Reborn Cat Sheriff

Chapter 523 Anxi's Great Adventure
Lin Ge did not expect that Anxi would voluntarily give up taking the little doll away.

In this respect, Anxi is more rational, or rather, more sensible than her mother, Zhou Hui.

This changed Lingo's opinion of her somewhat, and it was hard to connect this girl with the girl he had seen that morning who was indifferent even to her mother.

"Is this what depression is like? Or is it called autism?"

Lin Ge wasn't a professional doctor and didn't quite understand the difference between depression and autism. He had only vaguely heard that autism was congenital, while depression was mostly related to acquired factors, so he figured Anxi probably did have depression.

Thinking that this person was a patient with a mental illness, Lin Ge suddenly didn't dare to let her go back alone.

God knows if she'll actually go home!

Seeing Anxi reach the gate of the courtyard and step onto the X-shaped structure of the gate to climb over, Lin Ge followed silently.

"Meow?"

The dejected little doll saw Lingo and its eyes lit up as it tried to follow him.

Lin Ge glared at it, which made the little guy stop in his tracks, looking aggrieved, and obediently squat down to watch Lin Ge squeeze through the gap in the fence.

Anxi quickly flipped out as well, though she landed a little clumsily, suggesting her athletic ability wasn't great. However, the girl didn't seem to care at all. She clapped her hands, put her headphones back on, and then seemed to press something, her expression relaxing considerably.

Enjoying the rhythm of the music, Anxi turned right and walked along the sidewalk; she lowered her head slightly and squinted her eyes, completely ignoring the night view in the distance and the dark environment around her.

They walked along like this for more than ten minutes without anything happening.

But just when Lin Ge thought she would obediently go home, Anxi suddenly turned around and went straight to a flower market inside a walled area.

At this time of day, the flower market was deserted and devoid of any lights. Anxi walked along the dark, mottled concrete path inside the market, guided by the dim moonlight. Her route was straight and her destination clear, as if she were very familiar with the place.

After passing the flower shops near the entrance, the interior became increasingly secluded, even the moonlight was blocked by the large trees. But even so, Anxi didn't stop at all, humming something softly as she walked forward with a touch of elation.

After walking forty or fifty meters, even the sound of passing cars became faint. Insects chirped very little this time of year, making the silence here almost chilling. The surrounding plants and trees looked like menacing monsters, casting menacing shadows on the ground. A sudden gust of wind rustled the leaves, bringing another chill that made Lin Ge unconsciously tense up.

But Anxi seemed oblivious to all of this, showing no fear whatsoever.

"Hmm... listening to music with headphones on, I really can't feel this tranquil atmosphere. If the songs were a bit more lively, maybe it could make this place more interesting."

Lin Ge pursed his lips, dismissing the vague sense of unease in his heart.

Cats are afraid of the dark?! That's ridiculous!
Of course, Lin Ge knew that he wasn't afraid of the dark. It was just that this place, which seemed so secluded and unfamiliar during the day, felt even stranger at night. He felt better even in a park than in this kind of place, though he didn't know why.

Humans just love to think of strange and unusual things!

Lin Ge found a reason for himself, then stared speechlessly at the girl who seemed to be getting happier the closer she got to the dark and gloomy place.

"Even people with depression are no exception!"

Under Lingo's watchful gaze, Anxi finally arrived at her destination.

It was an abandoned flower and bird shop, or more accurately, an abandoned goldfish shop. The storefront, constructed of planks and asbestos tiles, was small and rudimentary, and due to its long period of abandonment, it was extensively damaged. Scattered on the ground were fragments of bricks and tiles, as well as weeds stubbornly sprouting from the cracks in the stones. Lin Ge didn't detect any unfamiliar scents here, but Anxi's fragrance was rather strong.

The shop door was locked with a rusty lock, but Anxi skillfully pushed open the only window in the shop and climbed over it without caring about getting dirty.

"How much does this girl like climbing over walls?"

Lin Ge muttered a speechless complaint and followed Anxi to the storefront. He didn't rush in, but instead peeked inside through a gap at the corner.

Anxi turned on her phone's flashlight, making the room fairly well-lit. Under Lin Ge's astonished gaze, the glass fish tank covered in moss and algae in the corner of the room stood out. A large group of small fish swam inside; the light and the ripples on the water made their silhouettes appear somewhat ethereal, yet exceptionally beautiful. Anxi slowly sprinkled fish food into the tank, attracting the fish to scramble to the surface for it. This scene brought a happy smile to Anxi's face as she patiently fed the fish, then squatted down and quietly watched them swim around, seemingly lost in their own world.

"It's so nice, I don't have to think about anything."

Anxi sighed, hugging her knees as she watched intently. She seemed to envy the carefree life of the little fish in the tank, and Lin Ge could clearly see her longing gaze through the crack.

"Are you out of your mind? How can you envy such silly fish! If no one feeds them and changes their water, they'll all die within a few days!"

