The alarm rang.
Cheng Lin opened his eyes. He turned it and extended his hand to wake the person beside him, only to find the spot empty. The bed was cold to the touch.
“Up so early?” He rubbed his face sleepily and confirmed that the time was correct—7:30 AM.
It was unusual for the cat to be up this early, especially on a day off when he had no work. Typically, Maimai would sleep in until 9 or 10, and as a young cat, he could easily doze off anywhere, especially when he wasn’t in human form.
But now, something seemed different.
When the human opened the bedroom door, he found the cat fully dressed, sitting on the couch with his backpack already on his shoulders. As soon as Maimai spotted Cheng Lin, he perked up and greeted him, “You’re awake!”
Cheng Lin felt as if he had stepped into a different world. He glanced at the clock on the wall again, just to make sure he hadn’t overslept.
Was work really that exciting?
With a toothbrush dangling from his mouth, Cheng Lin scratched his head and couldn’t help but ponder. Could it be because Maimai was still young and everything felt new and exciting? Why hadn’t he ever experienced such a motivated phase himself?
After finishing up in the bathroom, Cheng Lin tossed his pajamas into the laundry basket, but then realized it was empty.
He poked his head out of the bathroom and asked, “Where are the clothes you changed out of?”
Maimai had woken up early to scrub his dirty pants clean and had secretly hidden them in the washing machine.
“Oh, I just tossed them into the washer.” Maimai tried to sound calm as he quickly changed the subject. “Come have some coffee. I made it for you.”
As Cheng Lin stepped out of the room, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted him. While brushing his teeth, he had wondered if the pleasant smell was Maimai’s doing, and now, with Maimai confirming it, it felt as refreshing as being struck by Cupid’s arrow.
He quickly forgot about the laundry, stripped off his shirt, and tossed it into the washing machine on the balcony. In one swift motion, he took the clothes from the dryer that had been running overnight, folded them neatly, and then rushed to the dining table, still shirtless.
Sure enough, a hot latte awaited him, complete with a perfectly drawn white heart in the foam.
A smile tugged at Cheng Lin’s lips as he deftly loaded the toaster with two slices of bread.
He got dressed just in time to hear the toaster pop, signaling that the toast was ready.
Cheng Lin set everything on the table and called Maimai over to eat.
Crispy toast with a light layer of butter, a thin slice of ham, and a cup of Maimai’s lovingly prepared coffee.
One sip, and warmth spread through him, leaving a lingering fragrance in his mouth. It was the perfect start to the day.
Moved by the gesture, Cheng Lin mulled it over before finally asking the person sitting across from him, “Did you get up early… just to make me coffee?”
Feeling it was presumptuous, Maimai hesitated, but he couldn’t exactly tell Cheng Lin the real reason, so he nodded and went along with it. “Mm, that’s right!”
Cheng Lin ignored the slight pause in his words and held his coffee cup tightly, feeling so touched that his heart softened. He even began to imagine what life with Maimai might be like after retirement—opening the windows to face the fields, enjoying some wine while discussing the state of the crops, and living in a big house with plenty of space for the cat to run around.
Cheng Lin looked at him and suggested, “You know, I think having a cup of coffee in the evening sounds nice too. You don’t have to get up early. Sleep in a bit.”
Maimai agreed, though he wasn’t sure how to explain the predicament he was in. He couldn’t even bear to think about the details of his dream. Even when Cheng Lin had walked by shirtless earlier, Maimai couldn’t bring himself to look directly at him.
He still remembered last summer when Cheng Lin, confident that only an innocent cat was at home, would stroll around shirtless in the air-conditioned room, music blasting, beer in one hand, and playing with the cat with the other.
At that time, the cat had been perfectly content, showing no signs of anything unusual.
But now, Maimai was troubled. What happened? This was… such a strange feeling, like a fire burning in his lower abdomen1丹田 (dantian) is a concept from traditional Chinese medicine, referring to an energy center located in the lower abdomen..
The booklets Rongrong had given him the day before were still untouched in his bag’s side pocket.
Maimai hadn’t noticed it before, but now he realized that living with Cheng Lin left him with very little privacy. Cheng Lin was practically everywhere, giving him no chance to open the booklet and study it.
On the way to work, the preoccupied Maimai rolled the car window down as far as it would go.
Unlike the evening commute, the morning rush hour was congested on the elevated highway. They were stuck in traffic for a while, and the smell of exhaust from the surrounding cars was overwhelming.
Normally, the cat would do whatever he liked, but Cheng Lin couldn’t stand the bad air for long and ended up rolling the window back up.
Maimai sat quietly for a moment, then lowered the window again.
“Are you really that hot?” Cheng Lin was puzzled. “Why do you need the window open so wide?”
Maimai struggled to explain his behavior. Every time he caught a whiff of Cheng Lin’s scent, that heated feeling would flare up inside him. Opening the window was the only way he could find relief.
Before getting out of the car, Maimai quickly planted a kiss on Cheng Lin’s cheek, then hurriedly opened the door and practically bolted away.
