Even if Fondant’s a little troublemaker, she’s one that Director Bo personally spoiled.
With no other choice, Director Bo took off his suit jacket and went into the kitchen to fry some fish belly and chicken liver, also preparing nutritious convalescent meals for Penny and the golden retriever.
Yun Chao rarely ate anything after dinner time in the evening. Seeing that Fondant hadn’t eaten enough, she pushed her own plate over for her.
The kittens, having drunk their fill of milk, had already piled together and fallen asleep, each with their own sleeping posture, lying haphazardly in a box. Dan Huang was worried and kept glancing over after every few bites, making four or five trips back and forth during the meal.
Bo Jin dried his hands and sat down beside Pei Shiyi.
Yun Chao, not eating anything, had already snuggled into Pei Shiyi’s arms, gently swishing her fluffy tail, her chin resting in the crook of Pei Shiyi’s arm.
Miss Penny, the forest cat, had been secretly observing the cats here. She really liked the atmosphere. On the way here, the young cat café owner had introduced her to the Xian Chan Cat Café.
In Penny’s home country, there were also cat cafés, but this was Penny’s first time visiting one. The cats here were completely different from what she had imagined. They weren’t trained to be dull and wooden. Each had their own personality.
It would probably be quite happy to live here.
Penny lay down on the cushion, and Fondant, having finished her meal, came over to rub against her.
This little Ragdoll was sweet to the point of being clingy. If she weren’t especially doted on, she definitely wouldn’t have developed such a personality.
And then there was the cold-looking lion cat in the owner’s arms. Penny hadn’t seen such a beautiful member of her own kind in many years. So arrogantly indifferent, yet with gentle eyes when she came over to give a lick.
The little boys, though rowdy, were well-mannered. Despite being full of curiosity about her, they noticed her injuries and approached carefully.
This place was truly wonderful.
Penny felt drowsiness wash over her and slowly fell asleep.
Pei Shiyi picked up a comb nearby and began grooming Yun Chao’s fur, saying, “What do those people steal cats for? They have to raise these tiny kittens after stealing them. Why don’t they just breed their own?”
Bo Jin: “Breeding their own is too costly. They only want cats with good potential that can become spiritually attuned when they grow up. Such spiritually intelligent cats are rare. Raising a thousand just to get one isn’t cost-effective for them.”
Yun Chao’s gently swishing tail was right beside his hand. Bo Jin watched for a while before reaching out to stroke her back. The little girl was in a good mood now, so a few strokes shouldn’t be a problem.
But a girl’s tail shouldn’t be touched casually.
Yun Chao glanced back at him before lazily resting her head back in Pei Shiyi’s arm.
Bo Jin: “Stolen adult cats with owners will definitely be returned. The rest are kittens that need new homes. Besides this litter, the Supernatural Management Bureau has a few more, making twelve in total…”
All the fluffy creatures in the room pricked up their ears at once. Dan Huang desperately signaled to Pei Shiyi with his eyes: Go for it, Boss! If we get them, they’ll be ours!
Pei Shiyi: “What? All of them for me? Let me make this clear. If you give them all to me, I won’t hold back. The cat café is short on cats anyway.”
Yun Chao even changed her previously indifferent attitude, actively placing her pink, furry paw into Bo Jin’s palm, generously indicating he could squeeze it as he pleased.
Bo Jin gently kneaded Yun Chao’s paw pad: “If I don’t give them to you, no one else can raise so many cats. What I wanted to say is that among them is a Mengji, almost grown, with a pretty bad temper. You should go see tomorrow if you want to take it in. If not, I’ll figure something else out.”
Mengji, a mythical beast that reigns as king in the snowy realms, has a form resembling a leopard, excelling in ambush, leaping, and climbing. In terms of temperament, it is even fiercer and more solitary than the Zhujian. Pei Shiyi’s strongest impression of Mengji is its tail. Mengji possesses a large, fluffy tail nearly as long as its body. Unlike the soft, fluffy tails of long-haired cats, Mengji’s tail is densely furred, with a more solid texture.
