Ying Miaomiao lay in the cage, full of anticipation.
Although her wound had been stitched up, the doctor recommended that Ying Miaomiao stay in the hospital for a few more days, worried about subsequent infection, fever, or excessive activity causing the wound to tear open.
Today was her third day in the hospital and the day she would be discharged. Shi Xinyu had specially taken the day off and came early to pick Ying Miaomiao up to go home.
During her three days in the hospital, Ying Miaomiao could only eat liquid food. Every day, Shi Xinyu would bring homemade cat food, with no repeats.
Meat broth, fish broth… but Ying Miaomiao’s favorite was the goat milk egg custard.
All the other patients were envious. One Silver Tabby was so greedy it went mad, angrily saying that Ying Miaomiao had no cat dignity, eating food meant for kittens.
It wasn’t that it was greedy.
Ying Miaomiao merely glanced at it haughtily and ate with even louder sounds.
Although arguing with a cat was a bit childish, Ying Miaomiao didn’t care. This was Shi Xinyu’s thoughtfulness, and she happily finished every single bite.
The doctor had initially said she needed to be observed for a few more days, but Ying Miaomiao’s recovery was surprisingly good, even remarkably so.
Normally, a kitten with such severe injuries would need five to seven days of observation, but Ying Miaomiao, in just three days, had recovered to the condition of a normal kitten after ten days.
The doctor had never seen this before either.
After informing Shi Xinyu about the recovery, Shi Xinyu remained silent for a moment, asked no questions, and simply handled the discharge procedures.
The nurse’s sound of opening the cage was crisp, a ‘snap.’ Ying Miaomiao finally left the ‘prison’ that had confined her for three days. However, due to the wound on her back, she dared not stretch with too much movement, only lightly flexing her muscles and bones.
Shi Xinyu arrived early and was waiting outside the cage. Amidst the envious gazes of the surrounding cats and dogs, Ying Miaomiao pounced into her arms.
Shi Xinyu’s scent was still so reassuring and pleasant, a faint, subtle, calm, and composed orchid fragrance. Before leaving, Ying Miaomiao still bid farewell to the patients she had only known for three short days.
“Meow meow, meow.”
“Get well soon, and remember to listen to the doctor.”
The cats and dogs also responded enthusiastically.
“Meow, goodbye!”
The Silver Tabby, who had initially been facing away, turned its head when it sensed Ying Miaomiao was leaving. Its green eyes were wide, but its voice was very small: “Goodbye.”
Ying Miaomiao suddenly felt a little guilty. She was truly terrible; it was her fault for being jealous of a kind, big, fat cat who just loved to eat.
The discharge process and procedures for a kitten weren’t complicated. After verifying the identity and paying the fees, Shi Xinyu took Ying Miaomiao home.
On the way, Ying Miaomiao was placed in a pet carrier, but her heart was surging—she was going home soon!
After three days, the furnishings at home hadn’t changed, except for the addition of the wind chime brought back by Xi Qingyi and her friends. The moment Shi Xinyu opened the door, the breeze caused it to make a slight sound.
The wind chime’s sound wasn’t crisp; instead, it was muffled, the collision of the little fruits being very soothing.
Shi Xinyu opened the pet carrier.
At home, Shi Xinyu’s scent was much stronger, but Ying Miaomiao felt her own scent was slightly weaker. She slowly walked out of the carrier.
She hadn’t moved much during her three days in the cage, and now, suddenly moving, all four of her legs felt soft. Even her paw pads on the floor gave her a slightly floating sensation.
Shi Xinyu squatted down, placed the carrier to the side, and sat on the floor, cradling the kitten in her arms, carefully avoiding Ying Miaomiao’s injured area.
After a long hesitation, Shi Xinyu finally asked a question she herself found absurd.
“Miaomiao, are you a cat spirit?”
Ying Miaomiao, who was enjoying the moment, stiffened. She pretended not to know anything, burying her head near Shi Xinyu’s lower abdomen.
