Maimai Chapter 31

“In a bad mood? Why so quiet?” Yuan Jiaming asked.

“Why ask for trouble?” Jin Li replied, “If you know what’s good for you, don’t say anything.”

Their friend Cheng Lin, seated in the executive chair, remained silent with his eyes fixed on his phone. The atmosphere was bleak and the situation far from normal.

For someone like him, a second-generation rich kid used to an easy life, appearing so downcast, especially after recently stopping his subtle boasting, could only mean one thing: trouble in his romantic relationship.

It had already been a week since the human and cat had begun sleeping in separate rooms.

Though they still lived under the same roof, they were practically strangers, each absorbed in their own activities.

Cheng Lin had no idea how he had offended Maimai, so he went out of his way to please him, trying to tread carefully around the cat. Yet, Maimai’s behavior was so contradictory that Cheng Lin couldn’t decipher what was going on in his head.

Maimai showed no signs of wanting to reconcile; in fact, the situation seemed to be deteriorating. He had even taken to hiding in the guest room to attend his literacy classes. Sometimes, Cheng Lin could faintly hear him answering the teacher’s questions from the living room.

On the surface, Maimai appeared as aloof as ever. But whenever Cheng Lin spoke to him, Maimai always replied with a seemingly cheerful demeanor. Occasionally, Maimai would sneak glances at the human with bright eyes, only to quickly avert his gaze if their eyes met.

Cheng Lin took this as a sign of a guilty conscience.

But this morning, things took a sharp turn for the worse. With a serious expression, Maimai packed a bag and announced he was taking the bus to work. He was polite but firm in his refusal to ride in Cheng Lin’s car.

This hit the human hard.

Feeling utterly defeated, Cheng Lin thought that he had already grown distant. The cat was now old enough, fully socialized, smart, independent, and capable of making his own choices. Was this estrangement anything less than rejection?

Cheng Lin longed to run away from home himself, hoping that Maimai would realize how difficult life would be without him, and how much his quality of life would decline.

But he was also terrified that if he left, their family would truly fall apart. After all, they weren’t kissing anymore; they were sleeping in separate beds in separate rooms, and now Maimai wouldn’t even ride in his car. They were just one step away from living completely apart.

He feared that as soon as he walked out the door, Maimai would pack up and set off on his adventure. From then on, Cheng Lin would only hear rumors of him, each going their separate ways and finding happiness apart.

There was no way he could find happiness. Cheng Lin couldn’t even imagine it. He knew he’d regret it for the rest of his life.

Where had it all gone wrong?

Cheng Lin felt they needed to have a serious talk, but he hesitated, fearing that addressing the issue head-on might not lead to any resolution and could instead push the cat even further away.

He had already tied his life to Maimai’s, and it had never crossed his mind that the cat might actually want to leave him.

In his gloomy state, Cheng Lin began searching Dianping for the cat cafe where Maimai worked.

It wasn’t like before Maimai had joined when a search for the cafe’s name only brought up a bare listing that made you question if it was even legitimate. Now, the cafe had all its details displayed, complete with photos of the interior, the menu, and several discounted group packages.

Among the uploaded photos was a close-up of a small chalkboard hanging on the wall. The board featured ID photos of each staff cat, along with their names, genders, and preferences.

Maimai, being the diligent worker he was, had taken the board home and spent two nights working on it since he didn’t have time to complete it at the cafe.

Sticking on photos and decorations was easy enough, but the space on the chalkboard was limited, and Maimai’s handwriting skills were far from perfect. He struggled to write the characters close enough together.

For example, the character “Gun”¹滚 was particularly challenging with its complex strokes. Maimai had furrowed his brows, attempting to write it multiple times, but it always turned out crooked, ruining the overall aesthetic.

In the end, all the writing had been done by the secretary at home.

Secretary Cheng couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful—the cat seemed more willing to spend time doing this for other cats than to even glance at the living, breathing man in the house.

But then the kitty person, holding the pen and looking helpless, glanced up at him and asked, “Could you help me write a few characters? My handwriting is too ugly.”

