This booklet, with its ID-style photos, instantly reminded Kong Fanyang of the small chalkboard used to attract cats outside the cat cafe. The vibe was strikingly similar!
Though the photos were taken formally, they didn’t clash with the overall atmosphere of the cat cafe. The booklet’s cover was made of carved thin wood, neatly edged all around, and featured a cat pouncing on a butterfly, with a dreamy color palette.
Flipping through the pages, the employee cats’ looks were absolutely stunning. Adorned with additional accessories, they completely broke through the seriousness of ID photos, instead appearing adorably stern against the blue background.
Pei Shiyi said very seriously, “This is our cat cafe’s employee introduction.”
The more earnest he sounded, the harder Kong Fanyang laughed. Hugging Fondant, he burst into uncontrollable, goose-like cackles: “…I’m not laughing at it, I just… I just think it’s too cute, hahahahaha!”
Fondant didn’t understand human humor and stared at him blankly: “Meow?” Did I take an ugly photo?
Pei Shiyi turned to another page in the album. Unlike the previous few centimeters-wide “ID photos”, this page featured only one large-sized picture of Fondant.
The snow-white fairy cat wore a pink lace collar, her sleeping face sweet and serene. Beneath her, a beige blanket was scattered with various Western pastry decorations. One fluffy paw pressed down on a macaron toy, revealing a hint of pink paw pad. A sense of tranquil beauty radiated unrestrained from the corners of the photo.
Kong Fanyang’s laughter cut off abruptly.
What kind of heavenly little fairy was this? So sweet!
Still laughing? Laugh at what?!
In a daze, Kong Fanyang tightened his embrace around the fairy cat in his arms: “Boss, please forgive the ignorance of us mere mortals.”
Kong Fanyang took many photos in the cat cafe to bring back. “By the way, boss, there’s a designer competition I’m involved in, and the theme is exactly this cat cafe style. I thought I’d miss the deadline, but I never expected to actually create something in this style. Would it be okay if I used the cat cafe as material for my entry? Don’t worry, I’ll definitely credit you, and if I win, we can split the prize money fifty-fifty.”
Kong Fanyang asked anxiously, “Is that alright?”
Pei Shiyi: “Of course. If you need materials, feel free to take photos directly.”
Kong Fanyang repeatedly expressed his gratitude, pulling out a camera he’d prepared earlier and scrambling up and down to capture different angles.
He spent the entire morning just on photography. Seeing how hard he’d worked, Pei Shiyi treated him to an early tea and gave him some cat cafe desserts as he left.
“You came so early. It must’ve been tiring. Have something sweet to relax.”
Pei Shiyi tied a ribbon around the packaging box and casually attached a small acrylic decorative cat to it.
Touched, Kong Fanyang accepted it. It wasn’t that he’d never received expensive Western pastries from others, but for some reason, anything this boss casually gave him made him feel incredibly honored.
And it was so thoughtful. After taking all those photos, he really was a bit hungry.
Pei Shiyi smiled as he saw Kong Fanyang off. The clock had just passed 9:30 when Long Que arrived, following behind Bo Jin.
She had news about the recruitment matter Pei Shiyi had previously asked her for help with.
As soon as Long Que entered, before she could even get to business, she was stunned by the completely transformed shop: “Did I walk into the wrong place…?” This environment was way too sweet and fairy-like!
She had assumed her senior would decorate the place in a Chinese style. But she never expected it to look like this!
Bright and warm, just like the impression the senior gave.
Pei Shiyi said, “Of course, you didn’t go the wrong way. Come in quickly, it’s sunny outside.”
Long Que: “Huh?” But it’s only May, and it’s overcast today. The temperature is quite pleasant even for humans.
Bo Jin had already entered with familiar ease. During the cat cafe’s renovation, he had come by every day, witnessing its daily changes. Now, facing the fully completed cat cafe, he was naturally unfazed.