Hmm, even such a fierce big cat, Pei Shiyi had played with before.
Tong Qian, full and sprawled on the rug, smacked his lips and said, “I know Mengji. Their temper is indeed not great, and they’re a bit silly. They’re easily startled, jumping sky-high when frightened. Come to think of it, I fought with a Mengji when I was little.”
Hard to believe this silly cat had the nerve to call other cats silly.
Pei Shiyi remarked, “Why send one nearly grown to a cat café? This isn’t like Tong Qian coming here to work. He’s bound to feel awkward.”
Although Tong Qian was forcibly hired, Mengji was rescued by the Supernatural Management Bureau and sent directly here. The processes differ. Mengji might inevitably feel like an outsider.
Bo Jin explained, “Logically, it shouldn’t be this way. That child has lost both parents and hasn’t been living well alone. Otherwise, such a large mythical beast wouldn’t have been captured. But that child’s temper is too volatile and could harm others, and his shapeshifting is unstable. We still need to find a temporary guardian for him.”
Mengji are fierce beasts. This young one has an especially bad temper, requiring someone capable of keeping him in check.
Pei Shiyi pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “I can’t give you a definite answer. Raising another cat isn’t a big deal, but you’ve seen the daily operations of the cat café. During business hours, people come and go constantly. If Mengji’s temperament is as you describe, he’s simply not suited for a public setting. And with such a large cat, I can’t just lock him upstairs. Raising a child takes time. It can’t be solved by scolding or confinement.”
Moreover, Pei Shiyi had reviewed the many regulations of the Supernatural Management Bureau. Penalties for intentional harm are severe. If Mengji stays at the cat café, he might encounter unreasonable customers, undoubtedly increasing the risk of harm.
Bo Jin understood this as well. “If it really doesn’t work, I’ll go back and discuss it with Song Gao. After all, Song Gao comes here during the day and won’t be alone with Mengji. When I return at night, I should be able to keep a Mengji in check.”
Pei Shiyi pinched Yun Chao’s paw pads, frowning slightly.
Raising a child this way clearly wouldn’t solve the problem and might instead deepen Mengji’s sense of isolation.
He clicked his tongue and said, “Though it’s easy to talk without bearing the burden, I have to say your method won’t work. If he’s left alone without communicating with others, how will he learn to control his temper? Most likely, he’ll grow more twisted and isolated. When he’s released as an adult, you’ll have even more trouble on your hands.”
Dan Huang nodded repeatedly. “That’s true. Children still need proper guidance.”
Bo Jin, as a Zhulong, had grown up without parents, raised roughly and alone, unaware of this approach to raising children. He was momentarily taken aback.
Pei Shiyi wasn’t one to idly chatter without substance, and this was no trivial matter. He said, “I’ll go with you tomorrow to take a look. It’s best to bring him here.”
When Pei Shiyi was young, he had been quite unruly himself. He refused to believe that this Mengji could be more outrageous than he had been.
…
The next day
Pei Shiyi gave instructions to the furry children at home before leaving, filled with a hundred worries.
Dan Huang crouched by the door. “Don’t worry, boss. I’ll keep an eye on the kittens. They’re already over two months old. They’re not that fragile.”
Pei Shiyi said, “Miss Penny is still asleep. Don’t disturb her. Her injuries haven’t healed yet, so let her rest properly.”
Dan Huang nodded. “Got it. Hurry back, boss.”
Pei Shiyi rubbed the cat’s head. “I’ll head over now, then.”
Dan Huang waved a paw.
Bo Jin had been waiting at the Supernatural Management Bureau, leaning against an office doorway with Song Gao tucked in his arms. The larger one looked drowsy, the smaller one bleary-eyed. Both were standing there, dozing off.
“Why not wait inside?”
Pei Shiyi walked over.
Hearing the familiar voice, Song Gao snapped his eyes open. “Sir!”
Pei Shiyi took Song Gao’s little paw. “Good morning, Song Gao.”