Cheng Lin quickly agreed, “Of course, how should I write it? Just tell me.”

Remembering this, he felt a pang of jealousy and discomfort.

Cheng Lin continued scrolling through the app, carefully reading the dozens of reviews. Most of the customer comments were accompanied by pictures of the cafe’s cats. Some praised the owner for their affection and for opening a cafe filled with adorable mixed-breed cats. Others complimented how well-groomed the cats were, with smooth fur, no tear stains, and impeccably clean teeth.

There were also a few comments mentioning how the cafe had a pleasant atmosphere with no unpleasant odors and that the staff was polite and attentive.

The staff member in question could only be Maimai.

As Cheng Lin continued reading, he smiled with satisfaction. But then, he came across the second-to-last review:

“The staff guy is really cute and was super patient explaining how to play UNO. I’ll definitely come back next time! :)”

The reviewer had posted not only pictures of the cafe’s cats but also a photo of Maimai standing beside their table, explaining the card game. The kitty person wore a hat and apron, pointing at the cards on the table, looking very serious and focused.

Cheng Lin’s smile faded as he thought about the customer who had added Maimai on WeChat.

He needed to see this for himself.

After cleaning up the cafe, Maimai began logging reservations on Dianping as usual. Even before opening, four tables had already been booked—two for couples and two for single diners.

Business was booming, thanks to Qin Lu’s active promotion across various platforms. New customers kept pouring in, and even students from the nearby school occasionally stopped by.

One of the single-table reservations was under a username that Maimai recognized immediately—He Xin.

For the past two weeks, He Xin had been visiting almost every day, and Maimai had introduced him to all the cats on duty. Over time, Maimai had learned this regular customer’s preferences and knew exactly what he would order.

Having such a loyal customer made Maimai feel both grateful and honored.

The other reservation was from a username Maimai had never seen before—just a long string of English letters. He carefully noted it down.

At 1 PM, the person with the English username arrived at the cat cafe and rang the doorbell.

“Coming!” Maimai’s familiar voice called out from behind the door. He ran out in slippers, but when he saw who was at the door, his expression froze.

Cheng Lin knew the cat didn’t like him showing up at his workplace, so he leaned against the doorframe and said, “Just here to look around. Pretend I’m not here; I won’t bother your work.”

He expected the cat to show at least a hint of displeasure, but to his surprise, Maimai looked genuinely happy and excited. “Sure, welcome! Come on in! Put on these shoe covers!”

There were two tables of customers inside—one with students and the other with a young couple. As Cheng Lin passed by, he couldn’t help but notice the man’s balding head.

For some reason, the cat seated Cheng Lin in the farthest corner, without giving him a menu or even a QR code to scan.

To honor his promise not to cause any trouble, the human simply looked around, sitting silently without saying anything.

After a group of customers left, Maimai, having settled his family member in, grabbed a rag and began vigorously scrubbing the recently vacated table, focusing intently as if trying to polish it to perfection. He even let out small grunts of effort.

OMG! Cheng Lin thought in disbelief. This guy never even touched a cleaning rag at home.

The triangular scarf on Maimai’s head was particularly eye-catching. Whether it was ugly or not, it made him look pitiful, like an apprentice in an 18th-century English bakery, exploited by his boss, with soot on his cheeks from the early morning shift.

The cat was happily absorbed in his work. After finishing up, he went into the kitchen and returned with a small tray of food and drinks, which he placed on Cheng Lin’s table.

“I haven’t ordered anything,” Cheng Lin said.

“Ah, it’s on me.” Maimai looked at him eagerly and explained, “I made this coffee for you, but I can’t do any latte art here. And this is the cafe’s most popular item, the rainbow layer cake. Each layer is a different color.”

The cat set the coffee and cake down in front of Cheng Lin and asked, “Do you want anything else? I can get it for you.”

“This is expensive. You’re treating me to all of it?” Cheng Lin asked, looking at him.

“Mm, the boss can just deduct it from my paycheck.” Maimai’s loyal eyes fixed on his master. As he answered, he seemed to drift into a daze.

Standing this close, he felt the urge to kiss Cheng Lin again.