Pei Shiyi had some objections to his familiarity, as if he were entering his own home. But considering there was a lady present, he decided to ignore him. However, as his gaze swept past Bo Jin, he was drawn to the fluffy little bundle in his arms.
“Hold on.”
Pei Shiyi reached out to stop Bo Jin, then leisurely moved in front of him.
Bo Jin lowered his eyes. For someone of Pei Shiyi’s stature, he was a bit too slender, with a thin chest and a frame that seemed underdeveloped. His wrist bones were sharply defined, exuding a certain severity. And there was a distinct red mark on the ring finger of his left hand, accentuating his cool, pale skin.
Judging by appearance alone, Pei Shiyi was the type who easily evoked a sense of endearment and protectiveness.
Under such a direct gaze, even a dead person would feel scrutinized.
Pei Shiyi suddenly lifted his eyelids and glanced at him, a faint, teasing smile playing on his lips. “What, Bureau Director? Suddenly captivated by my charm today?”
The moment he spoke, he shattered the “pitiable and adorable” illusion his appearance created, becoming lively and prickly instead.
Bo Jin: “After all, you’re quite cute when you’re not talking.”
Pei Shiyi straightened up expressionlessly. “Likewise.”
But when facing the little bundle in Bo Jin’s arms, Pei Shiyi immediately regained his warm, spring-like demeanor.
The little one had fluffy fur. From a distance, it resembles a freshly baked mini cake, with a honey-like golden hue. He had a pair of deep green round eyes and a large, round face that looked very pinchable, yet his expression was quite serious. Though he seemed young, his sitting posture was very proper and earnest.
His appearance was quite similar to a golden-shaded British Shorthair, a handsome little boy.
Long Que quickly explained, “He’s a Bì’àn, with the nickname Song Gao and the formal name Lu Zhang. Senior, you can just call him Song Gao like we do.”
Bì’àn, one of the nine sons of the dragon, resembles a fierce tiger, capable of distinguishing loyalty from treachery, and is inherently righteous and intolerant of evil. In this era of scarce spiritual energy, they are extremely rare divine creatures. How could one be so casually carried around? Moreover, with Pei Shiyi’s discerning eye, he could tell at a glance that this little bì’àn named Song Gao was of pure bloodline, though he was inherently weak and not in the best of health.
Shouldn’t he be even more protected then?
Pei Shiyi gave Long Que a puzzled look.
Long Que hurriedly explained, “This child is the only one left in his family. Though he’s still young, he is a bì’àn after all. And he was weak from birth. For a short time, it’s best for him to be nurtured with dragon energy, but…”
She looked troubled. “Senior, you know how it is. Nowadays, divine beasts like dragons and phoenixes are rare. Most of the ones we can find are single and struggling to take care of themselves, let alone raise a child. We haven’t been able to find a suitable dragon in a short time, so we had to entrust the child to the Bureau Director… and the Bureau Director has to come here, uh… so…”
Pei Shiyi bent down. While Long Que was speaking, he had already shaken hands with Song Gao. Song Gao was still young, its fur maintaining the unique softness of a cub. Once Song Gao grew up, this beautiful coat would no longer remain soft but become firmer and more prickly, with the black patterns fully emerging. By then, Song Gao would be a big tiger.
“So you want me to raise it for two months?” Bo Jin would still be staying with him for two months. After these two months, he and Bo Jin would end this mutual torment.
“No, no,” Long Que quickly shook her head. “Song Gao’s situation is special. Before its condition stabilizes, it’s not suitable for kindergarten, but it can’t be completely isolated from other creatures either. So we thought, if Song Gao can adapt, it could attend a full-day care program here.”
Even if Bo Jin wouldn’t be staying at the cat cafe all day by then, Pei Shiyi would still be there to keep things in order. A phoenix was a genuine auspicious beast, bringing blessings to its surroundings. If Song Gao spent day and night with Pei Shiyi, it might not be any worse than being carried around by the bureau director all day.