Through the layer of clothing, Shi Xinyu could feel the kitten’s soft and warm body. She gently squeezed the kitten’s ear. Seeing her lack of reaction, she wasn’t overly disappointed; instead, she let out a sigh of relief.
Right, how could there be so many fantastical things in the world?
She sighed lightly, said nothing, and simply placed Ying Miaomiao in her small bed. The sky-blue, fluffy cat bed was still suitable for sleeping in this weather.
“Sister is going to cook for you; rest well, be a good girl.”
Ying Miaomiao obediently meowed in response, but her heart was exceptionally anxious. What did Shi Xinyu mean just now? Had she revealed herself?
But it was indeed suspicious!
She had overheard Shi Xinyu and the doctor discussing her condition. Ying Miaomiao was also surprised at how fast her wound healed. After all, she had been injured when she was human, but the recovery speed was only within the normal range.
Why was she so special after turning into a cat?
Ying Miaomiao was truly perplexed.
Did she really have something extraordinary about her? Then where was her system? Her space? Her magic?
There was nothing at all.
Ying Miaomiao felt that she was truly nothing more than a beautiful, slightly faster-healing, cute little kitten.
She gnawed at the cat bed in frustration a few times, then silently let go, spitting out the fuzz in her mouth.
She needed to give this shedding cat bed a bad review.
She didn’t have to wait long. Shi Xinyu was always quick at making kitten food, and this time’s meal was simple to prepare, even faster than usual. Soon, she brought over the goat milk egg custard. However, since it was fresh out of the ‘oven’ and a bit hot, she didn’t give it to Ying Miaomiao right away.
Ying Miaomiao’s tail twitched a few times. She was contemplating whether she should pretend in front of Shi Xinyu as she had initially done. She absolutely refused to admit that her previous actions were genuine mistakes.
“Why are you wagging your tail? Is our little Detective Miaomiao hungry?”
Shi Xinyu squatted down, her fair fingertips scratching Ying Miaomiao’s chin. Ying Miaomiao narrowed her eyes, enjoying Shi Xinyu’s service, and continued to lightly sway her tail.
After three days in the hospital, Ying Miaomiao’s fur was still smooth, but the soft flesh on her cheeks was reduced, and her formerly pink nose was a bit paler. The fur on her back had also been shaved off for the wound stitching.
But Shi Xinyu felt she must have a ‘doting mother’ filter. This Ying Miaomiao looked even more delicate; she was a beautiful, brave little cat.
She suddenly recalled a meme from a social media platform.
“Can my child be a child model?”
Miaomiao could.
Shi Xinyu chuckled softly, affectionately pinching her ear: “Miaomiao is so cute.”
“Meoww—”
Ying Miaomiao’s voice was delicate, dragging out the final sound, “Thank you—”
The time for the egg custard to cool down was just about right. Shi Xinyu stirred it again. After testing the temperature on her wrist, she put it near the kitten’s mouth.
Because of her injury, Ying Miaomiao had a special privilege: Shi Xinyu fed her right to her mouth. But she really wasn’t accustomed to eating in her bed unless absolutely necessary.
She still stood up, signaling that she wanted to eat in her usual spot.
Because of the injury on her back, stretching felt uncomfortable. Shi Xinyu took this opportunity to buy a raised bowl, which made it very convenient for her to eat just by lowering her head slightly.
Today’s egg custard was very tender, cooked perfectly, and golden in color, finely stirred. Ying Miaomiao was very appreciative, finishing it in no time.
After eating, she even licked her lips, still wanting more. It was a pity; egg custard was tastier with rice, and it had been a long time since she had eaten rice.
Afternoon.
Ying Miaomiao was drowsy.
On such a sunny day, a kitten should probably be basking in the sun and sleeping.
But Ying Miaomiao preferred lying on the bed.
