Zheng Tan, lacking an ID in real life, decided to search for a sense of existence online. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He had heard that minor celebrities occasionally needed to stir up some news to gain visibility and maintain their presence, but Zheng Tan felt no need for such tactics. The Pet Center released videos periodically and the response on forums was pretty good; he considered himself somewhat famous and believed the feedback was positive.

Although Zheng Tan usually appeared indifferent to the video advertisements he was involved in, privately, he enjoyed browsing forums to see how people online judged him. Seeing those praises, Zheng Tan intellectually knew it wasn’t a big deal, but he couldn’t help feeling pleased with himself. It felt quite good.

In this day and age, browsing forums and watching videos required going online and using a computer.

After Mr. Jiao had returned, Zheng Tan had sneakily gone online once. Mobile internet was too cumbersome then, with many features lacking, not as satisfying as using a computer directly. It had been a long time since he touched a computer, and seeing it daily without being able to use it made Zheng Tan feel stifled, so he took a risk.

After that one time, Zheng Tan anxiously awaited a talk from Mr. Jiao, feeling that someone who even knew what websites Jiao Yuan visited would surely notice his activity. Even if he deleted his history, there were likely other traces left; now Mr. Jiao was using the computer daily. However, after a few days of normal behavior from Mr. Jiao, with no sign of wanting to talk, Zheng Tan relaxed. Although he always felt that Jiao Fox must know something, well, never mind – if Mr. Jiao didn’t say anything, he would keep playing.

With no one at home, Zheng Tan turned on the computer and opened a video sharing website. Forums, after all, were just gatherings of people with common interests within certain circles, but video sharing sites had a broader demographic from all ages and industries; this should better reflect his impact.

In the video site’s categories, there was a new advertisement Zheng Tan had shot last week, and it was doing quite well. Different from the usual sentimental or narrative styles, this one had a rock vibe, sponsored by a soda company.

Zheng Tan thought the advertisement was quite good, and he had performed well, but his mood soured upon reading the comments below.

The comment section where netizens expressed their opinions—

1st floor: "Selling milk tea, sunflower seeds, cola, and peanuts~~~"

2nd floor: "Asking for the profile picture from the person above!"

3rd floor: "What’s the background music? Please tell~"

4th floor: "That girl with the big waves looks nice, anyone knows her?"

...

Zheng Tan: "..."

Suddenly, he felt like smashing the keyboard and flipping off those people; a big cat like him was onscreen and yet no one noticed him, everyone was ogling the pretty girl!

Almost every batch of ten comments had half that were derailing the topic, and most of the rest were focused on the eye-catching girl. Although Zheng Tan admitted that working with the girl in the advertisement was "quite pleasant," he couldn’t help but feel a bit sour now.

Zheng Tan also suddenly realized he had been too self-assuming, presumptuous, and self-satisfied.

After all, a cat is not a person; at this time, everyone on the internet was scrambling for their own gain. Who cared about a mere cat in the video? At most, they’d crack a couple of jokes and move on—the focus was always on people.

Though it felt freeing to have less public attention, facing reality was still inevitably unpleasant.

Since he was not feeling great, Zheng Tan decided to entertain himself.

He shut down the computer and went out, strolling around the campus.

Wandering around, he approached the kindergarten, which Zheng Tan had planned to avoid but then decided to see if Zhuo Xiaomao was up to her usual mischief.

Just then, Zhuo Xiaomao’s class had finished their indoor session, and a group of kids were shouting as they ran towards the yard with slides and inflatable castles, afraid of being too slow to get a good spot. Behind them, Teacher Xiao Bai and another teacher reminded the kids not to run too fast and to watch their step.

After watching the nonchalant Zhuo Xiaomao walk out, Zheng Tan’s gaze fell on another person sitting in the small courtyard.

On a wooden bench at the edge of the yard filled with various playthings sat a woman Zheng Tan recognized. At that moment, she was gently watching the children in the yard, primarily focusing on Zhuo Xiaomao after she came out, with a slight smile on her face. One might think it was Zhuo Xiaomao’s mother, but it wasn’t.

This woman was Wei Leng’s wife, and according to what Zheng Tan had heard from Ermao, she should be more than four months pregnant by then. Heatan had also heard that Wei Leng’s wife had been in a traffic accident and wasn’t in the best health. Although she had been taking care of it over the years, Wei Leng was still worried and had hired careful help, spending as much time at home with her as possible.

Why was she here? Did she want to see more children because she was expecting one herself? But she seemed overly focused on Zhuo Xiaomao.

Teacher Xiao Bai, keeping an eye on the children, knew this woman preferred to sit alone, so she didn’t disturb her.

Being a primary school teacher required ample calmness and patience, and perhaps sensing that serene aura from the strange lady, the children did not feel constrained or uncomfortable. They continued to play on their own, and some bolder, lively children even struck up brief conversations with her.

Zhuo Xiaomao was called over to help construct a dinosaur from building toys and then walked up to Wei Leng’s wife.

"Auntie, why do you keep staring at me? Are you a new teacher?"

