“Hoo~ Finally finished drawing!”
Looking at the adorable little catgirl on the screen, I stood up and let out a long sigh of relief.
I was just about to share it with Ling Xiaoxiao when I noticed that, at some point, she had already fallen asleep.
She was sprawled out on her back, pink-and-white rabbit ears gently quivering with each breath, while the thin blanket that had covered her was already kicked to the edge of the bed.
Just as I picked up the blanket, ready to cover her again, she suddenly smacked her lips and rolled over, her fluffy tail wrapping around my wrist and dragging it into her embrace.
Seriously, your sleeping posture is terrible. If I hadn’t noticed, you’d definitely catch a cold tonight!
The warm yellow light shone on her peaceful sleeping face. I gently withdrew my wrist from her hug and tucked the blanket in around her.
But then, thinking about the way she cheered me on before bed, my heart softened instantly, as if soaked in warm water. Well, having such a silly person by my side all the time isn’t so bad.
I shook my head helplessly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of my lips.
Just then, a gentle knock sounded from the hallway, followed by Yue Ran-jie’s cheerful voice, “Hehe, have the little ones gone to sleep?”
I hurried over to the door on tiptoe, carefully pulling it open a crack. “Yue Ran-jie? It’s so late…”
“Guessing you must be hungry after drawing for so long. I just cooked some porridge—it’s on the rack in the corridor.”
As she finished speaking, Yue Ran reached out and pointed to a spot not far behind her.
I followed her gesture and seemed to catch sight of a bowl steaming with heat.
Having just finished drawing, I really was hungry. Hugging the door frame, I nodded vigorously, my tail wagging behind me like a little motor. “Thank you, Yue Ran-jie!”
“Hurry out and eat. If it gets cold, it won’t taste good.”
“Okay!”
I quickly shut down the digital tablet and jogged out into the hallway. By now, Yue Ran was already sitting on the bench waiting for me.
Could it be that, just like last night, I’d be alone with Yue Ran again?
As I was thinking this, a lazy voice drifted over.
“Mmm, what a delicious smell… Is that century egg and lean pork congee?” At the end of the hallway came Shiyu’s languid voice. She wore a loose silk robe, long turquoise hair casually draped over her shoulders, her nose twitching as she walked toward us.
Noticing me and Yue Ran on the bench, she paused, as if sensing something. “Sorry for interrupting. I was just passing by…”
“Shiyu-jie, don’t go!” I quickly got up and grabbed her sleeve. “The porridge is still hot—why not have some with us?”
Yue Ran also smiled and patted the empty seat beside her. “That’s right. I made extra, so come and sit down.”
Shiyu hesitated for a moment but finally relented and sat at the other end of the bench. “Well, all right then.”
The porcelain spoon made a crisp sound as it touched the rim of the bowl. Yue Ran suddenly asked softly, “Gui Yun, are you getting used to work? How’s your boss treating you?”
My hand paused as I ladled the congee, my cat ears drooping unconsciously as I thought of everything that happened today at Ning Dongya’s company. “The boss… is a bit hard to handle.”
“Your boss is Ning Dongya?” Yue Ran’s voice turned a few degrees colder, her fingers tightening slightly on the spoon.
I nodded. Her brows furrowed instantly, her once gentle apricot eyes now clouded with a frosty chill.
“Just as I thought. If that person recommended you, it would turn out like this.” The corridor lights cast faint shadows on her face. Though she didn’t say more, the atmosphere around her clearly cooled.
“If she gives you too much trouble,” Yue Ran suddenly set down her bowl and looked at me seriously, “just quit and come work full-time at my shop. I’ll cover food and lodging—you’ll never be mistreated.”
Her warm palm gently covered the back of my hand, her fingertips carrying the familiar scent of caramel. My heart warmed, the tip of my tail lightly brushing her wrist. “Thank you, Yue Ran-jie… If I really can’t take it anymore, I’ll definitely quit.”
But I thought to myself, Yue Ran doesn’t know that what’s difficult for me isn’t the work itself—it’s Ning Dongya. For some reason, she keeps coming to find me.
Yue Ran’s words gave me a safety net, but more than that, I still prefer work related to drawing, because that’s what I truly enjoy.
If, one day in the future, I could really have my own studio like Ling Xiaoxiao said, that would be wonderful.
“Can I feed you the congee now? Just like… just like before.” The tail end of her voice trembled almost imperceptibly, so different from the black-belt fighter who could fold me in half in seconds.
I stared at her in surprise, the spoon clattering into the bowl with a clang.
Yue Ran’s head drooped instantly, her shoulders sagging. “So… still not okay?”
Her sudden request and the look of disappointment left me utterly stunned.
“The person Yue Ran has a crush on is actually that ‘Gui Yun’ who brought you here, you know.”
She shook her porridge bowl, amber eyes glinting mischievously in the light. “She told me before—she wants to get along with you because you remind her of that person, you even share the same name. Though she never had the courage to confess to that Gui Yun, she wants to get along with you. Simply put, you could say this is a case of ‘loving the house and its crow’?”
Love the house and its crow? Have I become my own substitute?!!!
My mind exploded with a buzz, my tail stiffening like a stick. After turning into a catgirl, besides the name, what else do I have in common with my old self?
“Hey, don’t say that!” Yue Ran glared at Shiyu, then hurried to explain to me, “I, uh…”
Seeing Yue Ran lost for words, I asked directly.
“Is what Shiyu-jie said true?”
When Yue Ran’s eyes darted away, I leaned in close, staring into her eyes so she couldn’t escape.
“Mm…”
Yue Ran hesitated, but finally nodded in resignation.
“Haha, well, it’s Shiyu’s fault for blurting it out.”
“I’m just helping out the manager~”
Seeing Yue Ran admit it, Shiyu stirred her congee with a smile on her face.
Yue Ran sighed, organized her thoughts, and then continued.
“Just like I told Gui Yun before, I’ve liked that person for a long time. Later, she got a girlfriend, and honestly, I was a bit sad.”
At this point, I began to understand why Yue Ran had frowned earlier when Ning Dongya was mentioned.
She continued.
“But that girlfriend is so outstanding, and I’m just a useless shopkeeper who bullied her for so long—there’s no way anything could ever happen, right?”
Hearing that, I once again had the urge to tell her that I was the Gui Yun she spoke of.
Especially seeing how troubled she looked, my heart ached faintly.
But, I still pushed that feeling down.
“All right, enough about that. So, little Gui Yun, can I feed you?”
“It’s not that you can’t…” I mumbled, burying my face in my arms, but my ears betrayed me by perking right up. “Just… just don’t burn me, meow.”
Yue Ran’s head shot up, apricot eyes immediately welling with tears. She carefully scooped up a spoonful of congee, blew on it gently, and brought it to my lips. “Ah—”
The warm congee slid down my throat, salty and delicious.
Well, even though I don’t dare to confess my identity, if this can ease this silly person’s worries a little, it’s not so bad.
Yue Ran’s movements were as gentle as if she were handling fragile porcelain. The porcelain spoon stirred quietly in the bowl, and with every spoonful she would blow three or four times over the steam, testing the heat with her fingertips before offering it to me.
“Ah—” Her voice was even softer than before, tinged with unconcealed joy. I took small bites, savoring the salty aroma of the century egg and the tender lean pork melting on my tongue, my cat ears trembling contentedly.
At some point, Shiyu had already finished her congee. She rested her chin on one hand, watching us, the tip of her ink-black tail tapping out a rhythm beneath the bench, a faint smile playing at her lips.
Well, even though I don’t dare to confess my identity, if this can ease this silly person’s worries a little, it’s not so bad.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.