The next day, despite Cheng Lin’s reluctance, he still drove Maimai to work.
“I’ll come up with you and get rid of all the catnip,” Cheng Lin insisted. “It won’t interfere with your job.”
“The catnip was bought for the other cats by the boss,” Maimai explained. “I’ll be careful to stay away from that basket.”
He promised methodically, “If I do catch a whiff of it, I’ll use moderation and make sure I don’t pass out.”
Maimai was pleased with himself for using the word “moderation” so fittingly.
His main point, though, was that Cheng Lin shouldn’t come upstairs. There were too many cats up there—calicos, Li Hua cats, and an orange cat that looked a lot like him. He didn’t want Cheng Lin to encounter other cats and pick up their scent.
Cheng Lin didn’t respond to that. Maimai had practically spelled out “Don’t come up.”
“I’m off to work!” Maimai said cheerfully when he saw that the human seemed to agree. He reached for the door, eager to start a new day with new challenges, determined to shine at his job.
But Cheng Lin raised his hand and locked the car door, saying unhappily, “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Maimai felt the weight of his bag on both shoulders, checked that his phone was in his pocket, and confidently replied, “I’ve got everything.”
Cheng Lin discreetly pointed to his own cheek.
Realizing what he meant, Maimai leaned in and gave him a loud, smacking kiss.
Cheng Lin gripped the steering wheel and said, “I’ll pick you up tonight.”
Fortunately, the cafe’s equipment was basic, the boss wasn’t around, and the old man who worked there was rather inattentive. By the end of the previous shift, no one had noticed that they were down one human but had gained a cat instead.
Maimai was cleaning up in the kitchen when the old man dug out a hat from a drawer and approached him, scratching his head as he tried to remember Maimai’s last name. “Little Mai, you left this behind yesterday. I found it when I was feeding the cats dinner.”
Maimai sighed in relief; he hadn’t been able to find it in his bag that morning. “Thanks, Grandpa.” He quickly put the triangular scarf hat back on.
The old man’s hearing wasn’t great, but his mind was still sharp. He introduced Maimai to the new cats on duty that day. Apart from Maomao, all the other cats had been replaced, but they were just regular mixed-breed cats, so some looked pretty similar. Fortunately, Maimai could still tell them apart by their scents.
The cafe had limited promotional channels. They’d just launched on the Dianping platform1a consumer review website, similar to Yelp or TripAdvisor, but you can also make reservations/orders from it a week ago, but with no ratings or reviews yet, business was naturally slow.
Maimai took it upon himself to keep refreshing the cafe’s phone for updates. To his surprise, a notification popped up—a reservation for a four-person table in just half an hour.
“May the wealth flow in!” Maimai, who was on a fixed salary, made a sincere bow to the Lucky Cat statue2
at the front desk. He then carefully noted the reservation in a small notebook.
His literacy lessons were starting to pay off. Now, his handwriting was comparable to that of a second or third-grader. Whenever he encountered a word he didn’t know, he’d look it up on his phone and do his best to copy it accurately.
So far, nothing had been too complicated, and he figured that if he ever ran into something too difficult, he could always ask the secretary at home for help.
He wasn’t too worried about the future. Cheng Lin had mentioned that as a boss, he’d have capable assistants. Even a director had a secretary to handle paperwork, and a chairman might have more than one.
Meanwhile, Secretary Cheng Lin sat in his executive chair, still thinking about the scare from yesterday and how the cat had said he was his favorite. As he mulled it over, he sneezed.
He got up, took an iced Americano from a paper bag on the table, shook it after sticking in a straw, and took a sip. “Now that I taste it, it’s not that special.”
For years, the two bosses had taken turns treating everyone to coffee. No matter how many brands came and went, their favorite coffee shop had remained the same.
Yuan Jiaming glanced over suspiciously and asked, “Why are you so picky all of a sudden? So, where’s the good stuff then?”
Cheng Lin took another sip, more convinced than ever that the coffee didn’t compare to Maimai’s. “Too bad you won’t get to taste it.”
Jin Li was on the same wavelength and teased, “Oh, seems like Young Master Cheng must have experienced some new scenery.”
Yuan Jiaming finally caught on and couldn’t resist teasing his old friend. “Oh, wow. Haven’t seen you in a few days, and you’re making such rapid progress.”
“He’s got a knack for making coffee.” Cheng Lin said, not realizing how pretentious he sounded, “Next time, I’ll let you guys try some.”
“Are you dating?” Jin Li asked.
Cheng Lin tried to sound nonchalant as he replied, “Sort of.” It implied they weren’t quite there yet.
“The guy you mentioned last time, the silly one?” Yuan Jiaming confirmed.
