The customers eagerly watched the little kitten drinking milk and the handsome men trading barbs. They only felt satisfied enough to save their videos after the two small dishes were licked completely clean. Even then, they were reluctant to disperse, holding up their phones to snap more pictures of both the people and the cat. A group of girls nudged each other back and forth before pushing one of them forward.
Blushing, the girl asked Pei Shiyi, "Are you the owner?"
Pei Shiyi, having just roasted Bo Jin with a remark, was in an excellent mood. Holding the little tortoiseshell cat, he looked up at her and replied, "I am. Is there something I can help you with?"
His features were exceptionally handsome, and whatever expression he made seemed vibrant and full of life. Just one smile from him seemed to sweep away all troubles.
The girl’s face grew even redder. "I… I want to…" She kept glancing back at her companions.
She really was just a young girl—her thoughts were all written plainly on her face. She was clearly thin-skinned, yet somehow quite bold.
Pei Shiyi was amused. He took the initiative to steer the conversation elsewhere. "Would you like to hold him?"
He raised the little Songgao in his arms.
Songgao proved to be quite professional. He immediately looked up at the girl and let out a soft meow. His yellow-green eyes gleamed like gemstones.
To an ordinary person, Songgao was just a British Shorthair Golden Shaded kitten. Being so young, he resembled a freshly baked little cake, completely free of any unpleasant smells. Not only that, when the girl held him, she felt as though she could faintly smell the sweet scent of milk.
Songgao was a little Bì’àn (Bì’àn (狴犴) is a mythical creature from Chinese folklore and is considered one of the nine sons of the dragon (龙生九子) in Chinese mythology.) who took everything very seriously. Emulating Yolk’s “hospitality” toward customers, he lowered his fluffy little face and pressed it against the crook of the girl’s arm, closing his eyes as he purred softly.
Feeling Songgao’s soft, plush paw pads kneading gently on her arm, the girl thought she might faint on the spot.
'Oh my god… Am I in heaven?'
Dizzy with delight, the girl held Songgao in a daze.
Her attention was completely captivated by the cat; she no longer cared about the handsome man at all.
Pei Shiyi smiled slightly, quietly stood up, and went to the bar to retrieve a complimentary dessert, which he placed in front of the girl. With impeccable politeness, he said, “Please enjoy. I won’t disturb you further.”
The girl nodded furiously.
Pei Shiyi smiled as he retreated quietly.
Meanwhile, Yolk resumed his duties as the shop manager, continuing his rounds in the store. If he spotted a table without a cat, he would trot over and squat there for a while, ensuring that every customer who came in to spend money had a chance to pet a cat.
Pei Shiyi didn’t stay idle either. Since the shop was short-staffed, he also helped deliver desserts to customers.
As for Bo Jin…
The esteemed Chief casually picked up the lifeless-looking Tongqian and held him in his arms, lazier than any cat.
Tongqian trembled as he reached out a paw toward Pei Shiyi: "Boss, save me..."
Seeing Bo Jin like this, Pei Shiyi got annoyed. He kicked the sofa and said, "Every day, all you do is lie on the couch. Yet you eat your three meals here without a care in the world. Can’t you do something useful for once? Go clear those plates."
Bo Jin: "..."
Something about that statement felt off, though he couldn’t quite figure out what.
Pei Shiyi walked a few steps, turned back, and saw that Bo Jin was still sitting there, lost in thought. "Do I need to 'invite' you, Master Bo?"
Bo Jin put Tongqian down. The leopard cat darted off like a streak of lightning, hiding behind the hem of a young girl’s skirt. Dusting off his sleeves, Bo Jin passed by Pei Shiyi and muttered under his breath, "I wouldn’t dare. A guardian must fulfill his responsibilities, after all."
Pei Shiyi, completely unruffled, replied, "Good guardian, after clearing the plates, please wipe the tables too."
Bo Jin: "..."
Pei Shiyi raised a brow at him: Isn’t this just a contest to see who’s more shameless?
Pei Shiyi emerged as the clear victor, his mood greatly improved. Even the chores he had to do next seemed much more pleasant.
_________________
Unknowingly, Mimi had stayed at the cat café until 6:30 PM, utterly engrossed in petting the cats for hours. She’d already gone to add more money so she could stay longer.
Ever since Manager Yolk had left her side, she couldn’t sit still. She wandered around, either taking pictures with her phone or exploring the café. She was very mindful of the cat café’s rules, though. Taking photos was fine, but she absolutely didn’t dare to use flash.
She didn’t even dare to circle around the cats for the perfect angle. These fluffy little spirits were just too wonderful; she didn’t want to cause them even the slightest discomfort.