Ying Miaomiao walked in small steps to Shi Xinyu’s feet, her steps light and exceptionally graceful. She gently rubbed against Shi Xinyu’s calf.
When Shi Xinyu squatted down, Ying Miaomiao lightly nipped her fingertip.
The kitten didn’t use much force; her fingertip only felt a slight tickle, and a bit of dampness, a moist, irritating itch.
“What’s wrong? What do you need from Sis?”
Of course, Ying Miaomiao couldn’t hint directly to Shi Xinyu. She just kept acting spoiled, waiting for Shi Xinyu to pick her up.
Indeed, as Ying Miaomiao expected, after a brief moment of resistance, Shi Xinyu unreservedly picked her up. However, unexpectedly, Shi Xinyu suddenly became sentimental.
She gently stroked Ying Miaomiao’s fur, her eyes low and somewhat melancholic. Her amber eyes held a hint of sadness, “Miaomiao, were you scared? It wasn’t intentional for Sis not to pick you up for three days. Kittens need to go to the hospital when injured, just like people.”
Ying Miaomiao was stunned. She lifted her head, her sapphire-blue eyes clear. Realizing Shi Xinyu had misunderstood, she subconsciously wanted to explain, but all that came out was a frantic cry: “Meow!”
“No!”
“Miaomiao, don’t be afraid. Sis will never be separated from you for so long again.”
“…”
Ying Miaomiao wanted to fight this woman who couldn’t understand cat language.
Although the process was complicated and involved a small misunderstanding, the final result was good. Ying Miaomiao achieved her goal.
She got to sleep on the pillow next to Shi Xinyu as she wished.
It had Shi Xinyu’s scent on it. She nestled onto it with satisfaction, only content when her own scent had also rubbed onto it, and the scents of the two intertwined.
Shi Xinyu drew the curtains.
The room suddenly became much darker; only a slight, faint light passed through the curtains. Ying Miaomiao always felt that a nap was a very happy thing. The drowsiness that follows a full stomach, quiet and beautiful.
But today, she couldn’t fall asleep no matter what.
The intertwined scents of her and Shi Xinyu made her very satisfied, yet she recalled that night.
Their breaths were entangled, just like this intertwining of scents. Her eyes and brows had been brushed by those warm, moist lips. She had even… kissed Shi Xinyu.
Cats have excellent night vision in dim light. Ying Miaomiao opened her eyes, quietly looking at Shi Xinyu.
She was lying flat on the bed, her breathing steady, already asleep.
Ying Miaomiao’s gaze swept over Shi Xinyu’s features, trace by trace. Her profile was excellent, the small brown mole on the side of her nose was very faint but had a strong presence. Her hair was a bit messy, spread out on the pillow.
Ying Miaomiao always thought Shi Xinyu resembled Sleeping Beauty.
In the dim environment, her sapphire-blue eyes reflected light. Staring at Shi Xinyu without blinking, she looked somewhat like a wolf.
She abruptly closed her eyes, trying not to think about those things, but thoughts were pervasive. She kept thinking of all those miscellaneous things.
Shi Xinyu’s figure was tall and slender, her muscles were well-proportioned, she didn’t look weak, and she felt quite strong. Her personality was also very good. Although she appeared refined and sharp-tongued, she was actually very considerate of others.
Her falling for Shi Xinyu seemed like a natural progression.
She buried her head in the pillow, feeling a bit desperate.
Having missed the opportunity to meet with Ms. Ying last time, she didn’t know if she would be labeled as a fraud.
Furthermore, if she were in her human body, she could at least try to pursue Shi Xinyu, and it wouldn’t matter even if she failed.
But she was a cat!
How could a human and a cat date?
She didn’t dare to imagine what Shi Xinyu would think if she knew that she had turned into a cat, was living in her house, and had been lying low for so long.
The scent on the pillow constantly reminded Ying Miaomiao that she was hiding a monumental secret from Shi Xinyu.