Lin Ge pursed his lips, knowing that An Qian was definitely taking care of the fish in this tank. He wondered how this girl was going to change the water in this filthy tank, and even less how often she would feed the fish.

What Lin Ge found even more incomprehensible was why Anxi would keep the fish in such a remote place.

If you really like keeping fish, why not take them home and keep them?

Despite his thoughts, Lin Ge didn't disturb Anxi's actions. Then he saw Anxi sigh, stand up, pick up a plastic jug that held five liters of liquor, and climb out the window again.

Lin Ge ducked into the shadows and watched as Anxi filled a kettle with water from a tap in front of a flower shop not far away, then stumbled back the way she came.

She bent over and lowered the kettle through the window first, before Anxi herself climbed in.

She scooped some water out of the fish tank and poured in clean tap water. Then she took out a power bank from her back pocket, found a small aerator nearby, set it up in the fish tank, and watched it start bubbling.

"How can you guarantee the cleanliness inside if you don't empty the water completely? And is just adding oxygen for a short while enough? Young lady! You want to become a fish, but in reality, you can't even take care of these little fish!"

Lin Ge sighed inwardly. He could understand Anxi's thoughts, but he also knew that achieving freedom in reality was by no means easy. Even a fish needs a suitable environment and constant care, let alone a person? Whether Anxi didn't want to trouble her mother or had thoughts of escaping the world, she was oversimplifying things. If she was worried about a few fish dying while taking care of them, how could she possibly take care of herself?

I doubt that someone suffering from depression who is eager to escape their inner turmoil would think about all this.
If a person is truly lucid, then it's not depression.

Lin Ge just stared at Anxi quietly, unsure whether to pity her or feel sorry for her.

Suddenly, a fish was swept up by the tiny whirlpool created by the oxygenator, its small body tumbling several times in the water. It was originally a minor incident, but after being pushed out of the whirlpool, the fish was unable to regain control of its body and instead lay motionless with its tail drooping slightly.

Clearly, even a slight impact was enough to take the fish's life.

Watching this scene in silence, Anxi turned her head, picked up a small net from the ground, and scooped the dead fish out.

"This is the seventh article."

Anxi's words made Lin Ge turn to look at her in astonishment. Was this not the first time this guy had seen her longing to transform into a free fish die?

For someone with depression, this kind of thing would only make things worse, right?
Under Lin Ge's watchful gaze, Anxi remained quietly crouched in place, silently watching the remaining fish struggling to swim. Whether they were happy and free, even Lin Ge didn't know how to say at this moment; he felt that Anxi was just asking for trouble.

About ten minutes later, Ansie, whose legs had gone numb from squatting, patted her knees and stood up. She glanced back at the fish, picked up a plastic sheet from the side, covered the fish tank, and then climbed out the window to leave.

"..."

Lin Ge sensed that Anxi's mood had become somewhat bad, but looking back at the fish tank and the little fish that belonged only to Anxi, he didn't know how to comfort her in this situation.

The separation from the little doll, and then witnessing death again in my own little world—to be honest, it's not a pleasant experience.

After escaping the shack, Anxi left the secluded flower market and returned to the bright streetlights.

She kept walking with her head down, seemingly unable to find joy or a smile in the music playing in her headphones. When she reached a vending machine, she paused, stared inside, and even licked her lips. But ultimately, Anxi turned and walked away without a care in the world, choosing not to spend the money.

"Mom has already had a hard time, we can't add to her burden. And to convince Mom not to hurt Lele, we have to start saving money now."

Shaking her head, Anxi turned to leave.

'Clang!'

The crisp sound of a heavy object hitting metal made Anxi turn around alertly.

However, there was no one in sight, only the indicator light on the vending machine showing that the goods had been dispensed and the text displayed on the small LCD screen.

Looking closely, you can see a bottle of queer beverage tumbling in the curved compartment below the vending machine, as if inviting people to drink it quickly.

"what's the situation?"

Anxi clenched her fists and looked around, but saw no movement. There wasn't a soul in sight! From the moment she heard the noise to turning around, only a second had passed—not enough time for anyone to escape her sight!

So... what exactly is going on here?

Who bought this bottle of water?
Anxi blinked, her long eyelashes fluttering, but she still couldn't figure it out. Seeing the bottle of water made her even thirstier; but to be honest, no normal person would drink something that suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Is it for me?"

Anxi walked over and picked up the bottle of queer. She checked it and found the seal was intact, with no signs of needle punctures, and no liquid leaked out when she squeezed it. Combined with the vending machine's notification, it was clear this was a normal drink that had fallen from the machine.

So she twisted the cap open and took a small sip.

Yes, it's normal, it has a slightly familiar taste. My dad used to buy it for me when he was still alive.

"This girl is incredibly audacious!"