Cheng Lin was fine with calling him that himself, but hearing it from someone else didn’t sit well. “Actually, he’s really smart. He picks up on things quickly.”
When his buddy suddenly became gay, every gesture exuded happiness. Yuan Jiaming was both surprised and jealous. “This is terrifying. Once you made a move, it was big.”
Seeing Cheng Lin’s gaze, Yuan Jiaming quickly added with a hint of self-preservation, “Not that I’m saying there’s anything wrong with being gay. It’s just that you never seemed the type. You totally caught us off guard.”
Cheng Lin set his coffee down on the table, watching as the ice cubes slowly melted, tiny beads of condensation forming on the plastic cup.
He recalled how stunned he had been when he first realized his cat had turned into a man.
But because it was Maimai, his cat, he knew he had to grit his teeth and take care of him.
As Cheng Lin continued to look after Maimai, he realized he couldn’t let go.
No matter what Cheng Lin said, Maimai believed him without question. When Maimai received his New Year’s money, the first thing he thought of was buying a shirt for Cheng Lin. The only one who would always stay by Cheng Lin’s side was Maimai.
Because it was Maimai—his orange cat with an inexplicable drive, more innocent and pure than Cheng Lin, yet also candid, brave, and irresistibly adorable—it could only be Maimai.
So what if he was a guy? At this point, Cheng Lin was beyond caring whether Maimai was human or cat.
Cheng Lin thought that in many ways, their relationship wasn’t quite marriage, yet it felt more like marriage; it wasn’t dating, but it was even more intense than dating.
If Maimai agreed, they could get married right away, and Cheng Lin wouldn’t have to worry about the cat seeing more of the world and realizing he wasn’t the best choice.
But Maimai clearly hadn’t grasped the concept of marriage yet. Cheng Lin decided to wait for the right moment when the cat would willingly step into the trap that was the grave of marriage.
For now, Maimai was too innocent; it was better to let him mature a bit more.
Oblivious to all of this, Maimai wiped down the capsule coffee machine with a touch of regret. Sigh. High-tech gadgets were replacing traditional craftsmanship. Would Cheng Lin still drink his coffee after this? He must never find out about these capsules.
Even though the morning was quiet, Qin Lu had high standards for cleanliness. Every task had to be done, with no exceptions. Maimai wiped down every surface with enthusiasm. His phone buzzed with a message from an unfamiliar number:
[Little brother Mai, are you at the cafe today? Would it be okay if I visited this afternoon? Wang Derong.]
Maimai admired the message, quickly replying before resuming his cleaning with even more energy.
The morning reservation was for four college students—two boys and two girls, each carrying a badminton racket.
Maimai felt nervous handling the customers on his own, but he followed his home training. “Welcome! Please put on shoe covers here.”
After seating them, Maimai served the drinks and cakes. Just as he was about to take a short break, the taller boy picked up a box of UNO cards and waved him over, “Can you teach us how to play UNO?”
Maimai’s hard work from the previous day paid off. Confidently, he replied, “Sure!”
He carefully explained the rules, adding, “When you get a 0, you must call out the number and place your hand in the middle of the table! The last one to do so gets a penalty card.”
He was so earnest in his explanation that it was cute. One of the girls asked, “You look so young. Are you younger than us?” Maimai replied that he was eighteen, which made them all laugh and tease him.
When it came time to pay, the boy who had asked about UNO pulled out his phone. “I made the reservation, and I have a coupon.”
Maimai eagerly picked up the cafe’s phone. “Great, I’ll redeem it for you.”
After redeeming the coupon, the kitty person recalled the phrases Qin Lu had taught him. “If it’s convenient, could you leave us a review? A five-star rating will earn you a 20% discount coupon for your next visit.”
The boy agreed, and Maimai guided him through leaving a full score and writing a comment, “Just 15 characters will do.”
After submitting the review, the boy opened his WeChat QR code and quietly asked, “Can I add you on WeChat? That way, if I need help with UNO or want to make a reservation, I can contact you directly.”
Maimai thought it was a smart idea, a good way to build a loyal customer base. He pulled out his phone and scanned the boy’s code.
Later that afternoon, as Maimai eagerly waited, a man arrived at the cafe as promised.
He appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties, with tanned skin, an average height, and a well-proportioned build.
Dressed impeccably, he wore gold-rimmed glasses and a leather jacket over a shirt neatly tucked into his pants with a belt.
If you didn’t focus on his face, he could easily be mistaken for someone like Li Xiaojun, fresh from Tianjin and ready to hustle in Hong Kong, evoking a nostalgic 1980s vibe3from the movie “Comrades: Almost a Love Story.” The character Li Xiaojun is from Tianjin before he moves to Hong Kong.
