Chapter 104: More Wronged Than Dou E

Chapter 104: A Terrible Injustice

The tail swayed and coiled around Meng Shu's wrist.

Meng Shu ignored him, dead tired, letting him rub against him however he pleased.

He still had to go to the Knights' Order tomorrow to learn new skills. After being tormented for so long, he was afraid he'd have no energy left.

Meng Shu could sleep anywhere; he wasn't picky about beds.

Ling Qingjue's bed was exceptionally soft, carrying a fresh scent of soap. He felt the other guy slowly snuggle up behind him, not overly bold, just resting his forehead against his back.

At least he was behaving.

If he kept messing around, Meng Shu would lose his cool.

In beast form, Ling Qingjue's hearing sharpened significantly. Based on Meng Shu's heartbeat, he could tell the other man had truly fallen asleep. Carefully, he placed his arm over Meng Shu's waist and gently pulled him into an embrace.

How annoying—he only hugged the tail, not him.

He always felt Meng Shu was a bit thin, his waist so slender he didn't dare squeeze.

He'd fatten him up slowly in the future. Ling Qingjue thought this, his restless heart gradually calming. He closed his eyes and fell asleep leaning against Meng Shu's back.

...

In his dream, Meng Shu dreamed he was being chased by a sea monster—a gigantic octopus whose tentacles coiled around his body, tightening little by little, nearly strangling him.

He struggled for a long time, but no matter how he attacked, the tentacles were like steel walls, clinging to him stubbornly.

He was going to be strangled.

Meng Shu's eyes snapped open; he really couldn't breathe.

By the moonlight, he saw Ling Qingjue's arm lying across his waist, and his tail wrapped around his neck, leaving him no chance to catch his breath.

This cat can't even stay still while sleeping!

Meng Shu struggled to pull the tail away, muttering to himself. Is Ling Qingjue always this clingy? He looked like such an aloof cat, yet he held people so tightly in his sleep!

He barely got the tail off, but as soon as he let go, it wound around him again.

Meng Shu gave up.

He resigned himself and lay there until dawn, but he slept uneasily, plagued by nightmares. He got up early, planning to go downstairs and make breakfast.

A cat in heat has to watch what he eats too...

Should he give him extra nutrients or keep it bland?

Meng Shu had never taken care of a cat in heat before, and he was at a loss. He crept to the edge of the bed, but before his feet touched the floor, his ankle was wrapped again.

He rolled his eyes, but when he turned back, he was smiling. "You awake?"

Ling Qingjue propped his head on one hand, his tail winding around Meng Shu's ankle. Half-asleep, his voice was lazy. "Don't leave."

Meng Shu said, "I'm making breakfast."

"Don't go." Ling Qingjue shot it down without thinking. "Sleep."

"I have to go to the Knights' Order later; there's a class today." Meng Shu sighed and reached out to ruffle his hair. "And didn't you promise you'd put your tail away?"

Ling Qingjue racked his brain. He seemed to have promised that, but that didn't stop him from breaking his promise. Totally shameless, he said, "I don't remember. Did that happen?"

Meng Shu, thinking he really forgot, said a little whiningly, "You promised me last night—only let it out for a while... Your tail is too clingy; it keeps winding around me like this."

He pointed at the furry tail, which was already sneaking into his clothes, unable to stay still for a moment.

Ling Qingjue cleared his throat and harshly yanked the tail back.

Meng Shu felt bad seeing him be so rough. "Be careful!"

"You hate it anyway; it bothers you just to look at it." Ling Qingjue's voice was a bit muffled. "Why bother caring if it hurts?"

Meng Shu was amused and exasperated. "I never said I don't like it. It's really pretty, but I've got stuff to do today and can't hang out with it long."

He made a point to treat the tail and Ling Qingjue as two separate things; otherwise, Ling Qingjue would have had an instant breakdown.

Ling Qingjue perked up, his ears turning red. Reluctantly, he retracted his cat form and returned to his usual cool, detached look.

"You feeling better today?" Meng Shu touched his forehead; it was still a bit warm.

Ling Qingjue paused. Last night's fun had eased some of his symptoms, but as long as he didn't admit it, he had an excuse to keep tricking Meng Shu to stay with him.

So he shook his head. "Still terrible."

Meng Shu was even more torn. After thinking for a bit, he said, "Then I'll skip the Knights' Order today and stay home with you."

The cat was thrilled inside, but the cat kept quiet.

He pretended to be aloof, chin up. "I don't need you staying."

"If you don't need me, I'm off to the Knights' Order."

"..."

Ling Qingjue fell silent again.

Meng Shu touched his neck; the bite marks were still there. He leaned in front of Ling Qingjue and lowered his head. "Cat, use a healing spell and get rid of these marks for me."

Those suggestive marks hadn't faded after a whole night. Ling Qingjue was also surprised—normally, a Level 10 adventurer's healing would have erased these by now.

Why was Meng Shu so slow to heal?

Despite his surprise, seeing how badly he'd bitten Meng Shu's neck made him feel awkward. "...Yesterday, the heat period... I didn't mean..."

"I know. You definitely didn't do it on purpose." Meng Shu was pretty understanding and said softly. "First, help me treat it?"

Ling Qingjue used a basic healing spell, and the red marks vanished cleanly in an instant.

He looked regretfully at Meng Shu's restored neck—clean and white—but all the marks he had left were gone.

Meng Shu stretched. "I'll make breakfast. You get some more sleep. Don't mess around during your heat."

Ling Qingjue got up as well. He didn't want to be too far from Meng Shu.

The heat made him very clingy; his instinct was to stay in the same space as his partner.

Yesterday he could hold out, but Meng Shu brought it on himself by offering up.

I can't take it anymore.

Ling Qingjue thought, Meng Shu brought this on himself; Ling was just following his instincts.

He followed Meng Shu with a clear conscience.

No matter what Meng Shu did, Ling Qingjue would stand behind Meng Shu, hovering around, not saying a word, just staring at him.

Being stared at so intently, Meng Shu coughed awkwardly, too embarrassed to meet his eyes. "Kitty, if you have nothing to do, why don't you go water your plants?"

"They won't die." Ling Qingjue's tone was cold, revealing no emotion.

As he washed the vegetables, Meng Shu sighed, "If you keep staring at me like this, I'll feel very embarrassed."

And Ling Qingjue had let his tail out again!

The tail occasionally brushed against his cheek, bringing a soft, fluffy tickle, tingling and prickling, making his heart feel restless and itchy.

Ling Qingjue remembered his cat persona at this moment. The tail paused briefly, then continued swaying gently. "I wasn't looking at you; it's just that the tail wanted to be with you. I couldn't resist it."

Blame it all on the tail!

Your tail is, without a doubt, the greatest scapegoat of all time!

Even Dou'e wasn't as wronged as that tail!