The sunlight broke through the clouds, and the morning rays streamed into the cafe through the glass window.
Pei Shiyi crossed his legs and shifted away from the sunlight. “Or maybe a loan?” he suggested.
This was the most fitting solution he could think of in modern society.
Dan Huang’s eyes lit up at the reminder. “Boss! We can apply for a subsidy! Last month, there was an initiative to encourage non-human entrepreneurship, organized by the Supernatural Management Bureau. Participants in that program can receive subsidies and even loans. The process is much simpler than going through a bank. Oh, and there’s also poverty alleviation support! Even impoverished supernatural beings can apply!”
The Supernatural Management Bureau, officially known as the Bureau for Anomalous Phenomena, was responsible for managing non-humans and all events that couldn’t be explained by science. It also handled communication with the human government and could be considered the ultimate authority for all supernatural beings.
Feng Huang had emphasized this point over a dozen times before leaving, so Pei Shiyi had some understanding of the bureau.
Pei Shiyi’s opinion of the Supernatural Management Bureau immediately skyrocketed. Following Dan Huang’s guidance, he downloaded the bureau’s app, found the entrepreneurship encouragement program, and clicked to apply.
The program has been running since last year, targeting self-employed non-humans. It offered a range of support measures, including loans, subsidies, and entrepreneurial guidance.
If Pei Shiyi could secure this subsidy, the cat café would at least have some financial breathing room.
Pei Shiyi skimmed through the program’s description on the webpage, confirmed that he met the requirements, and signed up for the initiative. After filling out two forms, a dialogue window popped up.
“Hello, your application has been successfully submitted and will be reviewed within two hours.”
With the application now submitted, opening the cat café was practically a done deal. Even if Pei Shiyi had second thoughts earlier, it was too late to back out now. He mulled over the three essential elements of a cat café: cats, desserts, and ambiance.
The décor would set the mood. He could find designers and pastry chefs online. But the real problem remained: what about the cats?
Pei Shiyi had never visited other cat cafés. But if the selling point was relaxation and the freedom to indulge in cat cuddles, the cats would need to be friendly, unafraid of strangers, and not too young.
From Pei Shiyi’s perspective, the two kittens in the shop were still too small, barely able to walk, and not in the best of health. They were completely unsuitable for “work”.
The cats needed for the café had to be beautiful, well-tempered, and fully grown adults. Where could he find so many cats that met these requirements in such a short time?
Pei Shiyi sighed in frustration. “Finding the right cats won’t be easy.”
Dan Huang cautiously spoke up, “Actually, I have a friend… I could try messaging her to see if she’s willing to come. But, boss, my friend is a bit aloof, not the clingy and affectionate type. Still, she has a good temperament and doesn’t mind humans.”
Pei Shiyi said, “Go ahead and ask her. Room and board are provided, but I can’t promise much in terms of salary. The only extra I can offer is guidance in cultivation.”
Dan Huang was stunned, then exclaimed excitedly, “Then she’ll definitely agree to come!”
He didn’t know exactly what Pei Shiyi was, but judging by his ability to maintain a stable human form, his cultivation level was surely far beyond that of a minor spirit like Dan Huang, who couldn’t even shapeshift. Moreover, powerful supernatural beings willing to teach cultivation to minor spirits were rare. Most either focused on their own descendants or kept to themselves, leaving minor spirits like Dan Huang to fumble through their cultivation on their own.
If the boss made teaching cultivation a perk of the cat café, even without pay, food, or lodging, countless little demons would be flocking to their doorstep.
Dan Huang tapped his paws, unable to contain his excitement.
“By the way,” Pei Shiyi asked, “what kind of cat is your friend?”
Dan Huang replied, “A Linqing Lion Cat, a girl named Yun Chao.”
Lion Cats, a prized breed in ancient times, often found in wealthy households and deep courtyards, have seen their popularity wane in the face of trendy foreign breeds like American Shorthairs, British Shorthairs, and especially Ragdolls, which are famously known as “walking bundles of cash” for their stunning looks.