Wang Derong stepped forward and extended his hand. “Little brother Mai!”
Cheng Maimai eagerly shook his hand. “Brother Rong! Welcome!”
It was their first time meeting in human form, and both were thrilled. Maimai invited Rongrong to sit and said with genuine admiration, “Rongrong, you look so young!”
“Oh, come on.” Wang Derong waved off the compliment in embarrassment. “I haven’t been working, just eating and sleeping, so of course I look young.”
He continued, “I’ve been indulging in too many canned foods lately, so I’ve put on some weight. Jiang Lili mentioned that it’s best to keep your BMI under 24. I’m right at the limit. But look at you! I haven’t seen you in a few days, and you seem even more poised and graceful.”
Maimai smiled shyly. “I’ve started working now!”
After placing his canvas bag on the floor, Rongrong scanned the room with a cautious gaze. He adjusted his glasses and complimented, “This place is nice. Great atmosphere. Are you busy?”
“Not too busy. Are you nearsighted?” Maimai asked, pointing at his glasses. “They look like they’re for someone with poor eyesight.”
“No.” Wang Derong straightened the collar of his shirt. “I don’t turn into a human often. This outfit is from ten or twenty years ago when Shi Meilin bought it for me. The glasses were her idea too—she said they made me look like a college student, less likely to get taken advantage of.”
Maimai nodded, excited as he handed him the menu. “Rongrong, what would you like to drink?”
Wang Derong glanced over the menu quickly. The prices seemed steep, so he asked politely, “Do you have any plain water? The free kind.”
“Of course, it’s on me!” Maimai remembered that Brother Rong was strapped for cash. “But what would you really like? Soda or milk tea?”
Rongrong, touched by the gesture, decided to be honest. “I’d love some bubble tea.”
Maimai prepared the tea in the back, along with a slice of Black Forest cake, and brought them out on a small tray. As he approached, he noticed Maomao by Rongrong’s feet, gazing up at him.
Rongrong leaned down, picked up the cat, and placed it on his lap. Lowering his voice, he said, “This cat… let me sniff.”
Maimai nodded in agreement. “I noticed a similar scent, like a kitty person, but I wasn’t sure.”
“Little white cat, can you understand what I’m saying?” Rongrong asked tentatively.
Maomao meowed, “I can.”
For a moment, the kitty people exchanged knowing looks.
Maimai leaned in and asked, “Then why didn’t you talk to me yesterday?”
Maomao, still just a kitten at just over seven months old, struggled to express himself clearly. Climbing onto the table, he said, “Because Gungun, annoying.”
Maimai glanced around at the other cats and said with concern in his voice, “It seems like all the other cats have been rotated out, except for you. Were you being bullied?”
Maomao denied, “Xiaohua had diarrhea, I swapped shifts.”
“You know how to swap shifts?” Rongrong was surprised.
“Qin Lu, scolded me,” Maomao replied.
“Brother Rong, what should we do about this?” Maimai looked up at Rongrong, seeking guidance.
“This cat is still young, not even a year old yet, so it’s hard to say.” Wang Derong pondered. “Not all kitty people turn into humans—it depends on the cat’s will. I didn’t transform until I was seven or eight, and even then, only because I had to.”
Maimai added, “Gungun is the same age as him, and I think he might have the scent of a kitty person too. But he won’t let me get close enough to confirm.”
“It’s fine; they’re still young.” Wang Derong said, “But it wouldn’t hurt to file a report with the organization.”
Maimai’s eyes lit up with determination. “Okay! Leave it to me!”
After they finished discussing Maomao and Gungun, Wang Derong carefully pulled out two booklets from the canvas bag he carried. He looked around nervously before quickly handing them to Maimai. His gaze wandered as he spoke in a low voice, “Hide these well, and don’t let anyone else see them. Even at home, read them in secret. Whatever you do, don’t let Cheng Lin find out!”
“Okay.” Maimai took the booklets and asked curiously, “What are these?”
“T-they’re the physiological handbooks I mentioned last time.” Wang Derong blushed all the way to his ears and said, “I got the version with phonetic annotations, just in case you have trouble with some of the words. Read them whenever you can. Have you been feeling any discomfort lately? Make sure to monitor yourself.”
“I passed out after smelling catnip yesterday,” Maimai confessed. “It’s strange—I remember not reacting to catnip when I was younger.”
“Oh! That’s because you’ve grown up now!” Wang Derong stuttered, “I-it means you’re mature.”
Maomao, who had been licking his fur, suddenly asked, “That person, yesterday, a friend?”
“No.” Maimai understood he was referring to Cheng Lin. “He’s my master.”
“He, stressed, thought, you dead.” Maomao scratched his ear with his back leg. “Almost cried, pitiful.”
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