By the time I finished half a bowl of porridge, my eyelids began to battle each other. The exhaustion from rushing my drafts during the day mixed with the warmth of the porridge, washing over me in a wave. Yue Ran seemed to notice. Just as she fed me the last spoonful, she reached out and rubbed my drooping cat ears. “Sleepy?”
I nodded, the tip of my tail listlessly brushing the back of her hand.
Shi Yu stood up and stretched. “It’s getting late, I’ll head back to my room first. Good night, you two.” As she reached the corner of the hallway, she turned and waved her fluffy tail at us.
Yue Ran cleared up the bowls and chopsticks, and walked with me to the dorm entrance.
Suddenly, she rose onto her tiptoes and brushed my forehead lightly, like a feather landing. I was stunned, and by the time I came to, she’d already run off with a red face, her words echoing down the corridor: “Good night, Gui Yun.”
When I got back to the dorm, Ling Xiaoxiao had once again kicked off her blanket.
I barely suppressed the urge to punch her, tucking her in before climbing into my own bed.
Moonlight filtered through the crack in the curtains, casting slender patches of light on the tatami. I yawned, burying my face into a pillow that still smelled of sunlight.
The next morning, I was woken by a flurry of urgent shaking. “Gui Yun, Gui Yun, get up, quick!” Ling Xiaoxiao’s fluffy tail brushed across my cheek, her pink-and-white rabbit ears quivering like two little leaves in the dawn light. “There are way too many customers at the shop today, we’re barely keeping up!”
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. The tip of my tail still clung stubbornly to the corner of my pillow.
Yue Ran’s voice, laced with laughter, drifted down the hallway. “Xiaoxiao, don’t fuss. Let Gui Yun sleep a little longer, she’s been working herself to exhaustion lately.”
Ling Xiaoxiao pouted and shouted toward the door, “Yue Ran-jie, you spoil her too much! We’re super busy today!”
But she obediently let go of my blanket, poking my drooping cat ears. “Alright, alright, seeing as you’ve changed so much lately, you’re allowed to sleep in today. But—” She suddenly leaned in, her pink-and-white tail curling around my wrist and giving it a shake. “If you don’t win a prize in next week’s contest, I’m drawing your embarrassing sleep-kicking pose as a sticker pack!”
Hearing her stomping footsteps recede, I buried my face back into the soft pillow. Sunlight wove warm patterns across the blanket. The savory aroma of last night’s century egg and lean pork congee still seemed to linger at the tip of my nose. As my consciousness blurred, my tail curled itself into a fluffy ball, and I let out a satisfied yawn before drifting back into a deep sleep.
I didn’t know how long I slept, but a rumbling belly finally dragged me out of my dreams. The tatami beside me was empty—Ling Xiaoxiao was long gone. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, the tip of my tail unconsciously swiping at my pillow. With a milk-soft yawn, I shuffled off to the sink. Only when cold water splashed my face did I fully wake—outside, the sunlight was blinding. The hallway was filled with the chatter and laughter of customers, and the clock on the wall pointed nearly to eleven.
I ran my hands through my messy hair as I made my way to the dining room. Rounding the hallway, I bumped right into a warm embrace.
“Awake?” Yue Ran’s voice carried a smile. She held a bowl of freshly washed strawberries, fingertips dotted with crystal-clear droplets. I nodded dumbly, my stomach grumbling again in protest.
She burst out laughing, then suddenly reached out and wiped the corner of my eye with her thumb. “Little lazy cat, you didn’t even clean your eyes before running out.”
The warmth of her touch made me shrink my neck. The tips of her fingers carried the faint scent of caramel, brushing my ruffled bangs and pressing down the rebellious tuft of hair. “Girls have to mind their image. Your hair looks like a bird’s nest.”
Instinctively, I reached up to touch my hair, ears burning at the tips.
