The Scorching Summer and an Unexpected Helper

In a three-story villa far from the city center, a petite girl, whose back resembled a red furball, pushed open the door of her room. Clad in a thin dress, she emerged, fuming, her face etched with irritation and gloom.

“Dong Yi! Why isn’t the air conditioner in my room cooling?” she bellowed down from the skybridge corridor on the second floor.

“Didn’t I send you a message?” the housekeeper, who was preparing dinner downstairs, replied. “The repairman can’t come until tomorrow.”

“So I’m supposed to spend my Friday night in this — this *steaming* room?” As she spoke, she retrieved a lace shawl from a hanger beside her door, draped it over her shoulders, and descended the stairs. “The living room is much cooler.”

“Then you can sleep on the living room sofa tonight,” the housekeeper offered, placing the cooked dishes on the dining table. “Or you can sleep in my room, Miss Dorothy.”

Dorothy, the girl thus addressed, scratched at her disheveled auburn hair, making her way from the spiral staircase to the dining table. As she settled into a chair, her slippers slipped off, her feet unable to reach the floor. The cool air from the living room’s air conditioner lifted her spirits somewhat, yet her gaze remained sharp, her expression distinctly displeased.

“Is your hair tangled again?” the housekeeper inquired. “Didn’t you use the conditioner I gave you?”

“I *did* use it~” she drawled, drawing out the word. “But the moment I sweat, this hair just curls up again, utterly useless. And this wretched weather has me drenched in sweat.”

“Summer is always like this.”

“Which is precisely why I detest summer.”

Accustomed to her young mistress’s temperament, the housekeeper simply shook her head and served the pre-made mung bean soup. She then returned to her room, retrieved a soft, light quilt from a cabinet, and placed it on the sofa.

Dorothy ate her rice and sipped her soup, observing her housekeeper bustling about the vast villa, attending to myriad tasks. Dong Yi had been looking after her since Dorothy first arrived in China, providing a constant companionship, meticulous care, and a familial warmth her parents had never offered. Yet, the housekeeper was ultimately paid by her parents for her services. If Dorothy were to express her gratitude, in what form could it possibly be articulated?

“Where’s Milo, Dong Yi?” Dorothy suddenly asked during their meal. “I haven’t seen her since school let out.”

“Perhaps your room was too hot, and she went somewhere else to cool down,” the housekeeper suggested.

“Is that so?” Dorothy mused, setting down her chopsticks and leaping from her chair. “I’ll go find her.”

Seeing Dorothy suddenly dash off, the housekeeper merely shrugged, already well-accustomed to her young mistress’s sudden whims.

Dorothy was keenly aware of the immense size of the villa she inhabited. Though the main thoroughfares within were few, locating Milo throughout the entire expanse felt akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, she wasn’t entirely without clues. She knew Milo’s usual haunts: the laundry basket by the clothesline in the backyard, her room’s wardrobe, atop the warm computer host, or a small corner in the bathroom…

Yet, she found her nowhere.

“Where could she have gone?” Dorothy muttered, having scoured the house. The extensive search had left her scalp itching. “Milo, I’m going to wash my hair now. Come out quickly, and I’ll give you a bath too.”

No sooner had she spoken than she heard Milo’s distinct mewl emanating from the corridor. Dorothy followed the corridor to the backyard, calling out for Milo as she went. Soon after stepping outside, beads of sweat, large as beans, drenched her clothes. She panted heavily, fanning herself frantically with her hand clutching her collar, and let out a groan of distress.

Mercifully, she finally discovered Milo deep within the backyard. The pure black British Shorthair was curled up on a wooden plank, shaded by an eaves, adjacent to the backyard fountain. Facing Dong Yi’s room, a barely closed window allowed a stream of cool air from the air conditioner to drift out. It was a haven of coolness and comfort.

“So here you are, my little beauty,” Dorothy said, settling sideways on the plank. “Come on, let’s go get you a bath.”

