"You’ve already taken very good care of it, very few cats live this many years, so try not to be too sad," the doctor said with great regret.
There’s no helping it, whether humans or animals, none can escape the fate of birth, aging, sickness, and death.
Shen Wenzhou watched as Taozhi lay on the table, its breathing growing more and more rapid, and tears involuntarily slipped from his eyes.
The family of four was silent for a long time until finally, Shen Wenzhou, his voice hoarse, said, "Let’s take Taozhi home."
No one objected because keeping Taozhi at the pet hospital was to no avail; Shen Wenzhou then picked up Taozhi and brought it back home.
During the ride home, the atmosphere inside the car was very heavy, with Shen Wenzhou holding Taozhi the entire time.
He knew what the cycle of life and death was all about, but when he was younger, he couldn’t deeply understand what it felt like to experience birth, aging, sickness, and death.
In his memory, when he was in sixth grade, he took Taozhi to the pet hospital for vaccination and encountered a dog that had died in a car accident.
At that time, the dog’s owner cried heart-wrenchingly, and it was then he began to vaguely grasp what death really was.
Later, the veterinarian told him he had raised his cat very well, that it was certainly a happy cat, and it definitely was going to live a long life.
That day, he went home and researched a lot of information about cats, learning that their lifespan was generally around fifteen years, and if they were particularly well-cared-for, they might live even longer.
But when he was in sixth grade, Taozhi was already a twelve-year-old cat.
Even then, he realized that one day Taozhi would die.
It wasn’t just Taozhi—everyone around him would go through birth, aging, sickness, and death, though in their family, Taozhi might be the first to leave.
Now, Taozhi was eighteen years old. Recently, it became less spirited, eating less and less, and when they took it to the vet, the doctor had already told them to be mentally prepared, after all, Taozhi really had lived a very long life.
Back at home, Ye Chaochao brought some wet food packets to feed Taozhi, "Taozhi, eat the cat food."
But Taozhi just lazily lifted its head, then lay back down in the crook of Shen Wenzhou’s arm.
"Taozhi won’t eat, what should we do?" Ye Chaochao’s eyes reddened, and she became very flustered.
"It can’t eat anymore now." Shen Yi stroked Ye Chaochao’s head from the side; he didn’t know how to comfort her.
Ye Chaochao cried with a sense of grievance.
After struggling all morning, aside from Shen Wenzhou, who had eaten something early, the rest hadn’t eaten yet.
The housemaid had prepared lunch and called them to eat, but seated in the dining room, it was obvious they were all distracted and had no appetite.
"You guys eat, I want to be with Taozhi." Shen Wenzhou forced himself to eat a bit, but ultimately he couldn’t stomach more and simply gave up.
Hearing this, Ye Chaochao quickly put down her chopsticks, "I’m not eating either."
Ye Wanwan and Shen Yi exchanged glances, neither saying anything, letting them be.
"You haven’t had breakfast this morning, eat a bit more." As Shen Yi spoke, he served Ye Wanwan some food, knowing she wouldn’t feel like eating, but also knowing that not eating at all was not an option.
Not wanting Shen Yi to worry, Ye Wanwan nodded and continued to eat.
In the living room, Shen Wenzhou cradled Taozhi in his arms, with Ye Chaochao sitting beside him. Not knowing what Shen Wenzhou had said, Ye Chaochao’s voice rose, "This is just too cruel!"