Although Zhuo Xiaomao could speak a lot, some words were still not very clear, and people who didn’t regularly interact with him needed some time to react.

Wei Leng’s wife paused and smiled, "I’m not a new teacher. I’m looking at you because you are very cute." She was just feeling bored at home. A neighbor, who is a teacher at the Affiliated Primary School, mentioned a child at Chuhua University Kindergarten who started at two and a half years old and performed quite well—Zhuo Yang, Zhuo Xiaomao. On a whim, she decided to come and see him. Upon seeing him, she had to admit, this child was indeed clever.

"Thank you for the compliment."

Zhuo Xiaomao politely responded and then planned to leave but got stopped to chat for a bit more.

Knowing that the aunt in front of him had a little baby, Zhuo Xiaomao curiously looked at her belly and then said, "When I was little, um, very little, still in my mom’s belly, my mom said Black even gave me a high-five."

Upon hearing Zhuo Xiaomao mention his name, Zheng Tan’s ears perked up and turned towards that direction.

"Black?" Wei Leng’s wife didn’t quite understand the meaning of "Black" as mentioned by Zhuo Xiaomao, assuming it was someone Zhuo Xiaomao knew.

"Yeah, I heard an uncle say that many people thought I would be very frail, but look at me now, Auntie, I’m strong!" Zhuo Xiaomao said as he rolled up his sleeve, bending his arm to show Wei Leng’s wife his "muscular" "biceps."

Zheng Tan: "..." This silly kid. He’s just this little, what muscles to show? Strong my foot!

That wasn’t all, Zhuo Xiaomao extended his arm in front of Wei Leng’s wife, "Auntie, if you don’t believe me, feel it, see if it’s not strong, haha, I don’t usually let just anyone touch it!"

Zheng Tan: "..." I can’t bear to watch anymore.

Instead of seeing this little guy scamming people, you see how silly he is. Sigh, even the smartest people have their dumb moments, let alone a little kid.

Wei Leng’s wife laughed and gently pinched his little arm and then his cheek, "Indeed, a little strong man."

"That’s right~" Zhuo Xiaomao smiled, his eyes squinting.

Just as Zheng Tan was internally lamenting how this kid could be so silly, he heard Zhuo Xiaomao boast in a proud tone:

"My mom said my strength is all because of Black, Black is so good to me!" Zhuo Xiaomao took out a pendant he always wore, "Look, this was also given by Black! Aunt said it’s something money can’t buy!"

Wei Leng’s wife examined the transparent pendant with the green plant inside, quite surprised, then she thought it might be something artificially made; such things probably don’t exist in nature, right?

Although she was skeptical, Wei Leng’s wife still smiled and said, "Mmh, it indeed looks very precious, your brother treats you really well."

"That’s right~" As he carefully tucked the pendant back under his collar, Zhuo Xiaomao caught a glimpse of Zheng Tan by the fence, and immediately ran toward him, laughing, "Black! Black!"

Wei Leng’s wife followed Zhuo Xiaomao’s direction and saw the cat on the fence, somewhat surprised, looked closely, and then asked Teacher Xiao Bai nearby, "Teacher Bai, is that cat called Heitan?"

"Yes, he’s called Heitan. The kids in the class all call him Black following Zhuo Yang." Teacher Xiao Bai mentioned a few things about the Black Cat.

So "Black" was this cat. Wei Leng’s wife thought.

Watching the interaction between the boy and the cat, Wei Leng’s wife sat for a while, then stood up, preparing to leave. Being able to come here to the kindergarten was thanks to the neighbor’s help; this visit had not been in vain.

Zheng Tan watched as Wei Leng’s wife walked out of the kindergarten gate, a lady, probably a nanny, approached her, and the two of them left together.

When Wei Leng returned home in the evening, he hugged his wife and kissed her forehead, "How did you feel about going out today?"

"It was alright. By the way, Wei Leng, next time we invite Senior Hetao and Ermao over, let’s invite Heitan as well," said Wei Leng’s wife.

At this, Wei Leng raised an eyebrow. After his wife became pregnant, he had invited the Senior Brother and Ermao over for a meal and suggested to bring Zheng Tan along. The mother-in-law, who came to visit her daughter, learned about it and scolded Wei Leng for a long time. In her words, she quite disliked Zheng Tan, ever since knowing her daughter was pregnant, she had been eager to chase away any potentially threatening animals nearby. And now they were inviting them in?

Those days, Wei Leng’s mood wasn’t great, and if not for his wife’s sake, he would have fallen out with his mother-in-law long ago. He hadn’t expected his wife to make the suggestion herself.

"Okay, I’ll see when Brother and Ermao are free, and we’ll have them come over for a gathering, and bring Heitan along. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that guy, hey, I wonder if he’s gotten fatter," he said.

So, on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Ermao came over with Zheng Tan to Wei Leng’s place for dinner.

Jiao Yuan, who had come out to drink water from the room, looked utterly dejected: Heitan was out having fun again, while he himself had to stay in his room to work on the assignments due Monday morning! (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and donate, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)