Back when I was a guy—eye gunk? Please, forget three days—no, three days is too modest. Even a week without washing my hair was nothing…
Yue Ran looked at my wild hair and smiled helplessly. “This won’t do. Come to my room. I’ll give you a proper brushing.”
Embarrassed, I scratched my head. “No need to trouble yourself, Yue Ran-jie. There are so many customers…”
“It’s fine,” Yue Ran said, taking my hand, her fingers warm against my palm. “Xiaoxiao and the others are handling things. It won’t take long.”
“Oh, I see…”
Still feeling a bit awkward, my voice came out soft.
Wait, is this really Yue Ran? Especially just now, that smile while offering to brush my hair—no matter how I think about it, I can’t match her up with the black belt fighter I remember.
Could she be possessed by something?
I followed Yue Ran into her room and sat in front of the vanity.
She picked up a comb and gently ran it through my long hair. The comb glided over my scalp with a soothing sensation. I nervously clutched at the hem of my shirt, my tail swishing unconsciously behind me.
“By the way,” Yue Ran suddenly asked, “how’s that distant cousin of yours doing? Still working as an artist?”
My heart skipped a beat, ears perking up instantly. “Huh…?”
I paused, finally realizing Yue Ran was talking about me—or rather, about the me who hadn’t become a girl.
“He’s fine, still drawing.” I mumbled, avoiding Yue Ran’s gaze in the mirror.
“I see…” Her voice was gentle. “What’s he busy with these days?”
“Him? What else? Hiding at home and drawing, as usual.” I swallowed nervously, feeling my ears burn.
Yue Ran laughed softly, continuing to comb my hair. “That’s just like him. Such a blockhead.”
I nodded, though inwardly I didn’t agree at all.
Once she was finished, Yue Ran patted my shoulder lightly. “All done. Breakfast is outside, table four. I’m off to the kitchen.”
She picked up her apron and headed for the door. Halfway there, she turned and reminded me, “Eat while it’s hot, and mix the noodles before you eat. It tastes best that way.”
I nodded, running my fingers through my now-smooth hair as I headed to the dining room.
No sooner had I rounded the corner than Ling Xiaoxiao’s sharp voice rang out. “Gui Yun, you’re finally awake! A bunch of customers were just asking where you went!”
She stood behind the bar, hands on her hips, pink-and-white rabbit ears drooping in a huff.
I scratched my head, waving apologetically. “Sorry, sorry, I slept like a log last night…”
“Hmph~ I did all your work for you. You’d better buy me a cola later!”
“Alright, alright!”
I agreed with a smile. Even though she’s a bunny girl now, some things really never change.
Thinking of Yue Ran’s words, my gaze drifted over to the empty table four. A white porcelain plate cradled golden spaghetti, with a small bowl of tomato meat sauce on the side. Even the cheese powder was in a little paper packet, set aside. The noodles and sauce were separated—afraid the noodles would get soggy, huh?
That level of attention to detail… Is my former underworld nemesis really capable of this?
I poured the warm sauce over the slightly dry noodles and inhaled it all in one go—no hesitation!
Just as I finished eating and was about to get to work, the door swung open again. I glanced back—
Meow!! Ning Dongya!
My heart seized. I spun around, ready to bolt for the back, but before I could escape, a warm hand caught me and dragged me out.
“Running off?” Ning Dongya’s fingers were cool as she tipped my chin up, forcing me to meet her eyes. As she leaned in, the scent of her perfume mixed with mint wafted over me. “Little lazy cat, skipping your check-in at the company, huh? So this is where you’ve been hiding.”
“Meow!!”
A wave of embarrassment rushed straight to my head. My cat ears instantly flattened against my scalp, and even my tail wrapped tightly around her wrist in nervousness. Just as her thumb was about to graze my burning ear tip, a loud clang came from the kitchen—the sound of a ladle hitting the bar.
“President Ning,” Yue Ran’s voice was much deeper than usual. She stood at the kitchen door, holding a steaming soup pot, the apron strings hanging loose around her waist. “How about letting her go?”