Chapter 6: Bathing the Children

After spending fifteen minutes practicing his boxing routine twice, Li Shenxing adjusted his breathing and then went out to run along the roadside. He started with a slow jog for 10 minutes, then sped up for 5 minutes, slowed down again for 10 minutes, and then sped up for another 5 minutes, repeating this cycle until he felt tired, and then slowly ran back home.

Upon returning home, he went to the gym as usual for a half-hour workout, then fed the children.

Since Xiaoli had no plans this morning and was sleeping in, Li Shenxing was not in a hurry to make breakfast.

Although Li Shenxing exercises every day, he has never been particular about his diet. He enjoys fried foods, grilled meat, sweets, and sticky rice cakes, among other things. Apart from not liking drinks, his diet is much like that of an average person.

After slowly finishing a glass of water, Li Shenxing went upstairs to take a shower.

The morning was chilly, so Li Shenxing made a hot noodle soup for breakfast.

He started by putting the hand-rolled noodles in water to cook, then took a large bowl of preserved food from the refrigerator.

When he opened it, wow! It was spicy beef that had been braised.

Li Shenxing scooped a large spoonful of beef and its broth into a small pot to heat up.

When the noodles were almost cooked, he added some green vegetables to blanch them, then drained the water and transferred the noodles to a bowl. Finally, he poured the heated beef over the noodles, and a bowl of spicy beef noodle soup was ready.

Taking a sip while it was hot, the rich aroma of the beef broth spread in his mouth, warming his entire body. The beef was tender and flavorful, and the noodles were chewy, making Li Shenxing enjoy his meal thoroughly.

"Ah!!" He burped, put down the empty bowl, and said, "It's more comfortable to eat hot food on a cold day." He then got up to wash the pots and bowls.

After breakfast, there wasn't much to do, so during the time it took to digest, Li Shenxing helped the children brush their fur.

Regularly brushing the fur of cats not only reduces the shedding that can bother owners but also benefits the cats themselves in several ways:

1. **Promotes Circulation:** During the brushing process, the comb repeatedly massages the skin, promoting circulation and increasing skin resistance, which helps to alleviate the cats' fatigue.

2. **Reduces Shedding:** Regular brushing helps to remove loose fur, preventing it from spreading throughout the house. Anyone who has owned a cat knows how fur can end up everywhere, making it difficult to sit on the sofa without getting covered in fur.

3. **Prevents Hairballs:** Cats often ingest loose fur while grooming themselves, which can form hairballs in their stomachs, leading to digestive issues such as vomiting and constipation. Regular brushing can reduce the occurrence of these problems.

4. **Improves Coat Quality:** Regular brushing stimulates the hair follicles, ensuring that the cats have a better coat quality and a shiny, smooth appearance. Therefore, making it a daily habit to brush your cat not only reduces the annoyance of shedding but also promotes healthy skin and fur, achieving multiple benefits.

After brushing, Li Shenxing cleaned the fur from the comb and threw it in the trash, then took out a cat-specific nail clipper to trim the children's nails.

Cats need their nails trimmed regularly; otherwise, they can damage furniture when they sharpen their claws. To expose the nails, you can press the front of the paw pad with your thumb while tilting the paw downward.

When trimming a cat's nails, be careful not to cut too much. You will notice a red line in the middle of the cat's nail, which is the blood vessel. Cutting it will cause bleeding and pain for the cat. Only cut the white tip of the nail before the red line.

If the cat is not used to having its nails trimmed, you can give it a reward after trimming one paw, such as praise, affection, or a hug. After trimming all the nails, praise the cat for having beautiful nails and give it more attention and petting, or feed it some treats it usually enjoys, to establish a positive conditioned response.

Now, Xiaopang and Wangzi are used to having their nails trimmed and do not fear it. They obediently let Li Shenxing handle them. However, when they were first brought home, they strongly resisted, and Li Shenxing had to wrap them in a towel to expose their paws and trim their nails. He also had to give them treats afterward to soothe them, and over time, they became more cooperative.

Around 9:30, Xiaoli, who had been sleeping in, finally woke up.

Xiaoli usually follows three steps when getting up: first, she stretches, then rolls around in bed, and finally, gets up, puts on her loungewear, and goes to the bathroom to freshen up.

After about ten minutes, Xiaoli, looking refreshed, walked out of the bathroom and headed out.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she saw Li Shenxing sitting on the living room floor, playing with the children, his back to the stairs.

The patience and gentleness Li Shenxing displayed directly touched the soft spot in Xiaoli's heart, making her feel that he would be a good father in the future.

She tiptoed down the stairs and, when she reached Li Shenxing's back, pounced on him.

A pair of strong hands promptly caught her, preventing her from falling to the floor.

"Ah~" Seeing that he wasn't surprised, Xiaoli called out disappointedly, "No fun~!"

"Little silly~!" Li Shenxing patted her bottom affectionately, "I saw you, how could I be surprised!"

Xiaoli looked up and saw their reflections on the floor.

"Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"

"Whatever Oppa had for breakfast is fine~!"

"Then move, how can I get up?"

"No, Oppa, just carry me!"

"Alright, alright, you little troublemaker, hold on tight and don't fall."

Li Shenxing lifted Xiaoli's legs around his waist, then knelt down and slowly stood up, supporting himself with his hands on the floor.

"Phew~! Cats need to exercise," Li Shenxing teased.

What Li Shenxing did looked simple, but if not done carefully, it could easily strain his back.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" Li Shenxing suddenly cried out, tilting his head.

"Bad Oppa, you dared to complain about me, didn't you?" Xiaoli bit his ear, saying fiercely.

Actually, Xiaoli didn't bite very hard, and Li Shenxing didn't feel any pain. This was just a playful game between the two of them.

After a bit of playful banter, Li Shenxing carried Xiaoli to the kitchen, sat her down on a chair, and started making breakfast for her—spicy beef noodles.

The noodles were quickly ready, and Li Shenxing sat down beside her.

"By the way, let's bathe the children together later."

"Sure!" Xiaoli agreed happily.

After Xiaoli finished her breakfast and rested for a while, she and Li Shenxing each carried two cats to the first-floor bathroom.

They laid a rubber mat or towel in the bathtub and filled it with warm water, about 38-40 degrees Celsius. Some cats prefer to be placed in the tub first before the water is added. They prepared cat shampoo and two towels, using cat-specific shampoo or Johnson's baby tear-free shampoo.

After adjusting the water temperature, they used a fish basin or similar container to fill it halfway with water and slowly placed the cats in it.

"Meow~ Meow~ Meow~..."

"Look how comfortable you are, you really know how to enjoy yourselves."

Bathing cats is not a simple task. If your cat doesn't like baths, it's best to have someone familiar with the cat help you, and avoid bathing the cat alone. They can hold the cat's legs or jaw to prevent it from biting you. Wear a long-sleeved shirt to protect your arms from scratches. Before bathing, it's best to trim the cat's long, sharp nails.