As soon as he got out from the bus, Huang Mao immediately went to the nearest market to buy the ingredients for tonight's dinner. Since he would be feeding three stomachs; two humans and one pet, he would need to buy a lot.

Three meat dishes with one vegetable should be fine. Making up his mind, Huang Mao began to haggle for a cheaper price with the older woman that selling the fish. He had been a frequent customer at this shop and was familiar with the woman.

Huang Mao smiled sweetly at the older woman, “Li jie, can you lessen the price more?”

The older woman sighed at this young man, “that’s already cheap. I already gave a discount to you.”

“But, I have a guest tonight. And that’s the first guest in my house,” Huang Mao said pitifully, as he blinked his large cat like eyes cutely.

The older woman was shot with a ‘moe’ bullet straight to her heart. She began to waver, “…”

Huang Mao sent another one of his ‘attacks’, “please, Li jie. If you give me more discounts, you’ll look even more beautiful! And I’ll forever be your loyal customer. After all, Xiao Hei loves eating this fish that you sell.”

“Fine, fine! I’ll give you more discounts!” Sister Li sighed and complained in her older girl’s heart. Could you blame her? Who made this cute young man good with his words ah?

“Thank you, Li jie!” Huang Mao cheered in his heart and paid Sister Li the money before he went to another shop that sold the meat. He bought a half kilogram of beef and two chicken breasts. He managed to get some discounts from the uncle that sold the meat and very happy that he could save more money.

Now, he only had to buy vegetables and he would be done with his shopping. Huang Mao went to a shop that sold the vegetables. This one particular shop sold it had good reasonable prices and the vegetables were all fresh.

“Auntie Fang, I’ll take these two eggplants,” Huang Mao chose two medium size eggplants gave it to the auntie. He took the plastic bag with the eggplants and paid the money.

“Thanks, MaoMao. Come again!” Auntie Fang smiled at the adorable young man.

“En. I will!” Finally, Huang Mao had done with his shopping. He smiled widely as he walked to the direction of the old apartment. He didn’t usually initiate conversation with other people but when buying in the market, it was a must. After all, he needed the skills to save money.

The more money he could save, the happier he was!

And he would do anything to get a discounted price!

The market wasn’t far from his apartment and it only took a time to brew tea when he arrived at the junction of road that would lead to his home. He crossed the small road and soon, saw the old apartment. Huang Mao walked leisurely. It was lunch time now and he didn’t prepare a lunch for Xiao Hei. Usually, when he went to work, he would prepare food until night, so the cat wouldn’t get hungry. But, today, he didn’t since he had planned to get back early.

He walked upstairs and the old stairs made a ‘creak, creak’ sound. Huang Mao was used to this and because of this poor condition that he was able to rent this house. It was the cheapest and had water and electricity too. Fortunately, there was not a problem with water or electricity.

“Xiao Hei, I’m home!” Huang Mao greeted as soon as he opened the door. He saw the cat sitting on the table near the window.

Xiao Hei turned towards him and gave a, “meow.”

Huang Mao chuckled. Everytime, he was home, Xiao Hei would greet him back as if saying, ‘welcome home’, to him. Ah… he was so happy! His cat was the best cat ba!

“I’ll make your food right away,” Putting the items he bought from the market at the kitchen, he began prepared for his cat’s favorite grilled mackerel. “Ah, by the way, Xiao Hei ah… Dr. Mu is coming today.”

The cat’s ear twitched as it turned to look at busy Huang Mao.

Huang Mao saw the cat was looking at him. He grinned, “I invited him to dinner. He has been helping us too many times.”

Xiao Hei went back to stare at the window.

Seeing the cat was busy looking through the window, Huang Mao began to prepare for Xiao Hei and his lunch. He made a grilled fish first before he cook a sour and spicy noodles for himself. He put some beef that he just bought and made it a beef sour and spicy noodle. When he was done, he tasted it a little and was satisfied with the result.

He brought the plate with grilled fish and a bowl of warm milk on the table. He called the staring cat, “Xiao Hei, your favorite mackerel.”

The black cat jumped down from the study table and walked elegantly to the short table near the bed. It jumped up and sniffed the food.

Huang took his hot sour and spicy noodles to the table and also a pair of chopsticks. He also took a bottle of cold water from the fridge and a glass. Seeing the cat was eating its food deliciously, Huang Mao also felt hungry. He chomped down on his cooked noodles and slurped.

“It’s really good,” he smiled to himself.

The two, human and cat, ate their lunch together. Accompanying each other. One was small and one was big. But it was filled with harmony.

Huang Mao slurped down the last drop of that sour and spicy soup and burped. Ah… it was a satisfying lunch! It had been long last he ate his own made lunch. He only had time to cook lunch for himself whenever he took a leave at the end of the month to go to the city to pay for the hospital debt.

He looked at the clock on the bedside table and saw it was already 01:57 P.M. He looked around his small apartment and noted that he didn’t need to clean up. After all, Huang Mao always made sure his home was cleaned. So now, he only needed to cook when it was time.

He still had time to rest before he would start cooking. Washing the dirty dishes, he went to the bed and saw Xiao Hei was already napping there at the foot of the bed, claiming its own place.