In reality, though, Lion Cats are no less beautiful than Ragdolls. Their fluffy, oversized “scarves” are particularly enchanting. The rarest and most striking among them are the pure white Lion Cats with gold and silver eyes. Dan Huang’s friend happened to be one, with snow-white fur and striking heterochromatic eyes, one yellow and one blue.
Dan Huang sat up, raising his front paws to gesture. “Boss, even though Yun Chao is aloof, she’s truly gorgeous. She’s this big! Covered in fur, her mane is this long, and her almond-shaped eyes are heterochromatic! Just place her here, and that’s enough! No one can resist the extraordinary beauty of a cat.”
Pei Shiyi, of course, had seen Lion Cats before. His family had once kept one, so he knew just how stunning they were. When seated, they looked like a painting. If a snow-white Lion Cat were curled up on a sofa or soft chaise piled with cushions and blankets, most people would gladly climb up and spend some quality time with the cat.
Imagining the scene, Pei Shiyi remarked, “No one can resist beautiful creatures.”
He smiled slightly, leaning down to rub Dan Huang’s plump little belly. “But our manager Dan Huang is also quite charming.”
The texture was truly delightful.
Pei Shiyi rubbed his fingers together, finding Dan Huang’s sturdy chubbiness oddly soothing. He was beginning to understand the appeal of the popular “cat petting” culture and had a good idea of the kind of atmosphere customers hoped to experience when visiting the café.
Dan Huang puffed out his chest, rubbing his chin against Pei Shiyi’s hand with pride, then trotted off with his tail held high to call Yun Chao.
Just then, Pei Shiyi’s application was approved, and the other party called him on the number he had provided.
“Hello, may I speak to Mr. Pei Shiyi?”
A particularly gentle female voice came through the phone.
Pei Shiyi replied, “Yes, is this the Supernatural Management Bureau?”
The woman said, “That’s right. Your application has been approved. Would you have time to come to our office in the next two days to complete the formalities? We’ll also need to verify your situation. If everything checks out, our support will be provided as quickly as possible.”
Pei Shiyi said, “Sure, I can come tomorrow.”
“Great. The Supernatural Management Bureau is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please bring a printed copy of your application to Room 6607 on the 66th floor tomorrow to complete the process.”
After hanging up, Dan Huang trotted back with the phone in his mouth, his belly wobbling with excitement. “Boss, Yun Chao agreed! She said she can arrive the day after tomorrow.”
With that, the cat café would have two cats. If they couldn’t recruit enough cats for the time being, Pei Shiyi could just open the first floor and use the second as a rest area.
Pei Shiyi said, “Progress is smooth. The application has just been replied to. After verification in a couple of days, the funds should be approved. As for how things will be after opening… it probably won’t be too bad.”
Dan Huang raised his tail high and flattered, “It definitely won’t be bad! With you as the boss, we have no pressure when it comes to promotion! Just you and Yun Chao standing at the entrance, and we’ll have customers flocking in like clouds!”
He was genuinely excited. This shabby, tiny cat café had always been his home. Unfortunately, its operations had never been respectable, barely scraping by. Now, with a new boss, everything seemed to be turning around.
Pei Shiyi said modestly, “It’s not that exaggerated… I’m not a peacock. I can’t just stand in front of the shop and display my feathers… We have to leave some room for other shops to survive.” Although he did share some kinship with peacocks, he still couldn’t actually display his feathers.
Pei Shiyi was tall and slender, with a somewhat thin frame that gave him a delicate, almost sickly air. However, this fragility was not reflected in his appearance. On the contrary, he had striking arched eyebrows and phoenix-like eyes, exuding an intense vitality that seemed to surge from the depths of his bones.
He was a delight to behold. The kind of unrestrained, vibrant energy that made one feel refreshed just by looking at him.
Even from Dan Huang’s feline perspective, his appearance was flawless.
In a society obsessed with good looks, having a face like that already put him ahead of the game!