Pei Shiyi said, “Hello, Song Gao. I’m Pei Shiyi, the owner of this cat cafe. There are a few other older siblings here. Would you like to meet them?”
Pei Shiyi understood Long Que’s considerations well. As a young bì’àn, no matter how mature and serious Song Gao was, it still needed to make friends. Otherwise, when it grew up and tried to integrate into human society, it would face social challenges. Besides, such an adorable cat ending up with a personality like Bo Jin’s would be a pity.
Long Que looked at Song Gao with expectant eyes, whispering, “You can do it, baby! Don’t be afraid.”
Song Gao, with a serious expression on its fluffy little face, was less than thrilled by Long Que’s childish tone of encouragement: “…Thank you, Auntie. I’m not afraid.”
Pei Shiyi waved to the several large cats who had been hiding on the stairs and peeking: “A new little friend is here. Come down and take a look.”
Tong Qian hadn’t expected to be discovered. Slipping underfoot, he tumbled down through the stair gap, landing in a sprawl before hurriedly standing up and taking a few steps as if nothing had happened.
The commotion caught Song Gao’s attention, who glanced at Tong Qian with a faint look of disdain: Why does this big brother seem so foolish…
Yun Chao then slowly descended the stairs. Her cloud-like long fur made Long Que, who had never seen her before, light up with admiration.
Close behind Yun Chao, Manager Dan Huang, still playing the role of a nurturing father, carried two little tortoiseshell cats down.
Fondant, who had been sleeping on the counter, hadn’t even opened her eyes before gently rubbing against Pei Shiyi’s sleeve.
Long Que looked in surprise at the cats gathering around to observe the young bì’àn, only then realizing that the cat cafe had unknowingly accumulated so many cats: “You already have this many cats… Is your cat cafe ready to open?”
Pei Shiyi sat on a high stool, resting his chin on one hand as he watched the cats form a circle. Turning to her with a smile, he replied, “Yes. The pastry chef and waitstaff were interviewed yesterday. We’ll open next week.”
He had created an official account for the cat cafe on a social platform, posting photos and learning to do a bit of promotion. The main target was the nearby university town, where young students often had both money and time to spare and enjoyed keeping up with trends. Visiting the cat cafe would undoubtedly be a great way for them to pass the time.
Long Que was stunned, never expecting Pei Shiyi to have prepared so quickly.
But upon closer observation, it became clear that the cat cafe had indeed entered its pre-opening state.
The storefront sign had been replaced. The four characters “Xian Chan Cat Cafe” were rendered in mint green, set against a background that naturally exuded a fresh and serene charm, making passersby unable to resist stopping to take photos for a while.
With all the curtains drawn open, the uniquely stylish decor had already attracted curious glances from pedestrians, some even knocking on the door to inquire about the opening date.
The air was still fragrant with the aroma of baked pastries. The chef was in the back kitchen, familiarizing themselves with the desserts on the menu. Cleaned plates sat on the tables, remnants of samples that temporary workers had handed out for tasting…
“Let Song Gao and the others have some alone time first,” Pei Shiyi said, taking the matcha mille crepe brought over by the chef and smiling as he handed Bo Jin a stack of flyers. “Come with me to hand these out.”
Long Que looked horrified.
Bo Jin: “…And if I refuse?”
Pei Shiyi slowly raised an eyebrow. “Meaning you’d rather die than comply? That won’t work. Your Song Gao is here with me. I can be lenient toward employees’ family members. You can handle the taste testing for others, and I’ll distribute the flyers.”
Bo Jin: “…………”
Long Que grew even more terrified: Were these two really not going to end up fighting?
Bo Jin lowered his gaze and thought for a moment, weighing the options between “taking the child and leaving now, never to pet cats again” and “helping distribute flyers just this once, for the sake of the rare creature left helpless”. After two seconds of deliberation, he reluctantly chose the latter.
Thus, a few minutes later, two strikingly eye-catching young men emerged from the cat cafe, one after the other. The one handing out flyers wore an amiable smile and soon gathered a crowd of girls around him.
