Photogapher He Tian, who's in a funk and looking for inspiration comes across Momo feeding a cat.
He Tian's bored. Bored and restless. His skin feels too tight, an itch crawling over his being he can't scratch because he has no idea what it is. All his recent photos look like crap to him. Jian Yi says they're all great, that he's just a goddamned perfectionist. Zhan Zheng Xi tells him he probably needs a break, nothing wrong with giving yourself a proper break, besides you can afford it.
He Tian listens. Somewhat. He can't really turn it off. His eyes are always looking for the perfect moment to capture. He's traveled a lot in the years. Maybe it's time to go home. So he does.
He doesn't tell his family he's back in the country. What's the point when he knows they monitor him? They'll know when his plane touches down.
He tries not to stay in his apartment for too long. There's nothing really in it. It's just a place to sleep in. Sometimes he doesn't even do that, waking up in someone else's bed more often than he would have liked.
He tries to do it this time. They haven't exactly helped him getting out of whatever the hell has him in this state.
One day, as he's walking around. His eye catches something. A curious little red head. He's hunched over himself, hands tucked protectively in his jacket. Like he's hiding something. He's being a bit suspicious and He Tian, piqued, decides to follow him.
He ends up witnessing something quite interesting. Litte Red who has such sharp eyes a single glance could practically kill, face seemingly etched into a permanent scowl, is crouched and feeding a little kitten and talking to it in such a sweet voice.
He Tian barely realizes he's lifted his camera and captures the moment. His shutter goes off and the guy notices him. He expected to be confronted. He's all fire and He Tian was ready to be consumed by it.
But the other man looks so shocked and books it out of there. He Tian's surprised by the response he wasn't even able to give chase.
He looks at the kitten and its big dark eyes blinking at him innocently. "I don't suppose you'll tell me where I can find him?"
It meows at him once and goes back to eating.
He Tian waits but Red doesn't come back.
That night he looks at photos he took just to pick out ones he wants printed or posted on his SNS account.
He feels his breath catch when he finds the one he took of little Red. He hadn't expected it to come out this good.
The lighting lends a surreal feeling to it. The smile on his lips is small but it softens his face. His eyes lit with fondness, and—dare He Tian say it—love. The kitten is looking at him, mouth open in a soundless meow. It makes it look like it's smiling back at the red-head.
There's a feeling rising in chest he can't quite name. His heart racing in a way he's never felt before. An inexplicable twinge he refuses to examine. A familiarity he's not ready to confront.
But He Tian is sure of one thing—he needs to see him again.
