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Weekend chapter: 4/10
Less than three days after the phoenix chick hatched, the cat café’s millions of online followers all knew there was a bird in the café today. The video of the phoenix chasing Gu Yu went viral online. The reputation of the fierce white bird spread far and wide.
The barrage of comments on the video was filled with laughter:
“I’m dying of laughter. Gu Yu is such a disgrace to cats!”
“Gu Yu, just leave the group already, you dummy. Don’t you know how to fight back head-on?”
“Our Gu Yu is still a little kitten. I got pecked by a goose when I was little, too.”
…
The video of the phoenix chasing Gu Yu was clipped into a GIF and turned into a meme. The word “life” was photoshopped onto the phoenix’s forehead, while the pitiful Gu Yu became the “me” persecuted by life.
This meme started circulating only among the cat café’s fan groups. But later, fans shared it in their usual chat groups. Group members saved the image to share in other groups.
Before long, this little meme gained some popularity in the community.
This particularly arrogant little white bird became one of the cat café’s new favorites, interacting with all the cats, mainly by bullying the kittens one-sidedly. It was fierce, extremely fierce, chasing anyone it could catch. Several kittens in the café insisted on provoking it, so customers could enjoy the daily spectacle of “birds flying and cats jumping”, filling the café with a lively atmosphere.
Since many netizens kept asking about the phoenix’s name, Pei Shiyi, with a mischievous thought, gave this pure white troublemaker a nickname: Xiao Hei.
Three or four weeks later, the little white bird’s feathers had fully grown, and it became even more hyperactive. Before, it could only bully the kittens, as the adult cats would walk away if they didn’t want to play, and it couldn’t catch up to them. Now, with its feathers fully grown, it could flutter a little and began harassing the adult cats.
The adult cats had even better tempers than the kittens. The youngest among them, Dai Dai and Mao Mao, were sensible cats who played gently and never hurt the phoenix.
Today, the phoenix decided to bully an adult cat.
It jumped onto Fondant’s head and let out a fierce cry, roughly meaning: Giddy up!
Fondant: “Meow?”
She tilted her head back, but the phoenix was perched between her ears, so she couldn’t see it no matter how she tried. She could only pitifully carry her ball to find Yun Chao.
“Meow, meow.”
Fondant lowered her head in front of Yun Chao, indicating the phoenix on her head.
Yun Chao narrowed her eyes, her feline hunting instincts urging her to do something.
The phoenix showed no fear in the face of the big boss and even provocatively hopped a couple of times.
Yun Chao flicked her fluffy tail, sweeping the audacious bird off the little princess’s head and onto the floor.
The phoenix flopped onto the ground with a thud: “…”
Yun Chao lowered her tail and licked Fondant. The boss said that once phoenixes grow feathers, they’re incredibly tough and don’t need to be handled with care.
Customers who had been watching the whole scene covered their mouths and laughed like geese:
“The big boss is still the big boss.”
“Yun Chao seems to be the only one in the cat café who actually fights birds. Haha.”
“I’m sure this bird is male.”
“Obviously. Yun Chao would never be so rough with a girl.”
…
The “cockatiel” nicknamed “Xiao Hei” soon wasn’t the only bird in the cat café. Within a week, a few more bird chicks arrived. Strangely, aside from the white bird that chased everyone, the other birds got along with the cats in a harmony that seemed almost unnatural.
As is well known, cats may sleep sixteen hours a day, and most are lazy and chubby. But that doesn’t hinder their prowess as hunters. Even a pig-like, plump cat can leap as high as a person.
Moreover, felines are notoriously mischievous with their paws. Fluttering little birds easily stir their hunting instincts. Even in cafés that keep several types of animals, different species are usually housed separately, unlike Xian Chan Cat Café, where they are all mixed together.
At first, not only the customers but even the café’s employees advised Pei Shiyi not to let the little birds out, fearing a tragedy. After all, all the staff had witnessed Tong Qian and Yin Zhou’s agility as they darted up to the highest climbing frame in just two leaps. Catching a fledgling bird with uneven feathers would be as easy as reaching into a bag for them.
Zhou Yan even asked Pei Shiyi with concern, “Boss, Tong Qian and Yin Zhou are so lively. Are you sure they won’t catch the birds?”
Tong Qian is a genuine troublemaker, and Xiao Hei is quite mischievous, too, especially fond of picking fights. If these two got into it, wouldn’t it lead to a bloody scene?