Leaving his favorite master actually gave him a sense of relief.
The old man at the cafe introduced Maimai to the cats on duty that day, and many of them were familiar faces. Maimai greeted each one, then put on his apron and hat to start cleaning up.
He hadn’t even finished when three reservation orders came through on the Dianping app—two for pairs and one for a single customer, all scheduled for the afternoon.
Business was booming, and the Lucky Cat was clearly working its magic. Maimai carefully logged the information, quickly finished cleaning, and retreated to a corner of the kitchen.
With no customers yet, he opened his backpack and carefully pulled out the two booklets.
The text on the covers was similar, both titled “Kitty People’s Hygiene and Health Guide”, with only the subtitles differing slightly: one focused on “Growth and Development”, while the other addressed “Male: Estrus”.
Instinctively, Maimai opened the second booklet first.
It was thoughtfully written in simple and clear language, taking into account that most kitty people had limited education.
The guide explained that estrus was a natural process all sexually mature cats experienced. Even though kitty people could transform into human form and possess higher intelligence, allowing them some control over their desires, they still retained certain physiological traits… and needs.
Maimai slowly read the phonetic spelling: “…Most common in spring and autumn. During the estrus period, some kitty people, especially males, may become sensitive to certain smells associated with specific individuals or objects, leading to sexual arousal.”
“…The symptoms can last from two weeks to a month, divided into early, middle, and late stages.”
Comparing his own symptoms to what was described in the booklet, Maimai realized he was on the cusp between the early and middle stages. His reaction to Cheng Lin’s scent was particularly intense, often making him feel hot and dry.
He continued reading: The first estrus is especially pronounced, with some male kitty people experiencing symptoms like wet dreams…
Secretly skimming the guide instead of focusing on his work, Maimai anxiously scanned the text ten lines at a time. Near the bottom of the page, he noticed a transitional sentence: After engaging in sexual activity (i.e., mating), symptoms may be relieved. (Note: see further details in the following section.)
However, in contrast to this sentence, printed in the usual Fangsong GB2312 font2Fangsong is a Chinese font, commonly used in formal documents., the message in the box below stood out with bolder font size and style:
“Although estrus is a normal physiological phenomenon, all kitty people must adhere to human society’s laws and moral standards. Do not engage in excessive physical contact without permission. Do not impose your will on others. Under no circumstances should you engage in behavior that violates public order and decency!!!”
“Sexual harassment leads to tears behind bars!!! One wrong move can lead to heaven or hell!!!”
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Maimai gasped. There wasn’t time to read any further. He hastily shoved the booklet back into his backpack, got up, and went to greet the customers.
He recalled the dream he had the previous night, where he had been desperately trying to leave his scent on Cheng Lin, wanting to do to Cheng Lin what the ragdoll cat had done to him.
But the ragdoll cat had only rubbed against him a couple of times before Rongrong, who had always been refined and kind, flew into a rage and called him a pervert.
Clearly, this was an extremely disgraceful matter and something he could never do in front of Cheng Lin.
“What should I do?” Maimai sighed, feeling utterly helpless. The whole situation was overwhelming him.
In the afternoon, the reserved customers began arriving one by one. Maimai noticed that one of them, who had booked a single table, was familiar. It was the boy who had added him on WeChat the day before.
“I sent you a message.” The boy stood in the entryway, smiling as he raised his phone and said, “You were probably busy and didn’t see it, but no worries.”
Maimai led him to his seat. The boy, He Xin, glanced at Maimai’s name tag. “Your name is Maimai? That’s such a cute name.”
Maimai was very proud and replied, “Yeah, Cheng Lin gave me the name!”
He Xin assumed that Maimai’s name was just a nickname and that Cheng Lin was the boss. He didn’t dwell on it and introduced himself, “By the way, have you updated my contact name? I’m He Xin.”
“Okay.” The cat thought the customer was blaming him for being inattentive and nervously responded, “Mr. He, I’ll make a note of it.”
“No, no need for that. We’re only a few years apart,” He Xin said with a laugh, “You could call me brother instead.”
“No way,” Maimai refused without hesitation and handed He Xin the menu, saying with a firm tone, “You’re the customer!”
He Xin didn’t press the matter and asked, “What do you recommend? Did you make everything yourself?”
“The milk tea is the most popular.” With other customers waiting, Maimai was flustered and answered honestly, “Most of the stuff is ready-made. I just put it in cups and plates.”
When Maimai brought the food to He Xin’s table on a small tray, He Xin asked, “Is it possible to buy cat snacks here to feed the cats?”
“Yes,” Maimai replied, “What would you like?”
He Xin, being quite generous, ordered several of the most expensive cans of cat food. Thrilled by such a large order, Maimai eagerly helped him open the cans. As soon as the lids were peeled back and the scent filled the air, the cats quickly gathered around, their senses heightened.
Even Gungun couldn’t resist.
Only Maomao, who wasn’t sociable and never participated in such activities, stayed at a distance, resembling a white mochi ball dropped on the tiled floor.