Maimai had long noticed that both humans and cats seemed to have their own standards of beauty. However, he was somewhat oblivious to these preferences. For instance, the cats at the cafe didn’t like Maomao, thinking his plain white fur was too dull, and instead favored the vibrant patterns of the tortoiseshell cats².

But Maimai found Maomao beautiful too with his pure white fur without a single speck of color, like freshly fallen snow.

Rongrong had once casually mentioned that Cheng Lin resembled a certain male celebrity. Maimai checked and didn’t think so. But that didn’t change the fact that he found Cheng Lin very handsome. Cheng Lin was his favorite human.

Having answered enough questions, Maimai didn’t linger. He took a step back and dashed off with his little tray.

Over the past few days, Cheng Lin’s scent had been affecting him more and more. Whenever he caught a whiff of it, his head would get fuzzy, and his limbs would go weak. He couldn’t afford to get too close anymore.

Cheng Lin felt a lot better thanks to Maimai’s exclusive generosity. He picked up his coffee and started to enjoy it.

“Waiter,” the balding man called out in the quiet cafe, raising his cup. “My latte doesn’t have any sugar. It’s too bitter. Could you add some sugar, please?³he said “latte” and “sugar” in English ” The woman next to him looked embarrassed, holding a cat and avoiding eye contact. She probably hadn’t come of her own volition.

Cheng Lin wasn’t exactly a knight in shining armor, but this guy was looking for trouble with his cat. He snapped coldly, “Drink it or don’t. Lattes don’t come with sugar, so quit pretending. And he has a name—doesn’t his badge say Maimai? Who are you calling ‘waiter’?”

But Maimai quickly hurried over, maintaining a polite demeanor, and said, “Certainly, sir. I’ll make you a new one.”

The man continued to complain, ignoring the cheesecake on his plate, which had been left uncovered and was now collecting cat hairs. He added, “Could I trouble you for a new slice of cheesecake as well?” Maimai obliged.

When the balding man demanded that the curtains be drawn, Cheng Lin abruptly stood up, ready to confront him. But just then, Maimai appeared with his tray and handed Cheng Lin another cup of coffee. “Just stay here, don’t get mad, and don’t say anything.” There was particular emphasis on the last few words.

Before becoming a mute handsome guy, Cheng Lin had a few things he wanted to say, “Why are you being so nice to them? If they’re rude, just tell them off. Worst case, you quit. It’s not worth it.” Internal family drama was one thing, but seeing Maimai mistreated really pained him.

“I can’t quit. We’re a new cafe,” Maimai replied earnestly. “If he leaves us a bad review on Dianping, it could be disastrous.”

“So what if he does?” Cheng Lin shrugged. “I’ll find a way to boost your five-star reviews. Need help selling more group coupons? I’ll buy two hundred right now, and you can redeem them.”

Maimai declined but then made up his mind and quickly kissed the corner of Cheng Lin’s mouth.

After that, Cheng Lin played the role of a silent statue as the cat had requested. He sipped his coffee—a latte with no sugar, yet it tasted so sweet.

He realized that Maimai still had feelings for him. He had been needlessly tormenting himself all this time.

Just two more weeks. After enduring this, there would be light at the end of the tunnel. After the storm, there would be a rainbow.

He was determined to go through with the marriage.

Another half hour passed. Cheng Lin finished his coffee, and the annoying baldy finally left.

Cheng Lin was beginning to feel better when the entrance bell rang. Maimai quickly moved to open the door, calling out, “Coming!”

A young male voice greeted him, “Hey, Maimai.”

Maimai’s excitement was evident. “You’re back again!”

The guy who walked in was tall and dressed in a youthful style, he had a clear expression, like a college student.

Cheng Lin’s ears perked up as he overheard Maimai ask, “Having milk tea again?”

The guy confirmed, and Maimai responded, “Alright, just a moment.”

A regular customer, familiar enough that the cat knew his preferences. Cheng Lin set the alarm in his head to its maximum, feeling like coming here wasn’t a waste of time after all.

Just then, the students at another table called for Waiter Maimai to help move a table.

