Shameless as he was, Boss Pei certainly had the capital to show off. Who could blame him when he possessed a face that could drive people to distraction?
With a single glance from him, a thousand acres of sunlight and sunset seemed to converge in his eyes, radiant and dazzling, enough to unsettle even the ancient Buddha in the temple, let alone mere mortals.
After all, he was a phoenix. A divine creature born from bathing in flames and adorned with moonlight and rosy clouds, inherently skilled at captivating lives.
The reporter who came for the interview stepped inside and saw Pei Shiyi. Before even uttering a word, their face flushed crimson, almost too embarrassed to look at him.
Goodness, no one had mentioned that this public-spirited citizen was so handsome. Mr. Bo, who had brought them in, was also good-looking, equally so. But his beauty was icy, the kind that made you drowsy if you stared too long. No ordinary person dared to look for too long anyway.
The rookie reporter struggled to maintain their professionalism, first stammering through an introduction of their purpose, then asking Pei Shiyi if an interview would be possible.
Pei Shiyi held Song Gao, who had come to greet Director Bo: “Of course, please come in and have a seat.”
The first floor of the cat café maintained its normal business appearance, making it perfect for receiving guests.
All the cats had come downstairs. Pei Shiyi guessed the program would want to feature the rescued kittens, so he had brought them down as well. Having just woken from a nap, they were now at their liveliest, clamoring for milk and playfully piling on top of each other on the spacious cushion.
As the reporter stepped inside the cat café, they felt their eyes were no longer enough. The décor was beautiful, the cats were adorable, and the people were stunning. How could anyone take it all in?
But today, they were here to interview a person.
The reporter carefully sat on what looked like an expensive rug: “Hello, sir. We’re from the program 《Major Event News》. Recently, the cases of multiple missing pets in Yuchuan were successfully solved. We heard you provided significant assistance?”
Pei Shiyi was taken aback. He had assumed the program crew was here to interview him about adopting kittens. How had it turned into assisting with solving a case? Bo Jin hadn’t mentioned this beforehand. Was he supposed to improvise on the spot?
Bo Jin casually scooped up the sneaky Tong Qian, holding the cat while covering for Pei Shiyi: “After their whereabouts were exposed, the thieves attempted to relocate some of the pets, including twelve kittens and an adult Norwegian Forest Cat. Fortunately, Mr. Pei noticed and intervened in time, thwarting the thieves’ plans.”
The reporter asked, “Could you elaborate on what happened that night?”
Pei Shiyi: “…”
He cleared his throat.
Although Pei Shiyi loved showing off in front of Bo Jin, he certainly wasn’t in the habit of boasting about himself in front of a crowd. On the contrary, he tended to be more reserved when others were around.
Pei Shiyi glanced at Bo Jin and polished the events of that night, carefully crafting a gentle and approachable image for himself. The real version was too violent. After all, he couldn’t very well say he had beaten both the people and the wolves into submission, could he?
The young reporter listened with shining eyes. Of course! The owner of a cat café had a gentle heart, not only taking the initiative to intercept the thieves but also adopting the unclaimed cats.
Twelve kittens. Such tiny cats couldn’t entertain guests like the older ones, so they were essentially being cared for for free. That was twelve cats, no small expense, and they’d be a financial drain until they grew up. Truly, the owner of a cat café was a kind-hearted soul filled with love for cats.
Pei Shiyi: “…”
Faced with the reporter’s gaze, Pei Shiyi dug up a shred of his scattered conscience and felt a twinge of guilt. This reporter might have crafted a gentle and amiable persona for him, aligning him with all sorts of healing-type male characters.
After finishing the video recording, the reporter said contentedly, “Can we see the cats you rescued?”
Pei Shiyi turned slightly. “No problem. They’re right here.”
The reporter quickly stood up and followed him. The kittens were all curled up on cushions, basking in the sun, while the larger cats, with their varying shades of fur, lay with their chins resting on their front paws, eyes half-closed. Hearing the movement, they turned their heads, their eyes like flowing streams, gentle and serene. The sheer curtains filtered the sunlight, leaving only a soft glow as it fell into the cat café, outlining the fluffy forms with gentle shadows.
No artificial embellishment was needed. It was already a painting. The cameraman held his breath. If such a scene were captured in a photo, it could easily be used as promotional material for the cat café.
So this was the feeling of being in a cat café. Light and soft, as if floating on feathers, with one’s heart sinking into the soft fur, all messy thoughts vanish.
The reporter stared blankly for a while. It was only then that she understood why cat cafés were so popular. It was magical. These fluffy creatures seemed to possess a kind of enchantment.
The reporter secretly resolved: I must find time to visit this cat café.
How could such a cat café not become popular?!
…
The cat café’s account on Bishui Station also posted an update about the café’s ongoing upgrades, apologizing for missing this week’s update and leaving fans itching with anticipation. Moreover, this teasing official account hinted in the update that with the opening of the second floor, new cats would join the café.
When the cats’ “cloud parents” deciphered this message from the lines, they were all stunned. New cats were coming!
Ahhh! More little cuties? What kind of cats will they be? With the second floor opening and the café expanding, there should be at least four, five, six, or seven new cats, right?
However, no matter how much they asked, the cat café’s official account refused to reveal even a hint. Until one day, they posted an update, a GIF. In the image, a thick, rounded tail quickly retracted into a cat bed.
Comments:
“That big fluffy tail is killing me.”
“This pattern! Silver tabby?”
“Fluffy and adorable. When will updates resume? I still want to see Fondant and Song Gao.”
“Aw, is there only one new cat? I’m not satisfied! I could handle ten. I’d pet them all bald!”
The comment section went wild with guesses based on the fur color and tail size, matching every breed they could think of.
And the thought that the cat café employees were already petting the new cats made fans bite their handkerchiefs, their hearts itching with envy.
The “cloud parents” were so pitiful, so desperate. They could only go back and rewatch old videos to get by.
What the fans didn’t know was that even the cat café employees hadn’t gotten to pet the new cats yet. In fact, they were in an even worse situation. Seeing but not being able to touch was more painful than not seeing at all!
Friday
The renovation of the second floor was finally complete. Zhou Yan was the first to arrive at the cat café that day.
Tasked with filming a video for the cat café, he naturally had to arrive early to prepare for the introduction video of the second floor.
When he entered the cat café, he found that even Dan Huang, the most diligent worker, wasn’t on the first floor. The entire first floor was empty.
Zhou Yan scratched his head and headed straight for the second floor.
The staircase was the same familiar one. But as he turned the landing and looked up, the scene before him was distinctly different from the first floor—
Chinese style.
The entire staircase and its entrance served as a transition in style, leaning toward warm tones. Unlike the extravagant use of overly solemn red often seen in TV dramas, the overall feel remained gentle and understated. Though it contrasted sharply with the first floor, it evoked a similar atmosphere.
And there was a large glass room, with a small door at its base, partially hidden by lush potted plants. It was a special entrance and exit for the cats.
This glass room occupied nearly a quarter of the second floor. Surprisingly, such a large, modern glass structure blended seamlessly into the Chinese-style decor.
Inside the glass room were kittens in various poses.
Among them was a large cat he had never seen before.
Zhou Yan: Damn! The boss actually kept such a beautiful cat hidden away!
Boss, what kind of immortal are you? How do you keep bringing home such gorgeous cats, one after another?
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Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152