He Xin scooped out a big chunk with a spoon and, pretending to be unsure, asked, “Uh… Maimai, how do I feed them? Just like this?”
Maimai took the spoon and patiently demonstrated, “You can feed them a little bit at a time. That way, more cats can get a taste.”
He Xin wanted to watch a bit longer, but Maimai returned the spoon, now licked clean by the cats. Then, sneaking away when no one was looking, the kitty person dashed to the corner, scooped up Maomao, who was grooming himself, and whispered, “You should eat some too! It’s canned food!”
Maomao didn’t resist, so Maimai carried him over to He Xin and introduced him, “This is Maomao. He’s very well-behaved. But… since he’s a white cat, he can’t compete with the others. Could you let him have some too?”
He Xin had just agreed when Gungun rolled over to their feet and started protesting.
Maomao glanced over and gave a soft “meow,” conveying: I won’t eat.
Maimai wasn’t having it. He firmly said, “You’re going to eat your share. I need to have a word with Gungun.”
Gungun, the young and energetic Li Hua cat in question, wasn’t interested in any heart-to-heart conversation and attempted to escape several times.
“Why are you so mean to Maomao?” Maimai asked quietly, squatting in the corner, “Is it because he’s a white cat?”
Gungun: Scram.3Gungun’s name means “scram”
After observing for a while, Maimai noticed that Maomao, being the only pure white cat in the cafe, wasn’t particularly popular among the other cats. However, when Gungun wasn’t around, the others seemed to get along with Maomao just fine.
It became apparent that Gungun was leading the effort to isolate the white kitten, even going so far as to prevent the others from interacting with him.
“I heard from Sister Qin Lu and the old man that you and Maomao used to be strays together. Why are you doing this?” Maimai asked, genuinely puzzled. “I’m good friends with Rongrong.”
Who cares about you, and who’s Rongrong anyway? Gungun thought, pretending not to hear as he continued playing on his own.
Maimai sighed and could only advise him, “If you keep this up, Maomao’s going to start hating you!”
Gungun kept chewing on a ball, seemingly indifferent, but there was a brief moment when he froze upon hearing that. However, Maimai didn’t notice this small reaction.
Maomao leisurely finished the unexpected afternoon treat, then wandered off to a corner to bask in the sun. While the cats enjoyed their relaxing day, the cafe became busier as two more tables of customers arrived, filling the outer tables and leaving the kitty person swamped.
Maimai ensured that every table had at least one cat to keep the customers company, darting back and forth between preparing drinks, serving desserts, and bringing out playing cards or explaining them when needed.
By the time all the guests had left, it was already well past his scheduled time to clock out.
He Xin was the last customer to leave. As he removed his shoe covers by the entrance, he said to Maimai, “I had a great time today. Thanks for taking care of me. I’ll message you on WeChat, so don’t forget to reply. Let’s play a two-player game next time.”
From this, Maimai deduced that He Xin would be visiting the cat cafe again soon.
A regular customer!
After saying goodbye, Maimai headed to the kitchen to clean up, then removed his apron and hat. Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he pushed aside the curtain to leave, only to find Cheng Lin already waiting by the front desk, next to the Lucky Cat.
Cheng Lin, knowing that Maimai considered him unpresentable and refused to let him upstairs, had decided that after more than fifteen minutes, it was reasonable to come up and check on him.
Despite the unspeakable situation, seeing Cheng Lin made the cat happy without hesitation.
Maimai rushed over to Cheng Lin with a non-commercial smile.
The old man at the counter suddenly remembered seeing this young man before and, looking at him curiously, asked, “Little Mai, is this your brother?”
Just as Cheng Lin was about to agree, Maimai earnestly replied, “No, he’s my master.”
Knowing the old man’s hearing wasn’t great, Maimai made sure to enunciate the word “master” as clearly and loudly as possible.
The old man and Cheng Lin: …………
Master?
Before Cheng Lin could redeem the situation, the old man suddenly recalled his daughter mentioning something about a committee bureau, where Maimai’s job was subsidized. His expression brightened with sudden understanding. “Oh, mister!4He used a word that means director/supervisor that sounds the same as the word for “master” in Chinese. But to keep the similarity I changed it to mister. Did you two used to work in the same department?”
“Yes.” Cheng Lin pulled Maimai closer as if he had been rescued. He squeezed Maimai’s hand and straightened the cat’s crooked collar. “We’ll be heading out now, sir.”
The old man watched them leave with his hands clasped behind his back, nodding approvingly. Cheng Lin seemed like a bright young man, already holding such a high position despite his age. His future looked promising!
“Did I say something wrong?” Maimai asked with confusion once they were outside.
“It’s fine,” Cheng Lin reassured him. “It’s okay for him to think you meant ‘mister,’ but next time, just tell people I’m your brother.”
“But you’re not my brother,” Maimai replied. “Why do humans like to lie?”
“You look human enough now, yet you still talk like you’re excluded.” Cheng Lin helplessly gave in as he opened the car door for Maimai. “So, what do you want to say instead?”
Maimai suddenly fell silent, muttering to himself.
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