Caishen would not take his eyes off the golden cat that was eating breakfast at their table this morning. The cat was feasting elegantly on a meal of cooked liver and rice.
A most amusing thing was that the cat had a bib around it's neck as if it was a small human child.
His wife who had not explained the origins of the cat had her head face down on the table, dozing as if she had not slept a wink at night.
Xiaobo was enjoying the cereal which was prepared from the milk Alix had bought them. Occasionally he would look at the cat and smile.
The cat would look at him derisively and then glare at Baby as if she was the invader in the house.
As Caishen sipped his milk and enjoyed his peanut butter and jelly sandwich, he wondered what was going on in his house.
His wife whose appetite never failed her had not even touched her breakfast yet.
"Alix." he shook her.
"Mmmm." she responded lazily and softly.
"Wake up and eat something." he told her.
She opened her eyes slowly, blinked three times and yawned loudly.
"M'tired." she told him.
Translation, I am tired, Caishen thought. Why was she so tired?
"What exactly were you up to last night?"
"Playing games." she answered and yawned.
After he slept off, she went back to gaming and completed two quests. She needed to accumulate points and be among those who would face off in the battle against the dark wizard, the final boss of the second world.
Caishen's mouth fell open slightly as he thought about what response would make sense in this situation. All he could think was that she needed to be punished. That's what he did when Xiaobo stayed up late playing games.
But she was not a child, she was a grown woman. He frowned as he wondered what to do about her.
"Don't do that again." he finally said, after contemplating for a few more seconds. "Sleep depravation due to over indulgence in playing games can result in depression, anxiety, stress, injuries and vision problems. Not to mention addiction to games affects all aspects of your life negatively.
From now on, I will be confiscating your mobile devices before bed."
Alix suddenly found herself waking up.
"Mmmm," she responded.
Xiaobo looked at her with pity and he said, "Aunt, you have been punished like me. I also hand in my phone and laptop before bed."
"Tch!, I am an adult, your uncle can't punish me." She laughed and looked at Caishen.
It was a ridiculous punishment.
He looked at her seriously, not even one small smile on his face.
"You are actually serious." she said in a surprised voice.
Caishen nodded.
"Very serious."
Alix curled her lips and folded her arms across her chest. She looked at him with defiant eyes.
"Are you teaching Xiaobo to rebel?" he asked her.
She looked at Xiaobo and saw the little one looking back and forth between herself and Caishen.
The adults were supposed to set an example for children but in this case, Alix was not ready to be an exemplary adult. It was not as if Xiaobo shared the same bedroom as them.
"I need my gadgets for work. Hubby, let's talk about this some other time. Look, I brought a new cat to keep Baby company. His name is Majesty, doesn't he look majestic?"
She grabbed the cat by the stomach and intervened with it's meal.
Majesty the cat who was filled with pride sat upright and postured, head held high as if he was trying to impress Caishen or pose for a photograph.
He was not a fool, he knew what she was doing and he dropped the matter for now.
"What breed is he?"
"Royal, the best kind in the world. You should be honored to be in my presence." Majesty answered.
All Caishen heard was a meow, but Alix who understood the cat guffawed.
"Why are you laughing?" A confused Caishen asked her.
"He likes you so much." she lied.
"You are changing my words human." Majesty complained.
"Where did it come from?" Caishen asked her.
"I am not an it." Majesty meowed angrily.
"Where was it when we came home last night?"
"Human, I am not an it." Majesty again meowed at Caishen angrily.
"One at a time." Alix blurted out.
Caishen, Xiaobo and Majesty looked at her. Even Baby who was lapping milk in a bowl raised her head and peeped up curiously.
Alix held her phone up and smiled, "Jin Kang has been bombarding me with messages since morning. I don't know what's wrong with her. She should send one text not a time."
She pretended to be so interested in her phone. With her face lowered, she squeezed her lips shut and clenched and unclenched her hands twice feeling stressed.
She would really have to be careful about this whole my cat can talk thing.
"We should go now." Caishen said.
Gladly, Alix stood up from her chair quickly and picked up Majesty.
Xiaobo picked up his school bag while Caishen picked up baby and his lap top.
Two pets and three humans went downstairs. Two confused nannies were left behind wondering why the cats had to be taken. It was not as if there were no humans left behind at home to take care of them.
Wang Ma sent a message to Hua Yura immediately.
[The young master and madam adopted another cat.]
Downstairs, Alix stopped by the receptionist desk and spoke to the receptionists briefly before hurrying to the car.
Lately, they were all using one car and after dropping Xiaobo off, she would get into her own car and they would go in different directions.
"Is everything okay?" he asked her.
She nodded.
"I was just asking about the gym schedule because I want to start working out. Someone said I don't know my own strength so I have to train to prove him wrong. I don't want to break him after all."
Caishen's ears turned red and he looked away from her. No matter how veiled she put it, he could understand what she meant between the lines.
So early in the morning and she was being shameless again. He passed his right hand over his heart and smiled. This woman was so determined to have him in every way.
He turned his head back, looked at her and opened a compartment in the car which was filled with snacks. She had not had not eaten breakfast, she might as well eat a snack.
Alix got a packet of potato crisps, laughed and winked at him.
Cute, he is so cute, she told herself.
He pretended that he was so aloof but then he did such a simple sweet thing for her.
She tilted her head and made a finger heart.
"Calm down." Caishen looked away from her and told his heart when it skipped a beat.
He seemed to enjoy her shamelessness so much lately.