreciation and regret.

Qi Feng slapped his hand away. “Please respect yourself, Mr. Tang.”

“You don’t sound like you want to call me Mr. Tang. I permit you to use Tang Yan.” He added, “I don’t like Lin Yushi. If you can get my cat back, I’ll have you transferred to my area to enjoy life. You can approach your target as you please.”

With that, Tang Yan turned away, waving a hand as he walked off. “I’m going back to sleep. My room’s 801.”

The building had just eight floors. His was the top—this was only the fourth.

Qi Feng watched as Tang Yan entered the lift, exchanging a friendly greeting with the man out walking his dog.

The dog-walker had a middle part, wore a tailored suit, cologne, and styled hair, as though off to a board meeting. His first words to Qi Feng: “New guard—you’ve got a nice face. Just Tang Yan’s type.”

Qi Feng: “…” He’d better go after the cat—his heart already belonged elsewhere!

He nodded to the dog-walker, then headed off to follow Chen Yi’s lead.

Lin Yushi lived in room 505.

Qi Feng used his radio to ask where Chen Yi was, and they met at the stairwell on the third floor where Qi Feng explained Tang Yan had tasked him with finding the cat.

Chen Yi was incredulous. “Mr. Tang actually entrusted you with something this important?”

Qi Feng: “You want to do it?”

Chen Yi: “No, no way.”

Qi Feng: “I’ll go knock on Lin Yushi’s door.”

Chen Yi: “Are you looking to die?”

Qi Feng: “If I don’t, Tang Yan will expose me. He knows I’m not a guard.”

Chen Yi: “How did he know?”

Qi Feng: “Smelled it.”

Chen Yi: “Classic Mr. Tang.”

Qi Feng: “He’s really something?”

Chen Yi: “Stole from three banks in one night. What do you think?”

Qi Feng: “Then how’d he get caught?”

Chen Yi: “He wasn’t caught. He turned himself in—said he’d heard prison was safer.”

Thinking of his cocky manner, Qi Feng found him oddly familiar and chuckled. “Interesting guy. Makes me want to join his gang. I bet there’s more to his story than just theft.”

Chen Yi wouldn’t say more. “Enough. Just find the cat. Once you finish your tour here, get back to District Eight.”

Qi Feng decided against knocking; instead, he asked, “Any snacks? Dried fish, squid tendrils, or maybe a chicken drumstick?”

Chen Yi led him to the monitoring room, where they found a marinated chicken leg.

Three minutes later, Qi Feng was crouching at the door fishing for a cat with the chicken drumstick.

Chen Yi asked, “Will that really lure the cat out?”

Qi Feng was sure. “It will.” The first time he ever sought Caramel in the game, it was with dried fish.

The same trick should work again—it was part of his and Yan Jiyun’s tacit understanding.

A minute went by. Then two. Then three…

Chen Yi grew anxious. “The cat’s not coming out, is it?”

Suddenly a voice behind Qi Feng said, “That chicken leg looks pretty good.”

Qi Feng looked up to see Tang Yan, who’d claimed he was going to sleep, crouching beside him, chin propped up. Up close, he looked even younger than his age, as exquisitely handsome as Yan Jiyun himself.

At the same moment, there came meows and the sound of scratching inside the door.

“Meow, meow, meow~”

“Meow, meow, meow~”

“Meow, meow, meow~”