The pet boarding shop opened in early November.
By this time, the cat café had amassed over three million followers across the internet. Its fanbase at Bishui Station had surpassed 1 million by the end of October, earning it the status of a million-follower content creator and qualifying it for rewards from the platform.
On the opening day, a small ceremony was held.
Several local media outlets in Yuchuan City came specifically to cover the event.
Since the public service ad in the latter half of the year, Xian Chan’s popularity among locals in Yuchuan had been steadily rising. Combined with its online fame, it had become a landmark internet-famous shop in the city.
When tourists planned trips to Yuchuan, whether researching or checking travel guides, aside from Yuchuan’s famous ancient towers, scenic lakes, and city walls, Xian Chan Cat Café was also listed among the recommended “must-visit spots”.
Some influential travel bloggers who had personally visited the café gave it high praise:
This is a shop I highly recommend. You have to see it to believe it. I’ve been to many internet-famous places, but this one truly lives up to the hype, even exceeding expectations. The environment and food are excellent, making it a great spot for photos. However, if you’re only going for photos, keep in mind that reservations are hard to come by. For cat lovers, this is an absolute must-visit!
As a city rich in culture and history, tourism is a major source of income for Yuchuan. Industries that attract visitors often receive support. The rapid growth of the cat café had caught the attention of certain departments. With both overt and covert efforts from the Supernatural Management Bureau, several local online media outlets were present for the pet boarding shop’s opening.
Their main focus, however, was still the cat café, as the new pet boarding shop didn’t generate as much buzz.
For the Supernatural Management Bureau, the cat café also served as an employment channel for non-humanized supernatural beings. After observing for several months, the bureau’s higher-ups finally decided to give the café a push.
Mr. Bo once hinted to Bai Jue that he was willing to attend meetings related to the cat café, but the bureau’s managers unanimously rejected the idea—”Absolutely not! Our long-absent, do-nothing ancestor only remembers he’s the bureau director when it involves his boyfriend. Get out of here, go as far away as possible. No one wants to see you flaunt your relationship.”
Feeling wronged, Director Bo immediately took two days off to spend time with his boyfriend, infuriating Bai Jue so much that he nearly broke the office door.
Pei Shiyi showed no sympathy for his boyfriend and openly mocked him in front of all the furry little ones.
The pet boarding shop was located behind the cat café. Originally a beauty salon, it had been redesigned and renovated into a bright, clean boarding facility.
Due to the media presence, a small ribbon-cutting ceremony was arranged to add some flair to the event. To liven things up, Pei Shiyi also prepared some cat café merchandise to give away. After careful calculation, this frugal bird printed postcards featuring the cats’ ID photos and other candid shots from his phone, along with leftover plush toys from the café’s previous prize draws, to distribute as gifts.
The opening day fell on a Sunday. Some regular customers of the cat café came specifically to join the festivities. The area in front of the pet boarding shop was crowded with several layers of people.
The chilly November wind was biting. Those sensitive to the cold were bundled up in thick wool coats. Yet Pei Shiyi stood in the cold breeze wearing only a thin black jacket, smiling warmly.
Pei Shiyi had no intention of keeping the crowd waiting outside in suspense. After a few polite remarks and a brief advertisement for his cat café, he began handing out gifts.
However, the gifts weren’t given away for free.
Pei Shiyi: “I have two sets of postcards here and a Dan Huang plush pillow. Next, I’ll ask three questions and give the gifts to the first person who answers correctly. The first to answer can choose their preferred gift.”
After speaking, he patted Bo Jin, who silently raised the plush pillow to show the crowd.
Most of the onlookers were loyal fans of the cat café and knew this was the same plush pillow from the first giveaway, which is now out of print. On second-hand platforms, some had even offered five to six hundred yuan for one, but no one was willing to sell.
The crowd buzzed with excitement, eagerly rubbing their hands together, ready to snag the first prize. The first to answer correctly could choose first. Of course, they’d pick the plush pillow!
