“Xu Shu, Shen Huaixiu, what are you two whispering about? If you don’t want to focus on the exam, then get out and stand in the hallway. Don’t disturb the other students here!” Zhao Yan slammed his hand on the podium with a bang, his voice carrying a hint of hysteria.
Rong Shu sighed lightly and got up to leave, with Shen Huaixiu following silently behind him. Neither of them wasted any words with Zhao Yan. They left the classroom without further discussion.
It wasn’t the first time they had been sent out. This time, Rong Shu stood next to Shen Huaixiu in the dimly lit corridor, which felt gloomy and oppressive due to the overcast weather.
Rong Shu glanced at Shen Huaixiu and said, “I guess I’ve dragged you into this mess.”
Shen Huaixiu looked up and met his eyes. “You could have pretended not to see.”
Rong Shu smiled and turned to look out the window. “But someone was standing behind me. I really felt the pressure.”
Noting the sly look on his face, Shen Huaixiu said nothing more. This wasn’t the first time Rong Shu had defended him; in fact, since they first met, Rong Shu had always made an effort to support him. “Do you want to head back to the dorm?”
He evidently remembered the last rainy day when Rong Shu had tricked him into going back to the dorm.
Rong Shu took out a pair of earphones from his pocket and handed one to Shen Huaixiu. “Not going back. I’ll take you somewhere after school ends.”
“Where to?” Shen Huaixiu took the earphone and put it in his ear.
Rong Shu grinned and opened his music app on his phone. “Don’t worry, it’s definitely a good place.”
Hearing “good place”, Shen Huaixiu’s eyes showed a hint of amusement. Last time, Rong Shu’s idea of a good place was the dormitory. What could it be this time?
Soft, soothing music played through the earphones, mixing with the gentle sound of the rain outside, creating an unexpectedly pleasant atmosphere.
In the dim corridor, the two boys stood close together, sharing the view outside the window. With a single pair of earphones, they listened to the same calming music, enjoying the intimacy of this moment alone together.
As the end of class approached, Rong Shu tugged on Shen Huaixiu’s sleeve. “Class is almost over. Let’s go. If we leave now, we’ll get to the gate just in time for the bell, and we won’t need to climb the wall.”
He spoke so naturally as if this wasn’t the first time he had done something like this.
Shen Huaixiu took off the earphones and handed them back to him. “Do you come here often?”
Rong Shu casually stuffed the earphones into his pocket and turned to look at him. “This is the first time I’m bringing someone.”
Shen Huaixiu’s lips curved into a faint smile, clearly pleased by the comment.
The two of them left the classroom building. The rain outside wasn’t heavy, but it kept falling steadily. The damp air made Rong Shu feel a deep sense of resistance. Fortunately, Shen Huaixiu was with him; otherwise, he might have given up on the spot.
His once-perky cat ears now drooped, so Rong Shu took off his school uniform and used it to cover his head. “Run fast later!”
Shen Huaixiu noticed the frustration in his eyes. “It’s raining. Shouldn’t we go another day?”
“It’s not far. If we run quickly, the rain won’t catch us!” With that, Rong Shu dashed out into the rain.
The timing was perfect. As the school gate was just being opened by the security guard, the two figures dashed out, accompanied by the school bell. The security guard barely had time to see who they were before the figures disappeared into the rain.
“This way!”
Rong Shu quickly turned left into a nearby alley, and the two of them nimbly ran through the rain. Soon, Rong Shu stopped, turned to look at Shen Huaixiu, and smiled, panting lightly. “Here we are, Xinyuan Cat Café!”
Shen Huaixiu wiped the rain off his forehead and followed him inside.
The wind chime hanging on the door tinkled with a clear sound. Due to the rainy weather, the café was empty of customers.
As the wind chime jingled, the cats that had been lounging on the floor and tables all turned their attention toward the two newcomers. The nearest large orange tabby cat sat up and meowed loudly as if signaling the other cats to wake up and prepare for business.
A busy staff member, hearing the sound, lifted the curtain and greeted them with a smile. “What would you like to order?”
Rong Shu took off his half-wet school uniform and laid it on the table. Wearing only a white T-shirt underneath, his pale, slim arms were exposed, though the red marks on his wrists were quite noticeable.
“The noodles here are pretty good. How about two orders of seafood noodles?”
Rong Shu patted the head of the large orange tabby cat and suggested to Shen Huaixiu.
“Okay.” Shen Huaixiu’s gaze briefly lingered on his wrist. “I’ll step outside for a moment.”
Without waiting for a response, he turned and headed for the door.
Rong Shu was taken aback and called out, “Where are you going?”
Shen Huaixiu didn’t reply and pushed the door open, stepping outside.
The large orange tabby cat, which had been petted by Rong Shu, suddenly lifted its paw and gently tapped his hand, as if dissatisfied with his lack of focus and wanting him to pay more attention to the petting.
Rong Shu grabbed its paw and pinched it. “What’s with you, fatty!”
The orange tabby, being called “fatty”, meowed and nudged Rong Shu’s hand with its head, its voice more ingratiating than its impressive size would suggest.
“What would you like to eat, sir?”
“Two bowls of seafood noodles, and two raspberry juices,” Rong Shu said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. As soon as he sat, the “fatty” jumped onto his lap.
Rong Shu squeezed the soft flesh on its back. “Why do you immediately jump on my lap? Do you think this is a throne?”