…
The next day, Pei Shiyi took the subway to the Supernatural Management Bureau.
The Supernatural Management Bureau had branches everywhere, but its headquarters happened to be in Yuchuan City, just one stop away from the cat café. The headquarters was hidden inside an office building that looked like an ordinary twelve-story structure from the outside, with the name “Zhangwei Group” written on the main entrance. Only non-human beings could see a line of small golden characters beneath “Zhangwei Group”, which read: “Supernatural Management Bureau.”
The entire building was enveloped in a formation. Inside, it undoubtedly concealed another world. Just standing outside the entrance, one could sense the faint, immense spiritual energy circulating within, carrying a subtle hint of moisture.
Pei Shiyi’s gaze fell on the group name at the entrance—Zhangwei, the far northern land where the mythical Zhulong resided.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, already guessing the true form of the bureau chief.
Pei Shiyi stood at the entrance for a moment. Just as he was about to enter, he heard steady footsteps behind him. He turned and saw a tall man walking in against the morning light, his eyes slightly lowered, not even looking at the path as he strode directly to the elevator. The man took out a card and swiped it. The elevator display lit up slightly, showing that the elevator was slowly descending.
His features were impeccably handsome, but his expression was one of incomprehensible world-weariness.
Out of appreciation for beautiful things (specifically, the face), Pei Shiyi savored that expression. It is so despondent and dejected, as if he could hibernate on the spot if given a pillow. Fortunately, he had a fine appearance, making even his dejected state pleasing to the eye.
Sensing Pei Shiyi’s gaze, the man glanced at him as he stepped into the elevator. Perhaps because Pei Shiyi’s stare was too noticeable, he looked at him once more before the elevator doors closed.
Pei Shiyi tapped his forehead, remembering that he was here on official business. He headed to the front desk with his documents.
The two receptionists had kept their heads down since the man entered, only hurriedly putting on sweet smiles when Pei Shiyi approached them. “Hello, this is Zhangwei Group. How may we assist you?”
From the way the man had swiped his card earlier, it was clear that not just anyone could take the elevator. It required authorization.
Pei Shiyi said, “I applied for the self-employment incentive subsidy. Could you tell me how to get to the 66th floor?”
The receptionist quickly replied, “Is this your first time here? Please hand me your ID card. Once it’s verified, you can take the elevator.”
Pei Shiyi handed over his ID.
The receptionist took it, placed it on a device resembling a time clock, pressed a few buttons, and then returned the ID to Pei Shiyi. “Just swipe your card in front of the elevator. Once inside, press the floor button directly.”
Pei Shiyi hadn’t expected the realm of gods, immortals, demons, and spirits to utilize such high-tech methods. Intrigued, he glanced at the device a few more times before heading toward the elevator.
As he stepped inside and looked up, he noticed a slogan in red letters against a white background: “Achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and non-humans, and build a better society together.”
Pei Shiyi: “…”
From the outside, Zhangwei Group appeared to have only twelve floors, but after swiping his card in the elevator, a row of buttons from one to sixty-six appeared.
The 66th floor, Pei Shiyi’s destination, was the top floor. The hallway was empty of “people”. Every open office exuded various auras—demons, monsters, ghosts, zombies, and even Buddhas. The closed doors, sealed with barriers, kept their auras from leaking out.
Pei Shiyi wrinkled his nose, slightly overwhelmed by the mix.
He quickly found Office 6607, knocked, and entered. Once inside, he paused in surprise. The man he had seen in the lobby was also in the office, accompanied by a listless mythical beast.
The beast resembled a leopard, but upon closer inspection, its facial features were somewhat human-like, with a pair of ox-like ears. Its brilliant golden fur was covered in rose-like patterns, and its extremely long tail coiled several times around its body. One of its eyes was closed, the other open, giving the illusion from a distance that it had only one eye.
This was a Zhujian, a mythical beast of immense strength, skilled in archery. When Pei Shiyi was young, powerful demons often kept them as beloved pets, fond of stroking their tails endlessly—much like modern people keeping cats, though Zhujians were far more ferocious.