Pei Shiyi raised a finger and waved it, signaling everyone to listen carefully. “Now, the first question: On what date did the cat café open?”
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd:
“It must be in June!”
“Late May, maybe?”
“No, no, it’s June. What day in June? June 7th?”
“June 4th.”
A young man raised his hand and answered loudly.
His voice, muffled by a mask, sounded somewhat distorted but still carried a distinct, magnetic quality. Some found the voice familiar and turned to look, spotting a tall man bundled up tightly.
Although it was cold, it wasn’t so extreme as to warrant a hat, mask, and high-collared coat all at once, was it? His overcoat was so long it nearly covered his calves. Was he a celebrity or a fugitive?
The masked man lowered his head and coughed several times. The suspicious glances around him immediately vanished: Oh, he’s sick. No wonder.
The masked man was Wei Lan. He had booked an afternoon slot at the cat café online, but arrived in the morning. With nothing to do at the hotel, he decided to take a stroll. Coincidentally, he saw the announcement about the new branch opening on the cat café’s Weibo, so he came to check it out. He hadn’t expected to run into a giveaway. The first question happened to be one he’d seen mentioned in a video comment yesterday. In his excitement, he blurted out the answer.
After shouting it out, he felt uneasy, guiltily lowering his head as an itch rose in his throat. He covered his mouth and coughed.
Pei Shiyi paused for a moment, then smiled and invited him forward.
Wei Lan thought to himself: No, no, you can just hand it to me. I don’t dare go up.
Pei Shiyi: “Are you feeling unwell?”
He seemed reluctant. Then why had he answered in the first place? Or was he just too shy to come up in front of so many people? Pei Shiyi counted silently to five. If the man still didn’t come forward, he’d go down himself to deliver the gift to avoid an awkward situation.
Bo Jin had been watching Wei Lan since the atmosphere grew tense. His gaze swept over him, confirming he was just an ordinary human before lowering his eyes and reining in his overly oppressive stare.
The eyes of a Zhulong lacked Bai Ze’s ability to see through the past, but they were heavy and cold, sending a shiver down Wei Lan’s spine.
Wei Lan struggled internally. He knew going up to receive the gift was the normal thing to do. It wasn’t like he could expect someone to weave through several layers of people just to hand it to him.
If he ran now… Wei Lan stared at the Dan Huang plush pillow and silently stepped forward.
Pei Shiyi asked, “Which of the two gifts would you like to choose?”
Wei Lan pointed at the pillow without hesitation. “This one.”
Pei Shiyi had originally intended to ask a few more questions. But upon hearing his hoarse voice, he guessed Wei Lan might have a sore throat. He smiled apologetically. “Alright, thank you for your answer. This is a pillow from our shop manager, Dan Huang. Please take it.”
Wei Lan carefully accepted the pillow. It seemed to carry a lingering warmth. As soon as he held it in his arms, he felt a comforting heat.
“Thank you. I love it so much.”
Pei Shiyi smiled gently. “You’re welcome.”
After expressing his gratitude, Wei Lan hurriedly stepped away from Pei Shiyi. After all, this was the center of attention. Staying too long made him worry about being recognized. With the pillow in hand, he was ready to slip away. But after only a few steps, he was stopped by an online media outlet.
Facing the familiar camera, Wei Lan hugged the pillow tightly, his entire body bristling with tension.
The online media reporter conducting the interview seemed completely unaware of his nervousness and cheerfully moved the camera even closer. “Hello, are you a local of Yuchuan or a tourist? Did you come here specifically for Xian Chan Cat Café?”
Wei Lan stiffly turned his head and locked eyes with Pei Shiyi in the crowd.
The strikingly handsome cat café owner tilted his head, seemingly puzzled by his gaze.
Wei Lan: Ah, I’m going to die.
Author’s Note:
Boss: Looking utterly confused.
Director Bo: Gradually turning sour.
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wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1