Pei Shiyi shook his head. “They won’t.”
Zhou Yan scratched his head. Since the boss had said so, he felt reassured and immediately turned his thoughts to this week’s Bishui Station updates.
Maybe he could just film a video of cats and birds?
Afternoon.
Zhou Yan brought his camera to the cat café in search of video material. However, the little birds were small and constantly flitting up and down. They were not only hard to film but even to find. In such situations, it was easier to seek help from the boss.
But he couldn’t find the boss on the first or second floor.
Had he gone to the third floor?
Zhou Yan scratched his head. The third floor was the boss’s living area. Employees didn’t go up there. He wasn’t sure if he could either. As he lingered on the second floor, he happened to see Bo Jin coming downstairs, seemingly cradling something in his arms, with a flash of red peeking out.
“Mr. Bo.”
Zhou Yan hurried over.
Bo Jin paused his descent. “Is something the matter?”
Zhou Yan explained, “It’s like this—I want to film a video of the cats and birds at the café. But I can’t find the birds, so I wanted to ask the boss…”
As he spoke, he suddenly noticed the red in Bo Jin’s arms move, followed by the appearance of a familiar bird.
It was that red raptor!
Zhou Yan exclaimed, “Isn’t that the one, the one…”
Bo Jin, cradling his boyfriend, replied expressionlessly, “My bird.”
Zhou Yan scratched his head again. He remembered that when this bird first appeared, Mr. Bo had said it was a wild bird. Now it was a pet?
Pei Shiyi nestled in Bo Jin’s arms, his wings wrapped around a warm-yellow little bird. He struggled to poke his head out from among the red feathers, tilting it up to chirp twice at Pei Shiyi.
Zhou Yan quickly raised his camera, filming as he said, “Is this little one the bird’s son? Birds are quite loyal, aren’t they? Male birds also help incubate eggs and raise the young. The little one looks like its down feathers have all grown in. So adorable.”
It looked just like a little chubby sparrow! Nestled together with the dazzling red raptor, the pair stood in striking contrast, with the larger one magnificent and the smaller one soft and cute.
Without another word, Zhou Yan snapped several photos.
Pei Shiyi: “…”
Suddenly finding himself with a son, Pei Shiyi silently tightened his hold on Pei Huang in his arms.
Only after taking enough photos did Zhou Yan ask, “I wanted to find the boss to film a video of the birds and cats at the café.”
Bo Jin was holding the boss, but he couldn’t just produce him out of thin air, so he said, “If you want to film, follow me. Your boss had something to attend to and went out.”
Zhou Yan was easy to fool, happily trailing behind Bo Jin with a camera in hand.
Pei Shiyi silently flew down from Bo Jin’s embrace and landed on a small table. He chirped softly twice toward Pei Huang, who was still nestled in Bo Jin’s arms. It was a sound commonly used by the Phoenix Clan to call their fledglings.
Even among the entire phoenix clan, Pei Huang’s cultivation was among the highest tier, which also meant he was one of those who suffered the greatest losses during the calamity. After hatching, he could only maintain a juvenile form and had lost his previous memories. However, judging by the speed of his spiritual recovery, he should return to his original state in just a few more days. The other phoenixes, with their comparatively weaker cultivation, would need more time to shed their fledgling forms.
Pei Huang flew down, his flight feathers not yet fully grown, making his descent somewhat clumsy and unsteady. He landed some distance away from Pei Shiyi and slowly hopped over.
But other birds were faster. Hearing the call, the other little phoenixes rushed over eagerly.
They truly rushed—half-flying, half-running—chirping as they dashed toward Pei Shiyi.
Pei Huang, unable to keep up, watched in confusion as five fluffy balls zoomed past him. He tilted his head and chirped, “Chee?”
The Honghu named Xiao Hei by Pei Shiyi was clearly in the lead. Recalling how this Honghu used to peck at him in the past and seeing its current eagerness to return to the nest, Pei Shiyi felt a chill run down his spine and nearly flew up to cling to Bo Jin.
Fortunately, Bo Jin was a considerate boyfriend. He immediately lowered a hand, blocking the little fledglings’ path. The newly hatched phoenix chicks were even smaller than baby chicks. They were just the right size to be mistaken for hand-held pets.
The little birdies couldn’t brake in time and bumped headfirst into the back of Bo Jin’s hand. With a soft “duang”, they plopped down on the table, looking up at Bo Jin with dazed expressions.