Before the cat could rush over, Cheng Lin stepped in. “I’ll do it.” He rolled up his sleeves and easily moved the table to another corner.

Maimai followed behind, feeling dizzy, and said, “Thank you.”

“Thank you for what?” Cheng Lin replied, his pouted lips revealing his true intentions. “Is that the customer who added you on WeChat?”

“Mm.” Maimai nodded.

Cheng Lin didn’t press further, trying to appear more carefree and open-minded.

He returned to his seat and started watching them sullenly.

Meanwhile, the cat went to the kitchen to prepare He Xin’s milk tea. When he brought it to the table, He Xin said, “Thanks.”

Maimai was distracted and didn’t hear him clearly. Jolting, he asked, “What did you say?”

“I said thank you.” He Xin looked at him with a beaming smile and added, “Sometimes, I think you really look like a kitten.”

Hearing this, Maimai grew so nervous he nearly broke out in a cold sweat.

During the contract signing before starting work, Shi Jing and Shi Ting had strictly warned him not to reveal to anyone that he was a kitty person. The only exceptions were those like Cheng Lin, who had signed a confidentiality agreement and was closely connected to kitty people. They had emphasized how serious this was.

The orange cat quickly waved his hands, anxiously denying it, “I’m not like a cat at all! There’s no connection whatsoever!”

Thinking Maimai disliked the comparison, He Xin added, “I just meant you’re really cute.”

“Maimai,” Cheng Lin called from behind.

Maimai quickly turned and ran over, happy to ask, “What’s the matter?”

Cheng Lin didn’t look too pleased as he pushed his empty coffee cup toward him. “Refill, please.”

Now, Maimai had to juggle working, keeping an eye on Cheng Lin, and ensuring no cats got too close to Cheng Lin. It was exhausting.

Unfortunately, ten minutes later, a calico cat wandered near Cheng Lin’s feet and decided to sit down.

Maimai rushed over, scooped up the cat as naturally as possible, and handed it to He Xin.

He Xin took the cat and asked, “You seem very attentive to that customer.” He added thoughtfully, “He even moved the table for you. Do you two know each other?”

Maimai nodded, mindful of Cheng Lin’s warning not to reveal that he was his master.

He was about to reluctantly say Cheng Lin was his brother when He Xin asked, “Is he your boyfriend?”

Not really…

Maimai didn’t hesitate for long and nodded firmly. “Yes.” His face flushed with guilt from the lie.

He Xin wasn’t surprised and pretended to be eager as he said, “He doesn’t seem very easygoing. He even called you over kind of harshly.”

His words were meant to sow discord, but instead, they hit a sensitive nerve. The kitty person responded angrily, “Cheng Lin is really nice! You can’t say that.”

The only regret was that Cheng Lin, preoccupied with his own thoughts about why Maimai had handed the cat to He Xin, missed hearing this.

When it was time to leave, the “really nice” Cheng Lin grabbed the cat’s arm and said, “You should be heading back.” But his eyes were fixed on He Xin.

He Xin quickly caught on to the situation, giving them a couple of glances before tactfully bidding a polite farewell and leaving first.

Maimai, carrying his bag, hurried along so quickly that his steps became unsteady. Cheng Lin didn’t give him the chance to choose between taking the bus or riding in his car; he simply dragged him silently toward the parking lot.

Once they reached the car, Cheng Lin opened the passenger door and gestured for the cat to get in.

Maimai’s limbs weakened from the contact. He had just sat down when he noticed the lingering scent of Cheng Lin inside the car. Every trace of it intensified as his estrus progressed.

Today had already involved too much physical contact, and the cat’s face quickly turned red as the heat inside him threatened to overwhelm him.

He could hardly hold it in. Opening the window wouldn’t help. What was he going to do?

Gritting his teeth, Maimai transformed back into a cat and hid in his clothes.

Cheng Lin had just driven out of the garage when he noticed in his peripheral vision that Maimai had suddenly shrunk in size.

The kitty person had transformed back into a cat, a clear act of defiance.

