She suddenly let out a cold laugh.
“What if I don’t go and meet him?”
The voice on the other end was calm throughout. Hearing her question, the person remained silent for a moment. Their tone was composed, as if certain that Shi Xinyu would agree.
“This is not just your marriage alliance partner, but your potential business partner. You understand the value of Huayu Technology in the industry circle, don’t you?”
A long silence.
Shi Xinyu didn’t show much emotion, but her lips were slightly taut, and her eyes were lowered, making Ying Miaomiao inexplicably feel a pang of sympathy for her.
The cat jumped off the desk and lightly walked towards Shi Xinyu.
Her fluffy tail hooked around the hand tightly clutching the phone, and she softly cried out, “Meow.”
“Don’t be sad, I’m here with you.”
Shi Xinyu’s fingertips, gripping the phone, turned white. She let go and silently stroked Ying Miaomiao. Feeling the warm and soft touch on her fingertips, she finally spoke, “Is a businesswoman supposed to grasp every opportunity to climb the ladder?”
Without waiting for the reply on the other end, Shi Xinyu continued, “I will go and meet him, but strictly as a cooperation partner.”
The call ended, and Shi Xinyu casually placed her phone on the desk. She leaned back in her chair, staring blankly at the snow-white ceiling.
Ying Miaomiao didn’t know what Shi Xinyu was thinking, but she could clearly sense Shi Xinyu’s low spirits.
Ying Miaomiao jumped onto Shi Xinyu’s body and nudged her hand with her fluffy body, “Meow-ao.”
She had no ulterior motives; she simply felt sorry for Shi Xinyu.
No matter what, Shi Xinyu had brought her home when she was hungry and thirsty, solving her problem of food and warmth. Furthermore, Shi Xinyu didn’t blame her for causing trouble, smashing the mug, or being a glutton…
Pale fingers gently stroked the cat’s head. The soft force made Ying Miaomiao’s ear tips twitch unconsciously a few times.
Shi Xinyu smiled. She seemed completely unaffected by the negative emotions from earlier. She lifted the kitten and placed her on the desk, then deeply buried her face in the black and white long fur.
Ying Miaomiao froze. She wanted to struggle fiercely but was mindful of Shi Xinyu’s mood, so she only gave a mildly threatening meow and slightly twisted, “Meow-ao!”
“Let go of my fur! Don’t bury your face in it!”
But Shi Xinyu didn’t understand.
She was muffled as she buried her face in Ying Miaomiao, yet her voice carried a sense of satisfaction: “Miaomiao, let ‘Jiejie’ (older sister) hug you for a little longer, don’t squirm.”
What a joke, how could Ying Miaomiao listen to her?
She reduced the extent of her wiggling, making it almost negligible.
Fortunately, Shi Xinyu didn’t hold Ying Miaomiao for too long. After just a moment, she let go. She refilled Ying Miaomiao’s food and then continued to immerse herself in her work.
Ying Miaomiao lay in the corner of the desk, watching Shi Xinyu handle her tasks. Her brows were relaxed, her phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, and a faint mole on the side of her nose was illuminated by the cold light of the computer screen, making her appear more aloof.
Only when someone occasionally pushed the door open would Shi Xinyu lift her head, adding a touch of reality to the scene.
After returning home from work, Shi Xinyu wiped Ying Miaomiao’s paws and then gave her freedom.
Ying Miaomiao felt that the office drained her energy; her amount of exercise was half of yesterday’s, yet the level of fatigue was different.
She jumped onto the cat tree Shi Xinyu bought her, overlooking the entire living room.
The bright fluorescent light in the kitchen turned on. Shi Xinyu was making cat food for Ying Miaomiao, switching up the method because the kitten was in her teething stage.
Soup mixed with ingredients would be easier to swallow.
…
The next day.
Shi Xinyu had the day off today, but as noon approached, she uncharacteristically changed into a professional suit.
Ying Miaomiao found it strange, but connecting it to the phone call she received yesterday, she understood quite a bit.
Seeing that Shi Xinyu had no intention of taking her out, Ying Miaomiao quickly went forward to obstruct her. She couldn’t carry the cat carrier, but she could carry the leash.
Jumping onto the cabinet, Ying Miaomiao appeared before Shi Xinyu with the leash before she could leave the house.
In front of the entrance, Ying Miaomiao sat upright, her pair of sapphire-blue eyes gleaming under the natural light, like a deep sea.
Gazed upon by such a look of longing, even if Shi Xinyu couldn’t understand cat language, she could comprehend Ying Miaomiao’s direct thought—the cat wanted to go out and play.
Shi Xinyu crouched down and poked Ying Miaomiao’s shoulder. “I’m going to meet a business partner at noon, little cat has to stay home and wait for Jiejie, okay?”
But Ying Miaomiao refused. She persistently moved in front of Shi Xinyu, attempting to break down Shi Xinyu’s defenses with her gaze.
However, the cold-hearted woman, Shi Xinyu, didn’t understand her hint. She walked away without looking back. Ying Miaomiao was furious. She bit the leash and furiously shook it a few times to vent her anger. She wanted to go out too.
Just as she was venting her frustration, the door suddenly opened.
Ying Miaomiao froze for a moment, and the leash in her mouth dropped.
“…”
Sitting in Shi Xinyu’s car, Ying Miaomiao didn’t know whether she should be happy that she achieved her goal or regret that the image of a well-behaved baby she had built in front of Shi Xinyu was shattered.
But she didn’t care; she was simply the best little cat.
The restaurant Shi Xinyu chose was a pet-friendly Western restaurant. When she entered carrying the cat carrier, the waiter not only didn’t stop her but also asked if she needed any help.
However, Shi Xinyu politely declined; she was accustomed to doing everything herself.
The restaurant’s decor leaned towards European style, with a sense of understated luxury.
The high-hanging crystal lamps cast prismatic light as they refracted the sunlight, and the air was faintly permeated with the scent of rosemary.
Shi Xinyu sat at a table near a man-made landscape. This spot offered good privacy and was also excellent for avoiding suspicion.
The waiter, dressed in a white shirt and black vest with her hair neatly pinned up, arrived at their table shortly after Shi Xinyu and Ying Miaomiao were seated.
She first poured a glass of water for Shi Xinyu, a warm smile spreading across her lips. “Hello, Madam. May I ask if you would like to order any dishes?”
Shi Xinyu declined. Her purpose for coming to this restaurant was not purely to enjoy the food; if it were for enjoying a meal, it would be better to come alone.
The waiter nodded. She bowed slightly and then said, “Madam, since you brought your kitten, the restaurant would like to offer your pet a small gift. We hope you like it.”
With that, she took out a well-crafted small toy from her pocket. The fish-shaped toy was about the length of a palm, slightly firm to the touch, and filled with some traditional Chinese herbs, seemingly with a refreshing scent of catnip.
The small paper bag containing it was even illustrated with a kitten almost identical to Ying Miaomiao.
Shi Xinyu was a little surprised. She accepted the gift, showing a genuine smile: “Thank you.”
While waiting for the food to be served, Ying Miaomiao sat quietly in her seat, occasionally pawing at the toy.
Shi Xinyu’s business partner hadn’t arrived yet. Ying Miaomiao secretly grumbled; to be late on their very first meeting, what an unpunctual person.
It was precisely noon when the person finally arrived, fashionably late.
He lightly tapped the table. His steps were slightly unsteady, and a hint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes: “Miss Shi, a pleasure to meet you.”