"I’m here," Ye Wanwan called out upon hearing the voice.
Seeing that she didn’t plan to come over, Shen Yi continued, "Come and have some water."
Shen Yi hadn’t mentioned it, but at his words, Ye Wanwan also felt hot and walked in his direction.
When Ye Wanwan reached Shen Yi’s side and sat down, he handed her the prepared water. While watching her drink, he asked, "Were you looking for something?"
After finishing the water, Ye Wanwan replied half-seriously, "I heard a cat meowing earlier and was searching for it."
Shen Yi didn’t doubt her; it wasn’t surprising for there to be stray cats in such a large park. "Cats are skittish, and with so many people in the park now, it’s definitely hiding."
"Yeah," Ye Wanwan responded, somewhat disheartened. She was so focused on bringing Taozhi back, she hadn’t considered whether she could find it at all.
Shen Yi then took out various snacks he had brought. "You didn’t eat much at noon, are you hungry now? Do you want to eat something?"
Ye Wanwan didn’t refuse, took a small piece of cake, and started eating, although her mind was still on where to look for Taozhi.
She didn’t know how long a cat’s lifespan was, but Ye Wanwan thought Taozhi must be a newborn kitten, definitely cold and hungry outside.
She wanted to bring Taozhi back soon, perhaps it could live a few more years that way.
After resting for a while, the restless Ye Wanwan started to wander around here and there but, unfortunately, she still couldn’t find Taozhi.
When several sika deer came over in a group, Ye Wanwan followed them for a large circle, hoping to see if Taozhi would appear.
As expected, after the sika deer strolled away to other places, Taozhi remained nowhere to be seen.
Shen Yi sat there, watching Ye Wanwan’s mysterious actions, and could only smile helplessly.
By five in the afternoon, as the sun gradually set and the wind brought a touch of coolness, Shen Yi took out a thin jacket he had prepared. "It’s getting late, shall we go?"
Shen Yi felt his little wife was really interested in this place and wondered if she would be reluctant to go home just like the little child nearby.
But Shen Yi’s guess didn’t come true, Ye Wanwan nodded, although with reluctance, she felt she probably wouldn’t find Taozhi today.
The two of them packed up and headed toward where they had parked.
Just as they were about to cross the lawn, Ye Wanwan suddenly heard a soft "meow" and immediately stopped in her tracks.
"Shen Yi, Shen Yi, did you hear that?" Ye Wanwan asked excitedly, fearing she had imagined the sound.
"Yes, I heard it," Shen Yi indeed heard the cat’s cry, and it seemed to be close by.
There was only lawn around them, not convenient for hiding; there was only one place nearby with three trash bins.
Shen Yi pointed in the direction of the trash bins, "Maybe over there."
Ye Wanwan’s eyes lit up, and she quickly ran towards the trash bins, with Shen Yi following behind her.
As she approached, Ye Wanwan heard another cat meow, and she quickly followed the sound to the back; sure enough, she saw an exceptionally tiny kitten between the gaps of two trash bins.
Despite not having interacted much with Taozhi in her previous life and the kitten being dirty, with fur in matted clumps,
Ye Wanwan just took one look and was certain this tiny kitten was Taozhi.