The strikingly beautiful and rare Pei Shiyi, who was also quite formidable, had finally received both a subsidy and a loan. Combined, the amount wasn’t small. If the cat café only operated on one floor, it would definitely be enough.
The cat café now had two large cats. With Yun Chao, that made three. Pei Shiyi had already decided to use only the first floor as the business area. After estimating the floor’s size, he concluded that five cats would be the ideal number.
So now, he was short by two.
After calculating and recalculating, Pei Shiyi realized he didn’t have enough cats, so he had to ask Long Que to help him keep an eye out for any mythical beasts or spirits like Tong Qian who needed work and had a cat-like appearance. The only requirements were a good temperament and a friendly disposition toward humans.
Long Que readily agreed. Her neighboring desk was the poverty alleviation group, which frequently dealt with non-humans short on funds.
However, the requirement of being friendly toward humans made Long Que a bit hesitant. Those in urgent need of poverty alleviation were usually beings who had just entered the human world and tended to be wary of humans.
Although Long Que had agreed to help Pei Shiyi, she still advised him to prepare for the possibility of not finding any suitable cats.
Pei Shiyi decided to take matters into his own hands and wrote a recruitment notice: “This establishment is now hiring one working cat. Gender is not a restriction. Adults only. Must have a gentle and friendly personality. Benefits include food, accommodation, and grooming. Wages negotiable.”
He placed the small blackboard with its bold chalk writing on the windowsill of the floor-to-ceiling window. The amusing wording caught the attention of many passersby, who couldn’t help but stop and take a second look. Young people giggled as they took out their phones to snap photos and share them on their social media feeds or in their friend circles.
On the day the subsidy funds from the Supernatural Management Bureau arrived, Pei Shiyi successfully contacted an interior designer online. The designer was a professional, so Pei Shiyi only needed to describe the style he wanted.
Since the cat café included the word “café”, it naturally needed the tranquil ambiance of a coffee shop, but it couldn’t be too formal. It should lean more toward the style of a milk tea shop.
However, Xian Chan didn’t have large glass walls, and its layout was rather winding. A whimsical, fairy-tale style with a touch of mystery would suit it perfectly.
“…Summer is approaching, so it would be best to lay woven rugs on the floor. The first floor will also need to be divided into a counter for ordering and a dining area,” Pei Shiyi explained. Though he wasn’t well-versed in interior design, the winged race had an innate sensitivity to beauty.
The designer, a cat lover himself, couldn’t help but feel captivated just by the first half of Pei Shiyi’s description. He secretly began planning a day when he could sneak away from his own cat to visit.
But after surveying the space, the designer’s excitement quickly cooled. The first floor was spacious, but the layout was far from ideal. It was irregular and dimly lit, with poor natural light. Achieving the style Pei Shiyi described would be a challenging task.
Noticing the designer’s prolonged silence, Pei Shiyi smiled and asked, “Mr. Kong?”
The designer’s enthusiasm flared up again. “Don’t worry, I’ll do my absolute best to create the atmosphere you’re looking for!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he nearly broke down in tears: Why had he agreed so confidently?
It must be because this Mr. Pei was just too unfairly handsome.
Kong Fanyang thought to himself.
But words spoken were like water spilled. Once Kong Fanyang had promised to deliver that specific vibe, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and see it through.
Pei Shiyi smiled as he sent off the designer, who now wore a troubled expression.
While the designer and Pei Shiyi were discussing ideas, Tong Qian and Dan Huang officially met for the first time.
Although Dan Huang was just an ordinary cat demon, not an extraordinary creature like Zhujian, he still had centuries of cultivation and wasn’t afraid of Tong Qian. What worried him was whether they would get along.
Leopard cats are such a rare and precious breed. Even if Tong Qian wasn’t a true leopard cat, he was still a creature of the deep night and dense forests, with a temperament entirely different from that of a domestic cat.
Dan Huang could already imagine how humans would react upon seeing Tong Qian: circling him, taking photos and videos nonstop, and showering him with endless praise.
The two kitten siblings, still naive, were playing with Dan Huang’s tail.
Dan Huang glanced back at them before walking over to Tong Qian.
Tong Qian watched in astonishment as a mountain of orange fur slowly approached. Despite having legs that weren’t short, Dan Huang’s belly hovered just centimeters above the ground. His round face, set against his massive frame, appeared surprisingly delicate and charming, with rather refined features.
