Chapter 291 - I'll Tell You A Secret
FaMo: "..."
Zhen-Zhen: "..."
The two of them stayed rooted on their spot as they watched FaMo's substitute. They didn't know how they would react to this surprise. They were indeed surprised to see this cat.
Tristan, on the other hand, looked confusedly at Zhen-Zhen and FaMo who were frozen on their spots. He could see the stunned expression that was visible on their faces.
This was not the reaction he was expecting from them. He thought Zhen-Zhen would immediately run to FaMo's substitute and hug him. She would always do that when seeing FaMo.
'Eh, what's wrong with them? Why are they wearing the same surprised expression? Honestly... It feels so weird. Something is off but I don't know what it is. I wonder what they are thinking.' Tristan marveled at that thought.
'Wait… don't tell me... they can tell that this black cat is an impostor?' Tristan's eyes widened in that realization. He suddenly felt anxious. He was silently praying that this was not the case.
He was worried that Zhen-Zhen would discover his white lie. Tristan had to do this. He already tried his best but he couldn't find the favorite pet of his wife.
He didn't want her to be sad so he resorted to this. He just needed to buy more time to find the real FaMo. He couldn't bear to see Zhen-Zhen cry because FaMo went missing. The search for the real FaMo was still on-going.
Tristan cleared his throat to catch FaMo's and Zhen-Zhen's attention.
*Cough* *Cough*
"Wifey? Father-in-Law?"
Tristan's voice pulled them out of the daze. Zhen-Zhen and FaMo communicated through a mind link first before responding to Tristan.
Zhen-Zhen: 'FaMo, I didn't know where Tristan got this Black Cat, having a similar appearance as your cat form. But for now, let's play along with him. Okay?'
FaMo's face contorted as he darted his gaze back and forth between Tristan and his substitute cat. Despite his unhappiness, FaMo agreed with Zhen-Zhen's request.
FaMo: 'Okay, Zhen-Zhen. I understand.'
After hearing FaMo's response, Zhen-Zhen immediately walked over to scoop the black cat sitting on the couch.
"Oh, you're so cute. Hmm, you lose some weight, FaMo! Where have you been?" Zhen-Zhen said, petting 'FaMo' head.
The real FaMo couldn't hide his frustration when he saw Zhen-Zhen hugging his substitute. He was upset because another cat appeared and now Zhen-Zhen had to call that cat FaMo.
'That's my name!' FaMo complained inwardly. He felt like crying right now. When he glanced at Tristan, he gave him a sharp and deathly glare.
'This dumb fool! It's his fault. Why is it he had to bring this cat here? It's obvious that this cat is not me. I am cute and fluffy but this one… it's ugly and thinner than me!'
Tristan didn't notice the sharp look FaMo was giving him. His attention focused on his wife and FaMo's substitute.
He felt relieved that Zhen-Zhen didn't suspect anything. Tristan had no idea that Zhen-Zhen was aware that this cat was just an impostor.
He was glad to see Zhen-Zhen's smiling face after seeing FaMo's substitute. Though Zhen-Zhen was pretending, her smile was genuine. The black cat was so cute and she liked it.
As Tristan watched Zhen-Zhen, he decided to tell her some truth about this surprise.
"Wifey, the truth is FaMo went missing. It took me a few days to find him. I know that you would be sad if you learned that he had gone missing so I hid the truth from you. You missed him, right?"
Zhen-Zhen smiled at Tristan sheepishly before nodding her head. "Thanks, Hubby. I really appreciate it. I didn't know that you were looking for him for several days now."
"Yes, I did. I know how important FaMo is to you. I don't want you to feel sad without FaMo."
FaMo facepalmed upon hearing that. He could feel Tristan's sincerity and genuine concern for Zhen-Zhen's feelings. But he didn't know whether to feel grateful or mad.
He knew that Tristan had good intentions but he was upset because he was the real FaMo. Tristan unintentionally and unknowingly replaced his original spot as Zhen-Zhen's favorite fluffy black cat with a fake FaMo.
Zhen-Zhen, on the other hand, looked at Tristan helplessly. She somehow felt guilty. She couldn't blame Tristan. He did this because FaMo and Zhen-Zhen were keeping a secret from him. They didn't reveal the true identity of FaMo.
Zhen-Zhen started playing with FaMo's substitute. Surprisingly, FaMo's substitute was also fond of Zhen-Zhen.
