Chapter 394: If: Imuir Hears Bai Yu’s Thoughts 2

Chapter 394 What If: Imuir Hears Bai Yu's Inner Thoughts 2

Imuir burrowed under the blanket.

He sneakily stretched out a paw and clung to the doctor's arm, startled by the firm, bouncy muscle beneath his pads, then continued nuzzling forward nonchalantly, pressing his body against it.

The blanket was warm, but the doctor's arm was even warmer, like a heating pad. Imuir sighed contentedly, curling into a tiny feline burrito, and peeked his eyes out from under the blanket to observe the doctor's reaction.

The doctor didn’t react to his closeness at all!

Bai Yu seemed to be deep in sleep, lying peacefully with only the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed—totally mesmerizing... catnip for the eyes!

Imuir: Staring—

He massaged the arm with his paws, but his gaze remained fixed ahead, where the rhythmic rise and fall of that plump area looked like jiggly mochi—way too tempting, even more so than the arm.

But if he jumped onto the doctor's chest, he might wake him up.

No telling if the doctor was a grumpy riser.

Still settling in, Imuir still felt a bit hesitant, so he reluctantly ignored the alluring sight.

With great effort, he tore his gaze away and grumpily pawed at the arm again.

Ugh, this doctor! Why did he have to breathe like that in front of a cat?!

This was practically begging for a paw-stomp!

Unable to squeeze the dough-like chest, Imuir settled for pressing against the arm muscle. He turned in a circle, snuggling his cold-prone tummy against the doctor's arm and hugging it with all four stubby legs.

Then, eyeing the tantalizing "dough" right in front of him, he stealthily stretched out a paw and pressed his pad against it.

So soft! So soft!

Satisfied, the little "meow" drifted off to sleep.

So, the next morning, when Bai Yu woke up, he found a sprawled-out kitten.

Bai Yu rubbed his temples and lifted his arm, the kitten dangling like a fuzzy sock monkey stuck to him. The doctor had no choice but to set him down on the bed and peel his paws off.

The kitten lay on his back, out cold, dead to the world.

The doctor prepared his own breakfast, handled some of the original owner's affairs, treated visiting patients, went out to buy groceries, and then returned to the room with a fresh bowl of blended raw meat and a bowl of warm milk.

He grabbed Imuir by the scruff and lifted the groggy duke out of the blanket. The chill snapped Imuir awake, and he kicked up a fuss in displeasure.

Bai Yu: "Not eating the meat? Not drinking the milk?"

Imuir quieted down: "*Meow.*"

—Eat. Drink.

And so, day after day, the duke spent his week-long R&R in Bai Yu’s bed and before Bai Yu’s milk saucer.

Well-fed and well-rested, he slept in until late morning every day, had a personal space heater to hug at night, and scored nightly ab-viewing privileges before bed—life couldn’t be more indulgent. He got sleek as a show cat, even his platinum tail fluffier than before.

One day, Imuir admired himself in the mirror, repeatedly studying the reflection of the kitten and its fluffy tail, nodding in satisfaction.

—Hmm, dang, I’m one fine-looking kitty!

No wonder the doctor called him adorable!

Bai Yu watched the kitten circle around the mirror, arched a brow but stayed silent, only shaking his head before continuing his work.

Meanwhile, a mildly annoyed thought rang sharply in Imuir’s ears.

"What a silly cat. Quit strutting—you’re hiking it up so much it’s almost exposed."

Imuir: "!"

Still wearing the Elizabethan collar, which limited his vision, he quickly lowered his body and sauntered off casually.

As he passed the doctor, he even thwacked him with his fluffy tail in protest.

The doctor's amused inner voice rang out again: "So small, but so feisty."

Imuir decided to ignore him.

The kitten started a one-sided silent treatment, but it didn’t last more than a few hours. Once the doctor climbed into bed, Imuir snuggled up and burrowed into him, clinging to his arm again.

—Hmph, he’d gone most of the afternoon without cuddles. That was punishment enough! He could forgive him now! Yes, that’s how it should be!

So decreed the mighty feline.

Another week passed, and the wound had fully healed. Bai Yu prepared to remove the stitches.

He picked up the obedient, clingy, and well-behaved Imuir and placed him on the examination table on the first floor, scissors at the ready.

This was where Bai Yu treated his patients. A faint metallic tang hung in the air, the examination table was large and cold, and the scissors glinted sharply. Imuir flinched slightly, but soon, the doctor flipped him onto his back, exposing his soft belly.

The doctor examined him carefully, his inner voice echoing in Imuir's ears: "Healed well. The stitches can come out now."

The kitten tilted his head.

Oh, so it was just removing the stitches.

He flopped onto his back, limbs splayed.

The doctor finished quickly, his deft hands ensuring it was over before Imuir noticed.

Then, the doctor tossed the scissors and discarded the used sutures and removed the Elizabethan collar from the kitten.

Finally, Imuir could see the state of his wound.

Half-sitting on the examination table, he lifted one paw and peeked at his belly.

Hmm, the wound had almost healed. The new skin was a soft pink, with signs of scarring, but for healing this fast in mere days, it was far better than expected.

But as he kept looking, the kitten’s head tilted in confusion.

Where was the fur on his belly?

Bai Yu had shaved it all off, leaving a bald spot, ugly as patchy moss.

Watching the kitten’s reaction, Bai Yu pushed up his glasses and deadpanned, "So ugly."

Imuir: "!"

He dropped his leg, shot upright, bristling, his tiny legs braced stubbornly on the examination table, and let out an indignant yowl in Bai Yu’s direction.

