Chapter Two: Is It Not a Stray Cat?

Chen Jiang pondered for a long time, unable to fathom why these memories had suddenly surfaced. They didn't come early, nor did they come late; they chose this exact moment. Chen Jiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. What on earth was going on? Could it be some kind of lingering effect from his transmigration, where a portion of his memory had been locked away and was only now unlocked as the side effects faded? As for why they were so vivid, Chen Jiang attributed it to a perk of having transmigrated.

"If I had remembered this a few years ago, I might already be a household name or a celebrity by now," Chen Jiang thought. "But it's not too late yet." Though, it didn't really matter anymore. He had been short on money before, but he had already achieved financial freedom. Since he remembered everything, there was no need to delve into e-commerce. He could just casually transcribe a hit novel from his past life to pass the time. He could even contribute to the cultural and entertainment industry of this world—why not?

"Meow~"

At that moment, the cry of the big ginger cat interrupted his thoughts. Chen Jiang looked over and saw that the canned cat treat in the bowl had been licked clean. The chubby cat was looking at him with longing eyes.

"No more. You’re so fat, you’ll barely be able to walk soon," Chen Jiang said, decisively ignoring the cat’s pathetic, high-pitched mewling.

"Meow!" The cat walked away in dissatisfaction and curled up against the wall.

"And I can no longer tell if you are friendship, or a missed romance..." Chen Jiang hummed a line of lyrics. It was one of his favorite songs from his past life.

"No, my hands are itching for it!" Chen Jiang stood up and sat down at the piano. He had owned this piano for quite a while and would often play it when he had nothing to do. As an amateur musician in his previous life, he knew how to play quite a few songs. Faced with memories forgotten for a decade, he only wanted to play one particular song.

...

"2001, this must be it!" The elevator door slowly opened. A girl wearing a white hoodie and a cotton cap stepped out. She stood before the door of 2001, hands on her hips, hesitating. She was feeling a bit socially anxious... What if the person inside was unreasonable? How was she supposed to explain that the cat he had picked up was hers?

Three days ago, Yi Yunxue had gone on a business trip to Shanghai to perform at a friend's concert. Before leaving, she had locked her ginger cat, Little Orange, inside the house. She usually did this when traveling, leaving the cat with an automatic feeder. Who would have thought that as soon as she arrived at her destination and checked the home security camera, the cat was gone.

She had assumed the cat was just hiding, but after two days of not seeing the little guy, she realized the silly cat was truly missing. The doors and windows were locked tight, and she couldn't figure out how it had slipped out. Perhaps there was a narrow gap she didn't know about. After rushing home today, she immediately went to the residential complex’s security office to check the surveillance footage. She discovered that her cat had been taken away by a strange man three days ago. Upon learning from the property management that the man lived directly below her, she had come straight to his door. But now that she was here, she felt a wave of hesitation.

"How do I even start..." Yi Yunxue bit her lip, feeling conflicted.

Just then, a beautiful piano melody drifted out, accompanied by a man’s singing.

"The dandelions by the picket fence in elementary school, are a scenic memory with a scent. The sound of cicadas from the playground during nap time, still sounds so good even after all these years..."

The melody was surprisingly good. Yi Yunxue searched her memory, only to find no trace of it. It was an unfamiliar song! "An original?" she whispered, stunned. This man who "stole" her cat had this kind of talent? Could he be in the entertainment industry, too? But that couldn't be right! If he were, and lived so close, there was no way she wouldn't know him.

As the gentle melody drew to a close, Yi Yunxue simply closed her eyes to listen to the whole song. Then, the chorus began:

"The promise we made growing up~ So clear, the pinky promise I believed in! The trip we promised to take together~ Is the only stubbornness you still insist on today!"

Yi Yunxue’s beautiful eyes sparkled with an unusual light. This song... it was at least at a professional level! If it were released, it would definitely be a hit! Who exactly was this person?

Yi Yunxue waited patiently for a few minutes until the melody stopped, then quickly pressed the doorbell. Inside, Chen Jiang stood up, feeling puzzled. He hadn't ordered takeout today; who could be looking for him? He opened the door, and an exquisite face came into view.

"Meow!" The big ginger cat, which had been curled up by the window soaking in the warm sun, zoomed over.

"Little Orange!" Yi Yunxue cried out, hugging the cat in surprise. She then cast a resentful look at Chen Jiang. "This is my cat..." To ensure he believed her, she pulled out evidence: "These are photos... and videos."

Seeing the evidence, Chen Jiang was instantly embarrassed. He had mistaken someone else's pet for a stray—what was he supposed to do? Need advice online, urgent!

Chen Jiang was at a loss for words, stuttering for a long time before finally managing, "I’m really not a cat thief... I just thought it was abandoned."

Yi Yunxue suddenly felt something was wrong and reached down to check under the cat's tail. Both of them fell silent. Chen Jiang’s face turned bright red; he wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole. This was so incredibly awkward!

"Did you... snip his balls?" Yi Yunxue asked after a moment of hesitation.

"I’m sorry, he kept trying to run away to find a female cat, so I had him neutered," Chen Jiang explained weakly.

Yi Yunxue’s face flushed as she looked at Chen Jiang. "How much was the neutering? Let me transfer the money to you!"

"No, no, it was only a few hundred bucks," Chen Jiang waved his hand. This whole situation was a total social disaster! He had thought the cat was a stray, never imagining it had an owner, and that she would show up at his door!

"Are you also a resident of Building Ten?" Chen Jiang suddenly remembered something and asked. He curiously examined the woman in front of him—exquisite features, an oval face, cherry lips, and skin full of collagen. She was beautiful, stunningly so, with a sweet look—like a celebrity! Wait! She *was* a celebrity!

"Are you that star who lives upstairs?" Chen Jiang asked in surprise.

"You recognize me?" Yi Yunxue was stunned.

"Are you underestimating your own popularity? I listen to music too, and in the last few years, you've emerged as the 'Number One Sweetheart' and the 'Little Diva' Yi Yunxue. Most young people know who you are," Chen Jiang said.

Hearing this, the corners of Yi Yunxue’s mouth couldn't help but curl upward. She replied modestly, "Those are just empty titles, not worth mentioning..."

"But how did you know I lived upstairs?" she asked curiously.

"Your neighbor, Auntie Liu, told me," Chen Jiang said. "She said a celebrity lived above me, but she never said which one. When we bumped into each other before, you were always wearing a mask. Now that I finally recognize you, so it was you living upstairs all along!"