Cheng Lin had originally planned to use the confined space of the car to talk things out with the cat. But now, seeing Maimai like this, the message was loud and clear: rejection. Any good mood he had from earlier that afternoon evaporated completely.

He drove with a cold expression, but his mind kept drifting back to the smile Maimai had given He Xin.

Maybe after meeting new people and experiencing the world, Maimai found the old ones boring.

Cheng Lin thought with a blank expression but a broken heart: How is this any different from abandoning your first wife, discarding him after having made use of him?

When Cheng Maimai eventually became a director, Cheng Lin would be the first to report him. This was a deeply personal matter.

But those were problems for another time. The current situation remained urgent.

…The cat probably still liked him, Cheng Lin convinced himself. He had been overly confident due to the cat’s unwavering devotion. So he comfortably accepted Maimai’s signal: “Cheng Lin is my favorite.”

He never imagined that Maimai might one day no longer see him as his “favorite.”

Even if Maimai no longer wanted to marry him, they could still live together like this. Cheng Lin would continue being a good master, and Maimai would remain a good kitten.

But how could a river flow backward?

When they arrived home, it felt as if everything had reset to square one.

Cheng Lin opened the car door, intending to carry the cat upstairs. But the cat wasn’t interested in his kindness and quickly squeezed out of the car, standing by his feet and monitoring him closely.

Only after Cheng Lin had gathered all the things he’d dropped did the cat finally relax. He trotted alongside him in small steps, scrambling to catch up and ride the elevator together.

In the elevator, Cheng Lin stared at his reflection in the metallic wall, remaining silent. Meanwhile, the tiny orange cat stood by his feet, tail held high. He sniffed at Cheng Lin’s pant leg before nudging it with his head, his tail gently swirling around as he circled his legs.

But a moment later, as if realizing something, the cat bolted as soon as the elevator doors opened.

Once inside the apartment, Maimai ran straight to the cat bed he hadn’t used in eight hundred years. He plopped down and acted as though he didn’t know Cheng Lin at all, trying to deny everything that had just happened.

Cheng Lin knew the cat wasn’t in the mood, but he still reached out to rub its fluffy head.

Maimai turned his head warily, then began licking Cheng Lin’s hand, trying to make him stop.

Cheng Lin pretended not to notice, continuing to pet the cat from its head down to its body. Maimai looked at him and suddenly let out a pitiful “meow.”

Cheng Lin’s heart softened. He stopped and asked with determination, “Can we talk?”

Maimai curled up in a ball inside the cat bed, trying to hide any sign of his reactions. Hearing Cheng Lin, he perked up, listening attentively.

Cheng Lin sat cross-legged and held out a finger. “If I’m right, just bite me, okay?”

He was troubled but tried to ask as calmly as possible, “Baby, did you turn back into a cat because you’re not feeling well?”

If that were the case, everything would make sense. It wouldn’t be about love; it would be something he couldn’t talk about.

Maimai was indeed uncomfortable, but not in the way Cheng Lin imagined.

He let out a soft “meow,” hesitating before gently pushing Cheng Lin’s finger away from his face, which had been insistently offered for biting.

Cheng Lin got the message and stood up quietly.

So he thought, maybe Maimai just didn’t want to talk to him or ride in his car, which was why he had turned back into a cat.

That night, Maimai transformed back into his human form, took a secret shower, and hid in the guest room.

He lay naked on the bed in a daze, feeling conflicted.

Judging by his symptoms, his estrus was nearing its end. But the closer it got, the more he felt like he was losing control.

Maimai curled up under the covers, rocking back and forth, trying to find some semblance of comfort. But nothing helped; he couldn’t suppress the urges or push past that peak.

He had read the manual and had a general idea of what to do, but every source warned against casually inviting a human to have sex with him.

This was a matter that touched on moral boundaries and could even violate the law.

But resisting his body’s reactions was becoming impossible.

Maimai kept trying to distance himself from Cheng Lin, fighting his true desires.

The orange cat sighed in frustration.

He didn’t want to be seen as a pervert or end up hated by Cheng Lin. But when would this torment end?

He was so troubled.

