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Inside the Supernatural Management Bureau
A sharp, prolonged alarm echoed throughout the entire Supernatural Management Bureau, startling everyone inside. Deputy Director Bai Jue shot up like a corpse reanimated, rushing in panic toward the director’s office.
In the bright, clean office of the director stood the most precious instrument in the entire bureau—a device used to detect supernatural energy fluctuations. Controlled by various programs and arrays, it monitored the entire city of Yuchuan. Whenever a non-human used forbidden magic or their spiritual energy fluctuated excessively, the device would sound an alarm.
And yet, their director was just standing there, expressionless, watching the instrument blare.
Bai Jue nearly coughed up blood: “Ancestor, what are you doing? It’s screaming like it’s about to explode! Can’t you at least take a look?”
The ancestor who wouldn’t even lift a finger if an oil bottle fell replied calmly, “I already looked.”
Bai Jue was furious: “If you looked, why didn’t you turn it off?!”
He strode forward, muttering, “This thing hasn’t gone off this loudly in years. Who’s causing trouble again… Oh my god, how is it him?”
The spiritual energy detection device was connected to the bureau’s database. Once it detected spiritual energy, it would automatically cross-reference the data and identify the owner.
Now, on the instrument’s screen, the name “Pei Shiyi” was displayed, with several rows of dense, garbled code beneath it, impossible to decipher.
Bai Jue felt his vision darken: “Boss, didn’t you just sign off on his report recently?”
Bo Jin: “…”
Bai Jue rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on: “You even wrote in the report that he was ‘gentle by nature, upright in character’. How long has it been since the observation period ended, and now there’s an issue? And what’s with the garbled code below? Is it broken? What did he do to violate the rules?”
It probably wasn’t destruction. Otherwise, with his power level, the commotion would have been huge, and Bai Jue would have sensed it without the instrument.
Bo Jin said, “I’m not sure. I’ll go check now.”
Bai Jue quickly added, “I’ll go with you.”
Cat Café
Fondant sat on the large bed, staring blankly at the screen.
She felt a little sad.
The appearance of that family had reminded Fondant once again that she was a mixed-breed cat.
Would the other cats wonder why she was abandoned? Would they look down on her for being a mixed breed? Her beautiful sister, Yun Chao, was a purebred Lion Cat, and the shop owner said Yun Chao might be the last purebred. With the boss having such a beautiful purebred cat like Miss Penny, would he still like her?
When Pei Shiyi entered the room again, he saw the little furball sitting with her back to him, lost in her thoughts. The light filtering through the screen outlined her fluffy silhouette, her entire posture radiating dejection.
He walked over quietly, resting one knee on the bed as he leaned down and asked with a smile, “What’s our little Fondant thinking about?”
Fondant lowered her head dejectedly, her ears drooping as she stared at her own fluffy tail. Sensing Pei Shiyi approaching, she lifted her damp eyes, glanced at him briefly, then quickly looked away.
Cats don’t shed tears when they cry. They just let out dry, mournful wails. But Fondant refused to meow pitifully all over the place. Instead, she sat on the bed, staring into space like a real ragdoll.
Fondant turned around, facing another direction as she continued to wallow.
Pei Shiyi said gently, “Are you angry with me? Blaming me for not handling things properly?”
Fondant immediately grew anxious, turning back to cling to Pei Shiyi’s chest as she meowed: How could that be? It’s just… I just feel like I’m not good enough. I’m a mixed breed…
Pei Shiyi chuckled softly and said, “Sweetie, do you know there’s a type of human called mixed-race? Their parents come from different countries, not the same kind of people. They say mixed-race children are beautiful, and my Fondant is beautiful, too.”
Fondant blinked blankly: “Meow?” Is that true?
Pei Shiyi: “When a dragon and a tiger give birth to a Bi’an, or a dragon and a wolf give birth to a Yazi, the nine sons are not dragons, but each has their own unique grace and demeanor. If mixed heritage weren’t good, why would humans revere the Nine Sons of the Dragon?”