Startled awake by her, Milo bolted from her sight in an instant, before Dorothy could even take another step closer. Her movements were both graceful and swift; Dorothy barely registered where she had fled.

“What on earth…?” Dorothy mumbled, utterly bewildered. “Is it because I’ve been scolding her lately…? Never mind…”

Too exhausted to move, she took off the fabric from her shoulders and sat down on the ground.

“This spot, incidentally, is wonderfully cool,” she remarked.

The gentle murmur of flowing water lulled her to sleep. Dorothy lay down, and as time flowed by like water, she drifted into slumber.

****

Waking up in the morning, I opened my ‘Steam’ client only to discover that Resident Evil 9 had been released. Just as I was wondering what to do with my weekend, I decisively clicked ‘purchase’ and proceeded to payment.

[Insufficient Balance]

I gasped, a cold breath catching in my throat. Upon reflection, it made perfect sense; the month was nearing its end, and my living expenses were undoubtedly depleted. My wallet simply couldn’t withstand a sudden four-hundred-yuan game purchase. No matter, I simply needed to ask my parents for my allowance a few days early. Without further delay, I messaged them, and their replies came swiftly.

And so.

“Son, your old man’s been to too many parties these past few days and hasn’t got much money left. I’ll give you your allowance a bit later next month. If you need money now, go ask your mom, alright?”

And then.

“Son, your mom finally saved up for months to buy those new Sony headphones. Do you know how much they cost your mom? They cost me (I really didn’t want to know) a fortune! Don’t you think that’s expensive? So, I don’t have much left this month either. I can only give you five hundred for now; make it work, alright?”

After listening to my parents’ voice messages, I gained a complete understanding of our family’s recent financial situation. To be honest, five hundred yuan was more than enough to last me a long time. I inherently lacked strong materialistic desires or a drive to spend. Whether I bought games later or not didn’t truly matter; I could simply spend the weekend watching movies.

No sooner had this thought formed than a message from the class’s welfare representative appeared in our group chat.

[The textbook fees for two semesters, combined with the previous school uniform and military training uniform costs, amount to 278.5 yuan per person.]

It seemed as though terrible things sometimes conspired, agreeing to appear all on the same day—to strike you down, to break you, to watch you crumble to the ground.

“Ha…” I exhaled slowly, taking a deep breath. “I suppose I’ll work this weekend.”

****

The scorching sun blazed overhead. Pedestrians on the streets scurried, fearful of even a single ray of sunlight. Today’s sun was exceptionally cruel; each touch felt like a searing pain, cutting to the bone, and the entire land it illuminated seemed to ignite with an inferno.

At one o’clock in the afternoon, this should have been the hour Dorothy was nestled in her quilt, luxuriating in a late sleep. Instead, she was forced to flee it; her beloved, soft quilt had transformed into an avenging demon from hell.

“It’s so hot! Why is it *so* hot?!” Dorothy wailed. “My air conditioner, where is my air conditioner?” She pushed open her room door, leaning her entire body over the skybridge railing. “Dong Yi! When is the AC repairman coming?!” she shouted.

“What did you say?” the voice from downstairs boomed back.

“THE! AIR! CON! DI! TIONER! REPAIRMAN!” she enunciated each word. “When is he coming?!”

“Soon!”

Dorothy was on the verge of collapse; her hair was even more disheveled than on previous mornings. After a night spent in the heat, she found her pajamas completely soaked through with sweat, leaving her feeling sticky all over. Most horrifyingly, even in the living room, sweat continued to stream down her body. She ought to have taken a cool shower and tended to her hair, but instead, she made a phone call.

–”Let’s just call it off for today,” Dorothy said, scratching her hair as she spoke on the phone. “My room’s air conditioner broke, and I didn’t get any sleep. I need to catch up on rest today, so let’s postpone it until tomorrow.”

–A complaining voice came from the other end of the line.