…
Kong Fanyang returned home covered in the scent of cats and, as expected, was rewarded with a series of kicks from his feline master. Too preoccupied to soothe the cat, he hurried into his studio and opened his photo editing software.
He had taken over twenty photos in one go and found himself struggling while selecting and retouching them. He thought every single one was beautiful, but he couldn’t possibly post them all. How to choose?
In the end, after some painful deliberation, Kong Fanyang selected a few of the best-feeling photos and uploaded them to the website.
As for the remaining photos, he retouched them as well and uploaded them to his personal work account.
As a moderately well-known interior designer, Kong Fanyang had always adhered to a modern, minimalist style. Over time, however, he had grown weary of it himself, so he took a break to seek inspiration. Unexpectedly, he came across the cat cafe’s renovation project online.
Being a seasoned cat lover and eager to experiment with a new style, Kong Fanyang immediately agreed after reviewing the owner’s requirements.
He never anticipated the results would be so impressive.
After uploading the images, Kong Fanyang contentedly hugged his still-irritated feline master and collapsed onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep.
Kong Fanyang slept until the afternoon, waking up ravenous and scrambling for food. Just as he picked up his phone to order takeout, he was startled by the flood of notifications covering his screen.
What had happened while he was asleep?
Without bothering to brush his teeth or wash his face, Kong Fanyang grabbed his phone and hurriedly opened each message to reply.
There were no messages from his parents, but his mentor had sent over a dozen texts asking if he’d been body-snatched or reborn, given the drastic change in style. The rest were inquiries from various classmates and former colleagues, all asking what kind of place he had renovated.
So Kong Fanyang replied to his master with a clear conscience: “No (sweating emoji). It’s a cat cafe, after all. If I decorated it in my old style, the owner would probably beat me to death.”
Master: “It really is a cat cafe! Where is it? I have to visit just for the ambiance!”
After being bombarded by his dear master for several minutes, Kong Fanyang quickly provided the cat cafe’s address and opening hours, and even ended up sending over a package of cat photos he had taken.
Master: “Holy crap! That big white cat is so gorgeous! What breed is it? A Chinchilla?”
Kong Fanyang hurriedly replied: “No, that’s a Lion Cat, a domestic breed. Though it’s hard to find purebred ones these days. This one has exceptional features and is even more beautiful in person than in the photos.”
Master: “So stunning! How come I never realized cats could be this beautiful? I’m definitely going next week to see the cats and the decor!”
Kong Fanyang eagerly responded: “Then I’ll accompany you, Master.”
After placating his master, Kong Fanyang shuffled in his slippers to the fridge to get some dessert. The moment he took a bite, he was startled by the rich sweetness of the cream. This taste was no different from the bakeries he usually visited. For a cat cafe, the dessert was remarkably impressive.
Kong Fanyang’s resolve to promote the cat cafe instantly solidified. With such delicious desserts and such pet-able cats, of course, people should go! How could such a place remain obscure?!
He picked up his phone, logged back into his account, and posted the cat cafe’s address and opening information on his homepage. He also shared a photo of the half-eaten cake along with two or three cat pictures, using his work account to enthusiastically recommend the place. He even tagged the cat cafe’s official account, which had very few followers.
His account was mostly followed by classmates and colleagues, with a high proportion of active users. It didn’t take long for comments to appear, mostly asking about the decor.
The cat cafe’s design was exceptionally beautiful. It was hard to pin down as either European or Chinese, uniquely dreamlike, and completely different from Kong Fanyang’s previous design style.
As Kong Fanyang scrolled through the comments, he noticed many people saying they’d definitely visit just for the cat cafe’s interior design.
Kong Fanyang took a sip of his drink and smiled with the quiet satisfaction of a hidden benefactor.
Author’s Note:
Pei Shiyi and Bo Jin are either bickering or on the verge of bickering.
If you enjoy my work and would like to support me, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi. Thank you for your support.
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1