Fondant’s eyes gradually brightened.
“The value of a living being differs in the eyes of different people,” Pei Shiyi whispered. “In my eyes, no matter how many Ragdoll cats there are in the world, no matter how beautiful they are, none of them are my Fondant.”
Pei Shiyi turned with Fondant and pointed toward the door: “Look.”
The doorway was crowded with fluffy creatures, their familiar eyes filled with concern. The white cat, always as serene and untouchable as clouds or snow, seemed hesitant as it took a step forward, paused, then retreated and sat back down.
“For me, for Xian Chan, and for all your fluffy friends, no matter how many years pass, there will never be a second Fondant. You are unique and irreplaceable.”
Pei Shiyi gently nudged Fondant: “Go on, sweetie. They’re waiting for you.”
Fondant jumped off the bed, ran a few steps, then glanced back. Her gentle and handsome boss was simply smiling at her. Suddenly, Fondant felt her heart brimming with courage and dashed straight into the embrace of the fluffy crowd.
For a moment, light and soft meows mingled together. Little Fondant was nuzzled and licked by the bigger cats. Before long, she forgot what she had been sad about earlier. Squeezing and jostling, she followed them downstairs.
Pei Shiyi sat on the bed. Sunlight filtered through the screen, casting a tipsy, hazy glow. Leaning against the headboard, he suddenly sighed softly: “I’m still a single bird with no home or family.”
He had originally planned to comfort Fondant and then take her out to pick a camera. He still remembered his promise to Zhou Yan. However, not long after he sent that mother and son away, Director Bo arrived in all his glory, followed by a young man whose true form was a Bai Ze.
This was Bai Jue’s first time at the cat café. He took a few steps forward when a large black-and-white-striped tail swung down, tapping him right on the forehead.
Bai Jue: “???”
He looked up to see a short, chubby ball of fur peering down from a cat tree, then suddenly startled, bouncing up and leaping over to the neighboring cat tree in a few quick hops.
Bai Jue thought to himself: Isn’t that the Mengji we sent to the cat café earlier? How did it get so chubby in just a week or so?
He took a few more steps and nearly stepped on a plump cat that had wandered over. Startled, he wondered: Is that phoenix raising cats like pigs? A pig-raising expert? He nervously looked up, afraid he’d see a room full of wandering “pigs”. Fortunately, most of them were still normal. The Zhujian that had come through the Supernatural Management Bureau’s procedures was still quite fit, and Song Gao… had gained a little weight.
Director Bo swiped his face to enter, bent down to give Dan Huang a rub, and went straight to find Pei Shiyi.
Pei Shiyi was puzzled: “Song Gao isn’t off work yet. Why are you here?”
Bo Jin raised his eyes incredulously, giving Pei Shiyi a glance. This bird was acting quite innocent.
Pei Shiyi genuinely felt innocent. He met Bo Jin’s gaze for a moment, forced to admire the director’s glacier-like, vast ocean eyes.
Pei Shiyi: ?
For a moment, Pei Shiyi couldn’t quite grasp Bo Jin’s meaning. Was he here… to flaunt his good looks?
Pei Shiyi: “…I mean, Director Bo, I know your eyes are beautiful, but beautiful eyes can’t speak, can they? If you have something to say, just say it, okay? I still have to go out later.”
So this was how these two rare creatures usually interacted. Bai Jue’s eyelids twitched, fearing they might actually come to blows. He quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, lowering his voice: “Hello, Mr. Pei. I’m Bai Jue, the deputy director.”
Ah, the second-in-command of the Supernatural Management Bureau.
Pei Shiyi led the two up to the third floor: “Please make yourselves at home.”
Bo Jin casually scooped up Fondant, who had followed them upstairs, and settled into a random spot. After visiting the third floor just once, he had become a regular at the cat café’s top level. Little Fondant kneaded Bo Jin’s arm, purring contentedly.
The entire third floor was enveloped in the aura of a phoenix. Bai Jue, standing within it, felt as though the carpet beneath his feet had sprouted needles, making him deeply uncomfortable.
