The Unlucky Black Cat

chapter 2

The park where Jiang Sheng lived had no name.

Strictly speaking, it was just a large green belt within a community.

A few small paths ran through it, along with some fitness equipment and recreational facilities, making up the entirety of the park.

However, many years ago, this place was not a park. Even further back, the nearby community hadn't even been built yet.

How did Jiang Sheng know all this?

Because the spirit it "ate" and the fragment of memory it gained belonged to an old man who had spent his entire life here.

Although these new concepts were enough to overturn its original worldview.

Jiang Sheng's astonishment, however, had gradually dissipated during the time it took to digest the soul, as unfamiliar memories flooded in.

After all, it was adept at adapting to its environment.

Remaining calm in the face of change was perhaps its most commendable skill.

With slightly uncontrolled steps, it walked to the large tree on the right side of the park.

Now, Jiang Sheng was preparing to help fulfill the old man's wish.

Jiang Sheng believed in giving and taking in equal measure (or rather, as a cat), so it rarely accepted anything without reason.

Though the process was somewhat bizarre, it had received the old man's "relic."

Thus, in its eyes, it had a reason to repay him.

The method lay in the old man's obsession, the reason he couldn't leave the world in peace after death.

Thinking this, Jiang Sheng squatted down under the tree, found the right spot, and began digging the soil beside the roots with its claws.

Compared to dogs, cats digging holes were a rare sight.

This might be due to their desire for elegance, not wanting to show such untidy behavior in front of others, or perhaps it was because of their habits.

But that didn't mean they weren't good at digging.

In fact, feline paws are usually more complex and sharper than canine paws.

When it comes to digging, their efficiency is not lower than that of canines, and might even be higher, though they may be weaker in terms of strength.

For example, in just a few minutes, Jiang Sheng had buried most of its head in the soil.

If memory served, the object should be nearby.

Recalling the newly acquired memory, Jiang Sheng flipped patches of grass, throwing handfuls of soil behind it, gradually forming a small hill.

It looked like a mischievous stray cat wreaking havoc, and if the community manager saw this, they would probably catch Jiang Sheng and neuter it out of anger.

Maintaining a lawn neatly is no easy task, let alone digging around the roots of a century-old tree.

This tree was older than the entire community, almost a landmark in the area.

If it were damaged, selling Jiang Sheng's flesh wouldn't cover the cost.

But now it was night, and there was no one around to stop Jiang Sheng's mischief.

Focused on finding what it wanted, Jiang Sheng's mind flickered with some unclear images.

These images then reassembled into a story spanning many years.

...

Gao Shan met Xia Zi when he was eight years old.

Their names were unique, and they lived close to each other, so naturally, they became friends.

In elementary school, Gao Shan loved teasing Xia Zi. This was common among boys, who often pranked those they cared about to gain attention.

Due to the direct admission system, they attended the same middle school. It was then that rumors started spreading in class. Children tend to imitate adult behavior, but often in an immature way.

In high school, Gao Shan and Xia Zi officially became a couple. From first love to expressing feelings, everything went smoothly, as if destined. The girl's profile at the fireworks festival became Gao Shan's most beautiful memory.

In college, they didn't leave the city. They both applied to local universities, seemingly uninterested in distant places, cherishing every moment together. After graduation, Gao Shan proposed to Xia Zi under the tree where they first met. For most couples, they lacked romance but made up for it with warmth.

However, the day before their wedding, Gao Shan decided to do something romantic.

He bought two rings at once.One was prepared to be given to Xiazi at their wedding, while the other was buried under a large tree, intended to be retrieved together when they were old. At that time, Gaoshan planned to propose to Xiazi again, asking her to marry him in the next life. As they approached middle age, due to urban planning, a new community was to be built nearby. Gaoshan stood under the tree where he had buried the ring, refusing to let the workers cut it down, standing there day and night for several days. The workers, eager to start construction, had no choice but to designate this area as a green belt, sparing the old tree. Upon retirement, Gaoshan felt the time was right. He wanted to retrieve the ring, but he suddenly developed Alzheimer's disease, also known as senile dementia. From then on, Gaoshan's memory became hazy, and his days were spent in a daze. It seemed like he remembered nothing, except that when Xiazi accompanied him for walks, he would linger under the old tree, unwilling to leave. Sometimes Xiazi wondered why her husband was so fond of this old tree. But looking at the old tree, she occasionally recalled their past experiences, feeling wistful. On his deathbed, Gaoshan was severely ill. In his final moments, his mind became clearer. It was then that he remembered there was one thing he still needed to do in this life. Unfortunately, at that point, he did not even have the strength to speak. Thus, Gaoshan gathered his soul, unwilling to let go. He wandered under the tree, over and over, over and over. He seemed to remember something, yet seemed to forget everything. The soul without consciousness only knew how to repeatedly murmur a single phrase: "Axia, would you marry me again in the next life?" ... When Jiang Sheng found an old jewelry box in the turned soil, it was already close to midnight. The moon hung in the branches, obscured by clouds, as if also feeling sleepy. Fortunately, as a night owl, Jiang Sheng was not prone to drowsiness at this hour, and the darkness did not affect its vision. Therefore, it managed to find this small box before dawn and even had the energy to fill the hole it had dug. Decades could change many things. Fortunately, Gaoshan had buried a gold ring. Even though the outer box had rotted away, the ornament inside remained as beautiful as ever, gleaming under the moonlight. Without any disgust, Jiang Sheng picked up the box with its mouth, nimbly jumping onto a park bench. It shook off the dirt from its body and wagged its tail. Then it turned its head to look at the square box it had just opened with its paws. There lay the ring, resting quietly amidst the tattered fabric. Silent and still, it seemed to silently witness an unchanging love that time could not alter. Inside the box was a metal plate engraved with a few lines of text, which could still be faintly read, likely due to the gilding. This was Gaoshan's request that remained unanswered, perhaps his greatest regret in life. Don't worry... Gently closing the jewelry box with its front paws, Jiang Sheng groomed its fur while looking in the direction of the old man's home in his memories. I will deliver your heart's wish.