–”What am I supposed to do? It’s not like I broke the air conditioner,” she retorted, unable to suppress a yawn. “Besides, we can just discuss that during the club activity next Monday, can’t we? There’s no need to specially come to my house. Anyway, that’s how it is. I’m hanging up.”

After replacing the receiver on the landline, she slumped, dragging her feet towards the bathroom. She was now both sleepy and sweltering, the ceaseless flow of sweat leaving her utterly uncomfortable and sticky all over. Her naturally thick hair, like a sponge, had absorbed the moisture and become even heavier. For Dorothy, summer was a living hell.

“The bathwater is ready for you, Miss,” Dorothy heard, looking down from the skybridge corridor to see the housekeeper, already changed, standing by the front door. “I’m heading out to gather some things now. Please let the repairmen in when they arrive.”

Dorothy merely nodded, lacking the energy to voice a reply. She entered the bathroom and spent a full hour bathing, using various expensive shampoos and conditioners to cleanse her thick, long hair. Drying and styling it then took another fifteen minutes.

By the time she heard the sound of a vehicle pulling up outside, followed by the doorbell of her villa, her hair was still damp at the ends despite having been blown dry for ages. Moreover, having been preoccupied with her hair since leaving the bathroom, she was still only wrapped in a bath towel. Hurrying back to her room to change, eager not to keep them waiting and keen to have the air conditioner fixed, she quickly slipped into a tank top and a pair of house shorts before opening the door.

“Good afternoon, Miss, we’re here to fix the air conditioner.” The speaker was a middle-aged man, appearing seasoned and composed. Yet, his gaze was undeniably drawn to Dorothy’s delicate features and exposed skin; despite his best efforts to restrain himself, his eyes lingered on her.

“Ah, thank you for your trouble,” Dorothy replied, naturally noticing his gaze but not dwelling on it too much; she was well aware of her own feminine allure. What did pique her interest slightly was the young man trailing behind him. He seemed to be around her age, yet possessed an unsettling composure, his eyes fixed forward, seemingly taking nothing in.

“Well then, let’s take a look at the outdoor unit first,” the older man’s voice interjected, drawing Dorothy’s attention back.

“Ah, yes, this way please.”

Dorothy led them to the base of the outdoor air conditioner unit. The older man, while admiring the villa, simultaneously calculated the unit’s height.

“Hm, alright,” he murmured, tilting his head back to examine the outdoor unit. “Apprentice, go fetch the innermost ladder.”

The young worker simply acknowledged with a grunt and quickly jogged back to the vehicle to retrieve the necessary tools.

“Then I’ll leave it to you,” Dorothy said, already finding the outdoor heat unbearable after only a short while. Having done her part, she intended to swiftly retreat indoors.

On her way back, she heard Milo’s distinct mewl once more. Following the sound, she quickly located the black cat in the backyard. Her sleek, ink-black fur gleamed brightly under the sun; even the notch in her right ear couldn’t detract from her beauty. Dorothy, her owner, found herself captivated, and were it not for the oppressive weather, she would have lingered quietly to admire Milo’s inherent grace.

“Come on, Milo, it’s too hot outside. Let’s go back inside.”

Upon hearing her owner’s voice, the black cat displayed heightened vigilance, lowering her body and fixing her eyes intently on Dorothy.

“Alright, I shouldn’t have scolded you last time. Please don’t be angry, okay?”

Dorothy adopted her usual playful tone and smile, slowly approaching Milo. It had no effect. Milo swiftly retreated, disappearing into a darker corner, only her head visible, her amber eyes fixated on Dorothy. This left Dorothy utterly flustered; she was at a complete loss for what to do.

She fetched Milo’s favorite toys: a cat teaser, a yarn ball, a laser pointer, a fake mouse, and even her beloved dried fish snacks…

None of them worked.

“What on earth is wrong with you, Milo?” Dorothy lamented, a pang of unease striking her as she saw her usually affectionate pet act so distant. She also worried if Milo might be ill.

