Chapter 35: Cat moments!

Chapter 35: Cat moments!

Shen Yao jumped down from the tree, brushed off the leaves stuck to his clothes, and approached the group.

Song Ji Mo asked him, "Why did you climb so high?"

With his bright smile, Shen Yao responded, "To hang the wish plaque, of course."

Song Ji Mo: "Did it need to be that high?"

Shen Yao, full of energy, said, "The higher it hangs, the more effective it is. That's what they say back in my hometown."

"You didn't have to climb so high, it was dangerous." Ying Li was still shaken. Right below the pine tree was a cliff; a fall would have been disastrous.

Shen Yao rubbed his nose. He could sense Ying Li's concern for him. The smile on his lips deepened, his heart swelling with a unique, warm feeling.

"I hope my wish comes true soon."

Ying Li smiled too: "It surely will."

By the time they had visited all the attractions, it was nearly 2 PM. The production team had arranged lunch at a renowned local eatery at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain.

At this time, it was past the usual lunch hour, and there weren’t many customers in the restaurant. Li Changhong, with a grand wave of his hand, ordered several specialty dishes, making the proprietress laugh so hard she could hardly close her mouth.

"Is there anything else you'd like? Please don't be shy; it's on the director." Saying this, Li Changhong handed them the menu.

Shen Yao and his group added a few dishes symbolically. When the menu reached Ying Li, he asked the proprietress, "Ma'am, does your Kung Pao Chicken have peanuts in it?"

The proprietress, with a strong local accent, replied, "Of course, Kung Pao Chicken isn’t authentic without peanuts."

Shen Yao looked at him, "You don’t eat peanuts?"

Ying Li shook his head and glanced at Bian Qiao, who had been quiet: "Isn’t Bian Qiao allergic to peanuts?"

Bian Qiao lifted his gaze, his mind returning from its wandering, "I just won't eat it."

He hadn't really planned to eat anyway. There were many wildflowers and plants on the mountain. He had been wearing a mask while climbing, only daring to remove it at the peak. He was sweaty and disheveled, looking almost as unkempt as Xie Wen Shi. He put his mask back on during the descent and hadn't taken it off since.

Xie Wen Shi regretfully said, "That's a shame. I read on social media that this place's Kung Pao Chicken and Spicy Beef are delicious!"

"There’s also this," Ying Li pointed to a few other dishes, reminding, "You can't eat any of these either..."

A gentle curve appeared at the corner of Bian Qiao's mouth, hidden beneath his mask, "I know."

"You remember all that? That’s thoughtful of you," Song Ji Mo took a sip of water, lightly setting his teacup back on the table.

Ying Li found Song Ji Mo's comment a bit odd. As their caretaker, remembering everyone's preferences was part of his job. It wasn't something that should be considered burdensome.

With all of Bian Qiao's food allergies, there were few dishes he could eat. In the end, they ordered a separate pumpkin porridge for him.

As he handed the menu back to the proprietress, Ying Li suddenly stiffened, his fingertips whitening from the pressure on the menu.

Someone was rubbing against his trouser leg.

From his ankle to his knee, something was scratching him through the fabric, as if with claws. It was ticklish.

The hand Ying Li had resting on his knee trembled. He didn’t find this prank amusing.

Just as he was about to find an excuse to stand up, a tabby cat suddenly darted out from under the table.

The proprietress was taken aback: "Niu Niu, how did you get here? Out, out!" She quickly apologized to the group, "I’m so sorry, everyone. This is our cat. She’s very well-behaved and won't scratch."

The proprietress went to hurry the food preparation and in the process, shooed the cat out.

So it was a cat. Ying Li's rigid spine gradually relaxed. Yet before he could fully exhale, something rubbed against him again.

Unable to resist, he pulled back the tablecloth, only to meet a pair of golden vertical pupils. At his feet was a snow-white Ragdoll cat, tilting its head and staring at him with large, round eyes.

After he lifted the tablecloth, the Ragdoll cat jumped directly onto Ying Li.

"Holy cow!" Xie Wen Shi, seated next to Ying Li, was startled by the sudden leap of the fluffy white creature, nearly jumping out of his seat in shock.

Ying Li laughed and said, "It's a Ragdoll cat."

Xie Wen Shi hissed in surprise, "Why is there another cat here?"

The Ragdoll cat found a comfortable spot on Ying Li and nestled down, rolling on its back, rubbing itself against him. It seemed so content that its eyes squinted, and its fluffy tail wrapped around Ying Li's finger.

"Little Brother Li, this cat really likes you," Xie Wen Shi said with envy. He had tried to touch the cat earlier, but it hissed and bared its teeth at him.

[Oh my, such an adorable kitty! My heart's melting!]

[The cat is channeling my spirit!]

[I wish I could be that cat, snuggling with Nanny Brother.]

The sensation of the tail brushing against his hand was ticklish. Ying Li rubbed the cat's soft belly. The Ragdoll seemed even more enthusiastic, licking his fingers as if it was being rewarded.

It's said that animals are particularly drawn to gentle souls. Shen Yao rested his chin in his hand, gazing at Ying Li with an unexpected softness in his eyes.

The cat didn't get close to anyone else but Ying Li. Just as Ying Li was getting overwhelmed with the affection, a porcelain-white hand suddenly reached over and lifted the Ragdoll by the scruff of its neck.

Looking up in surprise, Ying Li saw Qi Xie with a stern expression, saying, "It's in heat."

The Ragdoll let out a yowl, and indeed, something seemed off about its behavior.

"In heat?" Ying Li paused, then took a closer look, realizing it was a male cat that hadn't been neutered.

Xie Wen Shi's eyes widened in shock, "So, the two cats were... down there..."