Hiding behind the vending machine, Lin Ge watched as Anxi gulped down the drink, feeling a mix of emotion and exasperation. Even though he'd secretly bought it for her, Anxi's immediate drinking of it seemed a bit too much…

Are you thick-skinned?

Or do they simply not care about those trivial issues?

Lin Ge couldn't explain it either.

This world is really strange! Just when Lin Jia and Luo Jue had recovered, another problematic person appeared before them. And these people were all getting older and older.

Feeling no longer thirsty, Anxi held the remaining half-bottle of water in her hand. She glanced up at the now-quiet vending machine, then turned and continued walking without a word.

Lin Ge also slipped out from behind the vending machine and followed Anxi along the cement embankment of the flower bed.

The person and the cat continued walking forward and soon arrived at the entrance of a residential area.

Lin Ge was somewhat familiar with this neighborhood because Wei Li and her grandmother had rented a place here after Wei Li received donations from the Zhanghe Police Station to alleviate their financial burden. Several months had passed; Wei Li's father should be discharged from the hospital by now, right? Although he didn't know the extent of her injuries, at least she was alive. Lin Ge decided to check on Wei Li's situation tomorrow or the day after, hoping to find some peace of mind regarding the outcome of his good deed.

Anxi drank the queer beverage the whole way, finally finishing it by the time she entered the residential area. Thinking about it, she didn't throw the bottle away; instead, she stuffed it into her back pocket, seemingly wanting to keep it.

Once inside, most of the residents were already asleep, and only a handful of windows were still lit.

In addition, because it was very late, the streetlights were all off. But with the help of those few lights, Anxi still found her way to her rented place, a rather old seven-story building deep in the community.

The door on the first floor was open, and the access control system on the iron gate was not powered on. Anxi ignored it and did not even close the door, but walked straight up the stairs.

Lin Ge quickly followed.

But just as they reached the second floor, Anxi suddenly turned around, startling Lin Ge so much that he quickly ducked down and hid on the stair ledge.

"..."

With a slight pursing of her lips, Anxi finally let down her guard and quickened her pace as she ran upstairs.

Lin Ge didn't speed up; instead, he listened carefully and slowly climbed up. When he reached the fourth floor, he heard Anxi's footsteps reaching the seventh floor, followed by the sound of her taking a key and opening a door.

Hearing the door slam shut, Lin Ge stopped in his tracks.

Alright! The target arrived home safely; there's no need to continue tailing him. Although the journey was a bit strange and neurotic, at least everything was safe and sound, so he can finally relax.

It's strange that Zhou Hui would let her child run around outside so late at night.
Could it be that Zhou Hui isn't home?

Going to work the night shift?
Did you go to a part-time job?

Lin Ge, recalling Zhou Hui's stubborn determination to pay off her debts, guessed that the woman was probably not home. Otherwise, given the concern she showed Anxi that morning, she would never have allowed her daughter to be running around outside so late at night.

"It's not easy for anyone! Zhou Hui has some minor health issues, but it's barely due to her family's circumstances. She has to work during the day and at night, so when does she get to sleep?"

With a sigh and a flick of his tail, Lingo decided to return.

When I got downstairs, I glanced at the windows on the seventh floor; the lights were already on.

Then, just as Lin Ge was about to leave, he suddenly saw that the curtains of a room on the seventh floor were pulled open a little, and a figure was moving around, seemingly peeking out.

"Ha! He's still wary, not to the point of being indifferent to everything."

Feeling that Anxi could still be saved, Lin Ge's mood improved slightly. He completely ignored Anxi's observation and walked straight into the darkness with his head held high.

He's a cat!
Even if you walk around swaggeringly, how could anyone see you in the dark? The night is the best camouflage, and it's also a cat's favorite stage!
With his tail wagging, Lin Ge walked towards the entrance of the residential area, stopping briefly at Wei Li's door.

Listening intently, one could vaguely hear what sounded like Wei Yixiao snoring. His snoring was truly outrageous, as loud as muffled thunder; one wondered if it would disturb Wei Li's rest and his schooling tomorrow.

However, judging from his snoring, he sounds quite energetic and has probably recovered quite well, which is good!
His mood improved, and coupled with the rare opportunity to be out and about in the middle of the night, Lin Ge felt incredibly energetic and his body was itching to get started. So he picked up his pace and began to run, sprinting at top speed without regard for his destination!

"Meow!"

A cat, appearing out of nowhere, spotted Lin Ge and joined him without hesitation, running after him.

Soon another cat appeared, followed by a family of three or four kittens. Although the little ones didn't know what was going on, they happily took off running, meowing as they ran.

Lin Ge slowed down slightly to prevent the little ones from getting lost. But soon more night owls appeared, gathering from all directions, excitedly joining this game without a fixed location.

They ran like that, with Lingo leading them on a parkour adventure for over half an hour, before finally arriving at the place where he bought drinks for Anxi and started to rest.

The cats lay sprawled out, each one panting with exhaustion.

(End of this chapter)