Chapter 11: The Kitten and the Black Mouse

"Don't lose heart, we'll catch Cat's Eye eventually." Comforting words are beneficial for mental well-being, and that's all Zhang Fan could offer at the moment. Being a member of Cat's Eye himself, he could only silently mourn for Junfu's plight.

"Mr. Zhang Fan, may I inquire where you were last night between 10 PM and midnight?" Suddenly, the police officer Asagaya Mitsuko approached Zhang Fan with an interrogative demeanor.

"I was at Cat Eye Coffee Shop, tutoring my younger sister as her academic performance has been slipping. Is there a problem?" Zhang Fan responded with a furrowed brow, not particularly fond of the icy and rigid policewoman Asagaya.

"And where have you been over the past few days? What have you been up to?" Asagaya persisted in her questioning, treating everyone as a potential suspect.

"Zhang Fan just returned from the United States, while Cat's Eye has been active in this city for a while. You need to understand this, Asagaya! Not everyone is your criminal!" Junfu burst out, frustrated at her suspicion of Lei, Tong, and now Zhang Fan. He was particularly displeased with her lack of respect, given his seniority over her.

"This..." Asagaya was momentarily speechless. Just returned from abroad? Even so, it didn't absolve him of suspicion.

"It seems this policewoman is quite paranoid," Zhang Fan mused quietly after they left. It appeared she wouldn't easily give up her suspicions.

"We need to be more cautious, especially you, Zhang Fan. You've caught her eye," Lei remarked with a teasing grin. For Zhang Fan, it was both a challenge and a game to outsmart his opponent.

"Lei, don't take pleasure in others' misfortune," Zhang Fan retorted, looking at the gathering clouds. It seemed like a storm was brewing.

"I wonder if Ai remembered to bring an umbrella." Soon enough, a torrential downpour began, and Tong looked concerned, hoping Ai wasn't caught in the rain.

"I'll pick Ai up. It's quiet here anyway," Zhang Fan volunteered, noting the heavy rain and the lack of customers at the coffee shop.

"Thank you, Zhang Fan," Lei said with a knowing smile. Zhang Fan and Rui Tears had fully integrated into their family, and Lei was drawn not only to Zhang Fan's intelligence and rapid progress but also to his thoughtfulness and tenderness, qualities rare in other men.

"Ai, what are you doing here?" On his way to Ai's school, Zhang Fan found her looking distressed by the roadside, drenched and oblivious to the rain.

Quickly sheltering Ai with his umbrella, Zhang Fan followed her gaze to a cardboard box beside her, which housed five newborn kittens.

"What should I do, Zhang Fan? We can't keep more cats at home, but these kittens..." Ai turned to Zhang Fan, her eyes pleading for a solution.

"Silly girl, you know Lei and Tong would understand. Do what you feel is right; I'm here to support you," Zhang Fan assured her with a gentle pat on her head.

"Thank you, Zhang Fan! I love you!" Ai's spirits lifted instantly. She hugged Zhang Fan tightly, planting a kiss on his cheek, then picked up the box and hurried back to the coffee shop, oblivious to the earlier kiss.

'Are girls always this bold?' Zhang Fan thought, shaking his head in amusement. He felt a sense of reward from the kiss, oddly satisfying.

Upon their return, Tong lectured Ai about the kittens, but with Zhang Fan's intervention and Lei's final say, they temporarily took in the kittens. The next day, a sign was posted at the coffee shop inviting compassionate people to adopt the little felines.

"Hey Junfu, want to adopt a kitten?" Zhang Fan teased as Junfu and Asagaya visited the shop again.

"A cat?" Junfu started to ask but was quickly cut off by Zhang Fan.

"Forget it, you can barely take care of yourself, let alone a kitten," Zhang Fan joked. Junfu wasn't offended, knowing it was true.

"Too busy lately, especially with that Black Mouse thief reappearing. It's adding fuel to the fire. I hardly sleep more than four hours a night," Junfu sighed, collapsing onto the table.

"Black Mouse?" Lei raised an eyebrow, familiar with the name.

"Yes, a thief specializing in stealing gems. Although similar to Cat's Eye, I find their methods far less admirable," Junfu explained, clearly not fond of either thief.

"You shouldn't jump to conclusions!" Suddenly, a figure appeared behind Junfu. Without a sound, this was no ordinary person.

"Oh, it's you, Kamiya. You're back in the country?" Junfu relaxed upon seeing the newcomer, indicating a familiar relationship.