Bo Jin calmly glanced at the chicks. He hadn’t even had the chance to nuzzle his boyfriend’s fluffy belly yet. Why should he let a bunch of fakers pretending to be young rush over?
Of course, his boyfriend’s little uncle was an exception. Pei Shiyi’s parents were no longer around, so Pei Huang was essentially his father-in-law.
Pei Huang finally made his way slowly to Pei Shiyi. He leaned forward and plopped right into Pei Shiyi’s red feathers.
Pei Shiyi’s thick plumage sank slightly, forming a small, bird-shaped indentation.
Pei Shiyi was extremely protective of his little uncle, who had been reborn. He quickly shielded him with his wing and was about to lower his head to preen his feathers when he suddenly felt a cautious gaze resting on him. Following the gaze, he met Song Gao’s eyes.
Song Gao was lying on a fixed platform against the wall, only half his head visible, his eyes filled with a hint of envy.
Pei Shiyi paused for a moment, suddenly realizing something. He might have been too overjoyed by his regained happiness lately and had somewhat neglected the furry children of the cat café.
The well-behaved furry children didn’t rush over to compete for attention. Instead, they stayed at a distance like Song Gao, cautiously revealing a bit of longing, or… lingering around him intentionally or unintentionally.
Pei Shiyi spread his wings and let out a clear, melodious chirp that echoed throughout the cat café.
Although he deliberately imitated the calls of ordinary birds, the radiant glow that flowed from the phoenix’s wings as he raised them still dazzled many onlookers.
Several customers murmured:
“I think it’s glowing.”
“It’s so beautiful, and its voice is quite enchanting.”
Pei Shiyi’s beauty once again stirred the desire to keep birds among many customers:
“I could do it, I really could! I’d even want to raise a toad!”
“You can’t keep birds of prey as pets, can you…”
“You can’t just call it a bird of prey because it looks majestic. Its claws and beak might be impressive, but it’s likely part of the Galliformes order.”
“The golden pheasant—artificially bred ones can be kept as pets. But this one is much more beautiful than the average golden pheasant, and its call is different, too. It probably has some mutations. Even if you tried to buy one on the market, you probably wouldn’t find one this stunning.”
…
To human ears, this call was just meaningless chirping, but to the furry little ones, it was a gentle “Come here, come to me.”
Song Gao hesitated, standing up before quietly lying back down: No… better not go. The boss has finally reunited with his family.
He lowered his head and curled up slowly. He could wait a little longer.
Suddenly, Song Gao felt himself lifted into the air. He looked up: “Meow?” Director?
Bo Jin rubbed Song Gao’s head and placed him beside Pei Shiyi: “Be good, don’t be afraid.” You’re his family, too—no need to hold back.
Pei Shiyi’s eyes held a smile as he folded his wings, giving his family a warm embrace. Then, he gently began grooming Song Gao and Pei Huang’s fur.
Song Gao buried his fluffy little face into the phoenix’s warm belly, letting out a soft, affectionate meow.
Pei Huang, who adored this cat carrying Pei Shiyi’s scent, leaned in to help groom Song Gao’s fur alongside Pei Shiyi.
Pei Shiyi’s body temperature was higher, and he radiated a cozy, warm fragrance. Soon, Song Gao’s eyes began to droop halfway shut as he lightly kneaded the feathers with his paws.
Bo Jin sat on the nearby sofa, reaching out to pull the tender family of three into his arms. But before he could fully enjoy the “family reunion”, Dai Dai and Mao Mao, who had been watching for a while, leaped onto his shoulders.
Dai Dai: “Meow meow meow!”
Boss, we want in, too!
These two little troublemakers were like signal flares. All the cats and kittens who had been secretly observing, along with a few small birds, immediately latched onto Bo Jin.
Bo Jin: “…”
Alright then, a full family portrait.
Zhou Yan, who had been following Bo Jin and filming the whole time, slowly pressed the button to stop recording.
The cat café was getting livelier and livelier. Last time, the boss mentioned that opening a branch was already on the agenda, and they had even found a manager who would be reporting for duty in a few days. And according to the boss’s hints, if the branch ran smoothly, a stray cat adoption organization named “Xian Chan” would begin preparations.
Moving from pure profit to something meaningful.
How wonderful.
The cat café he had stumbled upon by chance had come this far.
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1 ko-fi = 2 weekend chapters
Saturday: [5/5]
Sunday: [0/5]
Meow meow On TPH Chapter 26.1