—What! You said he was adorable! Where exactly is it ugly?! How can you call him ugly?!

The doctor must give an explanation, or this won’t just be a cold war until tonight! The Grand Duke will give him the cold shoulder until… until tomorrow morning!

But the next second, Bai Yu’s inner voice rang out again: "Angry? Fine, not ugly. You’re the cutest kitten I’ve ever seen."

"...?"

Imuir’s furious meowing trailed off mid-roar, replaced by confusion.

The… the cutest kitten?

W-well, okay then.

Since you put it that way, I… I forgive you.

Too late, he realized his loud tantrum wasn’t very dignified, he guiltily stopped, putting on airs as he licked his paw and hopped off the examination table with his stubby little legs.

The first floor smelled awful—Imuir didn’t like it. He was going to sleep on the doctor’s bed upstairs.

The clinic’s stairs were the most ordinary kind—just right for humans but terribly unfriendly for short-legged kittens. Imuir scrabbled with all four paws, barely managing to climb two steps.

The doctor glanced at him. "Short little legs, but you’re quick!"

Imuir: "!"

He dug his claws into the steps, furious again.

"Calm down, Imuir!" The noble Grand Duke of Illyria reminded himself. "Don’t you know what the doctor’s like? Sharp tongue, soft heart. If not for his inner voice, you’d still think he was a cat-torturing weirdo! Just wait, just wait—maybe his thoughts will apologize again, saying, ‘Actually, they’re not short at all, they’re beautiful long legs!’"

So he sat on the stairs, his pale blue eyes fixed on the doctor, waiting for his next words.

Bai Yu just shook his head and rustled his newspaper.

His inner voice said: "This makes you mad? But they *are* tiny legs. Suuuuper short. I’ve never seen a kitten with legs this stubby."

"!!!"

Imuir was livid.

He started yowling furiously at Bai Yu, barreled down the stairs in two leaps, and shot toward the doctor like a bullet—only to crash into his leg.

—It didn’t even faze the doctor, but left Imuir dazed, staggering back on his little legs.

Defeated in the first round, Imuir charged again, this time biting the doctor’s pant leg and dragging him toward the stairs.

—Human! How dare you mock *me*, the Grand Duke! Fine, this Grand Duke is gracious and won’t hold it against you! But you *are* carrying me upstairs and putting me on your bed!

Bai Yu raised a brow slightly. This Platinum Kitten was truly feisty and cuddly—and a total brat.

But that was fine. Kittens *get* to be spoiled.

So the doctor sighed softly, set down the newspaper, and knelt to meet Imuir’s gaze. Then he held out his hand. "Alright, come on up."

His inner voice added: "Alright, since you’re cute, sweet, and know how to work it, I’ll humor you."

Imuir: "!"

His angry "Meow!" choked off, morphing into a wary "Mew?"

D-doctor, why does the doctor always talk like this!

What’s with all this “pretty, cute, and knows how to be spoiled” nonsense, and “happy to help,” and—and even getting down on one knee!

…As if he were Imuir’s knight.

Imuir: “Mew…”

S-so annoying! If he wants to carry me, just do it! Why kneel and say such misleading things? Now he’s got me all flustered!

Bai Yu: “Why aren’t you moving? Don’t you want me to pick you up?”

Imuir then lifts his front paw daintily, stepping onto the doctor’s palm, acting as bashful as a noble lady hiding behind her fan at an Illyrian ball, before purring softly, “Mew…”

Bai Yu scoops him up and lifts him into his arms. The doctor is wearing a loose satin silk shirt, his waist cinched beautifully by a leather waist cincher. His posture is relaxed, but his hold on Imuir is steady. The Grand Duke secretly observes, thinking that even the meticulously trained valets and butlers in his mansion don't compare to Bai Yu.

Truly, just like a knight from an opera.

Under Imuir’s sneaky glances, Bai Yu pushes open the bedroom door and sets the kitten on the bed, completely unaware that the kitten’s eyes remain fixed on his waist until he leaves—making Imuir quickly lick the drool from the corner of his mouth.

Imuir likes it!

Imuir wants it!

The Grand Duke rubs his little paws together, plotting to himself: “Such a good doctor—can I just bring him back to the Grand Duke’s mansion?”

Make him a personal valet, then promote him to butler, and finally, naturally, grant him a noble title. Surely that’s better than being a doctor in this small clinic.

Thinking this, he calculates the time—it’s about time to return to the Grand Duke’s residence.

The only question is, will the doctor be sad when the Platinum Kitten disappears?

And so, that evening, Bai Yu gets to enjoy an unusually affectionate Platinum Kitten.

The kitten clings to his arm, eyes half-lidded, happily nuzzling against him, even climbing onto the doctor’s shoulder to press his furry face close and sneak a kiss on his cheek.

But before Bai Yu can react, the kitten struts away as if nothing happened.

Bai Yu can't help but chuckle.

He indulges the Platinum Kitten as it darts around him, even stretching out a paw to stealthily knead the “dough.”

Imuir: “!”

Just as comfortable as he imagined!

That night, it isn’t until very late that Imuir finally wears himself out and falls into a deep sleep.

The next morning, when Bai Yu wakes up, the kitten is already gone.

But on his desk, there now sits a deep red ruby—pure in color, dazzling in brilliance, refracting a crystal-clear glow under the sunlight.

Author’s Note:

Kitten pushes the gem forward: “D-dowry. For you.”

Biscuit closes his eyes in agony: “Sweetheart… that’s actually a bride price.”