Chapter 14 - Zhan's surprise

Yibo left the mini market on time at 6 pm. Since Zhan would be working for three more hours, Yibo had time to prepare the surprise for Zhan. He had already called his old friend from school days about the two kittens. He would be able to pick them up later. Now he just had to get the accessories and food for the cats.

He drove to a pet supply store and bought everything in duplicate. However, sorted by color. Because the kittens are a boy and a girl. So he bought two collars, one pink, the other blue. He bought two litter boxes, also in pink and blue. Two scratching posts in beige and black. Food bowls in pink and blue. Toys for the cats. Two baskets, also in pink and blue. And a cardboard cat house with a scratching mat. Also got dry and wet cat food for kittens and two big bags of cat litter. And last but not least, a transport box for the cats.

Once home, he prepared everything for the cats. He then went to his old friend's house and picked up the two cats, Ying and Yang, and brought them home safely in their transport box. Since his old friend advised him not to let them run around freely right away, but to leave them in their transport box for one or two hours first, so that they could get used to the smells and sounds of the new appartment, Yibo had time to pick up Zhan from the restaurant and surprise him with the two cats at home, without having to search for them in the big appartment first.

All excited, Yibo entered the restaurant to let Zhan know he was there to pick him up. Zhan went to change and then they drove home. Yibo stopped in front of the apartment door and said, "We should be very quiet now when we go in. Because there's a surprise for you inside, which might get pretty scared if it suddenly gets loud."

"I'm sorry, what?" Zhan asked, confused.

"Just be as quiet as possible." Said Yibo and opened the apartment door with his fingerprint. He took Zhan by the hand and slowly crept with him into the appartment and to the living room. Then he squatted in front of the cat carrier and motioned Zhan to join him.

Zhan squatted down next to Yibo and Yibo opened the transport box. Yibo reached inside and a soft "meow" sounded. "What is that? Is that a cat?" Zhan wanted to know.

"No. It's two cats. A boy and a girl. Their names are Ying and Yang." Yibo put the little cat with the pink collar in Zhan's hands and took little Yang out of the carrier and showed him to Zhan.

Zhan looked at the two cute little cats with loving eyes and whispered, "What cute little angels are you? Where did you come from?"

"I got them from an old school friend. I wanted to give you a treat. You've helped me a lot in the last few days and I wanted to do something good for you too. Yu Bin told me that you like animals very much. Especially cats. And that you always wanted to have a cat. Well, so I thought you might enjoy these two little babies."

"I am Yibo. Thank you so much. It's true, I always wanted a cat. But my old apartment didn't allow pets. And back at my parents' place, we had a big dog that didn't like cats."

"So you're happy?"

"Yes, very much so. I don't even know what to say. They're both so cute."

"Yes they are. Um, unfortunately we can't give them any other names. They already go by Ying and Yang. And my old classmate asked me to let them keep their names."

"Of course. It suits them, doesn't it?"

"I think so, too. And I've already gotten everything we need for the cats."

"Very good. Shall we let them run around so they can have a look around?"

"Sure. Also, we should show them where their litter boxes are. I um, put them in the guest bathroom for now."

"Yeah the place fits. It's quiet in there. Besides, we can clean it up faster there than here."

"I think so too Zhan." Said Yibo and put little Yang on the floor. Zhan let go of Ying as well and the two kittens dashed at it. They ran around the living room, sniffing everywhere and when they discovered the toys, they played with the little soft balls. They stole the balls from each other, playfully rolled on the floor fighting for a ball, and pulled each other's ears.

After 20 minutes, when the cats were exhausted from playing, they went back to Zhan and Yibo who were sitting on the floor laughing and watching the cats the whole time. They both took a kitten in their arms and cuddled it. The little ones purred loudly until they fell asleep. And then they took the sleeping cats to their baskets where they could rest.

Yibo and Zhan quietly went to the kitchen where the two ate dinner. Zhan had already prepared dinner at the restaurant and all they had to do at home was reheat it. While they were eating, Zhan said, "I had a visitor at the restaurant today."

"Oh yes, and from whom?"

"From your brother." After talking to Haikuan, Zhan decided to help Yibo and his brother a little and already prepare Yibo for his brother's return. However, he would not tell him all that Haikuan had confided in him.

"Mhhh, I didn't even know he was back in the country already."

"I think he was only in Chicago for two or three days because there was a problem he had to take care of."

"Uh-huh, I see. So what I don't understand is, if he was already in the area, why didn't he just stop by my place at the Mini Market?"

"He came to the restaurant to have lunch. He didn't have much time because he had another appointment. However, he and I talked briefly."

"And what did he say?"

"He's moving back to Beijing in two months. That's finalized now."

"I see."

"I know your relationship with your brother is not good. But when he comes to live here again, you could finally get to know each other."

"I don't think he wants that."

"Yes, he does. He came to me for advice on how to get closer to you as a big brother."

"Oh yeah, and what did you tell him?"

"That he needs to reach out to you. He should tell you all about himself and show interest in you and your hobbies."