“May I try?”

A tall figure suddenly appeared behind Dorothy, startling her. She turned to confirm, finding it was the young repairman from earlier. Even so, she did not immediately accept his offer.

“What are you doing here?” Dorothy, already irritable from the heat and now alienated by her pet, was at the peak of her foul mood and could not be polite to the stranger before her. “Who allowed you to wander around my house? Is this how your company conducts business?”

“Your cat’s leg is injured,” the young worker said, ignoring her aggressive tone. He looked at the black cat cowering in the shadows. “I should be able to coax her out.”

Dorothy was momentarily speechless. Though she couldn’t verify the truth of his words, she was utterly helpless regarding Milo’s condition at that moment. This man before her caused her extreme displeasure, not only for abandoning his work to trespass into her backyard, but also for his initial aloof demeanor, which greatly irritated Dorothy.

“Fine, go ahead and try,” Dorothy said, her tone laced with sarcasm, suppressing her rising anger. “If you can’t manage it, I wouldn’t mind reporting your irresponsible behavior and unauthorized departure from your post to your company.”

“Of course,” the young man replied calmly. “I’m just a temporary worker anyway. If I get fired, I’ll simply find another job.”

His nonchalance and indifference made Dorothy feel humiliated. Her anger flared again, but just as she was about to speak, she watched him squat down and extend a hand toward Milo.

“Come here.” The young worker spoke only those two words.

How did the black cat react? Did she simply come when the man called? Yes, with just a single phrase, Milo, whom Dorothy had tried everything to coax, came to him.

The black cat limped towards the man, then allowed him to pick her up without resistance. Dorothy, witnessing this, was both surprised and perplexed. She couldn’t understand why Milo, who had ignored her completely, would obey this stranger. However, concern quickly overshadowed her doubts, for she had indeed seen Milo’s unsteady gait.

“Hey, apprentice,” Dorothy said, lowering her attitude but unsure how to address him, mimicking the older man’s term. “What’s wrong with Milo’s paw?”

The man held the black cat with one hand and lifted her hind paw with the other. With ease, he then extracted a sharp twig from her heel.

“There,” he said, handing the black cat back to her. “If there are any more issues, take her to a vet at the clinic.”

As soon as Dorothy took Milo, he turned and walked back towards the outdoor unit, saying nothing further, having no reason to linger. After all, by the time he had moved the ladder, the older man had already climbed up to diagnose the problem; this part of the job didn’t require him. He had simply come to check things out when he heard a commotion in the backyard. Now it was time to return to work.

“Um, wait a moment…” Dorothy called out, stopping him. The young man turned, his eyes questioning, but her expression was a mixture of emotions, making it unclear what she intended to say. He simply watched her struggle for a long moment until she finally spoke.

“Um… you…” Dorothy finally managed. “…Do you like cats?” Yet, that was all she could utter.

“No, I don’t particularly like anything,” the young man replied. “Nor do I dislike anything.” Having answered, he resumed walking away.

“Wait just a moment more!” Dorothy called out again, clutching Milo tighter in her arms. The fluffy cat and her own fluffy hair, combined with the summer heat, rapidly raised her body temperature, leaving her drenched in sweat and crimson-faced.

“Thank you.” With that, she turned and hurried back into the house with Milo.

The young man watched Dorothy scurry away until she disappeared from his sight before he turned back. Returning to the base of the outdoor unit, the older man was just climbing down the ladder. He looked at the young worker and asked, “Where did you run off to just now, apprentice?”

“Slacking off.”

“Slacking off on your first day? These young people nowadays, they have no work ethic at all. Even though I didn’t need your help just now, you still need to be present on site, understand? You have to show that attitude. Even though I’m not a supervisor, I’m teaching you, alright? In the future, when you enter society, you need to show that proactive attitude to your leaders. When I was your age…”