Tong Qian had seen chubby cats before, but never one this large. Even the best-fed strays outside still had to fight for territory, which limited their ability to grow unrestrained. Their plumpness was always kept in check.
Dan Huang, however, was different. He had always stayed in the cat café, eating three meals a day with extra treats from customers. No other cat ever challenged his position, so he could grow as plump as he pleased.
Yet, he was undeniably handsome. He’s a chubby cat with an air of elegance.
As Dan Huang drew near, Tong Qian remained as still as a mountain. He seemed like a gentle and amiable cat, which put Dan Huang at ease. Dan Huang leaned in and licked Tong Qian’s ear.
Having spent so much time caring for the two kittens, Dan Huang was skilled at grooming. Tong Qian, who had been sitting with his tail curled around him, gradually relaxed under Dan Huang’s licks. Bathed in the warm sunlight, he slowly closed his eyes and nestled into Dan Huang’s soft belly.
Leopard cats were agile and light. Compared to the hefty Dan Huang, Tong Qian seemed almost petite, fitting perfectly into the fluffy expanse of Dan Huang’s belly.
When Pei Shiyi walked up to the second floor, this was the scene that greeted him: the large orange cat curled around the smaller one, while the two tortoiseshell kittens lay sprawled on the bigger cats’ backs. All four were asleep on the sun-drenched sofa, piled together into a multicolored mound of fur.
They seemed to be getting along quite harmoniously.
Pei Shiyi smiled silently.
Not wanting to disturb their nap, he quietly went back downstairs, opened his phone, and began cramming knowledge about running a cat café while posting job listings for a pastry chef and service staff.
Pei Shiyi didn’t need sleep at all. He planned to learn everything necessary before the grand opening and to buy new cat toys and food the next day.
Cat trees, cat food, canned food, toys… everything costs money. He might even need to purchase a computer…
Pei Shiyi rubbed his forehead and let out a long sigh. In all his life, he had never been short on money. This was the first time he’d ever worried about it.
He considered making a trip back to the tomb the next day to see if there was anything he could sell.
The next day, Pei Shiyi’s good mood vanished the moment he opened the door. The director of the Supernatural Management Bureau, who seemed perpetually on the verge of falling asleep, was standing right outside.
Just looking at him made Pei Shiyi feel drowsy.
Heaven knew how long it had been since his energetic kind had felt this weary.
Rubbing his forehead, Pei Shiyi said wearily, “Is your bureau on the verge of bankruptcy?”
Judging by how steadily the director was standing, he must have been there for a while.
Bo Jin: “…”
Originally, Long Que had planned to come with him this morning, but when she caught a glimpse of Pei Shiyi’s two forms, she was instantly shocked. She rushed into Bo Jin’s office, exclaiming “Holy shit!” all the way.
“Boss, it’s a phoenix! Holy shit!”
Bo Jin was jolted awake by her “Holy shit!” and leaned back in his rosewood chair, watching her.
Long Que took a frightened step back. “Boss, I heard that Mr. Pei, who came yesterday, is a phoenix? And his danger level is red?”
Bo Jin frowned slightly and nodded.
Long Que murmured, “I actually got so close to a legendary figure from my own lineage…”
Her true form was a peacock. Her clan had some kinship with phoenixes.
Long Que was in a daze. “I actually didn’t pay my respects or try to curry favor yesterday… I, I, I regret it so much! I want to see the big shot again!”
Bo Jin, who had absolutely no desire to see Pei Shiyi again: “…”
Long Que daydreamed for a moment and sighed. “I really failed to recognize a treasure when I saw one.”
Without waiting for Bo Jin to respond, Long Que said, “Boss, don’t look at me like that! Mr. Pei is a phoenix, and I’m a peacock. Our clans are related. I was blind and didn’t recognize him yesterday, so I should go pay my respects today.”
A phoenix with a red danger level was a senior figure, on par with her boss. As a junior, she naturally needed to adjust her attitude and pay her respects.
Bo Jin: “You can go on my behalf.”
Long Que shook her head. “No, no, no. That one is red-level, with strength comparable to yours, boss. It wouldn’t be proper for me to go.”
