"Lili! Be good! Let the cat go!"
"Don't be fooled by how obedient it looks now. In the next second, it might scratch your face. That's terrible, and by then it'll be too late to cry…"
While Xu Ciye was speaking, the blue-eyed white cat in Little Lolita's arms suddenly poked out its head. Its icy pupils narrowed dangerously.
In the very next moment, it darted forward and pressed its small head against Lu Li's pale neck!
"Lili—!"
Xu Ciye's heart almost stopped. His face went pale as he rushed forward. "Quick, throw it away! It's going to bite you—"
But it was already too late.
He could only watch helplessly as the dangerous white cat opened its mouth, revealing sharp, gleaming teeth, and then lowered its head in a fierce motion, viciously—
…rubbing Lu Li's small neck.
"Meow~ meow~"
…?
…??
…???
Xu Ciye froze on the spot.
Wait. Did it just… rub her neck?
"Itchy, kitty!"
Little Lolita hugged the fluffy ball tightly and shrank her neck, giggling when the cat pressed in again. Eventually she smiled so brightly it was almost blinding, her soft little voice sweet as syrup:
"Alright, alright, I know you like me! I like you very much too! Hmm? You want to introduce your master to me? Okay! Is he a cat too?"
Xu Ciye's mind went blank.
What did he just witness?
Pei Xiubai's notoriously cold, ill-tempered cat—not only did it not scratch her, it was rubbing its head against her neck like an ordinary kitten begging for affection.
It even let out soft "meows" now and then, wriggling in her arms like it wanted to melt into her.
This was completely unlike the proud, untouchable creature that usually radiated a "come near me and die" aura with every strand of fur.
Was he hallucinating? Or had the cat eaten the wrong cat food?
"Uncle, it's okay. I'm a carp spirit—cats won't bite me, they like me."
Lu Li's little face was bright with innocence, her ponytail bobbing as she explained happily. "It also said it wants to introduce its owner to me!"
"Meow~"
Right on cue, the cat poked its head out and meowed again, clearly agreeing.
Even Xu Ciye had to admit—when this cat behaved, it was a dangerous kind of cute. Its pristine fur looked like snow spun into silk, and its blue eyes, usually glacial, were now clear and almost… innocent.
Unable to resist, he reached out.
From the first time he'd seen this cat, he'd wanted to ruffle that perfect head. And now—finally—an opportunity!
Unfortunately, before his fingers touched the fur, the cat's paw shot out like lightning and scratched him hard.
"Meow!"
The sharp cry, combined with those vertical pupils now cold and sharp again, clearly said: Back off.
Xu Ciye: "…"
So it is just me, huh. Is this because I'm not a carp?!
Still, even if the cat didn't hurt Lu Li, that didn't mean Pei Xiubai wouldn't. That little devil was not going to let a stranger handle his pet—no matter what carp spirit nonsense the girl believed in.
Before Xu Ciye could warn her, the door creaked open.
The docile cat in Lu Li's arms stiffened. Its blue eyes widened, and it trembled once—then leapt from her embrace, landing lightly on the floor.
Raising its head toward the doorway, it let out a series of excited meows.
Xu Ciye's heart skipped. That reaction could only mean one thing—Pei Xiubai was here.
He immediately backed away several steps, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the cat. The last thing he needed was for the boy to misunderstand.
But before he could breathe easy, a small figure zipped past him.
Lu Li, with her soft little face and fluttering ponytail, darted straight toward the cat.
"Maomao! Don't run around! It's dangerous outside!"
Xu Ciye's scalp tingled. "Lili, come back! Don't chase it!"
He lunged to grab her, but from where he stood—too far from the door—he was too late.
The white cat meowed happily toward the hallway, then bounded forward.
In mid-leap, Lu Li caught it.
Her big round eyes blinked in surprise as she realized there were people outside. A lot of people.
A ring of men in black stood around a black-haired boy.
The boy was seated in a wheelchair, tall yet slender, his face so pale and beautiful it was almost unreal. His hands were folded elegantly, posture radiating a quiet nobility.
Thick lashes shadowed his narrow, dark eyes, hiding the cold depth within. His lips held the faintest curve—a smile that wasn't truly a smile—and there was nothing childlike about his presence.
But before Lu Li could say a word, her momentum carried her forward. She stumbled straight into the boy's lap—cat and all.
Her soft little body landed directly against his disabled legs.
The nearest bodyguards, along with Xu Ciye who had just reached the doorway, all sucked in a sharp breath.
Xu Ciye glanced at the boy's emotionless face, unable to read him at all. He hurried to help the girl up.
"Lili, are you alright?"
Lu Li shook her head, still clutching the cat. "I'm fine, Uncle."
Then she turned to the boy, bowed her head slightly, and apologized in her soft, milky voice:
"I'm sorry, Brother. I… I didn't mean to hit your leg. I was just afraid the cat would run away…"
The cat in her arms meowed indignantly, as if to protest: I would never run away.
Lu Li understood immediately and scolded gently, "Maomao, if you dare run off again, I'll hit you! It really hurts when I hit people— even my dad's afraid of me!"
Xu Ciye: "…"
The girl really spared no effort when it came to intimidating a cat—dragging even Lu Junhan into it.
Seeing that Pei Xiubai still hadn't spoken, Xu Ciye grew more anxious. He quickly said, "Lili, stop playing. Give the cat back to its owner—this cat belongs to him."