"And what did he say? Surely he didn't think that was a good thing, did he?"

"Yes, Yibo he did. He wants to do that."

"Do you think he really does?"

"I think so. I had the impression that he really meant it."

"What if I don't want him to?"

"Then I'd be disappointed in you. Because I know how much you want a relationship with your brother. You should give him one last chance."

"Okay, that's what I'm going to do. But only because you ask me to."

"Thank you Yibo."

"Yes, yes. You Zhan?"

"Yes what?"

"Today, in the afternoon, something had happened in the mini market."

"And what?"

"I was having a coffee with your employee Lili when two young men came running into my store."

"I see, and what's so unusual about that?"

"They were holding hands and hiding behind one of my shelves! Then I saw a group of guys coming toward my store. They looked like bullies. I knew right away who they were looking for. Lili stood in front of the door and pretended to clean the door and I hid them in my office. Then when the bullies came into my store, they asked me about the two of them. I said I didn't see anyone and I heard them cursing because they lost sight of the two 'fags'."

"Oh dear. And then?"

"Well, they took off and kept running. I went to my office to see the two of them. They were sitting anxiously in the corner holding each other. When I came in, they got scared and jumped apart. I told them that they had nothing to fear from me and that I was not judging them. Then they both started to cry. My heart was heavy when I saw them crying like that."

"I believe that right away."

"Well, anyway, after they calmed down a bit, we had hot chocolate and they told me that they had been caught holding hands in a park by these bullies. They then chased them both around the city."

"The park? That's over five kilometers away, isn't it?"

"Yeah right. Imagine how crazy those guys are! They chased them so far just because they were holding hands!"

"They must have been morons. Unfortunately, something like that happens more often than you think. It's good that you hid them and calmed them down. At least now they know they can come to you again if they need someone to help them."

"That's right. That's what I told them, too. I called them a cab and told them they could come to my store anytime. They were really happy and thanked me a lot. And I was relieved and happy that I could help them."

"I am proud of you Yibo. You showed courage and helped two young men in love."

"I wish I could have helped them even more."

"Well, if they come to your store again, give them my parents' cell phone number. I'm sure they can help them out."

"Oh that's right. Why didn't I think of that earlier?"

"Because you were under stress."

"That's true."

"But you did a good job and nothing else matters."

"Hmm."

"And now we're going back to the cats, okay? I want to watch these two some more."

"Hahaha, yeah me too. I'm so glad the surprise worked out and you're happy."

"I am. I kind of still can't believe we are cat daddies now."

"Oh yeah right. Now we are their dads. I hadn't even thought of that yet."

"Well Yibo, that means we have a lot of responsibility now."

"Well, I'm happy to do that. Leo said the cats were vaccinated at the vet's office and got something for worms and fleas. He said we should take them to the vet once a year. And we need to get them neutered when they are about 8 months old."

"All right. We'll get that done."

"I think so, too. You know Zhan, now with our appartment and us and the cats, we're a little family."

"Absolutely, I agree with you. The judge will be thrilled when she hears about how well things are going between us."

"I hope you're not just being nice to me because of the judge."

"No, of course not. I'm just saying that she obviously has certain expectations of us and we might even surpass those expectations."

"That would be nice Zhan."

"To be honest, I've been thinking about something."

"About what."

"How to move forward with the two of us after these six months."

"And what came out of it?"

"Just an idea."

"Which one?"

"That we don't have to get divorced if we don't want to after these six months."

"You mean we officially acknowledge our marriage?"

"Well, legally and registered it already is. What I mean is that we could withdraw the petitions for divorce. But only after the six months are up and we're sure that's what we want."

"Sounds good to me. Especially since we're going to stay living together anyway and share our lives together. And now we have two babies as well."

"Exactly Yibo. So we should think twice about whether we still want the divorce. But we still have time."

"I don't think I need six months to decide that Zhan. I'm already sure that I would want to stay married to you."

"You do?"

"Yes. I don't want to sound weird or crazy right now. But somehow I feel it's meant to be just the way it is now."

"Well, maybe your feeling is right. We'll just wait it out."

"Okay."

"But there's one more thing we really need to do in the next few days."

"What thing?"

"We're going to have a wedding photo taken of us. That's part of marriage!"

"Uh okay. Yes."

"That was our parents' idea. They thought the open space above the sofa would be perfect for a wedding portrait."

"They're actually right about that I think. I've been thinking that a painting would fit nicely there, too."

"So you're okay with us having a wedding portrait taken?"

"Yes by all means."

"Then I'll call the photo studio tomorrow and make an appointment."

"Very well. Oh our babies are waking up. Better get them to the litter box right away. Leo said they usually have to go as soon as they wake up. And so far they haven't been to the litter box."

"Well then, we better hurry."

"Mmm. You take Ying and I'll take Yang." Said Yibo and grabbed the kitten. They took them both to their litter boxes and found that Leo was right. As soon as their little paws touched the cat litter, the two little ones relieved themselves. Afterwards, the little ones stormed off and romped all over the appartment, which gave Yibo and Zhan a lot of joy watching them.