The interior of the café was stunning! To Mimi, this cat café was like a treasure trove. On one shelf, you could find photo albums full of beautiful cat pictures basking in the sunlight. A vase you spotted by chance might have a cat teaser tucked inside. Even sitting on a random cushion could lead you to discover carved cat artwork or little informational plaques.
This place was clearly the owner’s treasure chest. Wherever you turned, you’d stumble upon delightful surprises.
Mimi explored the entire cat café, and when she finally found the large white cat she’d caught a glimpse of earlier upon entering, she could no longer move.
That snowy white fur was so stunning it could bring someone to tears. Those heterochromatic eyes—how could they be so beautiful? And that luxurious mane—so opulent, it was more elegant than the finest luxury goods. The noble, regal air of this cat perfectly embodied the phrase 'aloof and untouchable.'
A cat like this must be incredibly high-maintenance and aloof, right? But Mimi couldn’t resist wanting to get closer.
Carefully, she sat down in front of the large white cat. The cat merely glanced at her without walking away. Mimi felt a flicker of joy and cautiously reached out, lightly brushing her hand against the cat’s fur.
To her surprise, the white cat not only refrained from walking away but even lowered itself to the ground and lay down in front of her. Once reclining, its luxurious fur cascaded onto the carpet in layers.
'Mama! The fairy has blessed me!'
Yun Chao was never particularly resistant to kindhearted girls. She allowed Mimi to cautiously pet her a few times. In the cool air of the air conditioner, the girl’s soft, warm palms felt soothing. Yun Chao squinted her eyes, growing drowsy as the evening deepened.
Even when a small crowd formed around her, encircling Yun Chao in admiration, she showed no intention of leaving. To Yun Chao, being surrounded by fragrant, soft girls wasn’t exactly an unpleasant experience.
The girls started whispering softly:
"Do you know what the cat’s name is?"
"This isn’t a Ragdoll, right? Maybe a Persian?"
"Ugh—so annoying! The owner actually hid the cats’ info in different places. We have to go hunt for it!"
Just as their quiet grumbling trailed off, a soft chuckle came from behind them.
The girls turned around, startled, to see the "annoying" owner standing right behind them!
"Her name is Yun Chao, and she’s a girl," Pei Shiyi said, holding the little tortoiseshell kitten that had been circling around his feet. He smiled as he spoke.
The girl in the plaid skirt closest to him flushed bright red. Trying to divert her attention, she quickly asked, "What breed is she? Is she a Chinchilla?"
Pei Shiyi shook his head. "She’s a Lion Cat—a domestic breed. They originated in Linqing, though their precise lineage is unclear. They’ve been kept in China for hundreds of years. Our Miss Yun Chao is an elegant little fairy with a very classic charm."
The girl in the plaid skirt quickly searched for "Lion Cat" on her phone, exclaiming in surprise, "Oh my gosh, these cats used to be exclusive to royalty and nobles! No wonder she seems so regal! She’s absolutely gorgeous."
Just look at that long, silky mane—it screams luxury and sophistication beyond compare!
The girl in the floral dress suddenly chuckled, “You know, boss, your cats and your bestie are all ridiculously good-looking.”
My… what kind of ‘friend’?
Pei Shiyi, a relic who was a bit out of touch with modern slang, didn’t quite understand the term but could guess she was referring to Bo Jin.
Smiling politely, Pei Shiyi excused himself and immediately grabbed Bo Jin as he passed by.
Bo Jin: “?”
Pei Shiyi asked in a low voice, “What does ‘bestie’ (jīyǒu) mean?”
Bo Jin slowly replied, “…It means a mortal enemy.”
Pei Shiyi gave him a once-over, feeling like the term rather accurately described their relationship.
He hadn’t walked more than a couple of steps before a fluffy ball of fur streaked past with a whoosh. Moments later, it streaked back, this time holding a jingling toy in its mouth.
The girls sitting on the carpet let out soft exclamations:
“What was that just now? What kind of thing just zipped past? It was so fast!”
“It’s not a thing! That’s a Ragdoll cat. Her name is Fondant, and doesn’t that sound adorable?”
“Hahaha, the term ‘Ragdoll dog’ is so fitting. Did you see that little cutie chasing the ball just now? She even brought it back!”
“Little Ragdoll must be thinking, ‘Throw it again, throw it again!’ Hahaha.”
The sweet little Ragdoll happily dropped the ball back into the hands of the person who had thrown it, drawing a round of good-natured laughter.
The girls who had been gathered around Yun Chao were also smitten with the adorable Ragdoll. They eagerly pulled out toys tucked away in the corners, hoping to entice Fondant over.
Fondant held the ball in her mouth, looking left and right with a visibly conflicted expression, as though trying to decide who to play with.