When Cheng Lin finished his shower and stepped out of the master bedroom, he noticed the lights in the living room were already off.

Just like the past few nights, Maimai had retreated to the guest room early.

With a towel draped over his head, Cheng Lin glanced at the dark line under the guest room door, took a couple of deep breaths, and headed to the kitchen to grab a beer.

As he passed through the living room, he noticed that the cat had forgotten to charge his phone.

The smartphone, screen dark, had been carelessly left on the coffee table by the entrance.

Cheng Lin wiped his hair and picked up the phone to bring it to Maimai.

The screen lit up, revealing two messages from He Xin sent half an hour ago.

“Your boyfriend is treating you so unkindly and disrespectfully.”

“If you can’t escape his control, I can help you.”

Cheng Lin automatically ignored the “boyfriend” part and focused only on the words that hit him hardest: unkind, disrespectful, escape, control.

He knew he shouldn’t be angry, but after three cups of coffee in one day, his nerves were wired, and now he couldn’t bear the hot-and-cold, push-and-pull of their relationship any longer.

The fear of losing Maimai left him feeling uncontrollably angry, hurt, and sad.

He pushed open the door, finding Maimai lying there, staring off into space. The moment Maimai saw him, he tried to wrap himself up in the quilt like a clam closing its shell.

But he was a second too slow because he was dizzy.

Cheng Lin stepped forward and grabbed the cat’s exposed wrist, his voice urgent. “We need to talk today.”

Maimai desperately tried to pull away, but the more he struggled, the tighter Cheng Lin held on. The sharp edge of Maimai’s lock charm pressed into Cheng Lin’s palm, the pain sharp but insignificant compared to the ache in his heart.

“I need to ask you something.”

“Explain clearly—why have you been avoiding me all this time? Have you started liking that customer from the cafe?” Cheng Lin pressed closer, refusing to let go of Maimai’s wrist.

His voice trembled as he asked, “Is there someone else you want to marry more?”

“No, it’s not that. You should just go to sleep,” Maimai replied with difficulty, feeling Cheng Lin’s overwhelming presence suffocating him as if it had taken on a physical form.

“How can I sleep? Are you planning to move out soon?” Cheng Lin couldn’t bear to say anything harsher, unable to stop the tears from welling up. “Are you planning to leave me for good?”

“No,” Maimai whispered weakly, “I’m just not feeling well.”

This only made Cheng Lin more frantic. He reached into the quilt, trying to pull it off the cat. “Are you hurt? Have you been hiding it from me? Let me see!”

His hand accidentally brushed against the cat’s smooth belly and then touched something unmistakably alert.

Maimai couldn’t help but gasp.

The meaning of that sound and the sensation beneath Cheng Lin’s palm was undeniable.

Now it was Cheng Lin’s turn to freeze, unsure of what to do next.

Once the floodgates opened, everything spiraled out of control. Embarrassed, Maimai kept trying to squirm away, curling up to hide his erection. He explained, “I’m in heat. I can’t control it when I smell you.”

In heat.

That word hit Cheng Lin like a ton of bricks, leaving him speechless for a long moment.

“…Why didn’t you tell me?” he finally asked.

“Because… the handbook said you shouldn’t do it casually. I was afraid you’d think I’m a pervert.”

The strong scent had forced the peak of his heat to come prematurely. Maimai’s willpower crumbled, leaving him disoriented, but he still managed to defend himself in a soft voice, “I’m not a pervert. I’m just in heat.”

His head and body felt hot, but his fingers were cold as ice.

“Can I mate with you?” Maimai instinctively grabbed Cheng Lin’s arm, which was propped up beside him, guiding it to his body. His voice was polite but confused as he asked, “Can you come inside?”

After an unknown number of seconds, Cheng Lin’s breathing grew heavier.

“Okay. But do you still want to marry me?” In the darkness, Cheng Lin turned on the bedside lamp, his eyes locked on the cat huddled under the covers. “You only get one chance. Think carefully—no regrets.”

The moment Maimai nodded, Cheng Lin leaned down and kissed him deeply on the lips.

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  he said “latte” and “sugar” in English