Cats that had been lazily sprawled around the café had somehow gathered around his legs, all staring up at Rong Shu and the large tabby with envious eyes.
The scene caught the attention of the staff member, who was astonished. “Wow, it’s impressive! I’ve never seen our cats take such a liking to someone before.”
As he spoke, the owner emerged from the back and, upon seeing Rong Shu, immediately smiled. “Well, you should see who this young man is. Anyone who can win over our fatty must be someone special. It’s rare to see him here on such a rainy day!”
“Bringing my friend here to relax.”
“It’s rare for you to bring a friend along.”
The sound of the wind chime rang out again. When Rong Shu turned around, he saw Shen Huaixiu walking in with a bag.
The owner immediately smiled and said, “Oh, this guy seems unfamiliar. Your friend?”
Rong Shu’s eyes lit up the moment Shen Huaixiu appeared, sparkling with brightness. “Yes, he’s my deskmate.”
Hearing this, Shen Huaixiu glanced at the owner behind the counter and nodded in greeting. He then turned back and placed the items on the table, giving a quick look at the large orange tabby on Rong Shu’s lap.
Feeling his gaze, the tabby’s fur instantly bristled. It let out a meow and jumped onto the opposite table, arching its back and baring its teeth at Shen Huaixiu.
The other kittens that had been lounging around Rong Shu also scattered, watching Shen Huaixiu with wary eyes.
The sudden commotion startled Rong Shu.
Then he heard the owner chuckle lightly. “You two are really something!”
Rong Shu hadn’t expected this. Initially, he brought Shen Huaixiu here to cheer him up with the cuteness of the cats, but now, instead of comfort, he wondered if it might leave a bad impression.
He glanced nervously at the expressionless Alpha and said: “They probably haven’t seen you before and aren’t familiar with you. They’ll be fine once they get used to you.”
“Give me your hand.”
“What?” Still immersed in the thought of how to comfort Shen Huaixiu after being rejected by the cats, Rong Shu didn’t immediately react to the sudden request.
“Does your wrist still hurt?”
“Oh!” He almost forgot about my wrist. When he mentioned the pain, it was really to get Shen Huaixiu’s attention. Now seeing him go out in the rain to buy medicine, Rong Shu feels a bit regretful. “You just went to buy medicine? There’s some in the dorm; it’s fine to apply it when we get back.”
Shen Huaixiu loosely grasped his wrist and opened the lid of the medicine: “That medicine can only relieve the pain; this one is better.”
He applied the ointment to Rong Shu’s wrist without asking for his opinion and directly spread it. The ointment, initially cool, turned hot as he rubbed it in. After five minutes, Shen Huaixiu released his hand, and the area that was red had lightened considerably. Clearly, this medicine is quite effective.
As he let go, the once-hot area felt cool and comfortable again.
Rong Shu’s dark eyes showed a hint of surprise: “What kind of medicine is this? It’s quite effective.”
“Mm, I’m going to wash my hands.” Shen Huaixiu turned and walked toward the bathroom. The cat on the floor saw him and immediately darted away, then arched its back and bared its teeth at him.
Unfortunately, he didn’t even get Shen Huaixiu’s gaze, being completely ignored.
“Meow!” the orange tabby, sitting on the table, called out to Rong Shu with a pitiful tone, as if he had been bullied, meowing as if to complain.
Rong Shu reached out and pinched his big chin: “Why are you so aggrieved just because he ignored you? He’ll hold you in a bit!”
The orang tabby seemed to understand his words, meowed and raised its big paw as if trying to push Rong Shu’s hand away, but hesitated. After a few tries, he eventually gave in to Rong Shu’s cat-petting skills.
When Shen Huaixiu returned after washing his hands, he saw Rong Shu standing there with a smile, and the orange cat he had been rubbing looked aggrieved and resentful. The clouds outside had dissipated at some point, and bright sunlight streamed in, illuminating the once-dim store.
Rong Shu noticed him, his pretty peach blossom eyes instantly lighting up with a smile. He reached out and picked up the orange cat: “Come and hold it; Big fatty has been waiting for you for ages!”
The orange cat in his arms froze instantly at these words.
With a hint of panic and fear in its amber eyes, it looked at Shen Huaixiu.
Shen Huaixiu ignored the cat’s emotions and naturally walked over: “Alright!”
The orange cat, held by Rong Shu, dared not resist and had to stretch out its body to be placed in Shen Huaixiu’s arms.
Shen Huaixiu took it into his arms and gently pinched the soft flesh at the back of its neck. Big Fatty, who was used to ruling the roost at the cat café, surprisingly behaved well and was quite docile in Shen Huaixiu’s embrace.
“How is it? Isn’t Big Fatty quite easy to hold?” Rong Shu asked, relieved when he saw Big Fatty didn’t resist. He reached out to scratch the cat’s head.
Shen Huaixiu sat down holding Big Fatty and placed it on his lap. The moment the soft flesh at its neck was relaxed, Big Fatty tried to escape. But in the next second, the surrounding air suddenly grew cold. Big Fatty looked up and, in the instant their eyes met, sensed a killing intent from Shen Huaixiu’s gaze!
The cat immediately softened its body, obediently lying down, and even flatteringly meowed: “Meow!”
Shen Huaixiu curled the corner of his lips: “Mm, it is quite easy to hold!”
Big Fatty: QAQ
Author’s note:
Big Fatty: I am really just a weak little kitten QAQ