Song Gao clung to Bo Jin’s hand, trying to nuzzle Pei Shiyi’s face. “Are you here to pick up the kittens, sir? I want to see them, too.”
Pei Shiyi obligingly bent down, the soft, furry touch brushing his cheek. “Alright, we’ll go together.”
Straightening up, he said, “Let’s go.”
Bo Jin always seemed to have endless sleep to catch up on, his eyes still listless. “This room. Mengji and the kittens are both in here.”
He pushed open the door. The office had been temporarily cleared out, with two desks still inside. In the corner diagonally across from the door, a large, white-and-black-spotted ball was curled up, facing away from them, its fluffy tail particularly eye-catching. Even hearing the voices, it only twitched its ears, refusing to turn around, continuing its self-imposed isolation.
Bo Jin tapped Pei Shiyi’s hand lightly with a bent finger, signaling: Mengji.
He transmitted his voice to Pei Shiyi: “He’s been like this since he arrived, curled up all night without moving. Anyone who tries to persuade him gets growled at, but at least he hasn’t bitten anyone.”
Pei Shiyi nodded. So the little Mengji wasn’t beyond reason.
He pretended not to see Mengji and walked straight toward Long Que.
Long Que was inside taking care of the kittens, holding two bottles to feed them, flustered by the little ones swarming around her.
Pei Shiyi chuckled. “The kittens are already over two months old. You don’t need bottles. Just bring a few shallow dishes.”
Long Que smacked her forehead. “Oh, right! I’ll go look for some. There should be some around.”
She put down the bottles and hurried out to find shallow dishes.
Pei Shiyi handed one bottle to Bo Jin and continued feeding.
Song Gao whispered, “They’re so tiny.”
“Mhm,” Pei Shiyi scooped up a little kitten. “Song Gao used to be this small, too. They’ll all grow up one day. Song Gao will become a majestic Bì’an. That will be absolutely beautiful.”
Song Gao clung to the box.
It was so incredible. Such tiny kittens could one day grow as big as him. Would that orange one grow as plump as the shop manager?
Pei Shiyi held Song Gao up. “Look at that tabby cat, doesn’t it look like the shop manager?”
Song Gao nodded. “Will it get chubby?”
Bo Jin said, “Chubby is cute, too.”
And very nice to pet.
Song Gao exclaimed, “There’s a cat here with curly ears! What kind of cat is that?”
Pei Shiyi explained, “That’s an American Curl. It’s a foreign breed. Their ears curl backward, and they have a very cute appearance. See how its ears look like a little hamster’s?”
This litter of kittens included both domestic and pedigree cats. Song Gao asked about every one he didn’t recognize.
Pei Shiyi ran a cat café. In just a few months, he had taught himself from a beginner to a cat-raising expert. He could talk about any breed of cat.
Not to mention Song Gao, even Bo Jin was listening intently, all the while not missing a beat as he fed all the kittens.
Pei Shiyi glanced out of the corner of his eye at Mengji in the corner, who had already discreetly turned his ears, listening with rapt attention.
Just as Pei Shiyi was recounting the legends related to Egyptian cats, he suddenly stopped.
Song Gao, completely absorbed, anxiously urged, “Sir—”
Pei Shiyi raised an eyebrow with a smile, pressing a finger to his lips to signal patience.
Song Gao nodded understandingly.
However, while he could restrain his curiosity, the white-and-black-striped ball of fur in the corner couldn’t hold back any longer. It quietly turned its head, just in time to meet Pei Shiyi’s teasing gaze.
The large, fluffy creature, with its tail in its mouth, first shrank back, then mustered up its courage to glare at Pei Shiyi.
Curious, pitiful, and fierce all at once.
Author’s Note:
Pei Shiyi: Telling stories to coax the children.
Bo Jin: Listening to stories.
Long Que: Hey, where’s my plate?
Mengji’s true form is a snow leopard. You can search for pictures. They’re thick, fluffy, and especially adorable!
If you enjoy my works and would like to support me, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi. Thank you for your support.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152