Fondant held the ball in her mouth, glancing left and right, looking utterly torn.
At that moment, Yun Chao, who had been napping with her eyes closed, let out a soft call. Her voice was delicate and sweet, with a melodious lilt at the end. It was the first time the girls had heard Yun Chao’s voice, and they all turned to look at her.
Fondant immediately dropped the ball and ran straight toward Yun Chao without so much as a backward glance. By then, Yun Chao had already sat up, and she lowered her head to lick Fondant’s ears. Fondant, utterly content, flopped onto her back, exposing her belly to Yun Chao and meowing happily.
Once again, the customers were treated to more prime photo opportunities.
Mimi stayed at the cat café until closing time, leaving with her design book untouched but armed with hundreds of photos.
Li Duyu teased her, "I knew you wouldn’t have time for your design book."
Mimi’s face immediately turned red.
"But," she said, clenching her fists with determination, "now I feel like my head is full of inspiration. I’ll revise my design book as soon as I get back!"
---
By the time Pei Shiyi sent off the last employee, it was already 9 PM.
Even Tongqian, usually the most energetic of them all, was sprawled on his back. After all, besides Yolk, he’d been the most active runner in the café all day.
Tongqian reached out a paw to hook onto Pei Shiyi’s sleeve. "Boss…"
Pei Shiyi looked down. "Hm?"
Tongqian wagged his tail, rolling over to Pei Shiyi’s hand and purring ingratiatingly. "I want barbecue."
Having spent some time with this mysterious owner, Tongqian had gone from initial reluctance and nervousness to feeling completely content and at ease. He’d also realized that although his boss could go toe-to-toe (or needle-for-needle) in verbal sparring with the Non-Human Affairs Bureau Chief, he had an incredibly good temper and a playful side.
Despite being an immensely powerful being who had lived for who-knows-how-many years, the boss got along surprisingly well with their group of youngsters, even enthusiastically adapting to their style of interaction.
Pei Shiyi had a way of making cats feel utterly at ease.
He rested one hand on Tongqian’s belly, letting the cat hug his wrist snugly.
Tongqian nuzzled against Pei Shiyi’s palm and began listing off his cravings: “I want grilled yellow croaker, grilled chicken wings…”
He blinked and threw in a playful wink.
Pei Shiyi squinted slightly as he listened to the impromptu menu, then gave Tongqian’s head a good rub. “Alright. How about the rest of you?”
Yun Chao slapped a paw down on Fondant, who was trying to wiggle her way to Pei Shiyi. “Little ones shouldn’t snack too much—you’ll get chubby.” Her tail swished, neatly covering the curious Songgao.
Fondant had only wanted to join the fun, so when Yun Chao held her down, she simply flopped onto her back in front of her, resigned to lying there.
Yolk sucked in his belly and humbly requested two vegetable dishes.
Grabbing his keys, Pei Shiyi glanced at Bo Jin on his way out. Remembering the latter’s minimal contributions today, he graciously patted him on the shoulder. “Come on, I’ll treat you to a late-night snack. Consider it your overtime pay.”
Bo Jin wasn’t hungry, but he didn’t mind tagging along to grab some extra treats for the fluffy ones.
Shiliu Street had everything, and the nearest barbecue stall wasn’t far. It only took the two men a few minutes to reach it.
At this hour, the place was bustling, and the crowd was thickest around the barbecue stall. Most of the people were weary shoppers stopping for a bite.
Pei Shiyi hesitated as they approached, frowning slightly at the crowd. He paced along the outskirts of the throng a couple of times, wishing he could magically turn into a two-dimensional figure and slip through without so much as brushing anyone’s sleeve.
His fingers twitched, and his gaze briefly flickered to Bo Jin. Suppressing the urge to create some mischief, he resigned himself to waiting properly. Dutifully, he entered the crowd to place their order and then joined a group of people to wait.
Bo Jin, amused, took a moment to watch before sauntering over to stand beside him. Lowering his voice, he said, “So, the ‘guardian’ doesn’t cut in line?”
Pei Shiyi, equally quiet, replied, “Thank you, but I’m not that uncivilized. Don’t project your pettiness onto me.”
The two exchanged a glance, both rolling their eyes before turning away in mutual annoyance.
Bo Jin’s gaze landed on a nearby family of three. The child looked distraught, the father was glued to his phone, and the mother, frazzled from trying to soothe her child, finally snapped: “All you do is play on your phone all day! You’re perfectly happy letting me do all the work. Can’t you do something useful? Pick up the baby!”
Bo Jin’s expression froze as he slowly turned his head to look at Pei Shiyi, who was also glancing back at him.
Bo Jin: “Doesn’t that sound… oddly familiar to you?”
Pei Shiyi: “…”