Truth be told, all divine beings in the world had a habit of marking their territory. Bo Jin was no exception. The office of this bureau director didn’t even have a second chair. It was completely unwelcoming to outsiders. So why did he seem so at ease now, in the private space of another powerful being? Or had three months of interaction led the director to treat the cat café as a second branch of the bureau, incorporating it into his own protective sphere?
Pei Shiyi brought over three drinks: “So, tell me, what exactly have I done wrong?”
Bai Jue grimaced: “Well… the thing is, we’re not entirely sure either.”
He carefully explained the issue with the instrument.
Pei Shiyi pondered for a long moment: “If we’re talking about violations… does a little bit of charm magic count? Isn’t it similar to the hypnosis used by modern demons?” He briefly recounted the events of the day, glossing over the details of Fondant’s lineage.
At the time, to make that Ms. Yu tell the truth and prevent future trouble, he had indeed used a bit of trickery.
Bo Jin said, “Of course, it counts. Otherwise, if you use charm magic today to make someone tell the truth, it’s no big deal, but tomorrow you might use it to seduce some young girl, and that’s not a minor issue.”
Pei Shiyi: “…”
He thought to himself: I’ve been in a good mood these past few days, so now this dragon thinks he can fly to the heavens?
Bai Jue hurriedly smoothed things over: “No, no, no, we’re not saying you’d seduce young girls. What the director means is that even though it’s not exactly dark magic, if some lecher were to misuse it, the consequences could be severe. So…”
Pei Shiyi finally heard something reasonable from Bai Jue and retorted irritably, “Am I that kind of person?”
Bo Jin poured oil on the fire Pei Shiyi had just managed to extinguish: “You use your eyes to flirt with people quite often.”
This bird couldn’t go a day without preening twice. It made him restless.
This was truly a baseless accusation dropped from the sky.
Pei Shiyi narrowed his eyes: “Explain yourself. Who exactly have I seduced?”
Bai Jue: “…”
He was on the verge of a breakdown. They were supposed to be discussing serious matters, so why was the director constantly bickering with Boss Pei? Arguing was one thing, but it didn’t even feel like a real fight. It looks like just a strangely charged banter.
He quickly intervened to stop the two powerful figures, struggling to steer the conversation back on track before the question of “Who exactly have I seduced?” could spiral further out of control.
“Ahem, regarding this situation, the Supernatural Management Bureau does have penalties.”
Penalties?!
Fondant, who had been kneading Bo Jin’s arm, suddenly perked up at the word “penalties”, her ears twitching several times: “Meow!” Sir, please don’t let the boss be punished, okay?
Although the little rascal hadn’t been paying much attention throughout, she still guessed that Bo Jin was in charge. Clinging to Bo Jin’s clothes, she rubbed her fluffy head against Bo Jin’s neck.
Pei Shiyi scooped up Fondant: “We don’t need to beg him.”
Bo Jin didn’t mind at all, reaching out to stroke Fondant’s back.
Pei Shiyi swatted Bo Jin’s hand away and asked Bai Jue, “What’s the punishment?”
Bai Jue: “…Actually, this matter isn’t too serious, but it can’t be considered minor either. The main issue is that you just came out of the observation period. The report states that if any problems arise within a month after the observation period ends, the observation period needs to be extended.”
Pei Shiyi’s expression gradually went blank: “What?”
Bai Jue cautiously replied: “Just an extension of the observation period, one month.”
Pei Shiyi: “…”
He slowly looked up and exchanged a glance with Bo Jin, letting out a long sigh. His eyes conveyed one clear message: Director Bo, you’re like a haunting ghost.
Bo Jin: Clearly, it’s you who can’t stay out of trouble.
Fondant, who he was holding, remained completely unaware of the undercurrents between the two. Instead, he turned his head and affectionately nudged Bo Jin: “Meow.” That’s great! Will you be making lunch from now on?
Bo Jin: “…”
A dignified bureau director living like a cook.
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Meow meow On TPH Chapter 26.1