[Oh, little Xie knows what being in heat means, huh?]

[Hahaha, I've never seen a cat video in my life.]

[What's this about a cat video?]

[Ah, even kittens can have their naughty moments.]

Qi Xie glanced at the finger the cat had licked: "Go wash your hands."

That cat seemed to have taken a liking to him as if he was a mating partner. No wonder it was so affectionate. Yin Li's already pale face blushed further: "I'll go wash up then."

Holding the cat, Qi Xie stood up, noticing the cameraman following him: "Are you following me to the bathroom too?"

[Is the cameraman serious? Why are you following?]

[Haha, if the cameraman dares to film, do you dare to watch?]

[What's there to fear? Go ahead and film, I'll not only watch but I'll use a magnifying glass.]

[As soon as I entered the live broadcast room, I tripped over scattered underwear on the floor.]

The director chose a nice restaurant environment, a country-style farmhouse with a large yard behind. A waiter directed Yin Li to the restroom.

After using the soap, Yin Li was rubbing his hands when the restroom door was pushed open. Without guessing, he knew it was Qi Xie, as his scent was distinctively cold and domineering.

He kept his head down and didn't speak, but a glance caught sight of the numerous scabs on Qi Xie's hand, which looked as delicate as porcelain. Did he scratch himself? It must have hurt a lot.

Yin Li quickly finished washing his hands and, without drying them, turned to leave as if escaping.

But he didn't escape. Qi Xie caught him, his voice deep and clear: "Why don't you dry your hands?"

"I don't want to." Yin Li responded with his lips pursed, "I'll head back first."

"Dry them." Qi Xie's grip on his arm was firm, "Shall I dry them for you?"

Yin Li took a deep breath, resigning himself: "I'll do it myself."

The grip on his wrist remained firm. Qi Xie held it while delicately wiping Yin Li's fingers with a soft tissue. The touch was gentle and precise, but only Yin Li knew how harsh these hands were the night before.

Suppressing his discomfort, Yin Li heard Qi Xie suddenly ask him: "This morning, did you not want to be in the same group as me?"

Is it that obvious?

Moreover, to Yin Li's surprise, he detected a hint of grievance in Qi Xie's words. Pausing for a moment, he withdrew his hand and remarked, "Doesn't it matter who I team up with?"

Qi Xie gazed at him silently for a while, his cold fingers caressing the back of Yin Li's hand, their temperatures blending.

"Come to my room tonight."

Yin Li's breath hitched, his face paling as he responded, "I have to go to the hospital tonight. I've already informed Mr. Zhang..."

Today was the first day of Yin Tao's chemotherapy, and he had to be there.

Qi Xie studied the anxious look on Yin Li's face, pausing before saying, "Alright, but let's do a quick check first."

"Check what?" Fear and caution filled Yin Li's eyes.

"Open your mouth."

Yin Li: "What?"

Qi Xie observed his lips, "Didn't you burn them this morning?"

He had indeed scalded them with porridge in the morning. Had Qi Xie noticed?

"It wasn't a burn. I need to leave."

Yin Li hurriedly exited.

—

In the alley, a tall wisteria vine covered a trellis, its purple flower clusters hanging down like cascades, casting vast shadows. Separated by just a wall, Yin Li could even hear the voices of Shen Yao and others.

Yin Li leaned against the wall, with Qi Xie firmly gripping his chin. His cheeks puffed up, and he reluctantly opened his mouth, appearing vulnerable, like a fragile paper-folded flower.

The steely grip confined him. Yin Li struggled slightly, murmuring, "It really wasn't a burn. No need to check."

His words were muffled.

"I want to see," Qi Xie adjusted Yin Li's face to directly face him, "Stay still, or you might end up with a mark."

Yin Li was aware that his fair skin was prone to marking that would take a while to fade. He tried not to resist, his moist eyes anxiously meeting Qi Xie's, cautioning, "Someone might come by."

His intention was to deter Qi Xie, but Qi Xie just nodded in acknowledgment. Wasn't he afraid of being seen?

The significant height difference forced Yin Li to look up to see Qi Xie, whose icy eyes reflected Yin Li's image.

Qi Xie observed intently.

After a moment, Yin Li swallowed and asked, "Are you done checking?"

"Not yet."

Did it really take this long to check? His mouth felt sore, and even if there had been an injury, it no longer hurt.

Yin Li's compliant demeanor evoked a complex, hidden emotion in Qi Xie, his gaze on Yin Li's lips growing more fervent.

Recalling Yin Li's evasive, fearful look that morning, Qi Xie felt not discomfort, but an indescribable satisfaction. Yin Li's feelings toward him were unique, unlike those he had with anyone else.

Qi Xie had never been fond of anyone and didn't understand affection. But now, he yearned to possess Yin Li passionately, even if it meant resorting to dubious means. He thought this might be a form of fondness.

He wanted to see Yin Li smile and also to see him cry.

Yin Li was his; both joy and pain should come from him.

More than Qi Xie's usual indifferent demeanor, Yin Li feared his current possessive gaze. It reminded him of the previous night – restrained, yet with an overwhelming possessiveness, like blood-stained, bewitching, and utterly obsessive.

Qi Xie stared deeply into his eyes, his breath growing uneven, "I've washed my hands."

And so?

A chill ran down Yin Li's spine, his body tensing up like a startled feline, his thick lashes quivering, "Qi Xie, the director and the others are waiting for us in the private room..."

As Qi Xie's thumb brushed Yin Li's reddened lips, he murmured, "I know. I'll be quick."

Author's Note:

You're indeed twisted. I can see you're getting heated too. How about a calming cup of Ying Ci's chrysanthemum tea?