The two of them got along very well right away. Maybe, it was already innate to Zhen-Zhen, attracting people, even animals because of her charm.
She became attentive to the new cat. This was the first time she had a real pet. She was extra caring to the new member of their family.
Because of that, there were two men sulking in the living room. Zhen-Zhen neglected them once again because she found a new playmate.
Tristan also noticed FaMo's grim expression while he was watching Zhen-Zhen and his substitute cat. Tristan had the urge to laugh. He was very familiar with that kind of look.
That look only meant jealousy. He could see that his so-called Father-in-law was also jealous of 'FaMo'. Tristan often felt that jealousy too whenever FaMo and Zhen-Zhen were together.
With a teasing smile on his face, Tristan approached FaMo who was sitting on the opposite side of the sofa. He moved closer to FaMo as he leaned in to whisper something.
"Father-in-Law, are you jealous of FaMo?" Tristan asked FaMo, his eyes sparkled with humor. He was clearly teasing FaMo right now.
FaMo closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down. If he won't do it then he might hit Tristan on the head. He was already in a bad mood. And Tristan was the main root for this.
'FaMo, control yourself!' he reminded himself.
"I'm not jealous!" FaMo said through his gritted teeth.
His response was opposite to his facial expression right now. Tristan could no longer hold his laughter. Then he patted FaMo's shoulder as if he was comforting him.
"Hahaha, Father-in-law, no need to deny it. It is all written over your face."
FaMo frowned, folding his arms over his chest. He had the urge to scold Tristan right now.
"Scram! I don't want you here. Move away. Don't touch me!" FaMo commanded Tristan with his stern cold voice.
But Tristan refused to listen.
"Father-in-law, I will tell you a secret," Tristan said.
FaMo just raised his eyebrow while eyeing Tristan suspiciously. FaMo had to admit that he was curious about that secret. So instead of sending Tristan away, he asked him about it.
"You are not alone. I am also jealous of FaMo. Super Jealous. I feel like I am a third wheel whenever Zhen-Zhen and FaMo are having quality time together. I felt like they had a secret bonding that I didn't know."
Tristan pouted as he recalled some past moments between FaMo and Zhen-Zhen. Tristan ended up telling FaMo about his frustration and unhappiness whenever he would feel out of place because of Zhen-Zhen's and FaMo's strong bond.
"I feel like FaMo is my greatest competitor when it comes to Zhen-Zhen's attention," Tristan put on a pitiful face, hoping to get sympathy from his so-called Father-in-law.
Tristan was clueless that the cat he was jealous of was the same person with whom he was sharing his frustration right now.
"Sometimes, I couldn't help but wonder if Zhen-Zhen loves FaMo more than me. And most of the time, I could feel that FaMo didn't like me. He was always hindering me from acting intimate with my wife."
"He bit me and scratched my hand several times." Tristan raised his hand, showing FaMo some scratch marks he received from him.
FaMo's expression darkened after hearing all his complaints against him.
The frown on FaMo's forehead deepened. "Are you complaining to me? If that is the case then why did you find FaMo? You should be happy that he went missing. You shouldn't have brought him back here"
Tristan smiled faintly when he heard that. Then he shook his head. "I can't do that. Though FaMo is always hurting me, he is very important to Zhen-Zhen. Those important to my wife are also important to me."
"Besides, I also missed FaMo. I really wanted to see him back to us."
Tristan lowered his gaze. There was a hint of sadness in his voice. He was thinking that FaMo was still missing and he had to find him no matter what. He couldn't lie to Zhen-Zhen forever.
FaMo: "..."
FaMo was rendered speechless. He didn't expect Tristan to say that. He could hear the sincerity in his voice.
'Is Tristan worried about me? I don't think he's faking it. He looks sad.' FaMo thought to himself, still assessing Tristan's expression.
"Don't worry. Even if FaMo went missing, he will always find his way back to Zhen-Zhen," FaMo said to Tristan meaningfully. He was also consoling Tristan by saying that.
Tristan heaved a deep sigh before nodding his head. "Yes, father. I hope so. I don't want to see my wife cry again. I promise that I will always make her happy. You and Zhen-Zhen gave me second chance. I will not waste it, father."
After hearing this from Tristan, FaMo realized that he became harsh and hard on him. He didn't give him chance before. He hated him and judged him right away.
'Zhen-Zhen was right. I failed to see the goodness in Tristan's heart. I judged him right away because of my over-protectiveness.'