The man was speaking with a young man with glasses behind another desk.
Pei Shiyi glanced briefly before turning away, carrying his printed application toward the desk marked “Entrepreneurship Incentive Working Group”.
“Excuse me, I’m Pei Shiyi. I applied for the entrepreneurship incentive yesterday.”
Long Que, who had been watching the confrontation between their boss and the head of the poverty alleviation group, turned at the sound of an exceptionally clear and pleasant voice. Her eyes lit up upon seeing the speaker. Not only was the man strikingly handsome, but his demeanor was also remarkably amiable.
Long Que said gently, “Hello, I’m Long Que. I’ve reviewed your application. You’re planning to open a cat café and are experiencing some financial difficulties, is that right?”
Pei Shiyi replied, “Actually, I’m also having some issues with hiring staff.”
Long Que asked, “Short on manpower?”
Pei Shiyi clarified, “And short on cats.”
Long Que was taken aback. “…Short on cats?”
Pei Shiyi nodded, “The cats currently in the cat café are all cultivated beings. If we bring in other cats, I’d prefer them to have awakened spiritual intelligence as well. Otherwise, we’d have to care for them separately in daily operations, which would cause a lot of trouble.”
This was something he had pondered the night before. Both Dan Huang and Yun Chao were cat demons, so for now, it seemed more appropriate to recruit other cat demons.
Long Que slapped her thigh enthusiastically, “That’s perfect! You could even help us tackle the employment difficulties of non-human creatures who haven’t yet taken human form!”
“What a coincidence! The poverty alleviation group next door has a cat right now. Our boss was just discussing with the group leader about where to place it. This works out great. We can just assign it to you.”
Long Que pointed a finger.
Pei Shiyi followed her gaze and was surprised to see that Long Que was pointing at Zhujian, who was lying on the ground!
Zhujian, with his human face and leopard-like body: “??”
How could you call him a cat just because he looks like a leopard?
Pei Shiyi propped his chin on his hand and circled Zhujian with keen interest, thinking Long Que’s suggestion was brilliant.
The head of the poverty alleviation group adjusted his glasses and agreed, “Actually, it’s a very good idea. What do you think, Director?”
The man’s eyes shifted slightly. Instead of looking at Zhujian, he fixed his gaze on Pei Shiyi. Perhaps due to drowsiness, his gaze felt light and insubstantial, as if it could drift away at any moment. “Not for now.”
Pei Shiyi was taken aback.
Long Que blurted out, “Why not, Boss?”
The man stepped closer to Pei Shiyi. He was slightly taller. His eyes lowered slightly as he looked at Pei Shiyi, his expression calm and devoid of contempt.
Pei Shiyi, unaccustomed to such proximity, instinctively leaned back.
But the man bent slightly forward, sniffing near Pei Shiyi’s neck. Then he lifted his eyes and said coldly, “All non-humans with cultivation levels capable of causing severe destruction must register with the bureau, but I don’t recall sensing an aura like yours.”
Pei Shiyi was so unnerved by the sniffing that goosebumps rose all over his body. He lowered his voice and gritted his teeth, “My apologies. I didn’t realize the esteemed bureau director was part dog.”
For the winged races, nuzzling necks was one of the most intimate gestures.
Unfortunately, Pei Shiyi’s true form was a long-haired, flying creature.
Author’s Note:
The Director: Stepping on landmines at the first meeting with my boyfriend (lost in thought…)
Shiyi could guess from “Zhangwei” that the Director was a Zhulong, but the Director didn’t know what race Shiyi belonged to, so he accidentally stepped on a mine right from the start. Please forgive this poor soul.
Zhujian is from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. For convenience, I’ve taken some creative liberties (the original text describes Zhujian as having only one eye, but I’ve given him two, though one remains closed. Also, the original describes him as having a human head and leopard body, but I couldn’t quite wrap my head around that, so I just made him a small leopard instead.)
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wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1