Bo Jin: “…”
Long Que stared at her boss’s cold expression and finally sensed something off. “Boss, do you and that one not get along?”
Bo Jin said, “We’re like fire and water.”
Long Que replied, “It’s not the big shot’s fault, boss. Your first meeting with him was too disrespectful. Do you know what getting so close to the neck means for us birds?”
As a Zhulong, Bo Jin naturally wouldn’t understand the customs of the bird clans.
Long Que explained, “Generally speaking, getting that close to the neck means either wanting to fight or wanting to make a move, courting.”
She muttered, “Forget it. I’d better not go with you. What if the big shot holds a grudge and ends up disliking me, too?”
Bo Jin: “…”
After Long Que left, Bo Jin leaned back in his chair, feeling like he might as well hibernate on the spot.
Thus, the Zhulong who appeared before Pei Shiyi in the morning looked utterly miserable.
Bo Jin had originally intended to apologize for his rudeness, but Pei Shiyi’s attitude the moment they met made him swallow his apology.
Bo Jin thought expressionlessly: An apology wouldn’t improve their relationship anyway. He and Pei Shiyi simply didn’t get along. It had nothing to do with misunderstandings. It was just a clash of natures.
Bo Jin held a red form between two fingers. “Take a look at this.”
Pei Shiyi’s gaze fell on the form. With his eyesight, he could easily read the words on it. The first line, in bold and enlarged black font, read: “Danger Level: Red.”
Below that were various regulations for this level, mostly aimed at preventing harmful behavior to society.
Pei Shiyi crossed his arms and read all the way to the last line of the form: “Within the first three months of entering the world, a guardian must supervise daily activities… supervise?”
Pei Shiyi raised an eyebrow. “Guardian?”
Bo Jin shook the form lightly. After a faint rustle of paper, the form disappeared from his hand.
Pei Shiyi said, “You?”
Bo Jin nodded. “Me.”
Pei Shiyi propped his chin on one hand, gazing at him pensively for a long moment before finally turning to close the door of the cat café.
Yun Chao was set to arrive this afternoon, so he needed to buy a new cat bed. There weren’t enough at home. Since Yun Chao was a girl, he couldn’t very well have her squeeze in to sleep with Dan Huang and the others.
With Bo Jin tied up with official duties, he had no choice but to follow Pei Shiyi wherever he went.
After walking for a few minutes, Pei Shiyi didn’t need to look back to know Bo Jin was still trailing behind. He held back for a moment but couldn’t resist asking, “Mr. Director, may I ask when today’s ‘supervision’ will end?”
Though Bo Jin’s pace wasn’t fast, his strides were long. In just a few steps, he caught up with Pei Shiyi. “Unfortunately, I have to stay at the cat café during working hours every day.”
As he drew closer to Pei Shiyi, he caught that scent again, the one he’d noticed back at the Supernatural Management Bureau office. It was like the blazing sun, radiating warmth freely.
That kind of warmth was perfect for an afternoon nap.
Bo Jin narrowed his eyes. He was feeling even sleepier now.
Pei Shiyi: “…So your idea of ‘supervision’ is to torment me like this?” He nearly felt drowsy himself, influenced by Bo Jin.
Bo Jin: “Let me correct you. It’s mutual torment.”
Pei Shiyi rubbed his temples and continued on his way.
The pet shop was just across the street. At Pei Shiyi’s pace, it took only about ten minutes to get there. He pushed open the door and, out of courtesy, held it open for Bo Jin before letting go.
Bo Jin paused briefly, then quickened his steps to enter.
Pei Shiyi paid him no mind and, with the shopkeeper’s assistance, picked out a milk-tea-colored open cat bed. It was a versatile design suitable for all seasons, with a simple and elegant color and style.
The shopkeeper said, “You have great taste. This model has sold out several times. Is your fur baby a boy or a girl?”
Pei Shiyi casually selected several boxes of canned cat food and a bag of cat kibble. “A girl, a Lion Cat.”
After gathering his items, he brought them to the counter to pay.
Before he could take out his money, another large bag was set down beside his, the clattering sound clearly indicating it was filled with numerous cans.
Pei Shiyi turned to see the perpetually sleepy director standing next to him, one hand just withdrawing.
The director had bought a whole bag of canned cat food and kibble.
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wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1